Thursday, March 6, 2008
Want to meet me? Have a cup of Coffee?
It is a real regular thing that readers of my column want to meet me when they come to Davao. Actually, it is one thing that I really enjoy about writing this column and interacting with readers of this site. However, over the past year or so, it has gotten to the point that I often meet up to a dozen different readers every week, and the number is growing. That’s right, often more than one person per day wants to get together with me, have a cup of coffee
Because of such frequent demand for my time, last year I wrote an article about an idea that I had come up with in this regard. In the article, I said that I planned to start setting up one day per week where I would do my work in a public place, like a coffee shop or restaurant, and that I would announce where that place was and the time schedule when I would be there. Well, a few months have slipped by, and so far I never really got the system all set up! But, today, I am ready to announce some firm plans on how I will work this system.
For a couple of months now, I have been swimming every morning at Holiday Health Spa on F. Torres Street in Davao. I generally swim every weekday morning, Mondays through Fridays. I generally arrive at Holiday Health Spa at 9am, and I swim from 9 until 10. After swimming, I go to the Coffee Shop in Holiday Health Spa for a cup of coffee until 10:30 or 10:45.
Starting immediately, I would enjoy entertaining guests at Holiday Health Spa during this time, every weekday morning. If you want to come at 9am and go swimming for an hour with me, you would be most welcome. Or, if you just want a cup of coffee and a good talk, meet me in the Coffee Shop at the Health Spa at 10am or so. If you choose to swim you will need to pay for a single day use of the Spa, which is P100 per day. You can go to the Coffee Shop for free, though.
If you want to get together with me at some other time of the day, or in a different location, I will still try to fit that into my schedule as often as possible too. You can contact me through my contact form to let me know what you would like to do. I’ll do my very best to meet you at the time that you request.
I hope to meet you when you are in town!
Related Posts:
Meeting with visitorsMy availability
The Coffee Craze in Davao
What to do in Davao City!
Blogebrity
# 1 rick b said:
Bob
I go my gym in matina and will try and meet you for coffee today or tomorrow, i know F torres st, my wife says the coffee shop is Bo’s, now i have written it she is not sure, anyway doesn’t matter sure i will find it, see you later or tomorrow
best regards
# 2 Bob said:
Hi rick b - Just to clarify, I am not talking about Bo’s Coffee Club. There is a Coffee Shop inside Holiday Health Spa, which is part of the Health Spa. This is where I am talking about. Hope to see you!
# 3 brian said:
Bob..you need an agent….just so happens my services are available..for a minimal % of the take….oh say…..45% and all the free coffee u can drink !!
# 4 Eric said:
What a life you have there Bob. Swim and then chat over a cup of coffee every morning while I’m so tired of snow over here in Canada. It’s not fair…
# 5 Randy C said:
The spa looks like good place to meet. Any idea what the cost of the massages are? I think it would be real welcome after the long trip over from the States.
# 6 Bob said:
Hi brian - Not much money in this one, my friend! I am paying the full membership fee of Holiday Health Spa, and even paying my own coffee!
You would be most welcome to come by for a coffee, though! 
Hi Eric - Yep, it’s a tough life, I admit! Jump on one of those airplanes and pay me a visit sometime, my friend!
Hi Randy C - I just checked with Holiday, the full body massage is P450 for an hour service. Just a tip, though - you can get the same thing for P200 or so at a lot of other locations around Davao!
# 7 Bob said:
Rick B is the first person to take me up on the meeting at Holiday Health Spa! Rick stopped by this morning, and we had a great talk. It’s nice to meet you Rick, and I hope to get to know you better in the future!
# 8 rick b said:
Hi Bob, it was really great to meet you too, and Feyma, it was / is like meeting old friends, i feeel i know you both well from your blog, likewise i hope we can see you now we are in Davao, i will invite you, stanby……………….
# 9 Cathy said:
Bob, did you know that there is a Holiday Spa in Gensan already? Milper and I tried it last november. We thought the service was good. It’s on a new building that just across the street from Notre Dame. No pool though. But there is a coffee shop on the 3rd floor.
# 10 Bob said:
Hi Cathy - No, I didn’t know that. It’s funny, because when I met Rick B at Holiday this morning, we talked about GenSan a bit, and I told him that there was nothing like Holiday in GSC! Things have changed a lot since I was there!
# 11 Neal in RI said:
Hey Bob, Im into weightlifting here and im just curious as to what kind of weights they have there at the Spa, and what does the yearly membership cost.
Let me know if you need me to send you a “Speedo” for your mourning swims.
# 12 jim said:
Hi Bob- I hope we will manage to take you up on your offer or similar when we arrive later this month. As for now we both have a bad dose of flu courtesy of my travels.I have spent 18 of the last 29 days of February in Germany over 3 seperate occassions so I have no one to blame than myself.
Our friend here in the North East will be visiting her house in Davao at the same time as we are back so we will definately be in Davao in April.
Look forwards to our meet.
# 13 Kelvin said:
Hi Bob– Just want to thank you for the tip from your other website. I have found much of this information very useful and I have read much of the blogs concerning travel. I especially liked the podposts. Thank you. I suppose I will be traveling to Davao soon. Waiting on my passport. Who knows I might just bump into you at one of your favorite restaurants. Thanks again.
# 14 Bob said:
Hi Neal in RI - They have a full compliment of weights at the Spa. Memberships are available by the month, 3 months, 6 months or a year. For “all hours” access is P1,500 per month, cheaper for longer terms. My membership is for non-peak hours (after 9am, until 7pm) and that is P1,000 per month, or P2,700 for 3 months. Off the top of my head, I do not know the rates for one year.
Hi Jim - I hope that you get over that flu bug quickly! Looking forward to seeing you next month!
# 15 Bob said:
Hi Kelvin - I’m happy that you found some useful tips on my site! Enjoy your trip to Davao!
# 16 James said:
Some great information on this site. Out of interest does anyone know the cost of one-on-one swimming lessons at the spa.
# 17 Bob said:
Hi James - Yes, Holiday Health Spa does offer swimming lessons. Here are the rates:
Adults (over 21):
10 Sessions, 1 hour per session - P2,800
Children (under 21):
10 Sessions, 1 hour per session - P2,500
# 18 franklin joseph swadling said:
hi bob, yes i would like to meet you some day.i am coming to the philippines i mat or june 2008to perhaps marry and live for 1 or two years.you are am very good person and am straight shooter.not only by things you write, but your wow philippines business . you refunded my full moneys on am complant i emailed. i was just going on someone else’s word! deep in my heart i think i owe you many cup of coffee!!!god bless and keep up the good work you are doing in philippines. may you and your family always have the best of health. …………….just call me joey…my friend do
# 19 Bob said:
Hi Joey - Don’t worry, you don’t owe me anything at all! I would enjoy sitting down for that cup of coffee with you, though!
# 20 Chris Baker said:
Morning Bob, I stumbled across your sites whilst researching for visit to my lady’s family in Maigo. The more info the better. I have enjoyed your read. If I can get to your part of the island I would love to catch up and have coffee. I must say you do seem to have nailed it, as far as living well goes. Good for you.
# 21 Bob said:
Hi Chris Baker - Thanks for your kind words. Indeed, if you make it to Davao as part of your journey, please do look me up! It will be my pleasure to have a good chat over a cup (or two!) of Coffee!