1,2 km long bridge from Davao to Samal Island

A new -old  project in Davao

October 31, 2014

It's been already 10 years that a connecting bridge from Davao to the island of Samal was discussed  and planned . But then, it had been stopped.

Now a new attempt has been made. The initiator is a Japanese company that is engaged in planning and made a feasibility study on the said endeavor. And now in 2016 the construction should start  - yes, if all parties will join and the financing of approximately 10 billion pesos is secured.

Until now Samal is a dreamy spot that you can only reach by the car ferry or by boats . And quite many  individuals are living there, the real estate prices are still comfortably low and there is still a lot of unspoilt nature - if one disregards the coastal strip with many touristic beach resorts.

The whole island will take an upturn, because Samal has a lot to offer: At least two waterfalls with clear water, a sparse population, the largest bat colony (important for the banana plantations around Davao), no industry, crystal clear water at the beaches on the ocean side - just to name the most important facts.

And those who want to catch up with the next real estate boom in Davao, should enter now. By the way, in April this year the costs were said to be about 6 billion pesos !

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

Fried Herrings in Davao

 Fried Herring = Brathering  - do-it -yourself

May  10, 2014

It all began,  so after have been staying since six months in the Philippines, when you recall a special taste in mind - in memory of the distant home . After proposals such as sauerkraut, mashed potatoes , lentil soup, Gaisburger Marsch (Soup made in Stuttgart area) .... the thoughts came at once to fish. As there is plenty of fish around Davao, the thought seems brilliant. Yes, and what kind of fish? Surprisingly, everybody agreed on  fried fish “Brathering” on how we use to call it at home! Brathering  in our country is not so a very special dish, rather ordinary,  and is normally not demanded  for, - but here in Davao  it does not exist yet!

So, all set! The other day we bought fish at the wholesale market in Bankerohan. The requirement for the right choice: the fish should be hand-long and the price per kilo should not exceed 100 pesos. Well, why risk all when it is still in the trial-error stage. And see, we succeeded . Although the name of the fish is unknown - but the price was right 90 pesos per kilo.

At home we prepared  the little fish. First, we cut off the head, removed the intestines and the bones as much as possible. After, we rolled it in flour and some spices and fried it in hot oil until crispiness. And  to get the right taste, we put  the whole pot overnight in a hot broth of vinegar, onions, pepper, salt , sugar, bay leaves, and a little bit of lemon grass (because in the hurry we had no Bratfischgewuerz).

Wow, people, what  a pleasure it was the following day . Homemade, fried herring  you eat on bread or with rice. A delicacy.  “Really ‘dufte’! ” this  this would say someone from Berlin (“Really great! / Really smells great!”). Well, a little bit more vinegar – this would be fine next time .

Best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

Green tomatoes

Green tomatoes in Davao

March 1, 2014

When you walk in the mall, you can always get away from the Grocerie the ground floor. And usually it draws us into the fruit and vegetables department. Sure, the prices here are slightly higher than in Digos, Calinan, Aracan, 40 km away, or further in the direction of Mt Apo - where the things usually come.

Besides  herbs, such as basil, tarragon, mint,  and dill above all - that has really surprised me to find it here - you get to buy great deals such as potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and tomatoes. The gardener heart of every foreigner will beat ten  times higher. The offer of this vegetable varieties is smaller because it is more expensive than the local vegetables and is usually only bought by foreigners and western-oriented Filipinos.

But one thing was very amazed: The Filipinos like to buy the tomatoes, especially if they're still green. 

Sometimes I would be more then happy to respond if someone searches for the small green tomatoes instead of juicy red right next to it ... Oh, would someone only know that green tomatoes have in a little poison (= solanine) inside that can cause also headache and stomachache ? Only when the tomatoes are red, then they are easy to eat.

The solution to this problem was real Filipino style: The Filipinos like to eat the still green tomatoes together with Ginamos and  think it okay. The main reason is that they think that red tomatoes are already over ripe and spoiled. Greene tomatoes, however, would be fresh and healthy. That’s it.

Best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

Now VW is selling POLO and JETTA in Manila

Good sales start

February 11, 2014

It was not long after the announcement last year that VW will come  to Philippines and together with the big  Ayala Corp. will offer VW's. And now it was the right time. With a great opening ceremony in Manila, the vehicles of POLO and  JETTA were brought forward. An extra great "Showcase" was built with approximately 6,000 sqm.

POLO and JETTA have diesel engines and manual transmissions. Actually, I had thought of automatic  but the experience of Filipinos is – because of  the quality of the local streets  -  that a manual transmission is much  better because such a vehicle can be towed away - should something will get broken!

The prices are special: The POLO costs 888,000 pesos (= 14.460 EURO according to current change rate), the JETTA 1098,000 pesos (= 17.890 EURO). In normal equipment with Aircon.

In Manila a service center is already under construction. More offices and service centers are planned in Manila and Cebu. It remains to hope that Davao will get VW’s  soon too. Let's see ...

Yours truly,

Ludwig from Davao

At the dentist

Amalgam fillings are not longer known here in the Philippines

23 January 2014

It is normal at my age that you get something with his teeth. It does  hurt or one of the dental fillings has fallen out . It is that way.

Then you are looking for a dentist in Davao and note : Almost at every street corner there is a dentist. The rooms are small and the waiting room too. Such obligations from  home , such as registration by telephone , are not the norm here . Is the dentist a good one, then you wait here and if it is necessary – you wait sometimes half a day.

Most dentists have just a " working chair" and the hand tools are already older - but what they lack in European technology , they replace it with gentle work and always again the question: " Does it hurt ? " The interesting thing is that  amalgam fillings are not longer used , but all teeth will be sealed with plastic. And root treatments are not very common , because that is not  necessary in most cases , I was told. They prefer to  repair and close the tooth .

The standard treatment costs from 600 pesos - in the country it is cheaper. Some dentists have concentrated  to the production of inlets for the German audience. This brings good , good money. But secretly they amuse themselves about our method , because  plastic  has many advantages too and it is faster and easier.

Well, we could  learn something from abroad...

Best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

really dangerous

Why this dangerous overloading ?
Jan 11, 2014

When you're  traveling in Davao, especially on Saturday morning when the local farmers bring their goods to market, you can see "horrible dangerous things" on the street. Just like this jeepney, which is crammed over the roof with melons and bananas and more. And  this vehicle is still driving and the driver is laughing. And “no eye of the law”  is looking for this incredible overloading.

And you can only hope and pray that the brakes are still in good condition ....

Best regards,
Ludwig from Davao

The spice Turmeric for athletes

Performance enhancement in sport

7 1.2014

Recently I came up with a well-known basketball player from Davao. We spoke  about this-and-that, but our topic was  the best nutrition and how to  increase power -  if the team wants  to ascend to the Philippine National Team, then this is a very very important topic!

And in between  he told me from his “secret home made method”  that he takes when he has the feeling that something is wrong in "his body" . It is a fish soup, but the fish has to be cooked  with a special spice. And the most important question was for me: What kind of spice ? Where to get it ?

Some times later he brought me his secret spice and showed it to me . It looked like a ginger tuber , but inside it was yellow. And  immediately  I thought of our famous  spice CURRY. And really, it is known  here as turmeric  .

As we know now , turmeric has been used here - as well as Ginger - for a  long time to treat stress and for immune stabilization - especially after a hard workout. Due to the antioxidant activity of turmeric, it can  boost performance in a play - with success.  So it seems... Who try it out with me ?

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao