Davao and Samal Island
Its been a while since my last post...I'm getting the habit of sleeping rather than writing my experiences(hahaha).
Last March 25-27, my friends and I went to see Davao and Samal Island. It was a product of a supposedly seminar I was offered in Davao City. Since the time was a bit off and I have a lot of back logs, I refused to go. At the back of my mind, casting aside a trip to Davao would be a big loss so I checked on Cebu Pacific if they have a sale. Luckily, there is and I immediately asked my friends if they would tag along this semester break. Five of them immediately agreed. This trip was almost rescheduled because additional people would like to come but the first five insisted that we book it right a way on a fear that it would turn to a "constantly-rescheduled-eventually-cancelled" plan.
Flight cost: Php 19017.36 with all the taxes and other charges.
PhP 19017.36/6 = PhP 3,169.56 per person Manila-Davao-Manila or
PhP 3,169.56/2 = PhP 1,584.78 per person one way, not bad!
Tip, always book at least 3 months before your target dates to take advantage of their seat sale.
Baguio-Manila trip is worth PhP 455 (March 2014) and from Victory Liner terminal, we rented a taxi good for six going to NAIA terminal 3 at PhP 350. Always opt for metered taxi if you're 3 or less.
Our first stop was to the hotel we booked online to leave our bags. The taxi driver was so kind to give us a little information about Davao on our way to the hotel. He told us that smoking in public in Davao is highly prohibited. He said that just the other day, a Filipino tourist with a Caucasian friend were penalized for violating the said city ordinance. Davao has really clean streets and they are allowed only up to 40 KPH outside city proper and 30 KPH in the central business district. Most hotels don't allow you to bring Durian (a very famous fruit in Davao) to your rooms. Davao is also a peaceful city, in fact there is almost zero pick pocketing and there is a curfew for night life - 12:00AM so this city is not for party-people!
Right after you go out of the airport, there will be taxi drivers offering you a service to your hotel. Just haggle down the price or you can take a metered taxi. Since we are six and max capacity of public cabs in Davao is 4, we opted to hire a service @ PhP 350. He also offered a city tour at PhP 3,500 but we turned it down thinking it would be cheaper to ride a metered taxi now and then. (bad idea!)
When we reached the hotel, the receptionist offered us upfront an early check-in with just an additional PhP 200. Since this dormitel is a real deal, we agreed so we can at least take a shower before we proceed with our itinerary.
Hotel cost: (Php 1,676 for 1 dorm + 200 early check in)/ good for 6 = PhP 312.67. That's a lot of savings! hehehe.
Hotel notes: No towel, no free soap, no free dental kits. Its a dormitel! Bring your own. Towels are for rent @ PhP 50 + 120 deposit. Btw, there is a PhP 500 deposit upon check in, at least you still get this upon check out :).
Not so far from Museo Dabawenyo, we headed to D'Bone Collector Museum. Entrance fee is PhP 50. The museum raises awareness to some animal life. It is sad that some of the remains are from animals who died ingesting plastic wastes from us.
I really enjoyed this part of the tour. D'Bone Collector is an NGO and an educational wildlife museum owned by an American bone collector - Darrell D. Blatchley. He does the tour himself but he was in Manila when we visited his museum.
It was 11:30AM when we finished the tour in this museum. Our next stop is Eden Nature Park & Resort. From D'Bone Collector, we rode a PhP 5.00 per head sidecar to the highway. Along the highway are jeepneys going to Toril for PhP 20.00 per person. Along the way you'll see a lot of side vendors selling Durian at PhP 30-40 per kilo. If only we had more time...
At Toril crossing, we rented a taxi who took us to Eden Nature Park and instructed the driver to wait for us since the habal-habal (motorcycle) are the only mode of public transportation going back to Toril.
This resort is located in a high-altitude part of Davao and boasts a nature-themed resort. They have bird sanctuary, deer gardens, playgrounds, vegetable gardens, wild flowers, fishing village and a lot more.
Entrance is PhP 200.00 with free snacks. Another option is buffet lunch but since we arrived past 1, we were told that some of the food had ran out at that time. The snack was not that good :( so we decided to extend our lunch at the fishing village where you may catch either tilapia or catfish and let them cook it for you.
At an entrance fee of PhP 40.00 and PhP 160.00 per kilo, two of our catch were cooked "pinaputok" way(tilapia stuffed with generous amount of tomatoes, onions and ginger then wrapped in banana leaves for grilling/baking) and the other two were grilled. Paired with a PhP 25.00 rice plus free bottled water - and we had a scrumptious lunch - yum! yum! yum! We also bought freshly picked mangosteen at PhP 100.00 per kilo. This was worth an experience for a city guy like me!
After a good lunch we attempted to visit other areas of the park but we do not have all the time so only saw the playgrounds and bird sanctuary. We passed by the butterfly garden but failed to see their rich vegetable garden.
We asked the driver to take us back to our hotel so we can prepare for our dinner. We paid him PhP 1,500.
Tip: according to other cab drivers we talked to, it was a bit high for PhP 1,500 from city to Eden Nature Park and back to hotel. We didn't had a any choice, did we? Hehehe.
After 2 hours of rest and shower, we went off for dinner. The driver who took us back to the hotel from Eden Nature Park offered PhP 650, good thing we declined because we tried a metered taxi and it only cost us PhP 100.00 per taxi.
We ate at Jack's Ridge Taklobo - known for a good night out. Overlooking Davao City, Taklobo has a good menu including sea foods. We ordered pomelo salad which is really good, inihaw na panga ng bariles (grilled tuna jaws) which is a must try and other sea foods. Our bill: around PhP 2000.00
Finally, before hitting the sack, we tried the famous Blugre Durian Coffee in front of Ateneo de Davao Grade School. It was like Starbucks and the coffee tasted like a regular coffee except with the distinct twist - the durian.
The coffee was worth PhP 120.00 and taxi going back to hotel was PhP 65.00 per taxi.
What we missed in Davao: Davao Crocodile Farm, Philippine Eagle Sanctuary, Japanese Tunnel, Lon Wah Buddist Temple - so Stick with your schedule! Hehehe.
check out our Samal Island escapade
Last March 25-27, my friends and I went to see Davao and Samal Island. It was a product of a supposedly seminar I was offered in Davao City. Since the time was a bit off and I have a lot of back logs, I refused to go. At the back of my mind, casting aside a trip to Davao would be a big loss so I checked on Cebu Pacific if they have a sale. Luckily, there is and I immediately asked my friends if they would tag along this semester break. Five of them immediately agreed. This trip was almost rescheduled because additional people would like to come but the first five insisted that we book it right a way on a fear that it would turn to a "constantly-rescheduled-eventually-cancelled" plan.
Flight cost: Php 19017.36 with all the taxes and other charges.
PhP 19017.36/6 = PhP 3,169.56 per person Manila-Davao-Manila or
PhP 3,169.56/2 = PhP 1,584.78 per person one way, not bad!
Tip, always book at least 3 months before your target dates to take advantage of their seat sale.
Baguio-Manila trip is worth PhP 455 (March 2014) and from Victory Liner terminal, we rented a taxi good for six going to NAIA terminal 3 at PhP 350. Always opt for metered taxi if you're 3 or less.
Our first stop was to the hotel we booked online to leave our bags. The taxi driver was so kind to give us a little information about Davao on our way to the hotel. He told us that smoking in public in Davao is highly prohibited. He said that just the other day, a Filipino tourist with a Caucasian friend were penalized for violating the said city ordinance. Davao has really clean streets and they are allowed only up to 40 KPH outside city proper and 30 KPH in the central business district. Most hotels don't allow you to bring Durian (a very famous fruit in Davao) to your rooms. Davao is also a peaceful city, in fact there is almost zero pick pocketing and there is a curfew for night life - 12:00AM so this city is not for party-people!
Right after you go out of the airport, there will be taxi drivers offering you a service to your hotel. Just haggle down the price or you can take a metered taxi. Since we are six and max capacity of public cabs in Davao is 4, we opted to hire a service @ PhP 350. He also offered a city tour at PhP 3,500 but we turned it down thinking it would be cheaper to ride a metered taxi now and then. (bad idea!)
When we reached the hotel, the receptionist offered us upfront an early check-in with just an additional PhP 200. Since this dormitel is a real deal, we agreed so we can at least take a shower before we proceed with our itinerary.
Hotel cost: (Php 1,676 for 1 dorm + 200 early check in)/ good for 6 = PhP 312.67. That's a lot of savings! hehehe.
Hotel notes: No towel, no free soap, no free dental kits. Its a dormitel! Bring your own. Towels are for rent @ PhP 50 + 120 deposit. Btw, there is a PhP 500 deposit upon check in, at least you still get this upon check out :).
After a cold shower we headed for breakfast and we were intrigued with this TAPS - a famous on-the-go breakfast in Davao. It was easy to find, thanks to google maps. TAPS serves Filipino breakfast. Their menu has a lot of options to choose from. TAPS (short for tapsilog or tapsilugan which means TAPA (cured beef) + SINANGAG (fried rice) + LONGANISA (chirizo)= typical Pinoy breakfast). Check out their menu:
I did not like my order here, but I tasted my friend's order which is Davao longanisa hamonado and was far better than mine.
Breakfast cost: an average of PhP 120 per pax.
After breakfast, we walked to Museo Dabawenyo (local museum of Davao). According to google maps, it's only 5 mins walk. It took us about 10 mins to find it under the heat of the sun. Good thing there are shades along the way and PhP 3.00/bottle Pepsi sale :)
Tip: If you're not a walker, ride a jeep (PhP 8.00) or a padyak (sidecar) - PhP 5 though walking allows you to experience a typical day in Davao.
Museo Dabawenyo is free of charge but they do not allow taking pictures inside except the entrance. This is a must-see for those who are into relics and history.
 |
| Behind is an artwork made of Durian Peeling |
I really enjoyed this part of the tour. D'Bone Collector is an NGO and an educational wildlife museum owned by an American bone collector - Darrell D. Blatchley. He does the tour himself but he was in Manila when we visited his museum.
It was 11:30AM when we finished the tour in this museum. Our next stop is Eden Nature Park & Resort. From D'Bone Collector, we rode a PhP 5.00 per head sidecar to the highway. Along the highway are jeepneys going to Toril for PhP 20.00 per person. Along the way you'll see a lot of side vendors selling Durian at PhP 30-40 per kilo. If only we had more time...
At Toril crossing, we rented a taxi who took us to Eden Nature Park and instructed the driver to wait for us since the habal-habal (motorcycle) are the only mode of public transportation going back to Toril.
This resort is located in a high-altitude part of Davao and boasts a nature-themed resort. They have bird sanctuary, deer gardens, playgrounds, vegetable gardens, wild flowers, fishing village and a lot more.
Entrance is PhP 200.00 with free snacks. Another option is buffet lunch but since we arrived past 1, we were told that some of the food had ran out at that time. The snack was not that good :( so we decided to extend our lunch at the fishing village where you may catch either tilapia or catfish and let them cook it for you.
 |
| snack area |
At an entrance fee of PhP 40.00 and PhP 160.00 per kilo, two of our catch were cooked "pinaputok" way(tilapia stuffed with generous amount of tomatoes, onions and ginger then wrapped in banana leaves for grilling/baking) and the other two were grilled. Paired with a PhP 25.00 rice plus free bottled water - and we had a scrumptious lunch - yum! yum! yum! We also bought freshly picked mangosteen at PhP 100.00 per kilo. This was worth an experience for a city guy like me!
After a good lunch we attempted to visit other areas of the park but we do not have all the time so only saw the playgrounds and bird sanctuary. We passed by the butterfly garden but failed to see their rich vegetable garden.
We asked the driver to take us back to our hotel so we can prepare for our dinner. We paid him PhP 1,500.
Tip: according to other cab drivers we talked to, it was a bit high for PhP 1,500 from city to Eden Nature Park and back to hotel. We didn't had a any choice, did we? Hehehe.
After 2 hours of rest and shower, we went off for dinner. The driver who took us back to the hotel from Eden Nature Park offered PhP 650, good thing we declined because we tried a metered taxi and it only cost us PhP 100.00 per taxi.
We ate at Jack's Ridge Taklobo - known for a good night out. Overlooking Davao City, Taklobo has a good menu including sea foods. We ordered pomelo salad which is really good, inihaw na panga ng bariles (grilled tuna jaws) which is a must try and other sea foods. Our bill: around PhP 2000.00
Finally, before hitting the sack, we tried the famous Blugre Durian Coffee in front of Ateneo de Davao Grade School. It was like Starbucks and the coffee tasted like a regular coffee except with the distinct twist - the durian.
The coffee was worth PhP 120.00 and taxi going back to hotel was PhP 65.00 per taxi.
What we missed in Davao: Davao Crocodile Farm, Philippine Eagle Sanctuary, Japanese Tunnel, Lon Wah Buddist Temple - so Stick with your schedule! Hehehe.
check out our Samal Island escapade
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