Katmon

This is the first time I've heard, seen and  tasted this fruit (only in Baler, Aurora). 

Baler locals call it Katmon (Katmun, Catmon -- sound alike). It's a round shape with cloves as garlic and taste like "Kamias" or "Bilimbi fruit".

I guess this is a very good source of Vitamin C. :))

Baler Trip 2012: Day 1 - The Mother Falls

The image on the right is not yet the Mother Falls but I would say an extension.

Another falls that can be found in San Luis, Baler. Going here is very tough, better have a 4x4 type of vehicle because the road is roughly enough that can cause damage to the vehicle.

I remember while on transit, we passed by a couple who rented a tricycle, also going to Mother Falls. They were stranded because they're waiting for the driver to fix the tricycle.  :(


Basically, it's called Mother Falls because it is bigger than the Kaunayan Falls.
It is actually a hydro power source, and as I was told, it helps supply electricity for the town of San Luis, Aurora.

OK, going to the Mother Falls starts here:

No one gave me a heads up that we'll trek and cross some streams... Kuya Jeff only told me that it would take only 20mins walk from here to see the falls.... Hehehe no wonder only four (Kuya Jeff, Jeia, Boy and I) of us went to see the falls... 

So their we were, trekking and crossing streams...

Jeia, Kuya Jeff and Boy. At their back is a long pipe for hydro electricity.

Loooong way to go... Hehehe

After 30mins of exhausting trek and crossing streams, that my camera almost submerge into the water; All our efforts were rewarded when I saw the falls. We took a quick swim, just to experience the water (the water is so cold) then went back home, ending our Baler Day1 surprisingly adventureful.

In the images, the falls may seem near, but actually, it was a bit far from where I was standing. I think I was 20-30 meters away from the falls. It was misty, and my camera is already wet when I took these shots.

Baler Trip 2012: Day 1 - Kaunayan Falls

Kaunayan Falls or L. Pimentel Falls can be found in San Luis, Aurora, a 20-30mins drive from Baler.

Entrance Fee : P10 per head
Cottage Fee: up to P100

















Take note that you can get to the falls unless you pass through three private properties that collect P20 per vehicle (I don't know if they also charge if you go there individually). 

Thanks much to Tito Ampol for preparing a superbly delicious lunch. By the way, Tito Ampol is the owner of the Mely's Restaurant (one of the pioneers in Baler). 

Whenever you go to Baler, better to stop by for breakfast, lunch, merienda or dinner and try their Halo halo, Sisig, Chicken Lechon, etc. I must say that all their food products are delicious. :D

Kaunayan Falls is one of the tourist spots in Baler because of its clean and fresh water from the mountain range of Sierra Madre. You can see some school of small fish, and I remember Kuya Jeff caught a fresh water shrimp.

We plunged into the very cold water to quench the heat of summer.

Some locals do dive, but I don't recommend it because the water is too shallow for diving and may cause an accident.

At the end of the day I'm hoping that they can maintain this place as clean as its current state so that when children like Kiel grows-up, they can still experience and enjoy the cold and clean fresh water of Kaunayan Falls. :)

About 3PM when we left Kaunayan Falls then went to the Mother Falls. Yeah!!! :D

Baler Trip 2012: Day 1 - The Shoreline

Saturday...


Daddy, Tito Eddie, Rhea and Kiel, Kuya Jeff, Ate Dia, and Jeia and Jepay; Together, we went to the shoreline as early as 6am to feel the morning sea breeze and hoping to see the sunrise.


... then I took some pictures...

We stayed for about 30mins  then went back home for breakfast. :)
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Friday afternoon when we arrived,  Tito Ampol (Rhea's Uncle and owner of Mely's Restaurant) went to the house of Tito Lito (which we're staying), told us that tomorrow (Saturday) we'll have our lunch at L. Pimentel/Kaunayan Falls. 

So after we had our breakfast we went to Kaunayan Falls. Yeah! :D

Baler Trip 2012 : How it started???

Before Rhea and I went to Pangasinan, we already decided that we'll spend our holy week vacation next year in  Baler, Aurora. This is to visit her relatives and basically to have our vacation.

This is not until the last week of April 2012.

Monday, while we're on our way to our offices, we're joking about "What if we file a vacation leave (VL) this Friday and Monday, if our bosses approve; we'll go to Baler?"

Taking the opportunity of a possible long holiday period. :)

We filed our VLs...
We patiently waited...
Then my the phone rang; it was Rhea. She told me the good news, and I told her my good news too..

We're going to BALER!!!

On that Friday we went to Baler... :)

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This is my second time in Baler. The first time was, when Rhea and I got engaged, and we went to Baler to meet her relatives.

We're very much excited about this trip because we'll stay in Baler for several days, and we're ready and prepared to go to the places that we've/I've never been since the first time I had been here. . Yeah!!! :D