Discovering Arakan in Cotabato!

18:27 , , , , , , , , , , , , , No comments
About 1.5 hours from Davao City, we reached on the national highway the mountainous area after Marilog District, Arakan. In fact, Arakan is not anymore part of Davao City, but rather it is a municipality in the province of Cotabato.

Sunny morning. Arrival at Barangay Katipunan, Arakan

The bus terminal
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ph_locator_cotabato_arakan.png
The word Arakan can be derived from the term "Ara" which means abundance of natural resources in the valley and the final "Kan" is related to bravery, heroism and courage of the first Manobo leaders and settlers there.


Arakan comprises different ethno-linguistic groups like the Manobo-Kulamanon and Manobo-Tinanon tribes.

As of data from 2009, Arakan stretches over 693.2156 km2 with a population of 46,410.



Oh happy day!


foggy: 4pm in the afternoon
What I love most about the area is the weather. Although the sun was shining, the air was cool and very fresh. In the rest house, you don't need an aircon at all. The humidity level is very low. And amazingly in the late afternoon, you can see fog coming up. Make sure you bring some warm clothes! So, Arakan can remind a lot of people of Baguio's area and weather.







We took a friend's ATV/Squat and discovered a bit more the road down. You will be fascinated by the offers of plants (with or without seeds, conifers) and flowers!






Strawberry plants!




The very first time, we discovered strawberry plants sold for Php25.00 per piece! Truly a good deal! And there mere fact that I can boost our little garden with such rare find, made my heart beat a bit faster.

Also other plants can be purchased as low as Php20.00 raising up depending on the class.








I freaked out then when the same vendor sold fresh strawberries for Php150.00-180.00 per pack and strawberry jam for Php180.00!!! What a beautiful day!!! Imagine, in Davao City, where could you find such treat at that price??? Normally you would have to pay Php300+ in the mall, and those would not be fresh but rather frozen. How how I love Arakan, I thought!





Plants everywhere!


"And all I can see, is just another lemon tree" for Php300.00


Farewell treat: What a breath-taking sunset






No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Maayong buntag!

I am half German by birth, French by wish and Filipina by heart. I love also thinking of me as a Pampagena in cooking, a Manilena in humoring and maybe a not bad Bicolena in drinking!

Everything started two years ago with my first blog "Hello from Davao" (www.hellofromdavao.blogspot.com). I use to write stuff anything "in" and "about" Davao only. I discovered lately - actually I got a bit braver with the help of friends - to see a much bigger world outside the capital of the south! I realized that I need to travel more in and around Mindanao and the Philippines to understand the culture and my roots better. I love starting this blog "ONE FOR THE ROAD, DARLING!" as a diary capturing travel and discovery moments with my parents, sisters, my boyfriend Jerrold and good friends! And who knows, I might add some more qualities soon ;)

Subscribe