Tag Archives: davao city

2010 is Trip@dora’s birth year

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When 2010 came in, I didn’t expect but I did wish that it would be a travel year. In my 2009 year-ender blog, I wrote, “I wish and hope for more travels this 2010.”

Despite my puzzled life, God still showered me with blessings. Thank you Lord! :) I survived another year! :) Trip@dora explored 15 domestic destinations and 1 international destination.

My 2010 highlights:

Jovial January

The North Philippines Visitors Bureau invited me to join the Lakbay Norte—a tour of the north. For seven days (January 24-31, 2010), I rediscovered eight (8) provinces in the North along with cool bloggers and fellow journalists, who later on became my friends. In one chilling bus, we traveled a total of 1,798 kilometers covering Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Zambales,  and Tarlac.

Here were the highlights of the trip:

Funky February

I was supposed to go to Baguio for the Panagbenga Festival but circumstances didn’t allow me to. Fortunately, I was able to witness for the second time, the Philippine International Hot Air  Balloon Festival! Colorful big balloons filled the blue sky. It was such a wonderful sight. There’s even a beer balloon! lol.

Memorable March

-I was busy with my new work so no travel for me for this month. But then, I still felt privileged and lucky to meet and interview the Filipino boxing legend-turned-congressman, Manny Pacquiao.  I even had my boxing gloves signed.

-It’s also the birth month of Trip@dora. Inspired by my travel blogger friends, I decided to bring Trip@dora to life.  This is my way of helping Philippine tourism by promoting our 7,107 beautiful islands.  As I’ve responded to Melo Villareal’s question, Travel blogging 101: Why do you want to blog:

“Tripadora was born because of hope, belief, and love. Life should be lived to the fullest. I have started writing about my misadventures and adventures with the hope that these would help and encourage travelers to explore the Philippines. Filipinos should not be strangers in their own country or to put it with emphasis, ‘Wag tayong maging dayuhan sa sarili nating bansa. Tourism in the Philippines has great potentials, which should be made known to the world. I believe that our country will progress when the tourism sector is empowered. I love the Philippines and this is my contribution to help the Pearl of the Orient regain its luster.”

Adventurous April

-After waiting for a month, my itchy feet were ready to roam the largest city in the world–Davao City. It was another adventure month as I’ve tried three ziplines! I’d definitely return since I missed Camp Sabros’ zipline in Kapatagan.

-The fun continued in Samal Island! Thank God I have Wish, my Canon D10! Snorkeling was fun with underwater shots :)

I still have a lot of backlogs for this trip but here were the articles that I wrote:

Marvelous May

-This was a busy month for work because of the Philippine elections. Nonetheless, I found time to enjoy summer and joined Mama’s incentive trip in Shangri-La Boracay. Since I booked within the week of travel, the fare was quite expensive. But the joy shared with the family was priceless.


Money is just money. :) Experience lasts a lifetime!

-Off-topic (work-related): I also went to General Santos City during this month for a one-on-one interview with no less than the boxing champ, Manny Pacquiao.

But here’s a travel-related post on General Santos City and South Cotabato:

Jumpy June

We covered the Epic Relay 250-km in Subic. One of the pit stops was the Pawikan Sanctuary in Morong, Bataan. I was saddened when I saw the state of the pawikans in their rehabilitation pond.

But during our visit, the caretaker assured us that they would be in a better place when the ‘Pawikan Center’ is finished.

Jammed July-September

Travel hiatus. I was busy with work covering the UAAP and the NCAA.  But it was fun working especially if you have these kind of people around you. lol :)

Su is a monsterrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

Optimistic October
-At last, it’s flying time again for Trip@dora! I missed covering Philippine Festivals from my previous work. So, when October came, I didn’t let the chance pass to experience the colorful MassKara Festival in Bacolod City.

It was another first time travel. It’s also my first time to travel solo since my supposed companions backed out from the trip. (I’ve yet to blog about this. haha. backlogs :)

Notable November

-November has always been special to me since it’s my birth month. To celebrate another year of life, I treated my parents to paradise: Coron getaway :)

Dazzling December

-My supposed Hong Kong trip last September was postponed to December due to the hostage crisis in August. Though I paid penalty fees for rebooking, I was glad that I did choose December.

It’s winter season in Hong Kong. No, they didn’t have snow but still I was able to wear winter clothes. hahaha. I love the cool weather! Reminiscing childhood memories in Disneyland was fun! I have yet to write my entries for this trip. haha. backlogs again.

But here were the videos that I took:

Traveling is not just a matter of seeing the views and going to places. It’s enriching not only your life but also the lives of the people whom you meet along the way. It’s learning in a vast classroom of life.

Cheers to another year of exploring the unexplored and living life to the fullest! This is Trip@dora bidding 2010 goodbye! 2011, get ready! Backpack and GPS are ready! hahaha.

Shoebox of 2010 Memories

The Japanese Tunnel: Unearthed

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Tunnels always appear to be mysterious with the way they are associated with history. Hence, the Japanese Tunnel made it to my list of places to see in Davao City.

Located at Ma-a Diversion Road, the 250-kilometer long Japanese Tunnel can be a stop-over before going to the famous Philippine Eagle Center in Calinan. That’s what we did.


I was surprised to see a restaurant and a pool beside the tunnel. My previous researches online didn’t mention that the tunnel is now within a resort.

We ate our lunch at the restaurant, which  didn’t offer Japanese food. lol. I was really expecting that they will offer Japanese food since they are promoting the Japanese Tunnel. They serve Filipino cuisine at affordable prices. A group meal of five viands (good for 6 pax) costs us Php 950 or Php 158.50 each. For internet addicts, you will love the resto for their free wifi.

After feeding our appetite, we paid an entrance fee of 50 pesos each (adults). The entrance fee for kids costs Php 20. (Previous researches noted that the fee for the tunnel was Php 10.)

At the entrance, I saw a tarpaulin with a short history of the place. It says that the Japanese Tunnel was excavated by Filipino war prisoners under the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942. The tunnel was a hiding place of the Japanese during World War II.

But it was only in 1960 when the tunnel was discovered. The development of the Ma-a Diversion Road led to its discovery. Ammunitions, bayonets, and paper bills were among those unearthed. The paper bills were displayed at the entrance. Imagine– a five-peso bill during the Japanese period resembled a dollar.

Unlike other tunnels, this one was somehow well-lit. But seeing statues inside the tunnel saddened me. The essence of history was somehow lost by placing replicas. It should have been preserved rather than renovated. For photography purposes, it adds color but it degrades the value of history.

Admittedly, it’s good for photo-ops. But I do hope that the management will improve their services by giving more importance on the place’s history.

Zip lines in Davao City

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Sliding along a zipline never misses my adventure list. Who wouldn’t love the adrenaline rush that a zipline gives?

1. The Xcelerator at Outland Adventure

  • Description: 720-meter long/ 200 feet high
  • Location: Ma-a Diversion Road, Davao City
  • Price: 300 pesos (one-way)400 pesos (two-way, second one is to traverse) 500 pesos (unlimited)

My companions and I opted for the one-way zipline. After paying the fees and signing the waiver, we listened to the staff who held a briefing at a covered area. It’s the PREPARE for Battle Station. It’s where we wore the straps for the harness.

The staff asked us for our preferred position: sit-down (the basic type), superman style or the extreme inverted position. Almost all of the girls except me chose the superwoman style. The guys chose the sit-down. haha. I selected the sit-down too. No, I’m not a first-timer but I preferred the sit-down since it’s more relaxing and I can move freely.

From the harness station, we walked for three to five minutes going to the river raft. Yes, it’s really an adventure because before going to the jump-off point, we crossed the river.

Crossing the river took two to three minutes. From the endpoint, we trekked for 10-15 minutes before reaching the jump-off point. There’s a makeshift stairs that helped us climb. But mind you, you would really sweat a lot. Bring a bottle of water to help you recharge.

The view on top was amazing! Each of us has a designated number that tells us who goes first. Some of the brave guys tried the inverted position. Whew! Wild. The staff told me that their oldest rider was an 80 year-old man while the youngest was a two-year old girl, who was accompanied by the parent. The slide was really fast! It took my breath away for less than 40 seconds.

Watch the video

With a length of 720 meters and suspended 200 ft above the ground, the Xcelerator Zipline used to be the longest zipline in Asia. Now, it only ranks third. According to Outland Adventure’s website, it recorded 10,000 riders in 2009.

The longest zipline in Asia can now be found in Bukidnon, home of the best pineapples in the Philippines. The Dahilayan Adventure Park in Bukidnon offers an 840-meter zipline. The second one is the 820-meter zipline of Camp Sabros in Brgy. Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur.

What we dislike:

We really had fun with the exhilirating ride! Yet, what pissed us was the not-so-good customer service of the photo booth staff. The staff of the photo booth didn’t know the word: COMPROMISE.

He was selling the 4R photo for 100 pesos per print. He told us  we can get the soft copies of all the shots if each will get three photos. That means 300 pesos per person, which is same as the price of the ride. We were 13. It’s expensive for us so we haggled. We told them that each will get one print and get the soft copies.

But he said, we should pay the 1,300 pesos and just get the soft copies. Of course, we didn’t agree. Printing a 4R is cheap. Even the other customers were convincing them to agree with the deal. And yet, our plea fell on deaf ears.

We decided to just go home instead of looking desperate. Anyway, it’s not our loss. It’s theirs. They should have earned 1,300 pesos but they didn’t know how to compromise.

2. The Skyrider at Eden Nature Park

  • Description: 200-meter long, 60 feet Location: Brgy. Eden in Toril, Davao City
  • Price: 150 pesos (two-way)

Izah Morales

The Skyrider Zipline at Eden Nature Park is a friendly zipline especially for beginners. It is a 200-meter zipline that gives you a breathtaking view of greens and blues.

The adventure part is not the slide itself but the way up to the jump-off point. You have to climb a steel staircase to reach the jump-off point. Since the park is situated 2,630 feet above sea level, you would feel the cool breeze touching your face. Your knees might shake if you look down while climbing up. So don’t look down and just look as to where you’re going. When you reach the top, you would feel great.

The two-way zipline allows you to scream at the first zip then relax and wave at the second one. Don’t forget to let your buddy capture the moment at the endpoint of the second zipline. So far, the Skyrider is also the cheapest two-way zipline that I’ve tried.

3. Zip city

  • Description: 320-meter long, 120 feet
  • Location: Hilltop, Barangay Langub, Davao City
  • Price: 300 pesos

I thought I was going to zip for the third time in Davao City but visiting Zip City on a Tuesday, my last day in the city, was a bad idea. I forgot to check the schedule and saw the sign CLOSED. It’s only operational from Wednesday until Sunday.


Nonetheless, I can just imagine how fun it would have been to ride the zipline and see Mt. Apo and the Davao Gulf while flying.

Izah Morales

I would have gone as far as Camp Sabros in Brgy. Kapatagan, Digos City. My blogger friend, Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet, recommended the zipline there. But my relatives advised me not to pursue my adventure because according to them, it’s dangerous to go to Kapatagan at this time (election season).

I guess I have to try next time. I really love Davao City and I would definitely come back. :)

First time in Davao City

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Davao city, the largest city in the world in terms of land area (244,000 hectares), has been known for the smelly yet tasty durian, the Philippine Eagle, and the highest peak in the Philippines, Mt. Apo. I’ve heard a lot of stories about it but seeing it made me realize that there’s more to Davao than the things that made it popular.

It was my first time in this so-called Land of Promise. Exploring it for five days proved that it is indeed a promise land. But those days were not enough to see everything that makes Davao beautiful. I’ll definitely return and conquer the 9,690 ft- high Mt. Apo. Haha. Wishful thinking.

Here’s a summary of Day 1:

April 23

I barely had enough sleep as our flight to Davao City was scheduled at 6:00 am. That means we have to check in at the Centennial Terminal at around 4:00 am. But since my brothers woke up late, we arrived at the airport an hour later than the supposed check-in time.


I told myself I would let my eyes rest during the flight. But the photoholic in me prevailed. I couldn’t resist capturing the different cloud formations. Amazing!

Fortunately, I was awake when the plane was approaching the runway. The breathtaking view of Mt. Apo caught my sight. Of course, I immediately held Rash, my canon 450d, and pressed the shutter. The travel time from Manila to Davao was approximately one hour and 35 minutes.

Isadora Photography

Fast forward. We checked in at Crown Regency located at Cabaguio Avenue in Agdao, Davao City. If you’re traveling in group, it’s best to get the Villa, which costs 3,500 pesos and can accommodate up to six persons. Cost per person is Php 583.33.


The Villa has two bedrooms: One master bedroom and one twin deluxe room connected by the comfort room. Also, it has a kitchen and a living room. If you’re on a tight budget, you can cook your own food at the kitchen.

After putting our things in place, we proceeded to RiverFront along C.P. Garcia Road, where the Crocodile Park is.

We paid an entrance fee of 150 pesos each (Adults). Tickets for children cost Php 75. The tickets gave us access to the crocodile park itself, the Tribu K Mindanawan Cultural Show, and the Butterfly farm. Aside from these three attractions, you can also enjoy rolling inside the Zorb and eating exotic food at Riverwalk Grill. These places are also within the vicinity. (I’ll write the specifics in my next posts.)

If you’re just traveling to Davao City for one day or two days, then going to RiverFront Corporate City is advisable.

Itinerary:

9am-11am Crocodile Park, Tribu Mindanawan Cultural Show, Butterfly Farm. Take photos, interact with the Badjaos

  • Other options: the Zorb, Riverwalk Grill, Zip City
  • Location: Riverfront, Corporate City Diversion Highway, Ma-a, Davao City

11:30am-Walk through the 250-meter long Japanese Tunnel at the Ma-a Diversion Road

  • Entrance fee: Php 50 for adults / Php 20 pesos for kids
  • Location: Diversion Road, Ma-a, Davao City

12:00pm- Lunch at the Japanese Resto beside the tunnel.

  • Location: Diversion Road, Ma-a
  • Food is okay. Affordable, if in group. Group meal costs Php 950 pesos (good for 6 pax).
  • Plus points for the Wifi zone resto.

1:30-3:00-Wandering around Malagos Park and Philippine Eagle Center

  • Location: Calinan
  • From Diversion Road, Ma-a going to Calinan, travel time is about an hour and 30 minutes.

6:30pm-8:00pm- Dinner at Taklobo Restaurant, Jack’s Ridge.

  • Location: Shrine Hills, Matina
  • The restaurant has an overlooking view of the city and Samal Island.

Check out more stories in my next posts.