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davao

Feeding butterfly watermelon Davao Philippines

Philippines: Attractions at Eden Nature Park… and getting lost

Date: May 4, 2014

The first half of my day was spent at the SkyCycle and zipline area. Now it was time for lunch.

Forest path Eden Nature park Davao
I crossed the road and walked to the cafe where my lunch coupon was valid
Restaurant Eden Nature park Davao
This is the main restaurant at Eden Nature Park
Buffet Eden Nature Park Davao
They have buffet lunch too, but that costs extra
Cafe Eden Nature park Davao
This is the cafe where I was going to get my ‘lunch’ as included in the ticket
Spaghetti tomato sauce Eden Nature park
A glass of soft drink, a cupcake and a plate of spaghetti with meat sauce, and garlic bread

If you are wondering where the meat in the sauce is… yeah I wondered that too. I only got mushroom bits, and when I asked the server where the beef bits where, he looked at the plate and poured more of the same sauce.

So after a sloppy, lousy spaghetti meal, I began to explore the rest of the park.

Family Village Eden Nature Park Davao
I walked to the Family Village
Philippines monkey Eden Park Davao
More of a mini-zoo really. This the Philippines Monkey.
Cockatoo Eden Nature park Davao
Cockatoo
Peacock Eden Nature park Davao
Peacocks

There were a few more animals and birds but it was all things I had seen at many other zoos or bird parks. Plus the condition the cages were in were pretty poor. So I felt guilty standing there taking photos of these animals. Continue reading “Philippines: Attractions at Eden Nature Park… and getting lost” »

Sky Cycle on wires Davao Philippines

Philippines: Sky Cycle at Eden Nature Park, Davao

Date: May 4th, 2014

Today I wondered what to check out first. I came to Davao with two main activity highlights: 1) Go sky cycling at Eden Nature Park, 2) Get a shot of Mount Apo. But despite residing at a dormitel situated on Mt. Apo street, the famed mountain — the largest in Philippines — was nowhere near me. Heck, Mount Apo, wasn’t even visible from Davao City! It seems Mount Apo is so huge that most people just go there as part of a multi-day trek.

I couldn’t do that since I only had two more days in Davao so I figured I’ll go check out Eden Nature Park. I followed the instructions on their website on how to get to Eden Nature Park and boarded a jeepney going to Toril (₱20). The landmark given to get down at was a Mercury Drug Store in Toril.

River side houses Davao City
I sat up front beside the driver
SM mall Davao City
Saw where the SM Davao mall is located. We were driving down McArthur Highway
McArthur Highway Davao city Philippines
It was a looooong ride to Toril
Toril Chowking Davao Philippines
Nearly an hour later, I got down at a junction at Toril where you have a Chowking to your left
Toril junction way to Eden
This was taken while I was standing on the left side. Across the road is the Mercury Drug Store. From here there were many bike taxis offering to take you to Eden Nature Park
Road to Eden Nature Park Davao
On Eden Nature Park’s website, they mentioned bike taxis would charge ₱80 for the ride from the junction at Toril to the entrance of the park. But the bike taxis guys here were pushing for ₱200! I told them about ₱80 and they scoffed claiming that was more than a year ago. I bargained as much as I could but eventually settled for ₱150. I couldn’t delay myself anymore.
Road to Eden Nature Park Philippines
It was a 20 minute bike ride up to the park’s entrance
Bad road to Eden Nature Park Davao
The good roads for much of the journey gave way to a bad, pot-holed stretch
Pot holes road to Eden Nature Park
But the park was close now

It was along this road I saw signs pointing to Mount Apo. Excited about seeing Mt. Apo after my time at Eden Nature Park, I asked the bike taxi driver if he could take me to Mt. Apo National Park so that I could just take a photo of the mountain. But the driver told me it’s still many kilometres further from Eden Nature Park. Continue reading “Philippines: Sky Cycle at Eden Nature Park, Davao” »

San Pedro Cathedral people monument-davao

Philippines: Leaving Cebu for Davao; Davao City sights

Date: May 1st, 2014

Yesterday was an eventful day of sightseeing. I began early morning swimming with Oslob’s famed whale sharks and later enjoyed the beauty of Tumalog Falls. I was tired by the time I got back to Cebu from Oslob yesterday, so when I woke up in the morning, I decided to take it easy today.

Tr3ats guesthouse rooftop cafe Cebu
I had breakfast from the hostel’s roof top ‘cafe’
Roof view Cebu hills morning
The hills weren’t too far away from here

I worked for much of the day (ironic, considering it was May Day), only stepping out at 2pm to go to Ayala Center.

Ayala Center mall Cebu garden
A very nice mall not too far from the hostel. (Had to take two short jeepney rides to get here)
Felafel roll Cebu Philippines
I sat down at Persian Palate and had a spinach felalfel sandwich, a chicken shawarma rice meal and coconut water. Bill came to ₱242.

Since it was May Day, many shops were closed and the streets were far from buzzing.

The next day (May 2), I stepped out to do some shopping. I took a jeepney and went all the way down to the end of Osmeña Blvd. No fancy malls out here. Just a lot of street markets, shops and some much older shopping centres and department stores. I stepped into one and ended up buying some sandals for really cheap.

Cebu city alley street Philippines
Much of down town Cebu looks like this
Anti-America poster Cebu Philippines
Saw a bit of ‘anti-America’… for a change

I then took a jeepney to SM City, where I decided to have lunch.

Bacon hot dog onion rings Cebu
I had an bacon-wrapped hot dog from Monster Franks. And yes, that’s all the onion rings you get (plus a drink) for ₱130

After some window shopping and purchasing some souvenirs, I headed back to the hostel.

Pasta garlic bread Cebu
For dinner I ate at a small Italian eatery near Tr3ats Guesthouse. That’s fettucine pasta with meat sauce (₱140). This would be my final dinner in Cebu.

Date: May 3rd, 2014

I took a taxi to the airport as today I was leaving Cebu for Davao.

Cebu bridge road Philippines
It was bright and sunny today, so I hoped the flight would leave on time

After checking in, we got word that the flight was slightly delayed. *Shocker* -_-

Zubuchon lechon Cebu airport
In the departures lounge, the famed Zubuchon had an outlet
Zubuchon menu Cebu airport
Zubichon got really famous after Antony Bourdain called their lechon “the best he’s ever eaten”. So I too packed a lechon and rice meal (₱190) to have on the plane as my in-flight meal.
Cebu island from airplane Philippines
Goodbye Cebu!
Zubuchon lechon pork takeaway Cebu
The lechon was really well done and the meat was obviously good quality pork. I guess Zubuchon really is worth trying when in Cebu.
Davao from sky
The flight from Cebu to Davao takes just over an hour
Landing at Davao international airport
Landed in Davao — for the first time
Davao big sign airport
I hired a taxi to take me to the hostel I was going to be staying at for the next few days
Building Green Windows Dormitel Davao
This building with green tinted windows is the FTC Tower. It houses Green Windows Dormitel on the 4th, 5th and 6th floors (Oh, the taxi fare came to ₱166)
Reception Green Windows Dormitel davao
I chose Green Windows Dormitel because they have dorm beds for ₱188 all inclusive, and the rooms looked very nice and clean in the photos
Rooms Green Windows Dormitel Davao
Green Windows Dormitel has everything from dorm rooms to full service suites
Dorm room Green Windows Dormitel Davao
This was the ₱188 dorm room, and I chose bed E, by the window. I was quite impressed! Wooden floors, functioning air conditioner, and comfy beds. The wi-fi was spotty inside the room, but whenever it worked, it was good.
Lobby Green Windows Dormitel Davao
I would sometimes have to sit out on the couch to get a better connection
TV room Green Windows Dormitel Davao
This is the TV room, attached to the cafeteria
Cafeteria Green Windows Dormitel Davao
The cafeteria has a (pay) buffet serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (mostly Filipino cuisine) and the prices for coffee/tea and other items seem fairly reasonable
Store Green Windows Dormitel Davao
There’s even a store selling more groceries in the reception area
Mt. Apo street Davao city
The street Green Windows Dormitel is situated at is called Mt. Apo street. With a name like that, you would assume Mt. Apo is close by. Nope, Mt. Apo is no where near it!
Davao city traffic Philippines
Green Windows Dormitel wasn’t too far away from the main city center

I walked about to scan the area and was happy to find enough eateries (KFC, McDonalds, Jollibee, etc.), pizzerias and bakeries galore all within walking distance from the dormitel.

Daylight Inn Davao city Philippines
To the left is Daylight Inn, a place I was initially going to stay at because it was the only listing available for Davao City on Hostels.com
Time Square mall panorama Davao
Times Square Mall to the left and more shopping centers all around
Davao city center panorama
I just roamed around town to see what else Davao City had to offer
City Hall of Davao Philippines
City Hall of Davao
Durian statue city hall park Davao
Durian is abundant in Davao and there they honour the fruit
Rizal statue Davao City Philippines
A statue honouring Philippine hero Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal bronze statue Davao Philippines

Philippines eagle shed Davao park
Davao is home to the country’s national bird — the Philippines Eagle. I would be visiting the Philippines Eagle Center the day after.
San Pedro Cathedral Davao city
I walked towards the San Pedro Cathedral, a Davao landmark
San Pedro Cathedral people monument-davao
This statue is the Commemorative Monument of Peace and Unity
San Pedro Cathedral Davao Philippines
San Pedro Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Davao and renowned for its odd boat-like design
San Pedro Cathedral Davao interiors
I checked out the interiors
Inside San Pedro Cathedral Davao panorama
Took a panorama
San Pedro Church boat shape Davao city
And then I left
Osmena park Davao city Philippines
Near by was Osmena Park
Massages at Osmena Park Davao
And inside were scores of masseurs offering foot and shoulder massages 🙂
Royale House hotel Davao
I walked around a bit more before heading back
Billiards Davao City Philippines
Billiards seemed to be a popular pass time
Bakery fresh pastry Davao city
A lot of nice bakeries in Davao City, and it was cheap!

I’ll be honest. When I read Davao City was the biggest city in the world (in terms of area), I still assumed Davao City would have its areas of world-class skylines. Far from it. It feels more like a very big town. It’s big in size, sure, but far from fancy. I saw so many pawn shops — a sign that the populace are looking to sell their wares (hopefully not stolen) in exchange for cash. Electronics stores hardly stocked the latest models and even the malls lacked any of the usual fancy brands. Definitely far more low key compared to Manila and Cebu.

Anyway, I wasn’t in Davao to hang out at malls. Tomorrow I would visit Eden Nature Park and attempt to visit Mt. Apo (which I realized only after landing here that the mountain is no where near the city)

FTC Tower Green Windows Dormitel Davao city
FTC Tower, at night

 

(All the above photos were taken using my phone camera, Sony Xperia Z1)

Next post in this series:

Philippines 2014: Sky Cycle at Eden Nature Park, Davao

Philippines 2014: Attractions at Eden Nature Park… and getting lost

Philippines 2014: Scuba diving for the first time, at Samal Island (Davao)

Philippines 2014: Japanese tunnel; leaving Davao for Manila

Philippines 2014: Bargain shopping in Manila; Paseo de Santa Rosa & Solenad

Philippines 2014: Corregidor Island tour

Philippines 2014: Manila Chinese Cemetery

Philippines 2014: Pahiyas Festival in Lucban; Kamay Ni Hesus

Previous posts in this series:

Philippines 2014: Tumalog Falls; Oslob church, Cuartel

Philippines 2014: Oslob – Swimming with whale sharks

Philippines 2014: Trek to Mount Pinatubo crater lake

Philippines 2014: The itinerary this time around; UP Diliman and Maginhawa

My Philippines journeys: 2011 series | 2013 series

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