Davao Baby!
It's so funny that I was only able to appreciate my birth place, Davao City, when my then soon-to-be in-laws went there for pamanhikan. I realized that I wasn't able to go to a lot of places when I lived there - we're talking about 18 years!
Davao is popular for Pearl Farm. But it's not the only island resort there. There are a lot. Believe it or not, I've only been to Pearl Farm once. Yep. Crazy noh? I used to hate the beach when I was younger because I didn't want to get dark. Well, I didn't want to get darkER then. I was into outdoor sports so skin pigmentation was inevitable.
Anyway, here are some tips for anyone who would like to visit beautiful Davao:
a.) For affordable and clean hotels/inns, you can check: Linmarr Apartelle, Galleria Inn, Regency, Casa Leticia. All these hotels are small and accessible to everywhere in Davao. If you want to splurge, there's: The Marco Polo, Royal Mandaya, Apo View Hotel, Mercure, Insular Hotel. They all have websites that you can search on the net.
b.) Beaches - Pearl Farm is expensive. You can just go there for aday trip. Your hotel can help you. I think they have a day trip package for less than 2K per person inclusive of lunch buffet. Chemas is okay but food isn't great and it's expensive. If you want beach that's worth it go to Paradise Island - food's cheap and delicious, beach is very clean, sand is white, crowd's not bad either. It's 5 minutes away from the "pier". Any taxi driver can bring you to where the boats are. There are boats that leave (the city and Paradise Island) every hour. My in-laws loved it!
c.) Eden Nature Park is far from the city but it's worth the trip. Go there in the morning, have lunch (buffet) there and go on a tour around the park.
d.) After Eden, you might want to go to Jack's Ridge for dinner. You can view the city lights from this place. Food's good and reasonably priced. They also have a coffee shop there :)
e.) Kulasa BBQ - never leave Davao w/o trying their chicken bbq. No ambience here but you won't reget it. Super yummy!
f.) Night about town - The Venue, Matina Town Square, Eagle's Bar at The Marco Polo. I'm not familiar with the other places anymore. Maybe I'll check it out when I go back this year.
g.) Crocodile Farm - haven't been there but they say it's a must see. This is only less than 10 minutes away from where I live - unbelievable!
h.) Malls - the best one would be SM Davao. Well, there are 2 Gaisano malls and a Victoria Plaza - which is like Harrison Plaza. Hahaha! Oh! There's NCCC mall too.
i.) Pasalubong - native items you can find at Aldevinco, fruits at Madrazo Fruit Stand (get Golden or Nenita pomelos). I buy durian/mangosteen candies at the supermarkets - their cheaper there.
j.) There's White Water Rafting. Haven't tried it yet but you might want to check with your hotel.
k.) Blugre Cafe - it's Davao's Starbucks. Try out their durian version of the frapuccino.
That's about it. I'm sure there are a lot of other places I failed to mention. I should have made the most of my life in Davao. Now I can't believe I'm just one of the tourists who visit every so often.
Davao is popular for Pearl Farm. But it's not the only island resort there. There are a lot. Believe it or not, I've only been to Pearl Farm once. Yep. Crazy noh? I used to hate the beach when I was younger because I didn't want to get dark. Well, I didn't want to get darkER then. I was into outdoor sports so skin pigmentation was inevitable.
Anyway, here are some tips for anyone who would like to visit beautiful Davao:
a.) For affordable and clean hotels/inns, you can check: Linmarr Apartelle, Galleria Inn, Regency, Casa Leticia. All these hotels are small and accessible to everywhere in Davao. If you want to splurge, there's: The Marco Polo, Royal Mandaya, Apo View Hotel, Mercure, Insular Hotel. They all have websites that you can search on the net.
b.) Beaches - Pearl Farm is expensive. You can just go there for aday trip. Your hotel can help you. I think they have a day trip package for less than 2K per person inclusive of lunch buffet. Chemas is okay but food isn't great and it's expensive. If you want beach that's worth it go to Paradise Island - food's cheap and delicious, beach is very clean, sand is white, crowd's not bad either. It's 5 minutes away from the "pier". Any taxi driver can bring you to where the boats are. There are boats that leave (the city and Paradise Island) every hour. My in-laws loved it!
c.) Eden Nature Park is far from the city but it's worth the trip. Go there in the morning, have lunch (buffet) there and go on a tour around the park.
d.) After Eden, you might want to go to Jack's Ridge for dinner. You can view the city lights from this place. Food's good and reasonably priced. They also have a coffee shop there :)
e.) Kulasa BBQ - never leave Davao w/o trying their chicken bbq. No ambience here but you won't reget it. Super yummy!
f.) Night about town - The Venue, Matina Town Square, Eagle's Bar at The Marco Polo. I'm not familiar with the other places anymore. Maybe I'll check it out when I go back this year.
g.) Crocodile Farm - haven't been there but they say it's a must see. This is only less than 10 minutes away from where I live - unbelievable!
h.) Malls - the best one would be SM Davao. Well, there are 2 Gaisano malls and a Victoria Plaza - which is like Harrison Plaza. Hahaha! Oh! There's NCCC mall too.
i.) Pasalubong - native items you can find at Aldevinco, fruits at Madrazo Fruit Stand (get Golden or Nenita pomelos). I buy durian/mangosteen candies at the supermarkets - their cheaper there.
j.) There's White Water Rafting. Haven't tried it yet but you might want to check with your hotel.
k.) Blugre Cafe - it's Davao's Starbucks. Try out their durian version of the frapuccino.
That's about it. I'm sure there are a lot of other places I failed to mention. I should have made the most of my life in Davao. Now I can't believe I'm just one of the tourists who visit every so often.
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