Davao Places

So this is the city where I grew up. I was born and stayed in Manila until I was around 8-9 but Davao is where I spent a huge chunk of my life. It was quite odd that it only struck me recently that I haven't really seen much of Davao. Sure, I've been to some school trips, a few beach trips here and there. Yet they all had the 'you have to go there because it's required' feel to them. I've never really gone to a place because I wanted to. So it was time to change that!
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First stop was Eden Nature Park and Resort. It's about an hour or so (depending on how fast you or your cab driver drives) from the Matina area (that's where we're staying). The road heading there is paved and curved, perfect for bike rides! The park has different day tour packages that requires a reservation but don't worry, it was really easy to do so. (I called around 8pm the previous evening and got the reservation done in about 5 minutes. You pay when you get to the resort.) B and I availed of the P450/pax that had an eat all you can buffet lunch attached to it. So it was totally worth it! We also availed of the shuttle tour of the park. It's a 45-minute tour w/ tour guide that had 3 stop overs for 5 minutes of picture taking. That was around P85/pax so it wasn't bad either.

↑ This is the view the greets you a bit of a ways from the restaurant. And this is at the amphitheater. ↑

↑This is at the Tinubdan area where you can check out old indigenous houses. And this is at Lola's Garden. Ain't the view great? ↑

All in all, it was a really good trip. There are other things to do like the horseback riding or the zip line but B and I were too tuckered out to check those other things out. So, a next trip is definitely in the works! Ü

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The next trip was at Malagos Garden Resort. The entrance fee was P100/pax and that wasn't inclusive of any meals. There wasn't a shuttle to take you around, no tour guide either. Well, sure it was a nice place to go to if you had a tour plan or whatnot but if you're just there to transmute oxygen to carbon dioxide, there's really not much to do aside from seeing different plants and animals. But that doesn't stop yours truly from having fun. Me, B, My lil brother Matt and my dad went around the place and had a blast.

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The third trip was at Paradise Island & Beach Resort. My family and I have been there before, the rates haven't changed much but I was pleasantly surprised to see that they've done a lot of upgrades to the place! The sand was a lot more fine, the service was a lot better, and the general feel of the area was just a bit more different. Better! Even the routes to the villas were made better. They added more things to do, as well! I had a reservation in place, it was easy to make. I just gave the date of arrival, the villas you want to avail of, how many of you will be, and how long you intend to stay. They'll even give you a breakdown of what you'll possibly spend with that. They'll ask for your name and you'll pay when you get there. It was really a great experience! The villas I originally reserved were under repair so we got downgraded to the P2,700 rooms. The rooms were big though, so it was no biggie!

The welcome was great! They have fresh juice and a cold towel waiting for you. You can have lunch by the shore, with the gentle waves lapping at your feet. The food was scrumptious! Their mango shake is a must try! The beds were soft, the pillows were just so inviting. AC and cable TV...all the makings of a couch potato's dream. Also, they added a massage service to their repertoire! Just head on over to the reception area or to the intercom and just set an appointment. P400 for a 1 hour of full body massage. I'm pretty sure that B loved that part!

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So that's what we've been up to lately. B and I are already making plans to hit up Bali-Bali next year. Soon after that, maybe some other tours around the city. When we've exhausted what Davao has to offer, time to head on to Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Dakak, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and others. I already have a list ready! ♥

Two Years To The Day

It was quite something to realize that its been 2 years since that night. It really was all such a huge mess. It was crazy. At times I didn't know which way was up but here I am 2 years later. I already wrote the details in my other blog (which has already been deleted since I decided to stick to blogger). I try to reflect what things are different and what things are the same. It truly is odd, how 2 years can change what seems to be a lot but lets you realize that you're staring at the same big picture.
I've been too focused on the outside forces revolving around my relationship and persistently making their presence known. I'm candid enough to state that my relationship with B is far from perfect or ideal. Yet, I've never been one to stick my neck out for the ideal. I like the mess. I like how at every turn I have to fight for something. The struggle that makes everything worth it. Sure its tiring but its when you stop trying that something is truly wrong.
Oh. I haven't posted an entry about Eden and Malagos yet. But that's another story.
So, happy 2nd anniversary, B. :)

Cooking Misadventures

I decided to cook some Mac n' Cheese for the family today. It's been a while since I last did that. I can't even remember when the last time was. But anyway, it was fun! I prefer to make really thick sauce with lots of melted cheese in it. Yes, I know that's ridiculously unhealthy but it suits my taste just fine.
The ingredients I used are:

1. 1/4 kilo of beef
2. 1/2 kilo of pork
3. 1 can of mushrooms
4. 1 big pack of Hunt's Tomato Sauce
5. 1 big pack of Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce (Italian)
6. 1 big pack of Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce (Filipino Style)
7. 1 chopped up onion
8. 1 finely minced clove of garlic
9. Quickmelt
   
10. Pepper, Salt, Sugar and other seasonings

It turned out fine but it could have been better! The shells were a bit overcooked and some of them got burned. It was B's job to look after them, but I guess I forgot to tell him that the heat shouldn't be too high and that the water level shouldn't fall. But that's my fault. Speaking of B, he's passed out right now. He ate only a fistful but the way I make the stuff makes you feel like you ate a tubful. So there's a big pot of sauce that's left on the stove to last us for days to come. B's bloated tummy and his content snores make me one happy chef! ♥

Short Story

Light was sparse in the room that night. The silence weighed heavily upon those within it. A guy and a girl lay upon the bed. Neither of them talking. Neither of them facing each other. They fought again. Angry words were spoken. Pauses filled with unsaid emotion still clung to its occupants, refusing to let go. The girl felt numb. Was it always this way? Will it always be this way? she thought. She tried to summon tears that she knew would make her feel better. They always did. But they failed her today. They never came.

So in the silence and in the darkness, she tried to feel how he was doing. Tried to hear anything. And there it was. The faint yet unmistakable sound of a stifled sob. Ever so slowly she turned to look over her shoulder and saw that his shoulder were shaking. She had done it again. She made him cry.

Carefully she laid on her back, her sorrowful eyes lifted towards the ceiling and pretended to be seeing the dark, starry sky above. Then she started talking in her heart to someone who everyone said would be there. “God, I know that you don’t like hearing my prayers. Or if you do, you never answer them.” She paused to question if she had gone insane, shrugged, then continued.

“We both know that I believe in you even if I act like I don’t. But we both know that he’s always been loyal to you. So if ever you’re going to listen to my prayer..Let it be this one. If there was ever a time you were going to grant me a wish, let it be this…” She glances over at him as he bravely tries to mask his sobs. “Let him find his happiness…I don’t care if it’s not with me. I mean, I’ll care, of course. It’ll hurt a lot. But…he deserves someone who doesn’t make him feel this way. Even if it takes me out of the picture. Let him find his happiness.”

The girl waited for some moments. To see if there would be anything different. There was none. She sighed, prepared to believe that God had once again ignored her. Yet there was a soft whisper in her heart, a warm and calming feeling that came from nowhere. And it spoke to her. “What if I did listen to your prayers and gave you what your wished for? I gave him to you. What if I had already given him his happiness? I gave him, you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled out. With a smile, she replied to the whisper in her heart. “Then I better treat him a lot better.” She reached out and pulled him into an embrace. “Tell me a wish…” she said. “Whenever we fight and one of us gets hurt like this. The other has to ask the hurt person their wish for the moment and they have to make it come true.” And so they talked, he told her his wishes and she made them come true. She made him happy and in doing so, she realized that he truly was her happiness as well.

We may feel that He never listens or that it’s always up to Him to make this better. But He already gave us everything we need to make things better. All He does is give us a little push.