November 12, 2023
This would be the end of my Manila Ocean Park travel series, as I am looking forward to filling my feed with Hong Kong travel blogs as soon as I get my feet back on the trails. I opt to slowly get back on track after mourning for months. Life must go on, and we must look forward to better days ahead. The world is huge and beautiful, so we shouldn't isolate ourselves in our dark and lonely world. Besides, autumn is here, and beautiful foliage is waiting up in the mountains. I must appreciate this life and make more beautiful memories before I decide to leave Hong Kong.
It's such a great feeling to see loved ones happy, especially if you are part of it. There's a sense of fulfillment, and the burden weight upon us temporarily dissipates. This recent journey to Manila Ocean Park was the very first family adventure I had outside our province. Although we weren't complete, I felt grateful for putting smiles on my mother's lips and allowing her to create new experiences, even though, by that time, she was still in grief.
Going back to the Manila Ocean Park journey...
Manila Ocean Park, by the way, is located at Ermita Manila along the seaside. From the LRT Pedro Gil Station, we hired a tricycle to get to Ocean Park, but there is another option from Luneta Park, which is to ride on the Kalesa or horse-drawn carriage. The fee isn't reasonable, though, for such a short distance. This is just good for those who want to experience the ride and get up close to horses.
Excitedly, we entered Ocean Park with a lot of expectations, but I was aware of the possible disappointments. In my mind, I also thought of Hong Kong Ocean Park, and I felt excited to show it to my mom someday cross-fingers.
There were an array of food stalls on the way to the entrance and a spacious platform on the entranceway to the Oceanarium and Hotel. Beforehand, I queued at the ticket booth, hoping to get a free one for my niece. Unfortunately, he grows too fast and is above 2 feet now, so I paid the same amount for a ticket for him, which is Php 750.
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Inside the huge building where the entrance to different attractions is located is a huge Christmas tree, which will light up soon. I bet it is now lit since it's already a month away from Christmas.
The first attraction that we visited was the Oceanarium. That will always be the main attraction at any Ocean Park site. We entered a place that was more like a wild forest, and inside the aquariums were giant fish. Most were new to me, so I had no idea of their names. There were a few that I knew: koi fish, piranhas, tilapia, and manta rays.
My family and I were throwing jokes, and my brother kept saying, those giant fish are good to grill, lol.
The little kiddo with us was so hyped that his curiosity went up. He would peek from one aquarium to another, aggressively tap his hands on them, and seem to want to catch some fish. He was fascinated and amused as fish glided in the water. He's a kid who's keen on animals, like his grandpa.
We're getting deeper as we pass through dark tunnels. The next part is filled with glass cylindrical water tanks with beautiful corals and different kinds of cute smaller fish we typically see in aquariums at home, and in the MV of the song "Ocean Deep". Can you imagine it?
A school of Nemo, as most of us call it because of the Finding Nemo movie, is, of course, part of it, and some cute sea horses that seem so great at keeping equilibrium when upright.
We proceeded to what they call Lost Atlantis with more huge aquariums of different species of fish.
The school of rabbitfish was the first attraction. They were called rabbitfish because of their rabbit-like snout and big eyes. But as for me, they don't look like rabbits at all, lol. But do you know that this is significant to Chinese people? As for them, they bring prosperity and good luck. That's the reason why they consider this kind of fish as Chinese New Year fish. So expect a lot of rabbit fish on CNY at the animal market.
Next to it was a bigger aquarium with beautiful coral reefs. However, there were fewer fish in this area, mostly yellowtail fish.
Do you know what's not good when your companions aren't into photography and camera-shy type people? You have fewer pretty shots, usually taken randomly, lol.
After which, we headed to the Living Ocean, an arched glass tunnel with an amazing underwater view. Perhaps this is the prettiest part that offers a perfect underwater backdrop for photoshoots. Unfortunately, there were a lot of photo bombers, so we just enjoyed watching different fish, ranging in size from small to big. There were even sharks and manta rays.
The little kiddo wanted to catch fish again but was afraid when we left him alone on the platform. That was because I wanted to get a good solo shot of him with an aquarium backdrop, but to no avail, lol.
At the next stop, a school of barracudas captivated our gaze as they navigated their aquatic realm. I felt fascinated looking up at them as if I were under the deep blue ocean. It was a magical feeling for those new to this scenery. My mom was fascinated as well.
And look what I caught. A barracuda was trying to have fun with my little nephew. The kid didn't even make a budge as he seemed to like it too. Kids are truly innocent until they get hold of things and reality. But sometimes we want kids to remain kids and curious, right? Because they'll change as they grow, and some aren't fascinating anymore.
After we explored the Oceanarium, we started a new journey to other spots of Ocean Park. Feel free to tap the links to read about them.
Check my mom's first trail to Antarctica, and see cute and agile penguins. You'll definitely love them!
A Visit To Christmas Village. Too early to see this for those in other parts of the world, but not for us, Filipinos, as we have the longest Christmas season.
The World of Creepy Crawlies may not be your bet if you fear wild crawlies. Get a closer look at snakes, geckos, iguanas, tarantulas, lizards, and other creepy crawlies.
The Spectacular Dancing Sea Fairies brought me to another world, and allowed me to imagine things beyond ordinary perceptions.
The Superman Sanctuary and Super Toy Collection was among my favorites. You'll love this place if you are a collector of Superman collectibles.
At four thirty, we visited the Aqua Arena to watch the last show featuring talented feathered friends and sea lions showcasing their incredible talents and skills. Some birds were amazing as they solved summations and followed the trainers' orders. Meanwhile, sea lions were adorable as they flaunted their talents in dancing, back-flipping, and others.
You can check my short video uploaded on ThreeShort to see Ocean Park Oceanarium creatures, creepy crawlies, and amazing animals in the animal show.
There's truly a sense of fulfillment and happiness in seeing the smiles of your loved ones. I guess our visit to Manila was throwing one stone at two birds. We rested and enjoyed ourselves a bit while dealing with things we needed to accomplish. We seldom have this moment, so I considered it a memorable one.
Thanks for your time, and happy weekend.
(All photos are mine)
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