To show children how beautiful the ocean is on the underneath, and to teach them about the richness of life in the often inaccessible depths, take them scuba diving. What? It would be great if that were possible; but if not, the next best thing to scuba diving would be to take the children to Manila Ocean Park.
1. It’s the nearest (of course, I have assumed you’re from around Manila). Travel time and travel cost is not a hurdle.
2. It’s aptly-sized: not too big. There are “ocean parks” which you can’t enjoy in just a day. In those parks, if you want to see most of the “must-sees” in a day, you have to rush; and rushing and panicking not to miss anything, is not fun at all. It’s tiring, stressful, and potentially disappointing. “Why do you need to see it in a day, anyway?”, you might ask. In the most common tours abroad, you have only 3 or 4 days to see the major tourism highlights (it depends on your tour package and budget). You have to set some time for the other “must-see” destinations.
3. It has the best sunset. Cliché and biased? Arguable. I’d always argue for our very own, the Manila Bay sunset.
4. It has a mermaid show. I’m not sure, if the other parks already have one as well. I didn’t see one. It has music, narration, underwater choreography and water acrobatics, colorful costumes (only, of course), and admirably well-trained aquatic ballerinas. Amazing how they’re able to smile to entertain; do somersaults and hold in oxygen for so long a time. I hope they keep this in the program.
5. It has Makansutra Asian food court by renowned Singaporean celebrity chef, writer and TV cook show host, KF Seetoh. It is a one-stop Asian “culinary tour.”
6. It has an Asian Food Museum.It’s to open soon. Watch out for it.
7. It has a must-experience foot spa --- done for you by a school of FISH! Imagine dozens of small fish nibbling at your feet. It had us laughing as it was, especially initially, ticklish. One gets used to it in a minute. It’s fun, so have someone with you to chuckle with.
8. It educates children on nature, water and energy conservation.
9. It has a good place where they sells souvenirs -- pasalubong!
10. It is a “treat” even a big family or barkada can enjoy. You can’t take everyone with you on a foreign tour. Well, a few of us can; but for the majority of us, since this is near and affordably priced, we can share the fun with more of our loved ones.
It’s a Pinoy Green Academy-recommended Green Kids’ Treat Read the original blog here http://pinoygreenacademy.typepad.com/pinoy_green_academy/2009/09/top-10-reasons-to-go-to-manila-ocean-park.html#more
