Sightseeing at Davao City ( Day 2)

contiuation of: Sightseeing at Davao City (Day 1)
 

Second day city tour adventure (Aug. 10, 2013): Have breakfast at Abreeza Mall, roam around at old downtown and food trip at the famous Colassa's Bar-B -Q house.

It's our secod day here in Davao, feels like we're local Davawenyo's. We want to explore more of the Davao downtown. Time constraint is upon us for the next day i will climb the tallest mountain here in the Philippines - Mt. Apo; and Jikny will go to Gen. Santos City that night to visit her relatives. So we have 1 whole day for today to explore Davao City.

First thing in our mind upon wake -up is to have breakfast. My travel buddy Jinky wants to have coffee for breakfast. As myself is not fond of drinking coffee. Where could we find their best coffee here in Davao? Hhmm, i think we will try to look at Abreeza Mall. Going to the mall is only one ride on a jeepney from our dorm ( Camillus Dormitel). 

Abreeza Mall, Davao City 

As we arrive at Abreeza Mall, we inquire on the concierge what coffee shops do they have. Some of the coffee shops are the usual that we can find on the mall but get's our attention is the Durian coffee flavor at Blugre' Coffee. 

Though I am not fond in drinking coffee, i did try a little drink.  Durian coffee taste's good and having nice smell of Durian. So, Jinky has satify herself for having Durian coffee with our breakfast.

Durian coffee flavor at Blugre' Coffee at Ground flr., Abreeza Mall, Davao City. 

Breakfast done with satisfaction,we stroll little around the mall. Somehow i was impress on the design of the mall with class and elegant. It show's that Davao has a taste and indeed some rich family are living here.

After strolling around th mall we decided to go on their old downtown. We like to visit the San Pedro Cathedral at old downtown.

San Pedro Cathedral is the oldest church in Davao City. It was named after Saint Peter, the patron saint of Davao. The original structure was built in 1847. This was built in 1847 by Don Jose Uyanguren during the Spanish colonization. It is actually one of the most spectacular – if not the best – church that was built during the Spanish colonization. (San Pedro Cathedral Reference).

It lies at the heart of the City, right infront of the Davao City Hall and bordered by San Pedro St. , Bolton St. and C.M. Recto Ave.

San Pedro Cathedral, Old Downtown, Davao City 
 

Sightseeing in Davao City (Day 1)

First day city tour adventure (Aug 9, 2013) : Lunch at local Italian restaurant, visit Philippine Eagle Center, visit People's Park with Pre -Celebration of the Kadayawan Feastival and "SUTUKIL" food trip.

It's my first time to set foot on the land of Mindanao- Davao City, the land of Durian, the biggest city in the Philippines, the cleanest and the most discipline city. Together with my dear friend and travel buddy Jinky, we arrive 3 days before for my scheduled climb in Mt. Apo.

Our flight from Manila - Davao( via Airasia airline) is delayed for 1 hour , we arrive at Davao City around 11:00 pm it's already late night. We immediately get to sleep after we arrive at Camillus Dormitel, where i booked our accommodation. I feel so sleepy waiting for the delayed flight and plus the previous succeeding nights I have always slept late just to cope up some work loads before this long vacation.

We sleep and rest well, it's a new day at Davao City. We're excited where and what interesting place to go but before all this I am also excited to taste the food in Davao. We find a canteen on the ground floor of the Dormitory to eat our breakfast. Yes, it is indeed the foods are delicious and so affordable. As the dormitory where we staying is part of Davao Medical Center the canteen serves some healthy and home cooked foods.

After breakfast where to go from here? As me and Jinky are full stranger on this biggest city. We roam around first on the part of the city and i am excited to ride on the jeepneys where i can feel that i am Davaoweno. We just ask the receptionist on our dorm what jeepney signboard to ride in roaming around the city.

At noontime, we decided to go to the Philippine Eagle Center. The dormitory where we staying is a the compound of Davao Medical Center, good thing this just near at the city proper and so accessible on the jeepney ride when you want to roam around the city.

We ride a jeepney from our dorm going to Bangkerohan Market, where the van terminal going to Calinan is located. As we are walking and finding the terminal going to Philippine Eagle Center we pass by a unique Italian restaurant, just in time it is almost lunch time and we decide to eat here. This is one part i like when travelling to have food trip and  to eat on some local restaurant.

La Toscan Italian Restaurant this is located at Quirino Ave., Davao City (Beside Banco de Oro). It must be one of the coziest restaurant in the City of Davao, Philippines. Its intricate iron and wood furniture lends a decidedly European ambiance. Wines are arranged neatly in a wine racks interspersed with photos of famous diners.(http://latoscanacuisine.com/)

Italian Restaurant at Davao City.

So cozy dinning with Italian motif.

Summitting Mt. Apo - Tips, Itinerary and Budget

The climb was initiated by Migo Loyd, I was browsing on the Cebu Pacific  Peso fare promo last Oct. 2012 and Loyd informed that they will climb Mt. Apo by Aug 2013. So I eagerly booked on a Cebu Pacific Peso fare that night. Luckily i got only a one -way ticket Davao -Manila, so it saves a lot on my airfare. The other way i booked it on Airasia airline which is also a promo fare.

I was thinking this is it, a dream come true by next year. We will climb Mt. Apo the Highest mountain in the Philippines. I made some research and reading on different travel blogs about Mt. Apo. With an altitude of 2,954 metres (9,692 ft), Mt. Apo is the highest mountain in the country and is located between Davao City, Davao del Sur province and Cotabato province. The peak overlooks Davao City 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the northeast, Digos City 25 kilometres (16 mi) to the southeast, and Kidapawan City 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the west. (http://wikitravel.org/en/Mount_Apo)

Climbing Mt. Apo has different jump-off point and exit point. For more information you can check this website: www.pinoymountaineer.com. It depends on the numbers of days, and the usual days is 3days/2nights.

We jump -off at Sitio Mainit ( Paradise- Upper Sabwag camp- Boulders- Summit- Lake Venado - Old Century Almaciga tree - Sitio Garok-Sitio Colon - Sitio Baruring). Mt. Apo map trail from http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/