East Side: Davao Oriental in 3 Days (Part 2)

Ridge to Reef Spree

Travel Quick Tips

1. Know your usual kind of adventure. And do the opposite.

2. Re-discover local places. If you think you know a place well, think twice. You may be missing out a local adventure, a legend, a story that a place can offer you. The DOT slogan "Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan," pretty sums up what I mean.

3. Do not overspend. You know how it is to be a working class. So, use your social capital and charm. Ask for discount and freebies. Haggle prices for amenity rentals, pasalubong and even food you buy at the local marketplace.

Travel and Fun things to do

For a day's travel, I suggest quick trips to nature sites in the Municipalities of Governor Generoso and San Isidro that will surely make your day.

1. Century Tree. I know, we're primates. But you got to pay your respects to this old Dao tree in Governor Generoso. From the Parola, you can't go back to the center without humbling yourself before this tall dipterocarp. The tree stood out as a reminder of the forested past a hundred years ago.

2. Sigaboy Island is a ten-minute boat ride from Tibanban. Boat rent is around Php 750.00 to and from the island and can take up to 7 persons per trip. Best to come during summer, towards the afternoon for a short hike to the island's peak while the pretty sun takes a dip in the horizon. At night, you can float on your back when the water is warm, listen to the worries of pebbles being pushed to the shore and dragged back to the water, and star gaze to your hearts content.

3. Borias and Tinaytay Reefs are best spots to introduce first timers to snorkeling and diving. Since there are no diving shops in San Isidro, guests are expected to bring their own gear. Or if you can plan the visit way ahead of time, send a request to the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and who knows, they might lend you their gears. Remember to coordinate with the local Bantay-Dagat. And check the tides for a maximum experience.

For those who are not wave savvy, watching seabirds can pacify your nature thirst. You can also do landscape photography of Mt. Hamiguitan as seen from the shallows of the vanishing island.

You can rent a boat for the day at Php 1500.00. One boat can take up to 14 persons.

4. Kawa-Kawa is thus named because this cascading waterbody formed little pools of water all shaped like a 15-ft cauldron. It's a 30-min ride off the highway. The Barangay road is pretty decent and the easiest way is to travel through the "habal-habal" or the motorcycle. Best to come early in the afternoon for a cool down after the sea faring to wash off the salt from your hair. Picnics, trekking and watching birds return from their day in the fields are easy-to-do here.

Currently, the LGU is not imposing entrance fees. So be nice and respect the place. Keep your trash and be sure not to collect wildlife from the area.

Difficulty level: 4/10.

East Side: Davao Oriental in 3 Days (Part 1)

The trip to Davao Oriental, Mindanao took a month-long of wishing and a day's worth of planning. So when it was finally happening, the excitement felt like the universe had just begun. Anyway, here's  a working class guide to a fun and thrift summer in Davao Oriental.

Travel Quick Tips

1. Travel with Friends. Memories and bills are shared if you travel with buddies. Haha.

2. Plan what you will wear and travel light. In this age of selfies and self-advertisement, some people fuss over getting the perfect summer look. But as long as you wear what's proper, relax and enjoy the sun!

3. Don't stress over travel details. While it's important to set an itinerary,  especially if you have limited time, you can't discount the thrill of discovering a new destination. Leave room for surprises!

Edgy Exile: Parola, Lavigan, Governor Generoso

Travel

The Parola is approximately a five-hour drive from Davao City with maybe at least four ten-minute comfort stops. So it's better to start early. Get things packed the night before and drive to sunrise. If you are driving here for the first time, check Google maps for the highway routes. But since you are literally going to the southmost point of the Province of Davao Oriental, you have to take roads beyond highway boundaries. Images of these routes are kinda difficult to access using the free version of GoogleEarth. 

I don't think you will need a tour guide to get here. Just travel to Tibanban, Governor Generoso and ask for directions. The Parola is easy to find.

Minimum Gear/ Requirement

1. Reliable rubber sandals, slippers or shoes.

2. Shades and cap plus sunscreen.

It will be a plus if you have binoculars, snorkeling gear, and point-and-shoot cameras. Camping is also allowed. But i don't think it would be much of a unique experience.

Fun things to do

For a minimum stay of 2 hours, here are things (other than swimming) you can do at the Parola area:

1. Picnic. There were few tables set for guests but lunch/food can be served under the shades of trees. The salty breeze is an appetite booster. So forget the diet part, and store energy for other activities.

2. Intertide Inspection. If you are someone who never outgrew your naturalist tendencies, then exploring the pretty intertidal zone is a must. Just a quick walk a few meters off the shore can give you a sample of ocean life: live corals, sea weeds, mollusks, reef fishes, sea snakes and more! No snorkeling gear and swimming skills required. Just be sure you visit when the tide is low. Tasting the edible seaweed "lato" fresh from its rocky substrate is also a must try.

3. Heights Challenge. There were three lighthouses (Parola) to challenge (100m, 70m and ~50m). You need strong will and even stronger knees to conquer the three. The 100m and 70m may be tall but they are the easiest climb. The shortest one is the most challenging because its walls were already weathered which exposed the staircase. At the top, you can see the rocky substrate on which the lighthouse stood, feel the wind blowing and your sweat dripping cold.

4. Islet Climb. If you have the limb for a quick climb, exploring the islet is recommended. It's not strictly speaking an islet, but it's more of like a remnant of a rocky substrate that once was the shore. Anyway, you can be on top of that formation even without rock climbing gears.

Difficulty level: 4/10