Davao City, Philippines #travelfeels

Wave of humidity
as we arrive,
big city of
Mindanao.
Greeted by huge sculptures
of Durian,
spikes and all.

As we drive to the residence
we sample said durian,
fresh on the side of the road
in season.

Lush,
green,
forests.

Ripe,
tropical,
fruits.

A mango that changed my life.
A new fruit,
marang, that smelled like gasoline
but tasted like every tropical fruit combined.
Custardy durian,
sweet mangosteen,
santol,
jackfruit,
rambutan,
pomelo,
unripe mango with bagoong.
The food was sublime,
seaweed that pops in your mouth,
kinilaw with tuna,
fish grilled on coconut husk charcoal,
roasted eggplant tortang talong,
fried dried fish,
sticky sweet puto and suman.

Exploring a nature sanctuary,
the world’s largest eagle,
orchids and bamboo,
bromeliads,
beautiful.

A restaurant with a view
and a feast to match the grandness;
crispy pata
and kare kare,
pancit palabok.

Karaoke,
Catholic mega-churches,
mosques,
beautiful restaurants and cuisine,
fresh young coconut with jelly
opened with a machete,
warm vibrant people
and climate.

Surrounded by family at all times
and food consistently
pops up
seemingly the entire trip
at peak freshness
and taste!