going around Samal Island (davao 7 of 7)

although i had included Samal Island in our itinerary but I didn't expect it would be the best part of the trip... :-) and the whole experience was a revelation to me... hehehe

i've always though of Samal Island as an island... a small patch of land with real nice beach... i didn't even bother to look it up... good thing we decided to spend a night there.... :-)

nice roads in going around (although the part that leads to the bat caves are still not cemented)

white house, samal isle (davao 6 of 7)

here's one Samal Island point of interest that i had almost scrapped off our list... but after talking with our habal-habal driver, we decided to give it a try... it was a really long drive from the bat cave... but it was a good place to end the Samal Island tour... :-)


this had been famous to Samal Island locals as the White House only... but based on our habal-habal driver's story, this was originally owned by Hilario Camino Moncado, who was the leader of a religious cult Moncadistas and the founder and supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Filipino Crusaders World Army (i'm not so sure what that is but that's what is written on the sign above the entrance: "Filipino Crusaders World Army, Inc. National Headquarters")... Well, this American Mindanao blogger has more to say about the place: Bob Martin

Monfort bat cave, samal island (davao 5 of 7)

here's another treat from Samal Island... at first i thought we will really be going inside a cave... but good thing we can just view it from a cleaner area hehe :-)


it's a private land but the owners decided to open the area to the public...

hagimit falls, samal isle (davao 4 of 7)

here's my most fave part of the trip!!! it was a nice discovery hehe... good thing there was not too many people at the time we were there.... Hagimit falls is a must stop place in Samal island.. i enjoyed it more than the beach resorts... :-) it's a breather from the usual beach trips... i fell in love immediately with the place... :-)



you need to head all the way down to get to the river...but once you're there the soothing sound plus the cool atmosphere is such a treat... then you'll see this.... aaaahhhhh suuuuppperrrr LOOOOOOOVE!!!! :-)

fernandez resort, samal island (davao 3 of 7)

it was a backpacking trip... initially we didn't have plans to spend the night in Samal Island (since it's just 15minutes away by RORO), we just thought of going there real early, head to the places of interests in the island then go back to Davao even after sundown....


but last minute we looked for a place to stay. we chose the one that's accessible to the places we want to go... i particularly made sure we're near the Hagimit falls... :D me and my dude were deciding between Rocky Resort and Fernandez Resort. Nothing too fancy about these 2 resorts compared to the famous Paradise Island Resort and the Pearl Farm. We opted to go for a cheap place and spend the whole day going around Samal Island... :-)


Fernandez resort, just like the other resorts in almost every inch of Samal Island beachline, had setup nets around their beach to filter whatever dirt that can settle in their beach... everytime i see these fence-looking barriers around the beach (including the one in Paradise Island) i'm reminded of the similar fence in Caylabne resort in Cavite.... made me think twice to enjoy a swim (the Caylabne water was even worst because i remember seaweeds already looking black). but the sand on the beaches of Samal Island are really nice... not Bora-nice but it's good... :-)

RORO to Samal Island (Davao 2 of 7)

There are several ways to get to Samal Island from Davao City. The first time I went there we took a banca that brought us directly to Paradise Island resort. I think other resorts also have similar arrangements. But to do a really backpacking trip to Samal Island, taking the RORO adds to the thrill! ;-) Specially, since we decided not to stay in Paradise Island and other pricey resorts. We chose a resort that would be very accessible if we'll tour the other points of interest in the island, and we can only get there through the RORO bus.


i'm not sure if there are other bus lines going to Samal Island, but so far I've only seen buses of Island City Express around.

We were told to go to Magsaysay Park in Davao City where we can take the bus. I haven't seen the park (is there one ba? hehe). But our cab driver brought us exactly where the Island City Express bus parks while waiting for passengers. I think there's no exact schedule. By the time we got there the other bus just left and we were left with no choice but to take the next which is completely empty... but good thing it got filled real quick.

Bus Fares (well, at least until our stop - The Warehouse):
Non-Aircon - Php40.00
Aircon - Php50.00

Japanese Tunnel (Davao - 1 of 7)

the only place in our Davao City itinerary that we were able to visit (aside from the malls and hanging out with my relatives)... :-)


The tunnel was constructed during Japanese occupation (that's in the 1940s), but this was discovered only in 1962.

durian coffee @ Blugre Cafe,Davao

as if the Bajada durian stuffing was not enough, we went to Blugre cafe to experience durian-flavored coffee. they're serving coffee with bits of durian! :D i know im not gonna like it because its durian so i ordered white mocha instead. :-) but one of these days, il bring someone who would let me have one sip to check out how it is... i just find it impractical to buy one cup then not finish it because i dont like it... :D hehehe

i super like their tagline for their Durian Gatchpuccino... the king of coffees... coffee that tastes like heaven PERIOD! hehehe :D i really wish i can vouch for that... but i need to conquer the repulsion im getting when it comes to Durian... hehe :D

you may want to include trying their Durian Gatchpuccino in your to do's during your Davao trip! :D

durian buy in Bahada, Davao

***apologies for the yellowish photos... these were all taken at night and the only light source were the streelights of davao. :D


i'm never a fan of Durian... i just cant get myself to try it... hehehe i really cant take the odor.... but this is my 2nd trip to Davao where my companions really made sure that buying and eating fresh durian is part of our itinerary.... :D

jack's ridge, davao city

had a very quick trip to davao end of april... we spent the whole day in the conference (dami naming napulot!!! vg!), but since one of my davao buds are as kaladkarin and as camwhore as me (despite the age mind you! hehehe) we were resolved to still enjoy the rest of the day...and night... before we head back to zamboanga. :-)


with so little time (we spend a big part of it in the malls...) we decided to have a good dinner. good thing dra.ara has relatives there... they brought us up to Jack's Ridge resort and resto. she was telling me about the durian monument there but they've already replaced it with this "davao" structure. :-) this one's nice. :-)

durian all you can... can you?

.... ako, i cant.


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photo taken while inside a van.
Durian are just simply everywhere in Davao. :)


Davao City, Philippines
02 October 2009