the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort of Samal

While the distance between Samal Island and the coast of Davao spans only about 2km, there are no bridges nor slipways. Crossing is by traditional motorized boats or big ferry barges for cars at the Babak wharf or by the quicker ferries.




An alternative is to go through the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort which for a cheap fare of 15 affords you a convenient and fast turnover passage between Davao City (Sasa Wharf at km 9) and Samal Island. The resort reminds me a lot of well-oiled machine: operations are efficient to the point of being clinical, service is fast, logistics are thoroughly planned and seamless.


the Sasa wharf at km 9, Davao City



the resort’s jetty at Samal Island



the reception area at the beachfront


If you wanted to partake of the beach facilities, the fee is P90 per person, inclusive of a table of your choice. This resort is as democratized as one can be. Even the food prices are reasonable and not at all bad (they inspect bags to make sure no one sneaks in non-snack items). Looking at how thick the crowd was during one weekend visit, the resort is highly popular to locals and domestic visitors. Of course, if you wanted a resort far from the madding crowd and with a decided air of exclusivity, then this is not for you.


the beach



the sports and leisure convenience store


For all the pertinent conveniences, the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort gives a feeling commercial congestion albeit in an ordered way. The beach line is divided into at least 3 segments, bordered and divided by stone-piled jetties. Tables can run up to 5 rows deeps and the beach at the time of our visit is relatively narrow.


an orchid at each beachside table adds a colorful touch



young coconuts for sale


While it may disappoint adult visitors, my daugher enjoyed the beach immensely. The sand is white, powdery and the waters are shallow and clear. Water is her element and it seems she cannot get enough. This,
for me, is reason enough to enjoy the resort.


the resort has 70 rooms for overnight stay options



serenade by a string quarted


Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort
Caliclic, Babak, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte 8000
tel +6382 2330251, 2341229, 3002343, fax +6382 2342926, cell +63920 9546780
http://www.paradiseislanddavao.coml
boat Services 5AM - 5PM at km 9, 1181 Sasa, Davao City

Philippine Summer Destinations, part 5

The good news is that the forecast of La Nina rains has been lifted. The Philippines will have normal summer after all! The season is expected to be hot, dry and sunny, just as we like it.

Where to head off to get some cool relief from the heat? Here are three more suggestions.

Samal Island, Davao del Norte

It’s officially known as the Island Garden City of Samal or IGaCoS. Really. Campy, yes, but true to its name which means to embrace in Cebuano, the island offers the obligatory white beaches (there are more than 20 resorts), several waterfalls (the prettiest is Hagimit), a world famous bat cave, mountain climbing trails, mangrove forests and orchards of sweet exotic fruits. Best part is, the island is only 10 minutes away by ferry from Davao City. This is paradise just a stone’s throw away from the big city.


the Hagimit falls in Penaplata, Samal Island
Canon EOS 5d, 1/12000s, f/4.0, 17mm, ISO 100



for locals, the Paradise Island Resort is perhaps Samal island’s most popular resort
Canon EOS 5d, 1/12000s, f/4.0, 17mm, ISO 100


Panglao Island, Bohol

The island of Panglao is the “it” destination in Bohol. Immaculate fine sand, steep limestone cliffs, caves with underground streams, a bee farm, and two 19th century stone churches are just some of their come-ons. Boholanos are also known to be gentle, soft-spoken and hospitable. The island is conveniently across the capital city of Tagbilaran, connected by two slipway bridges. It too can be a take-off point to other destinations like the famed reef island of Balicasag.


the famous Dumaluan beach offers an expanse of white sand and clear blue waters
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/1250s, f/7.1, 7.1mm



colorful ukulele souvenirs at stalls in the famous Hinagdanan Cave
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/30s, f/5.0, 7.1mm


Mactan Island, Cebu

My home island of Mactan should be in the top list of summer destinations in any book. The stretches of white sand in the east (Marigondon, Maribago, Agus) and north (Punta Engano) are home to some of the best five star resorts in the country. Diving, water sports, island hops, spas are just one of the islands renowned attractions. Historically, this is the island where Magellan eventually met his match. In the shallow coast of Mactan was where he was killed in the famous battle in 1521. Lapu-Lapu City, the official name of the island, is no sleepy town. It is the location of the biggest and busiest export processing zone of Cebu and of course, the biggest international airport outside of Manila.


kayaking is popular in Mactan
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/1000s, f/3.2, 7.1mm



this limestone obelisk in Mactan commemorates the victory of the local chieftain, Lapu-Lapu, over Magellan
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/125s, f/2.8, 7.1mm

the Cacing Diaries #32

questions on bringing infants on board a plane: answered!

My wife and I need to be convinced that Cacing will do just fine in the multiple plane rides to Bali next week so about 2 weeks ago, the entire family (me, Dia, Cacing, my mom and Cacing’s yaya or nanny) went to Davao.


arriving at Davao- my mom, Cacing and her nanny, my wife


Cacing, being about one year and a month old, hasn’t yet been able to travel out of Cebu. This was to be her first plane ride and we were uncertain.


glee in Paradise Island Resort, Samal Island, Davao del Norte


Do we have to pay plane fare for infants? Domestically, for unseated babies up to 2 years old, the answer is no. International carriers ask for a steep fee though. We paid Cathay Pacific about $200 for infant fare for the Cebu-Hong Kong-Surabaya round trip.


it’s the shirt…


What documents should be bring upon check-in? As a rule to prevent baby trafficking, airlines normally require parents to bring copies of the marriage certificate and the birth certificate. At Cebu Pacific, we were not asked these documents though perhaps because we all were traveling together as one family.


She immensely enjoyed the wind sweeping over us in a boat ride at Samal Island

Can we bring formula milk inside the cabin? Typically, liquids and their containers should not exceed 100mL but there are provisions special for infant formula and water for babies boarding a plane. In our case, domestic inspection was relaxed.


Cacing is beginning to get comfortable with hats and no longer tries to remove them from her head


Will she be asked to wear a special seatbelt? No, she wasn’t given any. We did receive an infant safety flotation device to keep during the entire duration of the flight.

Would Cacing be disturbed by the compression inside the plane? Cacing was drowsy and was already sleeping soundly when we boarded the plane from Cebu to Davao. She slept like a log and only woke up at the tailend of the flight. She was curious at seeing the view outside when we landed and probably had no idea that we were not in Cebu. On the way back home, she was awake and seemed to have noticed the change in pressure as she tugged on her ears for awhile. We quickly had her drink some water and milk off the bottle so that helped. She did not cry at all. Excitement overtook her.



Sleeping fitfully in her first plane ride ever


Perhaps these all bid well for our trip next week. There’ll be some new complications of course. Aboard jumbo jetliners, cabin compression would be more pronounced and the Hong Kong-Surabaya leg would be about 5 hours not a short one hour hop.


inside the San Pedro Cathedral, Davao City, the Philippines


Then there are the numerous challenges in airport transit, hotel changeovers and late night arrivals. The hope is everything would turn out fine. We always have to look at the bright side.