By Jojie Gabot
Walking with colorful schools of tropical fishes in a 25-meter long tunnel ticks you to stay behind, touch and swim with them and be part of the underworld of the Asia’s richest marine fauna that is the Philippines.
I am speaking, of course, of the Manila Ocean Park, the country's biggest aquarium located behind the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park, which showcases more than 200 species of marine life, including some of the yet unfamiliar fishes and the familiar ones like the Butanding, stingray, sharks and barracudas.
With the 25-meter long, 220 degree curved acrylic walkway tunnel, exploring the underworld is made possible. Even marine lives found in the deepest sea are showcased in the Manila Ocean Park for all, young and old, to appreciate, observe and educated on the ways.
When some scuba divers appeared inside the acrylic glass to feed the denizens of the aquarium, I was filled with wonder and delight, captivated with the question “what does it feel to be inside the collected biodiversity of the Philippines in one gigantic aquarium of the park?”
Then I wondered if Manila Ocean Park would add services like scuba diving lessons right there at the big aquarium. Wow! I admire those divers who keep the marine museum clean and take care of the underwater creatures.
Observing them closely made me miss of the ocean, the taste of the ocean and the sound of the waves and the feel of goggles around my eyes!
The Manila Ocean Park also showcases deepest sea creatures, fresh water fishes and interaction with the marine life is also possible.
The Oceanarium excursions will take you to seven different sections. First, the Agos or Flow section where you will witness water cascading from an artificial waterfall that flows into eight different water tanks displaying various flora and fauna. The water flow replicates the fresh water source that eventually leads to the open ocean, creating a model of the interconnectedness between land and sea. The rocky shoreline is showcased in a Touch Pool where one can physically encounter animals on display.
The Bahura or Reef section is a series of 46 tanks that feature the very colorful Philippine underwater rainforest. Be fascinated with the multiple hues and diverse life forms found in our Philippine coral reefs.
Laot or Fishing Ground section has four big distinct aquariums displaying assortment of fish in all sizes and colors. These impressively large exhibits will definitely be a sight to behold!
The most exciting and electrifying part of Manila Ocean Park is the Buhay na Karagatan or the Living Ocean where one can plume the slice of Philippine ocean life! A breathtaking adventure to a 25-meter acrylic glass underwater tunnel and experience how marine animals interact with each other in their natural habitat and witness the unmatched and truly awesome encounter with the rich underwater world.
The most feared inhabitants of the ocean are featured at the Ang Kalaliman or The Deep. It showcases barracuda which is known for its toothy grin as the “Tiger of the Sea”.
Lastly, the Pating or Shark, the predators of the sea section where we will get the chance to meet our famous Butanding and sharks species found in the Philippine waters.
After a nice long walk at Oceanarium, a visit to the Manila Ocean Park Fish Spa is a must. Here get an unforgettable and unique experience with the spectacular doctor fish - so called because they nibble with the affected and dead areas of the skin of your feet and cleanse or cure it.
Need to learn more? The mall section of Manila Ocean Park will showcase jellyfishes soon!
According to MOP marketing manager Tina Santos, the Hotel section will open by late this year or early next year. The 20-room hotel will also have a marine theme. Rooms facing the bay will have an uninterrupted view of the ocean and the renowned Manila Bay sunset, while others will have one wall of aquarium in the privacy of their own room, which will be a first-of-its-kind in the world.
Get enthralled and be captivated with the marine denizens’ world of the Philippine sea through Manila Ocean Park! (gagabytes@gmail.com)
Monday, January 3, 2011
We are born as adventurers
by Jojie Gabot
Many read my column about my travel adventures. You have to know me and the places I’ve been to or of some activities I have been involved in to better appreciate my writings. There's no doubt one enthralled with my travel accounts would notice my love for travel and to discover new extraordinary things, foods, places, animals, culture, history, places and people.
We might have been gone to the same places but we may end up with different opinion. Traveling around is not just about seeing the beautiful world God provided us but to enjoy it, to explore it and continually expand our experiences and how we touch other people's lives, especially our loved ones, when see places. Writing my accounts is not just about crowing about the unique and beautiful places I’ve been to but also to make my readers know that there is more than the beauty of these things, people and places. Earth is our planet and our big playground!
My adventuress eyes give me never-ending reasons to explore the delightful world. Each experience gives me an amazing encounter with the nature that each awe-inspiring place I’ve been to leaves me in venture to seek another spot like it and discover its own uniqueness to behold, promising different joy to indulge in.
The steep and risky way paths up the mountains during my teenage life didn’t prevent me from climbing and reaching the peak. I spent numerous mountainside travels during my school vacations. I love jazzing around, from place to place. Grabbing every opportunity when low-budget expedition comes my way, I was able to reach different places and discover their simple or complex beauty which sometimes even appear to be dangerous to people. And each escapade has been and is truly a meaningful one, always different from the other.
All of us are born adventurers. For our life itself is a never ending lesson and experience and adventure. Each one of us faces day-to-day obstacles in life. Confronting new challenges, searching for new opportunity, testing and processing our ability or knowledge to discover our own unique potential is exercising our adventurism or being adventurous.
Do you remember the first time you recited the whole alphabet? Do you recall the feelings of having done a remarkable thing to yourself? For three or four years old kids, it takes time and it's hard to memorize them all. A lot of memory exercising and reciting were spent but giving up wasn’t our option that time. We already know we have done something remarkable when we first recited the whole alphabet seeing our parents loudly clapping at us and saying worthy praises at us. With the astounding discovery of new joy that made us overwhelmed and proud at the very young age, we euphorically began reciting the whole alphabet more than ten times a day!
Making each gallivanting significant depends on the heart of an adventurer. Some enjoy the risky venture or in search for one, others relinquish a position of watching delightfully or sightseeing, many enjoy curiously study of many things and places, and many activities entail a full life of traveling. Others possess all the characteristics of every adventurer but the solidarity of all is their quest for more in life…
Like for instance, Ferdinand Magellan is famous for his great exploration, Casanova is noted for his amorous adventures and for being a philanderer and Neil Armstrong was a naval aviator who became the first man to touch the moon’s surface. They have different kinds of adventure but in commonality were their pursuit to quench their thirst for knowledge in their curiosity about life, hence, every find calls for a search for more, and more. They put their lives at risk in pursuit of a remarkable life and to satisfy their cleverness.
The lust of learning, the thirst of knowledge, playful mind of imagination, and the worth of every dream will take you to a great adventure - the adventure of life in the beautiful planet we live in and the great universe around us.
So, go for broke!
For comments, gagabytes@gmail.com .
Many read my column about my travel adventures. You have to know me and the places I’ve been to or of some activities I have been involved in to better appreciate my writings. There's no doubt one enthralled with my travel accounts would notice my love for travel and to discover new extraordinary things, foods, places, animals, culture, history, places and people.
We might have been gone to the same places but we may end up with different opinion. Traveling around is not just about seeing the beautiful world God provided us but to enjoy it, to explore it and continually expand our experiences and how we touch other people's lives, especially our loved ones, when see places. Writing my accounts is not just about crowing about the unique and beautiful places I’ve been to but also to make my readers know that there is more than the beauty of these things, people and places. Earth is our planet and our big playground!
My adventuress eyes give me never-ending reasons to explore the delightful world. Each experience gives me an amazing encounter with the nature that each awe-inspiring place I’ve been to leaves me in venture to seek another spot like it and discover its own uniqueness to behold, promising different joy to indulge in.
The steep and risky way paths up the mountains during my teenage life didn’t prevent me from climbing and reaching the peak. I spent numerous mountainside travels during my school vacations. I love jazzing around, from place to place. Grabbing every opportunity when low-budget expedition comes my way, I was able to reach different places and discover their simple or complex beauty which sometimes even appear to be dangerous to people. And each escapade has been and is truly a meaningful one, always different from the other.
All of us are born adventurers. For our life itself is a never ending lesson and experience and adventure. Each one of us faces day-to-day obstacles in life. Confronting new challenges, searching for new opportunity, testing and processing our ability or knowledge to discover our own unique potential is exercising our adventurism or being adventurous.
Do you remember the first time you recited the whole alphabet? Do you recall the feelings of having done a remarkable thing to yourself? For three or four years old kids, it takes time and it's hard to memorize them all. A lot of memory exercising and reciting were spent but giving up wasn’t our option that time. We already know we have done something remarkable when we first recited the whole alphabet seeing our parents loudly clapping at us and saying worthy praises at us. With the astounding discovery of new joy that made us overwhelmed and proud at the very young age, we euphorically began reciting the whole alphabet more than ten times a day!
Making each gallivanting significant depends on the heart of an adventurer. Some enjoy the risky venture or in search for one, others relinquish a position of watching delightfully or sightseeing, many enjoy curiously study of many things and places, and many activities entail a full life of traveling. Others possess all the characteristics of every adventurer but the solidarity of all is their quest for more in life…
Like for instance, Ferdinand Magellan is famous for his great exploration, Casanova is noted for his amorous adventures and for being a philanderer and Neil Armstrong was a naval aviator who became the first man to touch the moon’s surface. They have different kinds of adventure but in commonality were their pursuit to quench their thirst for knowledge in their curiosity about life, hence, every find calls for a search for more, and more. They put their lives at risk in pursuit of a remarkable life and to satisfy their cleverness.
The lust of learning, the thirst of knowledge, playful mind of imagination, and the worth of every dream will take you to a great adventure - the adventure of life in the beautiful planet we live in and the great universe around us.
So, go for broke!
For comments, gagabytes@gmail.com .
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