Davao City: 4 days, 3 nights itinerary

I’m quite fickle minded, really. That’s one thing about myself that I hate the most. Haha. One moment I’d want this, but soon wouldn’t want it the next. I’m really, really fickle to the point that I regret buying something or I regret not buying something! This post is one of the products of my fickle-mindedness. I wanted to write about my stay in Davao in one single lengthy post, then changed it to separate days-post, and now this: separate tourist spot-post. So yeah, please bear with me. LOL!

 

Anyway, I’ve already shared with your our first day in Davao here. Basically, for this post, I want to give you guys an overview and our itinerary for this trip.

Tickets I snagged my tickets at a REALLY cheap price. If I’m not mistaken, Cebu Pacific was on Piso sale, so I got my round trip tickets with baggage allowance at around Php900! Dirt cheap, huh? That was the cheapest tickets I’ve bought so far. I booked them half a year early though (bought the tickets in May 2011, travel is on January 2012). But that’s really the case if you want to get cheap tickets: book as early as possible.

 

 

Accommodations This wasn’t our problem during our Davao trip since my then-ex (now ze boyfriend) lives there, and we stayed in their lovely home. That’s another tip, loves: if you have friends who within the area, do contact them! Aside from *free* accommodations, they’ll be able to tour you around quite well since they’re locals. It would save you the hassle, I promise.

 

 

Places to Visit Whenever I construct an itinerary for a certain trip, I always Google “things to do in *insert destination here*” Do you do that, too? Or ako lang yung ang Google-everything? The internet is one of the best creations of mankind. You can learn any information about absolutely everything, and it’s the same even in creating an itinerary for a trip. Googling (is that even a word??) up destinations enable me to know which places are must-see places to visit and dine. It also helps me create a reasonable time frame for my itinerary. Yeah, I’m OC like that. Dapat may oras talaga. So yeah, do Google na lang the must-see and must-try places in your destination. Lots of hits, for sure.

Itinerary

Day1

• Flight to Davao | Our flight was via Cebu Pacific at 12 noon. We arrived at the airport a little before 10am at the airport. We had our lunch at Shakey’s and waited for boarding time.
• Zip City Hilltop | Straight from the airport, we went to Zip City Hilltop at Ma-a for a zip line ride.
• Abreeza Mall | We went to Abreeza Mall to pay for our day tour reservations at Pearl Farm Beach Resort.
• AJ’s house | Dinner and AJ’s 21st birthday celebration! Read my blog entry about our first day here.

Day 2

• Eden Nature Park | Eden Nature Park in Toril, Davao is a must-see place if you plan to visit Davao. Read my entry about Eden here.
• Buffet Palace Restaurant | Buffet Palace Restaurant is one of the first buffet restaurants in Davao City. It’s located at Tulip Drive, Matina.

• Davao Crocodile Park | Davao Crocodile Park in Ma-a boasts a “state of the art” crocodile farming system in the Philippines. They educate people about crocodiles and inspire people to appreciate nature.
• Aldevinco Shopping Center | If you want to buy pasalubong for your family and friends, then do visit Aldevinco Shopping Center at CM Recto Ave. cor. Roxas Ave.
• Jack’s Ridge | Jack’s Ridge is another must-see place in Davao. Be sure to visit this place at night as the view of Davao Downtown is exquisite. The main restaurant here is Taklobo Restaurant. It might get crowded though, especially during the weekends, so, if it’s possible, do reserve ahead of time.

Day 3

• Pearl Farm Resort | Our visit to Pearl Farm Resort in Samal Island is the highlight of this trip. It’s quite expensive thought, but totally worth every peso.
• Mooon Café, Abreeza | It was our last night in Davao, and we wanted to experience Davao’s nightlife. We couldn’t decide where to eat, so we agreed to eat at a restaurant not found in Manila. Mooon Café is a Mexican restaurant originally from Cebu.
• Matina Town Square | Matina Town Square, or MTS, is the place to be if you want to experience Davao’s nightlife. It has tons of restaurants and bars to dine and drink with your friends.

Day 4

• Flight back to Manila

Ito na talaga! PROMISE Haha!

 

Until next post, loves!

 

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Davao City: Life is Here

Hi, loves! How are you? I’m great, btw. Sorry for being MIA for the past few days; my schedule was jam packed! Thursday, I went to Los Banos for ze boyfriend’s birthday salubong (he is turning turned 23!). We had an amazing dinner date at Joe’s, and then had a couple of drinks at Jacques, and we went to IC’s Bar, too, for another party. We went back to Manila last Friday afternoon to have dinner with ze boyfriend’s mom. We had reservations at the Jeepney Café at Hotel Intercontinental Manila. The buffet was so-so; I loved their steak and their dessert station. A gastronomic experience, indeed! Then come Friday, we went to SM Megamall for lunch before ze boyfriend’s mom leaves for Davao. Then we boarded the bus to go back to Los Banos for another party: Edwin’s birthday. Will blog about this soon, prolly. Too bad, though, I didn’t have much photos during my (long) weekend. How was yours, anyway?

For today, I’d be sharing with you my first trip to Davao last January 16 to 19, 2012. This is a memorable trip for me for two reasons: first, it’s my first time to ride an airplane; second, it’s my first time outside of Luzon. Yeah, and add up the fact that I ‘m visiting my then ex-boyfriend (aka as ze boyfriend), and we’re staying at their place. LOL

DAY 1 I was glad that I was able to go to this trip with friends Jen, Vea, and LA. It made the trip more memorable. Anyway, our flight was scheduled at 2PM, and we were at the airport before noon. After checking in, we had lunch, and waited for our flight.


Have I mentioned it was my first time to ride airplane? It was Jen’s first time, too, so we had mixed feelings towards the whole flight thing. I was quite worried since the then-ex told me I should try gasping for more air by yawning to prevent my ears from popping, and I had trouble “gasping for air.” Haha! That was the funny part.



So yeah, we landed, finally! HELLO, DAVAO!



The then-ex and his cousin, Kuya Butch (+) picked us up from the airport. Nothing much on our itinerary that day, but a zipline ride at Zip City Davao.



I heard great comments about Zip City Hilltop in Barangay Langub, so we decided to give it a try. The place was majestic. You have a wonderful view of Davao Gulf and Mt. Apo while traversing the cable. Aside from the view, the zip line is fitting for first timers: the length is only 320 meters, and 120 meters above the ground. Compared to other zip lines, this is a baby. Plus, it’s dubbed as the “most friendly zip line for all ages.”



I forgot how much the zip line fee is, but it’s quite affordable, I’m sure. Plus, they gave us coupons for a nearby restaurant. Finally, here we are, donning our safety gear on the unloading platform.



It was everyone’s first time to try zip lining. AJ was truly terrified coz he’s afraid of heights. Hehe. Time to conquer that fear, dear! But yeah, I was having doubts, as well. I mean come on, NO ONE WILL FRIGGIN’ CATCH ME IF A FALL!!!



AND WE SURVIVED!!! It was truly a fun experience, I must say. The mixture of fear, euphoria, and that adrenaline rush, amazeballs!



After our zip line ride, we headed to Abreeza Mall to pay for our reservations at the Pearl Farm Resort. We paid Php1800 for our daytrip for Day 3 of our Davao trip. We then headed home to prepare for AJ’s birthday (January 17) salubong. Her sister, Erika, and I baked cupcakes! Haha!



That’s for now, loves! I’ll share with you the rest of our trip soon!

Love,


ZIP CITY
Location: Hill Top Davao, Barangay Langub, Diversion Road, Ma-a, Davao City
Contact Numbers: +6382-2822339, +6382-2861055 +639236586049
Email: davaowildwater@yahoo.com.
Website: http://www.zipcity.psdgroupph.com

Technorati Tags: Davao,travel,trip,airplane,Cebu Pacific,zip line,adventure,friends,Zip City

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January Makeup Haul

Few entries ago, I mentioned something about my drugstore makeup online shopping. AND GUESS, WHAT? THEY’RE FINALLY HEEEEERE!!! *insert cray cray dance moves here*

 

 

You might say “hey, you just had a makeup haul last month!” And yeah, while it is true, I’d like to justify my spending on makeup. I do not constantly buy makeup products. I’m not an impulse buyer when it comes to makeup (I can’t say the same thing on shoes, though haha); I just buy items when I deem its necessity. I scour for stores that sell the lowest-priced makeup. If it’s possible, I also look into possible dupes of the products I’ve been lusting over. I rest my case. LOL

 

Moving on, I’m just so ecstatic to receive this haul last night! Thanks to our friend, Angel; you’re definitely sent from above (pun intended haha!). So my January makeup haul came from Target and Beauty.com. It’s my second time to purchase at Target, and my first to buy from Beauty.com. I usually avail of the free shipping policy (free shipping on $50 orders and up), but due to time constraints, I paid a few extra bucks for their 2-day delivery option.

 

I love *online* shopping at drugstores ‘coz they’re really affordable. The items I buy in the US are the ones not available here in the Philippines, or if the price difference is quite big. Plus, the quality of most products are actually good. The same holds true here in the Philippines. My favorite drugstore brand in the Philippines is Nichido, no doubt! I’m in love with their blushes (especially Tomato), eyeliners, and eyebrow pencils. They’re pretty cheap but the quality is definitely at par with international drugstore brands.

 

First on the list is e.l.f. Studio Geometric Eyeshadow Pallete in Glam.

 

 

I got this palette on sale, priced at US$5.10 (around Php225). The packaging is so-so. It reminded me of the Barbie makeup in the department store a kikay child would want for Christmas. The eye shadow book itself is housed in a flimsy plastic casing.

 

 

The eye shadow itself is ok. What I like about it is the variety of shades and finishes. You’d find both matte and shimmery shadows in the pan. I haven’t tried wearing this the entire day, so I couldn’t comment on how long it last. The pigmentation of some shadows are great, while some are so-so.

 

Overall, this palette is ok if you just want to play around with eye makeup. The quality is ok, too, but the packaging sucks. Basically, you get what you pay for.

 

Another eyeshadow palette is Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Collection Eyeshadow Trio is Sweet as Candy.

 

 

This eyeshadow trio is a good way to teach one how to apply eye makeup. It’s quite easy to use! Use the lightest shade on your browbone, another color on the entire eyelid, and the darkest shade on the crease.

 

I enjoyed using this trio, although the pink shade (for the eyelid) is too shimmery for my taste. The pigmentation is ok, as well. Got this at Beauty.com for only US$2.99 (around Php130). Would love to try out other shades, too!

 

Next on the list is Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate in 05 and 103.

 

 

Basically, the difference between the two is their finishes. The black one (shade 05) has a slight shimmer, while the red one (shade 103) has a matte finish. I haven’t tried either yet, so I can’t say how they differ in shades. (Yeah, I was that excited to share my haul that I didn’t take swatches of the products mehehe.) I already own Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 107, and I’m impressed with it, so I have high expectations on these two new lipsticks.

 

But they do differ in price. The former’s priced at US$5.14 (around Php227), while the latter is at US$5.24 (Php232). I got these at Beauty.com, so I’m not sure if other stores would sell them at different prices.

 

Next up is NARS Lipstick in Schiap.

 

 

I’ve been lusting over this lipstick for quite sometime now, but I just can’t muster enough willpower to do so, since I already bought a handful of lipsticks in 2013. I couldn’t spend another peso again on lipsticks (plus, konti na lang, papagalitan na ‘ko ni boyfriend). So, for my first lipstick purchase, I finally gave in and bought this.

 

 

I’d have to say that this is my current perfect pink lipstick. It has a semi-matte finish, and it’s not at all drying to the lips. Plus, it stays quite long, like 6-8 hours. It’s not at all too neon for me, which I really like. It’s the hot pink that I can wear anytime!

 

The only thing I don’t like about this product is its packaging. I’ve read tons of horror stories on NARS’ packaging, and I’m praying they’d do something about it. Plus, I like to “feel” where my money is at, if you know what I mean. This friggin’ lipstick costs US$26 (around Php1150), but the tube is light as air. It’s lighter (and smaller) than the MAC bullet lipsticks, even if NARS contains a tad bit more product (NARS weighs 3.4g; MAC weighs 3g). I like my Chanel lipstick coz the packaging is quite heavy.

 

Next lip-related purchases is Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Complex and Audacious.

 

 

I’ve always been a fan of Revlon’s lip-related products. My first purchase is Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm, which is in 2011. I instantly fell in love with it because it stays quite well on the lips even after drinking and eating. They then reinvented the product by combining the lipstain and balm, thus Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. I own 3 shades of the Balm Stain just because I was impressed with it.

 

 

My sister saw this particular Matte Balm online, and we decided to give it a try, since it’s not (yet) available in the Philippines. I tried out Complex last night, and I loved it! It’s not drying on the lips, plus it’s a good nude shade. Not my favorite, but definitely worth trying.

 

I got these Matte Balms at Target for only US$6.49 (around Php280). So far, I love this product already!

 

And, up next is Almay Liquid Eyeliner in Black.

 

 

The only reason why I bought this is because I wanted to try out non-Asian brand eyeliner. The liquid eyeliners I trust came from The Face Shop and Etude House, and it’s because I love them too much. My recent favorite is the Kiss Me brand, which I absolutely adore! I want to try out “Western” brands for a change, and see how they compare with my Asian favorites. Plus, it’s owned by Revlon (another drugstore favorite), so why not try it out?

 

I got this tube at Target for US$6.49 (around Php280). It’s cheaper than my favorite Asian brands. Hopefully, it’ll be a favorite.

 

Another item I’ve been wanting to buy is Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze.

 

 

This is a cult favorite among the vloggers and Youtube-rs my sister and I watch, so we wanted to try out this product firsthand. We tried it out last night out of sheer excitement, and, so far, we’re quite impressed with it, especially in contouring.

 

 

I’ve heard of other great bronzers, like MAC’s and  NARS’, but I think they’re too expensive, especially I’m a newbie at contouring. This bronzer has a matte finish and great pigmentation. The packaging is plastic, and may be prone to breakage.

 

I got this at Beauty.com for only US$5.24 (around Php232). Will let you know more about this product once it has undergone road testing already. Haha!

 

Next is Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent.

 

 

As I’ve mentioned earlier, Rimmel’s packaging for its powders is plastic. Ergo, it’s prone to breakage. Sadly, this happened to my pressed powder. It came in the mail broken already, but we couldn’t return it as our friend is bound to leave the US already (but they do offer returns for free!). I’ll try to salvage this pan, though. I’ll share it with you guys once I’ve mastered the art of salvaging broken compacts. LOL

 

 

This pressed powder’s supposed to be the “finishing” powder after putting makeup. I heard great stories about this product, so I have high hopes for this. I bought this at Beauty.com for only US$5.24 (around Php232).

 

Next is e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit in Medium.

 

 

I’ve been blessed with sparse eyebrows. Among my sisters, sa’kin yung pinaka-kawawa. My friends call my eyebrows “sad.” Yep, they’re that bad. In high school and for the most part in college, I veered away from plucking or shaving my eyebrows (or lack thereof). But, dear friends of mine introduced me to “shaping” the brows. I used to have my eyebrows trimmed at the local salon near my college apartment, and the lady there taught me how to define my brows.

 

Luckily, I was able to snag an eyebrow kit from Forever 21 during my visit in Hong Kong. It was a great cheat in shaping my eyebrows since it came with stencils; all I had to do was to place a stencil on top of my eyebrows and brush it with powder.

 

 

But apparently, one has to master the art of eyebrow makeup. My good friend and college roommate, Maika, went with me to Landmark and helped me pick up this eyebrow kit, which costs Php249.75. I’ve heard of great eyebrow kits, like Benefit Brow-zings, but it’s pretty expensive (US$30). But I think this e.l.f. eyebrow kit is a great dupe for Benefit Brow-zings. It both has a pigmented wax for shaping the brows (left pan) and a powder for setting (right pan). Both kits also come with hard angle brushes, blending brushes, and mirrors. The latter, though, has tweezers and an extra brush.

 

If you’re like me who doesn’t care about brands, then e.l.f.’s eyebrow kit is a great buy. The pigmented wax and setting powder has great pigmentation and longevity. Perfect for everyday use!

 

Last, and definitely not the least, is Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer in Medium 25.

 

 

I have to be honest with you guys: I don’t use concealer. I rely on my BB cream for that coverage I need for my under eyes. I own one, yeah (Bourjois Bio Detox Organic Concealer), but I can’t quite seem to use it incessantly. But due to my horrible sleeping habits ever since I quit graduate school, I have this ginormous eye bags and ugly skin. I’m now more prone to acne, thus the curiosity (and eagerness) to find the best concealer in town.

 

 

I simply googled “best drugstore concealer,” and tons of hits on Maybelline concealer appeared on my computer screen. I immediately put it in my cart, and voila! It’s here.

 

I got this tube at Beauty.com at US$4.99 (around Php220). I wanted to get the lighter shade (Sand 20) since I read somewhere that your concealer should be a shade lighter than your skin tone. But I saw this Youtube-r, who has almost the same skintone as I do, who used the same shade (Medium 25) on her, and it looked great on her. When I tried it on myself, it blended quite well on my skin. I liked it a lot since it wasn’t too light for my tasting, and it provided enough coverage for my eye bags. This is a great buy, IMO. It does the job of concealing pretty well, plus it’s not cake-y at all.

 

I went to the MAC counter at SM Megamall a few days back, and the MUA used StudioFix Concealer (in NC25) on me. After a few hours, it seemed cake-y under my eyes. Do concealers really do that, or is it just bceause of my skin? I heard great things about MAC’s StudioFix Concealer, so I was planning to get one myself. But after trying it on, I hesitated. Should I buy it or not? :/

 

Ooohhh. I completely forgot! Beauty.com offers free samples of products for every purchase. Here are the three samples I got.

 

 

Top is Go SMiLE Double Action Teeth Whitening System (one ampoule), bottom left is Laura Geller Beauty Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer, and right is Erno Laszlo Morning Beauty Rescue. I absolutely love free anything; who doesn’t, right?

 

That wraps up my January makeup haul! I swear not to buy anything again for the rest of the month! Haha. *Good thing I already have a stockpile*

 

Toodles, loves!

Dianne

Technorati Tags: beauty,haul,makeup,online shopping,target,beauty.com,drugstore.com,rimmel,nars,revlon,elf,maybelline,wet n wild,eyeshadow,bronzer,powder,lipstick,lipstain,balm,eyebrow kit,concealer,eyeliner,almay,free samples,drugstore brands,schiap

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