Pearl Farm Beach Resort | Savoring Our Last Day

For our last day in Pearl Farm, we woke up a bit earlier to have breakfast and take a dip in the pool before we check out. 

They have different dishes laid out that morning. But same as the day before, i hovered all the bacon i can get and also snatched up a couple of yogurt cups. Yummy. By this time, the waiters already knew our room number so they didn't ask us anymore when we took one of the tables in the restaurant. It was still early when we finished eating so it was easy to get a cottage by the pool. The day tour guests don't come until 9am, that is when the first boat trip to the island is scheduled to arrive. All the people there are the ones who checked-in overnight which makes it really private in a way. After a quick swim, we went back to our Samal House, packed up our stuff and prepared to leave. This is the part I hate the most. 

Check-out time is at 12nn. At the reception area, we were handed with all the receipts of the meals we had during our stay. We were glad we're still on our budget. We paid for our dues and left our bags there before we headed for lunch. There's a boat trip that leaves at 1pm, we could've taken that ride after eating but decided not to because we got nothing planned for an afternoon in Davao City. 

Lunch at Maranao Restaurant

The restaurant was unusually unfilled at lunch time. In fact, the entire resort is quite deserted. It was a Monday so I guess there aren't many day trippers on weekdays. We ordered a meal that was just enough for the both of us. And as we paid for our meal, we also gave the waiters a tip. Finally. I don't usually give tips. I'm not a tipper. But I thought we should at least give them something before we leave. They were pretty nice during our stay anyway. 

After lunch, we let the 1pm boat pass and just waited in the restaurant for the last trip back to the city which is at 4pm. We had 3 hours to waste and just spent it playing games on our iPads again. We ordered another round of buko which became a favorite in this island. Then soon came the time to leave. Took some final souvenir photos, boarded the boat, and then sailed away into the sea.

 Gong displayed at the entrance with a view of the Samal Houses

Our boat ride back to Marina Wharf

Same as the last time, the boat trip to the Marina Wharf took about 45 minutes. Included in our package are the round trip airport transfers but we were not leaving just yet. Since our flight is not until 9:45pm, we still had some time to buy pasalubong and grab some dinner in the city. One of the mistakes we made in this trip is that we didn't do enough research as to where to buy local delicacies. We counted on the Pearl Farm staff to lead us to a store like any other resort staff that we've been into did. But sadly, they were not helpful at all. They insisted that we avail their 3-hour City Tour that costs Php 1,500. But we didn't have that money to spare for a tour we didn't really want. So instead of driving us to the airport, we asked the driver to drop us to the nearest pasalubong shop in the city. I think we had a little misunderstanding right there. He dropped as off at a mall and said we could just get a cab from there that would drive us at some place we could buy pasalubong. So rude. We totally didn't expect that from them. But we had no choice. With all our luggages, we stormed into the city in search of the goods we need. When we couldn't find anything in the mall we were in, we decided to sit in a corner and do what we should've done before we came to Davao, RESEARCH. Good thing my boyfriend brought his pocket wifi with him, reception in the city was good, by the way. Then he found this place called Aldevinco which is about a 15-minute drive from where we were. We immediately hailed a cab and asked the driver to bring us there. Its late afternoon and we unluckily entered the rush hour. But the cab driver knew his way around the city. We arrived the place which was appeared to be a group of stalls selling antiques, arts and crafts, clothes and other local products that we had no interest in buying at all. I just wanted to buy suha for my mom and some durian delicacies to bring to the office. But as we looked around, I realized there was no way we would be getting it there. By this time, I was already tired and frustrated, and the weather was so freakin' hot adding more stress to my afternoon. Eventually, we found a couple of stalls selling suha and just bought everything we could carry along with our bags. I don't really know anything about suha, I don't even eat them, I hate this fruit family. After much bargaining and harassment with the sellers, we finally got what we wanted and left for our next destination. 

We went to Jack's Ridge to grab some dinner. The place is much like Antipolo. There are restaurants lined up around a cliff overlooking the city. It was amazing. The view brought me some relief from the stress of the earlier events. We settled into one of the tables in the restaurant and made our order. The menu is just plain Filipino food. Grilled meat is their specialty, I think. While waiting for our dinner, I grabbed my camera and took some shots around the place. People started coming shortly and the restaurant is suddenly full. I realized it was already dinner time and if we have come 30 minutes later than we did, we probably wouldn't get a seat right away.

View from Jack's Ridge

Cabs are quite abundant in the city. We got into one at no time at all. It was a short ride to the airport and the cab driver was really nice and chatty. He shared his own experience in Manila a few years back. Oddly enough, we didn't even tell him we were from Manila. Is it that obvious? 

The Davao International Airport is quite lovely. From the outside, I'm reminded of the airport in Puerto Princesa. But its just much more bigger in the inside. It has high ceilings, a couple of escalators and lots of check-in counters. Its looks good compared to other airports in the country's provinces, but well, its an International Airport so I think its just right. We have guaranteed our seats through the web check-in program the night before. This feature is very convenient i must say. After checking in our bags, we had less than an hour to spend at the airport. We found a couple of stalls selling local delicacies and took our moment to shop for pasalubong. It was a bit pricey but we had no choice. I have to bring something home. We let time pass by watching another episode of my new favorite TV series (Revenge). Boarding started right after we finish the episode. Our iPads have been very good companions during this vacation. Never had an idle time at all, thanks to these buddies. 

Our adventure didn't end when we arrived in NAIA. No one was picking us up from the airport and we have saved just enough money for a cab to bring us home. I read this blog about getting cheaper taxis on the departure area of terminal 3. They are the regular metered taxis that bring passengers to the airport. We could save half of the money we would've spent on airport taxis down at the arrival area of the airport. Though it was almost midnight and it wasn't advisable because taxis are rare at this time of the night.

We took our chances and went up to the departure area along with other passengers of some other flights. It was a nightmare. Everyone was fighting really bad for a cheaper cab ride home. There wasn't a line of any sort. Only people running around chasing after the next cab to arrive at the stands. And the cab drivers, with their usual attitude, took advantage of this and asked for additional charges. Whoever agrees to his demand gets him. Its like a bidding out there. We've waited for so long, giving in for others cause i was still playing nice, until I've just had enough. I was already tired and wasted, and most importantly, I have go to work in a few hours! So I put my game face on and fought for the next cab that came in. I was able to work an arrangement to share a cab with two other girls who were also desperate to go home. It wasn't what I had in mind and it was kind of risky, I know. But I was too tired to care. Luckily, we arrived home in one piece. 

All in all, it was a great summer vacation. Short but sweet. It was the perfect way to celebrate our 1st anniversary together. I wouldn't have it any other way. Its a little pricier than other resorts in Samal Island but its all worth it. Maybe I'd share our expenses in this blog sometime. Though I probably wouldn't go back there in the next couple of years, maybe someday.

Our next vacation is already planned and I can't wait to blog about it. 

Till next time. 

Pearl Farm Beach Resort 

Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines

http://www.pearlfarmresort.com/