Dave Underwood loves it in Davao

Here is a short interview with Mr. David Underwood about his travel experiences in Davao. Dave visited Davao last June 2005 to meet his fiancee Bethel. He fell in love with Bethel and, as it turned out, he fell in love with Davao, too.

DavaoTraveler: Is this your first visit to Davao? When was the last time you visited Davao City?
Dave Underwood: My first and only visit to date was in May/June 2005.

DT: Do you have specific reasons for traveling to Davao? Are you here for vacation, business travel, or some special event?
DU: I travelled to Davao to visit my Fiancee.

DT: Did you travel alone or with some friends or your family?
DU: I travelled with my sister.

DT: Before coming to Davao, what was your general impression of the place?
DU: From my wife’s description and from the city web sites,I imagined a large city, very hot and tropical.

DT: Now that you have traveled down to Davao, what can you say about the city in general?
DU: Davao is a city with modern amenities, good shopping centres, I would like them to make access to the bay easier, with maybe more public beaches.

DT: What are some of places in Davao that you have been to? Please describe each. Which one is your favorite?
DU:

• Davao Museum..An interesting museum,full of local artifacts and helpful and friendly staff.
• Eden Nature Park..We spent a great day here with a guided tour by bus,all the plants were described to us.We had an excellent lunch and the children enjoyed the adventure playground. (Some of the adults did too!)
• Samal Island..The island is a short boat ride from Davao City.
• Pearl Farm..An excellent resort with lots of facilities,I would recommend an overnight stay here as the food and entertainment are wonderful.
• Malagos Gardens..We enjoyed a lovely day here with friends,its full of birds and animals and interesting plants.We particularly enjoyed the exotic bird show.
• Jacks Ridge..A first class restaurant with entertainment and panoramic views over Davao City.
• Matina Town Square..An informal music venue with interesting food outlets.A good place to hang out with friends.
• The Shrine.. A quiet place ideal for contemplation with wide views over Davao Bay.

Its hard to pick a favourite, we had a great time at all of those places.

DT: What can you say about the people of Davao?
DU: Davaoenos are friendly, caring people and always seem to be able to smile.

DT: What are some of the things or travel experiences you will never forget in Davao and that you wanted to share with other travelers?
DU: Riding in a tricycle was a memorable experience, if a little uncomfortable! I liked the jeepneys and the taxis are plentiful and very cheap compared to England. The airport is modern and we took a flight to Cebu then a boat to Bohol. There are lots of eating places ranging from KFC to restaurants such as Jacks Ridge.

An unforgettable experience was eating Durian fruit in my wife’s Aunt’s house. It made my sis and myself very hot and red in the face!

DT: Would you like to visit Davao City again in the future?
DU: Yes definitely. My Fiancee is now my wife and we plan our first trip back to Davao in 2007 (date to be confirmed.)

David Underwood is based in Northampton, England. His leisure interests include music, History, Geography, and travelling. He has visited many European countries including, France, Belgium, Germany, Turkey and Greece. He has also travelled to the US, Singapore and of course the Philippines. He enjoys showing England to his wife Bethel and “sharing my life with her.” He says of his trip to “the Philippines and particularly Davao was delightful and we are looking forward to our return trip later this year.”

This entry was posted under Davao Travel Experience.

Article Tags: Davao Travel, Travel Experience