1. Play with the waves. I don’t know what’s the science behind Baler’s waves but they are big and awesome. Whether or not you know how to swim, jump on it, drink the salty water, and burn. Like I said, it’s pretty awesome!
2. Eat big at Gerry Shan’s. I’m not a buffet freak* but it was a good thing I didn’t pass up on thisgig. A buffet plate only costs Php 150.00 with free water on a glass with ice**. Each time I stand to get another round, new dishes are added on the table. It was sulit, man!
*A buffet freak is someone who freaks when they see or hear a cheap buffet offer at places like Yakimix, Vikings, etc.
**Don’t you listen to your buffet-freak friends? How would you expect to eat as much or more than what you paid for if you get bloated with juice or soda?
3. Count the steps of the Ermita Hill*. It may help for you to stretch a bit, skip a cig, and bring snacks and water. I lost count after the 101st step because we paused to take photos. The view from the deck was beautiful. You could get around the grotto and start walking up again to reach the white cross. We didn’t made it to the crucifix but I bet you will if you follow the second sentence of this item.
*Know the story that lies behind this photo at Ermita Hill.
4. Wake up on stopovers. Unless you like the movie in the bus, the only thing you will during this 7-8 hour ride is to listen to your player or sleep. When you reach the stopovers, get up and explore! Stop overs are like your mini-adventure trips packed with mystery and exciting images of uncanny toilets!
If you would take a bus ride to Baler via
Genesis Bus Line, your stops would be at some cities/towns of Tarlac, Cabanatuan, and Nueva Ecija. In one of these places, you will find a man who sells nothing but fine and tasty hotdogs. A friend bought two hotdogs on sticks and swags as she says, “Yeah I bought two. I like double-dick.” Lol!
5. Learn to surf. You won’t always find a beach with waves like that of Sabang, Baler. So once you get there, make sure you have Php 350 to get an instructor and surfboard for an hour at
Mahdox.
Stretch or warm up before you get to the water.
Listen to your instructor. He isn’t there to pull you up on the board but he will push you along the wave and tell you when to get up.
Make sure you can carry yourself up even if you have already drank about 2 liters of saltwater.
Make sure you can stay balance on the board even just for a second to give your friends enough time to take a picture of you surfing, yeah!
You will definitely starve afterwards so don’t just bring mere Php 350.
