We had the chance to visit Marimegmeg Beach when we did the Inland Tour. There were no island tours due to Typhoon Queenie. It was a blessing in disguise. I've been passing and seeing this side of El Nido but never got chance to go down there and see what it's like.

Marimegmeg beach is a long stretch of beach with just 3 resorts in the area. It is located 3km south of El Nido town. Going there will cost you about Php 150 per way for a trike ride.

We immediately fell in love with the place. The day trip turned "we had to cancel our 1 night stay in Corong Corong and book 1 night instead here". And so it happened. We were also disappointed staying at Talindak, so we were really excited to move out and spend our last night at Orange Pearl Resort. 

We inquired for a room rate and reserved immediately after looking at their rooms. Well, more of an ocular inspection. 

It was our best decision. On our third day, Typhoon Queenie made a quick landfall and all island tours were still canceled. We paid the cancelation fee at Talindak (negative review here), and made our way to Orange Pearl Resort for check in. 

I will post more of Orange Pearl Resort here. 

For now, please enjoy the magnificent views Marimegmeg Beach has to offer. Next time you are in El Nido, please don't forget to make a stop here. Better yet, book a night! 

There was a storm in El Nido when we visited end of November 2014. Typhoon Queenie canceled all island tours so we were left to do an inland tour. Luckily, it was not a strong typhoon and there were only scattered rainshowers. 

We took off around 9AM with our trike driver to get to Nacpan and Calitang Beaches first. It was a 45 minutes hot, bumpy and scenic tricycle ride. 

All of the tourists that day went the same direction so we skip visiting the falls, the first destination for the inland tour, to avoid the crowd. 

And the beach as if we were the only people there. It's so beautiful. All the bumpy ride with the muddy road we had to go through was all worth it.

We only stayed until around 11:30am to meet someone at the airport, before heading back to town for a late lunch. 

There were small cafeterias along the beach as well should you decide to have your lunch there. 

We didn't swim as we were warn of a dangerous rip curl. Swimming is at your own risk. No lifeguards too! Yay!

The anticipated December 2014 BDJ Box came at my door today. Hooray for another box full of make ups. 

Here are the contents 

I am still using the Benefit make up samples so these babies should wait until probably next month for me to use them. Or I can just give them away. 

Traveling to OECD countries wherein you are requested to apply for a visa? One of the most important document that you need to secure for your visa application is a bank certificate. This document shows how much money you have in the bank as per requested date. It also proves that you can afford to go to the country you are applying a visa to.

Getting a bank certificate in BDO is as easy as 1,2,3.
1. Visit your branch of account.
2. Fill up their application form and pay Php 100.00.
(Your bank account number and the embassy's address are needed)
3. Present the OR the following day. And voila! You have your bank certificate with you.

We were advised to keep the OR (official receipt) as this will also prove the authenticity of the certificate. When I applied for a Japanese visa, they required the OR to be submitted as well.

Hotel Galleria was our unassuming hotel in Davao for 2 nights. We stayed there 2 months ago, June of 2014, for my Davao ocular or a work plus leisure trip.

I was looking for a budget and quality hotel that offers comfort, service quality, includes daily breakfast and allows early check in and late check out without a fee (subject to room availability) - and all of these sums up Hotel Galleria. It is also conveniently situated next to the famous TAPS, Mercury Drug, a hospital, a small mall with lots of food establishments like Greenwich etc. 

It's also a bonus that they have a swimming pool. We took a dip every night to relax after our tiring tour around the city of Davao. 

Our room is situated on the 2nd floor. It's simple with good air-conditioning and hot and cold shower. I love the addition of a cabinet with hangers. They provide basic toiletries such as small soaps. They clean the room daily and provide tissue papers. They also provide clean towels everyday.

You need to be aware though that this is a 4 storey hotel only, and that means they don't have an elevator. That's why we requested to be booked on the 2nd floor so it is not hard going up and down. If you have heavy luggage, no fret, because they really have pleasant staffs that are always willing to assist.

The hotel is not that fancy, it's old and to be honest - it also needs to get renovated. Some wear and tear is already visible. But I would still recommend it to travelers who are looking for a comfortable stay yet, still on a budget.

You can book direct by calling them,
Information below:

Hotel Galleria 

Location : Gov. Duterte Street, Davao City 

Phone : 221-2480; 221-8162 

Website: www.agoda.com/hotel-galleria/hotel/davao-ph.html

Room Rates : PhP 1,099 to PhP 2,074

My long time friend just gave me a Maltese puppy as a gift and I can't wait to travel with him. Good thing, Philippine Airlines is a pet friendly carrier, I can now travel anywhere with my pet, Hermie.

These are some of the things a pet owner should know when traveling with your furry friends.

Aside from the information above, here are some of the things I found that is also useful when traveling with your pets.

HOW TO GET A LOCAL TRANSPORT PERMIT FOR YOUR PET.

• Proceed to the Bureau of Animal Industry office:
  Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
  Local Tranport Permit
  (02) 928-2743 or (02) 928-2836
• What are the requirements for Dogs & Cats?
  - The animal should be 2 months old and above.
  - The rabies vaccination certificate must be presented.
  - The animal should have been vaccinated not more than one (1) year of age and not less than fourteen (14) days from the time of vaccination.
• Be prepared to fill up a form with the following info:
  - Name of the Shipper/Traveller
  - Address of Origin
  - Address of Destination
  - Type of animal to be travelled
  - Date of travel/shipment
  - Purpose of travel/shipment
  - Type of Transportation to be used (e.g. Airplane, Boat)
• READ MORE: http://www.lakas.com.ph/2011/11/how-to-get-a-local-transport-permit-for-your-pets-in-the-philippines/ 

DOMESTIC TRAVEL - BY PLANE

• Choose your airline. PAL, Cebu Pacific, and Air Philippines will fly live animals.
• Choose your flight.
• Before booking, call the airline. Ask if the specific plane used for the flight you have chosen can take live animals such as the one you plan to bring with you. If it can, inform the airlines that you will be taking live animals on board – let them know what kind, what size, and how many.
• Ask the airline where your pet will be off loaded at the destination – whether on the baggage conveyor belt in the arrival section of your destination terminal, or at some other place like the cargo building at the destination airport. Make the necessary arrangements at your destination to ensure you can collect your pet
  .
• You can now book your flight.
• Dogs and cats need to be in hard shell or wire crates.

1.  Hard shell crates must have steel bolts to keep the top and bottom shells together
2. The wire door must have a crate bowl clipped on to facilitate watering and feeding without need for opening the door.  It should also have a lock or must be secured with cable ties just before the pets are taken for loading.
3.  The crate must be large enough for your pet to sit and stand up in, and to turn around in.

• You have a choice of checking your pet in at the cargo building (in Manila, go to the old domestic airport), or at the passenger terminal check-in counter.

1. Either way your pet will be loaded in the live-cargo hold of the plane.
2. If you check your pet in at the cargo building you pay less and you will need to leave your pet there before you plan to check yourself in.  Give yourself an hour to complete your pet’s check-in.
3. If you check your pet in at the passenger terminal, you will pay more and your pet can stay with you until you go to the pre-departure area. Unless your pet is absolutely and reliably well behaved, I suggest you keep it crated. Before you go to the pre-departure area, you will need to hand your pet over to the cargo agent who will ensure your pet is taken directly to the plane at loading time.
4. Fees will be based on weight and crate size.

• Before checking in your pet be sure you –

1. have your pet’s vaccination records with you, clearly showing updated anti-rabies vaccines (by law this has to be given once every 12 months, and should have been given no later than 14 days prior to the flight);
2. do no feed your pet within 4 hours prior to the flight; this is to avoid vomiting or elimination inside the crate but offer the dog some water if it appears thirsty;
3. have a water bowl clipped to the crate door and tape a bottle of clean water to the crate to facilitate watering the dog, without need of opening the crate door (water can be poured through the crate door into the bowl), in case the flight is delayed;
4. potty your dog immediately prior to finally crating it;
5. check all screws, hinges, and locks of your crate to ensure the integrity of the crate;
6. label the crate with your dog’s name, your name, your address, and your contact numbers; and
7. put your dog’s collar and tag on it.

• On checking your pet in, first get the quarantine officer’s permit to transport your pet. Then you fill out forms, have your pet weighed and measured, and pay the fees. Check your waybills to ensure correct information, and ensure all the labels, flight details, live animal notices and transport stickers are stuck to the crate.


• Request that your pet be transported on the same flight you are on. Be sure to get the airline’s assurance that this will be done.


•  Make sure your pet’s collar and tag are secure on it. Place the leash in your bag and keep it there.


• As you board the plane, ask the flight attendant standing at the plane door to check whether the pilot has been notified that your pet is on board.  If he has not been notified, ask why and insist that they check the whereabouts of your pet. Unless the pilot is notified of live animals on board, he will not ensure proper pressurizing and temperature control in the live cargo hold.


• On arrival, collect your luggage and proceed to collect your pet. Have your waybill and ID ready to show to the cargo handlers. DO NOT sign anything that says you have received your pet in good condition until you have actually received your pet, inspected it, and are satisfied with its condition.


• When your pet arrives in its crate, prepare your leash, open the crate door and leash your pet, take it out to potty and for a drink of water. Inspect it. Sign the necessary papers. Collect your crate and go home. 

Personal Notes:

• Crate train your pet so it is comfortable staying in the crate for long periods.
• Rescue Remedy effectively calms your pet for the flight.
• Thunder shirts are also effective calming tools.
• You may line the crate floor with the dog's bed but Do not leave the leash inside the crate or attached to the dog as this may entangle him and cause injury or death.

Sheba (PAWS Director Elsie's dog) is an aspin, 18 inches at the withers. 

• To get her from Manila to Cebu on PAL, I checked her in at the passenger terminal. I paid twice the cost of my round trip ticket. I think I would have paid about as much for the same arrangement on Cebu Pacific.
• To get her from Manila to Davao on Cebu Pacific, I checked her in at the Cebu Pacific Cargo building. I paid one half of my round trip ticket.  I think I would have paid about as much for the same arrangement on PAL."

>> Travel Tips from PAWS Director Elsie (https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/philippine-animal-welfare-society-paws/on-travelling-with-your-pet/396121323766852 )

More information can be found at http://www.paws.org.ph/

If many of you were to ask, where did we eat while in Davao?

Penong's - this is where we had lunch on Day 1.
If Bacolod has chicken inasal and Palawan has chicken inato, Davao boasts of Penong's. They've been named as Davao's #1 barbecue house. They serve grilled seafood as well.

They have large servings and serves unlimited rice. This photo below is good for 2 ladies already. I can barely finished it.

Did we eat at Jack's Ridge?
Well no we don't. We were still full from the snack we ate at Eden Nature Park. We just went there for the sake of seeing it. Not much to brag about actually.

The snacks at Eden Nature Park

The view at Jack's Ridge at night

 

We also ate dinner to a place called "Taps". It was recommended to us by our tour guide/driver and lucky that it's situated just beside our hotel. They claim to serve the best tapsilog in town. Too bad we went there for dinner and ordered bangus. The food we ordered was just so-so and nothing spectacular. The place is interesting though. There were really a lot of locals dining.

Where did we buy our pasalubongs? Well, we bought our candies at Apo ni Lola's. They have durian, mangosteen candies which does not have preservatives. All are yummy.

We also went to Aldevinco but did not buy anything there. The bags and malongs there are cheap though.