a Chinese New Year ride!

The Chinatown Ride is the very first group ride I joined when I got my scooter back in 2006.  It has since been an annual city ride adopted by the Vespa Club that has taken the me and my fellow riders to various Chinese restaurants in and around the small and narrow alleyways of Binondo, Manila’s very own Chinatown.

The ride was scheduled a full week ahead of the Chinese New Year/Valentine weekend to avoid the traffic in the area around that time.  Members who joined the ride were encouraged to wear red.

It was also the first time that this annual joy ride/ was scheduled around lunchtime.  But since I was tired coming from overnight diving trip the night before, I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it this time.  But I’ve joined this food trip ride the past three years, and I wouldn’t want to be stopping now… not when it involves lotsa EATING!

I missed most of the photo ops the convoy had along the way, but in the end, my tummy couldn’t complain.

Above is Wawel who brought along his teenage daughter, Therese, as his backride.  His account of the ride (and a few other photos) after the jump.

First assembly point was Shell, Fort Bonifacio. It was a treat to be joined by three pristine brand new modern Vespas in the community, Sunny and his red GTS 250ie, Vince and his black GTS 300ie Super, and Uriel and his white GTS 300ie Super. The latter two were so new, they did not have their number plates on yet.

Charlie was kind enough to join us at Shell, and lead the ride all the way from there. First stop was Spy Scoot in Makati, where we were joined by the Makati boys Gerry, Marion, Carlos, Rob, and Froilan who came all the way from Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Then off we rode Buendia, then Roxas Blvd. until we reached Raja Sulayman for a photo op. The sun was out and we could all feel the beginning of summer. We huddled under the shade of the trees, trying to beat the heat.

After the photo op, we were off again. Charlie kept a slow, liesurely pace, so we could enjoy the sights, sounds, smells of Manila. He chose a wonderfully labyrinthine route through Remedios Circle, Intramuros, then Binondo. My favorite was Charlie’s crazy idea to loop Remedios Circle over and over again. And like kids, we followed suit while Tops took stills, and Allan took videos.

Nung mahilo na kami sa ka-iikot, we proceeded to Chinatown via Intramuros. Entering Chinatown was like riding into a different country. The colors, smells were all different. It was a joy to see so many kalesas still trotting the old alley ways of Binondo. The cops in Chinatown seemed to welcome our presence there, and they stopped traffic just to let our convoy through the intersections. We stopped at the Binondo Church for a quick photo op. As usual, our Vespas invited a lot of curious onlookers, who marveled at the form and colors of our wasps.

By this time, the sun was scorching hot. Summer na talaga. We decided not to stay long at Binondo Church, and proceed to lunch early. It was about 11am. After a few twists and turns, we landed in TOHO Restaurant, the second oldest restaurant in Chinatown.

What greeted us was a glass display cabinet by the entrance of TOHO, which did not only have the standard asado, but all sorts of exotic animal parts like tongue, intestines, legs, etc. all marinated and roasted in their secret way.

Charlie went to town with the feast that he ordered…egg and crab soup, beef, fried chicken, camaron, pancit, lechon macau, fried rice, lumpiang shanghai, etc. Ang daming pagkain, at ang sasarap. Naduling kami sa sarap. Di na rin makahinga sa busog. We had enough leftover for another dozen people.

Then we rode to Starbuck’s in Intramuros, built ride within the walled city. We loved the vaulted ceiling, and the red Italian Espresso poster that featured the silhouette of a Lambretta. Muntik ko nang nakawin. It was at Starbuck’s that we held our GA for Feb.

By the way, the photos above are either by Tops Marin or Allan Malubay.  Click their names to view more photos from this ride as posted in their respective facebook albums.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

~ABET

john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com