Summer vacation for the school kids here in the Philippines is well underway now, and the challenge for parents like Feyma and I is to keep the kids busy! You know how kids are, if you don’t keep them busy with something, they will spend their time playing video games and watching TV. Doing that for 3 solid months will lead to boredom and also laziness!
So, we are always keeping an eye out for something for the kids to do.
If you have been reading my site for very long, you undoubtedly know that I enjoy swimming. The kids must take after their Dad, because they enjoy it too. Well, the other day the kids asked to go swimming, and we said “of course” – as it is a good activity for them. Good exercise, good fun… nothing wrong with that!
The kids went swimming at Bryan’s Grill – a favorite restaurant of ours which also has a Bed & Breakfast and a swimming pool. They charge P80/day for swimming per person. That is cheaper than any other place in town that I am aware of. Most pools in town charge P100, some even charge P150 per day, so P80 is a pretty good price. However, I got thinking about it and remember that Bryan’s also offers longer term memberships, which are quite a bit cheaper. When we inquired, we found that they have a package deal for 5 people. Five people can swim any time they want for 3 months for just P2,500! That’s cheap! We have 4 kids, and our Nephew will bring the kids, so that makes 5. So, we bought a 3 month membership for everybody to swim. By the time that the membership ends, they will be back in school again.
One thing I like about the pool at Bryan’s is that it is deep! The shallow end is 4 feet deep, and it is 8 feet in the deep end. I know of no other pools in Davao that deep. Most pools that I am aware of here are only 5 feet in the deep end. Personally, I like it deeper than 5 feet, because I don’t want to be able to touch the bottom – I want to tread water and burn more calories that way!
So, the kids are in for a summer of swimming fun! I know they will enjoy having the pool membership, and I am betting that they will swim at least 5 days per week. I might even join them from time to time msyelf!
AWESOME!! take a few laps and get a gourmet meal…its a vicious cycle Bob….
Hi Bob,
I agree – swimming is a good healthy and fun summer activity for kids.
For us here in California, our family goes camping in the Sierras, Yosemite, Redwoods, by the Rogue River and Florence,Oregon to name a few. Are there places to go camping, hiking swimming in Davao and it's vicinity? Any other summer camps for kids?
Bob: Looks like you guys really had a fun day in the picture!
Hi brian – Ha ha… it is a nice combination! When the kids go swimming there, though…. they don't have any money, so it's hard for them to partake in the gourmet side of things! 😀
Hi Gerry – When I was a kid, we used to go camping a lot. My parents owned a little camping lot on the coast of Washington. My Mom and the kids would spend almost the whole summer there. Dad would spend vacation time, and when he was working, he would spend weekends at the campground too, about 2 hours drive from where he worked. It was a good life.
I am not aware of any summer camps here like there are in the States.
Hi John – Yeah, the kids and I really enjoy swimming. That particular photo, though, is maybe 5 years old!
As long as the kids are having fun and out of trouble …When they get bored then the trouble starts…I use to swim every day when I was a kid ..We went to a couple of the spring in the area here and went swimming ,cool ….Phil n Jess
Kamusta ka Bob,
That is a great activity for them, I also love swimming, whether it is at the beach, or in a pool. I hope they enjoy there summer vacation.
Mu-adto sa ko, salamat kaayo,
Danny
magandang umaga ho bob, 23 more days and school will be out here in the state's my daughter loves to swim so do i and my wife i think its a fun thing for the family to do and to keep in shape summer is for the kids ( and grown ups to )there are so many things to do outside run play tag, basketball, baseball not tv all the time are videos games get out and move it keeps everyones mind sharp.
Hi Phil – Out of trouble is the main thing! 😆 I used to swim a lot as a kid too.
Hi Danny – I tend to prefer swimming in fresh water rather than salt… but I'll take either!
Hi tonka – Kobalo ko ug Bisaya, pero walay Tagalog! 😆 thanks, though… I agree, all of those activities you mentioned are certainly better than tv or video games. Of course, every activity has it's time and place, but just not all the time for the videos.
Hi Bob.
Although the family have access to a pool where we live in Davao the food that is available is not up to much.I'm due back in Davao in 7 weeks and would like to give Bryan's a visit but you dont say where it is located.Basic directions would be appreciated.We live in Ma a.
Regards David
Hi David – I am sorry. Indeed, I did not give any directions to Bryan's. I did a full review on their restaurant about 6 months ago or so, and gave directions at that time, but I should have given their location this time too, I apologize for that.
Bryan's is located in Palm Village Subdivision. It is behind Victoria Plaza in Barrio Obrero, probably about 500 to 700 meters behind the mall. It is not easy to find, and few taxi drivers know where it is either. But, if you just drive straight down the canal right behind the mall there is an entrance to Palm Village on the left, turn in there, and immediately take another left when the road splits into a Y. From there, it is about a block on the right. Bryan's is also called "La Piscine" and also "Arturo's" (don't ask.. I have no idea why they would use so many different names). You can't miss it, it is the only commercial establishment in the residential neighborhood. The food is excellent there, and inexpensive too for that quality of food.
Bob: swimming very nice here at the Philippines, because plenty of beautiful girls at the poolside to keep things interesting. You get me?
Hi Bob,
Swimming is my favourite sport,I swim every day for 20 minutes before lunch. I live at the see edge, it takes me only seconds to jump into the water, then I go for lunch and SIESTA.
Have a nice day.
PS. Does the restaurant have any e-mail adress?. I am planning to spend a week next January in Davao, it would be a nice place to stay too, if is not to far from the center of the City.
Hola Carlin,
Como estás? espero conocer tu segundo apellido, y conocerte personalmente el próximo Enero, me gustaria invitarte a comer o a cenar si tienes tiempo libre.
Que tengas un buen dia.
Hi Antonio – It sounds like a wonderful lifestyle, and much like mine! I'm sorry to say that I do not believe that the place has an e-mail address, or if they do it is not publicized. Hope to see you when you are in Davao.
I like to go too the spring in the mountains to swim ,no salt no chlorine not crowed just clear,clean,cool water..
Hello Bob,
Last time I was there Josey, her brother and the two girls and I went to some swimming pool that had the greatest water slides I have been to for just part of the pool. Even in kiddie pool had small ones. Would never be in California. hehehe But food was terrible. Wow p2500 for 5 for 3 months. I will live there by August. hehehe Were you a little scared when it all came together for you to move there?? Anyway maybe Joesy will add to this and tell you the name of the place we went to. I think there I only paid p80 per person. You just don't want to eat there.
Hi Andy – There is a place just south of Toril called Campo Agua that has a bunch of water slides, I bet that is where you went.
We wanted to move to the Philippines for years, but when our house actually sold and it was becoming real… it scared the heck out of us!
Bring your own floaty Bob .I don't share mine 🙂 ..Phil n Jess
Hi Phil – Bastos ka! That's it, I'm gonna tell Mom! 😀
Ok OK don't tell mom ..I have a pair of water wings you can use ..ok ..:) 🙂 ..Phil n Jess
Hi Phil – OK, at least you're playing fair and sharing now! 😀
Sounds like a good advert for Bryan’s 4'/8' deep.. Prefer it a little under 3' at the shallow end it’s a bit safer …Bryans place ..