Davao, Philippines - March 5, 2008
I like DAVAO. First off, there is a strong level of safety and security I didn't feel in either General Santos and DEFINETELY NOT in Manila. People in DAVAO treat people relatively normal, or at least NOT as ATM machines or possibly targets in that way. We'd see street kids, but they don't harrass you. I was eating in one particular window as I often do, and one kid began to stare at my food, when another quickly told him NOT to do that. It's rude! (My wife overheard that). The kids were working hard at helping random taxi drivers at getting passengers, rather than the Manila kinds who often are told by their parents to harrass foreingers for money. In other words, I immediately seriously liked Davao right away!
They also have the 'Peoples Park' which is very well lit-up at night with strong security. So you can walk around in a very nice public space, filled with family and couples and just normal people (again as opposed to Manila's parks which would usually be filled with some seriously creepy characters all over the place). I also noticed TONS of nursing students all over Davao. As if parents there teach children what to study in school and what is lucrative and good to do, rather than teaching them what not to do (I'll target Manila again, where you'll often see parents dragging around naked children in the streets and once again targeting foreigners and everyone else probably to harrass and follow you around relentlessly). In other words, Davao is NORMAL! It is nice.
In addition to the many college students around, you'll also see many students and familys who feel safe walking around in the evening hours. Even at midnight, I felt very comfortable NOT seeing all kinds of normal people doing normal activities. I quickly felt that Davao was probably my most favorite city in the Philippines, right up there with Cebu anyways. I'd try to explore a few others as well in the near future like Cagayan de Oro and some other islands and see if I could make some comparisons.
I was equally excited to see what Samal Island would be like just next to Davao. Apparently they have beaches, which combined with this nearby city of Davao, might make Davao an even better destination (if the beaches are cool that is!).
In addition, I went to the Filipino Casino in Davao, and they play holdem poker there. Not only do they play it, but they have holdem poker tournaments every evening at six p.m.! I also head they have this in other cities, so while I stopped by and made the inquiry, I wasn't actually able to play. It probably doesn't reflect in my journals, but the last year or so, I've been playing a lot of holdem poker in Seoul, Korea and even on my recent trips to Las Vegas about a year ago.
If anyone wants to stay in Davao, I highy recommend the BAGOBO HOUSE HOTEL on Gov. Duterte Street. It's a brand new hotel at a very good price (around $25/night) and very centrally located. I felt very comfortable and safe and will probably ALWAYS stay at this place whenever I go to this city in the future as well.
I also found the best internet cafe I've ever seen anywhere right across the street at NULL NETXPRESS INTERNET CAFE. It's next to 'Space Burger'. What made it great was that not only was it 24 hours, but each computer was in a self-contained little cubicle so no one would bother you, and they literally had several hundred computers in there! In addition, it was only 13 pesos per hour (or about 30 cents an hour).
Anyways, I had a great impression of Davao, and tomorrow we will go check out Samal Island and see if it enhances my image of Davao or not (possibly a good beach/city combination).
Continued journal entries in the Philippines:
March 6, 2008
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Wintermoon2@yahoo.com