Hot Technology in prison

The prison of Davao has a solar system

So, even Davao has a prison. It is located in the district of Ma-a. And  the technology was now introduced  by the Red Cross (ICRC) with a 1-million-peso donation. With this donation, a solar hot water system for a flow rate of about 1800 liters was installed in order to provide  the kitchen with plenty of hot water for cooking . Before the introduction of this technology the prison consumed  approximately 5 tons of wood / month and  the energy of  electric stoves  All  expensive materials.

Anyone who has ever looked inside  a Philippine prison may wonder whether such an investment of  the Red Cross in solar hot water is the right way. But you have to admit that it is a step in the right direction.

The prison was designed for about 380 times detainees. At the moment there are 2,190 men. The prison became overcrowded. Let us hope that the solar system is not limited to conserve the environmental and financial aspect , but also to enhance the stardard of living inside the prison walls.

With best regard,

Ludwig from Davao

Beach Wedding

Beach Wedding in Mati

When you are  invited and has pledged to it, than you also have to go: to a wedding directly on the beach, a beach wedding. And this is all in Mati and about 165 km away from Davao.

If you have overcome the stop-and-go in Davao and  are driving to the north, than you are  surprised  about the beautiful wide streets that come starting  from Panabo and Tagum with a few traffic. Here you can  really go well. The reason might be that  probably the streets were built first  and  later the places around.

In the middle of Tagum you have to turn right and drive on the other side of the Davao-Bay in the direction to the south . And now you can "learn how to drive": it goes on-and-off in many curves along the mountain and on the other side of the road  it drops steeply down to the beach. You have the feeling to have  a mountain pass in the Alps.

Sometime that's come to an end, and with  a wide panoramic terrace you look then at Mati, with its port facilities, which are being expanded greatly.

The wedding was on the next morning on the beach  in the district Dahican. And a wedding on the beach at sunrise and a registrar- judge  who then smashes a song for karaoke box. That's something special. These ladies were dressed in long, colorful dresses and wore big hats - not only because of the sun – the  men, however, in white clothing. It was served plenty to eat, incl.of 3 sucking pigs. In addition many small cakes, cup cakes  and tarts. The whole family of the bride side must have baked  vigorously  and garnished the last days. It was a really nice event.

And it culminated in the afternoon with swimming in the "Blue-Bless_Beach resort" in Dahican, where you get a place only by long reservation. And you are forced to eat again and to drink.And in between you take a bath  in the clear, blue water. Simply nice.  This event you will remember.

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

An exceptional restaurant - Balik Bukid Davao -

An exceptional restaurant - Balik Bukid Davao -

 Like a cozy tavern in Swabia  – only in a Filipino style

We stood in front of the restaurant and thought: "Well, this is something new!". This establishment resembles from outside like a big bamboo house embedded with empty plastic bottles. From the outside, there is nothing much unusual – just a restaurant in a very ethnic and Philippine style.

But if you step in that bamboo house, you will be surprised and you start to believe to be have entered a Swabian "broom-local" (a little word game for non-Schwaben: A "broom"  is normally the living room of a family of a winemaker in Remstal near Stuttgart, where you drink  the indigenous, home-made wine of the winemaker and eat what the housewife has just prepared. Very lovely!) – or in a regular English, a tavern.

Here, in the restaurant Balik Bukid, the ambiance gives a cozy feeling. The wooden chairs are simple, the backrests are made of strings from plastic bags or rough sisal. The tables with glass top have undercarriages of old sewing machines or sometimes car tires. The lighting consists of lamps that are hidden in hand woven baskets, and the floor is made of colored tile pieces. Simple and yet so beautiful.

The menu - in Bisaya and English - was placed in wooden boxes, which were previously used for playing  chess. As drinks we could choose from fresh juices of papaya, guava or guyabano. The different food were served on wooden plates - which suit even more the ambience. 

We were particularly impressed by the yellow rice (colored by turmeric) and the blue rice which got the  blue color from an edible blue flower. Maybe they used  Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist' (Ochsenzunge).

While waiting on the food, we enjoyed playing dice games. And when we had finished eating, we were offered "a fairy tale" about a Philippine legend - if you like to listen to it. And of course, we grabbed the opportunity!

The owners plant their own vegetables on farm near Calinan (Mt. Apo) in where all the proceeds are offered in the restaurant. Everything is free from preservatives. The prices are average, not overpriced. The food was refreshingly different! Balik-Bukid is a place of excitement and new discoveries! We really felt at home and will come back again. That we promise! Address: Ecoland, Quimpo Blvd., Davao City (beside Yellow Fin)

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao