Wanderlust: Eat, Talk, Ride the Waves then Repeat - Baler, Aurora

It had been an exhausting day for me and since there would be a long weekend, we decided to check out this 6hr bus ride place called Baler. It was actually an urong-sulong trip. We were not prepared at all. We weren’t able to purchase bus tickets going to Baler and we had no reserved accommodation for 2 days and 2 nights.

Nonetheless, we decided to push it through. Who wants to stay at home for a long weekend, anyway? Nadah.

One of my friends agreed to leave Laguna as early as 6:30 in the evening just to make sure we could get tickets for the first trip which is 11pm. Then after hoursss, he sent a group message that he already got the reservation numbers for the 4^th bus. Yes, 4^th bus! So technically, if the Genesis Bus Company will follow their rule of 1 trip/hr, we will leave at 2 o’clock in the morning and arrive in Baler at 8AM. Good thing, they didn’t. ha ha! Dami ko pang sinabi diba.

TIP #1: If you want sure seats going to Baler, purchase the tickets on the following websites:

• Pinoy Travel
• I Want Seats

At dahil Friday is super hell day in Manila because of traffic, I settled to leave Calamba at exactly 8:30 in the evening. All busses going to Cubao was full packed! At sino bang may gustong mag-standing ovation sa kalagitnaan ng traffic sa Manila? Wala. So what I did is ride a bus going to Alabang and transfer to another bus going to Cubao. I got to the Genesis Bus Station by 10:45 in the evening.

"Pwedeng Mahalin, Hindi Pwedeng Angkinin" - Bus going to Alabang.
...and prolly the main reason why me and my friends are off to this trip. To mend our broken hearts. Ha ha ha!

While we were waiting, we checked blogs about others’ Baler trip and we found several accommodations. Well-known resorts, transient houses, etc. We sent text messages to all of them hoping one of them could accommodate us. And one of those replied! Aling Thess Cunanan offered her transient house for 1,500 for 4pax. Not bad! – we thought.

By 12:45 in the morning, our bus left Cubao. According kay manong konduktor, that would be the last trip. So yung iba, pinush na nila kahit sa aisle sila nakaupo. The ride going to Baler was smooth. No hassle at all and I actually got a 5hr solid sleep! I know I may not mention this but I want to; ang bango ng konduktor! Please, wag nang lagyan ng malisya to! It was just very rare! Di ba?! Ha ha

The amusing part of this trip is the exact 6hr bus ride from Cubao to Baler. We arrived in Baler at 6:45 in the morning! Napaka-husay lang! Ha ha

First experience? The tricycle driver and the Gabriela Silang of Baler, Aling Thess Cunanan! Ha ha! We hailed a tricycle to bring us to this famous eatery called Rolling Stores. Famous sa bloggers dahil mura. For only Php50, you already have your meal. Kanin at ulam. Very carinderia ang peg just like what we usually have in Laguna or Manila or wherever. 

our breakfast @ the Rolling Stores

After breakfast, we asked the tricycle driver to bring us to Aling Thess Cunanan but he told us that he didn’t know her. He also advised us to check other lodges baka daw kasi mas makamura. At dahil gusto talaga naming makamura, we agreed! On our way to check another lodge which is very far from the beach, the tricycle driver offered us a tour package worth Php800. Mapupuntahan na daw yun lahat. But! Since 4 kami sa group, we need to rent daw 2 tricycles kase they have an ordinance na maximum of 3 lang per trike. It will cost us Php1,600 or Php400 each. We told him that Aling Thess Cunanan was also offering a tour package worth Php2,000 for 4pax using her nephew’s car. Pero hindi nagpatalo ang tricycle driver. According to him, if we’re going to get that tour of Aling Thess, we still need to pay Php500 for the accredited guide going to Ditumabo Falls. And that car could not bring us to the starting point of the trek since it’s a rough road so we might need to pay daw another Php200 for a tricycle. Konti na lang, malapit na kaming maniwala kay Manong. He looked so kind and very concern for the 4 of us kase.

After 5 minutes or so, we reached this lodge and it costs 2,500 for 4pax. Yung totoo, Manong Driver?! Pano kami mas makakamura?? So we decided na kuhanin na lang yung kay Aling Thess. We called her and told her where we were. She insisted to fetch us since Manong Driver doesn’t know her. When she arrived, inaway nya yung driver kase kung saan saan daw kami pinagdadadala. Aling Thess pala is the vice-chairman of tourism in Baler. AND! Kilala pala sya ni Manong Driver. Liar! Anyways, we transferred to Aling Thess’ tricycle and checked her transient house. Our bad, naintimidate / nadala kami sa strong personality ni Aling Thess. We weren’t able to check every details of our room. After we settled our things, Aling Thess called us to give us the details about her tour package. Again, it’s Php2,000 for 4pax and she allowed us to use her van instead of the Picanto Car. At lahat ng sinabi nung Manong Driver are apparently all lies. The van can bring us to the starting point of the trek and we don’t need to pay Php500 for the accredited guide going to Ditumabo Falls.

TIP #2: Looks can be so deceiving. Wag magpadala. Kung sino pa yung mukhang mabait, sila pa yung sinungaling. (this tip also goes for love) ha ha!

After all the chit-chat and quick change of outfits, Aling Thess asked for the payment. Matalino. Ha ha! We paid her a total of Php5,000 for the accomodation for 2 nights (Php1,500/night) and for the tour (Php2,000). Before we go into details about the tour, let me give a quick review for Aling Thess Cunanan's Transient House: mahina ang aircon, no shower, curtains lang ang panakip sa CR, no TV, no wifi, and no LOCK for our room! In God's grace, He kept us safe.

Tour!!

We realized na isa pa sa mga kasinungalingan ni manong Driver ay ang sinabi nyang 3pax lang per tricycle. NOT TRUE! When we were on our way to Balete, we saw several tricycles na may 4 na turistang sakay! Nkklk. Anyways, these are the places included in Aling Thess' Tour Package:

• Millenium Tree aka Balete Tree

• Ditumabo Falls

• Ermita Hills

• Fish Port - nothing to see. We didn't even bother to leave the van.

• Rock Formations

• Museum

TIP#3: If your group is more than 4, it would be better to rent a van instead of a tricycle for convenience and power nap!

We finished the tour around 3:30 in the afternoon and since we haven't eaten a decent lunch, we decided to roam around and look for some places to eat. According to some blogs, Gerry Shan is one of the best restaurants in Baler. I doubt. When we went inside this restaurant, there were flies, ventilation is not good and it's madilim. I wonder if it's because it's almost 4PM and they're almost close? Anyway, we just ate on the pizza parlor in front of this restaurant and went back to Aling Thess' Transient House.

...power nap then off to the beach for some appetizer, beer, margaritas, et al.

Since this is the nearest resto with wifi, we stayed and ordered our food here:

literally for HUNGRY surfers!

We ordered mojos, buffalo wings, lechon kawali, juices, beers, and cocktail drinks. And guess what? 30 mins after we ordered, they served our drinks. After 1 hour and 45mins, they served our mojos. I was already getting irritated so I asked the waiter for our bill. Srsly, eto na yung pinakamatagal kong pinagintay para makakain! Malapit ko nang sakmalin ang kamay nung waiter dahil sa sobrang gutom. Chos! At dahil nalibang kami sa kwentuhan, naabutan pa rin namin yung buffalo wings and lechon kawali after 2 hours and 15 minutes!! Nkklk!

Need proof?

nakatulog na yung isang customer kakaintay sa burger and fries nya!

TIP#4: Don't dare to dine at Hungry Surfers if you're hungry. Ha ha!

Before going back to our room, we checked first the Aliya Surf Camp & Resort since they're hosting the The 2nd Annual STOKEDinc. Philippine Wahine Classic. It was a party!! There were DJs, lights, drinks, hot surfers, et al.

TIP #5: It would be a lot nicer if your accommodation is beach front. Mej mahal pero worth it naman siguro unlike what we did.. Nakamura nga pero hindi pa din sapat. Ha ha!

Second morning means SURFING!

I woke up my friends before 5 in the morning thinking na sana magpakitang gilas ang sunrise ng Aurora. But unfortunately, it didn't. It was a gloomy day. Cloudy! Hindi makasilip si haring araw. Anyway, we proceeded to our main agenda for the day: Learn how to surf! They usual payment for a Surfing Lesson is Php350. Pero natatawaran naman sya.. We got it for Php300/pax.

It was fun! and frustrating! and funny! and everything. Ha ha!

After surfing, we had a quick nap, went to the main town to check their church and this Baler sign, then stayed @ Aliya for our last night drinking session. 

October 2014

3rd morning:

...early call time so we can catch the first bus going to Manila. We woke up around 3:30 in the morning. But apparently, Genesis Buses going to Manila was not organized unlike what we had in Manila. It's not even on a first come, first served basis. Unaunahan talaga sa loob ng bus. Kesehodang 2am kpa nsa bus station, kapag turtle ang peg mo para makasakay ng bus, hindi rin uubra ang pagiging early. Hindi powerful ang "early bird catches the worm" motto. ha ha!

Expenses:
  49 - Calamba to Alabang 
  60 - Alabang to Cubao
450 - Cubao to Baler
750 - accommodation for 2 nights (1500/night x2 /4pax)
500 - Baler tour (2000/van/4pax)
  10 - Balete fee
  10 - Ditumabo Falls fee
300 - surfing lesson
450 - Baler to Cubao

...for food, it will always depend on your group. If you want to make your trip cheaper, go for Rolling Stores or other carinderia for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. :)

xx