Love is the Answer by Raymond Hannisian

I clicked Perry's blog to find out that he posted a belated birthday greeting to me. One of the things that I remember about him (aside from our dance performances) is the choir. When I was with my previous employment, after practice, we would go down via stairs to the third floor to return the keyboard. Why the stairs? Because the echo effect it creates when we sing. One of our favorite pieces is "Love is the Answer" (click on the link, I googled it). Wala lang, try to listen to it. The song is so reassuring and soothing to the soul... Here's the lyrics:

LOVE IS THE ANSWERby: Raymond Hannisian

Morning comes and I must go; day is breaking yonder.
After all the places I have been, now I’m going home.
I have been to seek the sky, to travel on the highway
And the time has come, I don’t know whyI am going home.

REF1:Where is the answer to so many questions
I don’t know, so I begin another journey
Where is the meaning for my worldI see the answer now.

Though we came by diff’rent roads, now we walk together.
Stay beside me all our days, strangers never more.
Through the cool of summer rains, by the hearthside fire
Here I’ll be with you when nothing remainsI am home to stay.

REF2:For love is the answer to so many questions
Now I know, and I can stop my endless wand’ring
Love gives the meaning to my world
I see the answer now.

Love gives meaning to my world
And I see the answer now
Love is the Answer… Love!

Davao 7 (The Marco Polo Experience)

Since it's our last night in Davao, Suzie and I decided to end it with a BANG!!! by checking ourselves in The Marco Polo Hotel. We availed of the business traveler's package. It would normally cost P4,500 but we applied for a corporate rate so it was further reduced to P3,700. We checked in kinda late so we maximized the night by touring the whole facility, taking pictures and then listening to lounge music while having coffee and dessert.

** it's 1PM already.. post to be continued later.

Davao 6

This one is taken at the EDEN NATURE PARK. We arranged a package trip (P645/head) inclusive of ride to and from the park, tour and buffet lunch. Separately availed are the SKYRIDER (P 150/head, pics to follow --- it's like a zip line) and the Tinubdan tour (P85/head -- educational tour about the katutubos).

They have a man-made forest, aviary, vegetable garden (where they adapt the Japanese style of planting lettuce -- no soil, only running water). I loved the view at the 'coliseum'... One can see it as the perfect garden wedding area. hehehe.. There are peacocks roaming around, mingling with people. One was even kind enough to give us a feather souvenir. The white one just approached us, then gave a quick wiggle, then there goes 2 feathers. hahaha.... of course I took them for my scrapbook.

Buffet lunch was comprised of fresh salad (you can have freshly picked lettuce from the pot), grilled fish, stir fried noodles, steamed veggies, kakanin (have you heard of carrot-flan?, fresh fruits, grilled chicken and other stuff that I can't remember as I'm writing this. I didn't try everything because I don't want to upset my stomach.

The best part is that skyrider thingie... you can really appreciate the view of everything from above. Scary at first but after trying it, you would want to do it all over -- just pay another P150. hahah...

Definitely a must when you're in Davao.

Label cloud

I put it back!!! weeeeeee..... (out of boredom)

Wall

We're on the same planet and yet it's as if we don't know each other. I don't blame this person if we can't establish the connection that we used to have. I know why and maybe........

Knowing this person, I know there won't be any hi's or hello's coming from this person first... not unless this person wants to. So I guess I just have to accept this person's presence.

Commercial break

What is new? I just enrolled myself to a driving school yesterday. hehehe.. I'm excited. and I'm planning to get myself a passport too. Yahoo!!!

And my brother (from Japan) would be coming home on December 23!!! I already bought his ticket yesterday for a very mahal price.

What else? This weekend I just realized how much I missed staying at home during a weekend. I've been far from home these 2 months that I really maximized my Saturday and Sunday cleaning, sleeping and being with my pets. Last night I started on my travel scrapbook. I was also able to unclog my cabinet and shoerack. I decided to give my old but nice and fashionable clothes away.

I gave my mom a gift. I didn't buy it.. Basta I gave her money to buy the wooden cabinet that she's been yearning for. I think I'll see her purchase tonight.

Davao 5 (and still counting...)

Next destination... The Crocodile Park ... where aside from crocodiles, you'll find birds and snakes, too. We went there after our Banquerohan fruit escapade. Entrance fee is P100/head. It is inclusive of your serve-yourself tour and a show featuring different animals. If you're a bit earlier, you could still tour their butterfly sanctuary for an additional P45 I think. They have 'Pangil', the largest crocodile in Mindanao. At first I thought he's a fake because he isn't moving at all. But if you'll look closely, you can see it's mouth in breathing motion.

I wasn't able to see the showcased animals because my tummy isn't feeling that well already. If I'm not mistaken, they brought out a huge bird, a burmese python and a big sawa. Although I was 'namumutla' na in the process, I still found the strength to pose with a burmese python wrapped around my shoulders... hehehe...

Anyway, next stop is the Davao Doctors Hospital... Since I can't tolerate the tummy pain anymore, I decided to ER myself. I was fortunate because I have companions as caring as them. They preliminary paid for all my ER expenses (Lab tests, ER fee, professional fee, medicines and etc.). The thing I didn't like about the hospital is that before they could administer treatment, they'd always ASK FOR A RECEIPT. *ay naku*...

I don't really know what caused my stomach to be ill. The last thing I ate before the pain was a cold papaya. After which everything I ate tend to go back up and out. Because of such, I had to endure 1 whole workweek without any coffee... =( sniff! and no fruits, too. After week, thank God I got better. Well I'd better be, after a very expensive moment at that hospital....

Davao 4

Was able to crop and fix a few pictures. Let's take it from the top...

Kopiroti

Meron pala nito dito sa Manila... hahaha... It's a coffee shop that we bumped into by accident. One night I wanted a frappuccino so much -- kala namin meron dito. Since there was none, we ended up at Bo's Coffee (sobrang last choice). Out of curiousity, after our Javanese Lulur package at the Metro Spa, we headed to this place for a light but homey meal... I ordered their special home made iced tea and french toast. Because their mug is so unique, we bought one for ourselves (the one I bought is for LOLO!!!).

Coco's Grill

We were brought here by the auditees on our last night in Davao. It's a very cozy restaurant that serves delicious baby back ribs served with rice and steamed veggies and carbonara. I wasn't able to try the other stuff such as pizza and dessert. Their mango shake's kinda dissappointing though. It's a good place to try when you're in Davao.

Dencia's

Here in Manila, we have Dencio's. They have Davao Dencia's. I'm not sure if it's a sorta chinese resto because of the appearance (parang president's sa Ongpin) but they serve delicious food at affordable prices. Ideal for group dinners. I suggest you order their pansit. Masarap siya as in.... We've tried their buttered chicken, crispy pata, hototay, buttered shrimp, fresh lumpia, goto (not so good). This resto is one of the favorites of my colleague.

Banquerohan

It's the fruit divisoria of Davao. You'll find all the suha, durian and mangosteen at more affordable prices than the other pop-up fruitstands along the other streets. According to the natives there, fruits are quite pricey than usual this season because of the limited supply. For example mangosteen... I bought 1 kilo at P150 -- there was a time when they were only P30 per kilo. *sigh*... We bought all sorts of fruity goodies. I feasted on langka which is only P20 pero 1/4 kilo.

Davao posts are not over yet... there are still more to go....

Davao 3 (the durian effect)

One's Davao trip would not be complete without having a bite of their famous fruit... the DURIAN!

It's not my first encounter with this delicacy. One of my colleagues from my former employment brought some. Tastes kinda weird at first but you'll get the hang of it in the long run. I brought some home to let them experience the whole thing. My mom and Tita Vhie said that it tasted like overripe onions(???) -- I dunno what it means. Anyway, I myself couldn't describe the taste. All I can say is that it's creamy. The color depends on the 'type' or 'brand'. Once you've eaten some, the pungent scent kinda goes away. I could eat some but I'm not a big fan.

Davao 2

Second post... This is about another fabo restaurant, BIGBY'S. Specialty -- baby back ribs and pasta. 4 out of the 7 team members (that includes me) are October celebrants so we demanded for a cake and some birthday merry-making from the staff. Food is good. We ordered baby back ribs, deep sea pasta and hungarian sausage pasta. The birthday complementary cakes were our desserts. Choco overload. yum yum!!!

Definitely another must-visit when you're in Davao.

Davao 1

This is my first post on Davao... I celebrated my birthday while on fieldwork... The theme on my brain is an Italian dinner. Luckily, after asking the executives, it was suggested that we go to a place called La Toscana.

It's a small restaurant owned by an Italian and Filipina couple. It serves authentic Italian foodies. We started off with an appetizer of cold cuts and bread. Main course is comprised of 3 pizzas (Salsicccia e funghi, Stagione, Italian volcano)and 5 pasta plates; 1 Carbonara, 2 Marinaras, 1 Alla Crema con Prosciutto, 1 Salsiccia Rustica. The Alla Crema con Prosciutto was the runaway winner in the pasta category. It's made out of home made pasta and not the ones that are readily available in the supermarkets. It won't be complete without dessert and for that, we ordered 2 banana splits. The resto was kind enough to give me a complementary tiramisu with a candle on top.

Totally Italian Happiness! hehehe... Visit this place. It's along E. Quirino St. near Davao Doctors Hospital.

Long time no post

It's been a long time indeed. I'm so busy and ngarag. *sigh* but we're so near... konting tiis na lang... Hello Marco Polo Hotel! Hello Javanese Lulur spa package! Hello shopping!!!

wake up Rach... may exit conference ka pa bukas. hahaha

I'll be posting the pics when I get back in Manila...