Baler, Aurora | 5 Mistakes You Won’t Mind Making in Baler

In every out of town trip, most travelers would be looking forward to doing new things, going to new places and tasting new food. It usually all boils down to how unique we want our experience to be so we can come home and share as much envious photos and stories we can to our friends and followers in social networking sites.

The stokedtraveler is not an exception to this. A travel itinerary for him includes going to all the usual tourist spots, tasting local delicacies and finding new things to share. This is “usually” how things are supposed to go.

On his second trip to Baler, he learns that traveling with a less hectic itinerary can just be as fulfilling as accomplishing a long to-do list on your trip. Here are five mistakes you’ll surely consider making in your next trip to Baler:

Sagada, Mt. Province | Day 2. A Chilly Chillax Experience

Kiltepan Sunrise and the Sea of Clouds

One of the high points from the stories that the stokedtraveler read and heard of Sagada was the Kiltepan Sunrise and the sea of clouds. Pictures of this in the web was simply breathtaking and to experience it personally would be surreal.

No sunrise nor a sea of clouds

The group woke up early and took their pre-arranged van to bring them to Kiltepan peak which serves as the viewing point for the sunrise. There were just too many tourists that the van had to drop them off farther than needed because of the traffic (imagine manila traffic brought to Sagada). They took a 10-15 trek through the dark forest. Remember to bring your own light to guide your way or else you’ll be at the mercy of the closest person next to you to mark your path.

Sagada, Mt. Province | Day 1. The journey to Sagada Bonfire Festival

Sagada, Shangri-La of the North

Most commonly dubbed as the Philippines’ Shangri-La of the North, Sagada is a sure hit for any traveler who is looking for cold climate, laid-back living, fresh produce, and awe inspiring natural landscape. It is definitely as remote and beautiful as how the novel Lost Horizon (1933) by James Hilton depicted Shangri-La. It is nestled in a valley enveloped between the Cordillera mountain range and the Ilocos range. The road leading to it is both scenic and perilous due to its geography. Although faraway, visitors going to Sagada will not be faced by uncomfortable living conditions. The local community has made it possible for tourists to have decent bed & breakfast and even offer dining options to suit a food lover’s taste.