When we speak of Baler, surfing initially comes to one’s mind. Right?
Baler, the once sleepy municipality now emerges as one of the top surfing spots in the Philippines. This provincial capital of Aurora which is oftentimes mistaken as part of Quezon Province is not only all about endless surfing in Sabang Beach. It has unspoiled waterfalls, dramatic rock formations, creamy white sand, and buffeting waves… surely Baler is worth a place to explore!
hello there Baler!
At my age (yes, I’m 43!), a certified mom and definitely not a mountaineer, was a bit hesitant to join the Mt. Pinatubo challenge headed by my office mate Phil. But I’ve been waiting for this adventure for quite some time and I’m not getting any younger. With the encouragement of these two sporty girls, Joyce and Janice, I whisked off all the negative thoughts in my mind, took a one-week regular body workout, and braved this exciting getaway with my colleagues.
the beautiful and serene crater of Mt. Pinatubo
My hubby’s office mates from CSD-Makati and ESS departments organized a summer beach getaway in Canyon Cove in Nasugbu, Batangas. I got so excited when he told me that our two kids and I are included in their activity. Summer has not ended yet, and here we are for another sand and sun adventure. Yahoo!!!
one of the beautiful spots at Canyon Cove
Our vacation in Ilocos Province was indeed refreshing. As we were on our way to Manila, the group still craves its famous delicacies. It was nearing twelve high noon and while we were along Diversion Road in San Fernando we stumbled upon this cute restaurant Nipa Resto Grill with ”Bahay Kubo” style structure. And everyone was excited to hop out from the van and eat!
Nipa Resto Grill along Diversion Road
We couldn’t get enough of our swimming escapade in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and wanted to stay for one more day at Casa Victoria Resort. But we have to move on to our next exciting activity this Lenten season. We will ride the waves of San Juan in La Union, the Surfing Capital of the North.
friendly waves early morning
After a two-hour nap in Mojica Residencia Hotel, everyone is ready to take a walk in the cobbled Calle Crisologo, the main attraction in Vigan. We are so excited to see the famous Spanish colonial architecture of the city and its famous tourist spots.
We were mesmerized by the beauty of Calle Crisologo last night and before we bid goodbye to Vigan, we went back today to see this prime tourist attraction in broad daylight. It was another surreal feeling to see the cobbled pathway with less crowd compared to the other night. As the continuation of our Ilocos escapade, we will visit today Paoay Church, Plaza del Norte, and the Malacañang of the North.
the imposing Paoay Church with the massive buttresses
Can’t hide my excitement while we were on our way to Bangui Windmills, the prominent trademark of Ilocos Norte. I was here five years ago with my former colleagues, awed and astonished looking at the swirling giants stood firmly like a military army protecting its base. Now I am back with my family and our favorite travel buddies, Froi, Marie, and Abu.
The group
From Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, we now proceeded to the most anticipated part of our Ilocos Norte adventure, into Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. This is not included in my former company outing in 2010 because the road leading to this stunning rock formation was rough and bumpy, not accessible yet to visit. But now, there’s a lot of development done. The reason why I was so thrilled to see Kapurpurawan this Lenten Season.
the iconic head
Coming from Malacanang of the North, we headed to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. Also known as Burgos Lighthouse, this cultural heritage structure is located on top of a hill called Vigia de Nagpartian Hill in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. The 66-foot-tall (20 m) octagonal stone tower overlooks Cape Bojeador and the scenic West Philippine Sea.
Painted white