Philippines: Davao | Kadayawan Festival

The scorching heat in Davao didn’t dampen our spirits at all. It was sweltering, but I didn’t mind one bit. Since it was my first time experiencing such a fantastic festival, I made sure to savor every moment of the day. As we made our way to Roxas Street, the sound of drums filled the air, and we couldn’t resist following the rhythm. I was filled with joy, running around, trying to take everything in. I felt like I was on cloud nine, almost in tears from sheer happiness. Hahaha! Even though I forgot to apply sunscreen and ended up 100 times darker than usual, the sweat didn’t faze me one bit! HALA SIGE SAYAW! It was a day filled with good vibes and lots of laughter.

The Kadayawan Festival is an annual celebration in Davao City that lasts for a week. It focuses on appreciating nature and giving thanks for life. Taking place every third week of August, it's best to book your tickets before August 1. People from various regions in the Philippines, as well as international visitors, flock to Davao to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere. The festival features a series of main events, including the street dance competition known as Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan and the Floral Parade, called Pamulak.

The street dance competition kicks off on Roxas Street and continues all the way to the City Hall of Davao. Performers are judged based on their choreography, the narrative of their dance, and, of course, their props and costumes. Each group puts forth an incredible effort, showcasing 101% performance levels. They don eye-catching and elaborate costumes that beautifully convey the story of their dance. The creativity displayed in their props is truly impressive, with each group sharing a distinct story that celebrates nature and its wonders.

No festival would be complete without the Floral Parade (Pamulak). This vibrant parade showcases the various fruits famous in Davao, such as Durian, Pomelo, Mangosteen, Marang, and Lanzones. Additionally, there is a parade featuring different mascots of the Philippine Eagle. The event bursts with color and energy, making it a spectacular sight in the city of Davao.

These are the only pictures I have, since I was too busy taking videos. HAHA! 

THANK YOU VON AND RACHEL FOR TAGGING ALONG WITH MY CRAZINESS DURING THE KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL. ALSO, TO MY COUSINS WHO WOKE UP EARLY JUST TO SEE ME AND HAD LUNCH WITH ME BEFORE I WENT BACK TO MANILA! THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Durian drink & Red Velvet Cake
This wraps up my Kadayawan Festival trip!

THIS DURIAN ARCTIC BLAST IS A MUST TRY! You can find this at Blurge Cafe in Abreeza Mall and Gaisano Mall.Their beverages, cakes, and pastas are kind of expensive, but it is all worth it! Also, try the Durian Cheesecake! 


Daghang Salamat

ASIA: Singapura

This trip was actually a continuation of our Malaysia adventure. After crossing the immigration at the Malaysia-Singapore border, we hopped on a bus to Bugis, which took us over an hour. Once we got off the bus, we felt a bit lost and asked several people for directions to our hotel, but each person led us to different places. It seemed like we walked every street in Bugis trying to locate our accommodation. We avoided taking a cab since it was quite pricey.

We finally settled into Beach Hotel, conveniently located near Bugis Junction. It was a budget-friendly and comfortable place to stay, close to shopping malls and the MRT station. Along the street, there were plenty of restaurants offering mostly authentic Singaporean cuisine and other Asian dishes.

Liang Seah Street

You can reach various tourist destinations by bus, taxi, or train. We opted for the train since it’s the fastest option we knew. Our first stop was, of course, Merlion Park. From Bugis station, we took the green line, the East West Line, heading toward Joo Koon, and got off at Raffles Place Station.SINGAPORE TRAIN ROUTE MAP

We walked for about 10 to 15 minutes to reach Merlion Park. Don’t be surprised if you encounter crowds of people taking pictures with the Merlion for quite a while; it's an iconic tourist spot in Singapore that symbolizes the city and its heritage.

The Merlion Park

HOW DID THEY COME UP WITH "MERLION"?

Long ago, Singapore was recognized as a fishing village, and its original name, Singapura, means "Lion City." The term "Merlion" combines "Mer," meaning sea, with "lion," reflecting its maritime heritage.

During the day, you can enjoy the Singapore River Experience, which costs $22 per person. There’s a ticket booth near Merlion Park and at each cruise stop. This 40-minute cruise allows you to relax and take in the sights instead of walking. It's best to start from the Merlion station, as the cruise takes you through Marina Bay, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, and all the way to Robertson Quay. It’s a pleasant ride, and you might be lucky enough to have a Filipino assistant on board!

At night, you will be stunned by the beauty of Singapore
when you see all of the lights! The lights reflect on to the bay
which makes it more breathtaking!

Marina Bay Sands & Singapore Flyer
This picture was taken at a bridge going to the Gardens by the bay.

Gardens by the Bay | The Silver  Leaf
This place is so beautiful, their lights changes. These are gigantic super trees!
It is indeed very relaxing; just lay down and look up.
Don't forget to take pictures here!

On our second day, we chose to visit Universal Studios. The entrance ticket was $74 per person. We took the train from Bugis Station (East West Line/Green Line) and got off at Outram Station, where we switched to the Purple Line bound for HarbourFront. The Sentosa Line station is located on the top floor of the building, and you can purchase your tickets there to make your visit to Universal Studios smoother.

If you plan to participate in activities like the Mega Zipline or visit the Marine Life Park, it's best to do those on a separate day, as you’ll need about 5 to 7 hours to fully explore Universal Studios. When heading to Universal Studios, make sure to get off at Waterfront Station.

ATTRACTIONS AND ENTERTAINMENTS:

FAR FAR AWAY LAND
Come and see the adventures of Shrek and Donkey as they save Princess Fiona!
Shrek 4-D Adventure

THE LOST WORLD
Must try:
1. Canopy Flyer
2. Jurassic Park Rapid Adventures - it is obviously a rapid ride through the
waters and you can see the different habitats of the dinosaurs.
It was a bit scary! You will surely be wet, but don't worry they sell disposable raincoats.

WATERWORLD
If you want to see real live action and be thrilled with death defying stunts and explosions,
this will surely entertain you.
Before they start the show they throw water at the audience!
The seats were labeled, if you want to get wet and soaked, sit in front or on the blue seats.

ANCIENT EGYPT
Must try ride: Revenge of the Mummy
We actually tried this twice. It was really good!
If you are familiar with the Space Mountain in the Disneyland Hong Kong,
it is somewhat the same.
A roller coaster ride at the dark with mummies, I must say!

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

Too bad it was under maintenance, but seeing this makes me jitter!

I will come back for this!

SCI-FI CITY

One of my favorites! If you are a fan of transformers, then this

must be a place for you!

TRANSFORMERS THE RIDE: THE ULTIMATE 3D BATTLE

This is one of the best! 

It will make you feel like you are an autobot

fighting for the decepticons!

You'll be fighting side-by- side with Optimus Prime,

 and kicking Megatron's ass!

If you have extra time to explore Sentosa, you can ride a cable car to get a full view of the whole city of Singapore!!!!

If you’re looking to relax and enjoy some drinks, head over to Clarke Quay. It’s quite similar to Eastwood here in the Philippines. You’ll also find the G-Max there, which adds to the fun!

If you're in the mood for shopping for branded clothes, shoes, and bags, make sure to check out Expo. It’s a massive shopping destination and just one station away from Changi Airport!

Xie xie