Prisoners in Paradise

Trip Start Mar 21, 2008
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Trip End Mar 28, 2008


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Flag of Philippines  ,
Monday, March 24, 2008

I was feeling rather better today and it was time to start actually doing something, so we took a jeepney to the Marina where we got a ferry across to the Paradise Island Resort on Samal Island. It was a typical up-market resort, where you feel like a prisoner after a while, but very pleasant, with an excellent beach, and a small zoo with mainly birds and deer. We had to pay an entrance fee of P120 for the day. (It was double for people staying the night in the expensive accommodation.

We had a delicious lunch of a live hito"(catfish). Well, it wasn't live when we ate it. The fish were swimming around in a tank near the restaurant, taken out and grilled to perfection, and presented in an attractive bamboo basket, complete with orchid. We were serenaded by a trio of musicians who were eager to take requests but didn't know any Dylan songs.

We spent some time lying on deck chairs on the beach, but under shelter, where I slept again, hopefully sleeping off the last stage of whatever was ailing me. We also managed to do a walk outside the resort, passing through a back gate, where a guard reluctantly agreed to let us back in again on our return 01 Boat to Paradise Resort
01 Boat to Paradise Resort
 . Actually the management is keen to take people out of the resort, but only on a very expensive guided tour of some of the highlights of the island, including some bat caves, which we've plenty of in Sarawak. It would be hard to beat Mulu Caves.

I have to admit that the staff throughout the resort were very friendly and anxious to be of service, and it was a very enjoyable experience.

In the evening we went to another P99 meal, which we didn't think was as good as our first one, though an American we met there said it was the best one around. He didn't seem to know the one we had been to though, as the two cockatoos in cages outside the door are quite distinctive. We talked to him for a while. His aim seemed to be to find a place cheap enough to stay so that he would never actually have to work. He is from Houston, so it's understandable that he prefers this environment.

Now that we are both relatively fit we have decided to leave Davao and explore other parts of Mindanao. There is not much to keep us in Davao. The Eagle Centre, supposedly one of the highlights, doesn't sound that exciting, and we have already seen eagles in cages at the resort. Our American friend said it was a waste of time going there, though he did recommend Paradise Island resort, and particularly another island, but with limited transport so not suitable for our relatively short stay.So we will head for General Santos City tomorrow, and possibly Lake Sebu, though I'm a bit worried about taking Yoong to a place she may see as too primitive.

Raymond's Travel Page
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