Davao: Round 1
I just got back from my Davao business trip! What a productive expedition!
Day 1
Statistics. The plane ride from Manila to Davao lasted 1 hour 42 minutes, maxed out at 855 kilometers per hour with a peak at altitude of 37000 feet!
Upon landing, we checked in at the Grand Men Seng Hotel (GMS) where we were greeted by a breakfast buffet. After breakfast, we met local government officials to discuss the purpose of our visit. Cooperative, they were kind enough to provide us with transportation. An asset we utilized very well for the next 48 hours of our stay. We were able to tour the whole of Davao, performing feasibility studies for over 100 sites.
Lunch during the first daw was fishy. We ate at a roadside restaurant, Marina, where the highlight viand was a gigantic panga (Grilled Tuna Jaw). I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much tuna in one sitting in my whole life. Oishi desu.
The work-day ended at 9pm after dinner. Since I was already up by 2am, 17 hours of work left me with just enough strength to drag myself to bed when I got back to my room.
Day 2
Teams. There were four of us that went to Davao. Two representatives from India company and another two from November company . The group split into two. The first pair (Fred and Mel) wrapped up on the last few sites that needed validation, while the second pair (Jay and I) met up with the local Papa company to discuss the connectivity issues relevant to the success of the project.
Meeting went well over our lunch at Ahfat, one of the must-visit restaurants for Davao tourists. I had sweet and sour seafood soup, steamed fish and pata. The menu included crab, but since I’m allergic to crustaceans, I kept myself to the first three items on the list.
I also got to visit a souvenir shop where I got myself a malong and an ethnic polo. I would have wanted to get other stuff, but I had other more important stuff queued with my budget.
The team ended the day by having a round of drinks, sashimi and kinilaw at GMS’ pool side. I would have wanted to swim that night, but my tired body got the better of me.
Day 3
Ped Xing. Our site visits this day required a lot of pedestrian work. After two days of smorgasbord without any real exercise, I welcomed the long walk we had throughout the city proper. We walked the whole morning and got back to the hotel for lunch - just in time for our meeting with the local geodetic engineer head.
This afternoon, I finally got to swim! The pool was about 25m long and around 5 feet and 8 inches deep. After six years without swimming, I could say that I no longer have it. Man, I miss the swimming pool. I wish there were an affordable swimming place near my place [at Tandang Sora]. 2 hours and a badly wrinkled skin later, I had cramps and had to leave the swimming pool.
Dinner involved another buffet at GMS and a Christopher Reeve movie, “Somewhere in Time.” Sad movie, but a good one, nonetheless.
Day 4
Itineraries
0445 wake up
0545 reconnaisance at the hotel lobby
0600 departed gms
0615 arrival at airport
0700 airport mixed up my boarding pass with another person
0710 situation resolved
0750 departure of pal pr 810
0930 arrival at manila
1015 exited airport
1115 arrived at home, sweet home
1130 brunch [yes, i had no breakfast. don’t worry, i have lots of reserve]
1230 end of story
