Baler Trip

Just got back from the upper east side coast of Central Luzon! 

It was Holy Week and my parents decided to go to Baler, Aurora! It’s Baler ++ (plus plus) because it wasn’t just Baler, it was also adjacent towns around! We were there from April 17-20, yup that’s four days but technically, we only spent about 48 hours going around. We arrived late afternoon of Thursday and left early morning of Sunday. *long post incoming*This wasn’t our first time though, we were here back in 2006? 2007? or was it 2008.. Basta Friendster pa uso nun, haha! I tried finding our pictures but I can’t, huhu. I remember going to Ditumabo Falls (Mother Falls), Diguisit beach/rock formations and the Balite Tree (Millenium Tree). It was during the rainy season and I don’t remember seeing surfers back then in Sabang Beach! There weren’t hotels yet and the zigzag road going to Aurora was not yet paved and was very dangerous. Though now there are two roads, one paved in Maria Aurora (Pantabangan-Aurora) and the other dangerous one in San Luis (Nueva Ecija-Aurora Rd.) where landslides occur.Going to Aurora, we took the Pulilan Exit of NLEX, passed by the provinces of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, then to Sierra Madre and finally to Maria Aurora and Baler of Aurora! Wow, it was a really long drive!! We were supposed to leave at 3am but got delayed and all and was pushed to 9am- which was NOT the best idea ever! The traffic in NLEX was so bad that we were already driving at the roadside just to get pass all the other cars! 'Yung sa gilid na hindi sementado hahahaha. And I thought we were lucky since Pulilan Exit was only a few minutes away, but when we got in the town proper, agh, more heavy traffic! 6-hour drive turned to an 8.5-hour drive! Anyways, it’s best to leave when the sun isn’t up! We didn’t really have an itinerary in mind nor did we have reserved accomodation in Baler. I guess we were trying our luck.. but nope, we weren’t lucky in Sabang Beach (where all the surfing happens, huhu). It was already dark when we decided to go to Maria Aurora, town next to Baler. We stayed in- Malamig Traveler’s Inn and Restaurant. It was a big place with 3 swimming pools and a resto-bar! It wasn’t all “malamig" tho, but was alright for summer. We decided to night-swim since the roadtrip was tiring and swimming would of course take it away! Then the next day, we decided to stay in since it was blazing hot out but then my mom got a tip from the locals! They said (or was it a “sabi nung mama/manong”) that we should already go to the falls while it’s still hot since the water’s really cold there!
So that’s the Caunayan Falls! Sounds like Cauntay to me….. haha! We didn’t go to Mother Falls which was bigger! And it’s because we heard that there were too many people there, huhu. But I’m glad tho since we also enjoyed Caunayan. I think any falls would be great since the water’s always crystal clear, cold, clean and very relaxing! The view’s even great and the feeling’s like you’re one with nature, haha! If you haven’t tried bathing in any falls, then you should!! Though the rocks may hurt your feet.. you can just wear slippers! Don’t even think about getting burned by the sun ‘cause the trees will protect you (one with nature alright).
Morning of that day, we planned on waking up at 2am to go to Dipaculao which is a 1.5 hr drive from Baler. Dipaculao’s Dinadiawan Beach is a white sand beach which we also heard from the locals (or the mama/manong) that the sunrise is nice there! I really wanted to see the sunrise since we were on the east side and it’d probably be my first time to see the sunrise by the beach! Okay, I’ve been to different beaches on the east side but I’ve never made an effort to wake up and literally watch it! BUT THEN, we were still on the road when the sun was rising and I didn’t even realize it! We were late but we were on a coastal road and all we saw were clouds! The clouds covered up the sun, huhu so no sunrise view for me - just the sunrise feels, good enuf, haha! 
Should I shut up since the picture says it all? Yes since I’ll be doing a separate entry for Dipaculao! I’m dreaming of sailing the Pacific Ocean.. Life changing or life threatening? Haha!
We only visited a few places in Baler and we didn’t even surf, huhu. We weren’t able to go to the Balite Tree which is the biggest tree in the world, another huhu. There was so much more to Baler that we weren’t able to cover but it was still a nice trip! Feels refreshing from all the summer heat back at home. I actually want to go back! Kahit next week agad haha! I think Baler is booming and the fact that it’s between the Pacific Ocean and Sierra Madre makes it more attractive and encouraging!

The plan was to leave Caunayan Falls before sundown then go to the town proper of Baler but we enjoyed a little too much.. haha! We were supposed to attend the procession which was at 7pm but since we were already late, we decided to do the Visita Iglesia with one of the churches of Baler. When we got there, it was closed but we came back afternoon the next day and did the 14 Stations of the Cross! 

Church of Baler

Can you please take time to look and take in the beauty of this beach? This beach is facing the Pacific Ocean and is resting by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range! And the people! It’s not people polluted, haha! 

After Dipaculao, we went back to Baler and went around!

View of Sabang Beach from Ermita Hills

We went up the steepy road to the Baler PAGASA Weather Station and below is the view from there! 

View of Discalarin Cove from the PAGASA Weather Station

Discalarin Cove is private owned and you must secure a pass to enter! I think you need to pay Php300.00 pesos for the pass.

Rocks in Diguisit which I only took from the road as we were passing by! Great views everywhere agh!

When we got back at Malamig Traveler’s Inn, we still swam then, early morning the next day, 2am-ish? We left and of course, there was no traffic but this time, we took the SCTEX route back to Manila. 

So why not Baler, right?