Sharidoodles: June 2012

Sleeping Dinosaur over view before reaching downtown Mati City

So, I've been hearing a lot buzz of Dahican's wave of Mati City and that made me and my gang to put Dahican in our a must-visit-place list. And after so many postponed and failed trip plans after another then finally I'm able to take my step in the Laland of Mati. I went there not only once but twice...in one week. That's why I had this VERY saturated tan (bet cha Hollywood would be so jealous with me. hahaha). Anyway, 'nuff been said let's go talk about Mati.

Laid-back Amihan sa Dahican...

Laid-back hut which its second flr. serves as a home for Amihan boys and ground flr. serves as a mini bar where you can chill and buy yourself a ice-cold beer or a bottle of nectar of god, Coke.

Somewhere in the tip of Mati City there lies a laid-back heaven called, Amihan sa Dahican; where everything is simple. No hassle, no entrance free, no corkages (yeah, I hate this too), no fancy resort; just you, the beach, the people and the Tan-giver Sun. Upon reaching the place there are only two words I can think of, free & easy. Free because as I was looking at the children playing in the waves with their skim boards it seems like they're free from all the complicated things in the city, the traffic, pollution, flood and God knows what else . They're free goofing around without minding the time just surf, wait for great waves then surf again until meal time. And for the word easy because people there live in an easy life with their tropical huts. Luxury is the very last thing I can describe the place after the word hell (coz it's a living paradise baby!).

wacky picture with Amihan Boys

The area was run by Amihan Boys, a skim & surfing team led by "Kuya Jun". They're the one maintaining the cleanliness of the area. Early in the morning you can see the Amihan boys busy cooking, cleaning the area and other stuff. You can also approach them if you have concern within the scope of Amihan sa Dahican. I should know, 'cause they helped me find my lost slippers.

The beach...

Clean beach shore & Cool-blue water of Amihan sa Dahican, Mati City

If you'll gonna ask me about the beach quality, I would say awesome. Amihan sa Dahican has a pretty descent stretch of white-sand and a very cool lovely water. Though it's a open-to-public beach the area's cleanliness is really good. I would say it's one of the finest beach I've ever been so far. And another thing I love about the Amihan sa Dahican is the people. My experience would be not that fun without the very warm and accommodating people their. Though, we just knew them for a day but they certainly left us a very fun memories indeed.

Fine sand of Amihan sa Dahican, Mati City

Activities to do...

Surfing...

This activity is one of the highlight activities in Amihan and easier than skimming...at least for me. In fact, lots of surfing enthusiasts visited Amihan for its famous waves. Don't know how to surf? You can have a surfing lesson. If you are afraid to stumbled down and being laugh at, well worry no more my friend if there's a place where being stumbled over and over again isn't considered as embarrassing thing rather fun it's Amihan sa Dahican. You can flip with the surfing board as much as you want without someone's laughing at you. Trust me, I had my fair share of flips.

Winston (instructor) giving me words of wisdom for basic surfing

Waiting for waves

My first stand on a surfing board after a number of stumbles

If you don't really wanna stumbled-down you can just have a pic with the surf board for facebook purposes

Skimming...

If there's a very common activity in the area that is skimming. You can see lots of kiddos playing in the waves with their skim boards. This thing is harder than it looks, it gives me a hard time trying to reach the waves. But hell yeah! That was really fun, even the stumbling part.

Bayogyog of Amihan Boys showing some of his champ moves

Kids waiting for great waves

Boating...

If you're a type of person who enjoy paddling rather than standing on top of a board you can also boating. You can enjoy looking at the turquoise clear water. If you'll gonna ask me how much is the boating, well i dunno we just had it for free 'cause we're kind a "feeling-close" with the Amihan boys.

She availed the free boat ride as well as the free planned boat flip from Winston

How to get there...

You can take a bus/van from Davao City at Ecoland Terminal bound for Mati City. It would take 4-5 hrs. for bus or 3-4 hrs. for van. The fare would range from Php 200-250.00 per way. After reaching Mati City downtown you can hire a motorcycle to take you in Amihan sa Dahican. But if you're in a private car it'll just take about 2-2.5 hrs and if you're riding a Hilux/Fuego pick up the gas would likely to cost around Php 2,000.00 round trip.

On our way in the middle of foggy Tagum way @5am

The classic jump shot picture @Welcome sign of Davao Oriental

Signage of Amihan sa Dahican Entrance

Where to Sleep for Overnight Stay....

If you're staying overnight at Amihan sa Dahican, you can just rent a tent (good for 3-4 person) for Php 200.00. All you have to do is just approach the Amihan Boys from the hut and also don't worry if don't know how to assemble a tent they'll do it for you.

Words to Live by...

Weekdays & Weekends

If you want a peaceful and serene beach moment at Dahican I would advise you to come on weekdays and the beach is all yours. But if you don't mind having a number of people with ya at the beach, you can come on a weekend.

Season of Waves...

The best time for to witness and experience the Jr. Tsunami waves of Amihan sa Dahican is during October-March.

Buying foodies...

Looking for some juicy meat

If you guys are planning to have some seafood as your meal for Dahican trip I would suggest to buy the fishes in Mati Public Market 'cause it's a lot more cheaper compared in Davao City. The market is located somewhere in the back of ER Mall or you can ask the folks in Mati for direction.

Buying veggies @ Mati Public Market

Cooking...

If you don't have a portable stove you can just buy some charcoal at the market and ask Amihan Boys to use their dirty kitchen. They would much willin' to be your hero in making fire, if you're kind a dummy in making fire out of charcoal like me.

Drinking & Surfing/Skimming...

Surf/Skim first before gettin' drunk because doing such thing/s under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. You gotta wait until you're sober before you can be on the board. And that's the reason why we just spent the whole afternoon goofing at the beach with the kids 'cause we're not allowed to surf/skim due to some alcohol influence issue.

Comfort Room/Showering...

The only CR/Shower room in the place

There's just only one comfort/shower room in the area so better expect a long queue. But then again, I gotta tip for ya. You can go to the near resort called Botona and availed their shower their for free, though it'll take about 5-10mins walk. Don't worry it's an open beach you can just spot the shower near the shore; just make it quick. ;)

Photos...