Mountain Climbing: A Dream Come True

Who says big people can't climb mountains?!? Haha!! Then you're definitely wrong! =)

Since college, I've been wanting to join Mountaineering groups/clubs.  I didn't have much time to follow this interest but just recently, this long time dream came back when I saw pictures of my friend in Mt. Pulag.  I was like "WOOOWWWW!!!?!?!!" with jaw dropping! haha!! :)) I then told myself, "I want to be there too!" and that "I need to be there!". 

Jun at Mt. Pulag

That's how it all started... I went asking my friend with the basics, searched online for tips on mountain climbing and really, blogs helped me a lot! Special thanks to Sir Gideon of PinoyMountaineer.



As of the moment, I have conquered Mt. Maculot and Mt. Gulugod Baboy.  These two are just minor climbs but for sure, someday I'll be at mt. pulag and hopefully... MT. APO! =)

I'm going to create separate entries for my Mt. Maculot and Mt. Gulugod Baboy climbs. Please watch out for it!

Who wouldn't want to see this nature's beauty....?

Discovering Baler (Part 2)

We had lunch at the famous "rolling stores", not literally rolling though.  The foods were great! Cheap and delicious.  The rolling stores is just beside Quezon park where lies the Museo de Baler. There's no entrance fee at the museum. Instead, a donation box was placed inside. The Museum caters a lot of artifacts from way back the Galleon Trade and many art works from the locals. The plaques that the casts and crews of the movie "Baler" are also stored here.

In front of Museo de Baler, inside Quezon Park

(Me, Jaja, Mikel and Oche)

Outside Baler Church

Next to Quezon Park is Baler church. it was being renovated when we came so we didn't get the chance to go inside.  Actually, the whole church is just a renovated version since the original structure was destroyed way back World War II.  We roamed around the vicinity, took pictures at the Quezon house and the Municipal Hall.  Former President Quezon's house is a renovated version as well since the original structure was destroyed by a typhoon just few years ago.  We rested for a while at the park in front of the Municipal Hall then we rented a tricycle going to Ermita Hill.

Very funny pic from Jaja's camera (going up to Ermita Hill)

Ermita Hill is now one of my favorite places in Baler, aside of  course from the beach! It is only less than a hundred steps (but tiring for me!ü) and it is said to be where the locals ran to, including former President Quezon's family, when a tsunami hits Baler.  At the peak, one can have a very majestic view of Baler and the shoreline of Sabang beach.  We went there in the afternoon and the sun shines over the sea making the water look like it was shimmering.  There are many picnic huts at the summit and it is very popular even to locals. After a couple of picture taking, we went down and head back to Sabang.  We decided to walk at the sea shore in going back to our hotel.  There were surfers on the beach and I felt a bit envious since I want to try it too but we don't have enough budget for it.  A surfing lesson costs P350.00 per hour and I just don't know if there is a separate fee for the board rental or if its included in the per hour fee.

Finally, time for swimming! I love beaches! hahaha! :) But since we need to prepare for our dinner as well, we played the "maiba alis" game to decide who will go to the market to buy foods.ü Jaja and Mikel, unfortunately, were the chosen ones! hahah!! While they were away exploring the Market, we were busy beach-ing!!!^^ Slamming with the waves.. watching surfers do their stunts.

pigging out! :)

When Jaja and Mikel came, we let them swim and enjoy the beach while we prepare our dinner.  The staff at the hotel were very kind.  They even helped us start our "ihawan" and made sure we're safe when a commotion happened between one of the guests and the guess/owner I guess of the hotel next to Bay-Ler.  Nevertheless, we had a wonderful night!  We went up to our hotel room after finishing two bottles of the Bar, laughing our heart out because of the game that we played and the funny jokes lalo na ang mga hirit ni Iana! Dicasalarin! Hindi ka suspect! hahaha!! Fun! Fun! Fun! :)

Slamming with the waves ^^

Failed jump shot

Four of us failed and funny how Mikel look on his jump shot! lol! :))

Temptation Island pose for jaja! ^^

The next morning, we had our breakfast at the carinderia along the shore (almost). Afterwards, we decided to go on swimming again before heading back to the Bus station.  There we had our lunch and looked around for pasalubongs.  There is a Pasalubong Center at the terminal, sadly because the goods are far more expensive than any other places I've been to which offers almost the same products.  I bought a shirt for myself, coin purses for some friends and family and suman for my family as well.

At pasalubong Center

Jaja and Oche wearing hats from Pasalubong Center

We waited for few hours for the bus to arrive. When the bus came, we find ourselves a seat and rested.  The deluxe bus has its own comfort room and it doesn't have a stop over.  We were joking about it because Iana and I might not fit on it but luckily, we do! haha!! The bus left Baler at around 2:30pm and few mins. before 8pm, we're back in Cubao. More than an hour after, each of us were back to our home. ☺

Discovering Baler, Aurora (Part 1)

I was so fascinated about Baler, Aurora. This finally came to an end last July 22-24, 2011. I kept bugging my highschool barkada to go out of town... to "Baler" specifically. I asked them to come without really knowing the "How to's" and "Where to's" thingy in going to a place not familiar to you but of course with the help of my ever dependable "map" (parang si Dora lang!) we were able to experience Baler...achieve! ^^

We decided to meet at Gateway Cubao at 8-9pm but because I have an appointment (naks!) with a friend prior to the trip, as usual, I came late and Jaja being the "ayaw-maiwan" and "eskayted" cast of the group, she went to Genesis Bus station at 9pm. There were 4 of us, Iani, Jaja, oche, Mikel, my sepak Choles and me! :)

Going to Baler:
There's only one bus company that has a direct trip to Baler/Casiguran, Aurora. It's Genesis bus located at Cubao, along Edsa. We didn't get the chance to ride at the 11pm trip to Baler and the next trip is 4am. There's a bus going to Casiguran but it will leave the station at 2am and we were there at 10pm and we don't want to wait that long at the station. We decided to try the cutting trip that's Manila - Cabanatuan City - Baler :)

...and so we rode a 5Star bus going to Cabanatuan City fare was Php185, and because Mikel came at the station very late, the bus that we rode left  Cubao station at 12:15am. We arrived at 3:30am in Cabanatuan City. Mali pa yung nababaan namin kasi dapat sa terminal daw kami bumaba para mag transfer ng bus going to Baler eh tulog kaya kaming lahat! Nagising lang kami sabi ni Manong konduktor: "Crossing! crossing!" tapos nagbabaan na lahat ng pasahero! hahaha!! Nag tricycle kami papuntang terminal and the problem was non airconditioned bus lang pala ang available na byaheng Baler from Cabanatuan sa madaling araw and ayaw namin nun! hehehe... kasi ba naman ang byahe dun is 4hours pa! Hassle naman ang mag non airconditioned bus. May nag o-offer ng van going to Baler, airconditioned van daw at nagkasundo kami sa Php2000 - 6persons kami isang byahe na kaso, naloko kami dahil pagalis ng van sabi ko kay manong, "Manong paexperience naman ng aircon!" sabi nya, "walang aircon toh". We were like "Ha?!??!!!" So sabi namin ibalik nalang kami sa terminal at ayun... naghintay kami ng Aurora Bus Line. Dumating sya ng past 6am. Naghintay ng pasahero at umalis ng 7:30am, imagine-nin nyu nalang ang tagal namin dun. hehehe... Fare was Php221 and we arrived at Baler past 11am.

 while waiting for Aurora Bus at Cabanatuan City Terminal

(me, mikel, oche, jaja and iani -obviously choles took this photo.ü)

Touch down Baler! (Finally!)
We split into two groups because Choles and Oche needs to withdraw money from the bank first. Tricyle ride is good for 3 so Oche, choles and Jaja went to the nearest ATM and Mikel, Iani and I went to to Genesis terminal/garage to get a reservation for our trip going back to Manila the next day since we don't want to experience the same hassle in going home.  The last trip for Genesis bus line (Regular airconditioned) is at 6am-Sunday, and we don't want that since that would mean we're going to stay at Baler for less than 24hours!?!?? That was almost the same as our travel time from manila to Baler and back to Manila. So we decided to reserve 6 seats for the JoyBus (deLuxe bus of Genesis) bound to Manila at 1pm the next day. According to the conductor, it normally wait until 3pm but leaves as soon as the bus is full. We then head off to find a hotel for our accommodation.

Accommodation:
Our first choice was Bahia de Baler but Bahia 1 is under renovaion so they're not accepting visitors yet. We tried at Bay's Inn (dahil yun ang una naming nadaanan papunta sa Bahia 2), i believe it (Bay's Inn) is the most popular hotel at Baler, buut there's only 1 non aircon room left good for 2 so its zero minus one=cannot be! Someone told us to go to Bay-ler and so we did. Its a new hotel and it was just opened last July 6 according to the lady at the front desk. :)  There is an available airconditioned room good for 4 and since we're 6, we checked it out first to see if its good enough to cater the 6 of us and yes it seems good for us if we will add an extra bed. Right there and then Mikel, Iani and I would like to book the room for us but since our friends are still out trying to withdraw some money, we decided to wait for them to hear their opinions as well. While waiting, we got the chance to took pictures at the hotel and with the sea as our background. When they came, we found out that they already inquire at Bahia de Baler 2 and they said its too expensive! :) so there, Bay-ler View Hotel is where we checked in! 

Hotel towel and goodie (i dunno what to call that!^^)

The hotel was nice and so as the room.  It was clean and neat. After settling our things down, freshening up, we went out for lunch and headed out to start discovering the beauty of Baler!

 Out to discover Baler! :)

Pictures will be available soon at blagagmountaineer.multiply.com Thanks a lot belat!! ^^