About the Rider

by Jelai Balmes

 

Jelai Balmes with her Suzuki GSX-R150 motorcycle, rider and storyteller behind Throttle Trails


Hi! I'm Jelai Balmes, the rider and storyteller behind Throttle Trails with Jelai Balmes. Originally from Sorsogon and now based in Laguna, I explore the Philippines one ride at a time aboard my Suzuki GSX-R150.


Through this blog, I share motorcycle adventures, solo rides, travel stories, scenic destinations, local food discoveries, riding tips, and the lessons I learn from every journey.


One of my most memorable journeys was my first solo motorcycle ride from Laguna to Bicol, where I experienced the challenges and lessons of a long-distance adventure.


From long-distance rides to unexpected moments on the road, I hope my experiences inspire you to start your own adventure — one throttle, one trail, and one story at a time.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Journey I Never Planned: My First Solo Ride from Biñan, Laguna to Sorsogon

by Jelai Balmes
Image
      How a canceled trip turned into a 527-kilometer solo motorcycle adventure I'll never forget Some journeys take months of planning. Mine began with a cancellation. I never imagined that my first long-distance solo motorcycle ride would happen because my original travel plans fell through. I have to admit, I wasn't fully prepared. I didn't have a power bank, my riding gear wasn't complete, and I had never ridden this far alone before. I also hadn't done any long-distance practice rides or physical and mental conditioning for a journey like this. Riding my motorcycle all the way home to Sorsogon had always been one of my biggest dreams. I  just never expected it to happen this way. But sometimes, the journeys we never plan become the ones we remember the most. Why I Had to Go Home It was May 11, 2025, a day before the local elections. Like many Filipinos, I needed to go home to vote. It was also the perfect opportunity to bring home some of my belongings that I n...
Continue Reading

Welcome Aboard!

by Jelai Balmes
Image
                    📷  Photo by Tolpushots2.0 (Facebook) Hi! I'm Jelai Balmes—a writer, traveler, and motorcycle enthusiast originally from Sorsogon, Bicol, now based in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Welcome to Throttle Trails with Jelai Balmes, my little corner of the internet where I document the roads I've traveled, the people I've met, and the lessons I've learned along the way. For me, riding has never been just about getting from one place to another. Every ride is a chance to discover something new—whether it's a hidden coastal road, a small local eatery worth stopping for, or a quiet moment that reminds me why I fell in love with motorcycles in the first place. Most of my adventures are on my Suzuki GSX-R150, a bike that has taken me through countless kilometers, unforgettable landscapes, unexpected challenges, and memories I'll always carry with me. This blog isn't about perfect rides or picture-perfect destinations. It's about the r...
Continue Reading

A Late-Night Coffee Stop at Bookee’s Once Upon a Cup Book Cafe

by Jelai Balmes
Image
Not every adventure has to take you hundreds of kilometers away. Sometimes, it’s just a short ride, a quiet corner, and a good cup of coffee. Sometimes, the best places to discover are the ones you never actually planned to visit. Weeks ago, I found myself at Bookee’s Once Upon a Cup Book Cafe in San Lorenzo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, thanks to a spontaneous late-night food trip that started with a message I almost missed. It was already around 11 PM when I woke up and finally saw a message from a colleague inviting me to grab something to eat. Since I had just woken up and was wide awake at an hour when most people were already asleep, I thought, why not? Then I remembered a café I had passed by recently. I noticed that it had quite a number of people inside, and naturally, I got curious. What was it about this place that made people want to spend time there? I had already told myself, “One day, I’ll visit this place.” Well, that day came sooner than expected. I decided to invite a ...
Continue Reading

7 Lessons I Learned From My First Long-Distance Solo Motorcycle Ride

by Jelai Balmes
Image
  I thought the hardest part of my first long-distance solo motorcycle ride would be the distance. I was wrong. Riding from Biñan, Laguna to Sorsogon on my Suzuki GSX-R150 taught me that a long ride is not just about how far you can go. It is about how well you prepare, how you handle the unexpected, and how willing you are to keep going when things don't go according to plan. I left Laguna without realizing how much this journey would teach me. I had incomplete riding gear, no power bank, little experience with long-distance solo riding, and no idea that I would eventually get lost along the way. But somewhere between the long stretches of road, fuel stops, wrong turns, exhaustion, and unexpected challenges, I learned lessons that I will carry with me on every ride that comes after this one.   1. Preparation Matters More Than I Thought Before that ride, I thought having a motorcycle that was ready to go was enough. I quickly learned that preparing yourself is just as importa...
Continue Reading