Isla Verde Batangas

Isla Verde, an island in the Philippines where you can see lush and full of green trees from afar and doesn't change in time. We went there from our place near laurel park, we ride a tricycle going to a place near BRH (Batangas Regional Hospital) and then ride a jeepney going to SM City Batangas. The jeepney dropped us in SM City Batangas, near another jeepney going to Tabangao aplaya. Then, from Tabangao aplaya, you can see several ferry boats. We ride the Island Cruiser ferryboat where they can give discount to students . Our ferry boat departed at around 9am in the morning. We reminded the ferry boat captain that we will be back in Batangas the next morning.  Luckily, we stayed in our helper's relative house and we give any amount we can give.

Here's the pricelist of the expense in going to Verde Island:

Description	Amount
Tricycle in Laurel Park	20 php
Jeepney to SM City Batangas	8 php per person
Jeepney to Tabangao aplaya	13 php per person
Island Cruiser ferry boat	100 php per person

*Note: Students are discounted.

They have 12 Barangays and named after known saints. Half of Isla Verde owns by Pastor, a famous family who lives in Batangas. Their mayor implement that houses should be installed by solar panels instead of electricity. They don't have public market and hospital. There's only barangay health center. They have mini grocery store, where you can buy food like rice. But for vegetables and fruits, they have in their own backyards like coconuts and bananas.

The most beautiful place to visit is Barangay San Agapito where you can find many resorts, one is the Verde Island resort. The island has a rocky shore but you can also find fine sands on resorts and selected seashores like in Sitio Cueva. 

The island is a passageway for many boats and ferries from Mindoro, Visayas and Mindanao. When we went there, high tides in early morning and low tides in the late afternoon.  The sunset is very exhilarating and have breathtaking view from the island. The Island Cruiser ferry boat passed by to get us back in Batangas around 5am the next morning. Then, going back vice versa.

Going to Davao

We went to Davao for about one week and stayed at Home Crest Residences, a typical 3-star hotel. It doesn't have refrigerator inside the room, but the room was cozy and have a cable tv. Below are the places we have visited in Davao.

Where to go in Davao:

1. SM City Davao

First, we went to SM City Davao and its just across near our hotel. It has annex and the main building. We ate at the food court and ordered paksiw tuna buntot and kinilaw malasugue tuna. Tuna is famous in Davao and we have heard its source from General Santos city, a place near Davao.

2. Crocodile Park

Next, we went  to Crocodile Park in Diversion Road, Ma-a Davao City. Entrance fee is 200 pesos and opens at 8am to 5pm (except Friday, Saturday and Sunday), and it includes tour in Crocodile Park, Tribu K' Mindanawan, and Butterfly House.

3. Riverwalk Resto Grill

We ate at Riverwalk Resto Grill which is behind the Crocodile Park. We ordered Kinilaw tuna and Sizzling Squid for our late lunch. They also offer crocodile and ostrich meat which is not available that time that's why we haven't tasted it.

4. Antonio's Bar and Grill

This restaurant is inside SM City main building located at the ground floor. We ordered crispy tuna buntot, sinigang na bangus and their own chicken adobo which they endorsed that time. Their food is delicious but a little bit pricey.

5. Jack's Ridge

This place is kinda far and located in a cool and high place. We ordered Kinilaw tuna and Bagaybay (Male tuna egg). The place and food were great and I would definitely recommend this place to be visited. Aside from the restaurant, they also have swimming pool and cottages for stay-in.

6. Precious Garden Restaurant in Samal Island

We went to Samal Island riding a roro bus, Island City Express. The roro bus will then ride a ferry in Samal Ferry Terminal (Sasa) going to Babak. We dropped near petron and ride  a tricycle goingto the Precious Garden Restaurant. The tricyle offer us a ride going to the restaurant. He also offered if we can go to see the batcave and visit the waterfall. We prefer to visit the batcave, because we don't have extra clothes if we get wet in the waterfalls. We simply went in Samal Island for Lunch. There are beach resorts in Samal Island like the Pearl farm beach resort, but we haven't prepared for a night out because I'm expecting my period. After eating and strolling in the restaurant, we went to Monfort Bat Cave which opens 8am to 5pm. They have 5 openings of the cave which even in daytime we can see the bats hanging upside down. Before sunset came to us, we went to Babak Ferry Terminal and ride (lantsa) a small ferry boat going back to Sasa Terminal. Then, we ride a jeepney going back to Ramon Magsaysay park.

Going to Island City Express bus terminal from SM City Davao, there are two options:

1. Go to SM City, ride a jeepney going to  Ramon Magsaysay Park. A street beside on the right side of the park, take a pedicab and ask to take you to Island City Express terminal.-- Or -

2. Go to SM City, ride a jeepney going to  Ramon Magsaysay Park. Stopover a street before the park, at F. Bangoy street, then walk thru that street and you will see the bus.

Here's the pricelist of the expense in going to Samal Island:

Description	Amount
SM City jeepney ride to R. Magsaysay park	8 php per person
Pedicab	10 php per person
Island City Express bus to Samal Island	35 php per person
Monfort Bat Cave	100 php per person
Small Ferry Boat	12 php per person
Sasa jepney ride to R. Magsaysay park	8 php per person

Monfort Bat Sanctuary

7. Luz Kinilaw and Inihaw Place

After we went to Samal Island, going back to Ramon Magsaysay Park. Then, we went to Luz Kinilaw and Inihaw place, known for their sinugba (grill)  tuna. We chose to buy the Bihod (Female Tuna Egg) and they grilled it. It taste great. 

8. Eden Nature Park

Going to Eden Nature Park costs us a lot from our place, we rode a taxi and charge us 500 php. Upon arriving at their day tour center, we were asked to pay for a day tour package before we roam around the park. It costs us 220 php for a snack package. There's also lunch package which costs about 500 php. We chose the snack package. The park is a very wide area that consists of the flower park, tinubdan park and lola's garden. They also have animals like birds and butterflies. There is also fishing village where you can get some tilapia. There's also zipline for skyride, skycycle and skyswing on the other side of the park. 

9. Bankerohan Fruitasan

This place is near the bankerohan river. Riding a jeepney, and dropping by the fruits stands before Magsaysay park. The fruits here are cheaper for durian, mangosteen and suha. Great for pasalubong (give aways). After we buy fruits, we ate in Penong's Chicken which is like Mang Inasal in Manila.