Davao Day 1: Eden Nature Park and Deca Wake boarding Park

More than a week had passed since I first set foot in Mindanao. Like any first timers, I got excited the moment I saw the Davao International Airport signage from the plane. From the airport we were fetched by the van daughter had previously arranged online.  We knew we were too early to check-in but we proceeded to our hotel just the same.  We were allowed to leave our luggage with them thus it sets us free to start our tour of the city. But before we started off, we had our breakfast at the dormitel's cafeteria.  They serve combo meals consisting of a cup of rice with two kinds of viands plus coffee or juice. I thought I could already claim our free 2 sets of breakfast but I was told and realized as well that we haven’t checked-in yet.  So I had to pay for all the orders.

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After filling up, we began our day's journey. Our very first destination was..

Eden Nature Park –  This is the  mountain resort found at the foot of mount Talomo almost 3,000 feet high  above sea level.  It is a 40 minute drive from our hotel in Mt. Apo Street in Davao City.  We reached Eden Park at mid morning and people were already converging at the  reception area. The park offers recreational activities like fishing, horseback riding, zip lining and swimming but didn’t try any of those time consuming activities.  

 

We only wanted to see as many places as we can that day.  The guided tour cost P100 and the compulsory lunch or snack is P450/pax  and  P180/pax respectively. We chose the latter coz we preferred to lunch at the restaurant suggested by our driver cum tour guide. After paying at the reception, we boarded the shuttle service and were brought around the magnificent nature park. The breathtaking vastness of verdant greens and colourful flowers are amazing. There were so many lovely spots to see and appreciate. Unfortunately we didn’t have much time to see all the gorgeous spots. 

After a few more treks around, we boarded our rented van and proceeded to have lunch.

Penong’s Barbecue and Seafood Grille Restaurant.   We were told it’s one of the best in the city. I could say the food is really good especially their Chicken Inato.  I like all the food listed in their menu and mind you, the prices are surprisingly low! 


   

 We’re so filled up and satisfied with less than a P700 lunch for five (that’s the four of us plus our driver). Then off to the long desired sport activity of the big kiddos.

The Deca Wakeboard Park.  It’s a serene place of massive lake not far from the greeneries of the mountain side.  Located within the Deca Homes Residences, the place I think. is still an on-going project.  

There wasn’t too many wake boarders at the time probably because it was already 3pm.  That gave the big kiddos opporunity to enjoy the activity without queuing unlike in CWC.  It was more than two hours of extreme physical exhaustion for these herd of mine but I saw the great satisfaction on their faces when we left the place.  This wound up our first day of Davao tour.  Then we were back to our hotel.

Green Windows Dormitel - The place is a hotel and a dormitory in one  located in the 5^th floor of FTC Towers in Mt. Apo Street.  Room rates are very affordable so we booked for the spacious room which is the Executive Twin.  It is only good for four hence, we needed additional bed when hubby arrived on the second day.  It is well secured and is only stone’s throw away from nice restaurants. The dormitory type room with double deck beds are for only P188/pax.  The place is relatively new and generally clean and well maintained. The service is likewise good.  For our dinner that evening, we asked for listings of food deliveries from the reception area, dialled one and we had our food delivered in no time.  

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The first day high was over and we contentedly called it a day!