Saturday, January 30, 2010

Surprisingly Calm Cemento Beach @ Baler

On my second day in Baler, I ask a tricycle driver to take me to Cemento Beach. Having observed the waves of Sabang Beach the day before, I was half-expecting rowdier waves but surprisingly, the ocean is very calm, thus I wonder, am I in the right place?

After asking some fisherfolks of the place, indeed, I was in Cemento Beach. But where are the waves?

From what I gather, from October to February, the waves here tower to as much as fourteen feet and surfers from Australia, Japan and other European countries frequent the place to surf.

Does climate change affect Cemento Beach as well? Maybe! Fisherfolks I have talked to say that at this time of the year, the waves are usually strong. But since weather has become unpredicable these past few months, they no longer wonder if the ocean occasionally calm down.

With no waves and surfers to see, the best thing to do in Cemento Beach is just wander around and enjoy the view. The calm weather is a treat to the Balerian kids there who enjoy the the beach. They even play around a docked boat on a shore.

The calm weather also is a good opportunity for fisherfolks to catch fishes near the shore. They usually laid their nets just few meters from the shore, leave it overnight and gather the catch next morning.

Cemento Beach is a long stretch of dark but fine sand from the Wharf to the right to a mangrove in the left. There is also a reef that is just 10 minutes boat ride or 40 minute trek from the beach.

Although I did not catch the waves, I still enjoyed my visit here because of the serene view and the hospitable Balerians who I think enjoyed chatting with visitors too.

More of Baler on my next posts.

18 comments:

  1. This must be one of the waves you're looking for.

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Batang-Baler/56785346507?ref=nf#/photo.php?pid=30325718&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=56785346507&aid=-1&id=1309382652&oid=56785346507

    Cemento is big and long place. There's the Cemento beach along the main Sitio Cemento where most of the residences are located. There's the port and after that a reef coast that stretches up to the rock of Dimadimalangat, the islet you can see when you're in Bay's Inn or Baler Beach. That place is still Cemento and there's a place there called Cemento Reef. That's where the big waves are. It's a small place, just a few meters across. The place where the islet is located is called Lukso-lukso and the big waves are located about 200 meters to the left of that. There's a damaged boardwalk leading to the place. Don't try surfing there if you're a newbie, you will die.

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  2. Did you surf? I want to learn how to surf and I think Baler is a great place to learn this. Hope to go there someday.

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  3. again, ganda ng kuha pards, i remember when i'm reading mabuhay magazine year 1990 that baler highlighted that place.

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  4. i wonder why cemento yung name? is it because of the color of the sand?

    laki pala ng baler. my friend who practices his dentistry there has invited me over a few times already. i hope to get a glimpse of that beach someday.

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  5. Wow very beautiful island. The blue sky and blue sea are really amazing and lovely. Can understand why you love the place.

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  6. Such a beautiful blue..beautiful pictures here.

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  7. Cute naman ng pagkakakuha... Blue na blue ang color... Natural!


    Nice shots sa Baler...

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  8. I love the shots. Di sya white beach pero mukhang enjoy pa rin mga kids.

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  9. did you go there to surf? i love the look of the calm ocean, it's very relaxing.

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  10. Amiable dispatch and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you on your information.

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  11. filipino hospitality definitely compensates it all. dadami na naman ang gustong pupunta diyan.

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  12. Great photos Blue is my favorite color.. Will be heading to the beach myself next week. I'll see what kind of photos I can come up with

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  13. Cemento Beach - now that sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it ? Nice pics :)

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  14. I like the blue sea and blue sky. So calming : )

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  15. LS: What a great beach even if you didn't see the waves.

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  16. Its definitely no Boracay but my kind of beach just the same. No crowd and warm heat works for me.

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