Tiger Tales

Davao

BEACH BUMS

Samal Island, a 15-minute boat ride from Davao City, is numero uno for the sea-and-sand set. The resorts on Samal and neighbouring Talicud Island offer snorkelling, sea kayaking and parasailing. The sea around Samal and Talicud is dotted with dive sites suitable for both novices and PADI-certified vets. Sites like Dayang Beach, Coral Gardens and Angel's Cove bristle with coral reefs and marine residents. Explore Davao's World War II history by descending 60m beneath the waves off Talomo Bay to the wreck of Japan's Sagami Maru, sunk by an American submarine in 1942. Punta Dumalag Marine Sanctuary shelters endangered species like the rare hawksbill turtle, while Pujada and Mayo Bays in Mati City, 165 km from Davao City, are key feeding sites for dugongs.

● Carabao Dive Centre, tel: +63 (0)82 300 1092, www.cdc.e-davao.com

● Wind and Wave Davao, tel: +63 (0)82 305 3483, www.windandwavedavao.com

● Pearl Farm Beach Resort, tel: +63 (0)82 221 9970, www.pearlfarmresort.com

● Punta Dumalag Marine Sanctuary, tel: +63 (0)2 924 6031

ANIMAL LOVERS

The Davao rainforest habitat of the gigantic Philippine eagle is shrinking. A visit to Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, perched at an elevation of 1,600m about 75km east of Davao City, offers the chance to see the "King of the Birds" in its natural element. Closer to the city, a breeding programme aimed at slowing the eagle's decline has prospered at the Philippine Eagle Centre, a zoo that breeds eagles for eventual release into the wild. Neighbouring Malagos Garden Resort hosts a bird show on Sundays, starring rehabilitated local birds. To encounter a different breed of winged creature, head for Samal Island's Monfort Bat Sanctuary, where caves shelter upwards of 1.8 million Geoffroy's Rousette fruit bats.

● Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, tel: +63 (0)918 417 4158

● Philippine Eagle Centre, tel: +63 (0)82 271 2337, www.philippineeagle.org

● Malagos Garden Resort, tel: +63 (0)82 301 1375, http://malagos.com

● Philippine Bat Conservat'n Foundation, tel: +63 (0)82 221 8925

FOODIES

Davao is a farming and fishing hub for the Southern Philippines, so local restaurants enjoy access to an amazing range of fresh seafood and produce. Tuna caught in local waters is sold as sashimi, sinugba (grilled tuna) and the Filipino ceviche-like raw seafood dish known as kinilaw. Start exploring the local culinary scene on F Torres Street, Davao's restaurant row, home to the likes of Ronaldo's (avant-garde Filipino/European fusion cuisine) and Izakaya Nonki (Japanese dishes). Also on F Torres, Harana Restaurant caters to big appetites while forgoing big prices. For Chinese, visit the car park at Victoria Plaza Mall, where you'll find establishments like Ah Fat Seafood. Stop by the Magsaysay Fruit Market to enjoy fresh fruit for dessert.

● Ronaldo's, Holiday Gym and Spa Complex, tel: +63 (0)82 300 2992

● Izakaya Nonki, AutoVille Bldg, tel: +63 (0)82 226 3058

● Harana Restaurant, tel: +63 (0)82 221 9021

● Ah Fat Seafood, JP Laurel Ave, tel: +63 (0)82 225 5787

● Magsaysay Fruit Market, Magsaysay Ave

SHOPAHOLICS

Aldevinco Shopping Center is Davao's first and biggest stop for shopaholics, full of craft goods and gifts galore. Brass swords from Maranao tribespeople? Shellcraft? Loose pearls? It's all here.

The newly opened Davao Ecocrafts store nearby sells a wide range of native products and souvenirs, including batik and jewellery. Davao's native tribespeople produce the traditional fabrics called t'nalak and dagmay for export. Visit the T'Boli Weaving Center to see the fabric being made using traditional hand-operated looms, then buy a bolt or two of t'nalak afterwards. To purchase these fabrics in their finished form as placemats, pillowcases or wall hangings, head for T'nalak Home at the ultra-modern Abreeza Mall.

● Davao Ecocrafts, Aldevinco Shopping Center, CM Recto St, Cnr of Roxas Ave, tel: +63 (0)82 222 3281

● T'Boli Weaving Center, Pearl Farm Marina Wharf, Lizada Dr, tel: +63 (0)929 1916 729

● T'nalak Home, 2/F, Abreeza Mall, JP Laurel Ave, tel: +63 (0)82 321 4379