Ron had his first dive today at 9:30am at a location called the Coral Garden. While he went with the instructor, Timo, Elina, and I stayed around the area to do some snorkeling. The water was still cool since it was early morning and it was very clear. There were so many fish and corals. I saw box fish, damsels, clown fish (Nemo!), pipe fish, etc.

We returned to the resort around noontime to take a break and have some lunch. I ordered the tuna melt (P225) and pomelo juice and Ron had the grilled salmon steak (P400). We were really really hungry!

Ron went for his second dive around 1:30pm to the “underwater mountain”. Basically it’s a small mountain underneath the water and Ron and the instructor walked around the base of the mountain before coming up. The water was a bit cooler and choppier in this area where I went snorkeling. It was harder to see since the sun wasn’t as bright and the water murkier.

After all that swimming, we were both exhausted so when we arrived back around 3:30pm, we went to nap until 6:30pm! By the time we woke up, it was storming pretty hard but the resort is kind enough to provide umbrellas so we ventured out for dinner.

We have geckos all around out patio:

but they all went into hiding during the storm.

We ordered the Asian crab cake with shiitake mushroom sweet ginger chili sauce (P180).

Deconstructed as a happy face!

The Sinigang (shrimp tamarind based sour soup with local summer vegetables, P350). REALLY sour!!

Asian Flavored Beef Tenderloin with blue river prawn dumplings on a soy-garlic glaze and stirfry noodles (P650).

Ube Lanka Turon (purple yam and jackfruit spring rolls on caramel sauce (P100).

Tiramisu with almond tuille and tropical fruit coulis (P150).

The breakfast buffet is really good. Lots of variety, well worth getting up in the morning if only to eat fruit and have coffee. This was to be a slow morning since Ron didn’t have his first scuba lesson until the late afternoon. So he scheduled to have a haircut and shave at the spa. You have to reserve early because the person who does shaves and haircuts comes from the main island of Manila so they take the first ferry at 8am. Timo also went to have a shave. Although they weren’t that impressed by it, at least it was an experience.

Afterwards, we discovered the tennis courts and ping pong tables. They are a bit run down and their equipment is falling apart but we were still able to play tennis with the equipment. We lost quite a few tennis balls but also found some in the process. We built up quite an appetite to ordered some sandwiches to go and headed to the other beach.

Timo, Elina, and I went to the beach while Ron did his first training in the pool in full scuba gear with an air tank.

We had our lunch and then I followed Elina to do some beach combing for sea shells and admiring the hermit crabs.

After Ron’s scuba lesson, we relaxed a bit more before going back to our cabins to rest for a bit and get ready for dinner.

We met again at the bar for some drinks before having dinner. I tried their drink called a Pino Pepe (basically a pina colada in a pineapple) and the pineapple was sugar sweet!

Ron did a little karaoke and the bartender sang a song for us.

I felt like something lighter so had the Shrimp Samal (poached jumbo shrimp on a bed of vegetable salad infused with kaffir-lime vinagrette, P265). The shrimps were really fresh.

Ron tried the Beef Steak Filipino (grilled beef tenderloin fillet on soya-lemon and onion sauce with carmelized onion rings and roasted garlic, P350) with adobo rice (P50).

We shared the cream of asparagus soup (P200).

Ron tried a beer called Red Horse Beer.

He said it tasted a bit metallic.

Overall, a relaxing day for most of us.

http://www.pearlfarmresort.com/

We arrived in Manila around 4AM! We are staying at the Pearl Farm Beach Resort on Davao so they had a van come to pick the four of us up and drive us to the marina. It was raining a bit but it wasn’t too humid so it was tolerable. It was still dark out when we arrived to the marina and we had to take a ferry to the actual resort. Unfortunately for us the next ferry wasn’t until 8AM! So we stayed in the lounge of the marina and took naps and drank coffee. At the marina, they searched our luggage because we’re not supposed to bring any of your own food or snacks to the resort. If you want to bring you own stuff, you have to pay a “corkage” which is an arbitrary amount. Watch out if you visit this resort, hiding drinks and food within your luggage doesn’t really help, they will poke around your clothes and stuff to find it!

We took the ferry at 8am and it took about 30 minutes to get to Davao.

To welcome our arrival, they play this wonky comical music which is quite funny. They give you a glass of fresh pineapple juice as you disembark from the ship.

We checked into our suites, Ron and I stayed in “Samal 3” which is one of the cabins right on the water. The window faces the water and you have a small balcony with a seat and a rack for drying your swimwear. Inside the cabin is a queen size bed, the bathroom is the other side of the cabin with a separate room for toilet, and open sink with two closets, then another separate room for shower. Quite cozy.

We went to have the breakfast buffet which is included with our stay. The papaya was the best part. The buffet also included things like pork toscino (sweet) and beef tapia (salty).

Next to the restaurant there is this cage which a beautiful white parrot, his name is Charlie. He can only say “Hello” and “Goodbye” and “Charlie”. At least that’s all we could get him to say.

After breakfast, we walked to the other side of the resort where there are water sports and Ron signed up to start his scuba certification lessons. He will be doing that while I just go snorkeling.

Since we had quite a long journey, we went to rest a bit. We fed the fishes that were swimming below our balcony with some bread from the buffet and then took a nap until late afternoon.

Ron and I went to explore more the island and ended up at the Game Room to shoot some pool. Afterwards we met up with Timo and Elina at the restaurant for some drinks, I tried the fresh green mango juice and Ron had classic Coke in a bottle.

Together we walked to the far end of the resort and I took a nap on the lounge chairs on the beach while the rest chatted away.

We eventually left the beach and went back to our cabins, this time everyone took a nap before meeting up at the bar. Parola Bar is a small bar located in the tower as you arrive to the resort. They have karaoke in the evenings. The drinks are a bit weak but if youÕre friendly to the bartender, the drinks are made a bit stronger. Ron had the mango daquiri and I tried the Pearl Farm cocktail.

After drinks, we went to have dinner. There is only one restaurant on the island so I think we’ll be going through their entire menu before we leave the resort.

Our dinner guests were the geckos all around…

We shared the Chicken Binakol Soup (Filipino lemongrass scented chicken soup with summer vegetables in a crisp pastry crust served in a coconut, P200 = 200 Pesos, 1USD ~ P45).

The portion was quite large and it was quite tasty.

I ordered the Crispy Pata (Crispy deep fried boneless pork knuckle with vinegar dipping sauce, P450).

This was basically deep fried pork fat. It actually had quite a lot of meat and was VERY filling. If you have high cholesterol, don’t eat this!

Ron ordered the Deep Fried Chicken (Local herb-marinated chicken served with French fries and pickled green papaya, P275).

Inexpensive but nothing to rave about.

Elina had the Char-grilled gindara fillet on lobster dumplings (with stirfry noodles on teriyaki glaze, P290).

Timo had the Tournedos of Pork Tenderloin (on chives pomme puree with sautŽed spinach and shallots, P350).

After our filling dinner, we went to the game room and Ron played a game of chess before we headed back to watch TV and head to bed.

This will be a good vacation!

Today I requested the day off to run some last minute errands before we leave for the Philippines in the evening. Ron and I took the opportunity to finish our packing and run around town. We headed to Central @ Clarke Quay to have some ramen. We ate at Marutama Ramen at Central Clarke Quay.

They have some interesting meatball things with lots of red onion.

We had two large bowls of ramen.

The egg is extra:

If you’d like to check out the menu before you go:

We had dinner with our friends Timo and Elina, who are going to the Philippines too, at Pho Hoa in Holland Village.

One of my favorite Vietnamese drinks, three color drink:

We hadn’t had pho since our trip to Vietnam last year so it was a nice treat. I love bean sprouts!

Our flight to Manila is at 11:59pm on Cebu Pacific, located at the Budget Terminal of Changi Airport. Unfortunately we were a bit delayed and pretty exhausted waiting at the airport.

But we were all excited about going on vacation 🙂