A Tricycle Tour | Baler's History Trail and Eco Strip

Who would have thought that the remote coastal town of Baler in Aurora province is now a growing tourist destination? A place encompasses by various spots and attractions may it be nature or historical sites. 

After our visit to the old balete tree in Maria Aurora and Ditumabo Falls in San Luis, we went back to the town proper of Baler and explored the historical side of the town.

Travel Video: Gayon Bicol | My End of Summer Adventures

Just weeks ago, I went to the southern most part of Luzon island and traveled to some provinces of Bicolandia. It was an amazing trip together with the funniest and coolest people I've ever been with. It was an incredible adventure to end the summer. I'm still coming up with the travel stories so in the meantime, enjoy this video that i did of that trip.

Click for Travel Stories: Day 01: A Comeback to Legazpi City Day 01: Sightings of Mount Mayon Day 01: Ligñon Hill by Night Day 02: Inside Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave Day 02: Finding Dancalan Beach Resort Day 03: Donsol, In Pursuit of Adventure Day 04: The Adventure Continues at CWC A Taste of Bicol Gayon Bicol | My End of Summer Adventures

The Old Balete Tree and the Ditumabo Falls in Aurora

The province of Aurora might have boost its popularity from Baler but did you know that this province also has various spots and activities that I found worth visiting and doing?  With a total of 8 municipalities (to-date), the province is truly blessed with plenty of tourist attractions like historical sites and nature attractions like beaches and waterfalls. Aurora is a place wherein it doesn’t need to construct commercialized-activities to lure in tourists. Anyone can enjoy nature at its best by going surfing, trekking in the forest and swimming in their many waterfalls.

Surfing Baler

If what really makes me excited to go to Baler, then it’s surfing. Baler is said to be home to the country’s surfing community. It was a paradise for surfers because of its long shoreline facing the Pacific Ocean. According to wikipedia.com, surfing is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave, which is carrying the surfer towards the shore. I’ve been yearning to try this water sport activity since I visited Bagasbas beach a year ago. It is another surfer’s haven situated in Camarines Norte.

Sabang beach is the surfer’s haven in Baler, Aurora. It can be reached in 5 minutes from the town proper.

Experience Home Stay in Baler

Baler is now one of the places that is continuously becoming popular as the next travel destination. Located in the province of Aurora in the island of Luzon, Baler is a first class municipality of the province and also the provincial capital of it. It is situated 230 kilometers northeast of Manila which is accessible by bus or private cars with 6 to 7 hours travel time.

Actually I wasn't familiar of the place, Baler, until I saw it on a Filipino movie with the same title. I was fascinated by the movie, how the place looks like and its history. From then on, I included it on my list of places to go.

The Diplomat Hotel

Known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio city has also been attributed to haunted places and ghost stories. With trees around and mist all over especially before sunrise, how could this place not be scary? Rising atop the Heritage Hill is an old building haunted with ghost and paranormal, known as Diplomat Hotel.

The Diplomat Hotel was previously a vacation house turned into a school before becoming a hotel. It was believed that its construction started in 1913 on top of what was presently called Dominican Hill. And to take advantage of tax exemption a school named as Collegio del Santissimo was opened in June 1915. Because of the small enrolment, it has been closed after two years and reverted back to a vacation house.

The Works of Art Inside BenCab Museum

Tired of visiting the same places in Baguio City? Why not go to Tuba, Benguet and experience a different adventure by visiting BenCab Museum. A 15 minute drive away from Baguio City is the museum owned by Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, also known as BenCab. The museum houses his own artworks and collections of painting from different Filipino Art Masters and contemporary artists.

BenCab started making a place for himself in Manila’s art circles presently after getting his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines in 1963. His exhibits were shown extensively in the Philippines, and in Asia, Europe and the United States. He has won several awards including Gawad CCP Para sa Sining (Cultural Center of the Philippines Award for the Arts) and in 2006, he was awarded by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the National Artist for Visual Arts. BenCab is hailed as a master of contemporary Philippine art. Today, BenCab lives and works in Baguio.

Touring Baguio City with a Twist

Baguio has been my favourite place to go to whenever I want to escape from the city life. Its cool weather and refreshing surrounding, it’s a good place to lighten up and to unwind. But with unstoppable number of tourist coming to this place the city became swarming. Each spots are now clogged with people. 

Few months ago, I together with fellow travel bloggers were invited for an overnight stay in the city of pines. Our first day happened having a free tour together with some resident Baguio City bloggers to revisit some of the famous spots of the city which at first sounds kind of all right, but we knew there’s a catch on that. And the catch? Touring around Baguio with a twist. A tour ala amazing race. Though we’re still all restless I found it kind of fun and exciting.

Trekking Taal Volcano

I've seen the Taal Volcano for a number of times but have never seen its crater laker until an invitation from our team in our office came. Who am I to resist for an almost all-expense-paid trip to the crater lake? So few weekends ago I had this exhausting hike to Taal Volcano crater lake with my office mates. I have to admit it was one of the most exhausting hike I've had. Why? I almost passed out walking through the path to the crater lake.

It is said that Taal Volcano is a complex volcano with historical eruptions concentrated on Volcano island. It has several eruptions in the past that leads to loss of life in the island and areas surrounding the lake. Taal Volcano is one of the active volcanoes in the country and part of the Pacific ring of fire. The volcano and the lake is one of the most picturesque and pleasing views in the Philippines.