The raging waves of the ocean, the salty water, the ambience, the adrenaline rush, the food and its people... finally I was able to say Haler (Hello) to Baler!
Dang, Ghe, Manny, Joshua and I including our little girl Kenzie went on a road trip to Baler Aurora last weekend. Ah... can't believe it's almost a week now. Napakabilis talaga lumipas ng mga araw. Anyway, we planned our trip to Baler last December and thankfully it happened! Hindi lang siya drawing... Hahaha
We left MOA in Pasay around 6 am. Our first stop was in Tarlac. We paid a visit kina tito at tita (one of our dearest friend's parents) at tamang tama dahil FIESTA! Joshua drove Manila to Tarlac by 2.5 hours (partida nag round trip pa kami niyan sa Moa para balikan yung cellphone niya) but by around 8:30 am nasa Tarlac na kami. Thank God we passed through Edsa na hindi naramdaman ang traffic.
Thank you very much for welcoming us and for your hospitality Tito, Tita & Win. :)
Tita and nanay prepared so many dishes and served it to us. Imagine gumising pa talaga sila ng maaga para ipag handa kami kahit na gabi pa naman talaga yung mga bisita nila darating. Aga namin mang bulabog pero maasikaso talaga sila. Namingwit pa nga at pinabaunan kami ng mangga at mga ulam. Sarap diba! hehehehe. Pero panalo talaga sakin yung lumpiang shanghai na hindi ko magawa gawang lutuin. Iba eh! mas madami yung laman kesa sa wrapper. Tapos lutong luto yung sahog na hindi rin nasusunog yung wrapper... Huhuhu sana magawa ko na siya soon.
Anyways, going back (hehehe) we stayed with them for around 2 hours before we headed back on the road going to Baler na lahat kami busog.
We left Tarlac by around 10.30 am. We went back on the road following the shortest route that tito gave us via Capas-Zaragosa-Cabanatuan-Aurora route. We braved the zigzag road of Pagtabangan going to Baler for two hours and arrived at the camp after 3.5 hour drive. We made it on time for check in at 2pm.
NALU BEACH CAMP
We stayed at Nalu Surf Camp. We booked one week before our trip. Nalu camp is in front of Sabang Beach, the most known surfing spot in Baler. With strong (powerful) waves that were very evident. Massive waves, one after another on which riders are most excited about. But I learned later on that surfers doesn't just go on random waves, they choose the perfect wave. I did not know how to choose one (teh hee).
We stayed in one of Nalu's Modern Nipa Hut (the one you see in the background). The room cost P 4,500.00 per night (Rate: Peak season October to May). On their website, it says the room can accommodate 2-4 person. However, we were 5 adults plus a child in the group and it still gave us enough space and comfort.
- Ctto: Photo Grab from Nalu Website. Cause I forgot to take pictures of it.
We just added 1 extra paying adult for around P 1k+. What's inside is what you basically see in the pictures above. It has a wide television, on top of a horizontal built in cabinet with only four quadrants to place your stuffs. An AC room with one (1) queen size bunk bed (we ask for additional bedding). It also has a spacious bathroom with hot and cold shower. Toiletries and towels are available upon check in. And like other casitas, it has a veranda with seats from where you can view the garden. Heads up pips! just make sure to apply a generous amount of insect repellent because as you can see from the picture above mahalaman talaga yung garden, therefore maraming lamok. So nasabi ko lang din just in case you wish to book at the same room when you visit Nalu in Baler.
SABANG BEACH
Sabang Beach in Baler is a notable surfing spot in Luzon. The geographical location of Baler is on the east side facing Pacific Ocean. I tried to google the Philippine Map and found Sabang Beach to have a cove like coast (naka curve) or shoreline. So there's no doubt it is where you'll feel the strong winds and mighty waves of the Pacific.
To explore the area further, we walked along the wide stretch of Sabang's fine gray beach sands, up on the baywalk area where most resorts are lined up. From Nalu, we continued to walk forward along the east side and passed thru Costa Pacifica. Our last stop was in Aliyah Surf Camp on the other end. We continued our course back to Nalu by foot, this time heading on the main road. We've spent our afternoon walking around the shoreline, we also ate ice cream and played with the ocean waves. The biggest wave pool I've ever experienced so far hehehe.. It reminds me of Splash Island's wave pool in Laguna. However this time our playground is the wide open sea. Mababaw lang naman but of course you have to be alert since malakas at malalaki ang alon na kaya kang tabunan talaga. McKenzie stayed at the shoreline, she had fun playing in the sand at tuwang tuwa din sa alon.
See the wave at the background! Nakatayo na yung mga tao sa likod nyan. Kami ni Kenzie nasa pang pang na but yung water splashes natatabunan parin kami. Para kaming mga batang naglalaro sa wave pool (referring to the adults in the background. Okay including me hehe.) Sobrang saya makipaglaro sa nag-raragasang mga alon. I even experienced being swept away by the strong waves back to shore without feeling the sand on my feet anymore (mala synchronized swimming, ganung level!). Nag-paikot ikot ako literal sa ilalim ng tubig hanggang makarating ng pang-pang. Grabe yun! Nakakatawang hindi nakakatawa pero mas nakakatuwa... Hahahaha!
By around 5pm, nag hi- high tide na, we decided to take a rest after namin makipaglaro sa mga alon. Nakakapagod rin kalabanin ang alon actually. Nahapo ako... so we went back to our room to freshen up (wow) and take a rest for awhile.
In the evening, we craved for some good food to help us regain our energy, lakas maka cardio ng waves sa Baler, no doubt ganun ka ganda mga katawan ng mga surfing instructor dun.
We ended up finding this....
Literal na good food. Good tasting food!
It's a resto that serves burgers, grilled meats, quesadillas and more. They offer a full meal for tourist/ locals in an affordable price P 105 if I remember it correctly. Not only they are affordable, the food was all so delicious and well cooked (if I may add) at ang serving panalo! Just look at the pictures below.
After dinner, we headed back to the camp. We did another rounds of snacks, tambay sa garden for awhile and sipped a few drinks. I left my husband and the rest of our barkada in the garden since we still need to follow Mckenzie's bedtime routine (Mommy time) and so I and McKenzie call it a night by 9 pm.
SUNDAY MORNING AT BALER
Joshua, Kenzie & I woke up early to catch the sunrise at 5:30 AM. However, it rained in the morning that we only capture as much as these, from the top of the mountains.
Sobrang relaxing ng moment na 'to yung kayo palang ang unang tao sa beach. Tapos ang lakas ng hangin, the sound of the waves and sunrise. Iba! Tapos the beachfront are not overcrowded. Sarap!
By around 7 AM we headed to Nalu's resto for breakfast. Breakfast is included upon check in at Nalu by the way.These were the food that we individually ordered for breakfast. Guess which one is mine. Hehehe
By around 8AM we headed back to our room to change on our surfing outfit hehehehe...
Nope not that one.....
Hahaha excuse our faces... literal na bagong gising eh pag-tapos kumain palit damit agad. We cannot afford to waste time in Baler. Don't worry, we were able to relax about an hour after breakfast before we headed back to the shore. We then ask for a surfing instructor from Nalu. You have the option to pay it directly or you can ask them to include it your bill upon check out. You just have to tell them what or which room you are staying.
Before anything else, you need to fill up the waiver first. Then they will assign a specific instructor for each one of you. My instructor named Keyser. We had a very short and casual introduction and we immediately proceeded to briefing. A.k.a. the basics on how to surf properly. We did the simulation (wow) in the shore before we headed to the ocean.
I won't go on details and tell you how to surf because I am not qualified to do so (professionally). You have to go to Baler or any surfing spot in the country for you to know and experience it yourself. Mawawala kasi yung excitement eh. But I tell you know, you have to go and challenge yourself to face the ocean and the waves and learn how to stand up, balance and surf successfully kahit minsan lang sa buhay natin. Kahit hinamampas ka na ng alon, kahit sobrang sakit na, kahit paulit ulit ka lumagapak ahahaha lakas makahugot eh no! but seriously, I will definitely try it again soon. It's a different kind of experience. It's a good way to learn how to face the waves. It'll be worth the try. Promise!
We didn't have any picture of us surfing, that's the sad part kasi lahat kami nag surf talaga. So no one will hold the camera for us, wala rin kami dalang action or water camera huhuhu... anyways okay lang kasi we were able to enjoy the moment. But we do have a souvenir photo courtesy of Nalu eh, I just hope di nila malimutan i email samin.
Room #3 po Sir! hahaha
MY SURFING EXPERIENCE
Ahhh wait... that's not me by the way hehehe
For a first timer like me, sobrang nahihirapan ako sa una, bagsak dun lagapak sa kabila, buti na lang tubig na bagsakan ko. Pero mas masakit pala yung haharapin mo yung rumaragasang alon literal at kakapit ka ng mahigpit sa surfboard. Sobrang funny yung moment na yun, lakas maka create ng hugot! hahaha...We had 1 hour to learn how to surf. We paid 350.00 for the service. I did a lot of tries/waves and I repeatedly failed to balance myself on the board. Pero ni briefing ko din si Kuya kung kelan ko magagawang magsurf nang tama. Yun eh kapag malapit ng matapos yung oras ko! Hahahaha... Kaya siguro sobrang patient niya sakin eh. But I think I made him proud kasi naka ilang beses din ako umabot na makatayo at makapag balance sa surfboard. So Thank you Keyser for your patience at sobrang on point ng feedback niya and timely yung pag kokorek niya sakin. I almost gave up sa last two waves kasi mas nakakapagod ang nakaharap ka sa rumaragasang alon na sunod sunod tapos kapit na kapit ka sa surfboard para di ka ma flip or bumaliktad. So trust lang din sa instructor mo kasi sakin never naman niya ako binitiwan or pinabayaan. Naks! I was able to surf properly and I think I didn't fail him naman. Ayun nag high 5 kami after ng last wave ko! Yehey!
We had such a great time and we hope to come back in Baler again soon.Another one in the bucket list... CHECK!
NALU SURF CAMP
Email: nalusurf.ph@gmail.com
Phone: +639178172606/ +639175059604
Address: Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora, Philippines