I’m in Davao City since Friday along with other travel and feature writers from Singapore. I’ve yet to catch up on my beauty rest and yes – sleep. Our schedule’s crazy and getting up at 6AM with activities til 10PM isn’t really my best department, my Bosses know that!Born and bred in Manila makes me proud to be one that’s probably technologically advanced, fash, in touch with the world of celebs, movies are shown in time, malls are open til late, many party gimmicks to go to, lots of entertainment to splurge on. That’s Manila. Saying that, it’s also a breeding ground for a lot of really bad stuff – drugs, violence, mugging, theft, streetkids, mad traffic congestion, and these days – floods coz of the typhoon that hit our Luzon and Visayan region. I’ve visited Cebu in June and now – Davao. These two big cities in the Philippines makes me proud to be a Pinoy. The crime rate is low, the streets are clean, the people are friendlier and more sincere, the women are ooh la la! The mixed Filipino race with Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and our major native races make these two cities just 10x better than Manila. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Manila but what’s there in Manila that Cebu and Davao doesn’t offer? None! The food’s cheaper, more fresh, and with the Korean and Japanese invasion for the past years there have been more Asian fusion in their cuisine than most cities in other South East Asian Countries. Bear with me, when I get back to Singapore I’ll upload all my photos of durians as big or bigger than watermelons and much cheaper than the ones in Geylang and Katong! I bought 7kilos of Durian and it just cost me P250 or SGD$7++! Beers are less than a dollar, a packet of ciggies for less than $1, and van rentals with driver that costs less than SGD$50 that you can take with you til the wee hours so you can party all night long! I haven’t even told you about the beaches. Not Britney, Paris, or Lindsay! I mean beachfront pampering, and spots that will make you say “wow wow wee!”

I’ve just uploaded the photos. Meantime, google stuff about DAVAO, CEBU, PALAWAN, you’ll see why I’m raving about these spots. It could be your next holiday destination. Me? I’m making my plans already! I’m a little confused actually…Davao, Cebu, Cebu Davao – hell, I need a break!

(Click or Copy Paste the URL below and view my Davao slides)
http://www.slide.com/r/RW7iEvLz7D-hWMaNnlWMnJiz-AQ_v8zU?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

She’s got magical, healing hands – she’s PEN!

On Patong Beach, Phuket! ‘Had a fab mani/pedicure! Awesome cool weather there 2 weeks ago! Someone offered to gimme a tattoo but nah, not my cup of tea.  This spot was just a 5 minute walk from Amanta House, the service apartment I’ve booked online through wotif.com.  All of us had a good time. A man in his tuktuk introduced me to someone who owns a Toyota Sportsrider 4WD and got it for less than a hundred dollars for 2 days! Amsoup – the owner even drove us to the airport and gave us more tips about Phuket, its town and acquiring property there. I’m all ears, one day I’ll buy myself a spot there, and hopefully near its beach area.