Baler, Aurora

Baler, Aurora is on my bucket list even last year (2013) but due to some travels that I have done unexpectedly, I was not able to visit the place. Luckily this year, unplanned trip to this wonderful place was done (thanks to Maam Mel, my travel buddy). It was supposed to be a weekend getaway to Fortune Island in Batangas but because of my itchy feet I preferred going to Baler than going to that tiny island in Batangas.

Friday, 9 May 2014, right from work, I went home directly to fix my things for a weekend trip to Baler. That was 2 days and 1 night out of town trip. Resorts along the beach front in Sabang Beach was all fully booked during that weekend but luckily we were able to book a room in the town proper. It was a home stay but good enough for the two of us to put our belongings while on tour and is also comfortable place to get some rest and sleep. Unplanned and without organized itinerary, I ended up searching great places to visit in Aurora particularly the town of Baler on the net. Thanks to my fellow bloggers who diligently provide all the information about the place. 

Maam Mel and I met at the LRT station past 21:00 to catch up the last trip of the train bound for Cubao. We need to get to Genesis Bus Station as early as we can so that we can get tickets for Baler. Arrived around 23:00 and we got our reservations on the 5th bus bound to Baler. It was a good thing that we arrived there earlier otherwise we will be waiting more hours for the bus to arrive. We left Cubao at 01:30 and arrived in Baler like past 07:00. Finally, I reached Baler! 

The fresh and not so cold air breeze of summer is what I first noticed after stepping off from the bus. Not so far away from the bus terminal, like 500 meters walk, we reached our destination. Take a couple of minutes to fix our things in the room and (jarrrraaaaannnnn!!!) time to explore Aurora!

Our first stop, Baler Church. We usually first visit the church whenever we travel new places. Have some thing to say and be thankful to God for the opportunity to explore new places. The church was still closed when we arrived there so I only took a picture on the outside of the church. The church is not that big to cater all the Catholics in the town I guess.   

Baler Church

In front of the Baler Church is the historical landmark house of Dona Aurora Aragon. The house was still closed when we arrived there so we were not able to visit the inside of the house. To my knowledge, I believe that dress of the late Dona Aurora was exhibited inside the house. We continued to stroll around the town until we reached the old municipal building which I saw has been renovated. It rained when we were at the place and luckily, just a few steps, we found what they call "Rolling Stores". It is where we took our breakfast. Wet clothes but hungry stomach from a long trip ride, we ate as if we never had our meals for few days!    

Breakfast at Rolling Stores. 

After taking our breakfast, we strolled along the Quezon Park wherein Museo de Baler is also located. Few minutes after, we hired a tricycle for a day tour around the town. We got it for 800 pesos and not bad given the locations of the tourist spots is far from each other. We then ride to visit Ermita Hill. We spend most likely about 45 minutes in this place. It is like hiking. If I remember it right, it's about 278 steps in going up to the cross on top of the hill. The view was nice on top of the hill. Great enough for a simple picnic like lunch with the family and friends. 

Hill Top!

We then visited Diguisit Falls after spending a couple of minutes in Ermita Hill. It is few minutes ride from the hill. Great view along the way wherein you can see the Pacific Ocean on the left side of the road and mountains on the right side. Breathtaking views! We also took time to take pics on the road having Aniao Islets on the background. 

We spent time hiking a bit in going up to Diguisit Falls. You can always see this along your way to Aniao Islets because it is located just along the road. Too hot from the hill hike, we never passed the chance not to feel the cold water falls raging from the top of the mountain. Water is so cold. Haha! Just be careful in going up not to hurt yourself from the sharp blades of the rocks. One mistake step and you'll hurt yourself.  

So refreshing!

Finally after taking plunge in the falls, we arrived and experienced the beauty of Aniao Islets. It was really hot when we arrived at the place. But then we did not let the hot weather hinder us from exploring the place. rock formations are great. We even dared ourselves to take few steps up on the rock hills. Did not even put sunblock but I did not really care. I enjoyed every seconds I am on the place. We enjoyed having snacks in between. Having boiled corn plus fresh fruits especially watermelon to quench our thirst. Entrance fee on the area is about 20 pesos per head. After few minutes of taking some rest and having energized by our snacks, we proceeded to Cemento Beach and Baler Municipal Fish Port.

At Cemento Beach!

Mountain and the sea! 

Around 13:30 without taking lunch, we went to visit the famous Old Balete Tree Park in Maria Aurora. From the fish port, we took a nap while on our way to the tree. After arriving there we then again refilled our stomach with locals "kakanin". Target on our first day is to finish as many as we can on our not so well planned itinerary so that by next day all we need to do is surfing. Off course we took the time to recharge while watching tourists climbing up on the roots of the tree and taking photo ops. After few minutes, we also spent time going up on the roots and we even tried going inside the caves of the big old tree. 

Yes it is wifi-free!

Finally, all set on our last destination for the day, Ditumabo Mother Falls in San Luis, Aurora. We arrived here around 14:30. This is a great challenge for both of us as we already been hiking and climbing mountains. There is two ways in going up to this wonder falls. Sadly, we took the longer route because cars are can't even turn around because the parking at the jump off place is too crowded. Visiting this falls is very challenging because you need to be physically fit to encounter big rocks along the way. You also cross bridges along the way made of bamboos and woods. Being careful is what you need in climbing up to the falls. You need 30-45 minutes strong stamina to get there to the top. Once you get there, you won't feel your tiredness because it is a great place to relax and enjoy God's gift of nature. Going down is much easier than going up to the falls. You can even treat yourself with fresh fruits and buco juice once you get back to the jump off place. It was worth the long walk.     

Quenching my thirst!

At the Mother Falls.

Going back to Baler, I asked our driver to stop on the marker of Baler to took some shots! Will never pass the moment of not taking picture on the marker welcoming me to Baler. Dimatubo Falls was supposed to be our last itinerary for the day but with the generous driver he brought us to a hanging bridge. Arrrgghhhh! I was very afraid crossing the bridge because I am afraid of heights. Secondly, woods being used on the bridge is not strong enough, feels like I will fall anytime if I stepped on the weak ones. Haha! What a freaking experience. After that, we took our early dinner at the town proper and went back to our place to take a nap because we planned to visit the beach front at night. Sad to say, the nap went long and I woke up around 01:00 which is supposedly 20:30 haha! ZzzzzZzzzzzzZzzzzzz lights off! 

So scared of this hanging bridge :)

2nd Day! All about swimming and surfing! We woke up around 06:00, fixed things up and attended the morning mass. After spending the mass, we went directly to Museo de Baler. Spend time on this museum knowing about the historical place. Took some funny moments inside the museum. More picture here. 

After couple of minutes, we decided then to have our breakfast at the popular Gerry Shan's Place. Sadly, they were still closed when we arrived there so we ended up having our breakfast at Yolly's Ihaw-Ihaw just behind the place. After making our stomach full, we knew we were ready to hit the beach to go swimming and surfing. Ah yeah!    

Breakfast at Yolly's Ihaw Ihaw just behind Gerry's Shan!

This is it! The essence of going to Baler, surfingggggg! Never, ever, ever leave Baler without trying to surf. Baler experience will not be enough without riding the waves on the Pacific Ocean. Definitely a must try! We arrived in Sabang Beach around 09:00 and went directly to Mahdox Surf School for our surfing tutorial. We booked and got scheduled at 11:00 so that's 2 hours of  waiting. Well we did not let that time slipped away without doing nothing. We spent swimming and taking pictures here and there. Haha!

Green and Pink it is!

Swimming while waiting for my turn to surf. 

From the time I hold the surf board I got too excited so try it on my own! With what I have learned during the oral lectures, I tried my best not to fall. Well at first it was hard. Haha! I was really laughing at myself if I fall. When I've got the right moves and techniques, I enjoyed surfing! Picture perfect! More pictures here. 

Calories burned plus sunburn most likely (as of writing, sun-burned skin still peeling). Worth the experience, definitely I enjoyed every seconds of it. So great that Gerry Shan's buffet place also opened a branch on the beachfront. 199 pesos is worth enough for a empty stomach! Buffet and all the foods is all mouth-watering! From fresh fruits, veggies and meat plus sea foods. 

My lunch!

We enjoyed it so much as we were not able to catch the last trip of bus going directly to Manila. We took the bus going to Cabanatuan City at around 14:00 from there we took bus going back to Manila and arrived here around 21:00. Reached home around 22:00.

That was a very memorable weekend getaway. Go out and have fun! Enjoy life when you have the opportunity. Be a good blessing to others. Along the way you meet people with a good heart and be inspired. Until next my trip. Thank you Baler. Thank you Aurora.