Under the Davao Sun

Ahhhhh...we're back in Manila after 4 glorious days in beautiful Davao. Not a minute wasted, thanks to HazelV's ever-OC preparations, plus Bex and HazelT's friend Tristan who helped in deciding which hotel/resort to stay, where to buy, what to do in Davao. Btw, we had two Hazels in the trip. It wasn't confusing, it was easier to get their attention. All I have to do is say, "Hazel! Bex!" and they would all turn. Just two names. Beat that. Hehe.

Anyway, here's my account of our trip, with sidelights/highlights of the day.

Saturday, 20 October 2007
Around 10:30pm. Bex texts me saying they'll pick me up between 2:30am and 2:45am. They have to first pick up HazelT and then proceed to my place.

Sunday, 21 October 2007 - DAY 1
2:50am - We're already on our way to the Domestic Airport. They're surprised that I have the smallest bag. I travel light you see (just one knapsack and a carry-on bag).

3:30am-4:20am - Whole time was spent eating banana (Bex), coffee (HazelV), crackers (Me). We all brought our MP3 players, except for Bex. She can't use one because it's bad for her, might trigger her vertigo, which pissed her off (and also because wala siya makausap). So we suggested that she just listen to the FM radio on her phone (HazelT lent her earphones). Happy na siya.

4:20am - Boarding time. My seat preference: Window seat. I am 1F. Gotta turn off my phone. Still dark outside. First time to leave Manila this early. All the street lights were still on, just like when you're after dark in Antipolo overlooking the Metro.

4:45am - Take off from the Domestic Airport. Bex and I took pictures of the group, the clouds over Mt. Apo, including my bandaged foot.

6:15am - Smooth landing at the Davao International Airport. Kudos to Captain Guevarra.

7:30am - After a 20-minute cab ride to the wharf, we took another 8-minute boat ride to Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort. The other room was not available yet, so we had to share one room first. NP. After fixing our things, we agreed to have breakfast, then sunbathe and then go island hopping (at 1:00pm). We had breakfast of cold cuts, eggs, longganisa, coffee. First casualty: After breakfast, HazelT felt uneasy and had to go back to our room to rest. So just the three of us went sunbathing...

Around 11:00am - We all got hungry and HazelV, since she was already "tustado," ordered food for us. 12:00 noon - no food yet. HazelV recalled and is sure that she had requested that our food be delivered. Since we're all hungry, Bex went to the counter to check. After 10 minutes, here comes Bex and behind her were 2 waiters carrying our food. It turned out that when HazelV ordered, the lady at the counter who agreed to have the food delivered forgot all about it (or some other excuse). Although the practice was that diners are given numbers and are asked to come back after 10 minutes to claim their food, the point is they agreed to deliver the food. Mind you, HazelV was not given any claim number. So the food was just there on the counter...waiting... *sigh* and we were all super hungry and our island hopping schedule was at 1:00pm. HazelV had ordered rice, inihaw na bangus, cauliflower with garlic, liempo, mango juice. Good thing the food was yummy or else they will get another tongue lashing---from Bex again. While we were eating, and still grumbling (hehe!), here comes the resort's restaurant manager with 2 fresh buko juice. He started apologizing about the incident and promised that it will not happen again. I think they got scared. They got scared of Bex because after that incident, everywhere we go, they'd give us special treatment... hmmmmm. And the next time we ordered food, they'd offer to deliver it to us--even if we're at the far end of the resort.

Next activity: Island hopping. Our dive master is Randy of Wind and Wave Davao. He explained that the whole island hopping trip will take 3 hours and the package includes 3 diving/snorkeling sites (Talikud, Angel's Cove and Coral Garden), use of snorkeling gear, and speed boat. It took 45 minutes from Paradise Island to get to Talikud Island, to think that we used a speedboat to get there. So after 45 minutes, we reached our first dive/snorkeling site. Randy taught us how to use the gear, etc. Hazel took a diving intro course in Batangas a few months ago, as for me, have done snorkeling in Palawan, Bora, Mindoro, etc. So we weren't new to the experience. In the water, Randy was leading us to the many corals and fishes. After 10 minutes or so, we noticed that Bex was way behind us and had stopped snorkeling--head out of the water. She said she was overwhelmed by the depth and felt nauseous so Randy suggested that Bex just stay in the boat. So HazelV and I continued snorkeling and after about 10 minutes, we decided to transfer to another site. When we got back on the boat, we found Bex in one corner and was vomitting...wawa naman. Her vertigo was acting up again. We asked Bex if she wanted to go back to the resort and she said yes. So we just went back to the resort and decided to just do some snorkeling there. When we got to the resort, she vomited again. Randy quipped, "At least, meron na kakainin ang mga fish." Eeeek! Haha!

So Bex was taken back to our room, and changed to dry clothes. The nurse at the resort took her BP, which was normal. Bex said she just needs to lie down and rest. That's 2 casualties for the day. Hazel and I decided to continue our snorkeling with Randy. Hehehe. That was one hour of snorkeling. Hyper Hazel still wanted to do some kayaking, so as her friend, I said yes. We got the two seater. We had difficulty at the start and still had no coordination in the end. Good thing we did not hit any swimmers. After just maybe 10 minutes, we called it quits. But it was fun, we were laughing all through out.

For dinner, we had food delivered to HazelT and Bex's room (actually we ate at the veranda). We had inihaw na chicken, pinakbet, mixed seafood (sizzling) and sandwich for Bex plus dessert of course (mango with corn and blueberry with corn). After eating, I excused myself to wash my hands. When I got back to the dining table, I asked for HazelV, HazelT said she went back to our room to toothbrush. I said I will brush too. When I reached the room, Hazel was there fixing her things. After I brushed and got cleaned, HazelV was already in bed, so I also went to bed and watched some TV.

Monday, 22 October 2007 - DAY 2 - Pearl Farm Day Tour
6:00am - DING! DING! DING! DING! WHADDDAH()%$)#*)#(*$)#(@$. I was sure that was Bex. Hahahaha! It was only 6:00am!!!! Our alarm's set at 6:30am ARGHHHHH!!! FINE!!!! By 7:00am, HazelV and I were ready, expecting that the other 2 were also ready...only to find out that they were not. Haaayyy...I was hoping we could leave right away so we can catch the boat ride from Paradise to Pearl Farm Wharf and catch another boat to bring us to Pearl Farm. Oh, well. Hehehe! Meanwhile, we had coffee and clubhouse sandwhich (while waiting for the two).

Kwento:
HazelT: Itong mga to, iniwan ako kagabi. Sabi ni HazelV, magtutootbrash lang sya. Aba, hindi na bumalik. E si Rhea, magtutootbrash lang din daw. Aba, hindi na rin bumalik.
Me: E kasi nung pagkatapos kong magtutbrash, nakita ko si HazelV nakahiga na. E nainggit ako, nahiga na rin ako. Hihihihihi

7:45am - We arrived at the Pearl Farm Wharf (or so we thought). We later found out that it was not the Pearl Farm Wharf, it was the Waterfront Insular Hotel's wharf Arghhhh!!!! Pearl Farm's wharf is the other one to our right..."May daan po ba dito sa beach papunta duon?" "Wala po, kailangan pong lumabas kayo sa highway, sakay po kayo ng taxi, tapos pahatid po kayo sa Pearl Farm." Haaaay. It took us 10 minutes to get on the boat.

HB moment: We were already late, one of the last groups to board. When we got on the boat, an old man said, within our earshot, talking to the Pearl Farm people, "Hindi ba tayo ma-ooverload niyan?" @)%*&)@#*$%^) TATABA RIN HO KAYO!!!!!

9:00am - Arrived in Pearl Farm. Since this is HazelT's second time to be in Pearl Farm, she told us that we should take a tour of the place. We went to the Hilltop and then we took a yellow cab to take us to the other end of the Farm. HazelV and I availed of the massage (body scrub and aromatheraphy for her and aromatheraphy for me). While waiting we stayed in one of the huts:


One of the best massages I've had. Very peaceful, the only sound you'll hear is the waterfall right beside the Ylang Ylang Spa Room. Ahhhh bliss!!!

12:30pm - Had our buffet lunch at the Maranao Restaurant, just beside the swimming pool. Ahhhhh Myummy!!!

Kwento: While having lunch...
HazelV: Grabe ang cute ni Randy.
Me: Sinabi mo. Lalo na nung nag-alis na siya ng shirt niya. Gusto ko sana mag pa picture kaya lang hindi ata tama na sabihin na, "Randy, picture tayo" tapos si Bex nasususka sa isang tabi. Hahahahahaha.
Bex: Syet! Hmphhhh!!!

1:30pm - We went to Malipano Island (just across) to sunbathe.

4:00pm - Time to go and bid goodbye to Pearl Farm. Hazel got a splinter lodged on her thumb.

Back at Paradise, we had dinner of Inihaw na Chicken (again), seafood BBQ, Tuna Sisig. Desserts: Durian Crepe, Mango Pluff. HazelT and Bex got their massage. Hazel had her splinter removed by the resort's nurse (you should have seen her curse and cry hahahahaha)

Tuesday, 23 October 2007 - Day 3 - Transfer to Davao City
8:30am - Ready to sunbathe again problem was the sun wouldn't come out. Anyway, sun or no sun, sunbathe pa rin.

10:00am - We all got hungry. We had breakfast by the beach. We ate inihaw na panga ng tuna, etc., etc., plus watermelon shake and buko juice. By 10:35am, right after eating, tumaas na ang araw, time to sunbathe again. Haha!

Kwento: After eating lunch...
HazelT: Rhea, sayo itong tubig?
Me: Yup.
HazelT: Ok (sabay inom sa baso ko)
Hahahahahaha

12:00nn - We got ready to leave Paradise and transfer to the city. We're booked at Bagobo House Hotel.

1:30pm - After checking in, we got on a cab and went shopping at Aldivinco mall, it's similar to Greenhills or Cash and Carry. If you want to buy souvenirs at low prices, this is the place. We bought bags, pearl earrings and bracelets, magnets, dresses, shirts, pouches, keychains, etc.

Kwento: On our way to Aldivinco, on a cab ride.
Hazel: Manong, ano itong building na ito?
Manong driver: Yan ang Ateneo (de Davao).
HazelV: Ahhh, Neo.
Bex: Anong Neo? Sabi niya, "Ateneo"
HazelV: Ha? Ang rinig ko "Neo"
HazelT: Dyan siguro nag aral yun lalaki sa, sa...Matrix!!!
All: Bwahahahahahaha.
From then on ang "Ateneo " e "Neo" na. Hahahahahahaha

Places we went: Blugre Cafe - we tried their Durian Coffee, cakes and paninis. The Durian Coffee was delicious! Desserts were myummy (btw, HazelV hates durian haha!). I liked the place, I even bought their shirt that says, BLUGRECOFFEEHOLIC =)

After a few minutes, HazelT and Bex's friend Tristan arrived. We told him about our stay and the funny stories, including the Ateneo story. Btw, Tristan studied in Neo de Davao. Hehehe. Tristan brought us to the palengke to buy fruits -- Durian, Pomelo, Mangosteen, Lanzones. We had them packed and left them at the hotel. For dinner, Tristan brought us to Dusk Till Dawn which serves Native Chicken Barbecue. I read somewhere that it's one of Davao's best kept secret! For dessert, we looked for Davao's famous Marang (same family as Durian but does not have the offending smell). Unfortunately, out of season na ang Marang. We just went to this Durian street stall. Literally, it's a street stall, with plastic tables and chairs beside it. HazelT, Bex and myself tried it (Tristan chose the mas matapang na Durian variety na nakakalasing ang lasa--merong bitter after taste). After the Durian dessert, we went to Davao's Baywalk and there, we met David. After Baywalk, we went to Jack's Ridge a famous place in Davao which offers a spectacular view of the city.

Kwento: On our way to Jack's Ridge...
Tristan: Yan ang SM
Me: Davao?
Tristan: Cubao!
Bwahahahahahaha

A few minutes after midnight (I think), we left Jack's Ridge and Tristan brought us back to our hotel. See you soon, Tristan (IN MANILA!!!)

Wednesday, 23 October 2007 - Day 4 - City Tour
6:30am - Both our alarms went off at the same time, as in. Hahahaha. Gleng! After taking a shower, we had breakfast at Taps. Just a few meters away from Bagobo Hotel.

Our first stop was Citra Mina for frozen Tuna, Salmon, etc. for pasalubong. Next stop was the Philippine Eagle Center, a one hour car ride from the city. There were, I think, more than 50 eagles. We found out that these eagles were saved from poachers in Mt. Apo. The most popular is Pag-asa, the first Philippine Eagle successfully bred in captivity.

Next stop: Davao Crocodile Park. The park does not only have crocodiles of varying ages and sizes, they also have birds, mammals, reptiles, lagomorphs and fish. We then had lunch at Miggy's - a restaurant by the beach.

By 1:30pm, we were back at our hotel, getting ready for our flight going home.

Now, back to reality. It's work! Work! and more WORK!!! Arghhhh

More of our pics here and here.