Sabang Beach is a gray sand beach regarded as the birthplace of surfing in Baler. Alam mo ba, nag-start pala ang surfing sa Baler nung 1976 dahil sa epic movie na "Apocalypse Now" (hindi ko alam ang movie na 'to =P) filmed in Charlie's Point, a resort along Sabang beach. At dahil hindi mga marunong magligpit ang mga tinamaan ng isang mga crew na ito, yung iniwan nilang surfboards ang ninenok ng mga locals at ayun, pinag-aralang tumayo habang nasa tubig. At yan ang alamat ng surfing sa Baler, gawa ko lang po yung mga terms, wag paniwalaan ang pagkakakwento pero ganyan talaga ang simula nya, minus the nenokan =P
Tick off ito sa'king listahan ng probinsyang narating, ang Aurora, salamat sa FSSP Team, ang aming Associated Technologies conducted R&D Coordinator's Workshop in Baler last 25-26 February 2014 at dahil jan, nakatambay sa Costa Pacifica Resort, pag kasama talaga si Kuyang Ruben nakakatikim ako ng sashal things =)
pictorial sa Costa Pacifica, laban na laban din naman ako kay Kuyang ih!
The AssoTech Team led by Tita Vangie: Sir Acs, CP, Paul, Sir Edwin, Kuyang, Sir Gerry, Rachelle, Ms. Lani, KuRoms, Darwin, Raffy, from PhilRice Bicol, Anna, Tita from PhilRice Isabela (from 1st photo)
mga pwedeng bilhing pasalubong, alam nyo bang gumagawa din sila ng tambo na pambenta sa Baguio City? AHA! Lalagyan lang ng name na Baguio City.
masarap ang suman na yan
And since, official ang first trip ko sa Baler, when I went back together with Pogs nung Chinese New Year 2018, I made sure na purong gala at food trip ito, tho wala pa ding surfing, I don't know why I didn't try or thought of it. Anyways, maybe next time.
Pogs did all the research on where to go and what to do in Baler, I just don't feel like doing it (tho I am the official taga-IT). And so, our destination in this photo below is the Ditumabo Mother Falls (the big falls in front of me in photo 3 and photo 4) located in Barangay Ditumabo, San Luis, Aurora. It's a 45-minute drive from Sabang (the beach surfing area) with a 1.3 kilometers trek through lush forests and rivers and rocky paths. The falls have a height of 42 meters with a 35-meter-wide basin and considered by the locals as the Mother Falls of San Luis.
Another surfing spot in Baler, Diguisit Beach located 11 kilometers from the town proper, it boasts of unique rock formations and crystal-clear water. Aniao islets which are two small islands can also be seen here. If you want a stunning view of Baler's natural wonders, you hike up the hill where the Baler Lighthouse is located. You can see Diguisit Beach from the hill's peak. You can also climb up the lighthouse if you still want an even better vantage point.
We woke up very early to catch the sunrise at Ampere Beach, this beach is not ideal for swimming because the shoreline is mainly comprised of different-sized pebbles but sunrise watching and the rock formation is the appeal of this tourist spot. Beyond the rock wall, you can find a cave (tho we didn't get to see this). My Marites antenna heard that locals are said to forecast the weather by measuring how loud the waves slam against the interior of the cave. The louder it gets, the worse the weather.
I love this Baler Hanging Bridge, it connects Barangay Tibang and Sabang. As you traverse the bridge you get a panoramic view of the river and the vast mountainscape.
Dicasalarin Cove is a private-owned beach, the same owner as Costa Pacifica Resort, the Angaras. The cove sits about 10 kilometers away from Sabang and can be reached by car or motorcycle. Aside from a picturesque shoreline, you can also head up to a nearby lighthouse that has a modern and geometric shape to get a beautiful view of the bay. No restaurants or store there, so you need to bring your own stuff but you can stay for the night as they have tents, air beds, and sleeping bags for rent.
And to rest, we decided to just go around town on our last day. We visited the Balete Millenium Tree (tho I don't have photos here), Ermita Hill (no photos too), and the home of Dona Aurora Aragon-Quezon.
Of course, a trip wouldn't be complete if we do not try the food, so below is at least some of the food we tried in Baler.
And because this is Baler x3, my third time is with some of the Mumshs. Sonia wanted to break-in her new car, May, on the other hand, wanted to go somewhere, and then Doc Thess had a client in the area and could spend some time for lakwatsa while of course me, just because I am Mariang GALA. May and I traveled from IRRI to PhilRice in Munoz and we stayed for the night at Sonia's place then together the three of us traveled the next day to Baler and met Doc Thess there. This is a no-plan-just-chill-kind-of-trip but since I think I am the only one who has already been to Baler, I at least have a list of places to visit and restaurants to try. And so, let's see if this is indeed a chill trip.
When I first went to Baler and I was posting the photos, there was a suggestion on my newsfeed of restaurant to try on your way to Baler, Hillocks Coffee Shop, and Restaurant. The photo showed an elegant country-style structure and the garden looks good, it's the ambiance, that made me want to try it and of course, to see if it's more than just pleasantries, the food has to much the looks. So, this 3rd time in Baler, we pass by and tried this restaurant. The food was "so-so" although I also think it was because the world is just beginning to open after the pandemic, I'll probably give it another try. Photo opportunities at Hillocks, that's our photo above.
Coming out of the pandemic (are we out already?) it's good to see so many people in this part of Baler. It is a different Sabang from my previous trips, although the surfers are still visible. So every morning and after sundown, this place transforms into a street food trip area. In the morning you can have your breakfast of mami, lugaw, suman, and taho; at night you can still enjoy the lugaw plus chitcharon, ihaw-ihaw, and balot. The street is very much alive with people exercising: running, jogging, walking, and groups doing zumba and swimming and surfing siempre. So, we joined the fun, we had our first breakfast in Sabang, Baler.
Since the world is just opening, here also in Baler, most tourist spots are still closed to the public or for walk-ins, we just went to Hanging Bridge, Ermita Hill, Museo de Baler, and Dona Aurora's Home. We also get to try the food in Kubli Bistro, when Pogs and I tried that, it was already famous then, and we need to line up to get a seat, when we went back now, the restaurant has changed a lot, it's already vongga and the food hasn't changed it's still masarap, we get to try and enjoyed their thin crust pizza.
Ending this entry with me riding this cute hello kitty tricycle for my TODA collection. I hope to be back and get to try surfing in Baler. With who? when? Will see!
Salamat kay Pogs and Thessa for most of the photos.
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