DAVAO! Going Further Down South Philippines

Davao City is the center of trade and business in Southern Philippines. It is one of the three most popular cities in the country that includes Cebu  and Manila. It is an hour and 35 minutes from Manila by plane. There are direct international flights to Singapore via Singapore Airlines. Davao City is well known and popular because of Mt. Apo, the highest mountain peak in the Philippines; the largest eagle in the world (the Philippine monkey eating eagle endemic only in Davao),and of course, durian fruit, found in abundance in Davao. What I love most about Davao is its clean and peaceful laidbackness, its numerous nature fun spots just like in Borneo, the abundance of fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables, and I totally agree with ASIAWEEK MAGAZINE's survey mentioning and including Davao City among the 20 MOST LIVABLE CITIES IN ASIA, beating Cebu and Manila. Davao City boasts of its lowest crime rate in the country and its very strictly implemented No Smoking in public places ordinance. The people are generally warm, friendly, hospitable, conservative and down to earth.

This is actually my sixth time to go to Davao City. In those previous trips, it was mostly for work: business meetings, interviewing applicants, etc. But I know very well that this place boasts of a long list of amazing places to visit and explore. I have promised myself to spend time to admire these travel destinations in Davao so I decided to make this weekend travel before the hectic-scheduled business trips to work in Davao begins in 2009. 2009 will be a very challenging year for work to us in the trade and transport industry and for sure there will be less time for leisure so I'm maximizing what's left of some free time for short travels before the year ends.

As soon as I stepped out of the Davao Int'l Airport, I already knew I was in Davao because of the durianish smell in the air. I don't know if its just my weird imagination working but whenever I'm in Davao City, traces of the sweet durian scent seems to be in the air almost everywhere. I'm impressed now with the control of taxi cabs entering the arrival area to pick up passenger. Only taxi cabs with legitimate meters are allowed to enter and passengers are give coupons by security indicating numbers to be called for complaints of any abuses from the taxi drivers. Each taxi's plate number is recorded when they accept passengers, and names of the passengers are recorded as well. Average taxi fare from the airport to the city center is PHP120(USD$2. 50).

It took me quite sometime to finally decide to check in at the PONCE SUITES lodging house at Donia Vicenta Village in Bajada District. This quaint hostel/art gallery is very popular and most talked about among backpackers from Manila who traveled to Davao. Aside from its very affordable room rates(USD$10, $15, ++) complete with having their own website making online booking and credit card payment possible, its art pieces covering the place inside and out makes it very unique. I'm not really a big fan of art and I actually do not know how to appreciate art but I have so much respect for artists and their works. I just assume that all art work is beautiful. I was curious to see this talked about hostel. I was laughing when my Davaenio friends knew that I checked in at PONCE: 'Whaaaat?' And I said, 'Why not?' They say the place looks weird and scary. My friends thought that I wouldn't want to stay in a lodging house but they were wrong. I'm a backpacker and a travbuddy and I could sleep anywhere when I travel. If I'd feel anything weird or abnormal  like what my friends said, I'll immediately go to APO VIEW or Royal Mandaya. I didn't like the cleanliness of the room I stayed in at PONCE but I was mostly out backpacking during the day so I didn't mind that cleanliness issue much.

After checking in,I went to meet my friends at Blugre Coffee at Landco Building at the Pryce Business Center in Bajada. I haven't tried Durian coffee yet(only found in Davao) and I've been told by Davao travbuddies aacalizo(Andrei) and markpaul(Mark) to try it at Blugre Coffee. Well, brewed coffee blended with durian flavor tasted okay but its kinda too sweet for me. If only it is unsweetened or decameralized then I could have been more amused.  And the price at PHP140++ per cup is not amusing. The ordinary brewed coffee and other flavors were priced as it should be...lower.  Davao City has a lot of specialty fine coffee shops of different names all over the city. A Starbucks franchise chain would not be necessary because coffee brew in Davao's specialty coffee shops are equally good if compared with these global brands. My friends treated me later for seafood lunch at Ahfat Seafood Plaza at the back of the Victoria Plaza Mall, also in Bajada. I had a feast of lobster, crabs, Seargent fish, rice, and durian tart. Pure seafood gluttony! After that lunch, I swore not to eat seafood in the next six months.

After lunch, my friends took me to Bangkerohan to ride the aircon mini truck van going to Malagos where I was going to see the Phlippine Eagle Center.