The original plan was to go to Baguio City via Kennon Road. We wanted to buy the wooden toy horse for our baby which Jun saw during his solo ride approximately a month ago prior to this trip. A friend we met during our first trip to Baguio told us that there's a way from Nueva Ecija to Tarlac so for a change, we decided to take that route. Plaridel - San Miguel - Gapan, we were already in Cabanatuan City but we weren't able to find the way to Tarlac we must have missed it.
So, we decided to go somewhere else, but where? "Let's go to Baler!" i said as i looked up at the sign pointing to its direction. After some minute of argument and hesitations, we then headed to Baler, Aurora.
Unlike our other travels, we were totally unprepared this time. We didn't have any idea how far Baler was or what kind of roads we would have to get through. We only have a total of 1500php on our pockets, but we didn't mind, we just enjoyed the beautiful scenery and when we passed through this bridge somewhere in Nueva Ecija, we stopped, took some photos and watched as some children jumped and played on the unusually clean and clear river.
We stopped at a gasoline station and asked the crew for some directions. He told us to head straight because according to him that was the shorter and safer road to Baler compared to the one which passes through Pantabangan. We trusted him and realized we did the wrong decision when we started to journey through the rocky and muddy mountain road. I started to feel nervous because the place was really remote. There were very few houses and few vehicles were passing through.
We already travelled about 20km when Jun asked me if we would still continue. I told him, if we come back, we would have to pass through those bumpy roads again, if we continue and reach Baler, we could take a different route back home. So we went on and on and on.....
...until we reached Aurora Province.
It was getting colder and we felt were going deeper and deeper into the mountains. All we can hear were wailing from we're not sure if it's a bird or whatever animal was producing that sound. It was also creepy that we kept seeing a very thin and hairless dog everywhere.
My husband was making up stories to frighten me but it was not the idea of seeing the supernatural that's frightening me, but the thought of some rebels like the NPA's with guns might just show up and do something bad to us. I was being relieved whenever I saw a truck or a tricycle because I was being assured that we were not alone on that place. We saw this spring on the roadside and we stopped to refresh and take some rest.
We had noticed that a number of trucks were lined up up on the road ahead, the reason, there was a landslide ahead and some DPWH people with their equipment were clearing the muds off the road. When it was ready, Jun tried to drive to pass through but unfortunately, it was very difficult and dangerous with me on the motorcycle so i decided to walk through the muddy and slippery road. We were very thankful that we had passed through it, safe and sound.
The fun started when finally, our wheels touched the oh so smooth road. Wonderin' where i was in this picture? haha! I was the one taking it. Jun wanted to have a good shot on this road and we had a few takes until we got it perfectly. We entitled this shot "Makapag-Banking lang" (",).
Finally!!! we're here! After the long and winding and dangerous journey, we were here, but where would we go from here? We really don't know which places to tour and it was almost 5:00 in the afternoon when we reached Baler. I asked my sister Laiza since she comes here with her boyfriend's family every year and she told me that there's a beach in Sabang, so we went looking for the said beach and it was not too far away.
We were so exhausted and tired so we didn't bother to swim. We also have work the next day so we just took some pictures and decided to eat dinner before going home.
We found a "carinderia" nearby but before we went there to eat, we went around and saw interesting things around this museum.
We stopped once in a while for some snacks, coffee, and to refill some gas. It was dark so we were not able to see the Pantabangan dam. We reached home safe and sound (Thank God!) at around 12:00 midnight and our room felt like the safest and most comfortable place in the whole world.
For those who have plans of going to Baler Aurora, take the Cabanatuan - Maria Aurora - Baler route. Trust us, you'd never love to pass through an endless rough roads. Bring your tools with you , a tire inflator and sealer might also be useful just in case. Bring some flashlight and don't forget your raincoats. Watch your gas so you'd never run out in the most unlikely places, and of course, always PRAY for a safe and enjoyable journey.