i heart manila: December 2008

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

goodbye 2008

2008 has been a good year and it felt that time just flew by, here's hoping that 2009 will be a better year. may your new year be filled with happiness and luck. Have a happy new year everyone! thank you all for staying with me in my journeys within manila and beyond.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

manila ocean park - fish spa

Manila Ocean Park's Fish Spa! my favorite activity at the Oceanarium :) i sooo love it! The moment your feet touch water the fish immediately swarm your feet and start nibbling LOL and it is ticklish at first but it is so relaxing. yep my dear Chuva, you should try this fish spa, told you i'll check out and look for this gararuffa thingy when i read your post! :D

I really really love this Doctor Fish or Nibble Fish at the fish spa. According to the posters at the Fish Spa, this fish species are found in the river basins of China, Turkey, and the Middle East. Back in 1917, an unknown shepherd dipped his wounded leg into the water with these little fish measuring a little less than four inches and nibbled off the dead skin from the wound, and miraculously the wound healed!

This doctor fish consume dead skin cells directly off the bodies of people, leaving the healthy skin to grow, revelaing smoother skin. The process is not harmful or painful, but ticklish :) Hope you try this if you visit the Manila Ocean Park :)

Entrance to the Fish Spa is 120 pesos per person but Manila Ocean Park have an ongoing Christmas Promo wherein you only pay 500 pesos/person and that would already include the entrance to the Oceanarium, Fish Spa, and the Glass Bottom Boat Ride. I suggest you avail of this special promo cause you'll get to save few pesos.

Manila Ocean Park pictures:
manila ocean park facts and admission rate
manila ocean park - agos
manila ocean park - bahura fish pictures
manila ocean park - laot
manila ocean park - buhay na karagatan
manila ocean park - fish feeding
manila ocean park - ang kalaliman
manila ocean park - pagi
manila ocean park - pating
manila ocean park activity center
manila ocean park restaurant
manila ocean park - glass bottom boat ride
manila ocean park - fish spa

manila ocean park - glass bottom boat ride

The Manila Ocean Park's glass bottom boat ride. a small boat with a glass bottom to see the acquarium/ocenarium below with a guide . a short trip on the small lake/lagoon is 150 pesos per person. check out the boat Manila Ocean Park christmas promo for discounts.

a look below the glass bottom, according to the guide this particular fish is aggressive and is not afraid of people, and is excited for food, soo excited that one of their divers almost lost a finger during feeding time =)

Monday, December 29, 2008

manila ocean park restaurant

Manila Ocena Park is fun but you tend to get hungry after a while, and its too bad you cant munch while you're walking nside, yep food is not allowed inside the Manila Ocean park but they do have restaurant and some snack bar where you have your fill.

One restaurant inside the Manila Ocean park is Ozeano and they are just too expensive for me. I dont want to rant in this blog but this restaurant is really an overkill, they do have a nice set up and ambiance but that's just it. They are selling expensive food (that's ok i understand since they're inside the park) but the least they could do is serve good food right? But i am telling you, the stuff that we ordered are not something to rave about.

Oceano fusion restaurant have an "eat all you can" lunch/dinner set up priced at 595 for adults and 295 for kids. The food, especially the dessert looks good but since I visited the park with kids who are impatient and who are picky with food trying the buffet is not a sound idea so we ordered a'la carte.

Whenever my nephews eat out they only want chicken and fries, so the chicken i ordered for them was two grilled leg of chicken fillet with mixed greens priced at 180 pesos each. and suffice to say that my nephews dont eat veggies and when i tasted their grilled chicken i'm surprised that they were able to eat it and not complained (maybe becuase they were starving already and the order arrived after 20minutes)

i asked the waiter what is their best seller and he told me that its seared salmon fillet with lemon sauce and tournee of vegetables priced at 290 pesos, so i ordered that one and another disappointment! the serving is big but i didnt finished the whole lot because it taste sooo bland. so much for expecting too much.

my brother ordered boneless chicken inasal and needless to say it was another disaster and the price is like 250pesos. i would choose bacolod inasal over this crap anytime of the day.

i dunno if the 20minute preparation they had is not enough for them to cook up something delicious but i am really really disappointed! I mean its ok to charge a bit higher as long as the food you're going to serve is delicious! i'll understand the price. oh well sorry for ranting in this blog, i was thinking of posting this in my personal blog but i dont have much time right now. so for you guys who plan to visit the Manila Ocean park, make sure that you're full already before going inside and just try to eat once you're done site-seeing, there are lots of restaurant to choose from outside.

Manila Ocean Park pictures:
manila ocean park facts and admission rate
manila ocean park - agos
manila ocean park - bahura fish pictures
manila ocean park - laot
manila ocean park - buhay na karagatan
manila ocean park - fish feeding
manila ocean park - ang kalaliman
manila ocean park - pagi
manila ocean park - pating
manila ocean park activity center
manila ocean park restaurant
manila ocean park - glass bottom boat ride
manila ocean park - fish spa

manila ocean park activity center

The Manila Ocean park activity center is located at the second floor. at the center is this huge shark like table wherein kids and young at heart can drwa or trace some images using paper and crayons, but you have to pay 20 pesos for 2 pieces of A3 sized paper but its ok and it was fun actually :)

from there you could also have an access to the shark viewing area and sting rays as well. There is also the fish spa (i'll blog about this soon, my favorite activity at the park actually hehehehe) and also the entrance to the boat ride is from here as well.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

recycled again

Yesterday i posted about these christmas trees made of recycled newspapers, here are some of the entries, also some detailed photos of the other entries, i am telling you those guys are really really creative.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

recycled

I was out shopping today and found intereseting christmas trees lined up at The Block in SM North EDSA, and they are not your ordinary christmas trees - they are recycled, made of old newspapers (Manila Bulletin to be exact, i guess they held a christmas tree making contest) and this is the grand winner.

No doubt that this christmas tree should get the first prize, if you look closer at the tree itself you would know how detailed it is and wonder how long it took the maker to finish this tree. I tried finding stuff or information about the said contest but cant find one and seems manila bulletin's website is down as well. Anyways congratualtions to whoever created this piece. And to my readers who woill be visiting SM North EDSA, go visit the Block and check out those cool trees out there.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

maligayang pasko

MALIGAYANG PASKO SA INYONG LAHAT!!!

Photo taken at the San Agustin Church, a pinoy version of the nativitiy scene. i alos liked the christmas tree made of indegenous materials. see the bao and the pamaypays :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

bibingka

Christmas and Simbang Gabi is almost synonymous with Bibingka, for Filipinos it's like christmas isnt the same if you dont see bibingka vendors outside the church, or at least eat one after simbang gabi.

Bibingka is made of flour and slowly cook on live charcoal. yeah that is the traditional way of cooking bibingka, it doesnt taste the same if it is cooked in the oven! :)

Once cooked you just spread the top a bit of margarine and sprinkle some sugar. Special bibingka would also have cheese and itlog na maalat. Yummy!

Bibingka is usually served with niyog or grated coconut on top and best eaten with tsaa or tea as beverage. Enjoy your bibingka!!!

Anyways i bought this bibingka at Tayuman, Felymar's is the name of the store and very near the Tayuman LRT station... actually they sell bibingka all year long :) prices of special bibingka is 35 pesos, additional toppings: cheese - 5pesos and salted egg - 5pesos

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

taho sa gabi

i just wanted to show you this beautiful arch of the Manila Cathedral aglow, i've posted the door here before. so nice to see the manila cathedral well lit up this christmas in time for the simbang gabi.

anyways here's a taho vendor in front of the manila cathedral, yum yum yum

Monday, December 22, 2008

simbang gabi

Simbang Gabi at the Manila Cathedral

SIMBANG GABI is one of the longest and most popular among the Filipino traditions in the country. It is when Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi mass.

Simbang Gabi or Mass at Dawn is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. The novena begins December 16 as early as 4 in the morning and culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. In some churches, the panuluyan is reenacted showing the effort of Joseph and Mary to find a suitable birthplace.

Simbang Gabi traces its roots in Mexico when, in 1587, the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas mass outdoors because the Church could not accommodate the huge number of people attending the evening mass.

During the old times, the pre-dawn mass is announced by the ringing of the church bells. In some rural areas, an hour before the start of Simbang Gabi, a brass band plays Christmas music all over the town. It is also believed that parish priests would go far knocking on doors to wake and gather the faithful to attend the misa de gallo. Farmers as well as fishermen wake up early to hear the Gospel before going to their work and ask for the grace of good harvest.

The changing of times does not break the preservation of celebrating Simbang Gabi although it is celebrated in new ways. Still, the tradition of Simbang Gabi continues. Part of it are the colorful lights and lanterns that fill every streets. Beautiful parols are hung in every window. Songs of the season are played everywhere to warm the hearts. Families, friends and even individuals find its way going to the nearest church to attend the nine-day novena. Shortly after the misa de gallo, families gather in their homes to celebrate Noche Buena and feasted on various delicacies like queso de bola, bibingka, puto bungbong, or a drink of salabat or hot chocolate.

According to some, if you have completed the nine day mass your wish will be granted or fulfilled, i wouldn't know if that is true or not cause i haven't completed any simbang gabi in my entire life. but it doesnt matter i already feel blessed. may all your holiday dreams come true, here's wishing you an early Merry Christmas!

The schedule of Simbang Gabi at the Manila Cathedral is every 4:30 in the morning and another mass is held at 8:30 in the evening.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

manila ocean park - pating

Manila Ocean Park - Pating(Shark) - The Philippines is home to several species of shark. Come fact-to-face with the wonderful, often misunderstood, predators of the sea – only here at the Manila Ocean Park

manila ocean park - pagi

Manila Ocean Park - Pagi (Sting Ray) - variety of rays fly over while you're under this unique Overhang Tank.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

manila ocean park - ang kalaliman

Manila Ocean Park - Ang Kalaliman (The Deep) - showcases marine animals found in the deepest parts of Philippine waters, but we just found this fascinating sting rays that swim like a bird, i mean they flap their body like how birds fly.

Manila Ocean Park pictures:
manila ocean park facts and admission rate
manila ocean park - agos
manila ocean park - bahura fish pictures
manila ocean park - laot
manila ocean park - buhay na karagatan
manila ocean park - fish feeding
manila ocean park - ang kalaliman
manila ocean park - pagi
manila ocean park - pating
manila ocean park activity center
manila ocean park restaurant
manila ocean park - glass bottom boat ride
manila ocean park - fish spa

Friday, December 19, 2008

manila ocean park - fish feeding

Yeah we were lucky to see fish feeding time at the Manila Ocean Park when we visited the oceanarium. Oh no this diver in the photo is not the fish meal hehehe

The diver was carrying a net bag full of dead galunggong fish for the fish lunch time. The schedule of fish feeding at the Manila Ocean Park is every 11 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. So if you're planning to visit make and see fish feeding visit the Manila Ocean Park at the above stated time.

it was fun and scary to watch the diver feed the fishes. all the sting rays, big and small fishes immediately swarmed him, the sting rays even spooned the diver! LOL and it was fun to see the sting rays being hand fed, yep the diver literally feed the sting rays like a baby :)

and even the shark gets to close to the diver, but we're told that this shark is not dangerous at all :)

please watch the video below to see fish feeding in action

Thursday, December 18, 2008

manila ocean park - buhay na karagatan

Manila Ocean Park - Buhay na Karagatan (Living Ocean)

Experience a slice of ocean life! Enjoy a breathtaking 25-meter walk along an underwater tunnel and experience how marine animals interact with each other in their natural habitat. This main feature of the Manila Ocean Park - Oceanarium provides an unmatched and truly awesome encounter with the rich underwater world. Needless to say that this is the main attraction of the oceanarium... 25-meter long walkway tunnel with 220-degree curved acrylic walls

its really fun inside the tunnel, you'll be really wowed and get amazed at these wonderful sea creatures and feels like you're walking under the ocean.

its great to watch the big shark and sting rays swim by over your head but its kinda frustrating to capture them in pictures! they swim so fast and i was like can you please stop by and have your photo taken LOL

sharks smile still imprinted in my mind :)

manila ocean park - laot

Manila Ocean Park - Laot (Fishing Ground) – features big fish in four big long tanks.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

manila ocean park - bahura fish pictures

Manila Ocean Park - Bahura(Reef)

***warning this post contains lots of fish pictures that you will see at the Manila Ocean Park - loading of page may be slow***

The Philippines is home to a vast number of coral life forms. Bahura is a series of 46 tanks that feature the very colorful Philippine underwater rainforest. The collection of fishes in the Bahura section is fascinating and i was enchanted in the corals in each aquarium but later found out that all the corals here in the Manila Ocean Park are artificial, yep they are made of fiber glass according to the glass bottom boatman. well they made the corals look so real!

anyways here are more fish photos... hope you enjoy these colorful creatures :)

can remeber what this rock looking fish is called but the yellow one at the blue wall is the frog fish, notice its "frog feet" clasping the blue wall?