Manila Ocean Park

Lately, Hubby and I seem to be enjoying spending our weekends doing short trips out of town or exploring famous tourists spots in Manila.  Dinner-movie combo has taken a backseat (or weekday seat in our case) cause there's just so much of Manila, and the Philippines in general, we haven't discovered.  And so last Saturday, you find silly couple conquering the vast Manila Ocean Park.

Oceanarium.  Ok, so I adore colorful fishes. And this was the perfect place for me to come and marvel at the different aqua marine creatures - from a safe tank distance.

Fish Spa.  I've wanted to try this for the longest time.  Especially since Dear Hubby has an old man's feet and he desperately needs to feed Dr. Fishes his dead skin cells.  While they can't claim any real therapy or medical relevance, there has been recorded incidence of Dr. Fishes' eating of the dead skin cells hastening the healing of a wound. Plus, seriously Hubby's feet afterward, was silky smooth!  Definitely worth the Php120 bucks we paid for 20 minutes.

Costs:
Oceanarium: Php 400 (you get 10% off if you live in the Manila area)
Fountain Show: Php 300
Sea World Show: Php 200
Jelly Fish Museum: Php 160
Fish Spa: Php 120

There's some combo promotion but we didn't avail of them as we only wanted to see the Oceanarium and try the Fish Spa.

Wakeboarding at Nasugbu

For Dear Hubby's 28th birthday, I decided that it's high time for some good clean adrenaline-rushed filled fun.  And so we drove the short drive from Manila to Nasugbu, Batangas and got ourselves some beginner's lessons in wakeboarding.

It was a Wednesday and traffic was super light, thank gawd, because we were starving already.

Lunch at the in-house restaurant.  Oddly enough, for a place that has unwashed table linens, prices were surprisingly high, I thought at first.  We both had the steak and it was delicious. So I berate myself silently for my earlier snooty judgment.

 

We mistaken thought that as beginners we would be able to do the ramps, and fly 360 degrees off the air. Umm, yeah. Maybe, next time.

Having a dinner to rush to back in Manila, we decided that it be best we just take the hour trial/tutorial.  It costs about Php 350/hour, wake boarding gear included.

I was able to stand after the second try, which I thought was pretty awesome of me (my blog, my rules!) Most everyone who tried it the first time commented about sore arms afterwards and having done it for an hour and half I thought mine would certainly have the not-so-desired sting effect, but nothing of the sort happened.

I'm not as good as the Hubby, who not only was able to stand immediately, but was able to finish an entire loop without falling flat on his face.


Some helpful tips:
1. Wear a rash guard.
2. Lago de Oro is a man made water park. Hence, the lake floor is a bit gooey when you stepped into it. Best to take aqua shoes with you.
3. Slather some UV45 at least. Unfortunately, there are no trees to block the ray of the sun.
4. Parking is free
5. From SLEX, take the Sta Rosa exit and just drive all the way to Nasugbu Batangas.  Lago de Oro is a good 45 minutes after the Nasugbu arc.
6.) 1 hour of wakeboarding session  costs about Php 350

30 Before 30 Checklist: the Dolphin Encounter

Most everyone I know, who has a proverbial bucket list, counts swimming with the dolphins pretty high up on their Things-To-Do-Before-I-Die or any similar less grimier version... And why not, the dolphins are one of the most beautiful creatures on Earth.  You look at them and you are instantly transported to kid-like state of happiness.

Last Monday, Dear Hubby gave me the greatest sweetest surprised since, well, his last greatest sweetest surprise.  He took me to Subic Ocean Adventure at Subic Bay, Olongapo City for some much desired swim encounter with the dolphins.

Swimming with the dolphins is fast becoming a popular travel activity in the area. However, reservations are still ideal since the park usually only accommodate a handful of lucky participants.  On weekends, swim encounters are suspended due to huge tour group, mostly Korean visitors at the Park.

Subic Ocean Adventure offers a number of ways you can enjoy the dolphins company.

There's the Beach Encounter for only Php 2,800, where your dolphin adventure starts with a big dolphin greeting by the beach shore.  Then you have a chance to touch, hug and even kiss this friendly mammals. And of course, there's plenty of time for some photo ops. (adventure: 30 minutes)

Second, is the Swim Encounter, which is what the Hubby and I did. For only Php 4,200 you have direct water interaction with this lovable creatures.  A 20-minute swim encounter, plus some dolphin training and a handful of other activities (i.e. dancing with the dolphins) Truly a once in a lifetime experience, worth every centavos. (adventure: 45 minutes)

Dear Hubby and I were just all smiles all throughout.  The trainer gives a 5 minute briefing about the different types of dolphins at the beginning of the session.  There we find out that ours is named, Cito, a bottleneck dolphin rescued in the bay area.  Excited as I was I tried very hard to listen to the instructor, but I was more worried about who will take our pictures. (Professional photographers at the park charge Php500 for the first 15 shots they will take) And finally our session was about to start.  We walked towards the beach and saw two dolphins making their way into the shore. *dies of happiness*  The instructor tells me to just grab onto to the fins and lay my body flat on his back.  It was pure awesomeness, I tell you.  Better than bungee jumping and cliff diving combined, IMO. (2 activities I had previously checked off my list, 2 equally exhilarating activity yet still manages to just come in second or third next to the dolphin encounter)

Third, for the dive enthusiasts, there's also the Dive Encounter at Php 5,500+.  Dive instructors will take you to one of the bay divisions for an intimate underwater experience with Flipper. (adventure: 30 minutes)

And lastly, there's the Photo Encounter, if you're like some and all you're after is a photograph and not the actual experience then for Php 500 you get your close-up time with the dolphins.

Total Adventure Cost: Php 6,000/person (includes tickets, meals, snacks, gas, and tollway fare)

2nd Annual Pyrolympics

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Katy Perry. Fireworks

I have this huge suspended disbelief look whenever I'm in the presence of great fireworks display.  Maybe it's a bit silly, but I never get tired or get any less amazed watching even the cheapest Chinese firecracking powder being lighted up.  But last Saturday, cheap was definitely not on the vocabulary of the competing countries.  For our pre-NON-valentine's date, Dear Hubby and I came face to face with a truly awesome show.

The Pyromusical Competition runs til the end of March with the Philippines and United Kingdom performing the final curtain show.  The actual fireworks display last for a good 20 minutes per country, before that, there's a string of performers from the host country. In our case, a violinist from Korea and a dancer from Spain. Spongecola also performed, but like a kid not getting her candy at once, I decided to tune them out and just prayed that the person in charge of lighting the fireworks is as excited as I am and start lighting those damn things ahead of schedule.

Show starts at 7. But hey, we're in the Philippines, and we're nothing if not consistent, with being late.  Waited until 30 minutes past 7 before we heard the national anthems played.

I absolutely got goosebumps especially towards the end of Spain's show.  It was unbelievable, in the immortal words of Black Eyed Peas, BOOM BOOM POW!

Tickets are sold: Php 1500 (VIP w/ dinner) Php 500 (VIP), Php 250 (Gold) and the cheapest at Php 100 (Silver)

30 before 30 checklist

 My To-Do-List Snapshot

#4 Bungee Jumping: Macau Tower

The free fall took all but four seconds.  But hanging in there, upside down, 61 floors high, for what seemed like eternity, sure gave silly blogger a much needed heart jolt.  The look on my face during the brief interview says it all, "What the f*@$ am I doing here?"

Tips:

1.) No, it's not a life changing experience.  It's a jump. A freaking HIGH jump, but let's get real, it won't cure cancer. I won't deny, it's pure awesomeness at its best, especially the feeling you get afterwards, but don't go into it thinking it will change anything after. No, I'm still as silly & scared as ever.

2.) It's 261 meters high. You're bungee jumping not from a cliff but from a tower that you can smack right back into if you're not careful, so no to showy jumps, you just need to lean off the edge and let go.

3.) Befriend other jumpers. More importantly, befriend the AJ Hackett staff.

4.) Total cost for this adventure is around Php 12,000

30 before 30 Checklist

My To-Do-List Snapshot

White Water Rafting in Davao

One of the highlights from our Davao trip for sure.  Water was raging and paddling was hell, but all in all everyone had an amazing time.  We started the day rather early, around 8am. Good friends Ed, Tong and Lloyd dropped us off at Davao Crocodile Farm, where our adventure would soon begin.

Topgainer Shoot

A few months back, I was given the opportunity to shoot for the 2010 catalogue of Topgainer, a local men's clothing company.  Here's your first look:

Surfing in La Union

On our trip to Hawaii,  Happy Feet and I relish the thought of hitting the waves and standing on those damn long boards.  Fortunately we were able to cross this one off our bucket list.  So on our just concluded road trip to La Union, I made sure that Hubby gets to experience the same awesome feeling that is surfing.

30 before 30 Checklist

 My to do list snapshots 

30 before 30 Checklist

   My to-do-list snapshots   

# 10. Surfing Safari.  When in Hawaii, you must hit the waves.  I think even I was surprised that I got to stand up on the board.  Awesome feeling while riding the waves, not so much when your face hits the water upon wiping out.  For only $50, the whole experience was definitely worth it.

#11. Scuba diving.  There was a little pressure on my ears on the first dive.  Good thing, we tried it again the next day.  Really made me appreciate all the wonderful under the sea sights.

Check out the rest of the 30-before-30 Project.

Conquering Pinatubo

Since I'm on house arrest tonight (damn you stomach cramps!), thought it best to post some much overdue past trips.  This one was taken over a year ago.  One of Hubby's friends organized a hiking trip and probably didn't know any better than to invite sloth-like Wifey.  

There was a 4:45am call time.  And obviously, being the only sane couple in the group, we were the last to arrive.  NO ONE should be perky at this ungodly hour.  But whatdoiknow, I remember Hubby's friends acting like a bunch of Energizer Bunnies, in stark contrast to my very own Dead Man Walking, that morning.  Where do they get all the energy? I wonder. 

It was a three hour drive to get from Manila to lahar zoned Pinatubo.  Good thing though, got to spend the entire time sleeping in the car.  And most likely cursing self for agreeing to hike at this hour!

I wanna be a yogi bear

 4th quarter of 2009 found silly blogger giving the whole healthy living a try.  Thought it was high time, seeing as my 20-something body is starting to feel aches and pains like a 50 year old baby boomer.  Joined in on a couple of marathons, started to eat less junk food and watched alcohol consumption drop to a consdierably reasonable level.  

So in continuing with the healthy lifestyle, I decided to enroll myself in a 15 session yogilates class.  Enter Jill Ngo-Crisologo of Peak Performance.   

Fun in Boracay

Last year, I attended the Nestle Beach Volley at Boracay, together with my NPI work mates.  It was also my first trip there with Hubby's friends.  They have made going to Bora a summer ritual of sorts, me thinks. And so for the nth time in their lives, the Hubby and his band of brothers are going back to Boracay this April - I think his friends have got it in their heads that Boracay needs them during the summer season for a much unrequited drunken mayhem. Hee.  But what do I know, they always seem to end up having the time of their lives.

Thank gawd though that for this year there are some really cool activities planned.

Up for the Challenge

Silly blogger has decided to take the 14-day Nestle Fitnesse Challenge.  No, there's no 7-for-all-mankind jeans up for grabs nor a Chanel wardrobe to win, but darn it, if the 8 pounds I have gained since the wedding is not motivation enough, then I might as well say goodbye to half my wardrobe.

So last Sunday, together with the Hubby and his friend, we thread the aisles of Puregold to buy ourselves some Nestle Fitnesse.  Really hoping this works out.  Need to be beach-ready, like now!

A Laker Birthday Surprise

One of my friends is oh so fond with surprises.  So fond, in fact, that last year she threw 3 surprises in a span of 3 days add to that another secret surprise was in the works that we were in on for her behalf :)) Imagine the insanity and hilarity that ensued from trying to keep up pretenses from both of them.  We made her swear to the high heavens that  there would be no more surprises, at least for the rest of 2009.  We just couldn't handle all the lying and confusion 4 surprise parties bring (the 2 real surprises, the faux surprise, and the secret surprise)

And so with that in mind, this year, for her fiance's birthday, she decided to thankfully stick to just one party!  Ahh the sweet smell of less confusion.  Ever the Ms. Organizer and Ms. Pa-picture, dear friend made sure that we all looked picture perfect and had costumes and props prepared all for the big day.

Lazy Wednesdays

Sundays used to be the primo-lazy day for us.  However ever since we got married, it's been quite hectic.  Lunch is reserved for the parents while dinner for the in-laws.  So one Wednesday last week, we just decided to take back lazy days and do away with our real world jobs.

Food tripping in Antipolo

To celebrate our 3rd anniversary as a couple, the Hubby took me to the mountains. Hee, well to Antipolo anyway.  We had dinner reservations at this quaint little out-of-the-way Swiss place called Vieux Chalet.  There was no traffic that day, so it took us just a below an hour to get to Taktak road in Antipolo.  Be sure to print out the map before taking this particular food trip though.  Vieux Chalet is in the hillside in the middle of a subdivision and it gets pretty confusing at times.  Well I guess at least to me who's direction IQ has seen better days.