My First Polar Adventure

9 March 2023

I once dream to see snow or visit the Artic someday to see Santa Village and Polar bears, penguins, walruses, seals, and other Polar animals. I never thought that I won't be needing to travel to the North Pole to see those creatures because I can see them in Asia. There isn't a polar bear though.

Come and join me on my first Polar Adventure. You will surely love it.

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The Polar Adventure is located in the Summit of Ocean Park Hong Kong and I guess you already have read about my free birthday rides at this theme park. But if you haven't read it yet, then you are missing out on some fun.

During my first visit to Ocean Park, I missed visiting the Polar part since we focused more on the aquarium, marine world, and rainforest. Moreover, I wasn't aware that a polar part exist until I stumbled upon a post about it. Hence, when I returned to the park for a second time, I made it a point to enter after our rides. I saw this part after riding the Arctic Blast and I said to myself, "I finally found it!"

Aside from the Arctic Blast roller coaster, other main attractions include the North Pole Encounter and South Pole Spectacular. The Arctic Fox Den is also in the place but I wasn't able to find the entrance to it.

The Polar Adventure will give you the Arctic Region vibe with its frosty setting. I would suggest you wear your thick winter jacket as the temperature matches the place! You wouldn't want to freeze inside.

Now let's start the polar adventure at the North Pole.

North Pole Encounter

As I walked inside the room, the chilly environment made me even more excited. I was eager to see the real arctic animals because I had never seen them before. In the lobby, there were foxes and enormous polar bear figures. I began to wonder if a real polar bear exist in the place. However, it was simply a statue, and bringing a polar bear to Asia is quite impossible.

What if there is, though? I ascended the escalator farther and arrived at a vast Arctic area. Even though it wasn't real, the extremely low temperature, the glacier backdrop, and the aquatic Arctic animals swimming in it would give you the impression that you are somewhere at the North Pole.

Some species that lives in this section include spotted seals, sea lions, and walruses. I've seen sea lions on my first visit, but not the two species. There spotted seals were playfully swimming in the water trying to catch the attention of visitors. Kids in the place were enjoying watching them.

Spotted seals and sea lions pools

I wasn't sure if I spotted sea lions in the place, they're probably underwater, but I was surprised to see giant walruses. I heard some grunts and big water splashes so I followed the direction of the sounds. And on the opposite side, I spotted long-tusked walruses swimming in the cold water.

They seem sociable as they go to the surface where visitors gathered. That gave us chance to take a closer shot of it as well as selfies. It is an enormous creature with a loud growl. However, the pungent smell of their feces and urine won't let you stay longer near them.

There is an interactive place down the rock formations with two openings on top covered with glasses. It allows visitors to interact closely with the walruses. However, it seems pretty useless as they don't go near it.

I exited the place and continued walking in a dark alley. I stumbled upon the fox den but I failed to track down the entrance to it. Thus, losing the chance to see it in person. I heard there are snow owls too, but I didn't find them either.

I walked farther and came across a seeming glass tunnel, exposing seals and sea lions that seem to be showcasing their swimming skills underwater.

The place looks spectacular and as if I am underwater with seals and sea lions swimming overhead.

Seals are truly cute creatures. And just like the walruses, they seem non-aggressive and playful. They would go near the glass wall as if they want to interact with the visitors.

Isn't this cute? It seemed to want to interact with me, isn't it? Just like the other one in the above photo. It went near the glass wall when the man bowed trying to call it. The underwater is too huge and spacious which allows them to move around freely.

I wondered though how they are fed as the water aquarium is too large to call them all during feeding time. Do they even eat enough? Do fish eat fish as food? 😅 Okay, this part is nonsense.

From the North Pole, let's travel to the South!

South Pole Spectacular

When I was a kid, I wished to see this cute creature in real life, and I was grateful to visit Antarctica....Ocean Park South Pole Spectacular rather, lol. Can you guess what I am referring to? When I saw their statuses outside, I was like, "really? There are penguins inside?"

It was almost dark when I entered the place and I immediately run to see the entrance. Mind me, if the North Pole was cold, the South Pole was colder as if I was inside a freezer. The very cold temperature, glacier-looking walls, and rugged terrain settings make you feel like you are in Antarctica. There are glass-paneled floors too but I didn't really notice them much that day until I zoomed out on this photo below.

These cute aquatic flightless birds were actively playing in the water and frolicking on the glacier part of the rugged terrain. I was too happy and smiling ear to ear while watching them just like with other kids. You can't blame me. Back when I was a kid, I was too fond of watching penguins on television. I find them cute because they truly are.

There are three kinds of penguins here. The King Penguins with golden orange feathers on their necks. Their sizes are just smaller than emperor penguins (the group of largest penguins). The Southern Rockhopper Penguin with a spiky crest of yellow and black feathers. Lastly, the Gentoo Penguins with orange-red beaks. They are agile and can finish a lap of a standard swimming pool in just five seconds.

Just refer to the photo below for reference.

Have you watched the movie, March of the penguins in 2005? I soo love this movie, especially since one of the narrators was Sharon Cuneta, a Filipino singer and actress, and one of my idols. This documentary movie is about the survival journey of penguins in Antarctica.

The Ocean Park Polar animals exhibition isn't just for attracting tourists, but to educate or give awareness to the public about the effect of global warming on the Arctic and Antarctic region and how it affects the habitats of these species. Meanwhile, since Polar Adventure consumes too much electricity, the carbon footprint is cut by a third with the help of environmental technology.

It's not just the Polar Adventure exhibits that raise awareness to the public, but as well as the other animal exhibition parts of Ocean Park. So my visit to this area was so worth it.

You can also watch the longer video here..

I would like to submit this too to Amazing Nature Free Topic contest

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