Hai-Ma & Matias Seafood Restaurant - Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

The road from Davao City to Davao del Sur is a coastal high way. There's the azure oceans to your left and the undulating hills and mountains of coconut trees, corn and sugarcane plantations to your right. This scenic road is lined by a smattering of houses and everything else that exists in small communities, although it's a mainly agricultural terrain.

As you go further south from the city, you will enter into the province of Davao del Sur through its border town, Sta. Cruz, population 71,153. One could take the boat to Pasig Island, or trek to Todaya Falls, but the reality remains, going further towards the deep mountains isn't a very wise decision. The highway, on the other hand, is a bastion of peace, plying through the municipality's 18 barangays which includes interestingly named barangays of Inawayan, Darong (where the huge San Miguel Brewery is), Tagabuli, Bato, Coronon, Jose Rizal, and Melilia, among others.

In the vicinity near Darong is a chain of seafood restaurants, mostly run by Muslims, a good number of whom populate the Talisay area. This was where I visited Hai-Ma and Matias Seafood Restaurant.

Nestled beside the sea, Hai-Ma offers an interesting pork-free selection that we're posting here. I particularly loved the "bihud" or fish eggs (taken from large fish called maya-maya or snapper). This particular "bihud" has been made into a salad. I would have preferred the plain boiled bihud but this "version" was interesting nonetheless.

As an added attraction, aside from the amazing seaside view: a group of children dive the shallow waters to pick up coins thrown by visitors to the sea. I was initially resistant to the practice because I thought it exposed the children to the unnecessary dangers of the seas. However, upon realization that the water was just knee high, it wasn't that dangerous after all. This frolicking activity of diving for coins has become "tradition" in this area; and has become an interesting watch. I'll feature this in our succeeding post.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

"Guso" salad. Guso is a gelatinous substantial seaweed, blanched, with vinegar dressing, onion, tomato, salt and coconut vinegar (tuba). This costs PhP35 per plate.

Bihud or "fish egg" admixed in a salad at PhP160 per order.

Fried chicken at PhP65 per order. I ordered this just in case I didn't like my "bihud" salad.

Clams or "imbaw" soup at PhP120.

Fried noodle or "pansit guisado" at PhP35.

Scampering for money.

Very clear (clean and shallow) sea.

Waiting for coins at the other restaurant.

Up next: Dolly's House of Seafood - and more of bihud.

Check out a curving (sloping) horizon.

More Images from Campo Agua Resort - Toril, Davao City

Some of my most rewarding visits are the unplanned ones. You can just imagine the euphoric feeling of grandeur of our great adventurers like Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama, et. al. when they "discovered" an island or a whole continent. I do not compare myself to these people, but the statement above underlines the joys of discoveries. Davao is one of my favorite places. People are kind, and the price of most things is cheap. More importantly, a lot of the scenic spots are under explored.

Campo Agua Resort, located in Toril, Davao City, was a spur of the moment. It's a great place to unwind. For more information, read the previous post.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

"Even if you've been fishing for three hours and haven't gotten anything except poison ivy and sunburn, you're still better off than the worm." - Anonymous

"You find peace by coming to terms with what you don't know." - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The narrow dirt road to Campo Agua from the national highway.

The entrance gate.

Open parking space (free).

More information on Campo Agua Resort in our previous post - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2011/05/campo-agua-resort-davao-undiscovered.html

Campo Agua Resort, Davao - Undiscovered Beauty and Serenity

During my trips in Davao, in the island of Mindanao in southern Philippines, my rides from the city en route Davao del Sur would always pass by a sign bearing the name "Campo Agua". It's located in Barangay Sirawan, Toril District. It is still part of Davao City, but I've never heard about it from acquaintances. And what better way to quench one's curiosity than making a visit, right?

If you're into fishing (which I am not), this is a great place. They wouldn't refer to it as "surecatch fishing adventure" for nothing. Without the hassle of going into the ocean, you can cast your reel from a chosen cottage, then patiently wait for a sure catch. You can have your catch cooked if you are happy with it. At the center of the compound is a shallow pool with playground at its center. It's a colorful place, perfect for photography aficionados. Their shower rooms are beautifully designed with yellow posts bearing shower heads; quite spacious and clean.

Grapevine whispers have mentioned Mayor Rody Duterte's (now vice mayor to his daughter) mom as the proprietress, although I wasn't able to confirm this. But a more reliable info refers to the Valderamas of Davao del Norte (supposedly in the logging business) who's the owner/proprietor.

Campo Agua is a 30 to 45 minute ride south of the city proper. Once you reach central Toril, it's 5-10 minutes further south and to the left side of the national highway. Turn left at the dirt road until you find a Talisay tree-shaded open parking. Your entrance is there. They charge PhP60 if you plan to do some swimming or have your meal in one of the cottages. Except for a mixed race couple (a mature Caucasian guy and his wife), no one else was there so I had the place pretty much to myself.

Fishing is to be had in converted fishponds, and specific areas are designated for your "fishing activities". The ponds are filled with tilapine cichlids (Tilapia, plapla, St. Peter's fish). If you're there for your gastronomic needs, there's a good selection in the menu. I like the leisurely walks along the dikes. It's a decent place to visit when all you want to do is clear your mind without spending too much. Despite proximity to the big city, the atmosphere invokes one that's far from the madding crowd.

And don't we all prefer that?

For specific queries, please google for their phone number and contact them. 

This is the Eye in the Sky!

No people, no lifeguards. I went there on a weekday.

Colorful shower posts.

For further inquiries, call +63-82-291-1666 or +63-82-299-2795. Mobile number - +63-916-7645283

Picturesque face of serenity.

The greens and the blues, and all the hues in between.

Pay your entrance here.

UP NEXT - More images from Campo Agua Resort -