Surfing at Baler, Aurora

One does not need to travel to very far places just to experience cloud nine. Those who are residing in the island of Luzon will definitely have the chance to experience the thrill and excitement brought about by the big waves of Baler, Aurora.

"Surfing has never been this fun", claimed my buddies who tried it when we went there a few weeks ago.

The Historical Side of Baler, Aurora

Joining the Baler trip was one of the most spontaneous decisions I made in my entire life. After I got my money, I immediately booked a round trip flight courtesy of Philippine Airlines and AirPhil Express. I am aware that I lived a thousand kilometers from Baler, but I am confident that the town won't disappoint me.

Mountains and waves.

And Baler didn't. It didn't.

REALLY. It did NOT disappoint me.

My Ditumabo Falls Experience

BLAG.

I don't know what really happened during that day. I was sleeping the whole duration of the tricycle trip when suddenly, I woke up from a loud noise. I thought we hit something hard, but the driver ignored it. I thought it was nothing. But, we didn't slow down and we continued our ascent to the jump-off point.

Haler, Baler!

There are only three things I know about Baler.

One - It is the birthplace of Maria Aurora Aragon and Manuel Luis Quezon, the infamous political lovebirds of the Philippines. Mwahmwahtsuptsup! 

Two - Baler, one of 2008 MMFF official entries, sucked balls; and 

Three - It is the primary destination of surfing enthusiast.

Out of curiosity, I flew all the way to Manila and embarked on a six hour journey together with my seven kaladkarin friends to Baler, Aurora.

Those 22 Unheard Voices

I used to be one of the grandest and the most iconic buildings of Davao City. For decades, I stood there with pride as one of the national artists of the country designed me. I used to see people crying and waving to their loved ones as they board the plane, the impatient faces at the waiting shed area right in front of me, and those who were doing their business within my garden.

The old terminal of Davao International Airport

But on the fourth day of March 2003, everything went black, chaotic, then hazy.

10 Lessons from the Road

Deciding of not pursuing a career in the field of medicine was probably the major turning point of my life. It was downright depressing, knowing that it disappointed my father who was expecting me to become a successful medical doctor in the next four to five years. At the same time, it felt liberating. I finally had the guts to stand up and make my own decisions in life. I always feel uncomfortable whenever I think about my 'planned' future way back when I was still a BS Biology student.

Leap of Faith: When traveling changed my life.

And then it hit me.

I wanted to become a medical doctor because I was just inspired by these three TV series: House, Grey's Anatomy and Scrubs... and partly because most of my classmates wanted to become a medical doctor as well. Peer pressure at its finest. That time, I was afraid of taking the other route because I might lose everything. I may be good at reading maps and I may have a good sense of direction but when it comes to plotting the directions of my life, it's the opposite. I realized that I'm lost for a very long time.

But as soon as I started traveling around the country and revived my career as a blogger, I slowly regained my strength, battled my weaknesses and embarked on a quest of finding my own self.

Snapshots from the Road (Mindanao Version)

Road trips may be tiresome to others but for me, it's the opposite. Whenever we have road trips, I always make sure that I don’t fall asleep as I would not want to miss seeing the beautiful landscapes of a particular area whilst listening to my favorite road trip playlists.

These are some of my favorite photos taken from my previous road trips in Mindanao.

Historic Edinburgh: Five of the Best Historic Buildings and Landmarks in the Scottish Capital

Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh is full is historic interest, beautiful architecture, fine parks and culture by way of museums and art galleries. There is a bustling café and music scene too and the city attracts many visitors, especially during the summer months.

Photo by Doug8888

Many well-known hotel brands are found throughout the city, together with smaller establishments. Edinburgh hotels cater for all budgets and tastes, making the city a must for anyone visiting Scotland.