May 3, 2011

What is with the mountains? The cold, the silence, the peace. Last year, we were in Caramoan. This year we had to do Casiguran. We decided to go compact, and pack light. We tried to reserve a place to stay in Casiguran, but failed. I hadn't found any useful map to the place. I tried emailing bloggers, asking for directions, tracklogs if available. There was no tracklog available (except for 1 blogger who said, Bulawan falls can be reached by driving through green lanes from the main road, but no tracklog). Helpful enough. But no one replied about the road to Casapsapan. So we had to be ready to sleep on the sand, on the rocks, on the mud, or not sleep at all if we will not find any safe place to stay. Hmmm.....

So here we go. Let's find out then. We decided to use Suzuki Jimny, the small vehicle, because of the itenerary (small roads / green lanes / uncertainties).

May 1, 2011 (Day 1)

Our meeting place was somewhere in Edsa at 0300 May 1, 2011. Hit NLEX, turn right to San Simon, head to Gapan, then head to Cabanatuan, Palayan, Bongabon, Aurora National Park, San Luis, Baler, Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran, then Casapsapan. Yup, that's it. Our vehicle was full tank 40 liters of 95 octane, with 2 jerry cans of 19 liters 95 octane each. We had to make sure there won't be any fuel shortage. Extra clutch cable just in case, extra fan belt, coolant, oil, tools, the works. Of course we had to bring floaters / life vests, aqua shoes, hydration bags, water resist camera, water resist phone, GPS, and tide graph. We had this plan of renting a pump boat to go to the Pacific Ocean face of the Casiguran Sound for a joy ride. Exciting enough especially on a new moon with intermediate tide.

So by 0830 hours, we were in Baler. We dropped by at Bay's Inn for breakfast, but man... there were too many people, they couldn't serve us breakfast anymore. So we decided to go to the carinderias beside the ML Quezon Museum. And WOW!, triple B-Mae carinderia made our day. They served cheap and delicious food like bopis, lechon paksiw, papaitan, etc, coke, rice and we ate so heavy, i wanted to sleep after the meal. We only paid 300 pesos or so. Cheap meal for 4 heavy eaters, but delicious, believe me.

Now we are heading to Dipaculao (Dinadiawan) to take pictures of the long stretch white beach. The place is nice. There are already cottages for rent in the area, and not only 1, but many cottages for rent. And BTW, there is a waterfalls near the place called Baul falls.

Then we headed to Dinalungan for Bulawan Falls, to take some dip at the clean water falls. We drove to the entrance of the Water Falls Park (it is approximately 4.5 kms from the main road). The road is a trail road / green lane which is uneven, with a small river crossing. It was manageable for small suzuki jimny. The water falls is nice, with a cascade of natural swimming pools. We bathed to the cold refreshing water.

Then finally we headed to Casiguran (Casapsapan Beach), which is accessible through a road at the left side of the Ermita Hill (this road will also lead to Dilasag). The road going there is again a trail road / green lane, also with a small river crossing. When we reached Casapsapan Beach at around 1500 still May 1, 2011, we decided to stay at Casapsapan Beach resort which is i think owned by the Casiguran mayor. We also looked for a boat owner for our boat joy ride on May 2.

The simple rooms (2 beds with an electric fan and a private bathroom) which are non-aircon cost 750 pesos per 24 hours. The electricity of the resort is by a generator. The food is nice. We had lobsters, tanigue, seaweeds for supper. And at night, we decided to go star gazing (which sounds gay). But man, the place was dark, we could see every star 180 degrees. Amazing!!!! And that night the tide was low, we walked at the coral part of the beach (which is wrong), but anyway, we took pics of weird looking fishes, sea urchins, hermits, fast running crabs, etc. Then we decided to sleep. I slept well during that night.

Casapsapan beach resort contact numbers: 09272130329 09106486906 09186887616 and look for Mr. Richard E. Tan.

May 2, 2011 (Day 2)

We had tocino, tanigue, eggs for breakfast. Then Mr. Richard and his wife packed us lunch (fried chicken, rice, pancit bato, coke) for our boat joy ride. We left for boat ride at 0700 hours. That day was high tide on an intermediate tide, new moon, not windy, slightly rough waters. We headed to the Pacific Ocean face of the Casiguran Sound. There were flying fishes, low flying birds, and a DOLPHIN. Yup, a dolphin welcomed us. AMAZING!!!!! And our boatman who was fishing while driving (multitasking) caught a tanigue fish. Again, AMAZING!!!! So we had our PITSTOP at the place where there were 3 small waterfalls very near the sea. So instead of bathing at the sea, we decided to bathe at the waterfalls very near the sea. Then had lunch there before heading back to the resort. Our joy boat ride was 6 hours. Yup, 6 hours. And we paid 3500 pesos. Not bad. We enjoyed it by the way... ", The fish that the boatman caught??? Mr. Richard and his wife made it into KILAWIN which we ate with a bottle of beer. We packed and decided to head to BALER at around 1630 hours (May 2, 2011).

Before I forget, the road from Casiguran to Baler is 3 hours of rough road plus 1 1/2 hours of paved road. How rough?? Well, rough enough.... ", Watch out for the "water ways" CROSSING the highway. They are deep enough to kill you if you won't slow down. There are many of them.

In BALER, we stayed at Bahia de Baler. Our room costs 2500 pesos with 3 beds and 1 extra bed with 3 free breakfast of shreaded beef tapa (plus 150 pesos for the 4th breakfast / there were 4 of us).

We ate our supper at Bahia de Baler (Kingkong Meal again) at around 2100 hours (May 2, 2011). And we saw Senator Angara at the restaurant. We slept well.

May 3, 2011 (Day 3)

On May 3 at 0700, we decided to head to Manila. Those were 3 days of good things. They make us happy..... ",


All of the places / events described are uploaded in my Panoramio for trully geotagged pics.

http://www.panoramio.com/user/4313883?with_photo_id=52081084

There is also a tracklog above. Click the GARMIN link for a real map.