Ang Dabawenyo

After a couple of false starts since after February, I think I can safely say it’s officially summer now. Today, Easter Sunday, was a lot hotter than usual, although it surprised me to see that we had a high of only 35°C this noon. I don’t know about you guys, but I had 4 showers today!

You know what this means — trips to the beach, beach overnighters, beach outings! Yipee! This is one thing that people really love about Davao, that beaches are so easy to go to. And it doesn’t take a whole lot of planning since they’re so near, and coming back to the city (should you need to) is nearly hassle-free as well.

And there are a lot of beach resorts to choose from. Concerned about price? Well, there are plenty of inexpensive beaches just 15 minutes away. Not concerned? Ok, there’s the Pearl Farm, BaliBali Beach Resort, and a handful of others. Fussy about food? Bring your own and cook right there! I especially enjoy this part, when I get to play cook and nobody really minds if the food gets burnt.

Some favorite sea spots:

• Bali Bali Beach Resort — you can read about my experience here
• Isla Reta — there are passenger banca trips almost every hour to this resort on Talikud Island; it’s a very down-to-earth place, the beach is clean (although the coral are only now recovering from a spate of crown-of-thorns disaster years ago), excellent jump-off point for diving and kayaking; but I hope you’re not the type who’s easily daunted by less-than-hygienic bathrooms; don’t even bother with the food — bring your own! [another blog post about Isla Reta]
• Paradise Island Beach Resort — I like this place but not when it’s overcrowded; the food is good, but orders tend to take really long, so order right away as soon as you get there (or bring your own cookables); nice for people-watching on Sundays
• Aundanao — this is in the other side of Samal Island, that side facing away from Davao City; actually I haven’t been here, but some friends have told me that it’s really great here; they say its beach is still in pristine condition (which is another way of saying that it’s more for the adventurous types, i.e., no bathroom or any facilities for the civilized)

Another way of escaping the summer heat for Dabawenyos is to trek to the mountains. No, not necessarily Mt. Apo, although of course that’s the best adventurous getaway. Davao is bounded by a moutain range (which protects the city from typhoons), and these peaks and valleys offer spectacular nature-tripping vacations. If you’re not from Davao and you find yourself here in the summer, ask to be brought to Epol. This place, 13km from the Davao-Bukidnon boundary and about 4,000m above sea level, is dotted with waterfalls and caves, and surrounded by lush jungle in some parts.

Another favorite highland spot is Eden Nature Park. This place is cool and refreshing, and offers very comfortable facilities.

Whatever your trip for this summer, Davao probably has it!