Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Revisiting Dingalan

One of my favorite places to go to whenever I come home to Cabanatuan City is the quaint little town of Dingalan. And with the opening of a new highway that traverses Sta. Rosa - Fort Magsaysay - Laur, going there is now much, more easier.

Dingalan is officially a part of the province of Aurora but strategically, it seems like it is more a part of Nueva Ecija. In fact, there is no direct road route that links Dingalan with other municipalities of Aurora such as Baler, San Luis and Maria Aurora. And if you happen to be in these areas, you need to pass by Nueva Ecija just to go Dingalan. Of course, a boat ride is another story and if you happen to be the adventurous kind, go brave the ride.

Dingalan is famous for its natural beauty. From the mountainous terrain of the Sierra Madre sloping down to the huge waves hampering Dingalan View. These amazing views can all be seen while driving down its concrete highways.

These vast mountain ranges are the source of rivers, streams and mountain springs crisscrossing the rugged terrain and draining towards the mouth of Dingalan Bay. Before typhoons devastated this town, we used to go to Talon, where a series of mini-falls create a cauldron-like pool in several steps where if you are brave and fit enough, reaching the top-most falls will reward you with the freshest water to enjoy.

Today, one of the more popular destination here is the Dingalan beach where a port was recently constructed. Although the shoreline here is far from ideal, most tourist and locals still flock the place to enjoy the view of the sea and its surrounding mountains. It is also a good place to mingle with the charming locals who have ready smiles for you.

My favorite spot in this town however is a mini-resort where you can bathe in the clear pool of fresh water that came from the mountains. For just a minimum entrance fee of ten pesos (used for maintenance), you can enjoy the place and even find solace in a place you can call your own. Huge boulders and flowing waters surrounded by abundant greens make the place just perfect for relaxation.

And of course, while you are in the place, a must-try gastronomical experience will be dining in at Dampa near the Dingalan Bay. You need to buy your seafoods at the nearby stalls then Dampa will cook it for you anyway you want it from sinigang to adobo to frying. I strongly recommend their version of calamares and of course the spicy buttered prawns. The best seafood meal at a surprisingly cheap price.

To go there, the best option is still to go to Cabanatuan City by bus. Five Star, Baliwag and E & S Transit ply the Cubao-Cabanatuan Route. Then from Cabanatuan City Central Terminal, you can ride a mini-bus or a jeepney to Dingalan, Aurora.

25 comments:

  1. ang sarap ng tubig sa ilog at sa dagat... malapit ba yan sa Gabaldon ba yun? baka kasi magpunta kmi dun pag gumanda na ang panahon...

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  2. ganda ng rock formation!

    again! nice capture! astig!

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  3. What a beautiful place and a wonderful capture as always! Hope your week is going well!

    Sylvia

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  4. What are those orange things inside the bottles?

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  5. the rocky part of the water is a good place for meditation.

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  6. ah di na pala kelangan mag bangka papunta dito. nasan ang mga pagkain nang mainggit kami hahaha!! :))

    parang ang sarap kumanta ng tabing ilog dun sa batuhan oh ahihihi :D

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  7. Ooh, I like the first pic, so dangerously beautiful. Madulas siguro jan hano?

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  8. awww-namiss ko talaga ng dingaalan. very memorable. kaya the mere mention brings back very good memories. dyan ko lang talaga nasubukan yung sa subrang lasing kaya sa tabing dagat nako nakatulog...those were the days. when everything was adventure......hahaha

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  9. May ganito palang lugar na malapit sa Cabanatuan City. Last na pagpunta ko sa Cabanatuan, Hotel at Mall lang ang destination ko. Pero nanotice ko sa malls, ang daming foreigners. Napaisip nga ako, ano ang mga spots for tourists dito sa area na ito? Now I know. Thanks for sharing. Punta ako dito next time.

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  10. Lawstude---kaso me vignette effect yung mga shots ko dahil sa cpl. diko ma-edit kasi wala akong photoshop. lightroom lang. hahah. thanks for the compliment. hiya naman ako.coming from a pro like you. ei---I think I am ready to run with the BIG boys.lol

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  11. looks like a nice river to visit when I hit Central Luzon again! thnx for sharing!

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  12. ganda ng location ng hammock at nipa hut. gusto ko riyan!

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  13. The Moon
    shines
    on a cat

    Meow

    ---

    SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE

    There's much in the world that you can't explain.
    It's revealed for you to remember
    by the whispering voice of a distant train
    or a midnight rain in november.

    Horizon within! You can always find
    the keys to Enigma. Let's mention
    one basic Truth: of spirited Mind
    Is Nature naught but extension.

    Internal expanses! In dreams, ridden
    by fear and longing you roam
    that deep Southeast in your soul hidden
    ...on your random journey back home.

    ---

    As a native Swede, I am particularly proud of my love poetry suite Sonnets for Katie.

    My Poems

    My wallpaper art Babes!

    Sexuality introduces Death to Being; and indeed Life simultaneously. This is the profound Myth of the Eden. The work of the Serpent. Bringing us out of "blessed" Standstill. So, in contrast to the mindless pietism of vulgar Christianity, my personal "Christo-Satanism" should be given serious thought by the Enlightened Few, the Pneumatics, the 1% Outlaws. The Light Bringer must be rehabilitated, beacause if not, the All of it simply doesn't make sense: true Catholicism is necessarily Meta Catholicism.

    My philosophy

    Arthur Rimbaud, Max Jacob, Saint-John Perse, René Char, Henri Michaux, Roger Kowalski, Peter Ingestad...

    LE FRUIT DU CIEL

    Un orage nocturne illmuna maintenant l'Amazonie, franchis les Andes, envoya des jeux de cartes gigantesques et frappantes en bas à la Pampa –

    Puis: petit déjeuner à melon; café fumant!

    À la bague du cigare tu lis, étonné: GÉOGRAPHIE.

    My prosepoetry in French:

    Poétudes

    Et je traduise la poésie française en suédois:

    Ordgaller

    Schwarzes Birne!
    Aufforderung zur Erotik.

    My poetry in German:

    Fremde Gedichte

    Casualidad sopla la sangre
    de alguno señor desconocido
    durante los pocos restantes
    momentos del resplandor de faroles

    que se vislumbran tras el follaje
    flameando de las obsesiónes
    igual efimero como gotas
    del cinzano de la soledad –

    En aquel tiempo me levanta
    dentro uno incidente avejentado
    que en seguida palidece
    al camouflaje de abstraccion;

    chica, nadie conoce que tus grisos
    ojos significan aún; con todo
    el sueño que hube evacuado
    tu escudriñas nuevamente.

    Mi poesía aproximadamente española

    And: reciprocity: for mutual benefit, you will do me a favor promoting your own blog on mine!

    The best way to do it is lining up as a Follower, since then your icon will advertise you indefinitely, and I will follow you in return. Let's forge a mighty alliance of synergy and common interest.

    Yours,

    - Peter Ingestad, Sweden

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  14. kakamiss nga ang dingalan. mabisita nga ulit yan next year.

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  15. seriously kidnap me back to the philippines!!

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  16. Di ba binagyo ang Aurora? Pansin ko lang kasi lagi binabagyo yan eh. I used to go to Talon Falls kaso wala na nga sya kasi nasira ng bagyo. Ganda ng mga pics as usual.

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  17. Nahilo ako sa comment ni Kraxpelax hahaha.

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  18. ganda ng bundok. when i hear of dingalan, i think of mountain ranges. i didnt know nasa tabing-dagat pala sya. hehe

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  19. Hi Norman! Another great place to enjoy...

    Sorry for the absence: out one week, busy on return and then caught by the flu... ;)
    Blogtrotter Two is still waiting for you in Algiers... Enjoy and have a great week!

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  20. Sorry, is that Oman rather than Norman? I apologize...

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  21. wu kasama yan sa next destination ko! ako man nagtataka kung bakit part siya ng aurora, siguro makikita nalang yun sa tradisyon nila..hehe

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  22. nkkmiss ang dingalan..bkt kng kln umlis nq don ska prang lalong gumnda at fully develop n..pg uwe q una una q yn pupunthn ung s ilog fvorite nmn pliguan ni leng...haaayyy leng kmust kn kya jn s dingalan...sna my asw kn

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