Monday, October 21, 2013

EDSA

So I've been wandering lately. There's not much to do on weekends, specially sundays. Since the motorcycle came to our house, I saved sundays for joy rides. Yesterday was the 3rd Sunday since. After making it to Intramuros, I've since thought of going to SM Mall of Asia. Making it to MOA and going through EDSA on a motorcycle requires serious riding skills.

It was sunday, half an hour before 12 noon. I got on the bike geared up. I was not sure where to go yet. I was thingking, anywhere, but manila. With the grip on the handlebars I started the journey with new manila. A recently familiar place. I went through the back streets til I reached the corner of Edsa - P. Tuazon. While waiting for the green light, the thought of Ortigas came into mind. It's where my first job was. Where I met the girl who is among the reason why I'm on a motorcycle today. Screw the green light, I turned right and jumped on Edsa.

I've gone through some dangerous highways in the metro and made it without a sweat. But this is Edsa! I had to step up and pick up the pace. After good use of 5 of my senses, I made it to Shaw Boulevard. I took a right by the mall, Starmall. I rode the entire north bound of Shaw Blvd to find out, Aurora Boulevard is where it ends. Taking a different road I routed back to mandaluyong. This time, I had makati in mind. 

Back in mandaluyong, I took the bridge to makati. Now in makati, I stopped for a cigarette break after passing the A Venue place. Looking around as I bummed smokes from a stick of red. I noticed I was sitting right across the place where my ex girlfriend often used to go to. When she was having an affair with a married man. The restaurant was called "tiannanmen". Me and my ex went there once before.. After she broke off the affair. Where she told me if not confessed, the things they did when they were in the restaurant. I remember, back then, the song "you got it all over him" by the jets, played in the back ground after she told the story..

After a cigarette, I went back on the road and was riding around the oppulent avenues and boulevards of makati. Ayala avenue, Makati avenue and Paseo de roxas. Where some of the tallest buildings in the philippines are planted. It was a sunday for the business district. I was touring the wall street while it sleeps. There is when I decided to ultimately ride my way to SM MOA.

After a couple of tips from passers by, I was in the corner of Pasong Tamo (Now, Chino Roces Ave.) and Gil Puyat Rd. I was looking at a crossing, it's the way to SM MOA. It was a hot afternoon about 2 PM. Thirsty, I stopped for a bottle of water from street vendor. I wanted to see if I could do a quick visit of Bonifacio Global City before I go to SM MOA. I asked around for directions. Soon enough, I was out of makati and back on Edsa on my way to BGC!

Racing my way away from the dangerous, rowdy buses, I made a turn at Mckinley Road. I managed to find my way to the Soccer field and around the malls. Including the newly opened SM Aura. After a quick stroll of BGC, I headed back to makati to pick up where left off. With BGC out of the way I'm all set for SM MOA. I cruised the entire Senator Gil Puyat Ave from BGC through makati and landed on pasay. I took a left at Diosdado Macapagal Blvd.

Striding through Macapagal Blvd. blatant are the strips. Pass the restaurants, bars and videoke joints are empty lots. I can see the round about. I made it to SM MOA. At last but the journey is far from the end. I didn't really want to go to the mall, I just wanted to see If could get there. Now that I'm here I thought I'd explore some more.


I see two motorcycles, one is like mine and the other, a Yamaha fz 16. It's the motorcycle I've been training to follow. It's loaded with a 155 cc engine. 45 more than the 110 cc between my feet. It's bigger and will leave other small underbones to dirt on a freeway. But I believe, it's not the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog.


I tried to see if I could follow the two as they went about MOA. As I followed them, my attention was taken away by the views. I am running around the ccp complex. The last time I was here was on a rented bicycle when I was just a little boy. I went pass Star City and found this place called Harbour Bay. I parked the motorcycle and took on foot to look around. It's a very nice place. They had the usual restaurants and fastfood by the bay.  It's a small compound but I can see how romantic this place can turn into at night. It's 4 PM, not yet near sunset but already the place looks calm and cool. There's even a spot for anglers.

As I was about to leave I spoke to a security officer who guards the park. He mentioned the cruise near by. I visited "the cruise" and inquired. The cruise was actually Sun Cruise and for P550, you get a dinner on a cruise. It sails to SM MOA and back for more than an hour and a half. Not bad. Not bad at all.

I think I found what came here for. I'll save the place. Someday, I'll be back. I don't know yet but I'll be back with someone..

The sun is setting. The task of getting home is in the horizon. I have two options, one is the long road from Roxas Blvd to Quiapo then Espana and then E. Rodriguez. Though it maybe long, it's the safest. On the other hand, there's a quicker alternative and albeit a dangerous one. Edsa..

Since I started learning to ride the motorcycle I get several tips and advice from experienced riders. They often mention being able to make trip through Edsa would be the final course of learning to ride a motorcycle. And just like me, it's the final exam for motorcycle noobs.





Experience indeed is the best teacher.