COSTA MARINA

Costa Marina beach resort is just beside Paradise Island Resort. And too crowded, not too developed and not too expensive. This resort gives you the right tastes to everything in a beach resort. For me, the perfect resort to relax and enjoy.

modern day Tarzan??

modern day Jane??

The resort also boast a portion of natural greens. Even on a summer you can opt to come to their shades to avoid the heat of the sun.

Enjoy the touch and feel of the soft white sand while getting wet with the calm wave of the sea.

Deep your whole in the cool turquoise water while the suns warm embrace awaits as you get out of the water.

You may avoid the sun and immerse yourself in the water under the shade.

There is also a playground for the young and the young at hearts.

The resort offers complete family satisfaction. This relaxing piece of moment lingers for a long time.

PASSIG ISLET

Passig Islet is man-made, used to be a headquarters for the Philippine Coast Guards. Abandoned, but the local government of Davao del Sur found a way to make use of the Islet. Now a tourist magnet located in Brgy. Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

From Davao City, take a bus or jeepney going to Digos City. An hour ++ ride will get you to Brgy. Bato in Sta. Cruz. Just tell the drivers or conductors you wish to be dropped in Brgy. Bato going to Passig Islet.

From there, you can walk or take a tricycle to the dock. There you will be collected with entrance fees and payment for a round trip boat ride.

The boardwalk to the dock

A view of the islet from the dock

The 5 minute boat ride

Now, here are some photos of what to see and do in the islet.

Picturesque Views

Volleyball

Photo shoots

Cottages

The Sea

Isdang Bato sold in a really low price

Don't forget your sunblock, its going to be really hot. Specially in summer, low tide means the sea really dries up. You could actually walk from the islet back to the boat dock.

low tide

you could actually walk from the islet back to the boat docks

High tide comes back at about 3:30 - 4:00 PM.

And its now time to go home.

PRECIOUS GARDEN oƒ SAMAL

NO ENTRANCE FEES, NO COTTAGE FEES and NO BRINGING OF ANY KIND OF FOODS AND DRINKS!

Unlike any other resorts, this one does not collect any entrance fee and do not collect for using one of their cabanas. The catch, you are not allowed to bring any foods and drinks. Everything that fills your stomach must be ordered from their restaurant. Yet don't hesitate, they serve mouth watering menu at a very reasonable price. Prices are just like of those in middle class restaurants in Davao City.

The mouth watering foods served

We ordered a plate of Tempura (P200.00), Canton Guisando (P160.00), three glasses of Fruit Juices (P45.00/glass) and five cups of rice (P20.00/cup). Actually I only ordered four cups of rice for us three but I just can't resist to ask for one more with these delicious servings. So all in all we only spent P595.00 and we now get to use their facilities (except hotel rooms of course).

Taste their delicious foods. Pizza is actually the garden's specialty but we didn't get to taste it. I'm not a pizza fan.

Be fulfilled of what you eat. You can choose a place to eat. You may want it under the umbrella, under the shed of trees, inside a bar, by the beach.

And relax to the ambiance of a quiet garden. Or you could roam around and take your souvenir photos. Here's some angles inside the garden hotel.

One place you can take your meals. Under the umbrella.

Fish pond. 

A decorated portion of the garden

A heart shaped cut

Hot Momma! a beautiful tile mosaic model.

Djuzamdjin roaming around on his own.

The Bar. You can dine or have some shots of poison or beer.

Tables in the Bar.

I guess that's enough for the garden hotel. Now we go to the beach. We need to get out of the garden hotel and enter another gate to get to the beach. There's a sign and there's no other gate nearby so I'm confident you won't miss that entrance.

See that big head I'm leaning on and the three little heads with hair leaves? At left of this is the entrance to the beach.

The walk to the beach.

Here we are, Caribbean style. Let us start exploring and see what's on the beach.

One of their free to use Cabanas

Beach Tables

You can ask to have your orders served here and dine by the sea.

Looking at the sea

You could bathe in the sun, or...

...relax with the sea breeze cooling you off.

But a dip in the clear waters would always be refreshing.

After some time of paddling and waddling, the open cabana is always a very comfortable place to relax. With full cushion and open sea breeze, ahhh...zzzZZZzzz.

Here's a last view of the beach before we go to "how we got here". As usual when you're a cheapskate going to beaches and resorts in Samal Island, we ride the bus that gets to the barge. Our usual stop is Babak Centro (Town Center). We take a pedicab (motorcycle with side car) or "habal-habal" (motorcycle without side car) which will deliver us to the gates of Precious Garden oƒ Samal. Fare is P10.00 / head. That easy for this trip.

Again, its time to go home, and I really enjoyed this day. Though judging with the number of people present either in the garden hotel or in the beach, this place has got a few visitors. Or perhaps, it is because only little is known about this place. The other guests today are mostly Caucasian foreigners. I am joyed that I have discovered this Precious Garden. But most of all, I am joyed to have discovered why this place is...PRECIOUS.

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