leawalkerblog

Viking’s

Posted on November 22, 2013 by leawalkerblog

Viking’s opened in Davao City on September 28, 2013. We were in America then. We’ve heard good reviews about the place but we still wondered how it is. 🙂

So last night, I had the chance to visit the newest buffet restaurant in the city.

Thanks to Santos Land Development Corporation for the invite. I was blessed enough to have a production with their company. Hence, our (John and I) inclusion in the free dinner for their producers.

I really had a good time catching up with friends in the industry. 🙂

Plus the food was great.

There was a wide range of choices – seafood, Japanese food, Western food, Filipino food and Chinese food. I love their desert section. So does the grilling area where you can request for beef, lamb and turkey slices. Ahh.. I have to mention that they have unlimited softdrinks, juices and beer too.

For Php808.00 per head, that’s a lot of food and drinks!

I just wish that it wasn’t so loud and crowded. Other than those, the place would be perfect! 🙂

Viking’s is located at the Fountain Court of SM Premier. Lanang, Davao City.

So if you’re asking if I would come back, the answer is yes.

Infact, the Bank of Philippine Islands officers just invited me to a lunch date with them on December. Let’s see how it is then. Maybe it isn’t that crowded and noisy during daytime. 🙂

The point of my story is, book in advance. I saw a long line last night of people who wanted to have dinner there. Remember it’s the latest buffet place in Davao City. So people flock to check what’s going on. Be very prepared then. Book at least 2 weeks in advance to be sure that you will be able to have dinner or lunch on time.

Enjoy! 🙂

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Typhoon Haiyan Help

Posted on November 17, 2013 by leawalkerblog

I am cutting off my US Roadtrip article to inform you that I added a new page in this blog.

It is called Photos For Sale.

https://leawalkerblog.com/photos-for-sale/

I have accumulated thousands of pictures during our US Roadtrip. And the original copies are about 2-3mb each.

I am selling these pictures at P100.00 ($2.50) each. The said amount will be used to buy 1 kilo of rice, canned goods, coffee sachet , sugar ,water, etc for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

This is my first time to sell my pictures. But I have been doing charity works for 14 years now.

I am hoping that through this fund drive , more families will be able to eat for a day during this very difficult time.

For more details, please email me through:

Gmail – allearealestate@gmail.com

Yahoo – lcero@yahoo.com

I am still in the U.S. as I write this, but I am going home next week. I have already tapped friends who pledged to donate old clothes and groceries.

To all my friends who live in Davao, my office is ready to pick up your donations. Just email/text me or call my secretary, Emilie at 3051651.

Thank you very much for all your help.

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged donation, haiyan, Philippines, typhoon haiyan | Leave a comment

US Roadtrip – King’s Canyon National Park

Posted on November 5, 2013 by leawalkerblog

King’s Canyon National Park is just adjacent to Sequioa National Park. So visiting this place is like hitting two birds with one stone. 🙂

SNP boasts of giant Sequioa trees while KCNP has really beautiful canyons. I loved every bit of it!

And the rivers, oh my god… Its crystal clear waters coupled with golden stones is simply breathtaking…

I found the rock colors really pretty too!

Going down to the bottom of the canyon (not sure how many thousands of feet below) was beautiful. The hairpin turns and winding road did give us a different kind of rush. You have to be extra careful because it’s just a two way lane and you know, the canyon is soooo deep. If you fall, you’re dead. 🙂

There are many bear beware signs all over the place. But we only saw one at Sequioa. And none in King’s Canyon. But I saw a fox crossing the road. 🙂 You know, I find that really awesome because we don’t have bears, foxes, etc. in the Philippines. So it makes me grin from ear to ear. ha ha

King’s Canyon National Park is located in California, U.S.A.

For more details, please check their website:

http://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in America, My Travels | Tagged american roadtrip, bears, california, canyons, deep canyon, Fall, hairpin turns, hiking trail, King's Canyon National Park, old bridge, pine trees, sequioa trees, us roadtrip, USA, walking trail, waterfalls | Leave a comment

US Roadtrip – Sequioa National Park

Posted on October 26, 2013 by leawalkerblog

We left Glendale around 11am. Got lost for about an hour looking for the interstate. What was on the map was closed for repair. And that really messed us up because there wasn’t much instruction on where to go. It was not fun but we came out ok. 🙂

We took I-5. Then connected with 99 to Visalia. Then took US 198 through Three Rivers on our way to the park. The trip would have been about 4 hours only. But well we stopped at the Outlet Malls in Tulare for some shopping. We don’t normally do that when we’re travelling but everything was so cheap! So how can I/ we not? lol

Needless to say, we arrived at Montecito Sequioa Lodge around 6pm already. We did not realize how big the park is until we got there! From the main gate where we bought “America the Beautiful” pass, the trip took at least an hour halfway through the park. It was interesting though because a black bear crossed the road on our way up! That was so cool. I was so surprised that I forgot to take pictures. But then again, it happened so fast , there was no time to think. With mouth agape , John and I , got so excited about it. 🙂 Such a nice welcome right?!

The check in was fast. And since we got in late, the front desk officer told us to have our dinner before going to the cottage because the buffet will stop at 7pm. You know, that was why I booked through Montecito. The room includes buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. Comes in handy when you’re on vacation. 🙂 I will write about them more on my hotel/lodge reviews soon.

What amazed me the most about Sequioa National Park are the giant trees. I commend the park rangers for protecting them. More so, the State and the Federal government for creating the park programs. I wasn’t too happy when our vacation got cut off due to the shutdown of course, but still credit goes to them for all the works they did to protect the wildlife and the nature they thrive in. Such a commendable act, really… I just pray that this will continue so that our future generation will enjoy them as much as I did.

My tip to those who plan on visiting the park – make sure that you stop by at the Visitor Center. The rangers will provide for a map of the whole place. It makes it easier for one to navigate the park. There are so many trails as well that you can walk on. Make sure that you are wearing a very comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots. It is a big help if you want to enjoy what the park has to offer. And bring lots of layers. When we were there, the temperature at the bottom of the park was in the 70’s. But up in the mountains, the temperature dropped to the 40’s at nights. Yes, it is cold! So bring jackets, long sleeve shirt, thick socks, etc. Believe me when the wind blows and it’s cold, you will not like it too. So come prepared. 🙂

We looked like dwarfs compared to these giant trees. 🙂 There are so many chipmunks there! 🙂 It was my first time to see some. So it was really a fun experience for me. Squirrels are cute too! 🙂

I’ve taken like a thousand photos. But I cannot put them all here. I will add more pictures when I’ve sorted them out. Most probably when I get back to the Philippines. hehe

Sequioa National Park is a very beautiful place. If you come visit, enjoy it as much as you can. John and I made sure that we took time exploring what we can. We sat one time in a nice meadow and picnicked. 🙂 The sound of the mountain breeze made it all the more beautiful. It’s as if the mountain was singing to us. Crazy thought huh? lol But well, that’s why we prefer the mountains over malls and the cities. I wish I can express it with words….

You know, there was only one memory that tainted my experience with Sequioa. During the shutdown, the park rangers informed all of us that we have two days to vacate the park. What broke my heart was this old couple in an RV. The old man looked like he was going to cry. Can you imagine saving for a vacation all your life and not being able to enjoy it as scheduled because the park is about to close? Sad right? I experienced that first hand. And I saw what it did to the park visitors that day. So sad.. I felt like crying too. But I thought John and I am still young. We still have lots of time to enjoy and visit it once again if we want to.

Two days is a long time. So we did our best to enjoy everything as much as we can. 🙂

I’ll share with you our King’s Canyon National Park visit next time. 🙂

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in America, My Travels | Tagged chipmunks, Gen. Sherman tree, General Grant Tree, sequioa national park, sequioa trees, squirrel | Leave a comment

US Roadtrip – Hollywood

Posted on October 19, 2013 by leawalkerblog

I booked the tour through our hotel. Daniel, the Filipino concierge, at Hilton Glendale was a really nice guy. Thank you Daniel for your help. 🙂

We were picked up at 8:30am by the tour bus of Starline. The driver rounded up all the other guests from different hotels and brought us all to their main office in Hollywood. We were told that the tour will start in 30 mins.

It started with a visit to the Hollywood Bowl. This is where a lot of concerts are done in Hollywood. The backdrop is Hollywood Hills. I remember the tour guide saying, there are mountain lions there. hehe…

Then we were brought to the famous streets of Hollywood, ie: Sunset Drive, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, etc.

I learned that Paris Hilton lives near Sunset Drive. ha ha.. And at the Beverly Hills Park, usually the cast of Desperate Housewives do their exercise there with their trainors.

For high-end shopping, Rodeo Drive has all the branded establishments. Of course I took picture of that store where Pretty Woman was shot. Remember the scene where Julia Roberts came in and she wasn’t entertained? Figures. I tell you, the place is just so “sosyal”. ha ha .. In fairness though, their personnel are so professional.

Time passes quickly when you’re having fun right? By 12:30pm, we headed towards the Farmer’s Market for lunch. I love this place! There are about 50 informal restaurants where you can choose the food you want. I found a Greek restaurant that offered Beef Kabob and Pilaf Rice. I was in heaven. ha ha.. It was so delicious, believe me. 🙂

About an hour or so later, we went to the Chinese Theatre. This is where all the Hollywood stars left their handprints on the floor.

The Kodak Theatre , which is known to be the permanent home of the Academy Awards.

Of course, one wouldn’t forget the Walk of Fame right? lol … Like any tourist, I took a lot of pictures too. haha

Scenes from Pretty Woman , the movie , was shot in this store.

Los Angeles Skyline.

Painting at Tiffany’s bathroom. Dated 1882. PS. Their bathroom smells like cinnamon. 🙂

We arrived back at the hotel around 5pm.

It was such a fun day. 🙂 It was kinda overwhelming for me because all these places, I only saw on tv or the movies we watched. Never have I thought that the day would come for me to experience it in person.

I feel blessed. Thank God!

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in America, My Travels | Tagged american roadtrip, chinese theatre, Hollywood, melrose avenue, rodeo drive, sunset boulevard, us road trip, walk of fame | Leave a comment

US Roadtrip 1 – California

Posted on October 9, 2013 by leawalkerblog

We arrived in Los Angeles, U.S.A. on September 27. The trip from the Philippines took about 16 hours including the lay-over in Tokyo, Japan. Yeah, we were so tired and hungry. The breakfast that American Airlines gave was just bread and coffee. lol (I have not eaten rice for over 1 day! Gawd..) Well, even John commented that it was a crappy breakfast. haha

Before the plane landed, I saw the famous Hollywood sign. I grinned and told John that I never thought I would ever see that. I mean, ya’ know, we only see that on TV. ha ha

I just have to comment on this, the baggage claim area in L.A. was really organized. I love that! Claiming baggages wasn’t a hassle at all.

The line at the Immigration counter took time because of the volume of arriving guests. I remember, the Immigration officer asked me – Lea are you going to work in America while you are here? Which I promptly replied, “No , I’m going on a roadtrip with my husband”. And grinned.. I wasn’t excited, at all… Did not show right? ha ha The officer gave me a 6 months stamp on my passport and off we went.

Welcome to America for the 2nd time. 🙂

Next stop was at National. Nope, not the bookstore. lol But the car rental agency! 🙂

I booked this online through www.traveljigsaw.com . I got a really good rate, plus the customer service is awesome!

Claiming the rental car was uneventful. I just showed them the prepaid voucher and voila, the in-charge at National gave us the key to the Ford Escape I rented months ago.

You know, we planned this trip for almost a year. So everything’s booked. I’m a stickler for details when it comes to travelling. All vouchers are neatly filed in one folder so I do not have to worry of losing them.

Traffic was bad from the airport to Glendale, California. But unlike in my country, it was orderly. No overtaking and such.. he he.

John and I had a hard time looking for the Hilton though. We finally decided to stop in a restaurant and ate first. 🙂 Thankfully, the waitress knew where exactly it was.

We decided to park in the basement and just took the elevator to the lobby. Check in was definitely a breeze. After unpacking, etc. We fell asleep. lol

Our room at Hilton Glendale.

But woke up around 4pm and drove to Glendale Galleria. The hotel receptionist was so helpful and gave us a map of Glendale. So finding it wasn’t a problem at all. We had 3 things to do there. 1) to eat. 2) look for a go phone 3) look for an Eddie Bauer shop. No. 3 is a must for John. lol

He found AT&T and was able to buy a sim card with unlimited calls and text for P50 dollars per month. I don’t know what the sales girl was thinking, but she told us that it included unlimited data as well. But until now we have not been able to use it. John’s been complaining about AT & T’s signal as well. Tsk.. tsk. I heard him said several times – he should have bought Verizon. 🙂

Anyway, I found the Food Court. 🙂 I was so happy I found Beef Kebob with rice. Oh my god, believe me that was delicious. John on the other hand found a large pizza. ha ha

Massi’s Kabob @ Glendale Galleria

We didn’t find an Eddie Bauer shop. But we stopped at the supermarket/ department store. I suggested of buying a glass cleaner for the windshield and some paper towels. And then of course, John thought of the Atlas Map. 🙂

You know that turned out to be the best decision ever. Buying the road map, that is. It has been a really big help during this trip. You will know why as I continue in my next installment of this blog.

As the day ended, John and I walked around the hotel. Of course, I had to pose too. ha ha

So this is how our 1st day in the US ended. 🙂 See you soon again guys for my next update!

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in America | Tagged american roadtrip, at&t, california, glendale, glendale galleria, hilton, kabob, massi's kabob, national rent a car, road trip usa, travel jigsaw | Leave a comment

US Roadtrip – Prologue

Posted on September 28, 2013 by leawalkerblog

So imagine this… Me – dancing to the tune of “I’m so excited”.. haha .. And I can not definitely hide it!

After 8 months of planning, the time has come for our US Road Trip. Yes, you read that right! I will be gone for a few weeks to enjoy our vacation. But I will do my best to do an update while on the road from time to time.

John and I will be landing at Los Angeles Airport. From there, we will pick up the car we rented and head on to view some “touristy” places in LA. If you’ve been reading my blog for a long time, you would know that John and I prefer the mountains more than the city. So after a 2 days stay in L.A. , we will be proceeding to Sequioa National Park.

From there, we will travel to the Sin City – Las Vegas! 🙂 We will be staying here for a few days because we want to watch Cirque Du Soleil and enjoy what LV has to offer.

Then, we’re off to Arizona to visit a friend. Then of course, the Grand Canyon , Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. John wants to fit in the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest too.

I want to see the Salt Lake in Utah, while we are there. 🙂

Then off to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in Wyoming and Montana. These places are the main reasons for this road trip. The rest of the stops are just a bonus which we planned along the way. I do not know how to explain my excitement. he he.. I don’t know what to expect as well. I guess, we will find out in my succeeding blogs. All I know is that I am hoping to see bears (from a distance) , elks, bisons , etc. And experience how it is to be in a traffic jam , with the parks’ beautiful animals as the cause. Sounds amazing right? 🙂

After YNP, we will move on to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Woo hoo!!! This is such a dream come true. It has become a dream for me to see the rocky mountains since high school, after I read a book that took place there supposedly.

(Incidentally, I’ve seen on the news the devastation that the storm brought in some parts of Colorado. I am praying that all the victims and their families will recover from this tragedy. I don’t know what to say, except that God may continue to bless you with more strength and love… )

Ok, so from Colorado, let’s see what happens next. John tells me that driving in Kansas will be a boring one because all you see are hays. he he… That’s seconded by everyone I talked to and those that I’ve read. I will tell you what I think when I’m there. 🙂

So from there, we move on to visit mommy and the rest of John’s family in Mississippi and Tennessee. I am so happy to see them again. John’s family is awesome! I love them. 🙂

So let me share with you the west through a Filipina’s eyes!

And oh, please help me pray that I get to see snow during this trip? We have none in the Philippines. So it would be an amazing experience for me to see some. 🙂

So I invite you my online friends. Come and join me in my trip of a lifetime…. 🙂

Thank you kaayo Lord for making this trip possible. When papa had a stroke, I thought that we may have to cancel the trip. I wondered if I’ll get a refund too for a last minute cancellation of all the bookings I made. But your goodness always overwhelms me. Thank you for protecting him from harm. I offer you this trip. That you may make the next two months fun and memorable for both John and me.

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in America | Tagged America, arizon, Arkansas, bryce canyon, california, cirque du soleil, colorado, colorado spings, grand canyon, grand tetons, kansas, las vegas, los angeles, mgm grand, Mississippi, Montana, rockies, rocky mountains, salt lake, sequioa national park, us roadtrip, USA, utah, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park | Leave a comment

Playa Azalea

Posted on September 15, 2013 by leawalkerblog

Playa Azalea is a high end subdivision located in Brgy. Limao, Penaplata, Island Garden City of Samal.

I visited the place recently together with clients. Let me share with you the photos I took. I think you will love it as much as I do. 🙂

Its tranquil beauty has left us all mesmerized. It seemed like time stood still as we enjoyed the view of Mt. Apo from a distance, coupled with the soothing sound of Davao Gulf’s gentle waves….

The Infinity Pool facing Davao Gulf, Mt. Apo and Davao City.

Facilities and Amenities include:

* Landscaped Gate and Guardhouse
* Hilltop Clubhouse
* Pavilion
* Infinity Pool
* Beach Club
* Beach Pavillion
* River Pool
* White Sand Beach line
* Kiddie Pool
* Children’s playground
* Park
* Wide subdivision roads
* Concrete Drainage System
* Overlooking Lots
* Electric and Waterlines

The view lot above is facing Davao City.

Sample Computation:

A) 24% downpayment payable in one year P33,020.00 per month

B) Reservation Fee of Php30,000.00

C) Balance of 76% payable in a maximum of 5 year term. (P32,823.54)

Please email me through lea@davaoproperties.com for the site visit schedule.

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in Samal Island | Tagged beachline lot for sale in Samal, beachlot for sale, high end subdivision in samal island, Infinity Pool, lot for sale samal island, Playa Azalea, Samal Island | Leave a comment

Our PLDT Saga

Posted on September 10, 2013 by leawalkerblog

I am so happy my internet connection is back! We lost ours since August 30. That’s 12 days of no internet connection. Tsk.. tsk..

The whole month of August, our connection was intermittent. But at the end of the month, we finally lost it. And so my PLDT saga started….

PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.) is our provider. For DSL troubleshooting hotline, I had to call 172. I was told to monitor our line for 24-48 hours. I said ok, no problem.

On the 3rd day, our connection came back. For a day. 🙂

The next day, it was gone. Again. So I made a follow up to 172. Again. And got the same response, monitor for 24-48 hours. Again. 🙂

Several days later, I still don’t have a connection. So imagine my frustration when I have works to do at nights and when I wake up each morning. It’s a good thing that John thought of my Smart Infinity Cellphone’s Plan. There’s this “tethering” program which connects the pc to the phone and voila, I can use the desktop.

I’ve been sending emails to clients through my cellphone you see. And though that is convenient, I find it difficult to type long emails , to at least 10 -20 people per day. It hurts my eyes too! 🙂 With the 40’s life, comes changes. In my case, I’ve become farsighted. Can you imagine typing on your Samsung Note 2 and make sure it is a little far away so you can read your email? LOL

Yeah, yeah.. you’d say why won’t you send emails in your office then? Yep, I can do that. But my real work is on the field. Everyday. So my office, is actually , my secretary’s office. I do not get to sit there as often as I want to. 🙂 My real office is whichever vehicle I use for the day. Seriously.

So, to continue with this saga…. Thursday brought a big storm causing the black out in our area. A few minutes later, we heard an explosion beside our house. Our neighbor saw what happened. It turned our that the transformer exploded. Must have affected the telephone box too because our modem got fried. And we lost our telephone’s dial tone.

Using my other phone line, I called up 173 this time to report what happened. Of course you know the answer already right? Monitor for 24-48 hours. 🙂 True enough, we got back our dial tone about 36 hours later.

But I still do not have a PLDT modem. That means, no internet still.

So I had to follow up through 172 again. I was told that since the dial tone is back, I have to call 173 and ask for them to close the fault ticket. So the 172 (DSL) technicians can fix our problem. You’d think that’s easy right?

Yeah, right. Ninety Six (96) hours later… 🙂 the fault ticket is STILL open.

So I emailed PLDT’s customer service to report my concern.

I also went to their main office along Ponciano St. Only to be told that “ma’am you need to call the hotline”. I could have laughed at the irony of it. Geee.. only in the Philippines!

After a very long explanation, the woman who entertained me said ” we cannot do anything here ma’am , except email the central office. We are not allowed to call the hotline. So you will have to do it”. Oh well… I was so drained after all that so I just said “ok”.

Of course it wasn’t ok. But what can you do. What I didn’t like about this is that, when I asked about a refund after I get back my connection, I am supposed to write a formal letter of request. Subject to their head office’ approval.

In a perfect world, I believe that the company is supposed to just give you a rebate for all the inconveniences. But well, I live in a 3rd world country after all. So customer service means nada.. zilcht.. zero..

Don’t get me wrong. I love my country. But sometimes, instances like these make me wish that you know, things are better. And that the system is better.

Ahh.. I hope to see the day….

Posted in Davao, davao city, Davao del Sur, philippines | Tagged internet provider, pldt | Leave a comment

The French Baker

Posted on August 27, 2013 by leawalkerblog

This new bakeshoppe/ restaurant opened at the Fountain Court of SM Lanang Premier on August 8, 2013.

But John and I noticed it only yesterday. 🙂 We wondered at first if they had food other than bread. The French Baker is a bakeshoppe after all.

Once inside, we saw the menus standing on the table. Upon checking, John found something he can eat. While I found one for me too.

The ambiance is nice and clean. But it is loud. You know, I really don’t understand why there is a need for a loud music. I mean, isn’t it better to have a “chill-axing” mode while eating? A softer music just enough to entertain the clients while enjoying the food? Oh well..

Another weird thing I noticed is that upon ordering, the waitress asked us to pay in advance. I told John, err.. maybe they’re afraid we’d run out after eating. ha ha.. I understood why later on. After serving the food on our table, the waitress never came back. Until we asked for water and the bill.

So I guess, this is somewhat like a self service restaurant. Where you have to request for everything because no one will come to you, otherwise.

John ordered Burger Steak with Mashed Potato and Bread Roll. After tasting a little, I can say that it was good.

While I ordered Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa. The chicken and gravy was good. But the mango salsa tasted different. I’m not sure if I liked it. Sorry.

So would we come back? Yes, we will. There are several items in the menu that we would like to try, that’s why. So let’s see what happens next time. 🙂