It would be my 2nd time being in Davao city as of
writing this. Until now, I still have the hangover and full admiration that
such relatively peaceful city exists particularly in Mindanao area, where peace
is quite hard to attain due to cultural difference, belief and principles of
its inhabitants. I admit that our travel checklist is not that long, but so
far, I can say that this is one of the best cities I’ve been in the Philippines
(yes, my list includes Baguio and no, sadly I still can’t count Metro Manila in).
I can’t help but express my appreciation and respect to their beloved Mayor
Rudy Duterte for his efforts to keep peace, order and harmony among the Lumad,
Christians and Muslims in Davao.
So if you haven’t been in Davao yet, I strongly urge you to
stop by and experience how it is to live in this city. Wear your most
comfortable and decent clothes, download the city map and get those muscles
warmed up cause Davao is best experienced the commuter’s way.
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| Davao decor in Jack's Ridge |
After much research from other blogger’s experience and
version of itinerary, I’ve come up
with my initial version of itinerary, which my
travel companion and photographer happily re-arranged on the spot, cause he
doesn’t seem to believe in following itineraries as is, thus make our trip
rather exciting and full of surprises. Too bad our trip didn’t coincide with
the Kadayawan Festival. That would have been epic.
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| And we're here |
Anyway,
here our actual itinerary in and around Davao City:
Day0:
5:00pm: ETD from NAIA Airport to board the much delayed
flight of you know what airline
10:30pm: ETA Francisco Bangoy International Ariport (Davao)
Around 11:20pm ETA Uno Hotel along C.M. Recto via taxi
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| Zumba, Dabawenyo Style |
Day1:
(City Tour)
9:00am: Breakfast at Taps
12:30pm: Lunch at Kuya Ed’s Buffet, Walked back to hotel to
rest
4:00pm: Walked to People’s Park
5:00pm: Commute to Jack’s Ridge
9:00pm: Dinner at DL-Xandro’s Kambingan
Day2:
(Samal)
9:00am: Breakfast at Lolo Cardo’s
11:30am: Check out hotel. Commute to Magsaysay, Lunch at Luz
Kinilaw
12:30pm: Walked to Magsaysay park, bought mangosteen, pomelo
and durian for Samal trip from fruit vendors. Walked to Sta.Ana Wharf
1:00pm ETD Sta. Ana Wharf to Kaputian, Samal (travel time
around 1-1.5hrs)
2:00pm: Check-in Kostal Resort, rest, swim
5:00pm: Walked to aplaya to find dinner (roasted chicken and
puso [rice in ibos?]
Day3:
Samal Island Tour and back to Davao
8:00am: Montfort Bat Cave, rode along other resorts, Maxima,
Hagimit Falls
11:30am: Back at Kostal Resort, check-out
12:30pm: ETA Babak Wharf via Habal-Habal, back to Sasa Wharf,
commute to downtown
1:50pm: ETA D’Counter, check in
5:00pm: Jog at People’s Park
7:00pm: Walked around Roxas St. Dinner at Lyndon’s World’s
Worst Ribs and Awful Chicken
8:30pm: Walked back to Hotel, Chill at Primo Café and Bar
Day4:
Philippine Eagle and Eden Nature Park
9:00am Walked to Bangkerohan to L300 terminal to Calinan
10:50am: ETA Philippine Eagle Center
12:42pm: ETD to Eden
2:15pm: ETA Bayabas Crossing
3:00pm: ETA Eden
4:45pm: ETD Eden to SM Davao
5:45pm: ETA SM Davao, Coffee
7:00: ETD SM to Hotel
8:00pm: ETA Hotel, Dinner at Barbeque Boss
Day5:
Pasalubong Shopping Day
9:00am: Pasalubong Center, walked to find Glamour Crab
Buffet
12:30pm: Unlimited Crab for Lunch
2:00pm: Aldevinco Shopping
4:00pm Commute to Magsaysay Fruit Vendors
6:00pm Dinner at D’Counter, Coffee at Primo Café, rest
9:00pm ETD downtown to Airport
10:00pm ETD DVO to Manila
12mn: Back to reality
Note:
It’s also possible to spend another in Talicud Island. You can ride a boat from
Kaputian going to Talicud’s Isla Reta then ride a boat back from Talicud to
Davao City (this I’ll try on my next Davao visit).
So
next time you chance up on those seat sale promo, don't forget to check
if they have one going to Davao, a place worth visiting.
