Food trip in Davao

Day 8
June 20, 2015
Davao

What better way to end our 8-day and 4-city trip than to spend the whole day just eating.

Before checking out from Paradise Island Resort, we had tocino (190 PHP) and omelette (90 PHP) for breakfast.

For lunch, we had Tuna Sashimi (290 PHP) and grilled squid (250 PHP) at Marina Tuna.

We then met a former colleague who brought us to different famous restaurants around the city. First stop was at elegantly-decorated Saging Repablik where I had the sweetest banana cue dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with chocolate chips! I also had a banana cake which was not as good as those found in most cafes in Manila.

Banana Cue and cake

Next stop was at Lachi's for more desserts to satisfy our sweet tooth. We ordered Green Tea Cheesecake, Luscious Mud Pie, Five-choco Torte, and Creme Brulee cake. They were definitely meant for sharing - not even I, who loves sweets, can finish a whole slice.

Green Tea Cheesecake, Luscious Mud Pie, Five-choco Torte, and Creme Brulee cake

For dinner, we went to Jack's Ridge. Since it was our last night, we ordered everything we liked in the menu. We had fish fillet, Tinolang Imbao (shells), Pinaputok na Bangus, and  Kinilaw - cubed raw tuna mixed in vinegar, onions, lemon juice, cucumber - a must try!

Around Samal Island

Day 7
June 19, 2015
Davao

The last leg of our trip was Davao. We decided to stay at Paradise Island Resort in Samal Island. We got a well-appointed room with a spacious veranda for 3,500 PHP (plus an additional 750 PHP for an extra bed since there were three of us). We actually came in at around 9 AM from Cebu but the resort allowed us to check-in early.

 

 

 The resort offers a lot of amenities and activities for the guests - aviary, spa, water sports. The best one for me was the intro diving for just 1,200 PHP. This has been on my bucket list for the longest time and it was surprising to find out that I can do it in Davao at a very affordable price - certification not necessary! A certified diver (or dive master) was with me the whole time - he was in charge of handling the equipment I was wearing. All I had to do was to follow his instructions (hand gestures) - what I can and cannot touch  -  and enjoy the underwater view.

Later at 4 PM, we hired a habal-habal for 600 PHP to tour us around the island. We went to Monfort Bat Sanctuary and Hagimit falls.

Rest day at Movenpick

Day 6
June 18, 2015
Cebu

From Siargao, we went back to Cebu and stayed overnight at Movenpick hotels and resorts. We booked a very nice one bedroom suite through Airbnb for 3,000 PHP. The suite can actually accommodate up to 8 people - sofas can be converted to beds and there were extra mattresses. There was also a kitchen, a minibar, and a balcony with a wonderful view of the beach. The resort also has lounges, spa, outdoor pool, nightclub -  but we chose to stay most of the day at the suite to rest. I guess the past five days had drained off our energies.

Exploring Magpupungko Tidal Pools

Day 5
June 17, 2015
Siargao

The next morning, I decided to eat at Cafe Loca because it has a perfect view of the boardwalk. I expected the food to match the beautiful view but, alas, the 120 Peso-cappuccino and a 120 Peso-tuna sandwich disappointed. While the coffee tasted ok, it was quite pricey considering it was served in a tiny cup. The sandwich was bland - no tomato, no lettuce, just plain toasted white bread with ordinary tuna spread.

We then rented two habal-habal (800 PHP each) to bring the three of us to Magpupungko Beach and Tidal pools. Initially, to save money, we taught of just renting one, which the driver actually obliged. He actually believed that four full-grown adults can fit in one motorcyle! We changed our minds eventually - just the thought of us pressed to each other tight in an hour was enough for us to cough up the payment for another habal-habal.

Habal-habal - some can fit 4 people!

We got to Magpupungko Beach and Tidal pools at past 8 AM, which was perfect since the tide was already low. We got to see and experience the deep and clear natural  pools all to ourselves since no one was around yet - not even a guard or watcher to collect the 50 PHP entrance fee. The place was truly extraordinary - I don't know of any other place similar to it. It is definitely not-to-be-missed in Siargao.

Magpupungko Rock seated on a flat rock

Island tour in Siargao

Day 4
June 16, 2015
Siargao

For breakfast the next day, we decided to try the resort's restaurant. I had a mango pancake (140 PHP) and coffee. With the beautiful view, it was a great way to start the day.

We booked an island tour for 1,500 PHP. Since there were only three of us, Rissa invited an Israeli couple, whom we met at the van yesterday, to join us so we can share the expense.

The tour included 3 islands. First one was a tiny island called Naked, which has off-white sand and crystal-clear water. We stayed for about an hour swimming and sunbathing. I also spent a few minutes cleaning - there were a lot of trash around the shaded area.

Next sop was Daku Island which is actually home to a small community. It actually has its own church and school.

Last island is called Guyam Island. We only stayed a few minutes on the island since the beach was full of seaweed.

For lunch, we requested the tricycle driver to bring us to Ronaldo's for some tasty but cheap food. We ordered sweet and sour fish (175 PHP), chicken adobo (85 PHP) and stirfry vegetables (60 PHP).

Later that night, after a few hours of relaxation at Ocean 101, we went to Kermit Surf resort for dinner.  The place was quite busy - it was well-known after all for its great vibe and amazing Italian cuisine - a personal favorite. We ordered a pizza with 4 toppings (370 PHP) and Gnocchi alla Sorrentina (280 PHP), an oven-baked dish made of gnocchi, tomato sause, fresh basil and mozarella cheese. Everything was mouth-watering. The pizza dough was baked to perfection.

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina