General Santos City is famous for many things: the home of boxer Manny Pacquiao, the biggest supplier of sashimi-grade tuna in the Philippines, and the foremost hub for many activities in the southernmost part of the country due to its dynamic economy and culture. Aside from these attractions, the famous port-city also offers natural destinations like world-class diving spots at Saranggani bay, pristine beaches, and breathtaking waterfalls. However, because of its tropical climate and mixed cultures, you have to be prepared to encounter a different way of living especially when you come from northern hemisphere. Here are the things you have to prepare:
1. Prepare your car for a lot of take-home souvenirs
Because General Santos has a lot of souvenirs up for grabs, you might have to park your car at the airport before departing for you will need it when you arrive. Why? Because you will have bring with you back home some of General Santos’s finest. Starting from pieces of indigenous clothing to dried seafood to a whole lot more, General Santos has the power to compel you in taking home with you most of their products for bragging rights. That’s why when you have a car back at home, make sure you park it at the airport before leaving for General Santos. There are several online parking bookers like Parking4less that will help you find the most suitable parking spots for you. Aside from fast and efficient carpark booking services, Parking4less also looks for the cheapest slots around so you can have your car waiting for you to be loaded with mountains of souvenirs.
2. Bring light clothing
Since General Santos—or the Philippines, for that matter—is a tropical country, you better be losing those turtleneck sweaters and winter caps. Bring light clothing like button shirts made from thin fabrics like cotton or muslin, khaki shorts, and thongs (the footwear, though you can bring one for swimming). Also, you can wear brimmer hats like the ones The North Face is selling to protect yourself from sunlight.
3. Don’t forget the sunscreen
Sunblocks aren’t just useful when going to beach. Since you’ll be doing a lot of trekking and hiking to reach the beautiful waterfalls and hills a few klicks outside the city proper, you have be armed against the sun’s harmful rays. Use sunscreens with SPF 50 or more when going out for some adventure, be it a sea or land escapade.
