Davao

By Joyce Ira

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Mt. Apo from afar

Home of Mt. Apo - the tallest mountain in the Philippines, Davao is also known for the stinky Durian fruit.

Attractions in Davao
The Philippine Eagle Center - See the majestic Philippine Eagle, one of the three largest eagles in the world. The Center is home to at least 30 Philippine Eagles, and hosts a variety of other raptors, birds, and animals in a simulated forest environment. The Center is about 45 minutes from downtown Davao. To get there, buses or vans to Calinan depart from the Bankerohan Market at 15 minute intervals. Once in Calinan, tricycles, motorcycles and jeepneys bound for Malagos may be found at the Calinan market area. Hours are from 8am to 5pm daily.

Paradise Island - Boat rides to Paradise Island in Samal from Davao City open at 6 a.m. It’s the best time to take a trip to the white-sand beach resort and have the beach almost to yourself.

Davao Museum - The museum should give you a glimpse of the colorful lumad culture of the city. Davao is home to many cultural tribes and in spite of progress, they have retained many of their local practices like celebrating the bountiful harvest during the Kadayawan festival (August). The museum is located at Insular Village and opens at 9am.

Aldevnico Shopping Center To have some of those lumad crinckets, stop at the shopping center just across Marco Polo Hotel and Ateneo de Davao University. Its fun to discover this place as a shopping paradise cum museum.

Eden Nature Park - See Davao's eco-tourism wonders at the foot of Mt Apo at the Eden Nature Park in Toril District. There's a panoramic view of the gulf.

Malagos Garden - Sapmple the local red winde made from bignay (local small red berries) at the Malagos Garden in the Baguio District. Lunch on organically-grown fresh vegetables and fruits amidst a lush setting of rich flora.

Davao River - Go river-rafting on the mighty Davao River. Your trip from upland Tamugan would end at the Crocodile Park by the Dizon’s River Front. There you can feed the crocks or feast on their special delicacies and famous pomelo.

Foods
Take your pick – fresh seafoods at Ahfat, Korean delights at Arirang, Pinoy favorites at Probinsya or Chinese cuisine at Emerald all at the Victoria Plaza Carpark. An alternative would be Jack Ridge’s at Shrine Hill for al fresco dining with a scenic view of Davao’s skyline at night.

Dessert? For both the aficionados and the first-timers, the fruit that “smells like hell but tastes like heaven” are available at Magsaysay Park or along Anda St. Insist on the local varieties. Durian is now grown year-round but the best times are July to October.

Nightlife
The night would still be young by the time you finish your meal. So, head out to feel the pulse of the city’s nightlife. Coffee shops and bars are aplenty. Happy hour sing-a-long at Goodtimes just off Sta Ana Church or Chico’s along Rizal St.

If you want to meet the locals, try a quick look at the People’s Park. It’s a garden and open air art gallery rolled into one where the city’s rich and hoi polloi enjoy an urban oasis.

Prefer dancing and live bands? Then be by 9 pm at MTS (Matina Town Square), or at the restobar row along F. Torres or at The Venue (infront of Central Bank) or at the Damosa Gateway.

After the booze, try to avoid a hangover with hot and spicy soup before bed. Try Bullcachong along Gen. Luna St.

Davao City, has much to offer visitors, the people are genuinely friendly and will make anyone feel welcome in their City.


By air

Davao is possibly the third most important Philippine city after Manila and Cebu. As such most if not all domestic airlines fly multiple times per day to Davao from Manila, Cebu and other major cities in Visayas and Mindanao. Davao is served by the Davao International Airport (more properly named as the Francisco Bangoy International Airport), which receives both local and foreign traffic to Davao. Completed only in 2003, DIA is said to be much better than its counterpart NAIA in Manila.

Silk Air, the regional airline of Singapore Airlines, is currently the only international connection directly servicing Davao from Singapore. If you have Davao as your main destination in the Philippines, you might want to consider coming in through Singapore as this might be the most hassle-free way to enter.

The following Philippine carriers all have Davao on their flight networks:

* Philippine Airlines - the national flag carrier. 7x daily flights to Manila.
* Cebu Pacific - 2nd biggest domestic carrier, offers Go discount fares.
* Air Philippines - flies to Davao from Manila as well as in Cebu.
* Zest Airways

By sea

Davao is also served by a bustling sea port with significant cargo and passenger traffic. Following is a listing of ferry companies that serve Davao:

* WG&A Superferry - twice weekly ferries from Manila to Davao, trip takes more than 2 days in total
* Sulpicio Lines - twice weekly ferries from Manila, usually via Cebu

Around town
Getting around the town is not a problem. Taxis are everywhere from 60-70 pesos or slightly higher if you go by meter.

Another alternative is to ride the jeepney like what locals do.There are routes going everywhere and all you have to do is ask then they will point you to the nearest station. Jeepney is the cheapest option of traveling which will cost about 5-7 pesos.

If you opt to have more privacy, renting a car could be an option. There are available cars for rent. If you do not know the routes you might want to hire a driver from the rental company which will be included to the total cost you have to pay.

Buses are also available but these tend to ply exclusively along the north-south route and going out and in the city area.
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