"Island to Highland" Davao - Samal Itinerary

One Day Adventure

Itinerary 1

6:00 am - Catch the barge for vehicles at Sasa going to Penaplata
6:15 am - catch a motorcycle to Aquafun Maxima
6:30 am - lots of fun activities to do at the resort (Maxima Beach Resort at Samal Island; Aquafun at Maxima)
2:00 pm - leave Aquafun Maxima at 2pm by motorcycle then catch the bus at Penaplata to Davao at about 1 hour and 30 minutes travel
3:30 pm - Catch a taxi to Crocodile park and watch the animal show at 4:30 pm for Fri, Sat and Sun; 4:15 pm Mon and Wed) 1 hour show only
5:30 pm - catch a taxi to Hill Top at Zip City to try the zip line at night (Zip Line at Zip City)

Itinerary 2

6:00 am - Catch the barge for vehicles at Sasa going to Penaplata
6:15 am - catch a motorcycle to Aquafun Maxima
6:30 am - lots of fun activities to do at the resort (Maxima Beach Resort at Samal Island; Aquafun at Maxima)
2:00 pm - leave Aquafun Maxima at 2pm by motorcycle to Hagimit Falls just a few meters away from Maxima
4:00 pm - go back to Penaplata and catch the bus going back to Davao for about 1 hour and 30 minutes
5:30 pm - catch a taxi to Hill Top at Zip City to try the zip line at night (Zip Line at Zip City)

These will surely make your day!

Hitting Off The Gym Again

I went back to gym again after a year. Never realized it's that long after I decided to try the Marco Polo Fitness Center. I got gym passes from the package of joining the Marco Polo privilege club. Went there last weekend and we had a nice time. We'll go swimming on Thursday, it's also at the Fitness Center. Love it there! :)



Welcome!

Sauna... my favorite! :)

Mirror mirror on the wall... :)

As if! :)

Samal Blue Jaz Resort

We went to Samal Blue Jaz Resort last weekend and I didn't like my experience. Sure it has the longest slide in the Philippines but the service was poor. We never brought food with us thinking we could just order at their restaurant. Never thought they will starve us. It took us about 45 minutes before they took our order. For several times we called the staff on the counter but they kept on ignoring us. I didn't know what's wrong with them why are they ignoring people on the counter who tries to order. They just look at us and do their stuff as if they never heard or saw us. That was really annoying. Until I picked up the menu stand and bang it a bit on the counter so I would get their attention. I don't mind if I get it damaged. That was when they get our order. I dunno what's with them they're doing business but they don't want to earn income huh? They were really annoying. We were really hungry at that time. They could have made it up if their food is exceptional but it wasn't. The food was not good and they're charging as if it's a real restaurant. It wasn't worth our money.

Another thing is that, they have a very small swimming place. And not enough comfort rooms and bath rooms! What a resort! That time, too many people came to the resort to have fun but there's not much of a place to swim. Like me, they were also deceived of the good advertisement they get from Sports Unlimited which featured the big slide of which I could say, is the only thing you would want to see in there. The swimming area at the beach is small, the swimming pool is small too. The pool surrounding the slides is very small its just enough for you to make a splash when you reach the bottom of the slides. No enough swimming area for everybody and they still keep on admitting visitors. The place looked like a crowded park. Their surroundings looked like a backyard to me and it's dirty. It didn't looked nice on pictures. I think it's over publicized. It's really deceiving. I don't trust their zip line too. If you see it, you'll be afraid for your life. The rope is very thin, it looks like a laundry line where you hang your clothes. And the rolling blades looked unsafe they just hang it on the cable and when it deviates, you know what will happen to you.

This is an honest review in the eyes of a customer. If someone from Blue Jaz will be able to read this, it's your chance to improve your place. I will never go back to that place except for the slide.

Boat ride to Blue Jaz Resort

This is the only nice view in there. The entrance haha


After we have our lunch. We're able to smile now hehe
This one is nice though.

Blue Jaz Resort Entrance

Got Only 24 Hours In Davao City?

Got only 24 hours for a side trip in Davao City? You can make use of that whole day for experiencing the city. You can start your day by a stroll or a jog at People's Park early in the morning. It's a Davao themed park showcasing the indigenous Davao. After the walk, you can go straight to Swiss Deli for a breakfast in Lanang. From there, you can visit Davao Museum at Insular Village, Lanang, Davao City. A place for you to have a glimpse and to have better understanding of the soul of Davao.

Culturally aside, try exploring nature at Davao's Crocodile Farm featuring different kinds of animals and butterfly sanctuary. From there, you can go straight to Japanese Tunnel for a tour at the old tunnel used by the Japanese during World War II. You can stop longer for a lunch or go straight to Marco Polo hotel for a buffet at Cafe Marco or the Lotus Court. After lunch, walk across the street and you will find the Aldevinco Shopping Center for your souvenirs.

After the souvenir shopping, it's time for you to try the king of Philippine fruits durian. Hail a cab to bring you to Magsaysay fruits stands while passing thru Davao's so called China Town along Magsaysay Avenue. At the end of the street, you will find displays of different kinds of durian. You can try other kinds of fruits too like pomelo, marang and mangosteen. Hmmm... yummy! :)

After the fruit trip, hail a cab to bring you to Matina Aplaya to meet your once so controversial (Davao news) friend David at the Sea Wall. It's the bay walk version of Davao with the added attraction of the replica of the Statue of David in Florence, Italy. Enjoy the fresh air and the majestic sight of the highest peak of the Philippines - Mt. Apo.

After the refreshing walk at the Sea Wall, go further in Matina by going to the Shrine of Jesus of Prague and pay homage (if you're Catholic). After the visit, go to the nearby Davao spot Jack's Ridge to have a view of the city of Davao and enjoy dinner at Taklobo. Pick a spot where you can enjoy the scenery ;)

After the dinner at Jack' ridge, go down to Matina Town Square and enjoy the rest of the night or go coffee drinking at Davao's first specialty coffee The Blugre Coffee and try the durian coffee.

With that, you can experience Davao in as little and as tight as 24 hours. Enjoy! :)