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H I G H L A N D S T O L O W L A N D S
seas around it (the Davao Gulf and the
Pacific Ocean) are home to gentle sea
cows or
dugongs.
When friends come to visit, I make it
my duty to herald Davao as the foodie
paradise that it is. Lunch at Marina
Tuna, which serves the freshest local
seafood, shows my guests the many
ways to enjoy Davao’s famous tuna. A
trip to the fruit row at Magsaysay Park
to buy pomelos, mangosteen, and the
divisive durian (you either love it or hate
it) reveals why Davao is often called the
“
fruit basket of the Philippines”. A visit
to Malagos Farmhouse to sample their
wide selection of artisan cheeses, which
have impressed a cult following of chefs,
Clockwise from
top: The Blue
Room; fine seafood
at Bellito’s; Cellar
de Oboza; the Apo
View Hotel
always turns out to be the highlight of
the city tour.
The unique topography also makes
it a playground for nature-lovers, sun-
worshippers and thrill-seekers. You’re
never too far from the beach — after
a 15-minute channel crossing aboard
the ferry, you can get sand between
your toes in Samal Island’s beaches.
Like many locals, I need a regular dose
of sea and sand. The quick fix? Rent
an outrigger boat from Explore Davao
(
tel: +63 917 764 0623)
for a day and
discover the hidden treasures of Samal
in maximum comfort — complete
with bean bags on the sundeck, an
iPod dock and drinks of choice in the
cooler. The boat is docked at the Pearl
Farm Marina in Lanang, and if you
have the whole afternoon, Samal’s
Talicud is worth exploring. Otherwise,
if you’re pressed for time, head over
to Vanishing Island, a sandbar in the
middle of the gulf that disappears as
the sun goes down and the tide rises.
Sometimes, when the city gets too
hot for comfort, a 45-minute drive
to Eden Nature Park (
Mt Talomo,
Toril; tel: +63 82 299 1020;
edennaturepark.com.ph)
is in order.
At 3,000ft above sea level, Eden
ON MODEL
BLUE-GREEN SILK 3/4 DRESS FROM ESPRIT; BRACELET FROM
SEVENTEEN; SHOES, MODEL’S OWN; NECKLACE, TIFFANY’S, STYLIST’S OWN
