Eye in the Sky: Shops

Showing posts with label Shops. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

A Day at the Davao Crocodile Farm (Mindanao, Philippines)

If you're killing time in Davao City, south of the Philippines, and would prefer somewhere that isn't too far from the city center, visiting Davao Crocodile Farm would be an interesting option. This is the city's answer to a "zoo". Unlike Puerto Princesa's Crocodile Farm, this recreational park is home to a variety of animals, it even has a tiger.

It took owner Mr. Philip Dizon 10 years to develop the animal farm into what it is now after it received its city accreditation in 1995. It officially opened in August 2005. Located along the Diversion Road in Ma-a, in a compound called Riverfront Development City, the farm functions more like a leisure park than a zoo. The surrounding area has restaurants and shops, as well as a butterfly farm in the vicinity.

Entrance fee is PhP150 for adults and PhP75 for children (2-12 years old) during weekdays. The rate changes on weekends from 3PM onwards: P200 for adults and PhP100 for children. There's ample parking outside.

REMINDERS

Since we're dealing with wild animals, there are rules to be followed while in the premises: do not lift children over the railings; do not poke the animals or stick your fingers inside cages; do not feed the animals; do not throw objects inside cages that could hurt the animals; do not provoke or shout at the animals; no littering; no smoking; firearms and sharp objects aren't allowed inside. Most importantly, enjoy your visit.

The park boasts of both saltwater and freshwater crocs, lizards, fowls, and if I have to emphasize this again, a tiger. There are tacky statues of indigenous tribesmen and animals. There's a yellow python you could carry for those precious photo ops.

Moreover, since the Davao River is nearby, you could go rafting, if that's your thing. Otherwise, there are shops just outside the park (which we'll feature on our next post).

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Pangil is the farm's resident "monster".

Victoria Crowned Pigeon has an elegant blue lace-like crest.

Someone's molting away.

There's a tiger in the house.

For those who want to pet them lifeless.

Random art pieces

Ticket booth

Ticket entrance to the park

MORE INFORMATION:

For more information, please do not ask us here about group rates, reservations, etc. Refer to their website here: http://adventurephilippines.ph/index.php or call them at +6382- 286-8883 (if you're in Davao) or +632- 833-5680 (if you're in Manila). Email them at booking@davaocrocodilepark.com. The farm is open daily from 8AM to 7PM.

Toddy palms line the street to the farm.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) - Departing Malaysia from a Gorgeous Airport

The check-in counters of Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) aren't like any other counters you've seen. Adorning them are parasol-like structures decked with bright, color-changing lights that would seem like you're walking along Boulevard de Clichy at night, with all the incandescence surrounding Moulin Rouge in the french capital. But make no mistake, this is Muslim-country Malaysia.

KLIA2 is spacious and chic, and quite relaxed. After finding your check-in counters, you can actually grab a meal and there's so much to choose from. There's a Nyonya restaurant, Kenny Roger's Roasters, KFC (my favorite overseas "comfort" diner), McDonald's, Nando's (this unusual mix of Portuguese-African cuisine I first tried at the Gold Coast in Australia), etc. It was quite surprising to find that many people still refuse to do their online check-ins and the queue to this counter was long. Fortunately, I took my time to actually do my web check-in then have my boarding pass printed somewhere in Bukit Bintang. This allowed me to do my formal bag drop in less than 5 minutes. Otherwise, It would have been a long wait at the queue.

After check-in, it was time to explore the departure hall a bit. KFC was in the same level, as were a pharmacy and some other shops. The different counters also had their parasols, uniformly changing hues every time, from pink to orange, from blue to yellow. Waiting for your flight has never been this interesting.

International pre-departure area is through a bright hallway with artistically designed ceiling - tree branches on bright white panels. Once you get through this cordoned area, you will be walking along duty-free shops. And just when you think that's all of it, there's another area with even more shops further on, including a Michael Kors boutique.

Cebu Pacific check in is situated at Counter Z, the very last counter in the departure hallway (turn right and straight ahead to the end of the hall). If you can find internet shops to do your online check-in, do so! The bag drop counter will be a breeze compared to queuing at the regular check-in counter.

After these shops, you try to find your gate, assigned as letters, e.g. Gates L to T. My Cebu Pacific flight was at Gate Q. In my recent flight, our Cebu Pacific boarding gate was L1, the very first gate after the security check of the L gates. You will see the Gloria Jeans shop near the L1 boarding gate.

L1 is so small you feel like a pack of sardines and boarding gets really congested because there's no ample space for the queue. Unlike the KLIA1, there are no train rides to your boarding gates here. Despite that, anticipate long walks to your boarding rooms. The management of KLIA2 has walking times pasted all over:

WALKING TIME TO GATES:

International Departure

Immigration/Customs to Security Check (Pier L) - 3 minutes
Immigration/Customs to Pier P/Q - 10 minutes
Pier L/P/Q to Gates L1-L22, P1-P21, Q3 to Q23 - 2-3 minutes

Domestic Departure

Domestic Security Check to J1-J22 - 2 to 10 minutes
Domestic Security check to K2-K18 - 7 to 15 minutes (now that is a long walk)

There are TRIVIAS about KLIA2 which I find interesting:

KLIA2 accommodates 45 million passengers annually, 2x that of LCCT.

KLIA2 has 68 aircraft stands. LCCT had 0. This occupies 257 square meters, 4x that of LCCT.

KLIA2 is home of 200+ shops. LCCT had 60.

Malaysia Airports have the lowest charges in the world. The aerobridge charges 25 cents per domestic passenger since 1981. Airport tax levies 6RM ($1.80/PhP82) per domestic departing passenger. Aircraft landing/takeoff at 3RM per domestic passenger. Free aircraft parking for the first 3 hours. Charges are levied after that.

KLIA2 is 23% cheaper to build than LCCT. LCCT's construction cost RM334 million with a terminal size of 60,000 square meters. Cost per meter is RM 5567 ($1,700.63/PhP79,240). KLIA2 cost RM1,100 million with a terminal size of 257,000 square meters. Cost per meter is RM4280 ($1,307.50/PhP58,609). Had this been NAIA, it would have involved billions of pesos and crappy designs employing substandard materials.

KLIA2 is a gorgeous airport and a fair representation of a dynamic nation that continues to better itself. I would miss LCCT but KLIA2 is by no means welcome in my existence.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Check out the ceiling design.

One of the first shops you find after the immigration counter.

An unfinished area leading towards Gate Q.

After this shopping hallway, you walk down a ramp to get to the last security x-ray check leading to your boarding gate, gate Q for my Cebu Pacific. Then get to Q5. Gate Q has 23 gates so be sure to be at your specific gate number.