Tag Archives: travel

Davao Imperial Dormitel

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If you are looking for a budget dormitel located in downtown Davao City, come and check us out.  Operating since 1997, we continue to serve customers who are on a budget traveling to Davao City.  We are located in front of Aldevinco Shopping Complex and a few minutes walk away from Ateneo de Davao University.  Eateries,  convenience stores, laundry shops, business centers, ukay-ukay, you name it, are all conveniently located near our humble hotel.    Access to jeeps and taxis are convenient as we can be accessed through Ponciano Reyes St or CM Recto St. We also offer our studio type double rooms and executive rooms for rent for long term stay.  Please click on the links for Monthly Rate located at the top in the navigation bar. We are located in CM Recto St.  For inquiries, please call or text 0922-799-6078 (Sun) / 082-222-4930  (Landline) email: dvoimperial@yahoo.com.ph

******VACANCIES available as of Aug. 9, 2020*****

Imperial Hotel frontage along CM Recto St., Davao City. Infront of Aldevinco.
Executive Room with pull up bed for extra person
Executive Room with pull up bed and bathroom
Bathroom of Exec Room
Single Room
Standard Double Room
Standard Double Room
Standard Double Room
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simple pleasure of Davao island hopping

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    One of my high-school “barkada” is off for San Francisco after a 2 week vacation in Davao City.  There would be a no better send-off than to go island hopping.  Being as family oriented at our age,  with all the kids in tow, a couple of my friends organized an island hopping trip to cap-off the balikbayan’s family vacation.

We rented a boat from Island Banca Cruises to be able to tour Samal.  The 1st stop was a snorkeling spot.  Heading off to the 1st stop under the perfect weather was reinvigorating.  Staring at the calm blue water with the sun shining bright and the blowing cool wind filled me with unexplained calmness and serenity.  Banter also filled the air, the sound of the engine roaring nor the loud music playing couldn’t stop us from endless chit-chat.  When we reached the snorkeling spot, everyone dabbed on their sunblock and jumped in the water.  Fishes and corals were seen on the spot.  And when everyone had their fill of snorkeling, we headed off for Isla Reta.

We traveled for around 20 minutes again and reached Isla Reta.  By then, everyone was hungry.  Fried lechon, lechon paksiw, sinugbang bangus, spaghetti, barbeque and fruit salad were served.  Another glutton-lunch for me again!  While eating all the sinful food that you’re not supposed to indulge in all the time, a constant echo in my brain was also telling me to start a healthy diet ASAP.  I am growing bigger every week and my battle with the bulge will be a story for a future post.  For now, let me just share my island hopping experience.

After lunch, the boys drank a couple of beers to complete the meal.  *burp.*  More chit-chat, shameless picture talking and soaking in the scenery ensued.  We packed our things around 3pm and paid the Php 75.00 per head day tour fee.  We then headed off to the Vanishing Island which is nearer to the docking wharf before going home.  More picture taking, chit-chat and soaking in the water.  If it wasn’t for the high-tide and the island submerging in the sea for every minute longer we stayed, we would’ve spent more time in the island.  We reached the Pearl Farm marina by 5pm.  All in all, it was a perfect day to spend with friends you don’t see much anymore but feel very much comfortable with, as if you’ve been talking daily when you see each other again.

I hitched a ride going home which took us around 20 minutes with light traffic, from the marina wharf to the Davao Imperial Hotel.  Thank God for friendship and simple pleasures.

Durian City of Davao

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One of the simple joys in living in Davao City is enjoying durian.  That strong unique scent which many find offensive is aroma heaven to my olfactory sense.  I admit that eating durian  while growing up, took me time to appreciate it.  I usually run from the dining table upon smelling the scent of durian served after meals.  Then one day, I may be around 11 or 12 years old when I realized that I was missing out on something.  My family enjoyed the fruit except me and there was a gnawing curiosity that I needed to fill.  The need to taste durian.  I remember the apprehension and getting past the smell before I took my first bite of the fruit.  But after that bite, I understood the joy that came with eating durian.  The smell suddenly made sense and I couldn’t imagine eating the fruit without the smell.  The aroma and flavor was perfect!  And there my friends started my love affair with durian.

Drawing from my childhood experience, I realized that appreciating the fruit first took guts. To get past the smell and fill your soul with adventure to try something new.  Usually, when my out-of-town friends ask me about durian and how we can eat such a smelly fruit, I’d tell them to open their senses to a new experience and they will certainly appreciate it.  Alas, only a few are brave.

Last week, I had a friend from Manila who was willing to taste durian.  We got to squeeze a few hours to go to the local market which is a jeep ride away from the Davao Imperial Hotel before their flight and picked a nice durian fruit for his taste test.  What do you know?  The guy totally enjoyed it!  2 fruit filled seeds sucked clean. Yeah.. Only the brave who’s open to new experiences can enjoy this world more right?  So if you find yourself in Davao, try the magnificent durian.