EDEN - "naturally.."

is the motto that is splashed across the entrance to every site and attraction at the mountain resort my MOM took me to this weekend. Ironically enough, this nature park (found 3000' above sea level) is 95% man-made. Logged over in the 70's, they rebuilt the lost environment planting almost every tree found there today, making Eden the only pine forest in Davao [the pine sure reminded me of the cottage...mer]

the sITEs were incredible. We had dinner last night over-looking the core of Davao City, illuminated. This is a picture of something they referred to as "Rainbow Pass", because the arches are home to a number of coloured flowers.

We went swimming, and i went HIKinggg (yeah, i could've been of the bruce trail, except for the bamboo and the spiders bigger than my hand..), and we saw filipino deer and thought of Grandpa, took the hour long taxi ride up and back and thought of Dad (haha, you would've had your foot through the floor for SURE) the guy was nuts.

Eden is also a major supplier for the local grocery stores of Davao. Here is a picture of the lettuce, but they also have fruit orchards and vegetable gardens and herb gardens...it was really cool to see it all, and even bEttEr to try it all at the buffets.

The resort also had this amAZing bird sanctuary...i really believe sesame street had a character that looked like this. THIS bird was cRAZY scary, made a even stranger sound, and was bigger than me :|

they ALSO had pretty peacocks everywhere. but, only ONE white one. Mom thinks it musta been mating season because the males were CONstantly displaying their muscles, haha - it's not working too well for this poor guy (as the girl pecks aimlessly at the ground..)

uhh. so. this is..somewhat.embarassing. bUt we found a hat that suited Gramma's collection of unique cottage apparel and so HERE is a little present for Gramma ;)