Welcome to Rali’s Grill and Bar, home of the best REAL burger in town. So says the sign in this roadside restaurant. I’m having my second breakfast here in Subic.  The first breakfast occured 2 hours earlier along the NLEX.  Don’t get me started.  I wasn’t exactly here to take them (Rali’s) to task on whether they have, in fact, the best REAL burger in Subic, nor was I even here to taste their food.  I was here because, well, for lack of a better reason, I was bored.  I’ve been working from home the past two days and apart from the unmade bed in my room or the unbelievably messy computer monitor staring at me 24/7 I haven’t really seen much of the real world lately.  Working from home, while entirely idyllic to a whole lot of cubicle dwelling corporate types, can be quite lonely.  You don’t see a lot of cleavage nor do you get to do a lot of real time chitchat with officemates.  I do the occasional skype and some google talk, but apart from that, there’s practically no physical contact that places me in the direct vicinity of somebody else’s bodily projectiles.  Whatever that means to you. So to shatter the images of monotony playing in my mind, I made a spur of the moment decision to do a quick roadtrip.  A destination that’s not that far, just a few hours drive from Manila.  Subic was the obvious choice.  I was actually watching Jack Bauer suffering from the effects of a weaponized chemical something something in 24 season 7 at 1 in the morning when I got my so called epiphany.  I took a quick shower, grabbed my spanking brand new laptop (not mine actually), charged Bruno (my trusty Canon DSLR), and prepped Bamboo 2, that deliciously awesome iron horse carriage that’s less than a year old.

NLEX/SCTEX At Dawn

Driving down the North Luzon Expressway was a breeze at 4 in the morning.  There’s barely enough traffic and nothing was impeding my assault on that long superhighway stretch.  What made driving more exciting was the fact that I don’t have any money in my wallet.  I have a few bucks left but I was pretty sure it wouldn’t cover the cost of gas and the NLEX toll fee.  I had exactly P800 bucks, but with the fuel level indicator already blinking, I knew I had to gas up and find an ATM machine real soon.  I stopped by the first gasoline station I passed and asked the gas attendant to fill’r up with P500 worth of the least expensive unleaded fuel.  I now had P300 left and getting desperate to get to an ATM machine as I still have to pay for the NLEX & the SCTEX toll fees. I arrived at the NLEX toll booth without passing by any ATM machine.  I kept thinking what excuse I would give to the authorities if the toll fee exceeds 300 bucks.  Thankfully the NLEX end to end toll fee was only P138, leaving me with P162.  I was driving real slow hoping against hope that an ATM machine would miracurously pop out of nowhere, you know, like an oasis in the middle of the desert.  But those things only happen in cracpot movies and of course after a 45 minute drive the SCTEX toll booth was looming large in the horizon.  But it seems the heavens was smiling on this home-office-locked/bored road-tripper as I was only charged 128 for the SCTEX toll, which meant that after all the expenses associated with getting to Subic without the aid of an ATM machine, I came out on top, with still P34 to spare. I’m not really sure if the numbers are correct so don’t bet your life on it.

At Rali’s Grill and Bar

Rali’s didn’t happen by accident.  Sometime in the past, the significant other and I had dinner here.  We’ve just returned from a road trip and we were craving for meat.  We happened to pass by Rali’s and thought the ambience was romantic so we pulled over.  I haven’t returned since.  So when the urge to drive to Subic struck me, I knew Rali’s was going to be my destination. Rali’s as I’ve mentioned is a small bar by the sea.  It’s beside the fishing point of recreational fishermen who just go through the motions of casting their lines and hope something bites.  I’m not sure if they really catch anything here aside from sunburn but I’m not really sure.  I could have brought my fishing gear I suppose but seeing that my fishing buddy has decided to abandon me by going home to Cebu, I wasn’t really that motivated to fish. This little resto however is a perfect place for breakfast, even if you have to come from Metro Manila just to enjoy the atmosphere.  The food is not really that spectacular but the ambience is.  You get fresh air, and you get to stare at the granite sea which I swear cleanses the mind.  Call it detoxification of your polluted brain or whatever.  Just come.  There’s not much people around so if you want to have some privacy with somebody you want to keep private (if you get my drift), this is the place to be. Rali’s is along Argonaut highway inside Subic Bay Freeport.  If you’re driving from Manila, just make a left when you reach the Petron junction. You’ll reach it in two minutes.  Just watch out for those colorful banners to your right.

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Do you still remember that pivotal moment when you suddenly had that craving to hit the road? Not all roadies were born on the road, growing up in a traveling family who spends all their days moving from one place to another. Some of us did not hear the call of the road until we were in our twenties, and I’m sure there was that magic moment when you couldn’t resist the call of your wanderlust anymore. For some it was just because of a girl or a boy.

My first roadtrip was all because of a girl– my mother. I was only 14 years old then in my 2nd year of high school when she sent me on an errand to deliver a package for my grandfather. The problem was we were living in South Cotabato then and my grandfather’s place is in Butuan, Agusan Del Norte. Check out the map below to see how far that is. I would tell you all about that trip some other time. Suffice it to say that, that was the first solo road trip I did.

Click on Mindanao Map to Enlarge

In between that time until the present, life happened. I went through the motions of living and never thought about road trips again. That is until I became an addict.

Before I really sank my teeth into blogging, or traveling, I had one migraine-inducing addiction. No, I didn’t have to pierce my skin with a needle or puff the magic dragon, I just park my butt on the sofa and turn on my DVD player. I would watch movies non-stop, sometimes watching 5 movies in a row!

I guess that was my escape from a life that’s very ordinary.

Then something happened that reunited me with my wanderlust.

During my college days, I was one of those idealistic college boys who thought they could solve the world’s problem by taking to the streets. One of my heroes then was the guy everyone considered to be the world’s truest revolutionary. His name was Ernesto Guevarra De La Serna, more popularly known by tshirt makers and the world over by the name Che Guevarra. Yes that’s the guy.

I was then into one of my movie marathons when I started watching a DVD that a friend highly recommended. The movie’s title was Diarios De Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries). I didn’t know what it was about at the time, but after watching the movie, I felt that I would no longer be content spending hours on my couch while the world passes me by. My wanderlust had returned.

Alright, too much segue there. Since I’ve been writing all about road trips these days as a filler for my next trip, here are four very good movies about road trips that I really enjoyed. I hope you get the chance to watch them.

The Motorcycle Diaries is an adaptation of a journal written by Ernesto “Che” Guevara de la Serna when he was 23 years old. He and his friend, Alberto Granado are typical college students who, seeking fun and adventure before graduation, decide to travel across Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela in order to do their medical residency at a leper colony. Beginning as a buddy/road movie in which Ernesto and Alberto are looking for chicks, fun and adventure before they must grow up and have a more serious life. As is said in the film itself, it’s about “two lives running parallel for a while.” The two best friends start off with the same goals and aspirations, but by the time the film is over, it’s clear what each man’s destiny has become. Written by bondish, <via IMDB>

This movie starred Gael Garcia Bernal and Rodrigo De La serna. By the way, this movie won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2004.

Memorable Lines:

“What we had in common – our restlessness, our impassioned spirits, and a love for the open road.”

“How is it possible to feel nostalgia for a world I never knew?”

Y Tu Mama También (Talk To Her) - Abandoned by their girlfriends for the summer, teenagers Tenoch and Julio meet the older Luisa at a wedding. Trying to be impressive, the friends tell Luisa they are headed on a road trip to a beautiful, secret beach called Boca del Cielo. Intrigued with their story and desperate to escape, Luisa asks if she can join them on their trip. Soon the three are headed out of Mexico City, making their way toward the fictional destination. Along the way, seduction, argument and the contrast of the trio against the harsh realities of the surrounding poverty ensue. Written by Sujit R. Varma <via IMDB>

Gael Garcia Bernal is again on this one, so is Diego Luna and Ana Lopez Mercado. Another Oscar nominee this one, 2001.

Memorable Lines

“Life is like the surf, so give yourself away like the sea.”

“Truth is cool but unattainable… the truth is totally amazing, but you can’t ever reach it.”

Into The Wild – Based on a true story. After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life. Written by Lisa Kelley <via IMDB>

Into The Wild stars Emile Hirsch (Speedracer), and even a short appearance by Kristine Stewart (Twilight). Nominated for an Oscar, 2007. Word of caution, this one’s a heartbreaker.

Memorable Lines

“I will miss you too, but you are wrong if you think that the joy of life comes principally from the joy of human relationships. God’s place is all around us, it is in everything and in anything we can experience. People just need to change the way they look at things.”

“It should not be denied that being footloose has always exhilarated us. It is associated in our minds with escape from history and oppression and law and irksome obligations. Absolute freedom. And the road has always led west.”

Road Trip – Josh and Tiffany have been together since they were kids. ENTER Beth, a sexy blonde going to college with Josh. One night, Josh and Beth hook up and make a videotape the same day that Josh plans to mail a video to Tiffany of him talking about college life. The wrong tape gets sent, forcing Josh, along with a few pals, to go to Austin, where Tiffany is, and stop her from seeing the tape. Full of laughs, you’ll be sure to enjoy Road Trip. Written by Zac Abrams <via IMDB>

This movie is hilarious. I still watch it every now and then and yet I still laugh all over again. Reunited me with Twisted Sisters. This was not nominated for an Oscar.

Memorable Lines

“Think about it Josh, you’re in college. The window of opportunity to drink and do drugs and take advantage of young girls is getting smaller by the day.”

Classic Conversation in the Movie

E.L.: Well, there are these rules that guys have, an understanding as to what exactly constitutes cheating. Take your situation for example: it’s not cheating. It’s never cheating when you’re in a different area code, not to mention a different state.

Kyle: That makes no sense.

E.L.: Hey, don’t look at me Kyle, OK, I didn’t make up the rules.

Rubin: No no, this is legit, I- I’ve actually read an article about this. There’s a whole bunch of them, it’s like- they’re like loopholes. Right, for argument’s sake, let’s say that you were sleeping with two girls at the same time, it- it wouldn’t be cheating because they would cancel each other out.

E.L.: Exactly. Or if, uh, you’re too wasted to remember- it is not cheating. Because if you can’t really remember it, it never really took place.

ENJOY THESE MOVIES!!

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