My First Elephant Ride

Posted on October 3, 2011 by leawalkerblog
It’s 4:30 a.m. in the Philippines now.  It’s so quiet in our subdivision. Even our lovebirds and cockatiels are still sleeping. But me, I am already awake. Infact, I finished emailing our clients already. So bear with me as I tell you about my first elephant ride. 🙂
Phnom Bakheng, is one of the temples in Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap , Cambodia.
John and I visited it because it’s supposed to have a great view of the sunset. But since it sits on top of a hill, you have to go up there by foot or ride in an elephant. So like the adventurous people that we are, we opted to ride the elephant in the tune of $20.00 each. Yes, it’s not Cambodian Riel like it should be right? But Cambodia uses US dollar mostly so please do not fall victim of the scammers at the border of Thailand and Cambodia. Beware of those who tell you that the exchange rate is lower in Cambodia . It’s not true. Tsk..tsk.. we learned our lesson the hard way. 😦

Okay, back to Phnom Bakheng. 🙂  I gave my G11 camera to Sody, our tour guide in Angkor, so he can take photos of us. Thank you again, Sody.

So here we are, trying to get in. 🙂

Ha! We’re finally going up. 🙂 I felt like a royalty. haha
I was having fun. 🙂
And then we started going up the hill. I thought, oh no… the road is so small. It’s just a path way, for god’s sake!  The elephant is so big , I was afraid he’d miss a step and we’d go tumbling down the hill, like jack n’ jill. haha..
Add caption


See the small, winding road?
It wasn’t funny that time. I remember getting scared because the bushes beside the road have really big thorns. I was thinking that if we fall, we’d be torn to pieces. lol .. I knew I was overreacting. So I just kept my mouth shut and suffered in silence.
After 30 minutes, we reached the top.
Boy, was I glad that I continued the ride and overcame my fear. I was gifted with a beautiful view of Angkor Wat.
We sat down for awhile and talked to the people around us.  You know, that’s one of the things I like about travelling. I get to meet a lot of people. Everybody agreed that when the sun is out , the heat is too much. We all laughed when I commented that I’ve become so dark already that John may not see me at nights anymore. Everybody told me to just wear a white t-shirt. hahaha….
I think, SPF 50 was not enough for the heat there! So if you don’t want to get burned, bring a sunblock. A real good one because you will need it there.
Then, all of us started going up the very steep stairs of the temple. Even if I was having a difficulty in climbing, I still managed to think that their ancestors must have been really small with  very tiny feet. hehe.. I mean you know, why would you build a stair with small steps if you got big feet?  It does not make sense to me… lol
After several excruciating minutes, we finally reached the top. 🙂


Even John looked red. 🙂

 

We sat  on top, trying to hide from the sun while enjoying the view.  A few minutes later, Sody told us that we should start heading down to avoid the influx of the people. I wondered why when we’re waiting for the sunset. He said, it’s not going to be a good one today.
Huh? How on earth did he know that?
But I think he’s been doing this job for so long plus of course, it’s his place. So he knew that there won’t be a good sunset that day.
Being a stubborn woman that I am, I said that I’ll wait. I mean, think about it, I took an elephant ride and climb the very steep stairs for nothing? So we stayed. And waited. And got disappointed. hehe.. Sody was right! Amazing…
Everyone was so disappointed so we all started going down.  The steep climb earlier was nothing compared to the fun of going down. Imagine this. I had to hold on to something, I mean anything that I can hold on to. Put my foot sideways to fit the stairs. And slowly try to descend. One foot at a time.
So why do we do the things we do?
I don’t know. 🙂 I guess it was the right thing to do at that moment. It’s either you take the opportunity to enjoy the moment or choose to stay out. But where’s the fun in that? 🙂
True, I got scared. I got tired in climbing the steps. John worried that I might fall, etc. But the point is that we were rewarded with something bigger. I realized that I am strong. And I’m glad that I somehow overcame my fear of heights.
It’s not the destination that matters , after all. But it’s how you enjoyed the trip going there…
That’s the essence of travelling. 🙂
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Banana Beach Resort

Posted on October 2, 2011 by leawalkerblog

We learned about Banana Beach Resortwhen my sister Pearlie and my nephew, Matt tried to look for other places to visit nearby. Yes, it runs in the blood. Obviously our family got hit by the bug called travelling. Hence, the need to get away from time to time.

It seemed like life is dead when you leave us in one corner, doing the same thing over and over again, everyday .
I call that, suffocation. So you might as well kill me if that is how life’s going to be.

Okay, enough with the drama. lol

Banana Beach Resort is located in Madaum , Tagum City.  The resort is within a vast banana plantation. Thus, the name. The entrance fee is P500.00 per head including kids above 3 years old. You’d think, it’s expensive. But I’d say it’s not.
Why?
The P500.00 entrance fee includes food. Yes, you can order from their restaurant or “harvest” bangus, talakitok, etc. from their fishing village, have it cooked and voila , you get a delicious and sumptous meal chargeable to the fee you paid earlier.
See the long table? It’s like that for us. No one’s left behind, if possible. 🙂
The view from the restaurant.
That beats bringing “baon” anytime. No more preparation and cooking hassle. And more time for fun.
No, this is not a paid advertisement of the resort. This is just how I show my appreciation to the manager and staff of Banana Beach. They’re very helpful and friendly. Makes you feel important when you go there.
Another thing I like about it is that they do not allow karaoke in the resort. So you do not hear people who believe they can sing when you and I know,  they cannot. 🙂 No offense meant, okay? hehe
That makes it more relaxing for me. Watching the calm sea, Samal island and Davao Oriental from afar, enjoying the sound of the birds and waves… Or my nephews’ laughter while frolicking in the beach.
Chillin’ out with a can of beer…
Or let’s  try relaxing, John’s way…  🙂
FUN THINGS TO DO:
Kayaking. Wikipedia describes it as the “use of kayak for moving across water”. Duh. haha…
Well, it’s a first time for me. We had nothing like this when we were growing up, you know. 🙂
Yes, we made it to the middle. LOL
Pearlie and Ruben.
It was fun! 🙂
Ruben, my brother in law. With my nephews Matt and Blaire, in the background.
Grinning from ear to ear. The after shock. 🙂
Fishing.   The difference between other resorts and Banana Fishing Village is that,  BFV is full of Bangus and other salt water fish. Unlike the usual Hito and Tilapia in most of the resorts we’ve been to. There’s nothing wrong with those, except that I don’t eat them. 😦 That’s why I like fishing in Banana better . I love Bangus and talakitok, you see. Grilling Bangus filled with tomatoes, onion and garlic  is simply yummy!


The Fishing Village.
Papa and Mama, while waiting for the day’s harvest. hehe..
Into the wild.  This is one commendable act and should be promoted more. Banana Beach has preserved 60 hectares of forest planted with different kinds of trees, bamboo, mangrove, etc. It follows then that animals thrive in it. For the first time, I have seen a family of wild boars. 🙂 They have monkeys too. They came out when we started throwing bananas on the road. The experience was fun! 🙂 John and I played with a bird. I have no idea how it looked like. But when he sings, I mimicked its sound. Then, it answers back. That was awesome!
Infinity Pool and Sunken Bar. This is their latest addition to the resort.
The famous V sign, from Marco.
Matt, Blaire and Pearlie.
I think the pictures said it all… And so I rest my case. 🙂
Lea C. Walker
leawalker.blogspot.com
www.davaoproperties.com
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Philippine Road Trip – Day 5

Posted on September 29, 2011 by leawalkerblog
We arrived in Surigao last night. I thought, finally we’re in Mindanao.But John did not want to sleep there. So we decided to proceed to Butuan City and stayed at Almont Inland Hotel. It’s our 2nd stay there and we both like the spacious room. Plus they got good food. 🙂 John loves their coffee too.

The nice and accomodating staff at Almont Inland Hotel.
After breakfast, we headed towards Davao. We were no longer worried of getting lost because we’ve passed by this road several times already. It’s mostly flat terrain except when you reach Mawab, where you have to drive slowly because of its high elevation and zigzag road. John drove slowly so I can take pictures.
Funniest Experience on this trip:
I kept seeing the “PED XING” sign. So finally , I asked John what the word meant. He said – Pedestrian Crossing. I said , oh ok.. Then he asked why. I said, I thought it’s chinese for SLOW DOWN. hahahha.. We burst out laughing. I don’t drive so how would I know right? It sounded chinese to me. hehe
Random Pics:
Palm Tree Plantation in Agusan.
                            Can you count how many passengers does this motorcycle have? lol
The new bridge in Butuan City.
Logs on the road in Agusan.
Agusan Products. 🙂
You’re probably wondering why we bought our van in Manila. Yes, there’s a Nissan dealer in Davao. But Nissan Manila gave us the following freebies: 3 yr LTO registration, P90k discount which they automatically took off from the selling price, free mats and seat covers. And since we picked it up from their office, we were no longer charged with  the Freight cost. The dealer in Davao wanted to charge us Php36,000.00 for the freight even if the van is on display in their showroom.
So it’s a no-brainer really. We saved a lot of money by buying in Manila. Plus we got to travel and enjoyed the Philippine countryside. 🙂
                                                              Lea C. Walker
                                                        leawalker.blogspot.com
                                                     www.davaoproperties.com
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Philippine Road Trip – Day 4

Posted on September 27, 2011 by leawalkerblog
I woke up in an unfamiliar bed. For a moment there, I forgot that we were in Tacloban City. Yes, we’re still travelling. 🙂 You notice the smiley after the word travel? lol  I just don’t smile but grin when I think about going to places. My heart starts thumping. And I find myself singing, not just in the bathroom.. hahaJohn was still sleeping. So I quietly took a bath, changed and went down. The street wasn’t busy yet. Maybe because it’s a sunday. Most people get up late on Sundays. Not me though.. I always wake up at freakin’ 5:00 in the morning. Same time with the chicken huh? haha… Gee, am I that old now?

Downtown Tacloban on a Sunday.
I hired a tricycle and went to church. I did not know that Tacloban City’s patron saint is the Sto. Nino. I’m glad because he’s our family’s patron saint too. And it gave me the chance to say thanks for bringing us to this place safely.
Tacloban Church
The flower vendors outside the church.

Tacloban City is a small place. I asked the driver to roam around its downtown area and see what’s there. He turned towards the pier. I’m glad he did since it gave me time to take pictures again. 🙂

When I got back to the hotel, John and I had breakfast. Our conversation:

Me   :   do you remember the bridge last night?
John:   yes
Me   :  can we go back there?
John :  why? (in a funny sounding voice)
Me   :  because I want to take pictures of it. It was so dark last night, I was not able to do so.

John looked at me as if I was crazy. haha…So I explained.

Me   : That is San Juanico Bridge. When I was in elementary, it was part of our history book. So I’d
like to go back there and take pictures.

John :  (Rolling his eyes) Seriously?! 30mins of travel to take pictures of a bridge?

To this date, John still thinks I’m crazy. hahaha….

San Juanico Bridge, Samar , Leyte.

Another thing I learned is that Tacloban City has one of the best Lechons (roasted pig) in the Philippines. We had no idea where we will have lunch and what awaits us on the road. So  we bought food on the road again. I bought rice and lechon for me. (That’s how I found out that it’s Tacloban’s specialty. ) And pizza for John.

Okay, so off we go.. looking for Mc Arthur! 🙂 Tsk.. tsk.. Leyte adventure will not be complete without checking the “I shall return” guy right? Of course!
Mc Arthur Landing park in Leyte, Philippines.
John and his countrymen. 🙂

The rain was drizzling. But well, it did not bother us. We were having fun cruising the road. Leyte to Liloan was a beautiful ride. The ricefield, the mountain view and the beach… wow, our government should seriously consider promoting this island to the whole world.

We found ourselves at Liloan Port. The ferry leaves late in the afternoon so we had no choice but wait. Liloan , Leyte to Surigao is a 4 hour trip.  Without typhoons or a low pressure , that 4 hour trip is heavenly.
Coin divers at Liloan Port.
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Philippine Road Trip – Day 3

Posted on September 26, 2011 by leawalkerblog
It had been a gruelling 2 days. But waking up from a deep slumber was both relaxing and refreshing. Today, starts a new episode. Another adventure to the unknown. 🙂 Of which I was excitedly looking forward to.We started our day with a great breakfast from La Roca Hotel. For Php2,400.00 per night, I thought that the place was cheap, considering the big room and the free breakfast that comes with the booking. I love their spacious and very clean bathroom. I am glad that we found an instant “home away from home” , so to speak.

At 9:00 a.m. , John and I were already on the road , trying to get out of Legazpi City. But we both realized that we’ve done the same road twice already. So I looked at the map again and wondered how on earth did we get lost? John stopped and I asked the vendor beside the road for direction. Using her finger and lips as she pointed the direction to us, I profusedly said “thank you”.
Okay,  now we understand how we mistakenly took another route. Finally, we found the main highway. Thank God. 🙂
The Park in Sorsogon.
Travelling in a highway is so much better than being in a big city. Traffic is lesser and the countryside gets more beautiful every minute that passes by. We did not even notice it when  we reached Sorsogon. We stopped for a short break, bought some “merienda” and used the park’s bathroom. It gave me time to satisfy my photography addiction too…  With John as my handsome but unwilling model.  ha..ha..
Beautiful mountains in Sorsogon.
Past lunchtime, we reached  MatnogPort.  This is where we will board the ferry going to Allen, Samar. The trip took 2 hours only. That gave us the respite we much needed. Again, I bought food. This time from the ferry canteen. There weren’t many options. But it’s better than nothing considering that we still had a long way to go.
The Ferry in Matnog.
The view from the ferry. See how small the boat was amidst the vastness of the sea.
Reminds me that I am just a speck on earth. Really.
The port in Allen, Samar.
Getting out of the port was no hassle. We were on the road again after a few minutes. What took time was crossing the rough and bumpy highway. That’s good news though. It means that our government is repairing the road. At least we know that taxpayer’s money is going somewhere. 🙂
Samar, Leyte has a lot to offer. They are blessed with beautiful beaches and mountain ranges that any adventurous traveller should try to visit. This trip taught me a lesson. I have so much to learn about my country. I am a Filipino but I did not know that these things exist in my own “backyard”. I am glad that I am a wanderlust. And I thank God for giving me a husband who understands it. And the means to rest when we want to.
A “postcard-perfect” scenery in Samar, Leyte.

 

The ingenuity of the Filipinos. Covered motorcycle being used as a public vehicle. 🙂
                                                          Lea C. Walker
                                                   leawalker.blogspot.com
                                                 www.davaoproperties.com
Posted in Albay, Allen Port, La Roca Hotel, Legazpi City, Leyte, Matnog Port, Mayon Volcano, My Travels, Samar, Sorsogon, Tacloban City | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Philippine Road Trip – Day 2

Posted on September 26, 2011 by leawalkerblog

I felt better after a good night’s sleep. Thanks to Star Garden Tower Hotel. 🙂

John and I ate at McDonald’s because that’s the only breakfast place available early in the morning. We decided to start early since we still have a long way to go.
I asked John not to feel bad anymore. What happened the previous day was in the past. (For Day 1 of this road trip – please check: https://leawalkerblog.com/2011/09/25/philippine-road-trip-day-1/

You know, John was more disappointed than I was. Actually, he really took it worst that I did. Maybe because in my case, I was already prepared for the worst. Like what everybody says, interview at the US embassy is like a game. If they like you on sight, they’ll give you a visa. If they don’t, too bad for you. 🙂  If you like, pay again the fee next time. And hope that luck is on your side that day… Nice right?

So John and I agreed that we will not let it spoil our vacation. We work everyday, even on a Sunday sometimes. So I thought, we both deserved to rest.

Somewhere in Quezon Province.

I am glad we took a road trip because John and I loved every bit of it. The countryside was gorgeous and the view was great.

Giant Silver Swan Bottle in Quezon Province. 🙂

We stopped in Naga City for lunch and rested for awhile. John bought a back support thing from a hardware in SM Naga. I’m so happy  he found it because it made driving more comfortable for him. 🙂
Finally, we arrived in Legazpi City around 5 in the afternoon. We looked for hotels and decided to stay at La Roca. I loved the place. It’s just a 2 storey hotel so it was not so crowded. The food was great too…
But what I love the most about it is that, the majestic Mayon Volcano is just very near. John drove a couple kilometer and we’re there.
We just stayed on the road, watching this magnificent mountain from afar. It stood there, breathing smoke, on a beautiful day looking so grand and regal… I felt lucky and blessed that I was given a chance to see and take photos of it.
                           
                                                          Lea C. Walker
                                                 leawalker.blogspot.com
                                               www.davaoproperties.com
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Philippine Road Trip – Day 1

Posted on September 25, 2011 by leawalkerblog
July 2010:

We arrived at NAIA around 8:30am.
By 9:30 am, we were already in Nissan to pick up the new van we bought. It’s been sitting there for almost a month but we wanted to pick it up in time of my non immigrant visa interview at the US Embassy. My mom-inlaw and I just talked on the phone. But she and the rest of John’s family has not seen me yet. Hence, the application for the US visa. I had no idea what proof the embassy needs for them to know that I’m coming back to Davao. But going by what everybody suggested, I brought all the important documents; bank statements, business documents, titles , etc.
So around 12:00nn , I was already at the embassy for my 1pm interview.
I was excited and nervous at the same time. Excited because I don’t know what the outcome would be. Nervous, because I know how the interviewers hate Filipinos. 🙂 They automatically think that since you’re going to the US, you’re not coming back.
Ok, I waited for quite sometime. Finally, it was time for my interview. Three questions later, the interviewer told me:  “I cannot give you a US visa right now because you’re not socially and economically qualified”.
I got stunned.
But I remember saying “excuse me? How can you say that, when you did not even look at my documents?”. For the first time, he looked at me. Really looked at me… He probably did not expect that I would question him. I’m just a lowly Filipina, after all. 🙂 A possible domestic helper, a worker of any kind who will go to the US and not come back…
I stared back. And I lost. 🙂
He said , ” you’re done ma’am. Finished. Next.”
Talk about being rude. But then again, I was just a number to him. So what does he care. It just felt unfair to me, because  I was never given a chance. He did not see the documents that I carried from Davao for that purpose. I was mad because it was heavy. I had at least 30 titles in my name and John’s, that day. Plus all the other docs I brought.
Three silly questions will not prove that I am not going back to Davao.  My whole life is here. Our business is here. Why would we throw that away? Boy, was I mad… I felt bad that I won’t be able to see my parents inlaw. They’re old people already. And they’ve wanted to see me for a long time. I’m the reason why their son is in the Philippines, instead of being with them in the US. So it was really sad that some misconception about Filipinos are hindering that plan.
For those who say that this is the 21st century and no more racism.. Try being a Filipina! And you’ll understand what I mean. 🙂
You know, for the longest time , I was mad. Not because of the visa. But because of the insult. Let me ask you, how do you become socially qualified? I have no idea..  Maybe, one of my friends can tell me how..
How many millions do you need to have in your account to qualify “economically“. Isn’t it enough that there’s money in your bank account to finance your vacation and more? I never professed to be rich. But we’re not poor either. All my life,  I have worked like there’s no tomorrow, to be where I am today.
For somebody to insult me like that… he’s a total jerk.
Of course, John was really mad. 🙂 But there’s nothing he can do. The embassy would not even let him in. He’s an american remember? But he was denied entrance because it’s my interview. Not his.
I have not been back since then. I don’t think I would like to go through the same humiliation again. It’s our 7th anniversary soon. So maybe I’ll go back next year. Let’s see if 7 is my lucky number. hahaha… I mean you know, they won’t look at your documents. So what else do they want? Blood? LOL
Anyway,  after the embassy fiasco, John and I met with our dear friend, Marlic. We had  lunch together. With me , spitting fire. Hay sus!
By 4pm that day, Kuya Dodong, my cousin who lives in Manila drove us to the boundary. From there John and I will travel on our own back to Davao. With just a map as our guide. Fun , right? 🙂
John with Kuya Dodong. The new Nissan van we bought, in the background.
After saying goodbye to Kuya Dodong, John and I moved on.  I’m glad there was still daylight because we had no idea what awaits us on the way to Lucena City. That’s where we will be staying that night.
I’m glad that Marlic’s son made a booking for us in a hotel there. I said thank you then kapatid , but I’ll say thank you again. 🙂 Can you imagine being in a new place with no idea where to stay? So yeah, John and I really appreciated your help.  Salamat kaayo! 🙂
I usually do online bookings but that time, I did not because it depended on my interview. Whether we will be staying in Manila for another day or not.
We arrived in Lucena City around 7:00 in the evening. I am glad that the hotel looked nice. And their dinner was good. We needed a good night’s sleep after a veeerrryyyy looooong day….:)
                                                                           Lea C. Walker
                                                         www.davaoproperties.com
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Things To Do In Davao

Posted on September 24, 2011 by leawalkerblog
Davao City is only 1.5hrs from Manila by plane. Both Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines have several trips each day, either from Manila or Cebu. If you want an adventure, you can also do a land trip from Manila to Davao, by bus (2 days they say) or by private vehicle. John and I did the latter for a total of 4 nights and 5 days. But then again, we stopped and slept in a hotel every night. Then proceeded again the next day. I’ll write about that I promise. Eventually… 🙂
Where To Stay in  Davao:

It’s not fun when you have nowhere to sleep on right?So click on the link below for the list of the places you might want to stay:http://davaoproperties.com/links.html

Then click again on the name of the hotels and inns and it will take you to their website.

For those who want somewhere cheap, Business Inn along Monteverde St., is a good choice. Cheapest price per room is Php500.00 per day.

That taken cared of, let’s proceed to the Things you can do while in Davao City:

 

1) March is when Araw ng Dabaw is celebrated. So maybe you would like to schedule your trip before its culmination day, March 16 to enjoy the Street Dancing Parade. It’s fun, believe me. 🙂 I’ve been watching this parade for 10 years or so because we give away fliers to the tourists during this time. Well, work and fun should go together right? 🙂

 

Mutya ng Dabaw
2. If you cannot make it on March, I would suggest that you come to Davao on the 3rd week of August, if you can. This is when Kadayawan sa Dabaw culminates. Visitors from all over the  Philippines and even foreigners come to watch the parade. Kadayawan is a thanksgiving festival for the bountiful harvest during the year. Like I said in my previous blog, we are blessed with fruits , vegetables, seafoods, etc. all year round. That’s why food is cheaper in Davao than Manila and Cebu.
Me and Friends from Bank of Philippine Islands 🙂
3. Samal Island: 
       Please read about Samal Island here – http://leawalker.blogspot.com/2011/09/samal-island.html  .
4. Eden Nature Park and more:
       Please read  about it  here –  http://leawalker.blogspot.com/2011/09/place-called-eden.html
5.  River Tubing and Wild Water Rafting:
        Both of these activities are done in Calinan.
       River Tubing will take at least 2 hours. It starts in Malagos and ends near Calinan Proper. The fee is Php150.00 per head and it includes: rent of the tube, head gear, life vest,  guides’ fee and CD compilation of your tubing trip. For more details, please contact:
                    LAYAK OUTDOORS
Fausta St., Calinan, Davao City
E-mail : teamlayak@yahoo.com
visit: layakoutdoors.multiply.com
Contact: Layak – 0910-4230723
Marlon – 0909-6391344
Don Kaloy – 0910-4230723
Wild Water  Rafting is coordinated by PSD Group of Companies. (http://waterrafting.psdgroupph.com/). The fee is Php2,000.00 per head. You have to go to Crocodile Farm office in Diversion Road, Maa by 8 a.m. on your scheduled day. They usually leave around 9 in the morning then head towards Calinan. Make sure that you have one day to spare because you do not come back until 4 in the afternoon, the same day. 🙂
6. Davao is also the home of  Pag-Asa, a monkey-eating eagle , born at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Calinan. For more details, please check this –
7. While in Calinan, make sure that you visit Malagos Orchid Garden. The bird show is amazing. 🙂 It’s usually scheduled on a Sunday – http://malagos.com/resort-attractions/
8. If you have more time, do not miss the chance of going to Buda. Seagull Mountain Resort is there. Their coleslaw is a must! It’s so yummy, I can eat it everyday. 🙂 The resort also has  waterfalls so make sure you go there during summertime. Don’t forget that Buda is on a higher elevation so it’s very cold up there. It would be difficult to appreciate the waterfalls when you’re having hypothermia. 🙂 On top of that, the flowers being sold along the road, are so pretty you would want to take them when you leave.
9. Aldevinco Shopping Center:
      Of course, vacations are not complete without souvenirs right? So head towards Aldevinco Shopping Center for Davao souvenirs. Aldevinco is also famous for money exchange. So don’t worry if you have no Philippine Peso when you arrive in Davao. Just go there and problem solved! Their rate is higher than the banks and hotels. 🙂
10.  Food Trip:
     If you like adventure, go to Bankerohan market. And look for the “puto maya” place. They serve one of the best “puto maya” coupled with local “tsokolate”. Perfect for breakfast! 🙂
        For lunch, try Boyd’s along Palma Gil St., Bo. Obrero, Davao City.  I love their dumpling and Porkloin with Java Rice. I’ve tried the java rice of several restaurants. But Boyd’s I’d say is the best in Davao.  The hubby loves their pizza and pasta.
         If you’re in SM Ecoland, you might want to try Bigby’s for their BBQ Ribs 🙂  Also, Roadhouse Cafe. They have an extensive menu but I always order the Sizzling Bangus. Can’t get enough of it.
         Past SM , at the corner of Dona Luisa Village 2,  there’s a place called Karlyn’s. The restaurant is made of bamboo materials and it looks very simple. But the food is really good. Their specialty is tenderloin steak. For P170.00 pesos, that’s cheap. They mostly have beef menu and all of them are really, really good. Orders come with soup (yummy!…) and dessert .
         For dinner, best choice would be Marco Polo. It’s a buffet dinner so they serve a lot of choices, from seafood  to pork, chicken and beef menus. There’s a wide array of fruits and desserts. The fee is  worth it. 🙂
Buffet @ Cafe Marco,  Marco Polo, Davao City
10. Last but not the least, a visit to the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague, locally known as Sto. Nino shrine in Shrine Hills, Matina.  For catholics, you might want to do this. Personally, I like to visit St. Jude Church in Mt. Apo St. Everything that I prayed for and more were granted to me. So if you like to say “thank you” for the many blessings received, those are two of the places I go to.
                                                               Lea C. Walker
                                                      www.davaoproperties.com
Posted in davao city, malagos garden, marco polo, My Travels, philippine eagle, river tubing, seagull mountain resort, wild water rafting | Tagged , | 5 Comments

I love Davao!

Posted on September 20, 2011 by leawalkerblog
Davao City is famous for its peace and order situation. 🙂 That’s the main reason why people want to live here. Plus of course, we don’t get hit by typhoons.
Other than those, we have an abundant supply of seafoods ; shrimps, crabs, tuna, “isda sa bato”, etc. Making them a lot cheaper compared to the prices in Manila and Cebu.
Fruits? Ahh.. you name it, we have it. 🙂 All year round, bountiful harvests abound. From pomelo, durian, mangoes and all the other yummy fruits you can think of.

In other words, we are super blessed…

Another thing that Davao City is famous for, is its orchids. Specially the Waling-waling, which is considered to be the “Queen of Philippine Flowers”. 

The queen of Philippine flowers, Waling-waling.

And not just that, let me show you the other beautiful flowers we have in Davao.

Over the years, I have compiled the photos I took from different events and places.

Pretty Lillium. Kadayawan 2011.

Yellow and Red Cattleya.

Colorful bouquet of orchids!

Bustos Plant.
Purple Dahlia.
Kadayawan 2011.

Yellow Orchids.

Dahlia. Buda, Philippines. 2010.

Pink Dahlia. Buda, Philippines. 2010

Red Dahlia. Buda, Philippines. 2010.

Pink Cosmos. Buda, Philippines. 2010.

Araw ng Dabaw. 2010.

From my garden. 🙂

These flowers are just one of the many reasons why I love  Davao. Our soil is so fertile that almost anything, grow in it. If you go to Calinan area, that’s where most fruits come from. Do you know that there’s  a big pineapple farm there? Mangosteen and durian are grown there too.
Heading towards the mountainous terrain of Buda, most vegetables in Bankerohan market , come from there. I’ve seen our native Davaoenos riding in  horses to deliver their produce from the mountains to the main highway. From there it’s picked up by the peddlers and deliver them to the market vendors. That’s why we have big potatoes, cabbages, cauliflower among other things. (Yes, I promise to write more on Buda next time. Obviously, I’m inlove with the place. So that should not be difficult. hehe) I love it when we go to Buda and stop at the vegetable stand to buy their freshest stocks.
Another thing I love about Davao is our Dumoy water. It’s considered to be one of the cleanest waters all over the world. So we have no problem drinking it directly from the faucet. There’s no more need of filters at all!

Davao is a big city with a laid back life. It’s very busy but traffic isn’t as bad as Manila. It’s perfect for me because I’m on the road most of the time, taking clients from one place to the other. I think it’s difficult being a Real Estate broker in Manila, where you have to consider how long you will be in traffic , in making appointments. Here in Davao, I don’t have that kind of problem. Often times, it’s just a 15-30 min trip from north to south. So I can make at least 3 appointments everyday. 🙂

We don’t have much night life in Davao. But the bars and restaurants in Torres St. have become more famous over the years. So for those who are night prowlers, I’d recommend to visit Torres St. You’ll love the food (from chicken bbq to tenderloin steak, local to international cuisine). And by local I mean (with emphasis.. haha) “Let’s Crab Eat”. It’s a restaurant that offers “all you can eat” crabs. Again, this is not a paid advertisement. 🙂  But I love crabs.. So yeah, go there  if you love it too! 🙂

I can go on and on and on… But I think you know by now that I’m pro Davao. I love it and its people! Most of us are hardworking people who value friends and families. 🙂

And speaking of families, that’s what I’ll write about next time. What you and your family can do when you’re in Davao for a vacation. Maybe someday, you’d want to retire here also. 🙂 And when you do, please buy  or rent your homes through me. hehe…

Posted in davao city, philippines | 1 Comment

Ta Phrom

Posted on September 18, 2011 by leawalkerblog
Another magical experience I had was a visit to Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap, Cambodia last month.  It is difficult to express it with words but I will do the best I can to describe how it was for me. So here’s my second installment on our Angkor visit. (For my first article, please read: http://leawalker.blogspot.com/2011/09/angkor-archaelogical-park-bayon-temple.html)Ta Phrom, to borrow the words of Wikipedia,  is the modern name of a temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara (in Khmer: រាជវិហារ). Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors.

Our tour guide, Sody, tried to explain that to us but I was so busy taking pictures and feeling the place,  that I really don’t  remember everything he told us.  🙂  Sorry, Sody!
Ta Phrom is one of the busiest temples of Angkor. Thanks to Angeline Jolie who shot part of the movie, Tomb Raider in the area. When we were there, we had to wait until the other tourists were done shooting before we could take ours. Or you’d have to share it with them. haha
Ta Phrom’s beauty is mystical. It is kinda eerie when you see the huge trees overtaking the temples. But that’s where its beauty lies. Nature and ruins blended together, perfectly….
The root looks like an elephant tusk. 🙂
It’s looks weird but beautiful. Does that make sense? 🙂
Beautiful and eerie at the same time.
I love this picture!
Check the face in between the roots. 🙂

I wondered how this place looked like back then. It must have been a grandiose and regal temple fitted only for royalties. What amazes me until now is the fact that they did all those by hand. The construction and the carvings must have been very difficult. Not to mention the materials which they mostly took at least several miles away from its present location.

Ta Phrom is just one of the many temples in Angkor. Given the chance, I will surely go back there to check the rest of the ruins.

Lea C. Walker
leawalker.blogspot.com
www.davaoproperties.com

Posted in Angelina Jolie, Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor Wat, Cambodia, My Travels, Siem Reap, Ta Phrom, Tomb Raider | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment