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I've been learning the ropes of commuting by bicycle these past few weeks. The hardest part is getting started. The challenges on the road can seem daunting at first until you know the tips and tricks. Now I learned to own the road after realizing that I have as much right on the road as the motorists. I notice that the vehicles don't honk the horn when I'm bicycling compared to when I was walking alone looking 'vulnerable'. I learned how to assert myself while being careful at the same time, now cars make way for me, except the occasional speeding idiots. And watch out for those evil goats and shocking serpents crossing, ugh!

So I've been pretty busy lately running errands, like going to the supermarket, farmers' market and some specialty shops. Since everything here is still 'inconvenient', the other annoying tasks like paying the bills still require you to exert some physical effort. It requires some human interaction too! It means I have to bicycle and participate in the real world. Physical exertion and random human interaction can help develop empathy. Cycling is good for the heart and mind.

It is really amazing how I can combine exercise and fun with the daily tasks that I need to get done. Bicycling is just treated here as a sport or recreational activity. The only people who treat bicycle as part of their daily lives are usually some men selling some stuff on the road and old people commuting to work. If only most people run errands or ride to work by bicycle, this island would be a cleaner and better place.

I just want to make my cycling activity as 'normal' in this car-centric / motorbike-dependent town. I don't want to put myself in a higher place but it is just not every day you see a female riding bike around here. I get all the catcalling and other annoying remarks because it is kind of a surprising thing for most people. But as they get used to seeing me with a backpack full of groceries, pedaling and all sweaty, this activity becomes acceptable now. I don't get bothered anymore, except by the occasional passing idiots. But I really hope everyone switches to bicycling especially women. It will surely make them feel more independent and empowered. And instead of just consuming and destroying, bicycling makes you become part of the change. And like I always say, little change is better than no change at all. 

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I've been tracking my monthly expenses and I see my huge savings on transportation costs. I don't have to pay for transportation fare, gas or any maintenance, my new vehicle only requires me to burn some fat. And it is not so bad, is it? Saving money on transportation costs lets me enjoy my crypto exploits.  My bicycle does not make me spend more money, it even lets me save more money for other things that matter. So I can say that my bicycle is a really good investment.

I guess I'm lucky enough to be living on an island and that I could cycle on narrow roads with no public buses. There are the national highways but my apartment is close to places that I need to go to usually. I think running errands by bicycle can become easier in time. It is such a rewarding activity,  good for both mental and physical health. It is the joy of experiencing the natural beauty of the island and the feeling of being in control of your own destiny.