oboi laboy: Sightseeing Baler (Part 1)

Monday, November 28, 2011

Sightseeing Baler (Part 1)

From Aragon House we went back to Quezon Park where we had lunch at an eatery across Aurora Memorial Hospital in Barangay Reserva, Baler, Aurora.

Squid Adobo

Tanigue Steak

Right after lunch we met Syder, who agreed to take us to the weather station of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which sits on top of a hill in Sitio Digisit, Barangay Zabali.

Although the road going up to the weather station is paved, it’s steep grade and sharp turns make it difficult for a tricycle to climb.

The PAGASA weather station overlooks Dicasalarin Cove, which is now more accessible since a newly built road leads straight down to the cove. We didn’t go down to the cove as we still have other places to see. Also, we find the P300 fee a bit steep if we were just to do a quick sightseeing at the cove. For sure, I’ll visit Dicasalarin Cove the next time I’m in Baler.

We checked out the weather station but we’re told not to go to the rooftop where a Doppler radar is found. The Doppler radar was being used at that time. They say the rooftop affords a better view of the surrounding landscape. Maybe next time we’ll be able to get to the rooftop.

PAGASA weather station

Various gauges at PAGASA

A dog marking his territory at PAGASA

It was a quick downhill drive from the weather station to the coast.

Our tricycle driver is from Casiguran, Aurora and he’s not familiar with the names of some of Baler’s points of interest. When I asked him what’s the name of one rock outcrop we saw along the way, he told me it’s called “bato” or rock and he added that if a rock has a hole or opening it’s called a “kuweba” or cave. Pretty informative, huh? I just nodded with his answer.

If not for Google I won’t be able to know some of the places we saw in Baler.

Coming from PAGASA weather station we made a quick stop to take photos of Añiao Islets in Barangay Zabali.