After mass and lunch, Michelle, Jeanne, and I went to the Ark of Avilon Mini-Zoo. It’s a “branch” of Avilon Zoo. It’s way smaller than its parent but it’s also way more accessible. And most importantly, Jeanne (and Michelle judging by the photos) had way more than mini-fun!
Les, Nino, and I went to Club Manila East for some surfing lessons and practice. It was a blast! The constant and consistent waves of the wave pool were really helpful in getting the basics down pat. The foam boards we’re supposed to be no-brainers but I managed to wipe out quite a few times. Still, I progressed quite significantly. For starters, I was able to pop up. Then I was able to ride the board all the way to the “shore” more than a few times. Maybe a visit or two more and we can then visit Zambales and, eventually, La Union!
My parents, James, Jack, Michelle, Jeanne, and I went to Corregidor Island. For those who are not into history, Corregidor aka The Rock, is an island on the mouth of Manila Bay. From this strategic location, it controls access to one of the best natural harbors in the world. Little wonder why the Spanish, the Americans, and even the Japanese fortified and garrisoned it. But it was the fierce fighting there between the Americans and Japanese during World War II when it earned its legendary status.
Corregidor is actually one of the more easily accessible tourist spots. A ferry goes there from a terminal at the CCP Complex every day 8AM and back again at 3:45PM. There’s a day trip and an overnight trip.
Activities for the day trip includes a guided tour on board small tour buses made to look somewhat like pre-war trams, across the island’s many monuments and gun batteries. There’s also an optional Malinta Tunnel light and sound show. Malinta Tunnel is actually not just a tunnel but the access point to a sprawling complex of tunnels which was the headquarters of the US and Filipino defenders during World War II. Although you only get to see the main tunnel for the show, since you’re already there, might as well go for it.
For those staying overnight, you can stay at the Corregidor Inn or camp out at the camping area. We stayed at the Inn which is quite small. It has a distinct feel: quaint, pre-war, antiquated, haunted even. Five-stars it is not, but it’s reasonably clean, reasonably well-maintained, reasonably priced, and most importantly, the staff is excellent.
There are other activities such as a night tour of Malinta Tunnel complex, hiking, biking, fishing, ziplining, swimming at the hotel pool or on the waters of Manila Bay (if you’re willing to risk the mutation of your progeny), and even rock balancing (if you’re really bored).
But the best thing is the solitude and closeness to nature of the island. There are no permanent settlements or residents. The only motorized vehicles are the touring trams and one or two hotel service vehicle. Once the day tourists are gone, especially on the off-peak days, you are pretty much alone with the staff and a handful of hotel guests. Considering the closeness to Metro Manila, that’s remarkable.
It seems the provincial government of Batangas has approved putting up a huge sign a la Hollywood on Taal. Apparently they’re unhappy the scenic volcano being mistaken as part of Tagaytay (which is in the province of Cavite) since that’s where people usually go to view it. While at it they should tattoo “Batangas” on their foreheads so nobody will mistake them to be from anywhere else!
Michelle had to have her bridesmaids(?) gown for Khae’s wedding fitted so we had to head over to Angeles in the middle of Quiel’s wrath. Fortunately, for us anyway, the typhoon is a bit up there in the north so there wasn’t too much happening down south. Still, the rains have been going on since Pedring a week back and there’s quite a lot of flooding. Exactly how much, we saw when we passed the Central Luzon plains area, specifically the Candaba area which is known for its swamp so the area is really low-lying and prone to flooding.