Oct 2008

After stopping for a few hours of beer in Davao City and at around 2am, I was finally ready for a long bus ride to Malabalay City, Bukidnon. From Damosa, I rode a cab to Ecoland Terminal (which cost around Php30+ with a non-aircon taxi) and was greeted by a soldier guy (hehe) who checked my lil travel bag.

After that, I was ushered by friendly vendors who asked me where I was headed. I told them that I was hoping to catch a bus to Malaybalay, and they lead me to a non-air conditioned Rural Transit bus that was take off at 2:30AM. I was hesitant at first since I really wanted to take an air conditioned bus but the next trip is still at 4AM, and I can't possibly wait that long. So I settled on the bus and waved goodbye to my good friend Glebo who was kind enough to take me to the terminal.

the terminal from where I was seated on the bus

A friendly old man who was selling delicacies started asking me about my trip, and was kind enough to answer my tourist-y questions. How long is the trip? How much will this cost me? Blah blah.. I was starting to be comfortable when he suddenly offered me the delicacies he was selling. Urgh. So that was why you were so friendly neh? I obliged anyway and bought three boxes of durian candies.

Ecoland terminal felt safe and traveler-friendly to me. Travelers who are waiting for buses can even rent folding beds where they can sleep on and if that ain't friendly to you, then I don't know what is.

the terminal with travelers sleeping in 'rentable' folding beds

The bus took off for Cagayan (with Malaybalay for a stop-over) at exactly 2:30AM. Promptness is not something Filipinos are known for, so I was pretty amused with this. I was giddy with excitement at the mere thought of riding the bus for four hours across Mindanao but I was dismayed realizing that the trip is gonna be one cold hell, with annoying co-passengers trying to strike up a conversation with you all throughout the trip.

Stop-over and an early morning view

The ride took approximately 4.5 hours and cost me 500 bucks instead of around. I got swindled by the conductor. It's a long story, really, and it could've been avoided if only I wasn't just a wuss.

The whole trip was rather chilly in general and very uncomfortable. By the time I was in Malaybalay, I have caught a nasty case of colds and mild fever. But I was too excited to mind.

Malaybalay City in Bukidnon is very simple and feels like a little town between mountains (which it might just be). I loved the lifestyle and how everyone seemed so friendly and accommodating. Suffice to say, my two days and one night in Malaybalay was a blast.

The Monastery
The Monastery (I'm not so sure what it's called) is a .... monastery. hahaha. The place is so serene and quiet and I love it!

Two trees
Two Trees is a hill in Malaybalay City whose peak overlooks Malaybalay City on one side and an awesome landscape on the other.

My first trip to Mindanao started in Davao City, which is my pit stop before visiting my friend in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Davao City, in general, is quiet, organized and its airport is way, way prettier than Cebu's. It looks like a younger Cebu in terms of development and my, was it HUGE! The city still covered even the outskirts (note: lots of trees) which can reach more than 17km from the main area.

Airfare:
Php0 (ceb-dvo) - availed of a zero promo fare from Cebu Pacific

Cebu International Airport Old and Fug Waiting Lounge


Php1,500 (dvo-ceb) - booked six days prior to the flight back

Davao International Airport Waiting Lounge

Accommodation:
Php400 - Larous Inn in Ilustre St. near JS Mall

• non-aircon room with a really dirty lavatory. blech.

• I chose not to take a bath the next day. I felt like my body will be far cleaner unbathed than if I actually take a bath in their pathetic bathrooms.

• a bed too wide for a single person.

• made me feel really uncomfortable. blech.

• i saw a cockroach, and that can't be cool

• I needed to buy a small bottle of alcohol.

• verdict: BOOHOOO dude.

• pro: No Check-out time! heh. whatevs. i still saw a cockroach and I'm so not taking the BOOHOO back.

Places visited:

Damosa IT Park
The place is fairly small for an IT park and looks new and empty which is quite understandable considering the place is not even a year old. There are a few bars across the place where people can hang out and have some drunken (or not) fun on party nights. In the IT park itself, there's a 24-hour McDonalds (which is always cool in my book, being the McDo whore that i am) and behind that there's a huge space (parking lot?) where people partied over loud music, live bands, beerrrr and whatnots the night I dropped by.

I'm not really quite sure what the place offers on normal days, but it looked kind of quiet the time I was there and that was an Octoberfest weekend, so I think it would be safe to say that the place isn't really the Davao party central or something. But I'm in no authority here, having visited Davao for less than 24 hrs, it would do you good NOT to believe me.

Matina Town Square
Considered to be a good place to hang out on party nights, MTS looks like a little outdoor mall with bars and restos and young people hunting (haha. kidding). It is located in Brgy. Matina and is just across the Ateneo de Davao gradeschool/high school. You'd recognize it from afar through the humongous McDonalds sign - which was how I accidentally came across it.

My friend Karl, who hails from Davao, plotted my pseudo-itinerary and included this place in the list. Apparently, this is supposed to be A- or B+ chill-out area and I should check it out. Arriving on Friday night in Davao (from bukidnon) at already 10pm, I was thinking that my chances of getting to the place were grim. I am hungry and I have yet to find a place to stay.

From the terminal, I was walking along the streets of Sandawa (which is a weird name for a street) and was frantically searching for anything that has a decent lavatory I can pee on. heh. Like a pilgrim, I saw the divine McDonalds sign (cue song - *hallelujah*) and rushed to its direction only to discover that I was now stepping on MTS grounds. cool neh?

I was destined to be there - fated to eat at Taps and try the Durian Gatpuchino in Blugre Cafe.

I know, I suck at this whole traveler writing thing. ugh.

People's Park

People's Park in Davao was thought of by my friend (who's from Davao) to be rather jologs and stuff. But wth, I no longer have enough time to climb Mt. Apo and be cool so I just settled for the park and basked on divine jologsness.

The park is worth Php72 million and houses the art of ... someone. I forgot his name, sorry. Anyway, I found the various sculptures and installation art pieces in the park interesting. They looked so different to me (or maybe I am just artistically moronic). I guess I am just used to seeing European art that I found the sculptures depicting native Filipinos doing ancient stuff to be rather odd. I'm not saying they're the ugly odd though - they are of the pretty odd kind.

Oh well, anyway.. it was a good stroll - the weather was overcast and the place wasn't so crowded. I hope to visit the park again at night. I heard the place is so much more beautiful with all the lights and stuff.

There's this funny quote I saw over the internet regarding People's Park.

"I'm asking you to use the park properly. Do not make it into a motel," Duterte appealed.

with Duterte being the strict (and known for it) Davao City mayor.

heh. No hot sex allowed in PP y'all!

Places that I have decided to go full broke conquistadores mode for.

Davao City
- partly achieved. went to people's park ONLY which is a shame.

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
- achieved. toured everything there is and had a great time.

Bohol
- achieved. toured the whole place and visited all major tourist spots and even trivial churches. argh. i dont think i wanna go back to the place anytime soon.

Moalboal, Cebu
-achieved. summer of 08. the place is awesome.

Intramuros, Manila
- achieved. zzz. boring.

Manila (in general)
- not for vacations. but, duh..