DAVAO
8/1/98
Tsm member report:
Davao City is located in the far South-East of the Philippines and flights are
available daily by PAL (iIf they are still in business)from Manila Domestic Airport
(yhere is also a ferry service but, it takes THREE days). Flights take around One
and a half hours, and cost around P4,000- P6,600 (P6,600 by PAL when they are flying)!
There are plenty of taxi's available at Davao Airport that can take you to your Hotel.
HOTELS IN DAVAO
Davao Insular
Hotel
Km 7, Lanang,
Davao City
Tel# (6382) 76051 TO 61
Real "up market" Hotel in Davao. This is a "five star" quality
place, where all the business class clients head for. If you can afford this you
will enjoy this but, not for those on a budget.
APO VIEW HOTEL
J Campos Street
Davao City
Tel # (6382) 74861
Good pick-up point in the bar and disco. San Pedro just outside to the left is a
good area for a stroll and friendly approaches.
EVERGREEN HOTEL
Magsaysay Avenue
Davao City
Tel# (6382) 62226 or 74938
More in line with budget class.(was P500 a night last time I was there expect that
to have risen) Basic rooms, clean and tidy. TV and A/C with shower. Right in the
heart of the City. Friendly staff with Bar and Karaoke lounge located within Hotel.
Room service with good in expensive food.
I have stayed at ALL three of the above Hotels and can recommend all of them. Below
is a list of others you might like to try out.
HOTEL MAGUINDANAO
C.M. Recto Avenue
Davao City
Tel # (6382)78401
DURIAN HOTEL
J.P. Laurel Avenue
Davao City
Tel # (6382) 72725 or 75312
HOTEL MARIO
Magallanes Street
Davao City
Tel # (6382) 224-0659 224-0660 & 224-0661
FABULOUS VENEES HOTEL
MacArthur Highway
Matina
Davao City
Tel # (6382) 76026 or 78934
THE CITY
Davao City is reported to be the WORLDS LARGEST City -- No! not in terms of population,
but, in actual land mass area. No tall skyscrapers, high rise apartment blocks etc
but, a city that stretches out all around...
Midway between the Airport and the City is the Insular Hotel, (km 7 district) possibly,
Davao's major focus of relaxation. Relax over a glass of TUBA, or fresh palm wine,
in the immaculately kept grounds. There you will see men who "tap" the
palm trees for tuba. This tapping also prevents coconuts from forming on the trees
and prevents a common accident -- husky nuts falling upon the guests nut (head):-).
VICTORIA PLAZA shopping mall
Davao is a City with 18 colleges and two Universities, no other city outside the
States has so many attending college :-). Most of which will be found milling around
VICTORIA PLAZA the City's newest and possibly largest shopping Mall.
The Mall is full of all the normal shops and restaurants, including McDonalds, Dunkin
Doughnuts, Jollybee etc.:-) however, on the ground floor you will find they frequently
have concerts and bands playing, especially at the weekend. Which see's those students
flock in for some "free" entertainment. Therefore, an ideal place to meet
a "nice girl" type.
PARADISE ISLAND
Just along the Highway, and near to The Insular Hotel, you will see signs for
PARADISE ISLAND .If you follow the signs you will come down to the beach and be able
to hire a boat to ferry you across to the Island which has clear blue waters, and
white sand beaches.
PARADISE ISLAND resort is very much a self catering overnight stay place, with Beach
huts situated amongst the palm trees and beach...
GREAT place to chill out and relax. Barbecues are available to cook and enjoy the
life. We spent several nights there, just walking up and down the beach catching
fresh crabs by the bag load, and having them for breakfast in the morning.
The prices are reasonable for over night stay, (about P500 per hut (fan only) there
are some A/C rooms available in a bigger block but, these are hard to book always
full. Drinks are available in a open air type shack at the front of the resort, along
with a TV lounge (the only TV on the island (no tagalog movies ). There is also a
table tennis table and pool tables...but, little else....really tropical and basic
but, beautiful and relaxing just swimming, and having romantic moments with the "girlfriend"
catching crabs to eat and doing barbecues...really breath taking sunsets....I can
see why they call it Paradise Island ;-))
Again I stress, if you are staying overnight, or a day or two, make sure you bring
some basic provisions with you, little can be bought on the island itself and the
last ferry leaves around 7pm! Bring a portable CD or radio as well.and watch out
for those bloody coconuts falling all around. (only about 20 minutes across and only
a few pesos to the boat owner). A few locals come over to the island for a day out
but, that should not worry you. The resorts stretches out and is never really full.
CASINO FILIPINO
Situated along J.P.Laurel Ave the Casino like all in the Philippines has a strict
dress code (no shorts tee shits and thongs etc). The Casino is not only a ideal night
out chancing your look but, again it is a good hangout in Davao to meet some unattached
" nice girls," just switch on your charm and you are half way there.
Night time!
SQUARE CIRCLE SHOWGIRL BAR
There are no gogo bars as such in Davao, so you might, if you strike out elsewhere,
like to remember and try out the Square Circle Showgirl Bar. Open, I believe, between
8pm and 3am. This is a typical Filipino "showgirl" type bar.
Usually, at least 15-20 girls working there, and are available to share a drink with
you in between the dance routines. All the usual guidelines apply here for taking
a new "girlfriend" out, and forget trying the old "sneak-out"
routine as most of these girls live at the back of the club, and it is like "Colditz"
trying to get a "sneak-out" -- I took a couple of nice looking girls out
on the town one night, which was expensive but, we had a good night, ending up at
the Casino.
The Square Circle is not that far from the centre of town (exact address escapes
me, sorry) I remember that the phone # and address was in the phone book and I never
had a problem finding it, as the taxi drivers knew of it.. The shows there were always
good and the staff friendly without too much pressure on drinks.
There was a Health centre attached next door as well for a massage but I never tried
it out.
OTHER OPTIONS ...
Davao is the Capital of Mindanao and is a large City. There are no gogo bars, as
I said but, there are Karaoke Bars worth trying out to find that "girlfriend"
There are many around town. Just ask a Taxi Driver to recommend you a "good"
one.
Indeed, if you tip your driver (P100) he will probably know of one or two of the
brothel type houses and be prepared to take you to one. These are usually private
houses with three or four girls working, usually sitting around in the lounge...
(again never tried them myself but, I know they exist a taxi driver told me so..!!)
DISCO'S ...
Lot's of Disco's around town as well worth checking out and even one or two taverns
with "live bands" playing again good places to meet "nice girls"
There are dozens's of good disco in the "downtown" area get a taxi driver
to recommend some too you,check them out as with all such places what is a bad night
on some occasions, can be where it is happening on another occasion.
When in Davao you will notice that you stand out like a sore thumb :-). Tourists
and westerners are very few and far between in Davao. This can be both a good and
a bad thing -- You are guaranteed to get plenty of attention. - "Hello Sir are
you American??" but, also the Mindanao area is also a area for the rare but,
occasional terrorist incident or kidnapping, (Muslm v Catholic) so it is wise to
keep to the City and larger places and not get stuck out in the middle of nowhere
at night.
TRANSPORT
There are of course the A/C Taxis (which I prefer) but, also they have PU's this
is a non A/C taxi with beat up wrecks -- (lucky if they are fitted with the correct
seats, windscreen, and brakes) Much cheaper and an alternative if no A/C is available...
very few trikes but, lots of jeepneys..
PEARL FARM RESORT
Davao is also famous for it's Pearl Farms and there is also a resort called "Pearl
Farm" which is on the costly side but very nice for a special weekend maybe,
with that special "girlfriend"
Pearl Farm resort is located on Samal Island just off the coast of Davao City. Named
after a pearl farm, (surprise) it is now a centre of relaxation, and is one of the
best resorts in the whole of the Philippines. Located in a secluded cove on the Island
it has numerous facilities such as Jet
skiing, Scuba Diving and Tennis
(just for Bruce :-). Well worth the effort and expense for a weekend at least --
you can get more details plus prices and transportation details by clicking on the
Pearl Farm Resort Link.
GOLF
If you fancy yourself as the new "Tiger Woods" you can try out:
APO Golf and Country Club
Dumoy
Davao City
Tel # 81944
It is a 18 hole par 72 course and is 30 minutes away from the centre of Davao
Lanang Golf and Country Club
Lanang
Davao City
Tel # 75952
Another 18 hole but, par 71 course.
As with any Golf club, it is best to telephone first too see what the details are
regards to membership, (only in some cases)green fees and such like.
ON THE OUTSKIRTS
Philippine Eagle Sanctuary and Wildlife Preserve.
The mountains in and around Davao is home to the endangered Philippine Eagle, the
largest Philippine bird of prey. This sanctuary features 17 of these magnificent
birds. The park also features a large Philippine Crocodile, pythons and various other
animals. The Sanctuary is located in Malagos, Calinan District, Davao City (About
45 mins from the centre).
Caroland Farms
A 60 hectare farm in Bago, 13 kms south of the centre of Davao. It is a bird and
wild duck sanctuary shaded by fruit trees and huts. The farm also serves as a tent
grounds for groups ascending MT APO. (Aug-Dec) is the best time to visit when everything
is in full bloom and the colours are wonderful, Oh and the fruit is ready to pick
MMMmmm)Seriously suggest you add Davao onto your itinerary and give it at least a
long weekend.
To conclude, Davao is a lovely City to spend some time in, and explore. You will
find everything you want here. Deserted Beaches, little Paradise Islands, hundreds
of pretty "good girls" and various pick-up places, like the Disco's and
Karaoke Bars -- and don't forget the shopping mall at weekends :-). It is an inexpensive
sort of place and a refreshing break from Manila, and Angeles type places.
