Day 212: Ice Cream Mochi

After a visit to the dentist, I get a fine excuse to get myself ice cream.  I was surprised to find ice cream mochi at Rustan's Fresh at Il Terrazzo.  I rarely get to see it at Hatchin, and would often wonder where else to get one.  It was a good thing I decided to get myself ice cream after dinner at Banapple.  While checking the frozen selection, I found mochi.  In four flavors!  So, I got one of each and went on home to enjoy it.  I still have vacation hangover, but ice cream in cold weather can perk me up anytime.

Day 211: A Cafe Affair

My last day in Davao was spent traipsing from one cafe to another.  We had lunch at Tiny Kitchen, where I had one of the best ice cream cakes ever.  Afterwards, we spent the afternoon at Yellow Hauz having coffee and cake.  It was a pleasant way to end my vacation.  I would have wanted to stay longer.  I'm a big fan of quaint coffee shops, and Davao has one after another of them.  Since I can't stay, I would surely love to come back.

Playing music: Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop (Landon Pigg)

Day 210: Mandaya Beach

Mandaya Beach at Pearl Farm.  This last day at this resort is absolutely tranquil.  You cannot beat waking up to the sound of waves crashing.  I often sleep to music so I can wake up to it, as well.  When I'm at a beach, though, I like waking up to the sound of the ocean.  There is absolutely nothing more calming than it.  

I'm not a religious person, but there are several times when I travel that I marvel at gorgeous landscapes and I can't help but pray.  Thanking God for creating such a Beautiful World (Coldplay).

Day 209: Sunset at Pearl Farm

Isn't it gorgeous?  This is what I love about going places.  You appreciate this beautiful world so much more.

Pearl Farm was next in the itinerary.  We decided to stay the night over at one of the Samal houses.  The place is absolutely beautiful.  This was the relaxing interlude of my vacation.  I feel like I could have stayed here for a long time.  I loved everything about it.  The house on the stilts facing the ocean.  Watching the sunset.  The food in Maranao Restaurant.  The house band singing Waterloo (Abba).  The privacy of Mandaya beach.  The electric car!  The sound of waves in the morning.  The flight of birds across the ocean.  The schools of fish beneath the veranda.  Everything is so beautiful.  Everyone is courteous.  I remember walking back to the house on my own from the restaurant and I was greeted by everyone I passed.  The staff, the gardener, the carpenters working on the renovation of one of the houses, the guests.  It was just lovely.

Day 208: Animal Farm and Other Stories

Day two of my trip was a real kick.  We started out early, heading to Crocodile Park, where I saw more birds than crocodiles.  Well, I didn't actively looked at the crocodiles.  The birds are far more pretty to look at.  This one looks very sage-like in the morning.  I was close to offering him coffee.

The main reason we went to Crocodile Park, though, was because it's where the Davao Wild Water Adventure is headquartered.  As much as I would have liked to take pictures while rafting, gadgets were discouraged.  The guides took our pictures for souvenir and that was enough for me.  The experience was amazing!  I did not think that I will like white water rating.  I'm a bad swimmer, you see.  However, it was a fantastic adventure.  My friend and I shared the raft with two married couples (one married for twenty-three years and one newlywed), and I thought it was going to be awkward.  It probably was during the first thirty minutes, but it quickly got comfortable and noisy in our raft.  The guides were terrific.  They were funny and knew perfectly well what to do.  They certainly kept the energy up considering it took us about three to four hours to go down Davao River.  Interestingly, the fun part in white water rafting is capsizing.  I guess, it gives you better stories to tell when you have gone Upside Down (Jack Johnson).  Also, you realize you have a whole lot to be grateful for having survived going under.

Day 207: Cafe Demitasse

Touched down Davao.  First stop is Cafe Demitasse on F. Torres.  On the way there, I noticed that Davao is littered with quaint cafes.  It's absolutely charming.  Since my flight came in late, there wasn't really much to do but catch up with my old friend.  Tonight we relax.  Tomorrow, we Rock and Roll (Eric Hutchinson).

Day 206: Time

This week is the week of the grateful.  First thing to be grateful for is for time.  I'm thankful for the time I'm blessed with to enjoy.  To work, to play, to travel, and to chronicle it all in photographs.