Baler, Aurora: Haleeerrrr Baleeerrrr!!!
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| grabbed from Wikipedia |
When I hear "Baler", one word comes to mind -- SURFING!!!!
Baler is the provincial capital of Aurora, located at the Eastern part of Central Luzon.
Because of its killer waves, it has become one of the top surf spots in the Philippines. Best time to come is September - March.
How we reached Baler?
My friends rode a bus, while me and husband brought our car. Bus departed from Cubao terminal at 3AM, while we left our home in Marilao, Bulacan at 3:30 AM.
Via Bus: My friends met at Genesis Bus Terminal in Cubao at around 2AM, Saturday of July 23, 2016. Bus left at 3AM, their first trip. Bus leaves every hour.
Genesis Transport Service.
704 EDSA corner New York St., Cubao, Quezon City.
(02) 709-0803 / 421-1425
http://www.genesistransport.com.ph/
Travel Time: 6 Hours
Fare: 450 Pesos
Via Car: We brought our Toyotoa Vios Car. Left our house in Bulacan at around 3:30AM.
We followed this route with the help of our cellphone App - Waze:
From Home in Bulacan, exited at Bocaue Toll Plaza
Headed onto NLEX
Exited at NLEX Mabalacat toll Plaza
Headed onto SCTEX Ramp - exited at Tarlac
Followed the sign going to Cabanatuan City/La Paz
Turned left going to Aliaga (this shortens the trip as it bypass Cabanatuan City)
Headed onto Pantabanga Road until reaching Baler
We departed our house at 3:30AM and arrived at 9:30AM (6 hours). We had few 5-10 minutes short stops a long the way. If we hadn't, we could have arrived an hour early.
Gas consumption: Full tank
Home (Marilao Bulacan) - Baler (Resort) Distance: 268 kms
It was a zigzag, up-down roller coaster kinda ride. Good thing, the road is paved with only few under construction.
My friends and I arrived almost at the same time that morning. We were advised to meet at Aliyah, one of the famous resorts there. But no, we didn't stay in Aliyah as we ran out of rooms. We stayed at Jamjen's Lodge.
Where We Stayed?
JAMJEN'S LODGE.
Contact Number: 0929 241 0298 (I advise calling them directly as I didn't get a response thru their FB account)
Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/Jamjens-Lodge-417107581749468/
Our room was supposed to have a double bed. But for some reason, we were upgraded into a room good for four.
What's in our Room:
Double deck that can fit two persons each bed
Aircondition
Hot & Cold Shower
Old model TV
Plastic drawer/dresser
What I like:
Lodge is pretty new. Built 2012
No advance reservation fee needed
Clean
Soft and nice smelling pillows, mattress and blanket
With Free WIFI (though need to ask from them the password. Password posted on the wall near the door doesn't work anymore)
The Boy who assisted was friendly
Near the beach
Right beside the Sari-sari store
Our check out time is supposed to be 11AM. We overstayed until 1:30PM. They were so nice not to charge us for overstaying.
What I didn't like:
There were few very minor things. Like no tissue, shampoo or soap. Now, I am not really sure if it's a must to have these things for a lodge type accommodation. But then, when we were about to purchase tissue papers, the lady from sari-sari store gave us ours and said it's really supposed to be the tissue in our room, only that they keep it. Though I believe this should be automatically available, without being asked, I just shrugged it off. No big deal.
When we got back to our room after swimming in the beach, there's no water from the shower. It was easily fixed.
No response from Facebook.
Again, these are just minor things. I just stated it for FYI. I didn't expect too much from this lodge, so I didn't mind at all.
Overall, I am good with our stay. Will I stay here again? Yes.
Foodang!
The two times we had our breakfast was at Aliyah Resort. Nothing really special in their Silog meals. But it's a perfect spot for us. We sat at a table overlooking the beach, savoring the morning air, the sound of the waves at the background, while enjoying drinking 3n1 Nescafe coffee and eating our silog.
On our first day, after eating breakfast, we returned to our room at around 11 AM. We just stayed inside and slept until 3PM. My friends though went to the Motherfalls at 12NN. We decided to skip it was scourging hot. I am not fond of waterfalls anyway. A tricycle brought them there for P500 rental fee.
Husband and I woke up at 3PM. My kid was already so excited to swim in the beach. And we did for an hour until we were all shivering of cold. It was windy that afternoon as rain was about to come.
We went back to our room, showered and slept again! Gosh, it looks like we slept the entire afternoon! Well, it rained, so what can we do...
The heavy rain stopped shortly before 7PM. For our dinner, we ate at Baler Surfer Grill located along the beach.
For our lunch on our second day, we at at Yolly's Ihaw-Ihaw and Seafood restaurant. A non-airconditioned resto, this place is packed. Viands are displayed like a carinderia style. Lobster, crabs, shrimps and other seafood are available. It's also a place to buy pasalubong.
Surfing
Sunday. July 24, 2016.
This is my first time to ever experience surfing. You see, I am no athlete. I hate getting hurt or exhausted. I easily give up. But I still love adventure so... My friend didn't need to push me into trying. When asked if I'd wanted to do it, I just said "yes" without hesitation. But at the back of my mind, I was freaking scared.
So I just went with it. An instructor lectured me on how to properly stand on the surfboard. What do and what not and so on....
Eventually, we went to the water chest deep to execute. It felt frightening and exciting at the same time. Instructor assisted me to get ready and when the wave comes, he pushed the surfboard and yelled "Go!", meaning stand.
I didn't know how it happened. Probably adrenaline. My body just stood up without my mind commanding it. And the next thing I knew I was standing on the board. Of course, I fell after probably 3 seconds. And the hit was hard. Hitting the water is no joke.
Despite that, with much determination, I went back and get ready on my surfboard. We waited for the wave, stood, fell. Did the same round over and over until I was able to finally stand and made it to the shoreline.
It was exhausting, yes. And I gave up due to exhaustion. I told myself, this thing is not for me. I won't do it again. But you know what, as soon as we arrived home and saw the pictures and a video of me riding the waves, It felt great! I was proud of myself and thought, I want to do it again!
We didn't surf in Sabang beach. Instead, we were brought to Lipit beach. Its around 15-20 minutes away from Sabang. Unlike in Sabang, no resorts are built here yet. And the waves are much stronger.
Still, July is not a good time to visit as there were only few waves. It's best to come September to March.
We rented a tricycle to get to Lipit beach for 300 pesos. We paid our instructor for 350 each. Surfboard rental is 200.
Going back home, we followed the same route. Our trip lasted for 7 hours as it was raining hard so we had to be more cautious of our speed.
Overall, me and family had so much fun! We didn't do much activities like going to the waterfalls, museum visit. Next time. What made it fun was the drinking session that night and surfing session the following day! Yeah, that's the highlight of our trip.
My friends rode a bus, while me and husband brought our car. Bus departed from Cubao terminal at 3AM, while we left our home in Marilao, Bulacan at 3:30 AM.
Via Bus: My friends met at Genesis Bus Terminal in Cubao at around 2AM, Saturday of July 23, 2016. Bus left at 3AM, their first trip. Bus leaves every hour.
 |
| Genesis Transport Schedule |
704 EDSA corner New York St., Cubao, Quezon City.
(02) 709-0803 / 421-1425
http://www.genesistransport.com.ph/
Travel Time: 6 Hours
Fare: 450 Pesos
Via Car: We brought our Toyotoa Vios Car. Left our house in Bulacan at around 3:30AM.
We followed this route with the help of our cellphone App - Waze:
From Home in Bulacan, exited at Bocaue Toll Plaza
Headed onto NLEX
Exited at NLEX Mabalacat toll Plaza
Headed onto SCTEX Ramp - exited at Tarlac
Followed the sign going to Cabanatuan City/La Paz
Turned left going to Aliaga (this shortens the trip as it bypass Cabanatuan City)
Headed onto Pantabanga Road until reaching Baler
We departed our house at 3:30AM and arrived at 9:30AM (6 hours). We had few 5-10 minutes short stops a long the way. If we hadn't, we could have arrived an hour early.
Gas consumption: Full tank
Home (Marilao Bulacan) - Baler (Resort) Distance: 268 kms
It was a zigzag, up-down roller coaster kinda ride. Good thing, the road is paved with only few under construction.
My friends and I arrived almost at the same time that morning. We were advised to meet at Aliyah, one of the famous resorts there. But no, we didn't stay in Aliyah as we ran out of rooms. We stayed at Jamjen's Lodge.
Where We Stayed?
JAMJEN'S LODGE.
Contact Number: 0929 241 0298 (I advise calling them directly as I didn't get a response thru their FB account)
Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/Jamjens-Lodge-417107581749468/
Our room was supposed to have a double bed. But for some reason, we were upgraded into a room good for four.
What's in our Room:
Double deck that can fit two persons each bed
Aircondition
Hot & Cold Shower
Old model TV
Plastic drawer/dresser
What I like:
Lodge is pretty new. Built 2012
No advance reservation fee needed
Clean
Soft and nice smelling pillows, mattress and blanket
With Free WIFI (though need to ask from them the password. Password posted on the wall near the door doesn't work anymore)
The Boy who assisted was friendly
Near the beach
Right beside the Sari-sari store
Our check out time is supposed to be 11AM. We overstayed until 1:30PM. They were so nice not to charge us for overstaying.
What I didn't like:
There were few very minor things. Like no tissue, shampoo or soap. Now, I am not really sure if it's a must to have these things for a lodge type accommodation. But then, when we were about to purchase tissue papers, the lady from sari-sari store gave us ours and said it's really supposed to be the tissue in our room, only that they keep it. Though I believe this should be automatically available, without being asked, I just shrugged it off. No big deal.
When we got back to our room after swimming in the beach, there's no water from the shower. It was easily fixed.
No response from Facebook.
Again, these are just minor things. I just stated it for FYI. I didn't expect too much from this lodge, so I didn't mind at all.
Overall, I am good with our stay. Will I stay here again? Yes.
The two times we had our breakfast was at Aliyah Resort. Nothing really special in their Silog meals. But it's a perfect spot for us. We sat at a table overlooking the beach, savoring the morning air, the sound of the waves at the background, while enjoying drinking 3n1 Nescafe coffee and eating our silog.
On our first day, after eating breakfast, we returned to our room at around 11 AM. We just stayed inside and slept until 3PM. My friends though went to the Motherfalls at 12NN. We decided to skip it was scourging hot. I am not fond of waterfalls anyway. A tricycle brought them there for P500 rental fee.
Husband and I woke up at 3PM. My kid was already so excited to swim in the beach. And we did for an hour until we were all shivering of cold. It was windy that afternoon as rain was about to come.
We went back to our room, showered and slept again! Gosh, it looks like we slept the entire afternoon! Well, it rained, so what can we do...
The heavy rain stopped shortly before 7PM. For our dinner, we ate at Baler Surfer Grill located along the beach.
 |
| Food in a car grill. Beetle still works |
 |
| Their Bulalo Bbq is so tender and tasty! Love it! |
Surfing
Sunday. July 24, 2016.
This is my first time to ever experience surfing. You see, I am no athlete. I hate getting hurt or exhausted. I easily give up. But I still love adventure so... My friend didn't need to push me into trying. When asked if I'd wanted to do it, I just said "yes" without hesitation. But at the back of my mind, I was freaking scared.
So I just went with it. An instructor lectured me on how to properly stand on the surfboard. What do and what not and so on....
Eventually, we went to the water chest deep to execute. It felt frightening and exciting at the same time. Instructor assisted me to get ready and when the wave comes, he pushed the surfboard and yelled "Go!", meaning stand.
I didn't know how it happened. Probably adrenaline. My body just stood up without my mind commanding it. And the next thing I knew I was standing on the board. Of course, I fell after probably 3 seconds. And the hit was hard. Hitting the water is no joke.
Despite that, with much determination, I went back and get ready on my surfboard. We waited for the wave, stood, fell. Did the same round over and over until I was able to finally stand and made it to the shoreline.
It was exhausting, yes. And I gave up due to exhaustion. I told myself, this thing is not for me. I won't do it again. But you know what, as soon as we arrived home and saw the pictures and a video of me riding the waves, It felt great! I was proud of myself and thought, I want to do it again!
We didn't surf in Sabang beach. Instead, we were brought to Lipit beach. Its around 15-20 minutes away from Sabang. Unlike in Sabang, no resorts are built here yet. And the waves are much stronger.
Still, July is not a good time to visit as there were only few waves. It's best to come September to March.
We rented a tricycle to get to Lipit beach for 300 pesos. We paid our instructor for 350 each. Surfboard rental is 200.
Going back home, we followed the same route. Our trip lasted for 7 hours as it was raining hard so we had to be more cautious of our speed.
Overall, me and family had so much fun! We didn't do much activities like going to the waterfalls, museum visit. Next time. What made it fun was the drinking session that night and surfing session the following day! Yeah, that's the highlight of our trip.
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