Experience Surfing in Baler, Aurora

I stayed in Baler for three days just to learn how to surf. I know that surfing is not easy for first timer like me. I left manila around 9am going to Cabanatuan City via Five star buses because I did not catch the direct trip to baler at 6am.

I arrived in Cabanatuan City around 2pm and waited the van to fill up going to Baler. I ate my lunch at 7-11 stores just in-front of the terminal while waiting. I brought sandwiches and soda for 50 pesos and return to the van after. I am the 5^th passenger on-board and the barker said they need 5 more before we leave unfortunately, it was not happened, after those 5 people added,  many of the passengers compliant why is it still need more. I waited almost 4 hours just too completely fill up the van. I regret why I did not wake up early to catch the direct bus.

 

5:30pm when we finally leave Cabanatuan City and I pay 220 pesos for almost 4 hours journey, 7:30pm the driver stop at one of carinderia in Pantabangan, Aurora for dinner. I ordered Caldo (Rice soup) with egg at 30pesos and it’s funny because of what happened I forgot to pay, hehe sorry. 8pm when we continued our travel and I asked one of my seatmate if we already near, she reply it’s too far yet. 9:10pm when we finally arrived in Baler bus terminal. My overall travel time to baler is 12 hours instead of 6, My Goodness!

 

The caretaker of the resort where I reserved my accommodation fetch me up with a habal-habal around 9:20pm. I stayed at The Balerina surf resort (Front Beach Area) for 3 days.

I wake up early to do rounds in the front beach to check the waves. I ask Ate Mar the caretaker if she knows one, who can teach me a surfing lesson, and he recommend Raniel Flores - +63 909 679 7074 her nephew.

Raniel told me that we can start our lesson around 10am since the water is going low tides and it is a good time to surf. I was nervous thinking that my teacher will get angry with me if I still not get of what he teaches me for many times because I’m little bit fat haha. He teaches me the basic move and action in the seashore before we start the actual.

When my first attempt Raniel shouted to prepare and he push the board before the wave hit me and shout again to stand, I was out of balance and I fall on the water, (ouch! My forehead gets hurt on the sands). After of many attempts I was so happy and enable to stand on the board, Yehey! I did it and I can’t believe. Raniel told me that I am fast leaner because some of his students before failed to stand until their time got finished. Those feelings when the waves are approaching and very much excited than on your first attempt.

Raniel ask me if I want to direct in Advanced level which is the paddle one or Do it yourself, he don’t need to push the surfing board instead I need to paddle it with my two hands, I reply yes with confident. Now he teaches me again of what move I will do because honestly advanced level is little bit hard than the basic, of course in my first attempt I fall again because I need to paddle with my two hands until the board will move faster before the wave hit me. 

My 3^rd attempt I was able to stand again and enjoying while in the wave but unfortunately, my left arm complaint already and gets pained and I need to stop it because I don’t want to risked. My fault is that I forgot to warm up before to surf.  

 He was able to teach me for 2 hours that supposed to be 1 hour as the regular contract for 350 pesos but I gave him 400 pesos instead. Raniel is a good teacher in surfing I highly recommended him.

I ask raniel to bring me to the pharmacy because he has own a tricycle so that I can buy liniment oil and for my lunch  also, I brought one served of Pochero with extra soup and 2 cups rice at 60 pesos.

When we arrived in the resort I take shower then eat my lunch after and put some liniment oil in my whole body and finally sleep, rest to recover.

I woke up around 5pm then I decided to visit the municipal hall, Museum and church in the town. At 6pm when I return to the resort and I found buffet dinner just a few meters from The Balerina, I take the chance to have happy dinner and unfortunately the food was cold as the weather in the province. I pay 200 pesos and all my  regret huhu.   

I was waiting the full moon in my room, but I fell asleep and the sun is up when I wake up. I sleep well maybe because my body gets tired in my surfing lesson. At 9am when I leave the resort to catch the Aurora bus going to Cabanatuan City because I will never ever ride again in van and waited for almost 4 hours. The bus leaves Baler at 9:30am to Cabanatuan City and I pay 245 pesos for 3.5 hours.