One of the places I really look forward to visiting while in Davao was the Vanishing Island sitting in between Davao City and Samal Island. Like most sandbars across the country, the island only appears during low tide.

We only have a few hours before it gets eaten by the sea again and as luck would have it, we were greeted by nothing but flat gray sky as far as the eye can see. Good news for the ladies hiding from the sun, bad news for photographers looking for the perfect beach sky. But all was not lost. I found the starfish I’ve been forever on the lookout for, a rare six-armed wonder enjoying the overcast sky by the beach.

I have seen pictures of the reknowned Monfort Bat Sanctuary in Samal Island prior to our trip to Davao. I know it’s a Guinness World Record holder for having the most concentration of Rousette fruit bats in a given area, but it really didn’t give me that I must visit this place vibe.

Earlier, with nothing better to do, we decided to drop by the place before doing the requisite sunset shoot. And I’m so glad we did. The Bat Cave, as the locals refer to it, made me feel like a National Geographic photographer even for just a few minutes.

I honestly don’t know where to begin our Davao tour; I have absolutely no idea what to see, no clue where to go and no inkling what to eat. The only thing I know is Pearl Farm, one of the most famous resorts in the Philippines, is located somewhere in the area. That was the first thing I jotted down while planning the trip and that was also the first place we went to after our plane touched down in Davao City. I guess we ain’t gonna get a better welcome than this.