Outta' Town Nature Trippin' with Kids

That's Ryan wearin' yellow and Raffy wearin' red - soooo serious with fishin'..  where did all the fishies go?

     When the family decided to visit relatives for our next out-of-town trip, Davao was the first option.  My sister and her family lived there for more than ten years.  Fate had it, her family was due to move back to Cebu and that month was the last she and her family will remain there.

   Of course, when one visits Davao, it has to be a visit with nature.  Davao City is in the Mindanao Region of the Philippines and home of the Philippine eagle - an endangered species.  Eden Nature Park is one famed destination there and I wanted the kids to experience that too.

   Little did I know that more shopping malls were up and running in the heart of the city, specifically along the main artery J.P. Laurel Avenue.  Just cruise along that road and you will see the new SM Lanang, Abreeza Ayala and the old Poblacion with Gaisano Mall.

All photos on this post are by Richard Ramos - well most - see how the boys love to goof around? 

   But another commercial center isn't exactly what I had in mind for our trip.  We were there for nature!  So we packed things up, ear plugs and all, and stuffed toys too (dear Lord) and headed off to dynamic Davao.

   My husband Richard, who is a writer for the national newspaper Expat, got us a room at the comfy Park Inn by Radisson.  It is situated conveniently beside SM Lanang (same owners, so go figure) so getting ourselves suitably well-stocked was not an issue.  So after getting settled - and "malling" around (which is my husband's favorite pastime) - we planned our nature tripping.

   But of course, an out-of-town trip with kids is not complete without its challenges.  The boys fought over who got to use the key card first while going up or down the elevators or whose time it was to use the key card to open our room door.

   One time, their fighting got so bad, Raffy stormed out of our room and rode down the elevator hoping to find us still at our breakfast table (unfortunately we were answering the call of nature in comfort rooms nearby).  When he could no longer find us he asked the receptionist (crying now) to help him find his parents (oh dear). 

   Anyways, back to our nature-trippin', first on the agenda was Eden Nature Park & Resort. Situated on a mountaintop in Barrio Eden, Toril, Davao, Eden certainly lives up to its name.  I had good memories from previous visits there and I looked forward to seeing a roving peacock again.  

This is not the roving peacock - this was in a cage - the rover was brown and we couldn't catch a shot!

   The boys loved it there!  They zip-lined (well, the tamer version-and Ryan fell!!!!), visited the Bird Sanctuary, and their favorite - fished at the Fishing pond, competing on who got fishes the most, then got to eat their catch too!

Raffy loved this part - well, right now he's got longer legs.

Ryan was more scared of this one - he even fell!!! But overall - he liked it.

What is it with boys and fishing?

They truly enjoyed their catch! Gastronomically too!

From pond to plate - Pinirito (Deep Fried) Tilapia

Sinugba (Grilled) Tilapia

Paksiw/Inun-unan (Sauteed garlic, onion,ginger and pepper in Vinegar) Tilapia...and...

Pinaputok (Steamed with Banana Leaf wrap) Tilapia, yum!

   Then we transferred to The Pinnacle Hotel and Suites where we were treated to two nights stay and unlimited meals!  Get a load of that!  The Pinnacle is found right smack at the old downtown area very near the Gaisano Mall, and for me that place is where you can get the feel of the real Davao.  

   Raffy loved it at the Pinnacle - he felt better there after he associated Park Inn with getting a fever.  Ryan asked if he could start constructing a Lego-wannabee toy we bought (not too cheap) at SM, and I said yes (as usual - mothers are the yes-parents while the Dads grumble).  It turned out Ryan just got more irked coz the toy blocks were too hard to fit! (huyzz.)

That is just one of the smaller eagles.  The larger ones were caged on higher ground.

   Then Raffy and I went off to an early start to ride all the way to The Philippine Eagle Center. Richard and Ryan continued to doze.  I tell you the eagles are awesome!  Then right beside the center is the Malagos Garden Resort, where a petting zoo was for Raffy the main attraction.

   At the last day, we visited our last nature-trippin' stop - the Crocodile Farm.  just within Davao City, the farm was a little bit of a downer.  But what was interesting at best were the ice creams!  They came in Crocodile, Durian, Mango, Cheese and whatnot.  Guess what I tried.

These birds just flocked around Raffy!  He had seed feeds of course - but it was thrilling to see exotic birds so tame - Victoria Crown and Nicobar Pigeons, African Lovebirds, Cocktiels and Cockatoos! 

Raffy reacted when his fingers got sucked in by the Koi!  That wild duck (tame) gave a mean nibble too!

We caught our fish and ate it too - nothin' like a hard-earned meal to satisfy one' palate and two boys' egos! 

The Pinnacle showed us true Davaoeno hospitality - those are the two stuffed toys - hand carried to and fro.

Don't be fooled by the serene look of this photo - Outta' Town Nature Trippin' with Boys is anything but!

   Then we stopped by the local shops for some souvenirs.  Ryan got himself a cool, spiky durian magnet, and mass at church then snacks at a nearby McDonald's before runnin' off to the airport.  Whew!  That was thrilling.  While safely back in Cebu I asked - "Where's my laptop?"