Camiña Balay nga Bato in Iloilo ~ A Travel Back in Time

 

Are you looking for an experience, that brings together culture, heritage and authentic Ilonggo cuisine?

 

Is YES, then do drop by Camiña Balay nga Bato.

 

A trip to Camiña is like a step back in time (Oh don't worry there is no "mumu").

 

 

We were amazed at the well preserved house, built more than 100 years ago .

 

The good condition of the house and all the antique furniture is wonderful ~ and hard not to admire.

 

 

 

 

 

Guided tours are offered at P150/pax inclusive of their special tsokolate (honestly one of the best I have had).   

 

 

Thick hot tsokolate batirol!

 

If you are travelling in a group of 5 or more, you may want to try the tour package with tsokolate and pancit molo or take a full lunch. Alas, we had to settle for just the "tsokolate" since it was just me and hubby.  But from the pictures I have seen on their website, food looks delicious. 

 

 

Taken from Camina Balay nga Bato FB page.

 

 

 

Camiña Balay nga Bato is located at 20 Osmeña Street and is open Mondays-Sunday 8am  to 6pm.

 

To go there you can take the jeepney going to Oton and alight near Plaza Arevalo.  For a more convenient transportation, I suggest taking a cab, this would cost you roughly P150 and will take you there faster. 

 

 

'

Taken from Camina Balay nga Bato FB page.

You may also want to check the rest of our adventure to beautiful Iloilo and captivating Guimaras:
Part I - GUIMARAS - ILOILO TRIP
Part II - GUIMARAS - ILOILO TRIP
 

Fun Day with the Kiddo at Star City

 

It has been ages since my last Star City visit.  I have been wanting to go there with my children, but the distance and the traffic is quite unbearable!

 

 

I was glad, this came up as part of my son's school fieldtrip itinerary.

 

 

 

 

However, it was the last stop in our agenda and my kiddo was already tired. As I was visiting with a child we had to stick with the children's ride as some of the major ones are restricted to adult riders.

 

 

But no worries since, there are still so many rides to choose from:

 

1. Kiddie Bumper Cars (please don't mistake with the huge bumper cars ~ my son is a lot taller for his age and he passed the Adult Bumper Car ride, it was a big mistake as the Adult version was much faster and impact a lot harder).
2. Kiddie Ferris Wheel
3. Magic Tea Cups
4. Rodeo (a variety of vehicles that travel around a loop track)
5. Quack-quack (a duck carousel ride)
6. Magic Forest* (a trip around a mystical forest onboard a vintage train)

 

Other kiddie attractions, includes:

1. Little Tykes
2. Ball Pool

Rides for older kids, includes:

1. Happy Swing* (which gave me a bit of a headache)
2. Dragon Express (a roller coaster ride)
3. The Giant Ferris Wheel
4. Red Baron** (a plane ride)
5. Wacky Worm** (a mini - roller coaster)
6. Tele-combat* (a space ship ride)
7. Grand Carousel**

The ones in "*" are the my son's favorites.

 

Other Attractions we visited included:

 

The Peter Pan

 

 

 

 

 

Toy Chest

 

 

 

Admission Fee Php 65.00
Entrance inside Star City only. EXCEPT Mid-way games, coin operated machines, rides, attractions, Snow World, Lazer Blaster, Scream Avenue and Walk on Water.

 

3 Cheers Ticket Php 360.00
Three rides of your choice (Ride restrictions apply), EXCEPT mid-way games, coin operated machines, Snow World, Lazer Blaster, Scream Avenue and Walk on Water. Entrance fee included. (Ride restrictions apply)

 

Ride-All-You-Can (RAYC) Php 420.00
 

With Unlimited access to the following rides:

• KIDDIE RIDES: Quack-Quack, Kiddie Wheel, Little Tykes, Tea Cup, Kiddie Bumper Car, Rodeo, and Ball Pool.
• FAMILY RIDES: Grand Carousel, Happy Swing, Magic Forest Ride, Red Baron, Super TeleCombat, Dragon Express, Wacky Worm and Giant Star Wheel.
• OLDER KID, TEEN AND ADULT RIDES: Bumper boat, Bumper Cars 1 and 2, Jumping Star, Tornado and Blizzard
• EXTREME RIDES: Star Frisbee, Surf Dance, Jungle Splash, Star Flyer and Viking Ship
• ATTRACTIONS: Toy Chest (Coming Soon), Peter Pan, Time Tunnel, Pirate Adventure, Dungeon and Gabi ng Lagim

 

Additional fees required for the following attractions:

• Snow World Php 150.00
  Unlimited same day entrance. (Ride restrictions apply) Entrance fee excluded.
• Star Dome: Heart of the Dragon Php 80.00
  Good for 1 (one) entry. Entrance fee excluded.
• Lazer Blaster Php 100.00
  Good for 1 (one) game only. (Ride restrictions apply) Entrance fee excluded.
• Scream Avenue Php 120.00
  Good for 1 (one) film showing only.(Ride restrictions apply) Entrance fee excluded.

 

VERDICT

• I love that most of the rides are indoor. Given the country's hot and humid, or sometimes rainy weather, air-conditioned indoors is really welcomed. 
• Price on my personal opinion is affordable, considering the number of rides and attractions to choose from. 
• The rides are also located near each other, so you would have covered the entire place without wearing your feet off.   
• There are numerous food outlet around and merchandize aren't that difficult on the budget.
• Rest rooms and common areas are clean. 

 

For a worthwhile bonding experience with the kiddo ~ consider a trip to Star City!

 

 

Please check the Star City webpage for the latest promotion and park schedule updates here:  STAR CITY ~ MORE RIDES, MORE FUN!

 

 

 

Star City Location Map

 

Addicted to Toys! ~ Yexel's Toy Museum at Boom na Boom Complex

 

 

Do you love toys?

 

 

I have long been hearing about the Yexel's Toy Museum in Las Pinas.  I have been wanting to go there for sometime now, but it is quite far from where I live and never got the time.

 

 

I was glad to learn we would be visiting the Yexel's exhibit at the Boom na Boom, CCP complex as part of my son's school field trip (I think I am more excited to join this fieldtrip than my son)!

 

 

 

 

 

This toy collection, by  Yexel Sebastians  started out as a hobby~of personal toy and eventually was transformed into a museum. 

 

The original Yexel Museum is located at 52 Sampaguita Road, Pilar Village, Las Pinas City and was first opened to the public in 2012. 

 

The one we visited at Boom-na-Boom complex is just an exhibit, but was okay, since we still managed to get some awesome pictures and best, my son had a great time posing right next to his favorites:

 

 

Taz, Dash and Finn

 

 

 

 

  

 

Yexels Toy Museum at Boom na Boom Complex,

Pasay City is open Mondays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

Ticket Price is P300.

 

 

For questions and inquiries, please check out Yexel's facebook page - Yexel's Toy Museum and Art Gallery. 

Ark of the Avilon Zoo

 

For a quick city edu-entertainment with you child, you might want to check out the Ark of the Avilon Zoo.

 

 

 

 

 ARK AVILON ZOO is the only indoor interactive zoo in the country.  It is two storey building resembling the biblical Noah's Ark.

I was there recently, as a chaperon to my son's school fieldtrip. It was nothing like the zoos we have visited in Singapore (you can check out our Singapore Zoo trips here: Singapore Zoo).


The Ark is quite small and you can easily tour the entire zoo in a an hour or less.  But I do appreciate that it is indoor (away from the scorching heat of the sun or otherwise monsoon weather).

 

 

The Ark Avilon's offers:

 

1. Photo opportunities with the zoo's star attractions like JENNY the Bornean Orangutan, AYLA the Palawan Bearcat, NARDO and ALEX the Cockatoos, TYSON the Burmese Python and  BUSTY the Pony;
2. Farm animals feeding at FARMLAND Fun Feeding Station;
3. Arts and crafts making using recycled materials, and
4. Venue for celebrating birthday parties and other corporate events. 

 

 

 

TIPS:

1. Bring lots of loose 20s for the animal feeding.
2. Bring insect repellant.
3. Don't expect too much from the place.  It is a bit old and requires an upkeep.
4. You can bring your own food inside the Ark, subject to P25 corkage fee per person.

 

 

Ark Avilon Zoo is located at Frontera Verde, Ortigas Avenue corner C-5, Pasig City, Philippines

(+632) 706 2992 / arkavilonzoo@gmail.com This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Entrance Fee is P400 (Below 3feet is P300)

20% discount for Senior Citizen and PWD (with Senior Citizen ID / PWD ID card)

Operating Hours: 9am to 6pm

 

Our PMA Fieldtrip

 

My boys have always been fascinated with men in uniform, with my youngest wanting to be a soldier.  What better way to fuel their dreams but by bringing them to the primary military institution in the country.

 

So in our last Baguio vacation, we found ourselves on a field trip with the kiddos to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

 

 

PMA grounds has been kept pristine clean and refreshing.

 

 

Picture perfect playground with the most relaxing of atmosphere.

 

 

 

One of the highlights of our PMA trip are the model tanks and helicopters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was a bit saddened my boys did not get to see marching cadets. Although we did manage to take glimpses of cadets walking in unison - good enough, hopefully next time we will strike lucky. 

 

 

TIPS:

(a) Drop by the souvenir shops and buy PMA shirts and PMA trinkets for cool "pasalubong".

(b) Visit the PMA webpage and read its history to get better appreciation of your trip.

(c) Head off and check the PMA Museum, it may be small, but still worth the visit. 

(d) PMA is very strict on traffic rules.   Remember to cross the street using the  pedestrian lane and maintain car speed while driving.

(e) Don't wear slippers as these are not permitted inside the academy.

 

Airforce City - Clark Field Pampanga

 

A huge field with plenty of planes lying about spells - KIDS FUN TIME (and tired mommas running after their kiddos)!

 

It is very seldom we get to see such huge spaces - for our children to run wild and get crazy and I am glad this was part of the school's fieldtrip itinerary. 

 

 

DinosoaurROARR Land

  Finally got to visit Dinosaur Island in Clark Pampanga as part of my kiddo's school field trip.

 

Dinosaur Island is tagged as the 1st (and I think only) Animatronic Dinosaur Park in the country.

 

I was really impressed to find gigantic and life like  (moving) dinosaurs for the first time.  They all looked very real and it took me a while to explain to my son that these dinosaurs are fake.

 

 

For a 5 year old's wild imagination,

the dinosaurs looked real alright! 

 

My son was second guessing "to pose or not to pose"

beside Mr. T (Rex)!

 

 

The park entrance has a tall and huge wooden gate (similar to the Jurassic movies) that keeps visitors guessing what is inside.  

 

1. Guests are first led to a  Dinosaur Trail.  Here expect to see: Brontosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brachiosaurus, Spirosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Iritator, Raptors, Rhinoceros, Iguanodon, and many more!

 

2. The park also houses a small museum (dinosaur fossils) ~ not really interesting. 

 

3. After the tour, we were seated and entertained to some dancing dinosaurs (it was really funny, you know these guys are just in dinosaur costume and yet when they try to scare, some were actually scared).

 

4. An optional extra-pay tour is the Jurassic Safari "Adventure" Ride.   We rode on motorized carts on tracks and were chased by the same dancing dinosaurs (Remember to keep extra attention on your kids and explain that these dinosaurs are not real. I saw one child, who ended up crying).

Entrance fee as posted in their facebook site:
Adult - Php 350.00
Kids - Php 300.00
FREE for 2yrs old and below.

Jurassic Safari Ride
Entrance fee - Php 150.00

Dinosaur Island is located along Gil Puyat Ave. Clark Freeport Zone Angeles City Pampanga. (near El Kabayo at the back of Clark Pinic Grounds) is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean Park Manila

 

I accompanied my four year old son during his school Manila Ocean Park (MOP) field trip last November 2012.

 

The park boasts numerous atractions, which will surely keep your kiddos busy and occupied ~ you would be begging your child to leave, when it is time to go home.

 

The park has 15 Attactions:

1. Oceanarium
2. Trails of Antartica
3. Aquanaut Voyage
4. Shark Encounter
5. Jellies Exhibit
6. Fish Spa
7. Glass Bottom Boat Ride
8. Revolution - Musical Fountain Show
9. Marine Life Habitat
10. All Star Bird Show
11. FantaSea
12. Penguin Talk Show
13. Bird of Prey Kingdom
14. Back of the House
15. Swimming

Since we were there for a school field trip  ~ we were only able to see:  the Oceanarium, Trails of Antartica, Jellies Exhibit and the Penguin Talk Show (which was a big hit with the kids). 

 

 

THE OCEANARIUM

 

Welcome to the Oceanarium :D

Sorry, camera flashes strictly prohibited inside the Oceanarium..

 

 

Posing with the sharkies :P

 

 





There is an activity corner at the Oceanarium - my kiddo ain't taking a rain check :P



 

MOP has a spectacular view of Manila Bay. I am sure the view is better at sunset!

TRAILS OF ANTARTICA





On the way to the Trails of Antartic!

Pakitang gilas si Mr. Penguin.  My kiddo's eyes were glued to the baby penguins as they swam.

 

 

Temperature freezing... brrr!

Ma look, its Santa :P

JELLIES EXHIBIT

 



My kiddo quite amazed to see jellies for the first time :P

PENGUIN TALK SHOW

 

I was too engaged with Mr. Penguin, I forgot to take pictures - I got this one though!  My kiddo enjoying the show!!! 

 

 

 A trip to MOP is educational  and entertaining!  We would definitely be back.

Next time will bring the entire family and stay at the H20 Hotel to make the most of MOP!

 

MOP: Rated A for kiddos and kids at heart  :D

 

Address:Manila Ocean Park behind Quirino Grandstand Luneta Manila

Trunkline: +63 2 567 7777

Facsimile:+63 2 567 2309

Email:inquiry@manilaoceanpark.com

 

 

 

Museo Pambata

I was chaperone to my son in his last school field trip and found myself inside  a children's museum along Roxas Boulevard, after an hour or so of travel. 

Alone I would not brave this museum's location.  There were so many hawkers and bystanders outside, the streets heading to the museum was busy and traffic so bad.

Having said that,  Museo Pambata was still a worthwhile travel.

This museum is like a huge play ground, where kids can learn, while having fun. They are sure to enjoy the many interactive exhibits the museum has to offer.  And it is not just a museum - summer art programs, various play activities are also offered here for free or at minimal cost.

The museum has eight (8) theme rooms.

(1) Kalikasan
(2) Old Manila
(3) Career Options
(4) I Love my Planet Earth
(5) My Body Works (which my son enjoyed a lot)
(6) Pamilihang Bayan (which was my favorite, the kiddie size stores and shops  were so cute) 
(7) Global Village
(8) Karapatan Hall

Word of caution: Be ready to answer lots of questions from your kiddos!

what is a finger print? 

 

 

 

why is this mouth so huge?

is that fart i am hearing? how come it doesn't smell?


 

can i be a driver when i grow up?

 

how do i cook sinigang?

 

can we bring this bahay kubo home?

 

You should allot at least 1 1/12 to 2 hours to fully appreciate the tour, however, if you are in a hurry and don't have the luxury of time - I suggest you head straight to My Body Works or Pamilihan Bayan. As we were on group tour we rather pressed for time and never got to make the most out of your trip.

 

 

No worries... we will be back :P

 

Museo Pambata Foundation, Inc.
Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive
Manila, Philippines
T: (632) 523-1797/98, 536-0595
F: (632) 522-1246
M: +63 918-382-2212 (for Booking and Reservations only)
E: info@museopambata.org