One Paradise in the South

Paradise is never within everybody's reach. In the Holy Scriptures, one must live by the laws of their Divine Creator to be able to rest in paradise after life. And as humans, it is never easy to consistently abide the Divine laws. Just like here on earth, as one must be able to go on a real adventure to experience the most hidden yet the most beautiful earthly paradise.

Samal Island. Not very familiar in name but indeed a wonderful paradise located in the South. If you're finding to take a break from the well-known Boracay and Bohol, here is something that can take you out of your usual world in the city.

How to get there:

A P10.00 for a Ro-Ro boat can already take you to
Samal from the City Proper

It's just 10 minutes away from the Davao City Proper through RORO (roll on-roll off) ferry boat ride. As you reach the island, you can either ride a habal-habal or tricycle to search for hotels. Samal Island beaches have no shoreline, so you cannot merely find a place to stay by the beach (unlike the White Beach in Puerto Galera and the stations in Boracay). I recommend to book your hotel through the internet so the resort's owned boat can fetch you up from the city proper (Davao Boat Club) directly to their resort's harbor. This way, you don't have to ride the RORO and grab a tricycle/habal-habal  anymore for a hundred pesos per trip. Most of the resorts in Samal offer this boat ride services for the guests' convenience If you are on a backpacker's trip, you better search for something affordable so you can tour the different beach resorts across the island through day tour. We chose to stay in Blue Waters Hotel and Resort, few minutes away from the Samal harbor via land trip. Rates are affordable, amenities include two infinity pools, facing the Davao City Skyline, Davao Gulf and a view of Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines.

What I really love about this resort is the service orientation of the staff. I assure you will have a good stay in Blue Waters because of their glowing spirit of hospitality and their warm approach to their guests. And I must say their stewards deserve a big tip!

After booking a hotel, you can now visit different resorts and explore the Island through a day tour basis.

More info at http://ph.88db.com/Travel-Leisure/Resorts/ad-199075/

The infinity pool of the Blue Waters can
give you a view of the Mt. Apo and the
Davao city skyline. Meanwhile, here is
my own version of BB. Pilipinas
tsunami walk

Mt. Apo by morning sunrise

Pearl Farm Beach Resort
This is one of the most luxurious hotels in the entire island. It is quite far from the city proper, around 20-30 minutes travel time. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time since the resort becomes fully-booked most of the time.

Pearl Farm welcomes you with a nice infinity pool, a perfect place to escape from the stress you have still brought with you from the city. But before they let you explore the entire resort, a short orientation was given to give the guests a brief background of the resort, as well as to familiarize them with the amenities and directions to each attractions. Tourist friendly indeed!

Few walks away from the resort's harbor, there is another swimming pool and a shoreline for snorkeling and fish feeding activities. There is a great view underneath the water. Starfishes are scattered all over and you can actually swim with different schools of fish. Make sure you wear snorkeling shoes to avoid getting wounded because of the small corals nestled near the shoreline. And you should also watch your  steps to avoid destroying the fishes' tiny homes!

A free buffet lunch was included in the day tour package that costs 1950.00. However, the cost still worth the price! You will surely feel a 5-star luxury experience because of the cozy spots and amenities, and service, Even in a day tour package.

More info at http://www.pearlfarmresort.com/

The Ice-cold drink gives a heartwarming welcome to each guest.

While the staffs were giving orientation,
I was busy doing this shot.

Lucky Day! Mom won a free usage of snorkeling
gadgets via raffle!

Pearl Farm's infinity pool welcomes the guests who
came from their harbor.

Starfishes everywhere

The Breathtaking view underneath.

Maxima Aqua Fun.
As much as Pearl Farm gives you a total relaxation, Maxima Aqua Fun offers a total blast of water sports and adventure. It is reachable through land travel, however a staff from the very accommodating resort Blue Waters negotiated a driver to bring us to Maxima, as well as to the Monfort Bat Cave and Hagimit Falls as well. It's quite too far from where the resorts are located (45 mins to 1 hr drive) so it is really advisable to rent a multi cab for just 2000.00 (two-way, from 7am to 4pm) especially if you are traveling with a group. It is indeed a must visit spot especially for water sports buffs and adventure lovers.

Entrance fee is 200.00, inclusive of unlimited use of the giant tarpaulin slide and the jumping board, plus free use of their safety vest (All guests must wear safety vests because the entire resort is an open sea). Kayak boats are available for an additional fee.

The main event was indeed the 40-meter/9-second giant slide which will throw you down to the open sea. The experience really had me a stomach ache but it was one-of-a-kind experience! I even had the chance to experience the jumping board which lessened my fear of heights a little bit.

This is also a perfect spot for diving and snorkeling. Different breed of fishes are settling in the spot, so make sure you have brought a piece of bread with you before swimming so you can experience a free fish feeding activity, if you don't have the guts to experience either the giant slide or the jumping board.

Maxima Aqua Fun is certainly a tiring trip yet amazing experience you'll surely never forget, especially  if you have tried their water adventure facilities.

More info at http://aquafun.psdgroupph.com/

Jumping off a diving board kills 2% of my fear of heights.

the 40-meter giant slide and the 9 seconds of death.
I survived the Challenge!

Hagimit Falls
Time to relax! After the adrenaline rush from Maxima, it is the best time to experience a cold water massage from Hagimit Falls, just 5 minutes away from Maxima. For just P20.00, you can already experience a virgin and natural paradise covered with trees and blue (yes, literally BLUE) water. It was not yet fully developed, but the locals collect entrance free for preservation and maintenance. It is a perfect place for relaxation as you take a shower from the cold fresh water gushing to your body and the flowing sound of water that lullabies you to sleep. It is also a good place for camping, where they established campsites close at hand.

Hagimit is certifiably a jaw-dropping paradise experience, every Samal Island tourist should never miss.

The jaw-dropping scenery of Hagimit

Bucketlist: Shower in a waterfall - CHECK!

A lot of people drown in a waterfall because of the currents and
 deep level of water. STILL, my fearless sister and I were trying
to swim under to find out how deep it was.

Monfort Bat Cave
Animal lovers, science geeks and even just plain tourists should include Monfort Bat Cave to their itinerary list. Because failing to visit this sanctuary is like missing a chance to witness a Guinness World Record Holder! The Monfort Bat Cave is certified by the GWR for housing the largest colony of Geoffrey Rousette Fruit Bats for an estimated number of 1.8 million and still increasing.

Actually, bats are not our enemies, though they stereotypically connoted as major horror and spooky moment stimulator because of being nocturnals in nature. However, they preserve the ecological balance through eating pests and mosquitos. And these bats are merely the reasons of having abundant durian production and the continuos growing of trees in the forests for they are also pollinators like bees and butterflies by transferring the pollen from one spot after another. This time, we should change the way we see and know about bats because after all, real bats can do mightier things than Batman!

According to some blogs, entrance fee costs 40.00 but as of now, it has increased to 100.00 already.

The must-be-known facts about bats yet still remain unknown and untold. 

Guinness Certification

Their sanctuary. Meet the sleeping bats!

Closer view

Samal Island is truly a one form of escape from the stressors inhabiting with us in the city. If you are looking for something new place to spend your summer, here's one perfect place for you! Peaceful, Virgin, Paradise... Samal Island!

Shopping in Davao

Aside from the beautiful beaches and summer havens in Davao, one should never miss its one of a kind souvenir shop, where you can find good, rare and unique items for yourself and your loved ones! If you come to visit their place and you have to find the best pasalubong center, have yourself at least be absent in famous malls you are familiar with for just a little while. After all, SM malls are more of a sari-sari store nowadays where you can always visit anywhere and anytime you want. 

So when it comes to shopping in Davao, here's the best place you can visit: ALDEVINCO!

Aldevinco's walkway 

Long before the famous malls were erected, Aldevinco had become the main shopping center for Davaoenyos. It was opened on January 2, 1965, located at the junction of Claro M. Recto Avenue and Manuel Roxas Boulevard, just right in front of Ateneo de Davao. If you are still not familiar with the place so as with the usual jeepney routes, just ask a taxi driver to take you there... you won't get lost, 'cause famous might be an understatement to describe Aldevinco for tourists and locals. 

As you enter the old shopping center, it takes you away to another world, where you feel like you were a woman of 1950s, looking for a best hobble skirts and fedoras in town. But when you peek through the glass windows of each stores, they are actually souvenir shops selling authentic tribal items only found in Davao. Truly Pinoy indeed!

MUST BUY items

Malong

Don't leave Davao, or any place in Mindanao without bringing a Malong with you. Malong is a hand-
woven piece of cloth that is very multi-functional. It can be used as a tube dress, head cover, baby carrier, sarong and a lot more! It is originally made by our very own Maranao, Maguindanao and T'boli through backstrap weaving. According to what I have remembered during history class, babaeng manghahabi or women weavers are highly respected in their group so they consider their masterpieces as splendid and regal, much close to royal. Its prices differ from 100 - 400 pesos only.

Indigenous peoples from Mindanao are known to embellish their get up with big and colorful accessories. Aldevinco offers wide range of accessories, from beads, corals, pearls and other precious stones from the seas nearby that are truly authentic and unique. 

If you're on your way to explore Samal Island beaches just like what I did, grab a good beaded necklace to match your summer outfit and swimsuit. Some of the bead accessories costs 3 for 100.00 so you can have different colors and style if you have different summer outfits to be worn each day.

Also, do not ever forget buying bags from Aldevinco. They provide different, colorful and distinct styles of bags that you will never find in other places. They have a Magic bag, as it is famously called, a cloth bag where you can keep it in a pouch attached to it everytime you don't need them so it can save some space. It comes in different styles and colors. This magic bag is great especially for Manilenyos, especially because the government has been starting to ban the usage of plastic bags in malls and supermarkets. So if you think bringing bayongs and katcha bags in shopping malls ruins your outfit, the magic bag will be definitely there to save you! It costs 120-250 pesos depending on the style. Anyway, you can always ask for discounts!

Aside from the magic bag, I was fond of this functional traveler's bag that can be used as your toiletry case, make up kit, accessory bag, whatever you want! But in my case, it's perfect to be my cable wire bag, where I can put my phone, ipad, laptop and camera chargers so as with my USB cables and my hard drive so I will never find hard time anymore to search for them anytime I need them.

Magic Bag - from pouch to hobo cloth bag

Multifunctional Bag

Lastly, the T'nalak  is indeed a good buy. This is a famous tapestry woven by the T'boli. I consider this woven cloth a magical piece since the all the patterns and designs they produce are based from their dreams. In other words, They don't produce designs which they have not dreamed of. So when you buy a T'nalak cloth product, you are also exploring the magical dreams of the T'boli weavers. Amazing right? I bought an Ipad case, coin purse, and key chains with T'nalak designs. I'm sure nobody else has it when I get back to Manila. (hehehe)

T'nalak products

FOR COLLECTORS:

For travelers who collect novelty and unique items, Davao shirts are found in Aldevinco. Aside from that, the usual key chains, coin purses and figurines with Davao labels are also available. Meanwhile, I found this fridge magnet that really stole my attention. It's really made of dried/preserved durian skin!

Bukayo

After exploring the souvenir shops in Aldevinco, you will surely miss the best of Davao if you don't visit their market, to buy for edible pasalubongs. And when we say edible, Durian should be the number 1 in your list! I personally don't eat durian, but to avoid spoiling the fun, I tried tasting a piece of it, freshly sliced by the durian tindero. It actually tastes bitter sweet, that made me ask for some more despite that odd stinky smell (well, you will actually get used to that smell when you stay longer in Davao). However, despite its sumptuous and its aphrodisiac appeal, it is very high in cholesterol so persons with high blood should watch out. One seed of the fruit is equal to eight balut or duck embryos so it is very fatty and unhealthy in a way. Durian costs 77 pesos depending on its size. Always tell the vendor if you're travelling back on a plane so he/she can pack it securely.

Durian

Davao is also a good place for other fruits: Langka, Marang, Suha (Pomelo), Bukayo and Mangoosteen. So you better prepare your tastebuds and tummy for more exotic, aphrodisiac and delicious fruits whenever you're going to the market!

Before leaving Manila, I only had two bags with me. But when I get back, I increased to 6 bags because of the stuffs I have shopped for. Call me shopaholic all you want, but indeed Davao is a good place for shopping rare, functional and one-of-a-kind items.

Tasted Durian for the first time!