The whole trip was planned out three months in advance for one purpose
and one purpose only, and that’s to pull off a birthday surprise for a really
unsuspecting celebrant. Lucky for us, the celebrant had no idea what’s in store
despite some slip-ups, from innocent comments coming from family members, to
last minute mentions of various destinations in an attempt to mislead said
celebrant. It was a huge ploy that entailed the participation of all of the
members in our family, but in the end, it really was a success to making the
celebrant’s birthday such a pleasant surprise.
We stayed in a budget hotel in Olongapo with very quick access to parts
of Subic and within arm’s reach of establishments and shopping malls. Staying
in town is a good choice for travelers as the center is very walkable, for
quick meals and convenience stores too. But for some attractions, you will need
to call a cab especially for the ones inside Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
(SBMA). So without further delays, here are some things to do in Subic:
Watch the Shows at Ocean Adventure
Having been to Subic before, I was in charge of arranging the itinerary
for our group. It was easy to call for a cab from our hotel, as the reception
knew a lot of cabs willing to drive us for a group of nine people, and we
didn’t take anything less than a nine-seater vehicle.
The moment we arrived at Ocean Adventure (on a Sunday morning), we were
in for a shock because there were at least ten tourist buses carrying school
kids on a field trip! Luckily, a lady from the ticketing booth recommended a
different schedule for our shows so that we were able to avoid the school kids
during the shows.
In Ocean Adventure, there are a total of four shows to watch. Wild World
is a mix of jungle survival tips and encounters with rainforest animals such as
a bearcat, fruit bat, python and scops owl. These are all rescued animals and
the show educates visitors about preserving their natural habitats.
The Sea Lion Marine Patrol show features sea lions and their mission to
protect the environment and their population as they are still threatened by
hunters all over the world.It’s an entertaining show for audiences of all ages,
and there’s an underwater viewing window for those who want to have a closer
look at the sea lions relaxing underwater.
The Sentinels of the Sea show features bottlenose dolphins showing off
their superb abilities and natural wit in keeping the ocean thriving. It’s a
show in the Seaside stadium and the best seats can be occupied really fast
especially if there’s a big crowd such as on weekends.
Ocean Adventure also has a Koi Pond, Ocean Discovery Aquarium, Voyager
Aquarium and a Souvenir Shop.
Up Close and Personal at the Zoobic Safari
Pulling up at the parking lot in front of Zoobic Safari, we were
surprised to find a pot-bellied pig roaming the corners of the parking lot.
This we have to get used to, as the gates are wide, but the pigs are kind of
low so it’s easy for them to just squeeze out of the fences to give visitors a
shock.
We had lunch in the restaurant but not after having taken a group photo
with the white tiger whose head is bigger than ours. It took a bottle of milk
and a lot of courage to be able to come close with this gorgeous white
tiger.
Similar to Jurong Bird Park in Singapore, we took the tram to our tour
stops.
The Savannah is a quick tour showcasing ponies, wild boars, potbelly
pigs, ostriches and guinea fowls. The lions in captivity can be visited and fed
for a fee, as they can take raw chicken but doing so should be with caution.
Even if there are cubs, they can be quite naughty when hungry.
Croco Loco is not for those who have reptile phobia. This visit involves
walking over a pit of 200 crocodiles and a chance to feed them by purchasing a
quarter of raw chicken, dangling it via fishing pole and these crocs snapping
at that snack. It’s enough to drive your imagination crazy.
Finally, with a secure caged jeep, here’s the chance to come close with
the tigers in their own space cooling off and becoming curious with visitors
who dare go inside. With the scent of raw chicken attracting their senses,
here’s the opportunity to come up close and personal with the tigers just
inches away from your face!
To end the tour, a tram will bring back visitors to the exit, coming
full circle to the parking lot where refreshments are available after that
tour.
Charter a Yacht Cruise and Dive in Silanguin Cove
Here’s the highlight of our travel, and that’s chartering a yacht for
our birthday bash for one lovely birthday girl.
The cruise started promptly at noon, as we had to carry our food to our
yacht, MV Princess Regina, for the afternoon. For a party of nine people, the
yacht is spacious enough as we spent all of our time aboard the top deck with
salt water air, making our way via open ocean to Silanguin Cove which took
approximately two hours.
The tour comes with the captain and his first officer. Here’s where we
knew what motion sickness meant, but seeing Silanguin Cove and its beauty
affirmed that our trip was definitely worth it. We did all that we could to
avoid feeling dizzy because we were faring through deep, open ocean but jumping
into the cool water melted all our cares away.
We spent a few hours diving here and there, and we found out that even
the yacht crew couldn’t resist jumping overboard because the water was just so
inviting. Not to worry, we were anchored safely. And as for someone like me who
was afraid of drifting away, I tied the rope around my left leg as I was
wearing a life jacket while admiring the shores of the cove. Getting any telecom
signal in Silanguin Cove is next to impossible, so it was easier to focus on
giving the place some undivided attention. If you’re someone obsessed with
staying online, this might drive you crazy for a few hours.
We headed back before sunset and the beautiful view of the lighthouse
and surrounding islands made for an adventure one for the books. We had dinner
at the Yacht Club Hotel after stepping back on dry land, but even after going
back in our hotel rooms, I still couldn’t shake off the feeling of motion
sickness as I stood in the bathroom ready to brush my teeth.
Duty Free and Outlet Store Shopping
Subic is known for many outlet stores and duty free stores. A handful of
favorites are Harbor Point, Puregold, Royal Duty Free and some outlet stores
such as Nike, Adidas and many more. Coming over in January still lent an air of
leftover Christmas bazaars so we were able to score a few deals on footwear and
some other items.
Unwind in Binictican Suburbs
B’s aunt is a resident of Binictican, a private neighborhood in Subic
where we spent the time enjoying lunch and unwinding, talking about the possibility
of monkeys coming up the backyard from the rainforest, and the usual horror
stories among cousins as well as funny travel stories from our own personal
experiences.
With the rest of the natural light spilling in from the wide windows, I
spent the afternoon reading books piled up high and had a good nap on one of
the mattresses positioned on the floor. Here’s where I had one of the most
restful naps because of the humidifier spewing relaxing essential oils
throughout the whole home.
There are other stuff we wanted to do in Subic, but with limited time we
were able to at least spend some time unwinding, plus pull off a surprise for our
birthday girl.
Rates start at Php 1,440 for Standard Rooms
Rates Start at Php 11,000 for Upper Deck Room
Reminders
· When visiting other nations, we are responsible for our own behavior and should observe proper customs as the locals do, as we are only guests in their country.
· Be responsible travelers by disposing of trash properly and being courteous to those you meet, especially the elderly and locals.
Note: All input are based on my personal experiences in Subic, Zambales. Our group made arrangements prior to our travel dates. This is in no way, a sponsored post.
