leawalkerblog

Banking Tips While in the US

Posted on October 31, 2012 by leawalkerblog

One week before our departure, I emailed our banks that we will be using our credit and debit cards during our US Trip. I know replies from banks take time. But I wanted to have a written record of my request. 🙂 Incase there will be problems in the future.

To ensure that we will have monies while travelling, John and I visited our local branches and talked to the incharge in person. The officers then called up their head office and made sure that our request was recorded.

I’m glad to tell you that both our debit cards worked perfectly. 🙂

Between using the credit card and debit card, we preferred the latter because with a $500 dollar withdrawal per day, the bank charge was only $3 dollars. That’s cheap compared to using a credit card, where you will be charged per transaction. I don’t know how much because we didn’t use it.

Hmmm.. tried our BPI card with Eddie Bauer. But we were told that cards from Asia don’t normally work with their system. lol .. The cashier was nice enough to try it. And like she said, it didn’t work. So be prepared, make sure that you have cash in your wallet.

Don’t worry, per our experience both BPI and BDO debit cards worked perfectly. We went on several roadtrips to different states, and we were able to withdraw everytime we needed it.

Note though, that some atm machines, specially the ones in the malls will only allow you to withdraw $400 dollars. So it’s better to go to the nearest local bank and withdraw from there so you can get the maximum amount of $500 dollars.

I just thought of sharing this with you because I have had clients who forgot to inform their banks that they will be travelling. Once they used it outside the Philippines, the card companies automatically flagged those down. And locked it up to ensure the owners’ protection. That’s a lot of hassle to settle when you’re travelling. And very expensive too! Considering the long distance calls and all…

Ok, so I hope this article will give you an additional insight on money matters while travelling. 🙂

Lea C. Walker

http://www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in America, My Travels | Tagged atm withdrawal fee, BDO, BPI, card usage while travelling, credit cards, debit cards, maximum amount of withdrawal while in the US | Leave a comment

Crystal Shrine Grotto

Posted on October 30, 2012 by leawalkerblog

A mexican artist, Dionisio Rodriguez, was hired by the owners of Memorial Park Cemetery to beautify the place. So in 1938, the construction of the man-made cave “Crystal Shrine Grotto” started.

The grotto is a 60 ft deep cave, built with tons of quartz crystals, depicted the life and death of Jesus Christ.

The moment I entered the cave, I had goosebumps. There’s a tinge of holiness to it, specially when I saw the carvings on the wall of Jesus praying at the garden of gethsemane before his death. It was so beautifully done it felt like it was real.

Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane before his death.

Like I said, the place was built of crystals, from white to green and black. Amazing, considering that it was hand carved and all… From what I read, it took the artist and his men about 20 years to finish this cave.

My photos don’t do justice to the place. But I hope I get to share it with you through them:

Dionisio Rodriguez’ legacy lives on. – In 1991, the place was listed in the United States National Register of Historic Places.

The famous, Last Supper..

Yours truly at the Crystal Cave. 🙂

Thanks to my sister inlaw , Jane and my brother inlaw Jon Boy, for taking us there! 🙂

My sister inlaw and brother inlaw. Taken at Abraham’s Oak, outside the crystal cave in Memphis, Tennessee.

Of course, any vacation won’t be complete without a pose right? hehe

Crystal Shrine Grotto is located at:

5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, Tennessee

If you’re in Memphis, don’t forget to visit this place. It’s worth it and more! 🙂

Lea C. Walker

http://www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in America, My Travels, Uncategorized | Tagged America, Crystal Shrine Grotto, Memphis, Tennessee, US Vacation | 1 Comment

Autumn

Posted on October 27, 2012 by leawalkerblog

Autumn, for me is surreal. A dream that I never thought would come true. Not in my lifetime, at least.

But God in his goodness, made it possible for me. 🙂

Prior to our departure in the Philippines, the news was that the US will have a cold front. John kept on telling me that I am not going to like it because it’s going to be cold. I asked how cold is it? He said open the freezer, that cold. haha

But you know, I never really understood how it is until we reached Minneapolis airport. The weather was 4 degree celsius!

The wind greeted me as I went out of the airport lobby to look for our ride. I ran back inside because it was so cold, it chilled me to the bone. Yes, that’s how it felt. John laughed and said, I told you it is cold. I said , now I know what you mean. LOL

He said that with the cold front, autumn will follow very soon. 🙂 I was ecstatic! I used to see the pictures only from magazines or cards, you know. So I was hoping that I will get to see it while we’re in the country.

Foggy, upon arrival at Minneapolis Airport.

True enough, a few days later. The leaves started changing their colors. The changes are so visible in the South, where my husband comes from.

First capture of autumn.

Taken in USA on Oct. 8, 2012.

On our way to Alabama, USA on October 13, 2012.

At the Natchez Trace.

Wild geese enjoying one sunny afternoon. Tennesse, USA.

One thing that really amazes me is the fact that the sun is so bright but when I get out of the car, the cold breeze of the air, knocks me off my feet… 🙂 Then it reminds me why I’m wearing a long sleeve shirt , a jacket and sometimes, mittens…

Coming from a tropical country, the experience is sooo new to me. And contrary to what John thought, I am enjoying every bit of it. 🙂

At the cabin in Alabama. 🙂

At Tennessee, USA.

In Mississippi, USA.

The burst of different colors on the trees are so amazing, it made me reflect how can one not believe that there’s a supreme being who made all these.

There are no skycrapers in the Southern part of the US, but they were blessed with breath taking views of the lake, the river and the forest. It’s so beautiful I have no words for it.

I just want to thank God for bringing me here at the right moment with my husband. 🙂

Reflections… Taken in Mississippi, USA.

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in My Travels, Uncategorized | Tagged Alabaman, Arkansas, Autumn, Fall, Mississippi, Tennessee | 4 Comments

My Us Visa Story

Posted on October 20, 2012 by leawalkerblog

I told you in my previous blog that I had a hard time getting a US Visa right? And that I got denied 3 times. I got really disappointed and all, specially when my father inlaw who was based in the US died without having met me in person. 😦

I am a Filipino. And as such, the burden is on me to prove that I am coming back to the Philippines.

So how would I prove that?

I brought with me the following:

* Titles for all our properties

* OR / CR of our vehicles

* Bank Statements

* And a lot of other things that would prove my ties in the Philippines.

But those were useless because the consul never looked at them. Seriously, as in never.

On my 4th try, I asked the help of my friend , Atty. Nicolas Caraquel. He’s an immigration lawyer based in the US.

He asked me to send him my previous application forms ( I saved a copy for my file) and emailed it to him. From there, he found several mistakes I made.

Ok, figures… No wonder I kept getting denied. Duh!

So here are my tips. Hopefully, this will help my filipino readers who plan on getting a US Visa.

1) National Identification Number:

I used to keep this blank. Because in our country we have SSS, Tax Identification Number, Philhealth and Pag-ibig numbers. Those are all national numbers. Wherever we go in the Philippines, these numbers are valid.

Atty. Caraquel told me to put my Tax Identification Number.

I should have thought of that! You know why? Our TIN Number shows our Annual Income. In my case, my record would show that I pay a percentage tax on a monthly basis. And that is 3% of my monthly income. Other than that, there’s quarterly tax and semi-annual tax.

Ok , my Tin Number also shows how many properties I own. How? It shows the Documentary Stamps Tax and Capital Gains Tax I’ve paid all these years. It’s all there!

No wonder they don’t look at the Titles. 😦

The record shows it all.

2) Job Description:

I explained how long my business has been existing in Davao. (If you’re working, then state how long you’ve been connected with the company you work for). I explained that due to the nature of our business, I have to come back because I sign the contracts and all the other paperworks. (If you’re an employee then site the reason why you are important in your job.)

3) Monthly Income:

Divide your Annual Income into 12 months (based on the ITR). If you have other income that’s not declared and you didn’t pay taxes on it, then that doesn’t count.

I was asked how much do I earn. So I gave him the full amount. I got my Income Tax Return from my folder but the consul told me to just TELL him. Meaning, he does not need to look at the actual document. So make sure that you memorize your annual income. And do not lie. Remember they know. 🙂

4) Travel Abroad –

I was asked if I’ve been abroad. It helps you know for them to know that you went out of the country and came back. I’m glad that in my case, I love to travel. So I told the consul where I’ve been.

5) If Married to an American:

My immigration lawyer explained to me that since I’m married to an American, I have the right to change my status once I get to the US. I told him that it’s not gonna happen because I love my life in Davao. 🙂 Of course, the consul does not know that right? And they will not take your word for it. So what did we do? My lawyer prepared some documents for me to sign.

You will need to discuss this with your immigration lawyer. Because each person has different situation.

It’s sucks to be a Filipino when you’re getting a western visa. But if you want to travel, you will have to adjust to that fact. 😦

I’m glad that I never stopped trying because I am enjoying my vacation in the US as of the moment. 🙂

My immigration lawyer is good because he got me a 1o year visa. 🙂

Another thing:

Upon arrival in the US, you will be interviewed at the immigration counter . In my case, I was asked where I was going. And how long will I be staying. Also, I was asked what my job was. Remember, all of those things are already in the application form. So do not forget the details, the dates and the complete address of where will you be staying.

And please, if your purpose is tourism, then come back after your tour. Do not over extend. Because that’s what’s putting the rest of the Filipinos in a bad light. 😦

The immigration officer at the arrival area gave me a stamp for 6 months. Meaning, I can stay in the US for 6 months if I want to. But no, our schedule is only for the month of October. So we will honor that. 🙂

I am hoping that through this, I am able to help you.

Again, please allow me to thank Atty. Nicolas Caraquel.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.caraquel?fref=ts

If not for his assistance, I would never have found out where I made mistakes in my application form. And then, I would never have gotten a US Visa. 🙂

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in My Travels, Uncategorized | Tagged getting a US visa, Trip to the US, us visa | 32 Comments

At 41 (Another Answered Prayer… )

Posted on October 10, 2012 by leawalkerblog

I am now in the US as I write this. 🙂 So let me thank first and foremost, my immigration lawyer, Atty. Nicolas Caraquel for his assistance. 🙂 Daghang salamat!

——————————————————————————

Tomorrow, 11th of October is my 41st birthday. No I am not ashamed to tell you my age. 🙂 God has blessed me so much all my life that I believe it would be an insult to hide how old I am…

One year ago, I had a prayer on my birthday. ( I wrote about it here –

https://leawalkerblog.com/2011/10/10/life-begins-at-40/

No. 1 on my prayer list was for me to finally be able to get a visa so I can visit John’s family in the U.S.

I’ve been denied several times. Three times to be exact. The last one was on January 2012. That broke my heart because pop (John’s dad) died 4 months later. I still feel sad thinking about that because that was an opportunity lost for pop and I. We were supposed to go fishing together, among other things…

God in his goodness though , made a way for me. He sent help through Atty Nicolas. Rene, to family and friends, showed me where I made mistakes in filling up my visa application form. (I’ll write about some tips next time).

For now, I would like to thank God for giving me the whole month of October to celebrate my 41st birthday in the US. 🙂

It’s really cool.. Literally and figuratively speaking!

Literally, because for the 1st time in my life, I’ve experienced a low of 4″celsius. ha ha..

John kept on telling me that I will not enjoy my vacation because of the cold front enveloping most of the US as of the moment. But I told him, that contrary to what he thinks, I am loving every minute of it. I mean, you know, we don’t have a cold season in the Philippines. The coldest I’ve experienced is 18′ c in Buda. So wearing a long sleeve shirt with really thick jacket, socks and mittens , is a very new experience to me. I told him that it amazes me to see the sun shining so brightly but the moment I get out of the car, the cold wind knocks me off my feet. It’s like being in a freezer. haha

Outside Crystal Shrine Grotto in Germantown, Tenessee.

Figuratively, because I am enjoying the time being spent with mommy and the rest of John’s family.

At mommy’s frontyard .. 🙂

Plus fall is the best time of the year! Geee.. I have never seen such beautiful colors. Nature has taken it to a higher level here. When I arrived, the leaves started changing their hues. After several days, they’ve turned into yellow, orange and red… Some trees looked like they’re on fire because of its flaming red color!

The start of fall.. Mommy’s frontyard in MS, USA.

I can call what I’m experiencing now as luck. But no it’s not. This is definitely a blessing from God. A birthday gift beyond my wildest dreams and expectations.

Thank you Lord for everything. 🙂

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Licanto Beach Resort

Posted on October 1, 2012 by leawalkerblog

Sunrise at Licanto Beach Resort.

When we visited Surigao del Sur, we stayed at Licanto Beach Resort in Barobo for 2 nights.

The resort is about 5 mins away from Barobo proper and is just near the highway so it’s not difficult to find it. I had a hard time researching online about the place though because they had no website. But it’s a good thing I found their facebook page. I emailed them through there and paid cash at Philippine National Bank for the booking. I was told by their staff to bring with me the deposit slip when we arrive because that is their proof of payment. 🙂

Take note, there are no credit card facilities in most places in Surigao. So bring cash.

We booked 2 family rooms and 1 deluxe room. The prices were cheap :

Airconditioned Family Room with 8 beds – P1,200.00 per night

Deluxe Room (1 queensize bed and 1 single bed) P800.00

THE RESORT:

Licanto Beach Resort has a very simple accomodation. But it’s clean and safe. Since we were travelling as a group, it was perfect for us. Their family room was very spacious.

The family room with 8 single beds. 🙂

What I liked was the small porch because it’s overlooking the swimming pool. It’s also nice when you want to just relax or read a book.

They also have a kitchen where you can cook.

When we were there, we just went to the nearby public market. Bought a lot of fresh fish and meat. Then grilled it. We all loved the experience.

Barobo market has a lot of fresh seafood available. And the prices are very cheap. We were able to get molmol, lapu-lapu and other isda sa bato at Php140-180 per kilo. 🙂

The resort is guarded 24 hours a day. So we never felt unsafe in the area. They have a parking lot so bringing a vehicle is not a problem too. 🙂

THE AMENITIES/FACILITIES:

My nephews loved the swimming pool. Everyday, it’s filled up with sea water during high tide. So it’s kept clean always. I suggest that you wait until they’ve done that before going in to ensure that you’re swimming in a cleaner water. The place can get crowded during daytime so the swimming pool is always packed.

The swimming pool with the sky’s reflection. 🙂 It has a slide so my nephews loved it!

They also have small cottages at the far end of the resort that has videoke machines. It was set up perfectly because it won’t disturb the other guests since it’s far from the rooms. That’s such good news to us because we’re a family of singers. 🙂 You can rent it by the hour (P150 per hr) or pay Php1,200.00 for a whole day’s use. We rented one for 2 hours only because we had other places to go – Enchanted River, Tinuy-an , etc.

My youngest sister, Daisy. Singing her heart out. ha ha

The View:

When you look at Licanto Beach Resort upon arrival, it looks so ordinary , there’s nothing special about it. I’ve been to better places, in other words. But starting your day with a beautiful sunrise, nothing can beat that.

Licanto is facing the east. So if you want to wait for sunrise, then you’re in for a treat. Believe me, it’s worth the wait. The pictures I captured didn’t do justice to the beauty infront of me. It made me realize how lucky I am to have seen such a beautiful sight in my life.

Another sunrise shot. Taken at Licanto Beach Resort, Barobo, Surigao del Sur on 8/20/12.

THE SERVICES:

I was so amazed with their staff. When they were repairing some pipes in the resort, we ran out of water in the bathroom. Then a few minutes later, someone came and brought us buckets of water. I believe that they did it for all the guests at the resort. I found that so nice of them. 🙂

What I liked about the resort mostly was their service. The staff really went ouf of their way to make us comfortable. And they were so nice about it. I hope their boss would give each of them a raise. 🙂

MORE PHOTOS:

Early morning photo of the resort.

The daytime cottages.

The black sand beach.

The Parking Space.

The Reception Area.

Contact Details:

Licanto Beach Resort

Brgy. Wakat, Barobo , Surigao del Sur

Cellphone No. +639291596401

To the staff of Licanto Beach Resort, thank you for your accomodation. Continue the good service! 🙂

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in My Travels, Surigao | Tagged Barobo, Licanto Beach Resort, Surigao Del Sur | 7 Comments

Hidden Island Resort

Posted on September 30, 2012 by leawalkerblog

During our Surigao escapade last August 2012, we stayed at Hidden Island Resort in Bucas Grande Islands, Surigao del Norte.

I loved the place. Grabe! 🙂

The resort is surrounded with small islands and the contrast between the blue sea and the green colors of the hills is simply breathtaking. The water was so clear that no matter how deep it is, you can see the bottom. It’s just so beautiful and peaceful…

The islands fronting the resort.

The Resort:

According to the staff, they have been in operation for 3 years now. And so far, they’ve done a good job of it. The cottages are big. It comes with a porch that’s perfect for reading, relaxation or just chatting with your family.

What I love the most about it is that underneath, there’s a cage filled with Lapu-lapu, turtles and other fishes. It was fun watching my nephews feed them. I was glad that we stayed there.

Under the cottages, there are turtles and other marine life. 🙂

The biggest turtle I’ve seen, so far. 🙂

Huge Lapu-Lapu. 🙂

The amenities and facilities include: videoke bar (far from the cottages). So even if you sing your heart out, it’s not going to disturb the rest of the guests.

Stilt cottages. And the videoke bar on the far end.

There’s a restaurant. You can order food based on their available stock. Our booking came with a free breakfast. We were given a plated set of egg, rice and corned beef or hotdog. 🙂 The food was just ok. We were out mostly anyways and we booked for buffet during our island hopping and sohoton tour with the local tourism office. So it didn’t matter much.

The Restaurant.

The Cottage:

During our 2 nights /3 days stay, my sisters and I rented 3 family rooms and the hidden suite for me and John. I loved the space in our cottage. The bathroom was big and had a tub. Our main problem was, during our first day we had no water. 😦 The rooms only got water around 4pm on the 2nd day. It was so sad considering the amount we paid.

The Hidden Suite had a walk-in closet, a sala and a big bathroom with tub.

Bathroom at the Hidden Suite.

Near the tv rack, the wall has a small hole. We found that out because John got bitten by a rat. It’s a good thing its teeth didn’t go through or that would really have messed up our vacation. We asked the staff to fix it and the rat didn’t come back anymore. It was huge so I really didn’t like seeing that.

The family rooms, same with the Hidden Suite , were also spacious. And the bathroom also had a tub. When the water finally flowed, my sisters Pearlie and Daisy, filled the tub with water so the family can take a bath the next day. Yes, there was a low pressure that time. I don’t know if it’s always like that or it was just our luck. lol

The Service:

Prior to booking, we asked if they can serve us lunch upon arrival. We were told that the buffet would cost P175.00 per head. My sister and I said ok, because we knew it was a long trip for us and that everybody would get hungry. Christine , the booking incharge, confirmed. We were happy that we don’t have to worry over food anymore, the whole time we’re in Socorro. As far as we were concerned, everything was set. 🙂

Then the night before our arrival, I got so disappointed when I received a text message saying , there will be no lunch since their boss had an emergency and had to fly somewhere else. That really sucks right? But well, what can you do. So we ended up buying Lechon Manok on our way to the port.

When we arrived at the resort , we were greeted with the smiling staff. 🙂

Edith, the resort incharge was so apologetic. I think maybe because of the cancelled lunch. Plus she had to tell us that they have a black out. She said that they have a generator so they will turn it on by 6pm.

I told Edith that it’s alright. It was still daytime anyway, I thought.

The kids borrowed life vests from Edith (it’s free) so they can swim. The kayak use was also free.

Then night time came, it was already dark. And we still had no light. Mama got so upset because the kids are already asking what time we’re going to have electricity. For safety reasons, it’s difficult if you don’t see what’s going on around you. Other than that, papa has a high blood problem. So he would need an aircon. During our booking, I explained all this to the booking incharge.

So I finally called up Christine, the incharge whom I talked to during the booking. I told her that we had no water. And no electricity. 😦

We were told that their other generator is not working. And the other worker was still figuring out how to make it work. lol

I said, they had 5 hours to “figure it out and fix it”. You know, when it was still daytime. 😦

Finally, after an hour or so, the generator worked. We had dinner about 8pm already.

MY VIEW:

Like I said, the place is so beautiful. The resort is very nice. It just needs better services. The staff explained to us that it was their first time to be left alone. Normally, the owners are there so it runs smoothly. I told them, we too had businesses. But when we’re out, we make sure that the staff knows what to do. So no one would suffer while we are away.

In our case, there were so many inconveniences.

I guess that’s the reason why it took me forever to write this review.

We were disappointed because with the cost we paid, we expected a better service. Family Room costs Php3,600.00 . (We rented 3 family rooms). The Hidden Suite cost P3,300.00 . And that’s a promo rate.

I’m just glad that our booking with the local tourism office was a success. Our Sohoton Tour and island hopping with buffet lunch and dinner were so good that it gave all of us good memories of Bucas Grande Islands.

To Edith and the rest of the staff, thank you for taking care of us during our stay. What you all lacked in training, you gave back by trying to make things work. Daghang salamat! 🙂

I just hope that what we experienced will not happen to your other guests.

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in My Travels, Surigao | Tagged bucas grande island, Hidden island resort, socorro, sohoton, Surigao del Norte | Leave a comment

SM Lanang Premier (So Much More)

Posted on September 28, 2012 by leawalkerblog

Dubbed as the biggest mall in Mindanao, SM Lanang Premier opened yesterday – 28 September 2012, in Lanang, Davao City, Philippines.

Traffic was congested and the place was a mob. 🙂 And here we are, thinking that the economy is down. Not in Davao, obviously!

To fulfill a promise I made to my nephew about a year ago, John and I took Marco there. Blaire , early in the morning, called and asked to come with us. hehe.. So like a small family, we went there knowing that it’s going to be a tiring experience. lol

True enough, the place was packed. It was difficult to move, let alone eat in the restaurants. The line was so long , we gave up. We had to push our way through, making sure that Marco won’t get hurt. He’s so skinny, you see. The exact opposite of his brother, Blaire. ha ha

It’s a good thing that while looking for the cyberzone, (John loves computer gadgets), he found Pizza Hut! 🙂 This is on the second floor, going to the atrium area. I love this side of the mall because there are fountains and a nice landscaped garden. Marina Tuna and some other restaurants are there. There’s a separate stair going down the parking space. 🙂

Buy One, Take One at Pizza Hut. 🙂

At Toy Kingdom. 🙂

Marco at Toy Kingdom. 🙂

At Cyberzone.

My nephews and I. 🙂

John with Marco and Blaire at the computer shop in the Cyberzone area.

At the Atrium area, where the fountains are.

I found some really nice shops there. So I’m sure we will be back. 🙂 Besides, it’s only about a kilometer away from our office, so it’s very convenient for us. If there’s no traffic , that is. hehe

Welcome to Davao, SM Lanang Premier!

From what I’ve initially seen, there’s so much more in the new SM Lanang Premier indeed!

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in Davao, davao city | Tagged Cyberzone in SM Lanang, Marina Tuna, Penshoppe, Pizza Hut, SM davao, SM Lanang Premiere, so much more.. Sm tag, Toy Kingdom | 1 Comment

Puerto Princesa Adventure

Posted on September 28, 2012 by leawalkerblog

To wrap up our Puerto Princesa trip earlier this month, here are some important tips that hopefully will help you when you visit there.

Going There:

As of September 2012, there are 24 domestic and international flights going to and from Puerto Princesa in Palawan. Infact, Cebu Pacific now has a direct flight to PP from Davao City, Philippines.

Where to Stay:

The website, www.agoda.com has been a really big help to me in all my travels. I have always had a good experience with them in all the hotels that I’ve booked through them. I read mostly the review because it helps when I’m researching on places to stay. Upon presentation of Agoda’s voucher, everything just runs so smoothly.

There are so many hotels in Puerto Princesa. But the one in downtown area with a seaview is Sunlight Guest Hotel. So if you’re looking of something similar, then I would recommend it. If not, then there are others that will surely fit your needs and budget. 🙂

WHERE TO EAT:

Along Rizal St., Puerto Princesa , there are so many restaurants to choose from. I’m afraid though that it’s mostly Filipino food. We were told that La Terasse offers Western Food but the night we went there, the restaurant was closed. 😦 I don’t know why.

Another restaurant where most tourists eat is called Kinabuch’s. The first time we ate there, John ordered baby back ribs. While I ordered shrimp. Mine was perfect. While John’s ribs were tough. It took him forever to chew on it, if you know what I mean. The 2nd time was better. He ordered beef caldereta. While I ordered binagoongan. Both tasted good. 🙂

Ka Lui is also another option. It’s a famous restaurant in Puerto Princesa. But it’s difficult to get an appointment. During our trip there, we tried to get an appointment. But the available time was always 8:30pm. Errr.. we eat before 7pm, if we can. So 8:30pm is already late for us. 🙂

They have Jollibee there if you want to be on the cheaper side. And at the lower level of Sunlight Guest Hotel, there’s a mall. So there is a food court that offers cheaper option.

John looked for burgers while we were there. But there’s no mc donald’s. hehe. That’s his default if he doesn’t know where to get a better option. There’s no pizza hut either. 🙂 Or Yellow Cab.

But there’s a pizza place at Baker’s Hill. So during your city tour, you might want to order from there and take it with you.

What to Do:

No. 1 in the list , of course, is the Underground River Tour. That’s the main reason why most tourists go to Puerto Princesa. To see the 7th Wonder of Nature. 🙂

Then, they offer the City Tour. Irawan Eco Park and Honda Bay.

If that isn’t enough for you, you may want to go to El Nido. But remember travel time is 6 hours from Puerto Princesa.

Also, if you want a good balinese massage – I highly recommend Tam of May Regulacion Spa. He’s a physical therapist by profession so you get more than what you paid for. For P400, you’ll feel so much better afterwards. It’s on the 3rd floor of Sunlight Guest Hotel.

Ordinances:

Puerto Princesa has two ordinances that you need to remember. The Anti Smoking Law and Anti Littering Law. They take these pretty seriously and you could go to jail for the 3rd offence. So please take note of these things. 🙂

The People:

We never felt unsafe there. I can’t speak for others but during our trip, we’ve met really good people there.

The Weather:

September is their rainy season. So during our stay, it always rained. So if you can schedule during summer time, it’s better. 🙂

My view of the Place:

Puerto Princesa is surrounded by sea and forests. I love the fact that they take re-planting of trees very seriously. So their air is a lot cleaner. Infact they bagged this award recently:

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: CLEANEST AND GREENEST COMPONENT CITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Also, their tricycles use 4 stroke engine. So you won’t be seeing smoke at all. And it’s not as noisy as the ones we use all over the country. I like that. A lot.

To read more about PP, this is their official website: http://www.puertoprincesa.ph/

To wrap up my Palawan Trip, I would like to say thank you again to everyone who made our vacation memorable. To our tour guides – Ron, Joseph and April , thank you. 🙂

Lea C. Walker

www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in My Travels, Palawan, Uncategorized | Tagged Ka Lui, Kinabuch's, La Terasse, May Regulacion Spa, Puerto Princesa, Sunlight Guest Hotel, things to do in palawan, where to eat in palawan, where to stay in palawan | 1 Comment

Sunlight Guest Hotel – Palawan

Posted on September 24, 2012 by leawalkerblog

After getting our luggages, John and I wondered how to go to the hotel. There are no taxis in Puerto Princesa , you see. The options are: a) tricycle , from the looks of it, it’s so small John would hit his head everytime there’s a bump. Plus we had 2 luggages I don’t know where to put them. We’re just too big for it. haha .. Then b) rent a van, which would then be very big for what we need. Dilemma, dilemma…

So we went out of the airport still thinking. And then I saw a sign that said Sunlight Guest Hotel. I walked to the guy holding it, and voila.. my name is in it! My booking didn’t say free airport transfer. So it was really a nice surprise! 🙂

There were 6 of us in the van, including the 4 korean guests they also picked up. Believe it or not, there are 24 local and international flights arriving in Puerto Princesa everyday . That’s how good the tourism industry in their city is.

After 10 mins or so, we arrived at the hotel. From the picture online, I thought it was a tall building. But no it was only 4 stories with rooftop in it. The check in was fast but when we were brought to our booked room, we didn’t like it because there were no windows. There was a sliding door that opens to a garden supposedly. But since there are no plants or any landscaping done, we would only be staring at the wall.. That’s so sad right? lol So if that bothers you too, then don’t book the superior room.

So we upgraded and transferred to their Deluxe room. I’m glad we did because the view was fantastic. The room reminded me of Somadevi Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap, where we stayed at last year. We overlooked the swimming pool with sunken bar then. But this time, we’re overlooking the mountains and Puerto Princesa bay. It looked so peaceful and relaxing.

The view from our room at Sunlight Guest Hotel.

The Room:

It was spacious and nicely furnished. The bathroom was big and had glass panel. I loved it because even if you’re inside, you can still see the panoramic view outside. If you open the curtains that is…

Our room.

The bathroom.

The staff comes in everyday to clean the room. So we liked that a lot. The towels were also replaced on a daily basis.

THE RESTAURANT:

Our booking came with free breakfast. We stayed there for 5 nights. So every morning, we just proceeded to the restaurant for their buffet. It consisted of Bacon, Ham and Sausages. Plus other menus. On our first day, there was an octopus in the buffet table. I thought who would eat that during breakfast? Err.. papa cooks a delicious octopus meal but not early in the morning. lol .. One time there was, pinakbet too. I love pinakbet but that’s just not a breakfast food right?

Anyways, there are cereals. Several choices of bread. An egg counter where you can request how you want it done. Dessert. Free coffee and juice. 🙂 And of course, rice. hehe

Ham, Bacon and Tocino.

The egg counter.

More bread.

We opted to eat most of our dinner at the hotel. After the tours, it’s kinda tiring to change and eat out. I remember, I like their Pork Bagoong. They served the pork on top of the grilled eggplant and everything just tasted yummy.

Pork Bagoong served on top of an eggplant. 🙂 It was yummy!

While John said that the Breaded Fish Fillet is good. He ordered french fries as a side dish.

Breaded Fish Fillet.

Fried Potatoes.

The Food and Beverage Manager came to us one morning and asked what we could say about the food. I told him, please add more western food. 🙂 I saw a lot of foreigners in the hotel. And not all of them would eat Filipino food always. Right? I love our local dishes but then again , I’m a Filipino. So the other food on the buffet table was so foreign to them. It remained untouched. hehe

Chito, the Manager, said that they are actually changing the menus. 🙂 So hopefully, the food will have more choices next time. John would not get hungry. And yes, we will stay there again the next time we go back to Palawan.

Why?

Because of the Location:

It is convenient because it’s easy to roam around. There are tricycles anywhere since it’s near the market. Plus the first 3 floors of the building have malls and a supermarket. It’s easy to buy the things you need while you’re there.

Plus of course, it’s the only hotel in downtown Puerto Princesa that has a seaview. There are other hotels / resorts that have beachlines but they’re far from downtown. That’s difficult if you want to eat somewhere else right? Or if you want to visit the gift areas.

On the 3rd floor of the building, there are salon and spa. I liked May Regulacion Spa because they have a good balinese massage there.

There are other shops which you can walk through during night time. I found some nice shoes there that came from thailand.

THE SERVICE:

Service wise, the staff were always so nice and helpful. You see them smiling all the time. I liked Melody and Rose. 🙂 They serve you with a smile. The staff are so courteous too.

OTHER PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE HOTEL:

The Bar Counter.

On our last night at the hotel, John and I went up to the rooftop for some night cap. It’s nice up there with the open sky, cool fresh air coupled with a can of beer. 🙂