Paradise Island Beach Resort, Samal Island

The last time I was in Samal Island was 2 years ago and it was really a pleasant experience. I made sure during our trip to Davao I'd be able to sneak in a few hours (even it meant waking up really early) to visit the island again.

Our friends, the panggas Markku and Hana and new-found friend Maki, joined Sweetie and I on an early morning Samal Island adventure. I just got instructions from my Davao-based friend, Rex, and the resort, Paradise Island, how to get there. And it took us about 20 minutes only!

We first took a cab to Kilometer 9, Sasa Wharf (just tell the driver to bring you where you can get a bangka to Paradise Island or Costa Marina).

Then we rented a bangka for just PhP100 since we were just 5 people. If there's 7 and more you just pay PhP15 each.

Then we paid the entrance fee of PhP100 and dove in the inviting sea water! I loved the fact that the sand was almost white and there weren't any scary rocks that you might step on. And there were fish swimming with us!

And then we ate and ate and ate.

And then walked around a bit and found out that the resort had a bird sanctuary, rooms for rent and a massage place (by the beach)!

And then we hurriedly hopped in another bangka to get to Davao City in time for our first Davao FAT adventure at Tadakuma. 

How to get to Samal Island the Lakwatsera way:

1. Take a plane to Davao.

2. Take a cab to Kilometer 9 Sasa Wharf.

3. Take the bangka either to Paradise Island or Costa Marina.

And you're there na! It just takes 15 to 20 minutes from Davao city (and nearer if you go straight from the airport).

Expenses:

Taxi from Davao City: approximately PhP120

Bangka (ferry): PhP15 each (or pay PhP100 to charter one if you're less than 7)

Entrance fee at Paradise Island: PhP100 each

Food: inexpensive, we just ordered a lot! (You can budget between Php100-200, may fruit shake na yan!)

Other info:

Paradise Island Room Rates: PhP1,700 to 2,500

Paradise Island Park & Beach Resort
Caliclic, Babak
Island Garden City of Samal
Davao del Norte
Philippines 8118
+63(82) 233-0251/234-1229/300-2343

If you're afraid to get lost, go give Manong Bong Roldan a ring +63920-8559978. He's the nicest taxi driver ever and you can also hire him to give you a day tour of Davao.

Davao Crocodile Park

One of the taxi drivers during my last trip to Davao asked me how many times I've been to the city. I wasn't able to give him a number since I realized that I have been going back and forth to Davao since 2004. I fell in love with the city and I honestly would like to live there. 

It was only this year though that I managed to visit the famous Davao Crocodile Park. The first time I went was during the Davao F.A.T. last March and I knew then that I had to bring Miguel to Davao to see it.

Here are a couple of photos I took from both trips, some are by Miguel.

Davao Crocodile Park (see map)

Tel. No. +(82) 301-CROC

Park Entrance Fee: PhP100 per person

 

Fwendz Diner and Red Moon (Davao)

Davao has a lot of great places to dine in and my dear friend, Blogie, features a lot of these in his food blog.

I love going to Davao (and wish that's where I live) and I always gain at least 3 to 4 pounds whenever I visit. Last weekend I had the chance to see a bit of Davao before heading back home to Manila.

Fwendz Diner, Tope, founder of fwendz.com brought his passion for social networking offline and opened up this cool resto frequented by students and a number of oldies. The place is now known to be where IT people of Davao hang-out. Food's great too. The night I was there I hung-out with Ted Padova (Adobe evangelizer), The Usual Suspects, Blogie, Migs, Winston and Jun, and Rodney.

That's me with Fwendz Diner founder, Tope

Baby Back Ribs for just PhP99.00.

Quesadilla (uber hot, let's wait for Migs to upload the video he took)

On Saturday evening we wanted to try out something new and ended up at Red Moon Chinese Cuisines and Delicacies. With me were Andrew, Migs, Ria and Blogie.

Red Moon, Ria and Migs, me and Andrew

Oyster Omelet

Sweet and Sour Pork

Honey Spring Chicken

Now you know why I want to live in Davao. =)

Davao F.A.T.: 3-Days of Non-Stop Eating!

These 4 vlogs chronicle the grand time I had in Davao -



Read more about Davao F.A.T. Day 1: Heavenly Food at Lachi's.



Read more about Davao F.A.T. Day 2: Homestyle to Sowsi Gastronomic Delights.



Read more about Davao F.A.T. Day 3: Eden Nature Park.



Read more about Davao F.A.T. Day 3: Just When You Thought it was Over.

Special thanks to: DavaoFoodTrip.org, MyDavaoCity, AngDabawenyo and TheUsualSuspects.

Photos & Videos by: Aileen, Jay and Andrew

Davao FAT2: Kangaroo (Coffee Shop)

There are coffee shops and there are coffee shops, but when Drew excitedly told me about his new find (Kangaroo) in Davao, I knew that this was a must-go-to coffee place. 

The first time I went to Kangaroo was back in October 2008 when it was pretty new. When we arrived I was very pleased with the shop's set up since it was bright (and not glare-y) and spacious. The shop also did not just have boring tables and chairs, but had a mixture of cozy sofas and nooks where you can have some privacy. And most importantly, they have free wifi! I definitely looked forward to visiting again for Davao FAT2.

Kangaroo is quite known for the rare civet coffee (PhP300 per cup). My friends say that it's good and worth the price. I wasn't able to sample it on both occassions since coffee keeps me up and we went in the evening. I like the fact that Kangaroo serves its hot drinks on very big mugs.

  

Aside from various beverages, Kangaroo serves different cakes and pastries. Just looking at the selection below makes me want to log-off from my PC now and head for Davao. They served us yummy chocolate mint cookies (I have no idea if there's another place that serves that kind of cookies).  

An outstanding addition to Kangaroo were the artworks from various local artists (also for sale). I think it's a clever idea since it would boost awareness for local art. 

I wish coffee shops here in Manila would emulate Kangaroo. It's definitely a good place to hang-out with your friends.

Kangaroo Coffee Club
Corner of Tionko and Mapa streets
Davao City
Tel. 082-222-2800 or 222-2766 

Davao Butterfly House

I've loved butterflies eversince I was a kid and I always marveled at how they become very beautiful creatures when they come out from their ugly cocoons. At the Davao Butterfly House we saw (and touched) the alien looking caterpillars that would eventually transform into butterflies. Here are some of them:

I was surprised to see so many butterflies upon entering the Butterfly House. They were flying around, crawling on the floor, drinking water on festive plates and mating!

I even had a very up-close and personal experience with one of the pretty brown butterflies (someone said on Plurk that it's a good luck omen!). Here's a video of that experience:

Aside from the butterflies, the Davao Butterfly House also boasts of lush vegetation and a pond. You can also take a glimpse at the 

Davao Butterfly House Inc.

Riverfront Drive, Corporate City

Diversion Highway, Ma-a, Davao City

Entrance Fee: PhP50 per person

My Favorite Restaurant Lachi's

If I was to name one super-duper-favorite-to-the-maximum-levels restaurant, I'd say it's LACHI's.

Lachi's is located in Davao and is run by twins. I previously did a vlog about it when I attended the Davao F.A.T. (Food Appreciation Tour) and well since I LOVE LACHI's so much, here's another vlog about them and Kangaroo.

Kangaroo's a new coffee place in Davao. I was too stuffed though to try out their yummy pasta, but it's a place I'd definitely visit again when I'm in the area.




Lachi's Sanz Rival Atbp.
Ruby St., Marfori Village
Davao City
Tel No: 082-224-5552

Kangaroo Coffee Club
Corner of Tionko and Mapa streets
Davao City
Tel. 082-222-2800 or 222-2766

Davao FAT2: Tadakuma Japanese Restaurant

This is the first of a series of posts I will be making about the recent Davao Food Appreciation Tour, fondly called the Davao FAT which was organized and sponsored by DavaoDeli.com and DavaoFoodie.com. I had so much fun during the pioneer run of the Davao FAT last year and I made sure I'd be there again this year (booked flights last December just to be sure!).

The first stop we went to was Tadakuma Japanese Restaurant. It was raining hard when we arrived and I was quite excited to start sampling the food. 

We were served a lot of dishes and I was really envious that my friends managed to sample the california maki. I am unfortunately allergic to crab and I could just watch my friends with envy as they popped in one maki after another.

And since most of them ate a lot of maki I said that I would get a bigger share of the sashimi. As expected the raw tuna was fresh and not malansa.  

There were many other dishes, but for me the superstars for the day were the Sukiyaki and the Atuyaki Tofu. The sukiyaki was heaven. It just had the right amount of herbs and spices and wasn't salty, the noodles too were al dente. 

The atuyaki tofi was a surprise. I've tried other tofu dishes and most of them were "disjointed", meaning the tofu and the dish weren't "one". The atuyaki tofu was cooked perfectly and I couldn't stop adding the sauce to my rice. 

Tadakuma Japanese Restaurant

Damosa Business Center, 

Mamay Road, Lanang, Davao City

Must haves: Sukiyaki and Atuyaki Tofi

Can do without: the iced green tea, it was too bitter

Price range: my friend said they get really stuffed with just PhP250

The Lakwatsera's Rating: must have the Sukiyaki again!

Davao Butterfly House

I love butterflies and I still remember a butterfly pillow embroidery project I made in grade school. It took me loads of time to finish, but I certainly enjoyed the project since I was doing a replica of something I love. 

I was amazed the first time I went to the Davao Butterfly House last March and I knew I had to bring Miguel to see it for himself. I knew he was also going to enjoy taking photos of the animated-colorful creatures. And I was right.

Here are a couple of photos from the two trips I made to the Davao Butterfly House:

Davao Butterfly House (see map)

Riverfront Drive, Corporate City
Diversion Highway, Ma-a, Davao City

Entrance Fee: PhP50 per person

 

Davao: Belly's Grill

When I was going through some old photos I saw some snaps I took at Belly's Grill in Davao. I remember going there with my Davao buddies who swore that the resto served the yummiest food around.

Baked Oysters

Bangus

Kinilaw (really fresh!)

Another kind of yummy fish (forgot the name)

And they were right!

Belly's Grill

Quirino Avenue, Davao City

+(6382) 305-1000

Davao FAT2: Lachi's Sansrival Atbp.

We were busted for going to Lachi's before the scheduled Davao FAT2 visit and I admit it was MY IDEA. Hey I'm addicted to Lachi's and since Lachi's is a good 2 hours by plane from where I live, I should be forgiven for masterminding the plan.

I had pork marinara twice that day. (Need I say more?).

I can boast that I eat Bicol food since I can remember because that's where my parents hail from. I can testify then that the Laing Pasta is authentic and uberrrr saraaaap!

I certainly enjoyed the ube panacotta and the creme brulee which is not served in the restaurant according to Mike (one of the twin owners), but is usually offered when they cater for weddings (I wonder if I can order some for my wedding hmmm...).

The creme brulee was heavenly! I licked off every single bit from the spoon. 

Also had my favorite Lachi's sansrival almost everyday in Davao (and I also took home a box!).

And how can you say no to these mouth-watering desserts?

Lachi's Sanz Rival Atbp.
Ruby St., Marfori Village
Davao City
Tel No: 082-224-5552

Malagos Garden Resort (Davao)

Last year I got a chance to visit one of Davao's flora and fauna rich resorts back in 2007 - the Malagos Garden Resorts! My friends Andrew, Blogie and Migs accompanied me to see the sights. I forgot to blog about it since I was quite busy during that time, but finally remembered it when Winston asked me to look for a photo. And that was when I suddenly remembered the cute little ostriches and the many different birds that we saw. There were also quite a number of flora which I'm sure my Mom would enjoy if she was with me.

Here are some photos which I took during that day:

View more photos in my Picasa Web Album:

Contact Info:

Malagos Garden Resort

Malagos, Baguio, Davao City

+(6382) 221-1545