Surfin' in Baler! ^_^

The last time I was in Baler was way back 2012. We took a bus to Cabanatuan and rented a van from there. (because the Joy buses are already fully booked and we didn't exactly planned the trip XD)

Check our Baler Adventure Video here

Now we booked a van MNL-BALER-MNL with side tours. (PHP13000 good for 10-13pax). The travel time is approximately 6hours per way with bumpy and winding roads.

We stayed at Bayler View Hotel (around PHP3000 per room for 3-4pax). We picked Bayler because it's a beach front hotel and there's a restaurant downstairs so you don't have to worry about food.

View in front of Bayler View <girl not included XD>

We went to Ditumabo mother falls before checking in which is about 30min. hike per way. We rented a tricycle to take us to the starting point of the hike (PHP200 for 3pax) which I don't remember doing the last time we went there, the van brought us directly to the starting point. Then the entrance fee costs PHP30. There are already a few stores that sells hotdogs, banana q and camote q and shakes at the foot.

And the trail is now more "friendly" with wooden bridges every now and then. You don't have to hire a guide. The path is pretty straight forward.

The water is still as cold as I remember. But taking a quick dip would do the trick. Very refreshing and worth the effort of going. 

After going to the falls, we checked in and settled our stuff.

It was raining cats and dogs in Manila but we were blessed to have this very fine weather in Baler

This was still under construction back in 2012

Break Sand - Soft grayish sand ideal for surfing. I like it better here than in Bagasbas where there were a lot of seaweeds.

 And of course our Baler trip wouldn't be complete without SURFING!

Instructions before Hands-on.

Surfing costs PHP300 per hour all in with a personal instructor and surfing board rental.

After surfing we enjoyed the waves a little more before calling it a day.

We had dinner at Gerry Shan's an eat all you can buffet for just PHP200. The food was good specially the sisig. It was very sulit!

We had "a few" drinks and bonded which costs us PHP1000 of penalty for being too loud and disturbing other guests XD

Other places in Baler you shouldn't miss.

The scenic Water Dams.

You're going to pass by it to and from.

The Millenium Tree

This is the oldest and biggest Balete tree in Asia.

This picture was taken INSIDE the tree! So just imagine? <we look like toasts XD>

Museo de Baler

Manuel L. Quezon

A peek inside the museum. On the lower right corner are the costumes Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales wore in the movie "Baler".

Quezon's old car

Digisit Beach

For some picture taking

And simply chillin' and eating ice cream..

The Small Water Falls

Then and now one thing hasn't changed <well two including my shirt which apparently I also wore 3 years ago (see group picture above and picture below)> I still enjoyed Baler the second time around.

You can do all these in a weekend trip with a budget of around PHP2000-PHP3000.

I wouldn't mind going back a third.. a fourth.. or an nth time. I'm in love with the place :)