Pampanga Adventure Weekend

June 12-13, 2015. We took advantage of the long weekend to visit Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga. What used to be a haven for PX stores is now gaining popularity for its family-friendly adventure parks. Just perfect for a weekend getaway.

Here are the list of activities adults and kids alike will surely enjoy:

1. Play at Sandbox

Outdoor adventure park

Sandbox is located in Porac, Pampanga, just a quick drive if you're coming from Clark. It's an outdoor adventure park that features a zipline, a giant swing, a rope course, a wall climbing/rappelling tower, ATV rides and a whole lot more activities.

You have an option to get a package or just pick individual activities. Entrance fee is required for everyone entering the property. Since we only want to try three activities, we decided to just pay for the entrance and each individual activity. This way, it comes out cheaper.

Individual tickets for each activity.

First on our list was the Giant Swing. It looks easy from the ground but once you're strapped and you feel them pulling you 10 meters above the ground -- you'll feel the butterflies in your stomach flutter like crazy. Then wait until they slingshot you into the air and you'll feel all your insides start to curdle. My eyes were closed for most of the ride and I was definitely screaming the whole time (which was a little embarrassing as everyone can literally hear me). My son on the other hand was enjoying the whole time and actually wanted to ride again.

Literally -- a giant swing.

Up, up in the air.

My eyes were open -- at some point.

Next was the Avatar One. This is actually just my second time to try a zipline. The course was not that high but the dips and turns definitely added zest to the ride. To my surprise and relief, this ride is more enjoyable than scary.

Preparing for the ride.

One of the many dips in the roller coaster zipline.

By the time we got to the Aerial Walk, the line was unbearably long and the temperature's becoming uncomfortably hot. We just decided to skip it and head to the hotel to check in.

Aerial Walk obstacle course.

The Tower of Terror  for rappelling, wall climbing and free fall drop.

Just a few notes to help you enjoy your day in Sandbox:

1. They open as early as 9:00am so beat the crowd and be there early! They impose an admission cut-off for each activity, for more information visit this link. During our visit, the Aerial walk tickets were already sold out by lunch time.

2. Go to the Aerial Walk first as it takes a while to complete. It's an obstacle course and you'll be depending heavily on people in front of you to finish it sooner rather than later. The course should take approximately 30mins to complete.

3. It is an outdoor park, so lather on sunblock, put on a cap, lace up your rubber shoes and wear comfortable clothes.

Fun in Sandbox

2. Plunge in Fontana Water Park

This is just the kids' second time in a water park. It's relatively small with only four major slides (with one of them not operational during our visit), a wave pool, a lazy river and a couple of play area for kids.

Welcome to Fontana Water Park

It's good enough though for an afternoon of splashing, dipping, jumping and lounging.

My son's top favorite is the wave pool. He made it his mission to reach the deepest part and touch the floaty. I, on the other hand, had a rough time, swallowed liters of pool water (gross, I know) and was mostly gasping for breath while miserably failing from syncing my jumps with the waves.

My daughter loved the bigger slides. They have the usual ones where you can use a floaty or slide directly.

Hubby and I tried the Big Horn twice. You use a floaty for two and you slip in a short slide that takes you on big side to side swings before you plunge in the pool below. It's actually a fun ride but kids are not allowed on it.

Wave pool

View from the lazy river

Chilling in the Lazy River

Big splash at the kiddie area

Enjoying the giant slides

You cannot bring food or drinks inside. The entrance fee includes a Php50 voucher which you can use to purchase food or drink inside the park.

They have free tables where you can put your stuff but you leave them at your own risk. They have cabanas for rent but they're not locked nor secured. You may opt to rent a locker for your valuables instead.

3. Try wakeboarding

Deca Wakeboard Park

This was a first for the kids and they loved it! It wasn't as easy as surfing because the boards were just too big for them to maneuver easily. They managed to (almost) reach the other end of the lake in the whole hour that we spent there and they were begging to come back for more.

For a fixed fee, we get to use a wakeboard and life vest for an hour and get lessons as well. Don't expect too much from the lessons though. It's just a one minute run-down of what you should do. Not much tips or whatever. It was basically, go and figure it out on your own. 

All set to try a new sport

Deca Wakeboard Park is just a short drive away from Clark. They have two lakes  /courses available -- one for beginners and one for trained riders. On a really busy day, the park gets really packed and the waiting time gets insanely long. It's best to schedule your trip on a weekday and come really early. 

4. Paintball battle

Right beside Holiday Inn Clark is a paintball arena. You need to call in advance to schedule and you may ask the front desk for assistance. 

Fee is Php500 for each participant and you'll be suited up for war and given 80 colored bullets. You may purchase more bullets if necessary. The length of the game depends on how trigger happy the participants are. Just a warning, you'll be given a helmet and body pads but note that it hurts (like hell) when you get hit. I was hit in the finger and it was swollen and bruised for days. I never imagined I was going to get a real battle scar from playing.

Surprisingly, we were able to play two rounds with a few bullets to spare for a target practice at the end. This despite the kids being trigger-happy players. My daughter was really good with her aim (she managed to hit me several times). Meanwhile, it took me the entire game to figure out how to aim on my targets. It's a little nerve wracking when you see the bullets fly and literally hear them whizzing in the air. I need to aim carefully for their body pads or I can seriously hurt the kids.

The war zone

Ready for war

5. Chill in the hotel pool

After a long and tiring day, lazing around in the pool while sipping a cold drink just sounds heavenly.

Sandbox

Alviera, Porac, Pampanga

Website: http://www.alviera.ph/sandbox
Mobile: +63936 988 6023

Fontana Water Park

CM Recto Highway,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
Website: http://fontana.com.ph
Tel: +63 45 599 5000
Mobile: +63917 553 7598

Deca Wakeboard Park Clark

Margot, Angeles City, Pampanga
Website: http://www.decawakeboardpark.com/index.html
Mobile: +63905 330 1013 / +63918 459 8488
Email: decawakeparks@outlook.com

Global Gutz Clark

Mimosa Leisure Estate
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
Mobile: +63916 488 7771

Holiday Inn Clark

Mimosa Leisure Estate
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
Website: http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/clark/clfrp/hoteldetail
Tel: +632 845 1888
Email: hircf@comclark.com

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Welcome to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Jan 31 2015. The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is located at the Tempozan Harbor Village and is one of the biggest public aquariums in the world. It's just a quick 15-minute ferry ride from Universal City Port via the Captain Line. The aquarium is very popular to two kinds of visitors: kids who are too young and too small for the rides in Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and the veterans who are too "senior" for the attractions in USJ. 

Joint ticket for the Ferry and Aquarium

We availed of the joint Kaiyukan and Captain Line (ferry boat) ticket from our hotel concierge. The ferry runs every 30 minutes and the terminal is a short 10-minute walk from our hotel in Universal CityWalk. Good thing the snow wasn't that strong that morning so it was a pleasant walk.

Universal City Port

On board the ferry

Like all transportations in Japan, the ferry was on time and we were well on our way to the Kaiyukan. 

Upon entry, you'll ride the escalator all the way up to the top and from there, you'll need to work your way down the Aquarium. 

On our way to to top

There are plenty of animals to see at the Aquarium -- from otters, to sea lions, to whale sharks, to manta rays to penguins. The kids had a fun time clicking away pictures of all the cute, creepy, massive and everything in between animals they see.

Adorable baby Rocker Penguin

Colorful ocean

Hello there Mr. Turtle

The last attraction is our favorite -- the touch pool! They have baby sharks and sting rays on a shallow pool and if you're up for it, you can dip your hand and touch them.

Touching the baby shark

Next on our itinerary is a ride at the Tempozan Ferris Wheel. This tourist attraction used to be the biggest and the tallest in the world, that is, until it was surpassed by the more massive London Eye. Just the same, it offers an amazing view of the city and it's an exhilarating 15-minute ride worth the price tag. At no additional cost, you may even opt for the all glass gondola. This we did not try, we were all scared enough as it is, having a glass floor would just probably cross  the line from fun and exhilarating to down-right freaky and scary. 

Each gondola is supervised by a sea-animal stuffed toy

View from the top

The Gray/Red/Blue Kaiyukan Building

Next on the list is the Tempozan Marketplace. It's just right beside the aquarium and there are plenty of stores and restaurants inside. Perfect way to cap our tiring and eventful day in Osaka.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward
Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 552-0022
Japan
Tel: +81 6 6576 5501
Fax: +81 6 6576 5510
Email: info2@kaiyukan.com
Website: http://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/index.html

South Korea - Trick Eye Museum

November 29, 2014. Welcome to the world of Trompe-l'oeil or Trick Eye! 

The Trick Eye Museum in the University-district of Hongdae is our first stop for this trip. We took the subway to Hongik University Station and asked our way around. Yes, we managed to find the place asking directions from people who hardly speak any English. Shows just how much helpful Koreans are (they'll literally go out of their way to help) and just how popular this attraction is.

The museum is located at the lower ground floor of the building, and on our way down, we saw The Love Museum. 

You've been warned!

It's strictly for 18 years old and above and given the poster at the entrance, I don't think it's an attraction you'd want to visit with your kids or your parents (check the info graphic!).

Now back to the family-friendly, General Patronage-rated Trick Eye Museum. It's basically a 3D art museum where using perspective, light and shadow tricks, you become part of the artwork. 

To maximize the illusion, it's better to shoot without a flash. Also, there are marked "Photo Lines" or "Photo Points" where you should take the pictures. Lastly, you have to work it like a pro! Acting skills are required to get the most out of the pictures.

Luckily, the kids are so game that we were able to take tons of photos, and we had so much fun doing our silly poses. 

This attraction is a definite must for families visiting Seoul. My kids had a blast and I love all the photos that we took. The fee though, is a little pricey but it covers entrance to both the Trick Eye Museum and the Ice Museum. Unfortunately, due to time constraint, we decided to skip the Ice Museum and head out to check the shops and restaurants in the area instead.

Don't forget to visit their website to get a discount voucher, or you can check tourist handbooks for discount coupons.

Trick Eye Museum

20 Hongik-ro-3-gil

Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-838 Korea

Phone: +82 2 3144 7748

Email: trickeye@trickeye.com

Website: www. trickeye.com

Japanese Visa Application

Time for another visa application run -- this time to Japan! 

I soooo love long holidays, but the long holiday this December (Christmas and New Year) and this January (Papal Visit) is sending me into panic mode! I need to renew our passports and apply for our visas and the very short working days are not making it any easier.

After our trip to Korea, I knew I have to have our passports renewed so it'll still be valid for a least six months when we go to Japan. The thing is, I forgot to schedule an appointment! So I was only able to get a December 22 schedule. Perfect as there's no more school so the kids need not be absent, but not so perfect because due to the long holiday, I will be getting our passports second week of January (and this is after paying a rush processing fee) and our trip is scheduled end of January!

Good thing the procedure in getting a Japanese visa is pretty much simple: submit your documents to an accredited agency and wait for their notice on when to collect your passport.

Unlike way, way, way back, where you can submit directly to the Japanese Embassy and do away with the fees, effective July 30 2007, you now have to submit them to an accredited travel agency and pay a processing fee. The Japanese Embassy does not meddle with the fees charged by each agency. So processing fee varies and it's better to scout around for a good rate. The processing fee is non-refundable should you change your mind after submitting the application or in the event you were not given a visa.

Click here for a complete list of accredited travel agencies.

Good news is that effective July 1 2013, the Japanese Embassy started issuing multiple-entry visas to Philippine-passport holders. And as of Sept 30 2014, conditions for giving multiple-entry visas will be more relaxed! I know we're still far from being included in the "no-visa" list, but a "relaxed" procedure is way better than nothing. 

Submission of documents. I decided to go with Discovery Tour as they have the cheapest fee at Php800 per person. I called up their office and they promptly emailed me the list of requirements:

1. Application Form. Download here.

2. Passport (valid for at least six months)

3. 2pcs 4.5cmx4.5cm colored photo (one to be pasted on the application form, and one to be submitted to the agency)

4. Original NSO certificate (issued within the last 12 months)

5. Original NSO marriage certificate (issued within the last 12 months)

6. Tour Itinerary ( Sample format here).

7. Original Bank Certificate

8. Photocopy of ITR

Yes, you need to submit a Birth Certificate regardless of what age you are. And yes, you are required to submit a Marriage Certificate even if your spouse is already deceased. If you're not sure if you're NSO certificate was issued within the time allowed, check the last 11 digit under the barcode of your certificate. It represents the month (2 digits), day (2 digits) and year (4 digits) when the certificate was issued. The last remaining digits, I'm not so sure what's it about. Haha!

As for the tour itinerary, you are required to indicate the address and contact number of the hotel where you'll be staying. There's no need to include a copy of your hotel booking though.

You are allowed to add more if you think it'll help your chances. Like in our case, since we have new passports, I included a photocopy of our visas and a summary of our travels.

Collection of passports. Luckily, the Japanese Embassy processes applications really quickly. Four working days after we submitted our application, I received a call that our passports are ready for pick-up. 

The quick turn-around time actually cuts the agony of waiting for the results. We usually breeze through the preparation of documents but the waiting game is the most stress-inducing. Especially for applications without appearance/interview since you will not be there to explain your case should there be any problem.

Finally got our visas (with only less than a week till our travel date!).

Discovery Tour

301 G/F Sagittarius Bldg. HV Dela Costa St.

Salcedo Village, Makati City

Tel: +63 2 8922849

Mobile: +63915 3200780

Email: japanvisamnl1@discoverytour.ph
Website: http://discoverytour.ph/japanvisa/single-or-multiple-207.html 

Japanese Embassy Manila

2627 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City

Tel: +63 2 5515710

Website: http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp

Korean Visa Application

It's been ages since we have to secure a visa for our travel and we have to go through the nerve-wracking ordeal again for our trip to Korea. We've been through a couple of visa applications already but it just never gets easy. 

The good news is, applying for a tourist Korean visa is absolutely free! Yes, no need to pay for any charges to schedule an appointment or pay any visa fee at the Embassy. I'm starting to love Korea already!

The procedure is fairly straightforward: prepare your documents, submit your documents at the Korean Embassy and collect your passport at the designated date.

Prepare your documents. Here's the list of documents you have to prepare (as of March 01, 2015): 

1. Passport (valid for at least 6 months from the date of application)

2. Application form. Download here.

3. 1 piece passport-size colored photo

4. Photocopy of passport's bio page

5. Original and photocopy of visa/s and arrival stamp/s to OECD countries for the past five years

6. For employed: 

• original Certificate of Employment (stating position, date hired, compensation, with landline contact number, address and email  of company) 
• original Bank Certificate (indicating account type, current balance, opening date and ADB for the past 6 months) 
• original Bank Statement or passbook for the past 6 months 
• photocopy of ITR

   For self-employed: 

• photocopy of DTI/SEC registration 
• photocopy of Mayor's Permit 
• original Bank Certificate (indicating account type, current balance, opening date and ADB for the past 6 months) 
• original Bank Statement or passbook for the past 6 months 
• photocopy of ITR

   For students: 

• original school certificate 
• photocopy of school ID 
• photocopy of NSO Birth Certificate 
• parent's financial documents

OECD countries include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Submission. Upon completion of the requirements, just submit them at the Embassy anytime from 9:00am to 11:00am Monday to Friday. No need to secure a schedule beforehand. Also, you do not have to personally submit the documents, you may ask a messenger to do it for you. But for first time travellers, it is strongly advised to submit it personally in case the Embassy has any questions regarding the documents.

In our case, I was the only one who went to the Embassy to submit our application. There will be someone who'll initially check your documents and then give you a number and assign you to which window/consul. As I understand, there's a separate window for first time travellers and for frequent travellers. 

You then wait for your number to be called. After handing your documents to the consul, you will be given a claim stub with a date on which you may claim your passport. Processing time is usually three working days and could extend to five working days or more. 

Collection of Passports. Releasing time is from 2:00pm to 4:00pm Monday to Friday. Again, you may just ask someone to claim them for you but it is strongly recommended that you claim them personally in case the consul has any questions. 

Please note that the parking in McKinley Hills is very far from the Embassy. Either bring a driver with you, or you can park at the Petron station right before the Embassy.

Please visit the Korean Embassy Manila's web page for updated guidelines and requirements in applying for a visa.

Korean Embassy Manila

122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

Website: http://embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr/english/as/embassy_philippines/main/index.jsp

Tel: +63 2 8569210

Email: philippines@mofa.go.kr