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July 4- 24, 2014
20 Days in Davao City
GPS waypoint: 7°03'51.7"N 125°36'27.8"E
Location: Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
Leaving Gen San
I could have stayed much longer in Gen San, but my Dad would celebrate his birthday by month's end. I had to go to Davao to catch my Manila flight. But I decided to arrive 20 days earlier in Davao to see what might happen. I thought I would default to practising and teaching yoga like what I did in Cebu and Gen San. That was not realized as things took a turn for something different.
Bagobo House Hotel
 It was a big relief to have pre-arranged a hotel stay at Bagobo House Hotel. Located just a few steps from People's Park, it was easy for me to take the short walk to do my morning workout and then treat myself to a fresh whole pineapple. By far, pineapple tops the fruit chart for me - great taste, great for digestive efficiency and cheap (as low as P7/fruit, cut-down into chunks). This was more or less my morning routine. Bagobo's location was also central - I was a short ride away from everything in Davao.
Non Yoga
After nearly 10 months of daily yoga in Cebu and Gen San, I cut myself some slack to do other things. Yoga did not specifically excite me then. I enjoyed more the rope skipping I was doing at People's Park. I think it's also good to give myself a break until I start hurting for it again. That way, it'll come out fresh.
Peoplescape
No matter how great the scenery is, without social interaction, traveling is not as enriching. I was lucky to have been with good people. I met Lyn at an art gallery. Like Jeanne Torrefranca in Cebu and Helen Prieto in Gen San, Lyn and I became very good friends and we found ourselves spending time together for the most part of my stay - movies, eats, lazy chats. I also chanced on catching up with Cebu yogini, RV, who was passing through Davao. Of course there were my aunts in Davao who always made me feel welcome. I would stay with them when my hotel deals ran out. Fortunately, I had the chance to catch up with some of my yoga friends - Jackie and Joanna, who introduced me to their yoga friends as well.
Kublai and Ponce Suites Hotel
 My second hotel stay was at Ponce Suites, better known as Kublai's hotel (even though it's actually owned by his ever-so-groomed mother, Min). Kublai is Davao's celebrated artist. It's already impressive to see his work at People's Park, but what he showcased at Ponce Suites bordered on obsessive. Ponce Suites is not so much a hotel as it is an art museum. On all 4 floors, the walls are densely packed with Kublai's art work, some of them fill into the ceiling as well. The outside of the hotel is graced by numerous and bigger-than-life art installation. Even the obscure spaces were filled with art work. In fact, the entire hotel was filled to the brim with Kublai's art. To think that everything was done single-handedly by one man is staggering. This hotel is definitely a tourist must-see place. And yes, the hotel is also a comfortable place to rest your weary back at the end of the day.
BU tapas bebida y bodega
 Gastronomically and value for money speaking, BU Tapas is one of Davao's highlights for me. You could almost taste the love, owners and hands-on managers Ric and Anna, put into their food. No shorcuts, no skimping, no cost-cutting - just honest to goodness yummy food you would be willing to pay twice as much for when you get your bill. I brought Lyn and my Davao family there, and everyone is in unison that BU is great eats.
Foodscape
I have my good old staple when it comes to Davao - siquate (native chocolate drink whisked with a baterol), pineapple (expertly cut into cubes from a whole fruit with a few knife strokes of the pineapple-samurai), tuna skin chicharon from Porky Best, Pinaputok na Pan de Sal from Living Bread, and of course my true love, durian. However, being out of season, durian was prohibitively sold for P120/kilo...I passed.
Abundance
When I left Davao in Jan 2013, I felt defeated - I couldn't generate business despite compelling Google statistics. I felt unappreciated and snobbed despite what I was doing for Davao. Now, I leave Davao with a spontaneous overflow of blessings - meeting Lyn, Ric and Anna, having 2 hotels to house me, closing a deal with a Spanish restaurant (allowing me to treat family), closing a dental deal (allowing me to get my cousin treated), generally having loose change in my pocket and the reassurance I get from my aunts.
Ending Thoughts
I can't complain. I've settled for so much less in the past - this is almost over the top in my nomadic monk paradigm. As good as it got, it was time for me to leave again. Thank you Davao...until the next time.
--- TheLoneRider
- take a tricycle to Bulaong Terminal in Gen San, P8/pax
- take a bus bound for Davao City. There are non-stop aircon buses available for faster commute P260
 Davao City, Philippines
 tourist attractions
 - hotel
 Bahay ni Tuding - central Poblacion location, wifi, hands-on owner
160 San Pedro Street, 8000 Davao City
0947 361 3544 | 7°03'57.6"N 125°36'28.3"E The Pinnacle Hotel and Suites - central location, new management, newly renovated
Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City 8000, Philippines
(+63) 932-8708621 | 906-3185885 | 7°04'34.2"N 125°36'54.2"E The Apo View Hotel - Davao's iconic hotel, old world charm, casino
150 J. Camus Street, Davao City Philippines 8000
+63 (82) 221-6430 to 40 | 7°04'09.2"N 125°36'27.4"E North Zen Basic Spaces - great rooms at affordable prices
Sobrecarey St. (corner Lapu-Lapu St.), Davao City, 8000
(082) 295.3997 | 7°04'43.0"N 125°37'04.3"E Urban Living Zen Hotel - newly opened - all NEW!
F.s. Dizon Bacaca, 8000 Davao City
(082) 287 3133 | 7°05'28.4"N 125°36'22.3"E The Royal Mandaya Hotel - heart of downtown Davao City
J. Palma Gil Street, Davao City, 8000
(+63 82) 225.8888 | 7°04'09.4"N 125°36'36.8"E Alu Hotel Davao - central downtown location
M. Roxas Avenue corner Padre Faura Street, Davao
+63 82 227 5232 | 7°04'07.7"N 125°36'51.7"E One Oasis Davao - hotel accommodation in a condo unit
Eco-west Drive, Ecoland, Davao City
suki_tac@yahoo.com | 0925.500.3211 | 7°02'49.2"N 125°35'19.1"E
 van rental
 Apollo Van Rental - Davao City tour, Samal Island tour, airport transfer
0925.500.3211 | suki_tac@yahoo.com
 yoga | health | fitness
 tour
 resto |  cafe
 advocacy
- one of the cleanest potable water in the country
- smoking is banned from commercial establishments
- pineapple samurais are endemic here and nowhere else in the country (pineapple vendors who cut-up whole pineapples into chunks with just a few strokes of their carving knives)
- public utility drivers conspicuously display their IDs
- durian Mecca of the Philippines (not to mention Marang, Mangosteen and Sweet Pomelo)
- you want to add some more? please submit on the form below
- the weighing scale of fruit vendors specially the durian push cart vendors are a blatant cheat - showing almost twice the actual weight
- Revisiting Davao Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
- A Roof Over my Head in Davao Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
- Davao Yoga Scene Oct 31, 2016
- Pranayama Oct 24, 2016
- Yoga Beyond the Mat Oct 21, 2016
- Grilled Tuna Overload in Davao Oct 13, 2016
- Duterte Mania in Davao Oct 12, 2016
- Sirsasana, Sarvangasana - Yoga Makaranda II Oct 7, 2016
- Tirumalai Krishnamacharya Oct 5, 2016
- Ashtanga Yoga with James Fritz Freire at Holiday Gym and Spa Oct 1, 2016
- There was a Bomb Explosion? Sep 30, 2016
- Jin in Davao Sep 29, 2016
- Scrubs and Hilot at Holiday Gym and Spa Sep 22-29, 2016
- The Fabulous Dabawenyos Aug 22-Sep 26, 2016
- Nirvana Breathing Fitness with Lita C. Quisumbing Sep 21, 2016
- Massage, Sauna and Ear Candling at Holiday Spa and Gym Sep 17-19, 2016
- Downpour in Davao Sep 18, 2016
- Lounge One Yoga Sequence by May Bel Le at North Zen Hotel Sep 16, 2016
- Celebrating Davao's King of Fruits - Durian! Sep 11, 2016
- The Blast that Rocked Davao Sep 2, 2016
- Hatha Flow Yoga with Joanna Lizares Co at Holiday Spa and Gym Aug. 31, 2016
- Conducting a Power Yoga Class at Yoga Davao Aug 29, 2016
- Good Eats with Mel Pangan's Davao Food Tour Aug 26, 2016
- Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Aug 25, 2016
- A Gifted Dell Laptop from the Usual Suspect Aug. 24, 2016
- The Duterte Phenomenon Oct 21, 2015
- 20 Days in Davao City July 4- 24, 2014
- Goodbye Davao...Again! Sep 28, 2013
- Wine and Cheese at Malagos Farm House Sep 27, 2013
- Custom-made Peanut Butter at Davao City's Bankerohan Market Sep 27, 2013
- Yoga in Davao Sep 26, 2013
- Celebrating 25 Years of Habitat for Humanity Philippines Sep 18, 2013
- Clobbered in a Vicious Karate Match Sep 17, 2013
- Back Into the Black Sep 1, 2013
- No Reply Aug 30, 2013
- Full Body-Cavity Search without the Latex Aug 25, 2013
- Fun Day with Crocodile Sonny and Sports Unlimited Dynamic Duo, Dyan Castillejo and Marc Nelson Aug 15, 2013
- Fun! Fun! at Maxima AquaFun, Samal Island Aug 11, 2013
- Goodbye Davao Jan 22, 2013
- Davao City's Peace and Order Jan 21, 2013
- Holiday Spa Yoga, Davao City Jan 20, 2013
- Free Yoga at People's Park Jan 12, 2013
- Davao City: Family Ties Dec 15-22, 2012
- Breakup Diaries: Chance Encounter in Davao City Dec 19, 2012
- Davao City June 20-23, 2009
- Davao City March 18-20, 2008
- Mount Apo March 15-18, 2008
Currency Converter
 Rachel 
(Aug 6, 2014) Hi! I enjoyed reading about your recent adventures. Pagka laagan gyud nimo! (have somebody translate that for you)
July 4- 24, 2014
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