Davao Trip: Governor's Ball @The Party Boat

Governor's Ball is the event in the Toastmasters District Convention that I really looked forward to aside from  the contests. We enjoyed the party as we roamed around the sea for 3 hours on board the Party Boat(my first time to do that!wee!)

The Party Boat

while we were waiting for our turn to get some food :)

 After some lovely chat with some of our fellow Toastmasters while having dinner, we walked around the boat and we enjoyed the view and the cool breeze.

we three are inseparable!(a pic with the incoming Division Governor)

some of the cocktail mixes available .We prefer them over beer! :)

The cocktails tasted like juice despite the big amount of alcohol they mixed it with so, we had lots of them. Thankfully we didn't get drunk when the night was over. :)

power of three!

a view from the top center of the boat.

Of course, a party is not a party if there's no music! They played songs that are perfect for the party and the singer we had at the party did really well in entertaining us. She's got a good voice and she's really good in dancing. Top of that, she's a great stand up comedian. Everyone laughed their hearts out in every line she utters!

dancing under the rain

While everyone's enjoying the party, it suddenly rained. Some got disappointed but, some loved that even more! When the guys went at the center and danced under the rain(picture above), the others saw how fun it was so they also joined! Sadly though I held back. I don't know why though. Maybe that was just me wanting and trying oh so hard to be "prim and proper". Because of that, I wasn't able to maximize the fun. 

A final picture as the party boat was already near the dock.

It was truly a wonderful night! :)

The Remaining Hours in Davao- At People's Park

Like any typical tourists, we spent the last day looking for things that we can bring to our family. Good thing, Ate C has a friend in Davao that's why we didn't get lost and we were able to experience a part of Davao is just a little time. After looking for key chains, ref magnets, paperweights, t-shirts and sweets to bring home, we went to People's Park.

During the jeepney ride, people were staring at us because we look and dress(maybe) like we're not from the place. Also, we were a bit noisy.

The picture below is when we started calling ourselves "illegal loggers" because it showed our logs--I mean, our legs. ;)

Me, Ate J and Ate C.

the mini forest in the park

Davao is also known as the home of many Philippine eagles so we may not have been able to see an actual, live Philippine eagle, we settled for the big one at the park

walking around the park. soooo not loving the bag I was using.haha

we just love taking pictures with us in it.haha! :)

our "tour guide" Shieba, Ate C and Me (bulding behind us is the Durian Dome)

inside the Durian Dorm, the top floor

we're bringing sexyback.. ;)

After going around the park, we went around a mall in the city then had a quick dinner since we still had to go back to Samal Island and the last trip of the barge is around 8 or 9PM. It was pretty tiring because we walked around all afternoon(and we didn't know that Davao is a big city!).

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2nd Day in Davao (on our way to Samal Island)

In our 2nd day in Davao, despite wanting to sleep more, we woke up and took a bath and fixed our things as we need to be in Samal Island at aroung 10:00AM for the District Convention Registration. We left Tita's home at around 9:20 and we reached the wharf after 10-15minutes(same number of minutes from Davao Airport to the wharf.

entrance to the wharf going to Samal Island

The wharf ride is P10 per person. After paying, we went to the registration area where we wrote our name and the place where we came from. Maybe this is one way for them to know the number of tourists who visit the island.

Another way to go to the island is to take a bus where you'll pay P50. Since we are booked at a hotel just a few walks away from the entrance to the island or where the wharf stops, we didn't take the bus.

Filling up the registration form

The lower part of the wharf is for the vehicles.

entering the wharf

the lower part of the wharf

leaving the dock :)

then, at around 9:45, we reached our hotel. We registered first(luckily, we were able to get a room in the hotel where the Convention was held) then we checked in immediately after.

1st Day in Davao

When we went to Davao last April, we booked for a flight a day before the convention. We arrived at Davao Airport at around 1:00PM and we didn't have a clue where we'll stay because we were booked at the hotel for the next day. Since me and ate were moving on a tight budget, we were thinking of looking for transient houses in the city. One of our fellow Toastmaster from Baguio, being as nice as ever, told us that we can go with him to his sister-in-law's home. yey!we're saved! :)

buttered shrimp and tomatoes dipped in soy sauce

When we arrived at Tita's house, she welcomed us so warmly that we felt like she's our sister-in-law also. teehee. She prepared lunch which is just good for her and Tatay because she didn't expect to have us but, the lunch prepared was even good for 8 people. The lunch was indeed very delish..

the veranda

 Their veranda is very relaxing. A great place to have afternoon naps.

birdies :)

 What makes the veranda a total package for relaxation is its view and the lovely birds.

the guest room

Yes. Their guest room. Even if she was not anticipating 2 more "guests", there's always a room ready. The room is very hotel like. There's a television, mini ref, coffee table, a wonderful view and a clean and spacious restroom. The room is even air-conditioned. yey to that!

Because we were so tired(6hr trip from Baguio to Dau, 30min trip from Dau to Clark Airport, 2hr flight from  Clark to Davao and a 30min cab ride from the airport to this lovely home--yea we got lost), we immediately took a nap that lasted for 4 hours so perhaps, I should say, we slept. Then we had dinner, then we went back to sleep.Great!

The next day, we already went to the real reason why we went to Davao- the Toastmasters District 75 Convention. :)

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Samal Island Meals

Nothing beats the combination of a great meal in a serene atmosphere, a breathtaking view and a wonderful companion. 

Breakfast(Boiled egg,fried egg ,1/2boneless fish and Banana(at PhP165 per person)

That picture above was the breakfast served at the hotel during the first day . Two eggs cooked in different ways the first day. During the second day, we had almost the same meal for breakfast (without the banana and replacing the fish with small slices of chicken)

Lunch (Pinakbet, kilawin, grilled chicken, soup and buko salad for dessert)

We had lunch at the resort 5minutes away from where we stayed. The food was okay. It was a buffet lunch that's why we were pretty contented. What I loved the most was the buko salad. It's perfect!

Dinner (Chicken Curry, barbecue, spaghetti, mixed fruits(pineapple,watermelon,papaya and Davao Pomelo) and mini ube cupcakes)

We had dinner at the Party Boat where we had our Governor's Ball. The food was limited except for the Davao Pomelo.

Me and my friends were disappointed with the food from the first meal to the last because it didn't taste good and that's maybe because they had to serve 350 of us in the convention that they have to rush everything.

The meals we had in Samal Island may not have reached even the the "just ok" level in our range, the atmosphere, the view, the companions and the experience definitely made up for it.

On the way to Samal Island

The Wharf going to Samal

Last Friday(April 27), I attended the Toastmasters District 75 Convention in Samal Island, Davao. I was worried a few days before because I thought I'll be going to Samal alone but, thankfully, some of my fellow Toastmasters from Baguio also had the same flight as mine so despite the long travel from Baguio, it was indeed a fun one.

From Davao International Airport to the Wharf, it will only take 15minutes via taxi(it will cost 100-120). The wharf ride going to Samal Island from Davao is only 10mins(it will only cost PhP10 per person and additional 270 if you have an SUV, a car or a Van). Wearing a mini skirt is definitely not advisable ;)