When traveling, I like to roam around one last time before leaving a place for good. This gives me time to reflect and lets me end the journey on my own terms. The Aurora Lighthouse was located 14km away in the east. With its sweeping view, it seemed like the perfect spot to view the sunrise.

Myta and I woke up at 4am to allot enough time for the biking, as well as the short hike going up to the lighthouse. The ride out was supposed to be 4:30am, but I had to fix a flat tire. The bike was now ready; the rider wasn’t. I munched on a few Fitbars to make sure I had some gas in the tank. After that, we hit the road.

It was still dim—pitch-black in the areas without street lighting. I don’t believe in cryptids, but I could sense why Filipinos have such strong superstitious beliefs as I pedaled into the darkness. When you don’t see anything, the mind tries to fill in the void for you. Still, I doubt an aswang would survive getting run over by an SUV, if one were to pop up on the national highway.

We were near the lighthouse, having passed Ermita Hill. One thing I noticed as we got closer and closer was that there were more beach houses and campsites. The road felt more like a resort driveway than a path of solitude. The ride had an anticlimactic end upon arriving at the lighthouse.

Apparently, the lighthouse area wasn’t open to the public. And further driving the point, three barking dogs emerged from the side to drive us away. We turned around and backtracked to find another place to watch the sunrise. It took a while since practically everything was private property.

Eventually, we found a spot by the Aniao Islet that wasn’t fenced off. Waiting for sunrise gave me some time to reflect about my tourism experience in Baler. I had a great time because the places weren’t crowded with people, and the roads weren’t congested with cars. But if more tourists start coming in droves, can the community handle it?

According to Myta, a lot has changed in Baler with the new developments. Tourism is great for the local economy. But is it worth having more traffic and pollution, as well as more expensive commodities? Will the locals still be able to enjoy the natural landscapes of their home with all the resorts and hotels being constructed?

The future looked as bleak as the cloudy sunrise. I’m not saying this is a certainty, but the LGU will need good planning backed by political will to avoid such a fate.

The sky wasn’t going to get any clearer, so we went back to the homestay.

Our bus for Cubao was scheduled to leave at 12 noon, so we had to be wise with the limited time. We had coffee and breakfast at Alley Cat, before going back to the homestay to pack. Then we had an early lunch at an Indian restaurant called The Shack. I was surprised with how the food was full of flavor and spice. To make sure I didn’t go hungry during the bus ride, I ordered beef biryani for takeout.

We checked out of the homestay and proceeded to the Genesis terminal. Myta got the tickets, while I loaded our bikes. Once everything was secure, we could rest easy inside the JoyBus. The return trip was more leisurely since I was better-rested. And because it was still daylight, I could see the scenery outside. This helped calm me down as I still felt sick at the twisties.

The bus arrived in Cubao before 5pm. And after unloading and assembling our bikes, we rode out one last time. Although I was glad to be back on EDSA, I didn’t miss the traffic and the pollution. Arriving in Barangay Kapitolyo marked the end of this Baler trip.

There are many reasons why people enjoy biking. You get to save commuting time in the city, and have some exercise as well. But more than that, riding a bicycle feels nostalgic. It reconnects me to simpler, happier times, such as when I was a kid playing Pokemon Emerald exploring the Hoenn region with the Mach Bike.

Compared to my other bike-tours, this felt more like a short vacation than a grand adventure. However, it was still enjoyable nevertheless. Anyone can go on a quick getaway to Baler. But doing it with a bicycle turned the place into a playground, where the freedom of cycling empowered me and my friends to explore it with childlike wonder.