Whenever I take out the twins, it’s always fun, double fun! The twins are Christa and Rachel, born seconds apart, some nineteen years ago.


It was one of those days you just have to go out and do something, see something. So we first went for lunch on the old pantalan, now called Harbor View at  the north corner of the Luneta grandstand. There used to be an older restaurant there, the Pantalan, but it has been closed for repairs almost three years now. The newer restaurant is actually built on a pantalan or pier floating in the water and moored to the seawall where the reception, restrooms and kitchen are located. A favorite dish is boiled shrimps dipped in suka anghang, though some prefer mayonnaise. This is a nice starter, but it can also be a meal. Then there’s laing, lumpia shangai, camaron rebosado, grilled liempo and special seafood fried rice.

From this pantalan, you have a marvelous view of Manila Bay, especially at high tide (less smelly!). For the big ships, lightened by the unloading of their cargo, seem to be barely floating on the water.  And little bankas ply in between.


Despite the pollution of Manila Bay, the pantalan is still alive with birds of prey, seagulls of course, but also several other species of cranes and fishing birds. For the twins it was fun checking them out and trying to photograph them. Rachel was smart and set her celphone to video, anyway, they’re all moving!
Ocean Park is very expensive, even for Manila middle classers. If you realize that there is a main event and four or five side shows, and there are promos, then it’s more bearable. So what we did was choose the main event, the oceanarium, and combine it with the sea lions and the jelly fish, thus paying 500 php ($12) instead of 700php ($16); but no discount cards allowed for this promo! Otherwise, one could choose only the oceanarium for 400 pesos ($9.20) and there might be a discount allowed.


So to the sea lions. This was truly enjoyable, but when one realizes that sea lions are hydro-dynamic, and pretty goofy on land, it would have been preferable to see more performances and tricks in the water than on the dry deck.


Children really scream when they see the sea lions jumping out of the water and diving in again, and when they balance balls on the tips of their nose and toss them to each other. They did this, but it was a minimal part of the show. Improving their water performance would quickly make this a main event!
The Oceanarium itself is composed of several large galleries of giant fish tanks with glassed tunnels leading in and out, as if you are inside the fish tank. The collection of fish has greatly increased since I first reported on Ocean Park. The displays are artfully presented.
 


The large tanks hold various bigger fish like giant grouper, several species of sharks, sting rays, eels.


Jumping in between tanks and tunnels, we had to climb up and cross a wooden walkway, but when we looked down, there to our surprise was a two plus meter alligator, asleep. But we could imagine his beautiful set of teeth!
 


An unexpected highlight was the jellyfish concert. Strange combination! This was a set of aquaria containing jellyfish of several transparent varieties and displayed in changing lights and accompanied by selected music.
 


It was a fascinating exhibit to photograph, and the jellyfish always kept moving to defy your  aim and focus. Nonetheless, some successful shots give you a good idea of this musical light display of the common jellyfish.
 




Altogether, Ocean Park is a fascinating visit, but for the time being and for most people, it is expensive, but it remains a very special treat!
 

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine