Traveling During Pandemic

Happiest New Year everyone! This entry is tad late for the New Years and the Chinese New Year. Here's to praying that most of you are in good spirits and has started 2021 right. As for me, I did my first travel of the year to Cebu, not for tourism but for medical purposes and some tax related appointments.

Traveling these days is a lot of fun --- not. It's a little stressful and overwhelming. Gone are the days where traveling to places is as easy as buying a ticket online, packing your bags and just being at the airport before boarding.

Times are hard and with all the new restrictions and safety protocols, it feels as if we are traveling abroad with all the papers we need to present instead of feeling chill to be coming home to a very familiar place. I will be listing down below the requirements that my mother and I needed to present to be able to travel to Cebu.

Requirements: From Davao City to Cebu City

CONFIRMED TICKET BOOKING, we flew via Philippines Airlines. Confirmed ticketing bookings will be presented to your barangay officer to show that you are traveling to and from this city and so.

BARANGAY CERTIFICATE, to certify that you are fit to travel and that you are not a suspected or probable CoVid19 case. 

TRAVEL AUTHORITY/ POLICE CLEARANCE, to certify that you are allowed to leave and travel from and to Davao City and to your destinations.

LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE, this is to certify that the barangay where you are headed is allowing you to enter their border and stay with a protocol of a 14 day home quarantine. We are fortunate enough to own a house in Cebu with relatives who made the request on our behalf. We were given the Letter of Acceptance only after we sent a copy of our Barangay Certificate and Travel Authority/ Police Clearance.

ONLINE HEALTH DECLARATION FORM, this is an online form from PAL that you have to fill up prior to traveling which will generate a QR Code for them to track your health declaration. You have to save this via your email for easy access during airport checks.

TRAZE APP, is a mandatory app that you have to have prior to traveling. You can download the app and register in it for easier and hassle free travel during check ins. 

Requirements: From Cebu City to Davao City

CONFIRMED TICKET BOOKING, again to present that you are flying on this certain dates.

BARANGAY CERTIFICATE, this is to certify that you have undergone a 14 day home quarantine prior to your travels and that you are not a person under monitoring or person under investigation.

MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, to certify that you are fit to travel with no influenza like illness and no restrictions. So, you have to undergo a medical check up by a physician from the municipality that you belonged.

CERTIFICATE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,  this is to certify that you are allowed to travel outside of the border of the municipality that you live. This certificate is only given once you have the above mentioned certificates at hand.

TRAVEL AUTHORITY/ POLICE CLEARANCE, the travel authority allows you to travel and be granted access in different checkpoints and borders of the municipality you're leaving and of the city you will travel to. Only given once you have all the other certificates at hand.

LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE,  just like the requirement of Cebu, we needed a letter indicating that we are allowed to stay in our point of destination. It just so happen that we also own a house here in Davao. So my father made the request for a letter of acceptance but only after we sent him a copy of all the certificates that we have acquired.

RT PCR TEST, as part of the safety protocol and requirement of Davao City upon entering - my mother and I needed to present a negative swab test. Requirement is 72 hrs prior to flying. But I would suggest getting the test done 2 days before since it takes some time for the result to come in - around 12-18hrs after swabbing.

ONLINE HEALTH DECLARATION, same as the online portal you need to access for PAL passengers prior to flying.

DAVAO QR Code, if you're from Davao City then this comes handy because all of us has been using this at the start of the year and late last year. For those coming in to Davao City, it is best to register for the Davao QR Code since this is a requirement in most establishments for entry. NO QR CODE, NO ENTRY.

TRAZE APP, same app as I mentioned above. This is now mandatory and is valid for 3 years.

DAVAO CITY HEALTH DECLARATION, before entering Davao City, same as with the PAL portal of health declaration - Davao City has it's own portal which generates QR Code for easier access to your data once you arrived at the Davao City Airport. 

Woah! Writing all the requirement made me feel exhausted and that's how I felt the entire time. We flew to Cebu to get a second opinion on my swollen left leg as well as do the PET Scan which is not available in Davao but thinking about going through all the paperworks is dreading. 

They may seem easy and very accessible but the idea of having to take a queue and wait for minutes to hours to get the certificates is a little difficult considering social distancing and all those safety protocols but this is now the new normal which we all have to get used to. Also some of the documents are charged with a minimal fee which is below 100php but the rest if free of charge.

As of writing, some of the protocols have already changed or been updated but as the saying goes,"if there's a will, there's a way." If traveling if your cup of tea then these requirements are nothing new. Plane tickets and hotels are obviously on big discounts now. I don't promote tourism just yet but hey, if you have the budget and if you're itching to fly out then do it the new normal way - safe, healthy and filled with precautions with your face masks, face shield and sanitizers aka alcohol. 

With that sharing a photo of me at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Cebu. Reminiscing my brief see, sea and relax escapade. Can't wait to go back soon when Martijn comes for a vacation. 

Sumo Sam Davao

I've written an entry about Sumo Sam a few months ago when my parents and I dined in at their first Davao branch and when I had lunch with my mother some time ago but I'm writing another one because the new revised menu for their Davao division has some fancy funky twist with their sushi rolls. 

They're basically an enhanced Japanese Restaurant because they don't have the traditional Japanese settings for tables and chairs. It's very contemporary which suits and justifies the current generation of clients.

Kimchi Pork Ramen that my father ordered. Didn't taste it because I don't eat pork but as per my dad it was good. On our second visit in one week, he ordered the same thing, so must be good :)

Curry Chicken Ramen. 'Twas my first time to try out their ramen (I'm a Rai Rai Ken fanatic but I don't know of a branch in Davao) but must say it was good but I can also say that I'd be able to recreate the same exact thing if I want to :D

Salmon... (I forgot the name) but it's a MUST if you're not into sushis and ramen and noodles. It's a classic grilled that's a little off for a Japanese Restaurant but it's so good and the serving is good for sharing :)

Beef something (pardon me, I'm not really good with remembering names) but it's so so. I don't really see myself ordering this 'cos how it was cooked was just basic - the usual way of cooking beef that is.

Rice topping is always a favourite but this comes off as dry :D But nonetheless the beef was cooked tenderly :)

"Davao Roll" The name itself is catchy because we're in Davao and they've created something on their menu that's purely from their own. And it's a blast of tastiness that I just love :)

"Mt. Apo Roll" Ever had Durian on your sushi roll? Then this is the real shiz people. It has a Durian in it and I never thought it will blend well with rice but it does :D

This one... I forgot the name but it's a MUST TRY on their menu :D

I'm big on Sushis, Ramen and other Oriental Asian dishes and Sumo Sam never fails me when it comes to the very basic traditional dishes that are purely filled with flavours. They've got branches almost everywhere in the entire Philippines. I'd like to believe that we Filipinos are really into dining out. I guess, when you work 6 days a week and you only got one day off, you'd love to just dine and try out new stuff on the menu. And most people in my country does that :)

Skinmode Tattoo Shop Davao

Saw this tattoo signage in front of Ateneo de Davao University some time ago and since then I've been eyeing to drop by and inquire. Initially, I just wanted to ask for their price range but I ended up getting inked. Well, I've been wanting to get a new one anyway and must say it was all worth it.

The shop has a mini "shop" on its first floor that sells tattoo shiz and other useful accessories like earrings, colourful shoe laces, piercings stuff, rasta inspired bracelets and so on. They have a vast collection of skulls and war figures which was really cool and the place was neat and really artsy. My dad was with me when I went there and he really had fun browsing through what they were selling. They're also selling imitation athlete brand bags :D

I already had the design in mind before I went in that night. Luckily the artist turned it into reality. He's second generation of artist in his family. His father is the main artist of the shop but he and his younger brother has started practicing as well. He's only 18 and had been tattooing for three years and I must say he really has gentle hands. No trace of blood on my new ink. All clean and it's already healed by now. Prolly be going back when I'm in town.

PS Self shots were taken after I got ink when I got home. See how neatly it was done. No trace of blood or scarring or messy ink trace. Really awesome kid. Offered to give me a free full back tattoo - I would but I won't :) It would probably hurt like nuts.

For more infos, kindly check the photo below. Look for Bruno aka Jun (pronounced as John) if you want to get an ink :)

Waterfront Davao

At the heart of Davao city lies The Waterfront Insular Hotel that is adjacent to the famous Samal Island. It was my first time to visit the place and check out the food. Here are a few photos.

Since it is a resort, the lobby area and the restaurant are open air spaces.

The food on the menu that we tried out. Prices ranged from 200php to 1000php. If you noticed, it's mostly pizza because the restaurant was an Italian and pizza and pastas were their specialities. Taste was so so, very traditional when it comes to ingredients but I love the pizza crusts that were thinly created. Must be proud, their chefs were Filipinos.

The famous Mango Shake, to which the Philippines is known for.

The area is surrounded by coconut trees which should be because it is fronting the sea, the name Waterfront literally applies to this hotel. It is very different from their branch in Cebu. Waterfront Cebu is more elegant and the restaurants are far more creative when it comes to services and food presentations. 

If you're curious as to how The Waterfront Cebu looks like, check this: 

http://www.waterfronthotels.com.ph/waterfront/waterfront-cebu-city-hotels-casino/

Bulgogi Brothers

Talk about having a new favourite resto to dine in... I simply fancy Korean dishes :)

It may sound absurd but I really want to own a pair of this. I wonder where I can buy this. I bought a similar spoon in Vietnam last year but it was labeled for kids and I just bought a piece but I would appreciate having this set on my kitchen.

The lamps had an interesting design but I doubt that it's uber Korean in any sense.

Menu

Seoul - Style. It's beef strips with noodles. If I'm not mistaken it is almost like rice noodles but with a lesser finery in it because the texture reflected that of Sotanghon. The taste was very normal. Sweet and a little spicy but what I love is the texture of the beef.

Their rice was different from regular rice. It was not Japanese rice but something else. Maybe it's regular rice but cooked in a different way. And I love the bowl with cover :)

Forgot the name, I think this is Seafoods Soup. It has all the seafoods you could think of. Real spicy shiz - not for the faint of heart.

Haeul Bibimbap aka Seafoods Bibimbap :D

Bulgogi Bibimbap. SUPERBLY NOM NOM NOM :) Me likey mucho mucho but I could do a better take on this. The toppings weren't proportioned to the amount of rice they placed. And yes! The waiter was right, it is the chilli sauce that makes it really tasty :)

Boneless Short Ribs. HEAVEN! I've seen so many Korean Drams and in all of it - they do this shiz while drinking and I always wondered what it'd be like if I was doing it (minus drinking zee Soju because parents were there but will do it with friends one day soon) and finally :)

With my parents :)

All in all it was a grand experience. I have to give the restaurant credits for serving the best quality beef I've tasted by far. I love how the boneless short ribs were marinated and I love the taste of all the food we've ordered. These are the "must try" on the menu but there are other dishes that should be tasted - next time though. 

Though the price is a bit high compared to other Korean restaurants, it's definitely worth it. I am so looking forward to dining back.

Happy Face :) Finally - just like in the dramas but not in the street but will do if I visit Korea this December :D - Hopefully :D

Banana Beach

At the heart of Tagum City in Davao Del Norte, lies a beach within an old banana plantation thus the name "Banana Beach" came to life.

First to experience a different twist on the usual white sand beaches that people world wide are used to - less chaos and uber relaxing area. Not to mention, they have their own mini forest where you can tour around and experience a little bit of the jungle with the monkeys and wild boars. Walk on their hanging bridges or simply feed on pieces or just relax and unwind on their mini lakes or by the shore. Almost everything is there.

Entrance and lobby area. The place is too huge that you need to have your own ride or ride their cart to go to the pool - beach and restaurant bar area. Room rate is quite expensive. Starts at around 100usd (good for two people) and add on person is at 15usd. We didn't do an overnight because it wasn't wise enough.

Ceiling fan on the cottage that we rented. Sorry forgot to take a photo of our rent but it was really nice. It had foamed chairs and a table and some pillows. Kinda like a Japanese inspired thing but more on western - european - mediterranean thing.

It was low tide when we came so there wasn't much sea to catch or indulge on. The sands aren't your typical white, it's semi black almost like the ones near my home in Cebu :)

Essentials :)

My Dad

The famous Durian - Davao's National Fruit :)

The food were OK but it takes forever for them to be delivered on our table. Prolly an hour or so. So you have to make sure to order everything you need. Price ranged from around 100php to 650php.

Photo with my dear cousin Christian who had his hair bleached and stuff for summer. :D

A great experience but I don't think I'll be back anytime soon. I want to check out their rooms one day and join the tour around their mini jungle - it costs around 7usd per person. We didn't have much time when we went there, maybe next time. :)

It is an hour and half ride from Davao City. Depends on the mode of traffic. I think the advantage of this place from the other resorts in Davao is that - it's very quite - solemn and uncrowded. 

PS Entrance is consumable, meaning you can order food and drinks with it but have to pay for excesses on the bill ;)