Philippines 2009 Davao City part 1

Davao, also written Dabawo.

Davao is located 946 km south of Manila, and known for the scenic and majestic Mt Apo the highest peak in the country at 3’124 m above sea level.
It is also the city of the durian. The famous fruit that stinks like hell and taste like heaven. Population is about 1.4 million inhabitants. Davao has 3 congressional districts, with 11 political districts and 182 barangays. A literacy rate of 98.5%.

Wharf,

We anchored in front of Sta Ana wharf in 5m of water at low tide. The wharf has two peers. On the northern one all the local ferries make landfall. It’s the home of the coastguard vessel, and from time to time small cargos unload theirs freight.



One week we had one bringing corn to feed chicken, and the next week arrived two floating warehouses, we thought this were the chicken. Wrong the load was Tanduay rum. I was thinking to leave the dingy in the water that night and make a night expedition, but security is omnipresent and weponed.
The southern peer is the home of the pilot boat, and is more recreational.

Security at the wharf,

All the kids come and jump in a very clear water. Considering the vicinity of the city, we experienced worse places. At the beginning I was explaining them not to play with the dingy, rather fart in a violin, as soon you turn the back they are in it.

It’s very attractive to the kids and they love to play on it, but I can’t afford any damage, the dingy being hypalon, and there is no glue available around. We had to hire the services from Domingo to watch the dingy and the yacht, Very nice and trustful person. At night place is calm, we felt safe. We didn’t use the out border; we used the two oars power one, and lifted the dingy at night.

Security in town,

Ones you exit the peer, you are in town. The first street we walked up is called Monteverde St. lined with banks. I don’t understand why they didn’t call it Bank Street. I think Monteverde St must be an undercover name.
You have to get used to it, I never saw in my life so many weaponed security guards around, from the pump action to AK-47, M16, revolver and pistol. They are every where, malls, hardware shop, pharmacy, optician, etc. They are very friendly and helpful. Every place you enter you are asked to deposit your fire arm to the security. They check your backpack and search on you if you carry one. You must get used to it. The advantage is that the city is very safe.




Traffic,

Other discovery, traffic is a chaos. They apply the right of way at every crossing. I think it’s the strongest who gets first, the other follow behind until the row is empty. Than comes the next one, and so on. Nobody is aggressive. As pedestrian its quite easy, ones there is a gap on your side, go! Stop at the middle of the road, and someone coming the other way will stop to let you pass, very easy. Be responsible don’t jump like a chicken.
The city is very noisy and dusty, at the end of the day it makes you dizzy.

Transportation,

I had to go for one month 3 times a week to the dentist for a root treatment. At the beginning we took the taxi. There are two types, with (counter starts at P 30.00) or without aircon P 26.00. To the hospital it was about P 50.00 to get there.
Ones you get familiar with the place, we used to walk there, it takes 25 minutes and is good for the legs and I will not mention what it does to your
ears and lungs.

A very popular public transportation is
the jeepnay or mini bus, it costs P 7.00 each. At the beginning we toke one until the end of the avenue and jump in the next one until arrival.

Talking with the driver, we learned what they make loops. So from Sta Ana wharf to the hospital you take “Route 1 or 13”. For the same price with one bus you get at destination. The funny is that he drives you back and forth all around the town. You better start early. They stop everywhere, the right lane (in the Philippines they drive on the right side of the road) on the streets are crowded with the mini buses. They are quite hard on the breaks and horn.

Notice:
Be careful using taxi. Ones, we got in the taxi where from just some body came out and the driver forgot to restart the counter. Pui picked it up, at the end the driver apologised and we paid the right price. If you hire a taxi with a stop on the way, they restart the counter at the stop. We paid the trip, got out of the taxi and took the next one.

Health,
Many “expat” live in Davao. The healthcare is very good. At the Davao Doctors Hospital you find all the specialists you can think about.

Malls,
Very safe, air conditioned and well furbished. For the vegetables and fruits, it’s definitely better to go to the fresh market.
You find the same products in all of them. We were looking for pâté, one was out of stock and we found it in the next one for the same price. In general the prices are almost the same every where.





Trading.

All kind of shops can be found around. From the automotive to the second hand spare parts, electric, hardware, bolts and nuts (not much in SS) you mention it.


There is no shipchanlder, but the variety of hardware fulfil you expectations. They have modern management system.
Also copra, corn, rice, dried fish, vegetable, onions, palm oil etc. traders are around. They close at 05.00PM.