I’m happy with the reactions you guys made upon seeing the looks of the new “web magazine”. I think everybody likes it the way I see it in the comments section. Well, I’m writing this column to tell you guys the story of the picture of mine in the home page.
That picture was taken last February 20, 2007. It’s actually the birthday of Bob. We went to Samal just to drive around the entire place since at that time we’re just thinking of buying our property there. We want to check the whole place out. So, that morning Bob took the day off just to drive around Samal. We start of course by riding the ferry from the City to Samal it takes like 10 minutes. Previously, we had seem much of the southern part of Samal, so this time we decided to explore the north of the island, and also on the east side. Our ride took us on the northeast shore of the island, and we came upon a spot where we saw a really big tree right along the beach. We couldn’t help but stop, since it was very nice!
While on that beach we noticed that, gosh the water was so clear you could see some different kinds of small fish, small crabs and I notice it. I’m just like a kid get excited seeing those fish. That’s where Bob took that picture of me squatting down on the beach that you see on the home page. Sorry guys I forgot the name of the town. You know what it’s really worth it going there we had fun. The view in the other side is really awesome. It’s hard to explain. Not much houses built there yet. You could feel breathing the fresh air there. When I’m on top of the mountain the only thing I can see is how beautiful and clean Samal is.
Now just writing this column I want to build our house now and live there. 😉 Dreaming again. In my opinion it’s really so peaceful there. Hey, I got lots of inquiry about Samal. Who knows one day you could be my neighbor. That would be nice.
What about you do you like Samal? I just wanted to know what you think. As you can see we really like it a lot there.
Hi Feyma – It sounds like a fascinating place to live from your description and from the photos I've seen. Jim and I would love to explore Samal one day.
Hi Marilou – Bob and I would be happy to be your tour guide. 😉
Feyma
Yes, me and my wife (Ann) we have been to samal many times (well 6 or 7 anyway) and yes we really like it, we took my Mum (she came for a visit just like your and Bob's Mum) to paradise beach and it was mid week, and nice there, we all enjoyed it, had a trip earlir this year to Chemas when a friend took us there and have been to Talikud island to the resort there a few times and really enjoyed that too.
We took a motor bike taxi trip round the island and enjoyed that but i am just not a motor bike person and found it a bit uncomfortable but alll the same enjoyed the trip.
By the way what was your transportation on your trip round Samal?
Looking forward to further trips there in the future, good luck with your building project and look forward to hearing about it all in the future, good luck and Byee
We have a 1 hectare lot in Anonang, Kaputian but not overlooking the ocean. Have no plans of staying there though…but if by chance I can get my hand on a beachfront property, I might!
Hi Rick – I'm glad you and your wife and Mum really had a good time in Samal. Wow to ride around Samal in motor bike? The roads are not pave yet. That would be hard. Good thing we have like an SUV. Thats what were using to drive around.
Will post when we will start working on our house. That's gonna be in a few years from now though. Thanks
Hi Rey- I know where Anonang is. It's nice up there too. It's a ways from our land.
By the way, the owner of our land has a beach front property that he is trying to sell us. It's in Limao. I didn't have the chance to see that land yet. Bob and I just don't want to lived near the beach. We just want overlooking.
Feyma
Nice to hear from you and yes i wouldn't repeat my experience with the motorbike trip round samal, it was fun but i guess i'm getting a bit old for that and it was like you say unmade roads, so, it was a bit uncomfortable but weel, we had fun and survived and saw some of Samal, it is really beautiful like you say
Feyma, how did you get your SUV on the island? i asked my wife (Ann, she is from Tagum) and she says there is a land link, is that true? i am curious, i had a look at a map in the past of davao, and samal, but i can't remember a land link. Just me being curious Feyma and its not important, but….well i am a curious person.
Hello Feyma- to be honest haven't been to Samal.
everytime im in davao, never get a chance to visit the island, well my time used to spend with families & extended families, as well as my friends.
But definitely, next vacation – its no. 1 on my itinerary.
Good luck on your upcoming project.
Oh wow sounds like a lovely day you had that time! 😀
My wife and i bought 2500 meters close to San Miguel and her father is heading up construction of our new house overlooking Davao and the gulf.I am from Florida and my wife from Davao.Nothing in Fla. compares to Samal.Hope to be there in 08 can not wait.
Hi Feyma,
I love Samal. I don't want to see a lot of development there as it will lose its charm. Let's keep it a secret, okay? 😉
Hi Tina – Don't worry Jim and I will only be visiting. No need to buy a place there – we will just camp on the grounds of the Martin property.
Hi Marilou,
Us, too! 😆
Hi Rick – We brought our SUV to Samal by ferry boat. It took like 10 minutes to go to Samal. Theirs been talks about building bridge to connect Davao City to Samal. I think lots of people don't want the bridge, but will see what happen. I for one don't want it. We want Samal to be the way it is very peaceful and clean.
Hi Marygrace – Well I could be your tour guide. ;-).
Hi Cheryll Ann – That's for sure.
Hi Jim – Good for you guys. Maybe see you in 2008 then.
Good luck to you and your wife.
Hi Tina – Ah okay… I will be quiet about it then. ;-). Yep I don't want too much building and too much people there. Then it would be polluted and dirty.
Hi Marilou & Tina – Ha ha ha, You are welcome to stay at our place… Can you guys wait 10 years from now? 😉
Hi Feyma. I bought a lot (really small one) in Babak last December. It's just there bare- no funds yet to build a small vacation house. Have you been there? How's it like? I've been there only a few times, dont know much about the places to go and things to do there in Samal Island. My husband and I eventually plan to live or vacation extensively in the Philippines which is probably a decade or so from now so we are searching from time to time places where we might find a good lot to build our home in the Philippines. Although we have that lot already in Samal, we really want to live in Davao City somewhere. Do you and your husband live in the city now? How's it living there? Well, perhaps I will begin reading this web magazine you guys have. Take care!
Hi! Thanks everyone for the info. Wished I have known before as I love beachfront property. The beautiful Samal Island is truly inviting!., never been but seems peaceful and quiet to live here. I love the place esp the beach and water just like Guimaras. Unfortunately, too late to trade our beachfront property bought in Guimaras island, Iloilo City in 2000 for Samal as we plan to build another vacation house there upon retirement in 2010 hopefully. Thanks to you and Bob for this wonderful site!.
Hi Hannah – Bob and I just got home from Samal today. We brought our oldest son and his friend to Samal. We went to Babak and went to the bat caves there. Babak is a nice small town.
Right now we are here in Davao City. Hopefully in 5 to 10 years we will be in Samal for good to live. I like Davao City, but it's getting to be traffic now too. Not as bad as Manila and Cebu though.
Hi Ida – Well, try to visit here in Davao City and Samal. Maybe you get an idea that this might be the place for you guys to retire later. You'll never know we could be neighbors then. ;-).
Hi.
Never been to Samal. How does it compare to other islands you have visited? Foreigner friendly? What would a beachfront or overlooking lot cost there?
Hi Tony – I think Samal right now don't have much people compare to other place that I've been to. Still clean and beautiful and undeveloped.
Most land owners there in Samal are foreigners. They built nice houses. I think a nice beach front would probably cost 2000-3000pesos per square meter.
The really good view that overlooking the water might cost 1000-2000per sq./meter. I saw some advertise for 350pesos per sq/meter, but I never went to see the place yet.
Feyma,
Shhhhhhh….or in ten years it won't be the place you thought you were moving to 😉
Other nice places… Camiguin is really nice (I have a geology degree and wouldn't mind hanging around he volcano observatory). Siquihor has caught my attention because superstition will keep the masses away. Some of Mady's filipina friends tell me they would never go there. Fortunately, I have a natural immunity to that sort of thing. But it's hard to beat the best of both worlds convenience of Samal/Davao….shhhh.
Dear Feyma, i am sure you will enjoy staying in your house on Samal Island. The place is really romantic and very special to relax. Samal Island and here some special parts are my "hidden paradise" since many years.
Hi Feyma!
I have not received the pricelist on the properties as mentioned three days ago(?). Did you need me to write you on this subject privately?
As I continue my research, it sounds like this is the island to build a vacation or a retirement home. A very good friend is also thinking of purchasing a small lot next to mine 🙂 while still affordable. Hopefully she will come visit with me next year.
Be well!
Hi MarcelinaWW – I will just email you back again privately. I did respond to you right after you email me.
Honestly Samal is booming right now. Every time I go there it seems like new houses were being built. I saw lots of foreigners there too. Maybe we could be neighbor someday. 😉
Thank you so much for dropping by our site. Take care!