Baler, Aurora

It's my second time in Baler, Aurora. Last year that I've been there was not so fun because we were sort of "lured" and "kidnapped" by a religious group who wants to "evangelize" us and be one of them. Sounds like a cult huh. We felt betrayed at the time, but I don't want to talk about it here. Maybe some other time.

The road going to Aurora (formerly part of the Quezon province) is narrow, rough, steep, and uncemented. You need a SUV, bus or trucks to ensure a safe and anti-vomit trip.

The road is a work-in-progress since last year:

A little progress in every 10 kilometers with only half of the road cemented:

The Sierra Madre mountain range in the morning--takes my breath away!

We stayed in Bay's Inn in Sabang, Baler--the favorite and common surfing spot in Aurora

Bay's Inn has WiFi, good accommodation with affordable rates

The good surfers are the locals:

This dude is so cool! Parang nakatayo lang sa waves o!

The pa-cute guys/gals just lie on their surfboards:

Next year if I go back here, I will try to brave the waves to surf. The surfing lesson with instructor is Php300.

Day Trip 2

The ancestral home is owned by the Monreal's, Ron's family friend.

Froy Monreal

Dr. & Mrs. Monreal

The nipa hut is their resthouse located at the back of their school.

Sarap magkwentuhan dito

Sarap din magbasa

At masarap din mag-siesta kase nakakaantok ang simoy ng hangin.

Umuwi na din kami ng Manila bandang 3pm. We stopped by Los Banos to buy some buko pie here in The Original Buko Pie. The smell of it makes my tummy go hungry even if I'm not.

Day Trip

Went to Pila, Laguna last Wednesday with Ron, Tita Len, and Ate Kay. I joined them without being able to do my morning rituals (as in di pako naligo and toothbrush--eew!) because they picked me so early in the morning and I slept very late due to Plants vs. Zombies.

There's no heavy traffic in SLEX and we reached Calamba by 6am.

We stopped by Burger King in Calamba for breakfast. I didn't like the bacon, too thin and bland. But I like their spam sandwich and onion rings.

We arrived in Pila at around 7a.m. This is the rest house of Ron's family friend at the back of their family owned Colegio Monterei de Pila. I love this nipa hut particularly this spot--chillax with a coke on a hot summer day!

Then we drove around and dropped by their ancestral home (soon to open to public).

To be continued..