Last October 15-17, I went to explore Davao City with my friends Chard, Trina, and Lea.
We arrived at Davao International Airport at around 10:30PM and we are the last to go out due to many photo shoots haha. Afterwards, we went to Green Windows Dormitel to check in.
Our first stop is Eden Nature Park. I really wasn't expecting this place to beautiful but when I toured around the place, I realized that this place is really fantastic and breathtaking. It is a high peak in Davao where you will feel Nature's embrace. I learned that this is 95% man-made which is great! We registered for the tour which took us to the major sites of Eden. We arrived at approximately 11:30PM. We were advised that the tour would be at 2:00PM so we took our time in the buffet lunch. Rates here is P450 for the buffet lunch and P100 for the tour. We really had a sumptuous lunch. Though I am not a fan of salad, my friend Chard really took advantage of the freshness of them. Of course, I took advantage on the dessert. I loved the banana flan.
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| The Eden Lunch Menu |
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| My college blockmates |
After the buffet lunch, we rode the shuttle for the guided tour which lasted around 45 minutes with 3 stops where we can take our tourist shots. Here are some of it:
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| Rainbow Ridge |
The tour finished around 3PM and we really had great shots and experience at Eden Park. I truly recommend this to all Davao City tourists.
Afterwards, we straight to buy some pasalubong at "Apo ni Lola" which is famous for their various yema, tarts, and candy bars flavored with durian, mangosteen, cheese, and my favorite langka.
Our next stop is Aldevinco Shopping Center, which is in front of Ateneo de Davao University and beside Marco Polo Hotel.
Inside Aldevinco are shops of native accesories, bags, malongs, shirts, and many more. We took like 2 hours going around and buying pasalubongs.
It is around 7PM so we had our dinner at Penong's where we tried their famous Chicken Barbeque. They have unlimited rice and atchara (which is very good).
Afterwards, we head to Jack's Ridge, which is overlooking Davao City.
Here you can just see Davao City's enticing city lights. You can dine and eat grilled seafoods and enjoy heartwarming serenade of classic songs. But since we had our dinner already, we just ate dessert. I bought my very first Pomelo Davao and after tasting it, I felt very happy and satisfied already of our Davao City tour haha. I love Pomelo and tasting all "fake" Davao Pomelo in Manila is really frustrating so I was very happy to taste the original.
We also had our dessert at Karlo's Coffee Shop.
I ordered their seduction cake which I didn't liked at all. We then head to Matina Town Square where the Blugre Coffee Shop is located. They said it is Davao’s first specialty coffee shop which started way back in 1998. Lea tried their Durian Coffee and it tastes good.
Matina Town Square has its own "Tiangge" so we looked around and my friend Trina bought some accessories. I found some items can be bought in 168 Mall also. Anyway, around 9:30PM, we head back to our hotel and called it a wonderful day. We thought we needed sleep since we all lack sleep from our Friday gimmicks and we need to wake up early the following day for the Pearl Farm extravaganza.
Our day two highlight is of course, the Pearl Fam Beach Resort.
We took a cab as early as 7AM going to Marina Wharf where we awaited the boat that will take us to Samal Island. The boat ride is approximately 45minutes. It was the best boat ride I had. Relax and not dangerous. I never really got bored and enjoyed the fresh air.
Upon arrival in the Parola Bar, we are offered the welcome drinks which I didn't drink since it is pineapple juice. I had my own fasting for the buffet lunch so I must not take pineapple (not advised for empty stomach).
Since the Nipa Hut is first come first serve, we swiftly saved 2 along the shore. Then we took our shots and we swim. In the water, I screamed because I am afraid of the school of fish swimming along with me. But then I get used to it. We had a very sunny weather so we didn't last so long in the beach. We transferred to the infinity pool. I am really fascinated by the infinity pool.
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| Infinity Pool |
Around 12:30noon when we started our much-awaited buffet lunch at Maranao Restaurant. Just look at the pictures for the variety of food. Yes, we really grab every pieces of it. It took us 3 hours to feel that we already ate P2500 amount of food haha. I may now confess: Main course-dessert-main course-dessert-bread-milk tea. Hello calories!!!
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| Maranao Restaurant |
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| My first plate |
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| Dessert #1 |
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| Dessert #2 |
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| Uhmm Dessert #3 + the best beef kaldereta and grilled chicken |
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| Dessert #4 |
After the very sumptuous meal, we rode the golf cart going to Mandaya Beach. We saw the different beach facilities like the tennis, badminton, basketball courts, game room which offers exciting board games, billiards, fooze ball, air hockey and other games for family and friends to enjoy. There is also gym, and then the pool fronting the Mandaya Houses.
The place is very peaceful. You can easily take a nap. But I didn't and took the last hour swimming in the pool. Around 4PM when we left the place. I would definitely come back here but hopefully with someone special. This place is really peaceful and really be very romantic. So nice.
Before coming back to our hotel, we stopped at the famous Tower Yema to buy some "triangle yema" as pasalubongs.
Then we went back to Green Windows and we rested for an hour. Exactly 7PM when we took a cab and went to Abreeza - the newly opened Ayala Mall in Davao. It is like a mini Trinoma but with Robinson's department store inside. Weird.
We then had our dinner at Mandarin Tea Garden, SM Davao.
I tell you, never ever go to this restaurant. Bad service, worst food. If it wasn't for the milk tea, we just might have tried McDonalds. But we are puzzled why many people eat here. Is it because of the cheap prices? My gosh, the service crew won't even bother to take our orders and clean the table. They looked all so tired. And this is not the only branch in Davao, since there is one near our hotel and another one like a couple of blocks from SM Davao. Gosh, this is a very bad restaurant.
Around 9:30PM, we left SM Davao and thought of finding bars but for some reason, we just went directly to our hotel. Maybe because we are afraid as we know Davao is not a place for nightlife. So just like that, day 2, check.
Day 3 is actually half day since our flight back to Manila is 2:30PM. We just visited some places near our hotel. We visited the San Pedro Cathedral, the Davao City Hall, and Aldevinco for the 2nd time to buy last minute pasalubongs especially the Pomelo. I really don't like Pomelo so I bought 15kg haha.
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| Marang, Durian, Mango, Watermelon |
We also stopped by the HSBC Branch in Davao where we meet April and Jun who helped us plan this trip.
We also tried their coffee in Coffee Cat (known as Davao's Starbucks). I bought Peanut Mocha Avalanche and my favorite Creme Brulee Cheesecake.
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| Creme Bulee Cheesecake |
We are supposed to dropped buy the People's Park but it is still closed. We decided to take our lunch in the Lachi's.
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| Unforgettable Grilled Pork Ribs (one of the best!) |
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| Yummy Blueberry Cheesecake |
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| The best sansrival I've tasted |
A small restaurant where I tasted the "unforgettable pork ribs" - I truly recommend this. I also ordered their famous sansrival. The best! Better than Goldilocks. I took home 3 boxes of Lachi's cakes to Manila as pasalubongs. I would really miss Lachi's just like Calea of Bacolod.
For the last minute dessert, we went just a few steps away from Lachi's to Sugar Munch and Sweet Bites and Delights. They have plenty of cupcakes and cakes too.
Then it's really time to go to the airport. It is 1:30PM. We are really rushing to the airport. We are the last group to check-in. Whew!
I can say that Davao is a very convenient place. Everything is less than an hour away. You can drive to a nearest port and get a boat ride to Samal Island, where all the best beach resorts are. You can drive up to Eden Nature Park if you fancy a more nature-oriented environment. Want shopping? They have many malls around.
Goodbye Davao. It was a wonderful trip except for the super-turbulence experience in the airplane going back to Manila haha.Will be back in Pearl Farm woohoo!
Here's my edited Davao vid:
