Eye in the Sky: Manila Ocean Park

Showing posts with label Manila Ocean Park. Show all posts

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Piranhas – Ferocious River Monsters, etc. at the KLCC Aquaria (Part 1)

KLCC Aquaria had become a goal. I have always wanted to check it out to compare it with similar places of its kind, especially with our Manila Ocean Park. So before flying back to Manila, I took the direct Pasar Seni train (the one near Central Market and Jalan Petaling) to KLCC. From there, it was a long walk amidst the alleys within the KLCC. It took me to the basement, then through the parking area. Finally, I saw the nondescript entrance of the KLCC Aquaria.

The Aquaria is an underwater park located beneath the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC). It houses over 250 different species of aquatic and land animals, spread across 60,000 square feet of dimly lit, albeit strategically planned galleries. Highlighting this visit are its two top attractions: 1) the 90-meter long underwater tunnel, which compared to its counterpart in Bangkok (Siam Ocean World) and Manila, has to be the longest in Asia; 2) the Piranha Feeding Show!

In this first parter, we feature the dreaded and vicious Piranhas! Piranhas belong to a group of freshwater fish that originate from the South American rivers, notoriously feared for their sharp teeth and voracious appetite for meat! Though aquarium-variety piranhas have been introduced in the U.S., most are found in the Brazilian basins, Venezuela, Guyana, and even in Asia - the Kaptai Lake in south-east Bangladesh!

Ferocious Reputation and Myths

As published at a New York Times article, Piranha has a reputation as a fearless fish who hunt their prey in ferocious packs. However, recent research, which "started off with the premise that they school as a means of cooperative hunting", discovered that they were in fact rather fearful fish, like other fish, who schooled for protection from their predators, such as cormorants, caimans and dolphins. Piranhas are "basically like regular fish with large teeth".

There are various myths about piranhas such as how they can dilacerate a human body or cattle in seconds. These myths refer specifically to Pygocentrus nattereri, the red piranha – the species showcased at the Aquaria. Another myth is that they can be attracted by blood and are exclusive carnivores. When hungry, they feed on their own kind; in fact, piranhas that get caught by fishing rods are attacked by their own! That’s how ridiculously nasty they are!

On point of comparison, the collection of animals spotlighted at the Aquaria doesn’t overshadow those eye-popping, more eccentric species found at the newer Manila Ocean Park, but in terms of area and presentation (Manila’s displays are a tad too tight and cramped together), MOP can learn a lesson or two on space allocation and presentation. The underground tunnel at the KLCC Aquaria is also longer by 60%; and Singapore’s Ocean Adventure’s underground tunnel is almost 4x longer!

In this 1^st part, we are featuring the piranhas and some of the other creepy crawlies.

Ready to gnaw! This photo only courtesy of wikipedia's alexdi.

Lethal dentition of a piranha. This photo only courtesy of wikipedia's sarefo.

Ordinary? Not so. This frog is as big as a watermelon!

Admission Price: 38 ringgit ($11.40 or PhP521) for adults – 13 years and older; 26 ringgit ($7.80/PhP367) for children and 18 ringgit for seniors. This rate is cheap compared to Bangkok’s 850 baht ($25 or PhP1,185); Manila Ocean Park’s entrance costs PhP400 ($8.70 or 287 baht) – the cheapest among the tree! Free entrance for children below 3 years old!

Opening Hours: 11AM-8PM daily; last ticket sold at 7PM. Kindly call (603) 2333-1888 in advance for convenience.

Visit their site for updates and more information: http://www.aquariaklcc.com/klaquaria/

For comparison, check out the following:

Siam Ocean World, Bangkok: http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2008/09/siam-ocean-world-wet-and-wild-in.html

Manila Ocean Park: http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2008/04/manila-ocean-park.html.

Check out Parts 2 to 4 of this series:

Part 2 - Tarantula, Butterflies, Eels and Horseshoe Crabs - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/01/klcc-aquaria-part-2-tarantulas.html

Part 3 – Sharks and the Underground Tunnel - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/01/klcc-aquaria-part-3-sharks-and.html

Part 4 - Moon Jellies and the Souvenir Shop - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/01/klcc-aquaria-part-4-moon-jellies-and.html

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Siam Ocean World - Wet and Wild in Bangkok

UNDERWATER GLORY

On my 5th time to visit Bangkok this year alone, I just wanted to chill and enjoy how Bangkok locals enjoy their city. There was a lot of walking involved, exploring the chaotic side streets filled with ramshackle stalls selling anything from buttons and pins to garments and souvenir items. Bangkok is a feast for the senses! I hopped from one mall to the next to scour through dvd shops. This time around, pirated discs were a no- no! Why bother? They cost almost as much as the original discs sold in legitimate Bangkok stores and then you’re not even sure of their quality.

NO FAN OF FISH

Last April, a good friend of mine treated me to an ocean rendezvous right in the confines of an Oceanarium. Though I have to admit that I am not a big fan of fishes ( I do not despise them but I would rather not spend my day fawning over them), my curiosity stoked my interest. There had been a lot of word about the Manila Ocean Park. So off I went. And fun I had! The beauty of some species – corals, alien-looking sea creatures, etc. – was just jaw-dropping! A tweety bird told me that a Singapore conglomerate is partly responsible for this Manila project, making maintenance more feasible. This prompted me to want to compare Thailand’s very own Siam Ocean World to Manila’s version! And in all my drop-bys in Siam, I have never set foot at the Ocean World. So, with no schedule to really follow, what the heck! I decided to shell out a few bucks – 750 baht or $21.95 – for a ticket! Compared to Manila’s ticket rate, Bangkok’s fees are more expensive – PhP1020.50. Manila’s entrance fee for adults is PhP400 – or just 294 baht - $8.60! The discrepancy is not minimal! Is Bangkok’s Ocean World really all that different from Manila’s Ocean Park?

COMPARATIVE OBSERVATION: BANGKOK vs. MANILA

In terms of area size, Bangkok is way roomier, the ceilings are higher. Manila tends to get too congested for comfort especially during weekends. At the dark room, if you stretch your arms, you might touch aquarium glasses at both hands! This isn’t the case in Siam Ocean World, which is a curiosity since if you really think about it, Bangkok’s version has a limited area. It is located at the basement floor (B1 Floor) – a car parking level – right below the main food court of Siam Paragon! Manila’s Ocean Park is housed at a spacious sprawl of a building facing the seas! Visit my post on the Manila Ocean Park for comparison - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2008/04/manila-ocean-park.html.

2.8 MILLION

In terms of species, the Manila version has more colorful and unique corals and sea anemones compared to Bangkok’s. The latter however has more diversity. The huge wall-to-wall concave Aquaria is bigger and walkway is longer! It is touted as Southeast Asia’s largest aquarium – containing 2.8 million litters of water – and about 400 species of sea animals. Their displays are thematically separated into the following: Weird & Wonderful, Deep Reef, Living Ocean, Rainforest – complete with a waterfall, a jetty with a boat; Rocky Shore – where some penguins can be seen; Open Ocean and the Sea Jellies. A tarantula and a few scorpions are also on display at the Rainforest area. Finally, there is a Nescafe Coffee Bar inside! Do not forget to claim your free Pepsi! I forgot mine! I remembered mine too late. I was already outside and there’s no going back once you’ve exited.

SANYO 4D THEATRE

Another special feature at the Siam Ocean World is a 4D Show – a Sanyo Technology that has tricks which reminded me of the 4D Cinema at the Genting Highlands in Malaysia! I have to warm people that these seats employ a lot of sudden jerks and tilts. They even have air blowers that will suddenly sprinkle water and blow air on your face as the movie is being played – all in the name of 4D! Fun and nakakagulat (startling) – so, mind your nerves!

OTHER SPECIAL INTERACTIVE EVENTS AT SIAM OCEAN WORLD:

Here’s the daily program: Dive underwater Talk 11:00-19:00 weekdays (and hourly every weenends and holidays); Rainforest Zone Feeding 12:00-16:00 everyday; Animal Contact hourly from 11:30 to 19:30; Otter Feeding daily 11:30 to 15:30; Penguin Feeding 12:30 to 16:30; Rocky shore Feeding 12:00 to 16:00; Shark Feeding 13:00 to 16:00. Siam Ocean World is open daily from 9:00 to 22:00 (9AM – 10PM) with the last entry at 9PM! Also, they have “Dive with the Sharks” program (facilitated by Planet Scuba) as well as Glass Bottom Boat Adventures (a 25-minute program that can accommodate 10 people – minimum of 2, and leaves every 10 minutes). Major credit cards are accepted! Visit their website @ www.siamoceanworld.com if you need more information or updates.

Update:

The current rates have apparently been hiked. 850 baht for adults and 650 baht for children.

Compare with KLCC Aquaria (Piranhas - Part 1): http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/01/piranhas-ferocious-sea-monsters-etc-at.html

Clockwise from above: Siam Ocean World entrance and ticket booth, swimming with the sharks, Sanyo 4D Theatre.

Some unidentified weird species.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Manila Ocean Park

I am not a “fish person”. As I child, I never liked food that came from the ocean. These days, I have learned to patronize fish meals. On a more diversionary habit, I have learned to appreciate aquariums and anything that simulates underwater environs. My mother has nurtured one for several years now, and I loved the gigantic fish tank bearing salt water creatures back where I trained. It had corals that would “flower” during the daytime, then retract to sleep at night. It had clownfish, a lion fish, brittle stars and sea horses.

Recently, my dear friend Chiqui invited me to visit the newly opened Manila Ocean Park (MOP). I have to admit that the prospect of seeing my dear friend excited me more than fish-watching, so – I went! Located at the reclaimed area, at the back of Quirino Grandstand, just beside the Floating Hotel & Restaurant and Manila Hotel, it was obvious that things weren’t quite finished yet – but, they’re getting there.

There was a small fountain in front of the steps leading to the Park. Chiqui and I decided to head down when the park opens at 10 AM (it closes at 6 PM). I met her by the steps so we bought our tickets as we queued among what looked like an already-busy day. We were given a brochure/map as we queued again, waiting for out turn to get inside the main park this time. There was a long line of seats waving through the foyer where we waited for a few minutes. Meanwhile, the line of visitors has started to balloon outside, and down the steps. I did not envy them. It was hot outside and the 36-degree ray of sun was uncomfortable and painful. A lot of these people would fry under such heat. About 15 minutes later, we got inside an open-air park, congested with people milling around the walls of green – ferns and mosses – and on ground level, big fish tanks.

The next area was through a wooden stairway that would spiral down a dark room. This was an enclave of small aquariums placed beside each other; each one highlighting a coral formation, a crustacean, a fish, a sea mammal. Though the area is decidedly cramped into inadequate space where guests could hardly move, and the fish tanks were obviously smaller than I believe they should be, the species inhabiting this masikip area were jaw-dropping!

I am no fish person, but I was blown away by the beauty of such creatures! The corals looked like drawn and hand-painted living beings, and many of the species of fish looked so out-worldly, they might as well be “alien species”. Though I mistakenly brought my hp camera with me (which is BAD with no-flash photography, the only picture-taking allowed inside – or risk the consequences, as warned), I took shots of those that I could! I missed carrying my Cannon G9 which was excellent even with low light situations. Herewith, I am sharing the few good shots that I was able to take, which does not even come close to the jaw-dropping spectacle and beauty that I witnessed at the park!

As you leave each area, you aren’t allowed to go back to the previous, so people are advised to make the most of each section. After the dark room, the next section turns into a gigantic aquarium, with overhead and wall-to-wall glasses surrounding you. There are manta rays smoothly gliding above you. I have heard of comments comparing it with establishments of the same kind from its Asian neighbors, even the ones in Brisbane and Bangkok, but hey, let’s not nitpick. For its admission price of PhP 400 (about $10) for adults and P350 for children, this will obviously suffice! And as I have to reiterate, the current collection is a spectacular and mind-boggling eye candy!

I recently read an article from the PDI about the Manila Ocean Park saying it "cannot handle its own success". With a daily admission of 3,000, their management did not seem to expect such success – and it showed! A weekend ago, crowd once again fried under the sun, queuing for tickets – for 2 to 3 hours! I’ve heard hearsays that this is a Singapore-Filipino consortium. Let’s see if this group will be able to maintain its array of magnificent creatures. My friend Chiqui wanted to see it before the number of unique, out-worldly creatures dwindle and flitter away. She predicted that in time, there will be 30 to 50 % less variety. Let’s hope not!

At the back of these fish tanks, you are ushered to a fine dining restaurant facing the calm seas, where you can gaze at the horizon, brushed with the bluest of skies and whisps of feathery clouds. From such vantage point, Manila Bay has reclaimed its beauty.

If you do not like crowds, you probably would want to skip the MOP, but it’s not everyday that one gets to witness an amazing array of sea creatures that I never knew existed! Though comparably less in scope and grandeur of its contemporaries, MOP is still a must-see! Without the hassle of a plane ride, etc. – Manila residents should take advantage of the MOP, while it still thrives with underwater life. It is also rumored that these dirt-cheap rates might be hiked in 6 month’s time! So, run now!!!

Rates of other similar-themed parks:
Hong Kong Ocean Park – HK$ 19.50 (PhP 104), Sea World in Queensland – Australian $ 33 (PhP 1,281), Siam Ocean World at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon – B750/adult (PhP 988), Kuala Lumpur’s Aquaria (which features piranhas) – MR 38 (PhP513.50), Singapore’s Underwater World in Sentosa – Singapore $17.30 ($70 if you swim with the dugong) ; Shanghai Ocean Aquarium – 120 RMB (PhP 840), London Aquarium at the South Bank (near the London Eye) – 13.25 pounds (Php 1,090), Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour – Aust $29.50 (PhP 1,144). London's ambitious Biota! is expected to open in 2010!