Another beautiful place in Mindanao that John and I visited was the Island of Camiguin in 2008. It's been years since then but the memories are still very fresh in my mind. The place for me, is mystical. There's an air of calmness about the island that any tourist, looking for a nature trip, would enjoy.
True, the place is packed with travellers specially on holy week, but it didn't feel "tourist-y". It felt like time stood still when we were there. I wrote about it a month or so ago here:
In 2009, we had another road trip. But this time, we went the other way around.
We left Davao around 5 in the morning. By sunrise, we were already in Tagum. We thought we'd leave early because we didn't know exactly where we were going or where we will stay, for that matter. :) We just wanted to drive and see the country side. Since it's holy week season, we thought we'd spend a quiet time somewhere else.
We decided to head towards Butuan. The highway was quiet, for a change. We were the only travellers on the road. So John just drove leisurely up the snake like road in Mawab. I like that area because it's overlooking Agusan River. Well, I've always thought of going to Agusan Marsh but I'm scared to ride in their little boat. I don't know how to swim! Plus of course, we have to remember Lolong, the giant croc the locals caught. hehe.. (Seriously though, if there's a group who would like to go there, please let me come along. :)
One of the best views I like is the river in Prosperidad. The water is so calm and still. With the huge trees in the river bank, it just looks picture perfect to me. I asked John to park beside the road so I can take photos of it.
It's just too bad that I lost all the pictures I took on that trip. But I'm glad that I submitted some at imagesphilippines.com . So I'm able to recover 2 of my photos.
Thank you imagesPhilippines for keeping my photo. I love this river in Prosperidad, Agusan.
Around 2 in the afternoon, John and I arrived in Butuan. We searched for hotels and decided to stay at Almont Inland Hotel. What I like about it is their room. It's huge! And the price of Php2,400.00 per night comes with a free breakfast. Everytime we travel, John packs his own coffee. But he never used the one we brought on that trip because the coffee at Almont was really good.
Hotel Photos: (I took these photos last year when we had a stop over from our Philippine Road Trip).
The next day, we headed towards Cagayan De Oro City. We had to stop in Gingoog City to buy softdrinks and other things. I'm glad we did because I found their park interesting. :) Again, I took this photo from the ones I submitted at imagesPhilippines.
Giant fruits at the park of Gingoog City, Philippines. :)
And then, we reached Duka Bay. I read about it online, specially their glass bottom boat.
Duka Bay Resort is in Medina, Misamis Oriental. The owners have protected the corals. So colorful tropical fishes abound in the area. Don't worry if you do not know how to swim like me. :) Because you can see those with their glass bottom boat. Cool right?
The place was packed with people. Not just Filipinos but foreigners alike.
The villas look dated but the view , the beach and the corals more than compensated for it. For more details about the resort, please check this link - http://www.dukabay.com/about.html
I hope someday that I will be able to go back there. I know better this time, save everything in 2 hard drives. So that when one crashes, the other one is still intact. It's ok though, even if I lost the photos, no one can take the memories embedded in my heart and mind.
Misamis Oriental is just an hour or so away from Cagayan. But since, we had nothing else to do there, John and I stopped at Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon the next day.
Del Monte Pineapple Plantation is there. We read online that the cows they grow are being fed with pineapples. So we couldn't help but wonder how it would taste.
So off we went to the clubhouse. Their restaurant serves a lot of food but their specialty is the steak. The verdict? It's one of best steaks I've ever tasted.
You know, since it was holy week, I thought that it would be quiet. I was wrong! The place was full of golfers. And the restaurant was busy serving lunch. In fact I saw several Davaoeno's there too. :)
I guess, everybody wanted to forget about work huh?!
That was where I first rode a horse. I was scared of course! But the guide patiently led me until I felt comfortable with it. I thought that this is how Mikee Cojuangco probably feels when she's riding in a horse. I don't know... But it felt so wonderful riding one , enjoying at the same time the view of the valleys and the fresh air.
Did I tell you that I love pine trees? Del Monte clubhouse is surrounded by it. The place is so beautiful I have no words for it. I am just glad that John and I were given the chance to experience it.
We headed towards Davao late in the afternoon. By the time we reached Buda, it was already dark. But it didn't stop me from buying vegetables. Lots of them. Can't help it! They're so cheap. :) So I bought sayote, eggplant, squash, string beans, potatoes , cauliflower, etc for the family and our staff. Do you know that cucumber is like P2 each only in Buda?
This is the reason why I write. It makes me remember the fond memories I had. And in the process, it makes me feel better. And relaxed.
Again, let me tell the whole world. Give Mindanao a chance. Who knows, you just might like it and stay... :)
Lea C. Walker
leawalker.blogspot.com
www.davaoproperties.com
One of the best views I like is the river in Prosperidad. The water is so calm and still. With the huge trees in the river bank, it just looks picture perfect to me. I asked John to park beside the road so I can take photos of it.
It's just too bad that I lost all the pictures I took on that trip. But I'm glad that I submitted some at imagesphilippines.com . So I'm able to recover 2 of my photos.
Around 2 in the afternoon, John and I arrived in Butuan. We searched for hotels and decided to stay at Almont Inland Hotel. What I like about it is their room. It's huge! And the price of Php2,400.00 per night comes with a free breakfast. Everytime we travel, John packs his own coffee. But he never used the one we brought on that trip because the coffee at Almont was really good.
Hotel Photos: (I took these photos last year when we had a stop over from our Philippine Road Trip).
The next day, we headed towards Cagayan De Oro City. We had to stop in Gingoog City to buy softdrinks and other things. I'm glad we did because I found their park interesting. :) Again, I took this photo from the ones I submitted at imagesPhilippines.
And then, we reached Duka Bay. I read about it online, specially their glass bottom boat.
Duka Bay Resort is in Medina, Misamis Oriental. The owners have protected the corals. So colorful tropical fishes abound in the area. Don't worry if you do not know how to swim like me. :) Because you can see those with their glass bottom boat. Cool right?
The place was packed with people. Not just Filipinos but foreigners alike.
The villas look dated but the view , the beach and the corals more than compensated for it. For more details about the resort, please check this link - http://www.dukabay.com/about.html
I hope someday that I will be able to go back there. I know better this time, save everything in 2 hard drives. So that when one crashes, the other one is still intact. It's ok though, even if I lost the photos, no one can take the memories embedded in my heart and mind.
Misamis Oriental is just an hour or so away from Cagayan. But since, we had nothing else to do there, John and I stopped at Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon the next day.
Del Monte Pineapple Plantation is there. We read online that the cows they grow are being fed with pineapples. So we couldn't help but wonder how it would taste.
So off we went to the clubhouse. Their restaurant serves a lot of food but their specialty is the steak. The verdict? It's one of best steaks I've ever tasted.
You know, since it was holy week, I thought that it would be quiet. I was wrong! The place was full of golfers. And the restaurant was busy serving lunch. In fact I saw several Davaoeno's there too. :)
I guess, everybody wanted to forget about work huh?!
That was where I first rode a horse. I was scared of course! But the guide patiently led me until I felt comfortable with it. I thought that this is how Mikee Cojuangco probably feels when she's riding in a horse. I don't know... But it felt so wonderful riding one , enjoying at the same time the view of the valleys and the fresh air.
Did I tell you that I love pine trees? Del Monte clubhouse is surrounded by it. The place is so beautiful I have no words for it. I am just glad that John and I were given the chance to experience it.
We headed towards Davao late in the afternoon. By the time we reached Buda, it was already dark. But it didn't stop me from buying vegetables. Lots of them. Can't help it! They're so cheap. :) So I bought sayote, eggplant, squash, string beans, potatoes , cauliflower, etc for the family and our staff. Do you know that cucumber is like P2 each only in Buda?
This is the reason why I write. It makes me remember the fond memories I had. And in the process, it makes me feel better. And relaxed.
Again, let me tell the whole world. Give Mindanao a chance. Who knows, you just might like it and stay... :)
Lea C. Walker
leawalker.blogspot.com
www.davaoproperties.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for dropping by.. :)