Samal v Panglao

Gina (a friend) asked me if i prefer Samal which is an island in the gulf of Davao here in Mindanao. or Panglao an island near Bohol, we visited this week. To be honest i don't know, Samal is close and we take it for granted, it is just there and very accessible for local resorts like paradise beach resort, or Chemas via boat or a RORO ferry away ....or like....

A week or so back we went to a backwater place for our niece Kitkats birthday to a place called La Concha. it is a private resort and can be booked only when the owner isn't present, he rents it out to cover overhead and maintenance costs.

I drove and Arnel also drove his Dads vehicle, about 12 in each vehicle so a happy party of 24 or so, arrived early for a full days eating, drinking and swimming. Wow some of the kids swam all day and were so sun tanned at the end of the day, really burnt but it was beautiful and so.....

Gina, not sure which i prefer but Samal is closer and in support of Mindanao i guess i choose Samal.

trip to Bohol

We went to Bohol last week and stayed on a popular local island Panglao, going with friends Mats and Cora and of course Germaine and Annika, it was a happy party. We stayed at a place near to Alona beach called Alona studio's, it was ok and fairly inexpensive but not convenient for the beach and with limited food menu, very limited, so, would try somewhere else next time.

We went by plane, 45 mins to Cebu and from Cebu transfered to the port area where we waited about an hour for the ferry from Cebu to Bohol. The ferry was a pleasant 2 hour journey, me and Mats sat on top which was quite noisy but blowy and fun taking in the sites of passing paradise islands.

Annika was fine at "getting up" at 4am, great on the flight and slept on the ferry testing Ann's biceps but resting and happy. We were only there for 3 nights and 2 full days but soon got the feel for the place and "hit" some really good restaurants during the trip. We would have liked to go boating, dolphin watching or island hopping but between us we counted that out because of Annika and the extra hassle that would have entailed, so, we took it easy for the first day, except Annika up at 5am so at first light 5:30am (we called for Mats as arranged at 5:30 but he sleepilly declined to come with) Germaine and I took Annika down to the beach for a nice splash about in the cool weather. Super meal out at night and that was the first day done.

We went on a Bohol trip the next day which was python stroking, monument visiting, tarsier monkey viewing (worlds smallest primate i think see picture with Ann) and chocolate hill viewing, boat trip for lunch and caves and rope bridge it was all packed into one trip, tiring but fun. More beer and food and then back to home next day returning via ferry, 3 hours wait and lunch in Cebu shopping mall and then delayed flight of about an hour home, all no problems apart from an upset Annika on the return flight coz of ear / air pressure problems, she was a handful thats for sure, 45 mins felt like 4.5 hours, anyway she was fine as soon as we touched down so it had to be her ears, she slept on the way there but not on the way back, anyway no big problems.

All in all a good trip, weather not perfect, digs not perfect but it was fun, Bohol is worth a trip.

Bogsers

Bogsers is a local music bar here in Central Park, Bangkal, (Davao City) good atmosphere, very friendly staff and owner, great music, both live and recorded. Mum liked the bar and we went there quite a few times, Bogs the owner very friendly and welcoming and invited me and Roel to his birthday party last monday, it was fun packed and friendly.

Bogs is a musician who lived and played in the US for 26 years and has an excellent voice, great keyboard man and is obviously a talented musician.

Last night i met Roel at about 8pm and we were joined by an old friend of Roels (Pedrito) and his band. Some short while later some cousins turned up and we were having a party.

We asked Oogie a Filipino friend to turn up, he did with some friends but it was 10pm and i was ready for home and bed, anyway it was a fun night, Bog's place is well worth a visit, the pictures very accurately reflect the atmosphere of the place and very handy for me in central park.

Half Way

Annika's half year celebrations today and as can be seen by today's photos she is coming on so well. Ann went with Annika to the doctors to get a jab and a check up, she is doing really well and solid foods and the next stage for eating and drinking were chatted through but seeing Annika plugged into the breast at regular times during the day and night there is no way she is in the mood to give up that treat.

Annika does seem to have an alergy, we think to processed milk products, she goes very blotchy in the skin when eating or sampling ice cream, and several other milky things, we will find out more in time, sure its a minor problem, the skin flares up and recedes with lightning speed.

What else, well she can roll over both ways, looks ready to start crawling and has some strength in the legs, she is very alert and knows how to "ask" for things. She is a star.

Today i dunked her under the water for the first time in the pool and was interested to see how she reacted. Shear panic while under water would be the best description but when on the surface after say 0.5 seconds, under water a sort of stunned acceptance. ( i waited till ann wasn't about). Repeated it once more and same reaction, i thought twice was pushing my luck, so decided against a third dunk, we were in the pool for about 25 mins, water very warm.

That is the update on Annika,only good news.............

River rafting

Our kind next door neighbour's Raul and Emily invited me to come rafting and i invited Mats and his Swedish visitor Anders to join us. The river is very near the San miguel brewery near Digos and a beautiful natural setting, rushing river, trees and canyon views.

We had 8 guides and 1 chef, Emily decided not to take part as she had done the trip many times and the mountain water was fresh to say the least, bloody cold actually but nice to feel cold here sometimes, honestly.

Didn't get any water riding the wave shots because we were on it and mainly in it (the water), it was an exciting and exhilarating experience about 2 hours of adrenalin rush

The pictures shown are Raul and Mats relaxing with a beer or two at the bottom, Emily supervising the lunch, very nice it was, our guides, the river and also a shot of our "raft", great fun and me and Mats are planning a longer trip down Davao river, which Mats has done before, an 8 hour trip, more sedate with beer and BBQ facilities, sounds fun to me.

New Years eve party

Started at 6pm finished about 2pm by that time i had had enough, switched a few lights off and suddenly everyone got up and left, i suppose it wasn't such a subtle hint but i was dog tired and had some clearing up to do, nobody seemed upset.

How could they, it went very well, just a few friends and a few of Ann's family, everyone mixed in well together, food was fantastic, loads to drink, and the biggest shock of all...everyone drinking coffee...who started that off? think it was Chris and then everyone jumped in with an order.

Then it was beer and spirits again for the midnight toast and on to the streets to "make some noise" (fire crackers not allowed here in Davao) and then back to more chatting and drinks until the 2pm switch off.

There was a strong Swedish influence at the party, Mats and Cora and friend Anders as well as Chris and bingBing.

Thanks to Nilda nd Rene, Cora and Mats and Chris and BingBing for help with the food and all with drinks of course....we had fun.

Happy new year

She is eating

Goodness me where has the last 6 months gone? It has all been shrinking world markets, sleepless nights and Annika growing up a little star. Ann's target was a 6 month period of breast milk exclusively and she has breezed across that line with a confident smile while breasting (almost literally) the metaphorical tape.

She is growing fast and although 6 months has not yet been reached we are trying her already with the odd mashed squash, mashed banana and latest baby food from the dish.

Annika seems to like everything, even tamarind soup which she had a lick of seemed to get a nod of approval.

As James and Tim of course approaches 21, Annika is a confident and chubby 6 months, evidence supplied.