Well, Christmas is close again. Tomorrow is already Christmas Eve Day. Two years ago I came here for a visit for Christmas through New Years. So many of Elena's family came and we had 23 people in the small 2 bedroom house from Christmas Eve to the day after Christmas.
Last Christmas I was already living here and we had a smaller group, mainly Elena, me, our 3 nieces and 2 nephews. (click to story)
This year Elena's brother Bong, who lives about 3 hours drive away in Kidapawan invited us to spend Christmas with them. Bong is an entrepreneur and has fruit stalls at the local market, has cooked chicken stalls plus other endeavors.
Because of the distance, holiday traffic and safety of traveling during the daylight hours, we will start our drive tomorrow, Christmas Eve day, early and then return Friday, the day after Christmas.
It will be nice visiting places outside of Davao City. Even though Davao is called a city, in American standards it would be a county. Davao has city life, all crowded but with malls, shopping, hotels and most needed places but it also has rural areas more open with farms and open areas.
The highest mountain in the Philippines is Mt. Apo which you can see from Davao. Kidapawan is on the other side and has a higher elevation. I have been told it is cooler there. Someone told me to bring a warm jacket. I laughed and said that I do not think there is any place in the Philippines I would need a warm jacket, maybe a sweatshirt.
Any way, it will be nice visiting some place different and be sure I will take photos and write all about our Christmas once I return.
To all my readers, have a Merry Christmas.
Last Christmas I was already living here and we had a smaller group, mainly Elena, me, our 3 nieces and 2 nephews. (click to story)
This year Elena's brother Bong, who lives about 3 hours drive away in Kidapawan invited us to spend Christmas with them. Bong is an entrepreneur and has fruit stalls at the local market, has cooked chicken stalls plus other endeavors.
Because of the distance, holiday traffic and safety of traveling during the daylight hours, we will start our drive tomorrow, Christmas Eve day, early and then return Friday, the day after Christmas.
It will be nice visiting places outside of Davao City. Even though Davao is called a city, in American standards it would be a county. Davao has city life, all crowded but with malls, shopping, hotels and most needed places but it also has rural areas more open with farms and open areas.
The highest mountain in the Philippines is Mt. Apo which you can see from Davao. Kidapawan is on the other side and has a higher elevation. I have been told it is cooler there. Someone told me to bring a warm jacket. I laughed and said that I do not think there is any place in the Philippines I would need a warm jacket, maybe a sweatshirt.
Any way, it will be nice visiting some place different and be sure I will take photos and write all about our Christmas once I return.
To all my readers, have a Merry Christmas.
10 comments:
Hey Bruce happy christmas to you and hope you had a great time there in kidapawan. Sorry but you are wrong about the jacket it gets really cold in the mountains, i experienced this twice this year and needed jacket both times. Hope you stayed warm Bruce, should not have been too cool in kidapawan, sure you survived just fine
Rick,
Kidapawan was hot during the day but cooled off at night for me to sleep without aircon. Too bad it sounded like a war zone Christmas Eve night with all the fireworks until about 3am.
Merry Christmas to you my frined
Hi Bruse - Happy Holidays.
We were in Kidapawan quite a few times during our visit last spring. Since it was the biggest town outside of Mlang, we went there to pick up a number of items that were needed for us and my wife's family.
I enjoyed it there. Not sure we'll make it back that way anytime soon, though.
Hi Bruce,
This is Ralph from Vancouver BC Canada, I am now in Baguio. Most Philippines are now wearing jackets during the evening in Baguio now and are complaining it's too cold for them. I hope you a happy christmas and new year.
Keep up your writings...bye for now
Wow, that's cool. I'm sure you like davao. I'm living in Butuan but I never seen davao yet. Hopefully, I could visit davao when I have a vacation. Anyway, advance happy New Year to you and your family.
I must say I'm from Davao but I've never been to Kidapawan. Shame on me! Hope you liked your travel to Kidapawan then.
Btw, I have a colleague who's married to an American man from Chicago. They've been living there in Davao since 2003.
Hope to meet both of you when we get there. :-)
Ralph,
Welcome to the Philippines. I have heard Baguio is very nice. Being form B.C. I guess you do not need a jacket. Kidapawan was cool in the evenings, but not cold. Maybe you can come visit Davao. Either way, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for you and your family
Randy,
After living in Davao, I found Kidipawan small and crowded. It was nice visiting but I do not know if I could live there. Next time you in Davao, let me know and maybe we can meet. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.
Joytoy,
Thank you for reading my blog. I am happy to get Filipino readers to see how they feel about my observations through expat eyes.
I have family in Tandag but I do not know if or when I will be able to visit there. Anyway thanks for the comment and visiting. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.
Marlene,
Thanks for visiting, as I commented to Joytoy, I am happy to get comments from Filipinos to hear what they think of my writings. Who is your friend and husband, maybe I know him. I belong to 2 Expat associations. I hope to meet with you one day if you visit. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.
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