Ride N’ Seek host discovers the Philippines
Nickky Faustine P. de GuzmanAMERICAN ADVENTURER and History Channel’s Ride N’ Seek host, Jaime Dempsey, is in the country to film her show’s third season, which is premiering in August. The new season will feature the Philippines. She will discover, experience, and showcase our best and wildest escapades. Unlike Dora the Explorer, though, she doesn’t need a map, only her motorcycle.
ADVENTURER and TV show host Jaime Dempsey
Ride N’ Seek is a motorcycle travel documentary that features a country’s off-the-beaten-track destinations. Ms. Dempsey has ridden Harley Davidson and Ducati motorcycles while immersing herself in Malaysia and Brunei. Ahe will ride Ropali motorcycles while in the Philippines.
While her ride has been arranged, her itinerary hasn’t yet. She said she asked for travel suggestions on her Facebook and Instagram pages. “I posted, ‘Hey Philippines, what kinds of bike would you ride and where do you ride them? I got a list of places to go and recommendations,” she said. Although she hasn’t seen the itinerary, she said the production team has looked over the list.
“I don’t really know [what the activities I’ll be doing are]. I’m excited to see the beaches and the mountains and I want to ride twisty roads. I heard that there’s a hike in Kalinga that I’m doing. And there’s a special woman there that I am going to meet,” she said.
TATTOOS
To get to her destination in Kalinga Apayao, one of the modes of transportation is “top loading” or riding on the roof of a jeepney. It will also take long hours of hiking. There, hidden in the mountains, resides Whang-Od, 95, the only surviving mambabatok (traditional tattoo artist) in the province. To make her tattoos she uses pomelo sticks and charcoal, and the process is more painful and takes longer than modern tattooing. Still, Ms. Dempsey is excited -- she sports complex tattoos on her neck and both arms and said she would love to add more.
“I’m excited that I’m going to add (more tattoos) to my collection. I asked the production [people] if she [Whang-Od] will choose the design or I will choose the design. She’s the artist, I’m the collector. I want to collect a piece of her work so I think I’ll let her choose what and I’ll choose where,” she said.
According to reports, she’s also going to explore Mount Mayon’s lava trails and play juego de anillo (game of rings), which will require her to ride horseback while attempting to get rings off a pole with a dagger.
“Being in a foreign environment is something that gets me all perked up,” she said.
While Ms. Dempsey is game for any adventure -- she has tried “head hunting” in Sabah and holding poisonous snakes in Mabul Island, both in Malaysia -- she isn’t that adventurous when it comes to trying exotic food. When asked if she’s willing to try Filipino food she had a blank face. “I’m not super adventurous when it comes to trying food. People are always pushing me and I’m like ‘okay I’ll try’ but I do my best to get out and try different things. I love tropical fruits though. I kind of try to stay on that side,” she said, smiling apologetically.
BIKER
The 39-year-old biker (she’s also a surfer and snowboarder) from Los Angeles started riding motorcycles in her 20s. She said she was attracted to the freedom and independence motorcycles offer. She said hosting Ride N’ Seek doesn’t feel like work at all as she gets to pursue her passion.
“I think there’s a lot of action and culture in this show. It doesn’t just focus on one thing. We try to take the [way] off the beaten path -- even if you live in the area, you may not know about it. It inspires you to travel your own backyard,” she said.
Ride N’ Seek premieres in August. History Channel is available in Sky cable ch. 67, Cable Link ch. 44, Destiny ch. 57, Dream Satellite ch. 30, and Cignal ch.125.
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