Poprock Bakeshop & Cafe CDO

Weeks ago (I've been a very bad blogger), several of the CDO Bloggers and I were invited to check out the newly opened Iligan-based Pop rock Cafe and Restaurant along Tiano-Jr. Borja St. The cafe has been a family corporation since March of 1990 in Iligan City, the concept inspired by Archie Comics.

4 Benefits Of A Remote Family Vacation

When you're feeling overworked and under-appreciated, the only real solution is to unplug and recharge your batteries somewhere away from all the stress. Too bad it seems like an impossible dream for those with families, careers and commitments.

But wait! What if you could take your family with you?

You could reconnect with your kids. You could have actual conversations with your spouse again. Even the dog would benefit from fresh air and exercise!

Our Favourite Facts About Cycling

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At Carry on Cycling, we are bike lovers and cycling enthusiasts. We understand the love affair that is had with cycling and we know about bikes. We have put together a list of some of our favourite cycling facts to show you how wonderful the sport is.

Fun facts about cycling

Cycling is extremely efficient. If a cyclist and a pedestrian use the same amount of energy during a journey, the cyclist will make that journey three times faster than the pedestrian. If a cyclist and a runner make the same journey, the runner will use four times as much energy as the cyclist for that same amount of time. The world’s fastest runner cannot match the world's fastest cyclist. A cyclist is the most efficient person on the Earth, expending the least energy on self-powered travel than any other person on any other form of transport

With so many clear advantages, it is little wonder that more people than ever are taking up cycling as a hobby, particularly in the UK. People ride for a variety of different reasons, but all are unanimous in their love of cycling.

Why do people choose to cycle?

People of all ages can ride a bike, and these days there are specialist bikes made for people with physical disabilities, so everyone can enjoy the exhilaration of cycling. These days, young and old are taking to their bikes for a plethora of reasons;

Love of cycling

Some people choose to cycle simply because they love it. Because the thrill is one unmatched by others, and unique to riding a bike. The free ride downhill, the wind in your face, the fulfilment after a good ride. Some people need no other reason than the joy they feel when riding.

It’s cheap

Once you have made the initial outlay on a bike and safety gear, there is little to no further cost, other than maintenance of the bike. When compared to driving, which requires fuel for every journey, a bike is by far the cheapest option.  Public transport these days is costly too, again making cycling a popular mode of transport to get to work.

It’s fast

As well as being expensive, public transport can also be inefficient. Queues and delays are commonplace, especially during rush hour, and cycling will avoid this wasted time.

It’s healthy

In 2014, we are all well aware that we need to eat well and exercise regularly to stay healthy. The best way to stay motivated with cycling is to work it in to your everyday lifestyle. Lots of people struggle to find time to fit in going to the gym or an exercise class. But by cycling to and from work every day, you can stay fit and healthy by using your commute time, instead of finding more time to take out of your day.

With so many health benefits, as well as being one of the most enjoyable sports around, it’s not hard to see why at Carry on Cycling love riding our bikes!

Here is more health facts on cycling.

I'm drowning in school work. So in the meantime, hello to our guest poster! If you want to guest post, email me!

Sarah Mcarthy is a writer for Carry on Cycling. You can find her on Google Plus here. 

Kerala - The Land To Explore

Sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Kerala is the land where tourists halt to breath in the gentle breeze, spice scented plantations, glance the misty mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, cruise along the serene backwaters  - a blessed piece of land where climate blatantly flirts with the nature.  Every district, place on Kerala map has its own tradition and story to talk about its culture. The state is endowed with all its beauty at its best; Alappuzha for the backwaters, Kovalam for the sun-bathed golden beaches, Palakkad for straggling paddy fields, Kochi the metro-city reflecting a mix of culture, Munnar for the misty hill stations, Wayanad for the wildlife and so on.

The capital city, Thiruvananthapuram, located on seven hills, boasts of its rich heritage, old palacesand temples. Thiruvananthapuram is a commercial hub, pulsates with political activities and one of the major tourist destination.

Kerala is a proud state of its unique record of harmonious tolerance of diverse religious beliefs, be it Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism or any other.

Palaces, archaeological monuments, museum’s exhibit brilliant paintings, sculptures, mural artworks, etc explaining the traditions and culture the state bestows. Kathakali, the classical Indian dance drama is peculiar art form of Kerala. Even people from distant lands visit Kerala just to learn and experience the ancient dance forms, and Kathakali is one of the renowned dance-form. Kalarippayat- ancient and physical martial art of Kerala. There are training schools, Kalarippayat academies, where professionals teach martial arts to aspiring students. The art form beckons many foreigners, who learn and take it to their homeland.

Kerala is famous for its festivals. Thrissur Pooram held in Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur district, is the popular temple festival depicting the best art and culture in God’s Own Country. Pooram starts with the processions, musicensembles by percussionists’ front of around 30 elephants, standing face-to-face. Pooram attracts thousands of crowd, including masses of tourists to the ground. Apart from Pooram, Onam (harvest festival) accompanied by Vallamkali (snake boat race) held during the season (August - September) along the Punnamada Kayal  or Alappuzha (backwater) witnesses heavy rush of tourists every year.

Call Of The Wild

Most of Kerala is known for its native habitat, rich flora and fauna, packed with dense evergreen rainforest. Silent Valley National Park, Periyar Wildlife National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary, etc forms exquisite attractions of the state and is protected by the Forest Department. There are 13 wildlife reserves and visited by tourists often to experience the scenic beauty and thrill of watching the wildlife in the natural ecosystem.

Wayanad, the district stands out for its picturesque excellence. The rugged plateaus, rolling hills, dense jungles, wildlife, pristine lakes, rivers, dam and greenery are chief attractions of Wayanad. The amazing plantation of the place is an abode for odd varieties of endangered species. The exquisite hill station has pleasant climate throughout the year, enriched with lush greenery.

Backwaters of Kerala are the unique destination backpackers look for when visiting Kerala. These are interconnected ecosystem of rivers, lakes, lagoons, connected to the Arabian Sea. Houseboat cruising along the peaceful backwaters, away from the maddening city life is a splendid experience to enjoy in Kerala. Houseboats are luxurious boats made of bamboo planks skilfully tied with coconut-husk ropes, the biggest revenue programme under Kerala Tourism, inviting droves of tourists to the phenomenal backwaters. Cradling by the backwaters, one can enjoy incredible taste bud-tingling exotic Kerala cuisine. Backwater tourism plays a pivotal role in promoting Kerala tourism.

Rich art forms, magical festivals, cultural diversities, exotic cuisines, heavenly attractions make Kerala a unique experience and best destination you could ever miss out.

This is a Guest Post because I am still very busy with school.

This article is authored by Ajith Thomas who is one of the authors of the blog Ayurveda, you can find him at Google+

Shangri-La Mactan's Tides & Tea of Spring

It's been a while since I've posted, I've been terribly busy with school, Muay Thai, church and life in general. I have been meaning to invite people over to guest post, however, everyone might be quite busy as well since only a few responded to me and some only to tell me that they couldn't do it or they could on a later date. I am terribly sorry! To make up for my absence, I decided to cheer you up with a food post. If you follow me on any of my social media accounts, you might already know that I went to ShangRi-La Resort and Spa in Mactan with my family last week for my sister's graduation. During our brief staycation, I was able to try Shang's famous buffet restaurant, Tides, and their Chinese cuisine specialty, Tea of Spring.