We took the alternate route to baler via cabanatuan since joybus was fully booked and genesis as well. My friend and I left Cubao at around 7am and arrived at Cabanatuan before 10am.
We were able to ride the Aurora bus before 11am. Kaya lang, even if the bus was full na and may 2 pang standing, the bus left pa rin ng mga past 12. I don't know why though. Baka the driver ate pa or whatever.
On the way, we were still in Tarlac I called The Secret Spot for reservations. Tita Rose, offered us the hammock room first for 200/head. Then eventually offered us the fan room. I told her we were still in Tarlac and would arrived later in the day since cutting trip nga kami. Tita rose gave us a number of the tricycle driver, who would fetch us at the terminal.
When I noticed that we were in Baler na, i tried calling the tricycle driver-but he was not answering my calls. I also tried calling Tita Rose, she was not also answering. When we got off the bus, we booked a reservation muna.
Fully booked na yung pang 3pm and 2pm (April 21) and 4:30am and 5:30am (april 22). We had no other choice but to book for the 1pm Joybus (April 21). We had work kasi ng 11am, Monday-bummer!!!
While trying to book for a ride back to Manila, I was still trying to call the tricycle driver and Tita Rose. But still.......
So we rode another tricycle. We saw a picture of tourist spots posted in his tricycle and ask about the rate, told him our dilemma with time. Before we got to Secret Spot we already had an IT. ( Before going to Baler I already did some research on what to visit , but I just don't know where to go first.)
By the time we got to The Secret Spot, it was almost 5pm. Tita Rose informed us that she gave our room to a family who arrived 3 mins ahead of us!!! She thought we won’t come na daw!! I told her that i was trying to call her and the driver but neither would pick up the phone. She said the only available room was the hammock room for 200/head. I was ok with that sana, if I have more companions. Cowboy naman ako eh. But we were both girls, and the hammock room also called the shared room, would not be safe for us. (There were hammocks inside a room that was open and people could just go in and out of the room) Next, she told us her friend also rents out a room and charges for 250/head, but it was not beach front. That was fine. She made "sugo" the friend's son to inform the mom about it, but the mom was in the market. So she asked us if it was ok for us to share a room with her. She showed us the room-it was wide naman..(and since fully booked na lahat we said yes na.) My friend asked if it was the same price-referring to the hammock room—yes naman daw)
We told Tita Rose about our plans of surfing first, but she said the waves are not high enough and konti lang.. So we decided to go visit some of the tourists spots.
Kuya Rommel—our driver/tourist guide/photographer (he takes good pictures by the way) brought us first to ANIAO ISLET, then to DIGUISIT FALLS and DIGUISIT BEACH, then ERMITA HILLS. Then we had dinner at the ROLLING STORES. By the time we finished it was almost 9pm na. We told kuya Rommel to drop us at La Flor where 3 of my friends were staying. (why we dint stay with them, is a long story)
Since they haven’t eaten yet, we went to YELLOW FIN. We ordered nachos, pork chop and grilled yellow fin. We waited for more than an hour before our food was served. Sobrang tagal! We kept on following up our order pero tagal pa rin. Bumaba na lang ako to follow up mismo. Yung nakasalang sa grill yun na daw yung order namin. As I look around I saw people eating with the same order we have, and they weren’t there when we arrive. So I told the lady who was taking orders what I have observed and she said they thought we cancelled our orders and left. Maya’t maya kaya namin finofollow up yung order naming, kaya nga ako bumaba na kasi sobrang ang tagal na naming nag hihintay. Then one of her companions asked the one grilling if that was the last order-referring to our porkchop and fish. Nainis na talaga ako di ba. I told them-ni last niyo yung order naming, eh kaninang kanina pa kami dito..—sobrang bagal ng service—siguro nga kasi nalito na sila or something. Even the one who was grilling was also annoyed na, kasi parang yung iba hindi alam gagawin. He even said- ano bang ginagawa nung manager sa taas? Wala ba siya dyan? Bakit magulo? (yung nakita ko sa taas na mga guys-not sure kung sino sa kanila yung manager, were drinking lang, talking and playing sobrang loud music-which we requested to tone it down)
When we got to The Secret Spot, tita Rose and her husband were already asleep. Our mattress was there na, but there were no pillows or even a thin blanket. It was fine, kasi I always bring my malong with me kasi lamigin ako and I have a jacket which my friend used along with her jacket. It’s medyo windy kasi, so medyo mahangin.
We woke up at 5:30. My head was throbbing, maybe because I don’t have enough sleep for a couple of days na. Tita Rose, offered us breakfast-hotcakes and coffee.
We started surfing after. Kahit bongga ang sakit ng ulo-surf pa din..hahaha! Our instructors were Kuya Ian and kuya Coffee. Since this isn’t my first time to surf, Kuya Ian and I reviewed the basics muna before hitting the water. Kuya Rommel was there early so nakisuyo kami if he could take our pics.
When we were about to pay, they said kay Tita nalang daw ibigay.When my friend was about to give the payment she said-350 po diba, so 700 kaming dalawa..-It was 450 daw!!! siningil kami ng 450 each.Di na kami umimik kasi malamang sa alamang may cut sila. And bakit di kami diretsong nag pay kina kuya di ba?
We left before 8am for our day trip. Kuya Rommel, brought us to AMPERE BEACH. better daw if we were there early morning (which was the original plan) kasi maganda daw sunrise dun. Then we went to Balete Tree. May mga binatilyo who guides you in climbing the tree. They offered to carry our bag for us. When we were on top of the tree na, one of them who was carrying my bag got my friend’s bag from his companion. I thought naman, para mas ma guide kami nung isa, tas support na lang siya..pero he went down ahead of us, without me noticing it, kasi I was busy trying not to fall. When we were halfway down na. I called out to the other guide to take our picture. Tas medyo kinutuban na ako. So when we got down the tree na, I immediately checked on bag. When I opened it, may 100 pesos on top of my other things, I find that odd kasi that was in my phone case. I know I had a thousand inside my camera case, because before leaving the house, I went back upstairs to get money from my other bag for emergency purposes and tuck it inside the case because I have not brought a wallet with me. and I have not used my camera at Ampere. Last time was while we were surfing. I checked my bag and wala talaga. By the time we got to Quezon Park and Museo de baler, that was when I told Kuya Rommel about it. Ayoko kasing basta na lang mag bintang without evidence. Kuya said, I should have told him before we left. He told the guard or caretaker at Museo about it. The guard told us that next time we should only entrust our belongings to our drivers as they are really designated by the local government. That was our mistake. We didn’t know naman kasi that we could climb the Balete.
Anyway, after MUSEO DE BALER we went to DONA AURORA ARAGON’s HOUSE-but it was closed and to BALER CHURCH. Then had lunch again at the rolling stores.
Then we went back to The Secret Spot to get our things. We paid 250/head for our stay. I think the price was too much, pero nahiya na kami to bargain.
Since we still have time, we went to the pasalubong center-kaya lang wala ng suman. We bought keychains na lang for our officemates.
Tama yung isang sis natin about the “Bahala na po kayo” answer, when asked about the fee of tricycle rent. Because that was the same answer kuya Rommel gave us. Hahaha!!! We gave him na lang 800. If I hadn’t lost my money I would add more, kasi he was very nice naman. And when we eat, sinasama narin namin siya sa budget-kasi mura lang naman sa rolling store, tas we have baon na mga chips and bread-we share it din with him.
Inkdrops: (pretending I wrote this on paper..hehe)
If you were to ask me, Would I recommend The Secret Spot?- my answer for now, would be NO. I was a bit disappointed because of what I have experienced. I told Tita I read about the place in blogs-so that would give her a heads up na sana that bloggers would of course include rates. When we asked her how much the fan room is-She said it was 1,500 (though she initially offered it to us for 250/head) and A/C room is 2,500. I know rooms rates are subject to change, but it was a far cry from the blog I read here at GT stating the fan room is 750 and A/C room is 1,500.
-Then Kuya Rommel, informed us that while we were surfing, the friend or katiwala of tita Rose got mad at him. Sabi daw, they have tricycle drivers who they call once they have guests. Once pala you made reservations with Secret Spot, you can’t hire any other tricycle drivers. I was thinking baka medyo mas pricey na. Remember the surfing fee? We were charged a hundred more.
Whole day rate kasi for tours is about 600-800. And half day tour is 300-400. I think depende sa layo ng mga pupuntahan.
-although mabait naman si Tita rose.. but still…… Though it’s still up to you guys. Who knows, you might have a better experience than I did.
For tour guide/driver/photographer-- I highly recommend Kuya Rommel Buencamino—09382760737
--Super efficient, he arrives early, He also gives bits of info on the places you visit. He’s medyo shy- chikahin niyo lang para maging at ease siya.
--Siya na nag ayus ng It.. you just have to tell him the places you would want to visit..para alam niya kung ano uunahin..medyo magkakalayo kasi yung mga tourist spots..
For Surfing Instructors- Kuya Ian and kuya Coffee- though I only have kuya Ian’s #—0930-151-1369.
-I suggest you contact them directly so that you only pay the instructor and the board.
****sensya na, medyo mahaba yung post..just wanted to share.
****I would definitely go back here kasi I haven’t visited a lot of tourist spots pa..=)
