Davao Day 1 - Eden Nature Center

Eden Nature Center is at top of a hill on the outskirts of Davao City. Much of the area had been deforested and cleared out when the owners bought the land. They replanted many trees, including bringing in evergreen trees.

The center is known for beautiful land, hydroponic gardening (soil-less gardening), beautiful garden, aviary, fishing pond, skybiking (riding bikes on tightropes-harnessed of course), zip-lining, and they have cottages that can be rented. We had time to walk the trails, eat their magnificent buffet which included their own grown fruits and vegetables, and take a jeepney tour around the center. For our gardening friends, they had the most amazing garden and orchids. Wow.

View of Davao City from the center.
The picture can't do the view justice!

Mini-zip-lining!

Starting our trail walk.
The trail was slippery, uneven, and fantastic!

Check out this bamboo!
We saw even Bigger pods of bamboo later.
I never realized how huge it got.

Future Tarzan!?!

The water came down from the mountain.
It was crystal clear.

Walking down the path with Pastor Ken,
the president of the orphanage and our host during the day.

Bathrooms in nature.

Bamboo bridge!!!

The Philippine's Bird of Paradise

Checking out a local spider

Caleb LOVED the map of the center.
He made sure we knew where we were going at all times.

Entrance to the garden.

Notice the huge bee in the top left orchid?

Mickey Mouse flower!
They use this lemon-like plant as decorations.

This was my favorite flower.
It is used a lot on the outside of fences as it has Very sharp thorns,
which is a natural way to keep away intruders.

Mangosteen orchard.
They are unfortunately not in season right now,
but I've heard they are delicious.

A deer!
The deer here are miniature compared to the WI deer.

Hydroponic gardening.

Riding on the jeepney tour.
Caleb insisted he ride on the outside and hold on!

A Traditional tribal house

Instruments!!!
These are like a gong/xylophone mix.

Little C is part of the Ata tribe which is in the mountains outside of Davao City.
His biological family would still live in houses much like the ones we visited.

Now onto our evening fun... next post!

Mara

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