Food Tasting & Sight Seeing in Davao

I traveled to Davao Thursday evening to attend the Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2012. I was one of the more than twenty participants coming from places all over the Philippines.

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This is me during the visit to Tribu K Mindanawan Cultural Village located at the Davao Crocodile Park Complex.  We went there to watch the fire dance.  If it was not yet too late, we could have gone around the whole village and see all what is there to see.  But have another appointment to catch, so we just took a group pic on this spot and then left for Lachi’s.

More of this and DFAT 2012 related photos and news bit will be posted in my travel blog.

I arrived back home Tuesday morning and right away, in .less than an hour, I was already at work.  Time flies so fast.

Travel makes me forget time but work reminds me that I should be mindful of my time.

Thanks to Charles for taking this photo. 

Jones Bridge

 

According to Wiki:

Jones Bridge is a bridge that spans the Pasig River in the city Philippines connecting the districts of Binondo on Rosario Street (Calle Rosario, now Quintin Paredes St) with the center of Manila. The previous bridge that connected the two districts was the Puente Grande (Great Bridge), later called the Puente de España (Bridge of Spain) located one block upriver on Nueva Street (Calle Nueva, now E. T. Yuchengco St), the span considered to be the oldest established in the Philippines.

Jones Bridge was once hailed as Manila’s queen of the bridges.[citation needed] Some recent improvements on the current bridge were the addition of street lamps and replacing the old pole railings with stone railings reminiscent of the first Jones Bridge.

I have seen this bridge many times while working in Manila and sometimes visiting Manila. I’ve seen this bridge but never walked on it every not until Wednesday afternoon after a short time meet-up with postcard/stamp collectors at the Manila Central Post office museum.

I feel happy to finally set foot in it.  The bridge is not that very long and it does not have a very impressive arch but it is obviously a bridge.  I wish i can take a photo of it from below by the side of the river so that i can take the angle of the arch — but maybe next time.  Though there was no time to do the leisure walk but me and my daughter had a a photo taken there with that familiar  building as background.

More info of the bridge, check this out.

Saddle Ridge Camp

If you like to have a break away from the huzz and buzz of the city, and enjoy the time with nature, then Dahilayan Adventure Zone is one of the places to visit when you are here in Northern Mindanao.

Since the time i posted my photos at FB taken during the Spiritual Retreat, several people have been asking where was the place and how much to stay there.  To answer the inquiries, I am making this post.

Location: Barangay Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

~~Cottages~~

Cottage Rate: P1,500.00 good for 4 persons

 

~~New Buildking~~

Room Rate: P2,000 good for 4 persons

There is also this but i forgot to ask the rate:

Food:

They cater to big number of people just like our group.  But if you go in a small group like four persons, you can enjoy meals at Cowboy’s Grill.  Their menu prices are very affordable and I heard they have big and yummy servings.

There is also a little food shop just a few steps away from the gate of the Camp called Chef’s Favorite.  I looked at the menu written in their menu board, they serve food to satisfy your sweet tooth.

For more inquiries and reservation, you may call or text Nora in these numbers:

0922-8844856 or 63 922-8844856
0920-9615136 or 63 920-9615136

Traveling from Cagayan de Oro to Cebu City

Daughter and I left Iligan City almost 6 in the evening.  Sounds quite late but the boat was scheduled to depart at 10:45 pm.  Dimple and I boarded the Rural Transit because there was no gray bus at the Super 5 station. We arrived a little bit before 8 pm so we just took a jeep to Gaisano to eat dinner.  We had a quick dinner at Jollibee – Gaisano City.  Then from there, we took a motor trike direct to the pier and we paid 20 pesos each.   The loading up the boat has not yet started when we arrived at the waiting area.

They were strict in their luggage and quarantine inspection.  They also have K9 dogs to sniff on all luggage.  The dog was a girl and we dunno her name but we call her “good girl” because her boss called her good girl after behaving.

This is good girl in action. :)

Dimple’s Boarding Pass

I also had mine.   We were brought to the foot of the gangplank by bus.  The distance from the waiting area to the boat was just so near yet they want organize system, so we still took the bus/couch.

The moving bus. :)

The daughter and me.

After we settled our things, we roam around and check out the side deck.  CDO pier was already quiet because SF 12 was the last one to depart.

Glimpse of the Sky from Iligan City Hall

I wish i have counted my skywatch entries so that i can just easily title my SWF entries.

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Before i travelled to Zamboanga City in October 28, i come to this place several times.  First was the interview and then later the signing up of itenerary for budget and the next was the picking up of money.  Of the 3 chances, i never took the time to stop to take photos of the place.  I feel shy.  There are many people milling around the city hall and i don’t like to get their attention by clicking my camera.

Last November 11 – i had my last chance.  I went there to sign our travel report.  I thought it would be my last time in awhile, so i decided to take a photo of the front of the building and this:

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and this…

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and this:

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How time flies and Christmas month is now here!

I am wishing you and you a very happy holidays!

Photos for:

Thanks to the sky watch team for this great photo meme:

Dining at Pinokyo, Paseo del Mar, Zamboanga City

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  All photos are not watermarked but are mine.  If you want to use it in your blog, please ask permission.  Thanks.

There are so many places to dine at at Paseo del Mar.  But during weekends the place is typically full.  We almost had a hard time finding a place to eat and just to relax while enjoying the food, the music, and the night.

We picked Pinokyo because it was not yet so crowded when we arrived.

They serve varied foods at very reasonable prices.

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Dimple ordered for herself beef toppings and the california maki.  I had pancit canton and this:

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This cost P1.00 each.  I was so impressed so i ordered 20 pcs. I think I ate more than what Dimple had.

My friends had:

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~~ sisig~~

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~~ Lechon Kawali ~~

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~~ clam soup ~~

And oh i had a whole serving of the java rice:

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Paseo del Mar, Zamboanga City

If you have been to Zamboanga City for a day or two and have not been to Paseo del Mar, then you miss one of the beautiful landmarks of the city. We spent 4 nights there and I was able to see and feel the place during our third night because we went there to have dinner and also have a look for the nearby areas. I was so excited to see the place. I thank Ace & Kerslyn (Davao couple), Bing & Pat (Iligan couple) for agreeing to go there once again even if you have already seen the place the night before.

Here are some of our photos: (all my photos are night shots) i wonder how the place looks like in broad daylight.

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~~~

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a pose of remembrance at the entrance :)

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They said the place is full during weekends.  People are there to eat, to enjoy the sea breeze, enjoy the bands (they have it on weekends), and others are just there to walk around.

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these guys enjoying the distant lights and sea breeze.  it showered around this time.

I enjoyed taking photos of the lamp post before finding a place to eat.  And this one my fave shot of all:

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The place we ate at and the food photos will be shared in another post. :)

This trip was related to the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 4 which was held earlier that day at the Garden Orchid Hotel.  City tour was scheduled the next day yet. (that would be another post in this blog).

Nostalgia (My 16th)

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The photo I am sharing is a photo of a lighthouse which is located in the Island of Cabilao, Bohol.  Just a stone throw away from La Estrella Beach Resort (old location).

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This lighthouse brings back nice memories of a past love.  The first time i laid foot on this lighthouse was during the last few days of January in 1997.  I will say few days because i cannot remember the exact date anymore but i know it was around that time.  I was  3-4 weeks pregnant with my dd (dear daughter) :D

With me to visit this spot was of course of course my boyfriend (Dimple’s dad.)  I am the type who is very scared of heights so i did not make it up to the top.  I guess i lasted midway and he took a photo of me.  I still have that photo now and it obviously shows that i was not relaxed up there, but i managed to smile.

He and I were there on a very important purpose but after 3 days we both felt  a little disappointed because  our mission on why we were was not happening.  Anyway, we sort of just think that the days we spent there was our advance Valentine’s day celebration as our initial plan was to spend Valentine’s day in Bohol, February 14 of that year.  But due to an emergency situation, so we had an early visit to the resort.  It was my first time. Not his because his mom owns the place. :)

In April 2008, Dimple and I had the chance to visit the resort again and yes, we had the chance to stroll to the lighthouse from the new location of the resort.  Taking that photo, memories came flashing back and i smiled to myself because i saw myself in his place long time ago taking picture of me up there.  Now, look at another photo and tell me who is up there –

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A back view of someone with long hair.

Guess who?

That’s my daughter!

Oh my she was so brave to make her way to the top.  She even managed to stay awhile to enjoy the view.  I really envy her that time.  But i was already in a state where i can’t climb up heights anymore. lol!   I have i already increased my size twice from the first time i visited the spot.   So, i just end up her photographer of which i did not mind because i was feeling i was her dad. :)

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She looked tensed yet she moved upward more.  She’s standing almost at the spot where i sat one day that end of January 2007 – and she was still 3- 4 weeks old fetus inside.  Now, in this photo, that little fetus is standing on the same spot.

How time flies!

Oh memories…you make my heart lighter. :)