BALER, AURORA 2022: PART ONE

We drove through a long stretch of mountains bago makarating sa remote town of Baler. It really felt secluded... in a good way. 

Welcome to Baler, Aurora!

Baler is the capital of the province Aurora and dubbed as the "Birthplace of Surfing in the Philippines". Bukod sa surfing, madami ding tourist spots dito and in its neighboring towns. 

at Nalu Surf Camp entrance

We booked a room for one night at Nalu Surf Camp located along Sabang Beach. So glad that we chose this resort kasi it's an absolute haven. A nice hideaway to relax and unwind.

reception area

Upon check-in we were given rubber wristbands and a small paper na may wifi password nila. Sa lakas ng wifi connection dito pwede kang mag stay ng matagal to work remotely. 

Modern Nipa Huts

We stayed in one of their airconditioned Modern Nipa Huts for P4,143 per night. It has the view of the garden and their Ifugao Huts. 

at Sandbar's balcony

They have a restaurant called Sandbar that serves breakfast, lunch, snacks like pizza and dinner. Madami din silang mga tables and chairs scattered around the resort kaya ma-enjoy mo ung outdoor/island feels sa lugar na to. 

bonfire, slack rope and goof boards area

Bukod sa free use of billiards, table tennis and freesbie, you can also practice your balance and surfing skills with their slack rope and goof boards. Maiinip ka pa ba sa ganitong lagay? Char.

swimming pool

Their pool area has plenty of lounge chairs and a jacuzzi! Tapos open sya until 9 pm. 

coffee shop & gift shop

They have a coffee shop with an espresso machine in the same room as their gift shop. Unfortunately hindi available ung go-to iced latte ko kaya waley, brewed coffee lang ang available.

some items for sale

I was able to buy a string necklace na may coffee bean pendant and a mandatory ref magnet sa gift shop nila. 

surf lesson rates & board rentals

Just like in La Union, their surf lesson is priced at 500 pesos per hour. Maganda mga swells during our stay pero we didn't try to surf. Tambay lang.

Sustainable Tourism Development Fee

So habang nakaupo kami sa garden area, a man approached us. We paid P100 each for the SEDF or Sustainable Tourism Development Fee. Ung binayad namin nagamit for the entrance fee sa Museo de Baler and Doña Aurora House. They also gave us a leaflet ng mga tourist spots in Aurora. Bago naman kami nag book sa Nalu we were informed about this.

along Sabang Beach Baywalk

Just few steps away from the Nalu Surf Camp is the Sabang Beach Baywalk. Sarap lang maglakad dito during sunrise or sunset. Nasa kahabaan nito ung mga kilalang resorts in Baler like Costa Pacifica, Bay's Inn and Aliya Surf Camp.

duyan

at Bay's Inn Resort

It was around 4 PM na kaya we stopped by Bay's Inn Resort para mag snacks. We didn't walk that far along Sabang Beach kaya hindi na namin na explore ung ibang mga kainan.

merienda

We ordered their 14" Chicken and Herb Pizza for P575. We enjoyed the merienda habang nakamasid sa maalon na karagatan ng Sabang Beach. 

trying the slack rope

Pagbalik sa resort I tried slacklining. Ang saya nya! Pero kelangan ko lang panindigan na hindi ako marunong magbalanse dito. Haha. Si Cy naman medyo masakit pa ang paa kaya hindi parin sya makapag participate sa mga ganitong activities. Hmp.

Cy and me

Ang usapan bukas pa kami mag swimming kasi almost sunset na pero hindi namin natiis. lol. Malalaki ang alon at mukhang delikado if wala kang kasamang surf instructor kaya hanggang tingin lang kami habang nakaupo sa buhangin.

solo namin ang pool

Sa swimming pool nalang kami tumambay hanggang gabi. 

Dinner Time!

After we showered nag dinner na kami sa Sandbar. We ordered Manok Inasal, Dinakdakan and Crispy Pako.

Manok Inasal P330, Dinakdakan P330, Crispy Pako P175

Ang sasarap ng pagkain! Even ung kanin maganda ang quality. Kung alam ko lang din na may pizza sila like Margherita dito na kami nag merienda. They do serve hearty meals.

with doggie black

May dalawang aso pala sila sa loob ng resort: Isang black at isang kulay brown na mababait at pwede mong hawakan. Awwww.

Anyways, we slept early dahil kulang kami sa tulog.

Good Morning, Baler!

I woke up at 6 AM, took a shower and went to the shore. Medyo gloomy ang umaga namin, mukhang uulan.

breakfast

Dahil malakas ang hangin at umaambon sa labas we decided na kumain nalang ng almusal sa loob ng Sandbar. This is my favorite part kapag nasa bakasyon: early breakfast. Waaaa.

brewed coffee

Bigman's Breakfast P265

chillin'

9 AM sana mag check-out na kami dahil papasyalan pa namin mga tourist spots in Aurora kaya lang mas lumakas pa ang ulan. Nag stay muna kami sa loob ng resort hanggang sa tumila sya. We left around 10:30 AM na.

Kakamiss ang Nalu Surf Camp. Isa to sa mga masarap balik-balikan. :)