Eden Nature Park - The Guided Tour

After we settled our things in the room, we immediately availed of the guided tour at around 10:45 AM. A service shuttle fetched us from our rooms.  This shuttle ride is the first of the series of shuttle rides we will be taking during the duration of our stay! The guided cost around 120 Php/person for day tourists. But we paid only 85 Php per person because we were guests of the resort.

First Stop - The Flower Gardens and The Ampitheather

The gardens may not be as spectacular or grand as that of Singapore or the great gardens of Europe, but flowers no matter how simple will always bring joy to the beholders with its motley of colors. And our verdict - enjoyable!

Eden Nature Park

Day 1!

Our Accommodation...

I chose Travelers Lodge because the description said - with own toilet and bath, unlike the less expensive rooms which share a communal bathroom. The room I chose looked really beautiful in the pictures.  But when we arrived, I had  my doubts because the lodge or the room looked old.

In terms of size it was big and spacious.  But the beddings were old also and looked like they have seen better times...

The bathroom is also quite big, the toilet is separated from the shower. Actually it was quite nice.  

It has hot and cold shower.  In fairness the bathroom and the toilet is quite clean.

It even has its own garden inside, and it would have been beautiful if it was well taken cared of...   Molds from the rains are on the wall and not cleaned. 

The porch was not very welcoming to my eyes. Look at the molds on the wall. But if you are the type who likes this rustic kind of look, you will be happy here...

These are the grounds around our lodge.

Thick foliage in front of our door...

Davao Travelogue - Day 1 (Eden Nature Park)

August 09 2014

Our first stop was Eden Nature Park.  I have made numerous researches in the internet to find popular destinations in Davao, and always Eden ranks in the top destinations.  So I checked it out.  It was a lucky find because they were offering some kind of promo which slashed rooms rates to 70% off. I though it was too good to be true... so what could be the catch? Hmmm...

Anyway my curiosity was really piqued and I made a booking there for a night. We asked Jun the manager of Eden if he could arrange a transpo for us going to Eden, but he warned us that it would be a bit pricey because the place is far from the city proper. And so it was. Taxi fare is 1000 pesos!  But I took it anyway because convenience is far more important for me especially that this is my first visit and I have no intention of lugging my suitcase around the city in search of a cheap ride.

The road trip to Eden...

Because of the Welcome sign, we knew we were not alone.  There were also quite a number of visitors checking in...

The trees which greeted us were majestic.  The air was cool and everything is green.

My sister posed in front of a giant Durian and Orchid...

She looked goofy here...

 And so we checked our reservations at the Front Desk.

That is how it looks in full...

Davao Travelogue - Day 1

Davao Travelogue - Part I (August 9 2014)

All trips must start somewhere. And mine started when my Boss Ben, broached the idea of meeting him in Davao.  He is actually US based but he will be conducting some training here in the Philippines.  And I thought why not? I have never been to Davao.  And if I won't come and see him, I will never have the excuse of going there. And I have been wishing of having a chance to visit Davao one day. And my wish is coming true...

So there I was, my bag was packed and all set to go...

I brought my sister with me because she has never set foot in Davao too. And it is a good chance for her to visit it together with me.

Surprisingly there were a lot of travelers that Saturday morning and there was a queue.

We took a Cebu Pacific flight to Davao because of the promo fare. Cheaper compared to PAL.

My sister sans make-up... but beaming with excitement!

Mactan International airport was its usual sparkling and immaculate self.

Inside the plane and all set to go...

On flight and waiting for the touchdown...

Finally we arrived! Francisco Bangoy International Airport...

We boarded a neon orange colored taxi.  We find it cute because in Cebu all taxis are white except the airport taxis which are yellow cabs.

What We're Gonna Be Seeing In The Coming Days...

For some time I have been mulling about this blog. Because I was unsure what to write, it was left unattended for sometime. Then lately I have been toying with the idea of putting here all my journeys and travels outside of Cebu.  Must Be That Girl will be all about Cebu.  But this will be my travel diary and all other things...

Resurrection (After a Long Hiatus)

Something about New Year's Eve that makes me go mushy, even sad.  And it makes me want to write. When I was much much younger I always looked forward to the incoming year with excitement - always anticipating something wonderful will happen to my life.

But now that I am older I looked instead backward to the year that passed. Is it because there is no more anticipation of new things to happen? 

For posterity, I took pictures of the flowers that populated my garden this year. I realized I couldn't take very good care of them anymore.  I am dependent on hired kids to weed and water the plants for me. 

Nanay dreamed of Rosal blooms in her garden.  I bought her 2 seedlings when she got sick hoping she will be able to smell the flowers when we sit on the porch.  But my seedlings bloomed late, only after she passed away.

I have always loved these violets since the  first time I saw them in my Auntie's garden when I was a teenager.  

They could be indoor plants too. And they are hardworking, they bloom regularly.

Ahhh... Lemon Grass!  I usually asked the kids to cut their tips, because for me they looked beautiful that way, not messy. I used them for Tinuwa, to stuff whole chicken for lechon manok, sometimes even as tea.  I have Pandan and Oregano too, but was not able to take  pictures of them because they grow unruly.  The Pandan is great for Buko-Pandan Salad, a family favorite.  And the oregano always send out a minty smell when you water them.

Actually these are ripe seeds from our Palm Tree.  They are bullies in our garden because they edge out the plants that sprout beside them.  Their seedlings grow in places where they fall, very prolific.

My sister and I are planning to put cobble stones in our garden instead of plants for lesser maintenance.  When that happens I will be missing my plants.

Angels in Our House...

We used to collect, my mother and I, angel figurines some years back. My mother believes in them, while my reason during that time was basically more because I find them very cute.

Are angels for real? I believe so…

There are so many things in this life that defy logical explanation. It is difficult to state categorically about beliefs in intangible matter. But now that I am older and have experienced a lot of pain and a host of other unexpected things that life is known to offer, am finding it easier to believe in extraordinary things.

I call this one, the Kissing Angels. Sweet aren't they?

These are my Pensive Angels...

And this - my Angel with the itchy nose... 

And this is - my Sleeping Angel...