Tallulah's Field Trip

09/30/2010. This was Tallulah's second time in Manila Ocean Park (the first time was in 2008). I was one of the parent volunteer escorts and during the briefing, we were told that each parent will be assigned to watch over two kids. I was given only one kid to take care of, Tallulah - I still wonder why :D

Tallulah with some of her schoolmates.

Here are my fishy-fishy shots! :D

Playtime!

ActiveFun

Hobbies Concept Mall

Macapagal Ave., Pasay City

Pirates, Mermaids, and Musical Treasures

We watched Pirates, Mermaids, and Musical Treasures yesterday at the CCP, and the kids enjoyed one of the pre-concert activities - trick or treat! :D We arrived late and so we decided not to let the girls wear their costumes anymore. The concert was okay - Sofia, at times, was participating, while Tallulah got bored (well, that's Tallulah :D) and tried to walk down the theatre aisle several times (poor me :D). Here are some photos I took during the concert:

By the way, when we were choosing and buying their costumes last week, I asked Tallulah if she'd like a penguin costume since the theme was 'under the sea' and I thought and conviced her that she'd look cute in it, she hysterically told me, "Nooooo! They will laugh at me!" :D

Happy Halloween! :)

sa Zoo..

Parents out there, if you're on a budget, here's one place where you can bring your kids without shelling out so much cash: Manila Zoo! Yup, it's still operating and yes, the elephant is still there! My kids were wide-eyed with amazement when they saw the elephant and the tigers!:D Entrance fee is PhP40 each (adults and kids above 3ft).

..and for another PhP40 entrance fee each, you can also visit Kinder Zoo which is located inside Manila Zoo. There, you can actually let your kids touch, feel, carry, or as you can see in the picture below, sit on the animals, with the supervision of some zoo staff, of course.

For days, the girls bragged with their cousins about how they sat on the tortoise, carried the baby gibbon (monkey), and that they didn't get scared of the baby crocodile and the ostrich. Now, they're planning to go back and bring their cousins to the zoo. For PhP80 each, I think that can be arranged. :)

Ark Avilon Zoo

Ark Avilon Zoo in Frontera Verde, Pasig City, is a super mini version of Avilon Zoo in Montalban, Rizal. The structure was built like an 'ark,' which is kind of cute, hence, the name Ark Avilon. Entrance fee is PhP200, syempre, magrereklamo na naman ako, hehe.., mahal! Why? Because there were, I think, only about a dozen animals on display. Okay, I am exaggerating pero konti lang talaga! I suggest you visit instead Avilon Zoo in Montalban because it is a lot bigger and it offers a larger variety of animals for (also) only PhP200 or so entrance fee.

Of course, the kids, especially the little ones, will enjoy every nook of the place. They are not the ones paying the entrance fees, so why should they make a fuss about it? Hehe. My kids enjoyed the feeding area where, for PhP10, your child will be given a carrot to feed the rabbits or a bag of chickenfeeds to feed the...well, chickens, you choose. Every hour, there is an animal show - like when we visited the place, they let out a chimpanzee and a hairy dog (i don't know the breed) - and the kids/parents may pose for photos with the animals, sometimes with an extra charge or for free. There is also a mini playground where the kids can play around while their parents wonder if they got their money's worth! I hope they make places like these worth visiting for the parents as well, because we are the ones shelling out the cash!

In fairness, the place is clean. The ambience is great. The restaurant inside, however, has not much to offer, or maybe, we were just to early, but still...Oh well, more photos here! :)

Kidz Republic

2nd floor, SM Mall of Asia

This is one of my kids’ favorite places to visit! Fees are PhP150 or PhP170 per kid for an hour (sorry, I really can’t remember, I had epidural twice!), PhP60 for every half-hour extension, and PhP70 for each adult companion of kids less than 3 feet. The children and the guardians get photographed in the registration area for security measures, which I think, is very important.

The place is colorful and big compared to other ‘playhouses’ we’ve visited and hence, will surely tire those super hyperactive kids out in an hour if you’re lucky, otherwise, you might find yourself paying for half-hour or so extension! The play area has tunnels, ball pit, slides, trampoline, etc. There are a few staff scattered around to assist unaccompanied children, especially in the big slides and trampoline which could be dangerous for little kids. I just hope they always clean and disinfect the place and all the toys there because when I tried to squeeze myself in one tunnel, I felt some kids’ sweat! The best time to bring the kids there is in the morning or as soon as it opens because the place gets filled with little rascals by noontime.

There is a restroom inside so you wouldn’t have to go out if nature calls, and a refreshment store when the kids get tired and thirsty. I just have one warning though for the adult companions, never ever try the slides because you wouldn’t be able to describe the feeling and your position the moment you hit the floor – talk about gravity, leave it to the li’l kids, trust me! :P

Oceanarium

Two weeks ago, we went to the Manila Ocean Park. The Oceanarium is not as big as I imagined. The self-guided tour would take about less than two (2) hours, chikahan and picture-taking included, and before you know it, you're already heading towards the EXIT door! Yup, bitin! For PhP400, I think it’s too much.

Flash photography is not allowed inside the oceanarium because it scares the fish daw. But I heard in Sentosa (Singapore), it’s okay to use flash! So, ano ba talaga?! Baka matapang yung mga fish dun, nyahaha! But as we all are famous for camwhoring, everybody kept clicking those shutter buttons away, others forgetting to turn off their cameras' flashes or makukulit lang talaga ang mga lahi! There is not enough light inside the oceanarium, so set those cameras to their highest ISO setting and use your widest aperture opening. Here are some photos I managed to take inside the oceanarium. The kids, of course, had so much fun!

There is an activity center at the second floor, including a fish spa (whatever that is). The entire park is not yet finished. There are ongoing construction and renovation here and there. Basta, everything is not yet in order.

By the way, don’t go there on a Sunday, the place can get pretty crowded, especially inside the 'tunnel', everybody seemed to want to stay there forever! For me, it's the best part of the oceanarium. And the sea creatures are just so amazing! - of course, courtesy of the greatest Artist of all time!