The Wind in Our Faces

Of the many varied interests Inverbras and Zexiv share - counting among others the gym, Asterix and Obelix comics, certain books (i.e. Catcher in the Rye), video games (Metal Gear series) and 80s music, perhaps one of the longest running is a passion for biking. From the time Zexiv first learned to ride quite by accident on Inverbras' light blue single speed bike from Patria in his pre-teen years, they have been on many two wheeled-related adventures together. This includes bike rides to the club and back during hot summer days, a two way torturous trek to hilly Tagaytay from Makati, cycling to an anti-Marcos rally in Urdaneta park, and later on, when they both shifted to the mountain bikes (more appropriate for the pothole ridden roads of Manila), exploring parts of the Fort and a nearby military base. It was many things to them - a means of getting around, a form of exercise, and most of all a highly enjoyable activity.

There is something about the simplicity of the bicycle that appeals to the kid in us. It is not that easy to describe to someone, especially to one who has never tried and developed a liking for it - and Zexiv does actually have two close adult friends who to this day cannot balance on a two-wheeled bike. It is not exactly the thrill or danger of going fast, for riding a motorcycle is definitely not the same thing, and cannot be called a simple activity. Nor is it the challenge of going beyond the burn, or over the limits of human endurance, as in no way can it be called similar to that monotonous, joint punishing activity called running. Perhaps the best analogy I can make would be comparing it to birds flying. If you have ever coasted down a very seemingly endless long hill with the wind blowing in your face, you will get the idea. It is liberating, it is invigorating, and it makes one feel ecstatic just to be alive. The bike can be compared to the wings of a bird, propelled not by an engine but by our legs, allowing us to go further than our legs intended, and not be hopelessly grounded to the same barnyard day after day in the way a flightless chicken is. We have to exert a bit (or much) effort to make it up a hill, in the same way a bird flaps its wings, but can coast on a downward incline like a bird glides effortlessly above rising winddrafts.

In their older years, Zexiv and Inverbras continued to bike regularly although not always together. Zexiv would get together with a group of similar minded friends, they would all drive to the hills of Antipolo with their bikes mounted on a rack behind the car, park somewhere, and explore the many trails. Inverbras bought a bike in the States while still a student, and used it to explore the miles of boardwalk connecting the different beaches in L.A. where he took his first post grad job. Now that he is New York based, he is very active in charity fundraising rides, sometimes taking Ozaymas along. Zexiv on the other hand, was forced to leave his bike behind, when we all relocated to Canada. He actually missed his bike more than he did his car - in fact he would rather not drive at all if he can help it, seeing driving as a relatively stressful activity - feeling very much like a flightless chicken.

Last weekend was Zexiv's first bike ride in more than five years. We walked all the way to a bike shop in the north end of Denman street, where Zexiv, Inverbras and I picked out three Dahon folding bikes with 20 inch wheels to rent. Puff, who had joined us earlier for a dimsum meal, but had somewhere to go after, went with us and looked slightly envious, seeing our excited faces. She snapped one or two pictures, and then we were off, heading towards the seawall portion of Stanley Park. It was Inverbras' first trip to Stanley Park and the seawall, and Zexiv pointed out interesting landmarks and attractions on the way - the totem poles, the nine o'clock gun, second beach, Siwash rock, The Girl in the Wetsuit statue. We saw a number of blue herons, seagulls, a racoon, people sunning themselves on the beaches, pedestrians, and many other cyclists. Inverbras appeared to enjoy it very much; Zexiv was ecstatic and deliriously happy. On a certain lengthy downhill portion somewhere along the seawall, he coasted and savored the feeling of the cold wind on his face. " There is really nothing like a bike ride", he thought, smiling to himself.

"We have to do this again before you leave", he told Inverbras afterwards.

Inverbras in Vancouver

They say one only gets to fully explore and appreciate their city and its surroundings when touring around an out-of-town visitor. We tend to sometimes take the places where we live for granted, getting caught up doing the same things day after day. In the years he spent in the home country, Zexiv told me he has never been to Palawan, or Sagada, the windswept islands of Batanes, or gone diving in the protected marine-rich waters of Tubbataha. It was only in the early nineties, when his Berlin-based cousins came visiting, that he saw Boracay for the very first time, and fell in love with the place. You really need to take a step back sometimes, and take a second look around you through the curious and fascinated eyes of a tourist. We had a chance to do this when Inverbras flew into town last weekend.

It was good to see Inverbras again. I remember my first meeting with him, when he was introduced to me by Zexiv at his old camp in the Eastern Seaboard. He had taken my picture and had helped us set up this blog. We met several times since then in New York, and he has been very supportive of our efforts to re-establish ourselves here and set up a secure camp, providing us with several top secret communications devices. He appeared to have grown his hair since the last time, and put on a few pounds, not surprising owing to his long fondness for giant cans of Piknik, dating back to his college days (a close Chinese friend even gifted him with a few cans one Christmas) . On the whole though, he looked quite well.

He told us he was here for several days' meeting with several top secret operatives from different countries. We asked him what he wanted to do. "Biking", he said. We have for quite some time been wanting to explore the seawall on bicycle, but have only done so on foot, during several nature photography treks. If you have never been to Vancouver, the seawall is an amazing thing, with perhaps nothing like it in the whole world. It winds on for several kilometers, with views of the ocean on one side, and depending on where you are, views of interesting neighborhoods and Stanley Park on the other. We quickly made plans to do that in the next few hours.

Over the next few days, Inverbras, Puff, Zexiv, Mademoiselle Marie, Piper and I were able to do things we have always wanted to try but never got around to doing so like biking the seawall, eating in this Dutch pancake restaurant along Robson, and having lunch in a sunny patio of an organic foods market, which Zexiv used to always wonder about whenever he would pass it on the way to his gym - although he has bought things from there like tulips and quiche. We also brought Inverbras to some of the usual tourist haunts like Granville Island and Gastown, and to some of the different neighborhoods, shopping and people watching areas, like Downtown, Yaletown, and the West End. Of these neighborhoods he told us he liked the residential areas of the West End the best - reminded him of Maui and certain parts of L.A., according to him. He was not much into sightseeing; of all the different places he went, he told us he really wanted to do two things over and over again - bike the seawall and sit on the beach and just people-watch. I believe these reminded him of his old lifestyle in Manhattan Beach.

It was a fun visit and we look forward to Inverbras' (hopefully with Ozaymas the next time around) next one.

Indeed one sometimes needs to see his city through the unspoiled eyes of a tourist to fully appreciate it ...