This early, this Japanese family who are regular travelers, are getting excited to their next visit to Davao City next year.
"Davao City is nice place to visit. The people are very warm. It has almost everything," Kazunobo Hayashi, 43, said in Niponggo.
He said he had enjoyed to the hilt the hospitality shown by Dabawenyos, especially by their newfound friends, during their stay in the city.
Kazunobo's wife Izumiko and their only child Ayane arrived in the city ahead of him. He only stayed for three days while his wife and daughter for two weeks.
Even for a short stay, Kazunobo said his Davao visit is most memorable.
The Hayashis' trip in the city was made possible through the invitation of Amylyn Kondo, a Dabawenya who married Japanese businessman Hajime Kondo.
Amylyn and Izumiko are best of friends back in Japan.
While in Davao City, Izumiko and Ayane, fondly called "Nene", had an eyeball-to-eyeball moment with the crocodiles, particularly with the popular "pangil," at the Crocodile Park.
They enjoyed the beaches of Samal Island, especially the massage by the beach at Paradise Beach Resort.
These Japanese tourists also have memorable experience at Eden Nature Park as they savored the best views of Davao City and the Davao Gulf during a tour at the mountain resort -- impressed by its horse park, a multi-purpose sports field, a fishing village, flower gardens, greenhouses, vegetable and garden herb terraces, and fruit orchards.
The fruits of Davao, fortunately in abundance at the time of their visit, just suited the taste of Izumiko and Nene. Wherever they were, they never missed to bring along with them lanzones, mangosteen and pomelo.
But Nene considered his 10-minute interaction with students of Assumption College of Davao where she was allowed to observe teaching procedures at the school's Grade 6 class.
Because she was so interested to experience school in the city, she was invited by her friends JKristianne Jade Nulla and Kyla Medel, both students at Assumption, to sit in their class.
For Izumiko, the spas in Davao City are like no other. She said they are affordable and the service is great. At the city's spa, she said she and her firends, Amylyn, Edna and Bing Nulla attained the experience they were looking for.
True enough, her stay in the city saw a daily visit to various spas in the city.