Davao City: Sweat, Street Food, and Seriously Good Vibes
okay, so davao city. it’s…a lot. i landed a few days ago, completely jet-lagged, and honestly, still trying to figure out what time it is. the flight was brutal, but the moment i stepped off the plane, it hit me - a wall of *humidity. i just checked and it’s like being wrapped in a warm, damp towel, permanently. 30.37 degrees Celsius, they say, but it feels like you’re slowly melting into the pavement.
i’m a freelance photographer, usually chasing light in more…temperate climates. but a friend - a total weirdo who collects vintage cameras - insisted i come here. said the light was “different.” he wasn’t wrong. it’s harsh, direct, but somehow makes everything look…raw.
i’ve been mostly sticking to the areas around Quimpo Boulevard, trying to capture the everyday. the markets are insane. a total sensory overload. i spent an hour just photographing the fruit - mangoes the size of my head, rambutan looking like little alien creatures. and the smells! oh, the smells. a mix of sweet, savory, and something vaguely…fishy.
someone told me that Bankerohan Public Market is where all the locals go, but to watch your belongings. Apparently, pickpockets are a thing. i also overheard a group of guys at a karaoke bar (yes, i went to a karaoke bar, don’t judge) talking about how the seafood at Dampa Seafood Village is amazing, but you have to haggle hard. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298462-d1224449-Reviews-Dampa_Seafood_Village-Davao_City_Davao_del_Sur_Mindanao.html
the people here are…intense. in a good way. super friendly, always willing to help, even if they don’t speak much english. i tried ordering coffee at this tiny little place near the Cathedral, and the woman just kept pointing at different things and saying “try! try!” until i agreed to everything. it was…an experience. https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Coffee+Shops&find_loc=Davao+City
i’ve been staying in a guesthouse in Poblacion. it’s basic, but clean, and the owner makes the best mango sticky rice i’ve ever had. my neighbors are mostly students and backpackers. if you get bored, Samal Island is just a short ferry ride away, apparently. i’m thinking of heading there tomorrow to try and get some underwater shots. https://guidetothephilippines.ph/destinations/mindanao/davao/samal-island
the air pressure is 1010, and the humidity is 54%, which explains why my hair is doing things i didn’t know it could* do. i’m pretty sure i’ve sweated out half my body weight already.
i heard that Eden Nature Park is beautiful, but crowded. someone else warned me about the traffic - apparently, it’s a nightmare during rush hour. i’m also trying to find a good place to get my camera cleaned. it’s covered in dust and grime. https://www.facebook.com/davaocityguide/
honestly, davao city is exhausting. but it’s also…captivating. it’s messy, chaotic, and completely unpredictable. and that’s exactly what i needed. i’m going to go find some more street food now. wish me luck. and maybe send a dehumidifier.
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