Monday, February 20

Davao City Adventure: Day 1 and 2 - City Tour



Davao City is where the current President, Rodrigo Duterte, started his political career and has been in service for 22 years. He made it into a place that piqued my interest. When I was young, I have heard that Davao City was chaotic and a dangerous place but that reputation changed after he became Mayor. He changed it to where it is now called the safest city in the Philippines. He would also coax the people to visit the people and see for themselves as to why. It is also the biggest city in terms of land area in the Philippines if not in Southeast Asia.

How I got there:

I have booked a promo flight from Cebu Pacific for Davao. It cost me around Php701.84 for a round trip airfare. I have been on a look out for promo fares and my flight was booked last May 2016 and it was money well spent.

Where I stayed:

I was planning on staying at Hotel Uno as they have a single fan room that is good for solo travelers but I had a housemate that told me she stayed at Green Windows which has an A/C backpacker room for a very affordable price.

Here is the room rates for Hotel Uno. But prices may change without prior notice so please contact hotel first for current information. 


 For Reservations or Inquiries:
 Trunkline:    +63 (82) 282 1111
Mobile:      +63 925 5111011
 Email:          hotelunodavao@gmail.com

I also check out Homitori as it a dormitory type of accommodation in Davao. The location is near the Sta. Ana Pier where you can take a ferry to Talicud Island and also it is an accessible place for the Magsaysay Fruit Vendors.

Here is their room information and again prices may change without prior notice so be sure to contact the hotel first. 
 
Location:
F. Bangoy Street corner Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City 8000
Contact Info:  
  Phone    +63(82)295-2969;+63(82)295-2971
  Mobile   +63(922)8994646 or +63(922)8541127
  Email:      homitoridvo@gmail.com

For Green Windows Dormitel, here is the room info: 



 

The things I did and the places I went to:

I was supposed to meet a guide there to show me around the place but because she is a Rescue Volunteer, she has been assigned a job for that week because of the ongoing ASEAN Summit. I ended up having a DIY Tour instead.

A Philippine Eagle Statue at People's Park
The Memorial Monument @ Roxas Ave. Night Market

I first left my things at the hotel and then headed for Marco Polo Hotel, where I was supposed to meet her. I stopped over at People's Park and thanks to Google Maps I didn't get lost and I arrived at the destination. I briefly met with Fenah and she showed me and told me about Roxas Night Market which happens to be just across the street since the hotel was situated there. I love the night market, it a haven for a foodie like me! There are a lot of streetfood buys there fit for the budget. She bid goodbye to me after I told her that I can just show myself around because I noticed her being busy with her phone ( they must be looking for her) and decided to get a back massage. I preferred to be laying down instead of just sitting but it was still good enough to relieve me of the aches and pains I had been feeling. I went walked back to the hotel after and one thing I can say, it is safe to walk on the streets even at night in Davao City. The police is very visible and there is that safe feeling you get when you are there.

The unique structure of San Pedro Cathedral
The puppet exhibition at Museo Dabawenyo - they feature different exhibitions each month

Different skulls at the Bone Museum
 On my second day, I visited the San Pedro Cathedral for its unique structure. Then I had walked from the church to Museo Dabawenyo. There is no entrance fee for the museum but no pictures are allowed to be taken once inside the museum. You can only take a picture at the main entrance/lobby. From the museum, my next destination is D'Bone Collector Museum and though it was not near the museum, I still opted to walk there. The museum is, as the name suggests, a collection of bones from different animals and one or two from dinosaurs. They also have bones from whales and what is amazing about them is that they can make you realize that they are really huge animals.

Tribu K' Mindanawan Entrance
The stage for their Fire Dances held every weekend nights
Tribu K'Mindanawan Menu
Tribu K'Mindanawan Menu
From there, my next stop was the Crocodile Park but there is no way I can walk from my current location to there and it was 12NN and it was blazing hot. I booked a taxi through my Grab App (see 6 Helpful Apps for Travel) and just waited for the driver to pick me up at the museum. I was able to talk to the driver, Warren, and he was friendly. I had told him of my dilemma with tours since the tourists spots of Davao are very far from each other especially the Philippine Eagle Center and Eden Nature Park. Most taxi drivers offer tours whole day for PHP2000-2500 but I was able to haggle with him to Php1500 as it was already 12NN excluding Philippine Eagle Center. I was planning to do it the next day. From the park, Tribu K'Mindanawan is just within the vicinity so I was just able to walk there from the park. I also had my lunch there.


Replica of Lolong - who held the record of the largest captive crocodile in the world

Farmville at the Crocodile Park

Nipa Hut with a Carabao statue - showcases the everyday farmer's life at Eden Nature Park

Wishing Well @ Eden's Nature Park
 He was very accommodating and very friendly and telling me about the places we went to. We head straight to Eden Nature Park as he wanted me to catch up the last tour. The next destination is the Japanese tunnel which gives a glimpse of history that both amazes me and saddens me of the Filipinos caught up with the war. The amazing thing about the tunnels is how they were able to dig up those stone tunnels that lasts for miles and yet the tunnel also has the "bartolina", a chamber for prisoners, where is so small yet 6 people were held there during the era. It was past 6PM when we went to the Japanese tunnel and the tour should only be until that time but I asked if Jack's Ridge was included, he said that tour should only be about 6PM but later he decided to take me there because he doesn't want his guest dissatisfied with the tour. I was thankful so I treated him dinner.
The 'bartolina'

Going deeper in the tunnel
A statue of a Japanese Soldier during Japanese era

Jack's Ridge overlooking the city - can't be described by photos alone

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