The Year I've become a traveller

2014 TRAVELS

List of places I've been for the past year

2014 is a memorable one mainly because of the following:

1. I started this blog TARA GUMALA. 

2. I started travelling and organized DIY travels. 

3. I got a life insurance. 

4. I traveled with my family.

5. I got a chance to do a volunteer work before the year ends. 

Hoooraaaaahhhh!

Okay, I do not know how to start this, I'm in a dilemma whether to present it chronologically or based on my favorite spots. :) I guess, to avoid any biases, I will just have to go with the chronologically order. 

1. Baler, Aurora

2. Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

3. Albay, Bicol

4. Subic Beach, Sorsogon

5. Rock Formation, Biri, Northern Samar

6. Apo Reef, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro

7. Puerto Princesa, Palawan

8. El Nido, Palawan

9. Boracay Island, Aklan

10. Davao City + Samal Island

11. Mt. Pulag National Park, Benguet

12. Sitio Yangka, Capas, Tarlac

Puro local lang travel ko for 2014, how about in 2015? :)

Wow, it was like I travelled every month. Amazing! Thank you Lord for this year of travel, for keeping me safe always.


Cheers to more years of travels! Cheers to endless wanderlust! Cheers, TARA GUMALA! :)


Thank you for travelling with me, looking forward to our future travels.

Ano, TARA GUMALA?


CIAO. 
--
GABRIELA

Dicasalarin Cove, Aurora

Dicasalarin Cove is a private island owned by the Angara Family. The entrance fee costs 100 per person. If you have a car, parking fee is free but if you only hired a tricycle, the latter is not allowed to go inside, you are forced to hire a habal - habal worth 100 Php per way.

Accordingly it used to be a resort that can be rented but when a foreigner died when tried to surf and swim in the beach, they only opened it for day tour. The under current in Dicasalarin is unpredictable so swimming and surfing are not advisable. There was a big sign that says NO SWIMMING! yes with ALL CAPS! haha.

How to go to Dicasalarin?

There are two ways of going to Dicasalarin via land or via boat. Well, the latter is not advisable since the current is really strong. If you are staying at Costa Pacifica, they will give a map going to Dicasalarin. It was an easy one. Going to Dicasalarin, you will pass through several scenic sights like, Diguisit Beach, Ermita Hill, Diguisit Falls, Ampere Beach and many others that are worth taking pictures.

Note: If you are not staying in Costa Pacifica, never buy tickets there to Dicasalarin Cove, they will charge you 300 Php. The entrance fee only costs 100 Php! Just go straight there and pay at the gates of the Cove.

Via. Land.

Getting into Dicasalarin Cove with your own private car is more convenient than renting a tricycle. The trail going to the gates of Dicasalarin was a death-defying! The road is still under construction and only one car at a time could pass. The road is very steep as in scary steep, my friends said that it is steeper than Sagada. eek! Here are some pics.

Well all the risks are worth it! I swear.

When we arrived in the area, it has different villas like a resort and it even has an artist village but we were not able to visit because we were running late. We also did not have the chance to trek the trail going to the lighthouse. We stay beach bummed in the cove.

Villas in Dicasalarin

The beach of Dicasalarin Cove was amazing or maybe I was just not expecting too much. Anyway, yea it has a powdery golden sand not white but it is enough to make my trip to Baler. I also enjoyed it because there were few people in the cove and not crowded like in Sabang. Privacy has a price, e?

Dicasalarin was featured in KrisTV, so its gaining popularity. Well, if you are rich, maybe you can afford to hire an airlift going there.

Lighthouse

So that was our Dicasalarin experience!




ANO, TARA GUMALA!

CIAO.
--
GABRIELA

Ditumabo Falls, Baler, Aurora

Ditumabo Falls a.k.a Mother Falls

Baler is abundant with falls mainly because it is surrounded by different mountains like Sierra Madre. It is a perfect combination of mountains and beach. If you are visiting Baler, be sure to trek your way to Ditumabo Falls in San Luis, Aurora, a nearby town.

From Baler town proper it is just a 20 minute drive going to the set off point and 20 minute trek going to the Ditumabo Falls per ce. Since I was travelling with my not-so-oldies colleagues, it took us 30 to 40 minute trek. HAHA. We opted to trek early in the morning, so that it won't be too hot. 

The trail going to the set off point was a bit scary because the road is so steep, rocky and slippery. We were a bit skeptic on our way to the set off point because the road is very rough and only one car can pass at a time. Here are some pictures though I was not able to take a lot of pictures because it was raining on our way there.

It was a different place when we got to the set off point.. There were only few people maybe because it was so early. It was cloudy and it touches the tip of the mountain, like the facade in Mt. Province.

We rented a Nipa Hut, worth 200 Php, so that we could settle our things and have breakfast. There are comfort rooms in the set off point but it costs 5 Php per use! There are also stores in the area where you can buy snacks like chips, water, corn and other ready to eat..

Note: Bring extra money because there are lots of "donation" in the area before you reach the falls! 20 Php before you start the trek and 2 Php on the improvised bridge that the locals built. Also, you are not allowed to bring food!

Hydro pumps

 

This is the point where you know that you are near the falls. You can hear the roaring sounds of the water which is really refreshing!

Aaaah! Finally! Ditumabo Falls!

Finally! We reached it, after all the dramas that some of us will not continue the trek, falling on the slippery rock and crawling through the water!  HAHAHA.
The water is freezing cold, didn't expect that kind of coldness. whew! The water is also crystal clear but the depth varies from one point to another, which was very tricky! 



I highly recommend that you visit this place! It is perfect for young at heart, who wants to be adventurous! Trekking is fun, especially if one of your companion fell or crawling in the water to prevent from slipping. HAHA. Also, visit the place early in the morning because the place gets crowded during high noon!


ANO, TARA GUMALA! 


CIAO.
--
GABRIELA