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When talking about getaways nearby the Metro, one of the places I usually recommend is Baler. With only six hours of drive away from Manila, this place is good for groups who are adventure seekers during weekends. This part of the country was one of the least explored before; but now, it is starting to catch the attention of travelistas in the metro. I think this sort of ‘popularity’ started when KrisTV (a local TV program showcasing anything under the sun hosted by Kris Aquino) visited this place last January 2014. I still can remember when I first visited this place with my barkada last 2009, we were the only tourists along the beach and no surfers were there. It was just a countryside town – quaint and serene. But now, it has become a tourist spot with growing commercial establishments all around. So now, do you know what is it about Baler that keeps people – surfers, photographers and just travelers – coming to this place? Below are the reasons why and might make you r...

Located in the province of Aurora, Baler is known as a place where you can go surfing because of the big waves; but, it is not just a place for surfers because there are also places where even non-surfers like us could enjoy beach bumming and nature-tripping. Despite of the long travel, the rough road and the landslide that took place just days before we visited the place, I had no regrets seeing the town of Baler with my friends last June 11 and 12 of 2011.    Being on any road trip with them is surely a time full of hilarious jokes and make-up crazy stories. Laitan, kantahan and kung anu-ano pang kalokohan sa daan. Hahaha! Anyway, it’s always fun being with these guys – Gladelle, Mhylene, She, Sheila and Jonah.   What We Did in Baler: MyTravels | Facing the Pacific Sunrise at Sabang, Beach Baler MyTravels | Diguisit Bay, Baler MyTravels | Glimpsing the Past in Baler MyTravels | Being One with Nature in Baler It was just a short vacation ...

Ditumabo Falls About 5 kilometer away from Baler, we headed to San Luis . The town is famous for its waterfalls. They call the waterfalls as Mother Falls maybe because this is their source of water and as far as I know, also a source of energy. The place was not fully accessible by vehicles when we went there. As soon as we got to the parking place, we thought we had already reached the falls but we were wrong because the commoners told us that we would have to walk 2 to 3 kilometers for us to see the Mother Falls. They also told us that we had to be accompanied by one of the guardians of the place because it would be dangerous to just explore the way up the falls. After signing in the log book of the place and giving donations, we started walking.  Along the way, we were told that there would be several waterfalls and that the so-called ‘Mother Falls’ is the last and the biggest. We were warned about snakes and slippery road.  Along the way, we saw this...

Ermita Hill   Perfect for overlooking the panoramic view of the Sabang Beach and the dark blue coast of the Pacific Ocean, Ermita Hill which is situated in Poblacion, Casiguran was one of the place where we united with nature and did a little jogging.  Trip kung trip lang na magjogging nung pababa ng hill dahil umaga naman daw. Hahaha! We stayed there for a couple of minutes for photo sessions and headed for our next destinations. It was on the 27th of December, 1735 a catastrophic tsunami hit and destroyed the old Baler main town. There were only six families survived . They ran and swam to the nearby Point Baja Hill which is now known as the Ermita Hill. The resettlement areas became known as “Kinagunasan” which litterally means devastated. Survivors include Bihasa, Bitong, Carrasco, Lumasac, Poblete and the prominent Angara family. At the bottom of the hill, there are statues that serves as a marker to those who have perished and survived the tragic destruction. ...

We were about to go to Diguisit Falls but due to the landslide because of the typhoon that hit Baler, the road was closed.Fortunately, we found this small beach just along the way but we had to walk along the dangerous debris strewn on the road. Since this beach captured our attention because of its white sand, we really thought of a way to reach the other side.  We headed straight to the seashore and found a native of the place. I ask what’s the name of the place and the native said ‘Luksu-Luksu’. The beach has many rock formations and that formed islets where you can hop from one rock to the other. It was then that I realized why it was called so. (Luksu – Hop) Here are our camwhoring picture. :D She, enjoying the clear waters of the Di g uist Bay Glad elle, Sh eila, and Mhylene Gladelle Jonah Meneses