riding a barge

Here's a scene while riding the barge on a typical island hopping trip between mainland Davao City and Samal Island.

It takes just about 5 minutes to get across. Recently however, news buzzing about a proposal linking the island with a suspension bridge elicited many reactions. The Feasibility study phase is now nearing completion.

By the time bridge construction finally gets the go signal, images of island hopping such as these would just have to be relegated to nostalgia.

Sasa wharf

The Port of Davao consists of both commercial and non-commercial major piers and wharfs that stretch within the city and neighboring provinces in the Davao Gulf. This is the Sasa Wharf, the largest and busiest among the Davao ports and presently undergoing expansion to accommodate growing demands as new and larger international ships berth in the area. The Sasa wharf is a premiere export and import hub in the island and presently is the fourth largest in the country in terms of container-cargo traffic and container-volume performance.

for sale...turtles???

I initially thought having seen virtually anything sold by vendors on the sidewalk fronting a mall in Illustre St. from peanuts, jewelries and glow-in-the-dark stuffs to Krishna booklets (I bought one), puppies and artist-made pendants.

One vendor however, made me stop on track and turn back to ogle at his wares. He was actually selling turtles! Hopefully, these species aren't on the endangered list.

street kids

I was doing my stuff at an outdoor cafe when a frail-looking street kid held up some fragrant sampaguita leighs and begged me to buy it, narrating at the same time some sob story. Curious about his otherwise innocent life, I inquired where his parents were. He said his mother works as a streetsweeper, replete with his signature pouting face and an impressively melancholic look in his eyes you'd think he just got his certificate on drama and acting workshop. I also asked how many they are in the family. I can't recall the number, but did remember my shock at hearing how many his brothers and sisters turned out to be.

Soon his buddy, a hyperactively plump bundle, joined in to make a crowd. Apprehensive about medicancy and giving money to these innocent ones, I decided to buy banana chips (the least chemical-laced chip in the counter) instead to treat the three of us. The store guard tried to shoo them, and I in turn shooed him away. Soon, we were having a time and I decided to take them a pic, which they more than willingly obliged as obviously shown by their eskewed faces.



The night pic may be blurry, but definitely their innocent, joyful countenances are as clear as a sunny day.

Soon, his plump buddy did a prank dash with the chips, and my streetkid friend gave a chase as they noisily disappeared towards the streets of Davao...

surprisingly isolated

Davao City's land area is so vast it doesn't cease to surprise. I never expected that this green lush landscape with nary a soul or dwellings, but with scenic, overlooking sceneries stretching along the long strip of concrete artery would merely be around 20 minutes from the main highway of the city. This is located in Bunawan district north of the downtown area.



There may be some rural pockets beyond the city's urbane districts, but I guess this was the first time I saw the part in such isolated state that not a single house or building could be found within its vicinity. And, I found the actual view refreshing.