CASE # 007: Holy Week at Tagaytay Part 3

It was my first time to spend the night over at Tagaytay. Ang sarap gumising sa malamig na umaga na ang bubungad agad sa iyo ay ang scenic view ng Taal. Perfect! Just the way I imagined it to be.

I normally wake up at around 6:00am at on ako naman ako nagising. Ang difference lang ay nakakatamad bumangon dahil sa lamig. Ang sarap humilata habang balot na balot ng unan. But our itinerary was quite for the day and time is of the essence. I practically dragged myself out of the bed, went to the bathroom then started heating up some water for coffee. Then Hubby woke up and the rest of the fam.

While breakfast was being prepared, I tried going down the clubhouse to check if there was someone from the admin whom I could talk to. Unfortunately, it was too early and the receptionist does not come in until 9:00am and it was only 7:00am. Umaasa pa rin akong mapagbibigyan ang mga bata sa swimming.

Residence Inn Zoo

Para sa mga bagets, our first stop for that day was the Residence Inn Zoo or better known as ZooRi. We rode a jeep bound to Nasugbu and asked the driver to dropped us off the zoo. Fare was Php15.00. Since lampas otso ang pamasahe, I was thinking na mukhang malayo ang biyahe.

Mga 15 minutes din na tuluy-tuloy na biyahe bago ko natanaw ang signage ng Residence Inn Zoo. Although gumamit naman ako ng Waize, may mga times kasi na nawawala ang connection so hindi ko rin masabi kung nasa exact location na nga ba kami. Other passengers were kind enough to helped us out. "Dito na po ang Residence Zoo," sabi nung babaeng katapat ko sa upuan. Mukhang na-realized din naman ni Manong Driver at tumigil din siya sa tapat ng entrance.

Entrance fee for for the zoo is Php299.00 pero we can pay an additional Php50.00 for Paradizoo Tour. Free shuttle na rin going there. Kids 4 feet and below are charged Php199.00. Since andun na rin lang kami, we availed of the whole package of the ZooRI + Paradizoo.

Upon entrance sa ZooRI you will see a show area on the right side. Sabi sa amin ng staff, we can have our picture taken with the baby tiger while feeding it for Php50.00. We let the kids try it pero dahil takot sila na pumasok sa show area nang sila lang, pinasama na rin namin si sis-in-law. Pumayag naman ang mga staff na wala nang additional charge si sis-in-law.

Ang cute ng baby tiger. Hindi pa ganun ka-prominent iyong mga batik niya at light lang ang kulay niya. Pero maligalig siya just like a toddler. You have to hold the milk bottle for it to stay still on your lap or beside you. That way you can pet it with ease. Guided naman ng mga staff ang bawat galaw mo at nakatali rin ng metal chain si baby tiger so safe for the guests. Kaso nakakaawa nga lang kasi restricted ang kilos ni baby tiger.

After ng pictorial with the tiger, pumasok naman sila sa Serpentarium. Maraming mga isda, amphibians, and reptiles ang nasa mga aquarium sa loob nang malaking room na iyon. I am not a big fan of reptiles kaya I opted to stay outside and wait for them.

On our way to the garden where the cages are located, we passed by some bird cages. Medyo maiingay sila kapag may mga taong tumatapat so hindi ko sila masyadong in-explore. May mga souvenir shops din na nakahilera after the bird's cage.

There was another show area kung saan may mga birds perching on different poles. For Php20.00 each, you can have your picture taken with each bird. You can also pet them and hold them for a pose. Medyo di ko trip ang show room na ito kasi naawa ako sa mga birds na ginagawang kumikitang kabuhayan.

If you walked past the show area, you will reach their in-house restaurant. Hindi naman kami nag-try kumain kasi we already ate our breakfast before we left sa condo. Sa left side nung restaurant is a small room with trees which serves as their aviary. You can feed the bird for Php10.00 and also have your picture taken while feeding them. The kids would want to try it sana pero sabi nung staff, ayaw pa bumaba nung mga ibon. Apparently, you would have to wait until all the little birds have flown down the ground to feed them. Kaya sabi namin babalikan na lang namin.

We walked outside towards a big yard full of cages. Hindi naman kasing laki ng Manila Zoo at hindi rin kasing dami ng animals. Pero there are enough species for the kids to be fascinated.

Marami na ring dumating na iba pang guests na may mga kasamang bata. Mostly ay mga foreigners. Hindi ko ma-identify kung Korean ba, Chinese, or Japanese. There was one family na na-confirm kong Korean kasi narinig ko mag-Korean.

There were different species of monkeys and apes, tiger, lion, crocodile, turtles, horses, donkeys, pigs, and camels. I wasn't a great fan of zoos either dahil naaawa ako sa kalagayan ng mga restricted na hayop at medyo hindi rin ganoon ka-hygienic ang maintenance nila sa mga hayop. Kaya you better be prepared sa maaamoy at makikita ninyo. Mga kids talaga ang nag-enjoy rito. Kasi iyong ibang animals ngayon lang nila nakita nang harapan.

ZooRI offers other activities din naman like ziplines and cable car. Zipline and cable car were priced at Php150.00 each balikan na daw. Sa zipline, pahiga ang position mo so para kang lumilipad kapag tumawid sa line. Pero sa cable car, it can carry up to 4 persons. Medyo scary kasi para siyang malaking swing lang na nilagyan ng seatbelt. Pwede ka ring magpapicture sa mga staff habang nagzi-zip line or cable car. You just have to pay them Php150.00 and they will use a professional camera to have your picture taken. You can have a copy of the file or you can have it printed for an additional charge as well.

We wanted to try it sana pero parang nanghihinayang naman kami sa budget. It would cost us almost Php1,000 para lang sa cable car. Pangkain na rin iyon. So nag-pictorial na lang kami at in-enjoy ang view. May mga upuan naman dun sa garden na pwedeng pagtambayan. Tanaw rin from here ang Taal Lake at Taal Volcano.

Pwede rin naman sumakay ang mga bata dun sa maliit na donkey for at Php100.00 kasama na picture. Nanghinayang pa rin kami kasi ilang steps lang naman ang ikot dahil maliit lang yung space. Pinanood na lang namin iyong mga ibang nag-try.

Then we proceeded dun sa malaking show area nila kasi may pet show na naka-schedule that day. Medyo na-late na kami at hindi namin naumpisahan kasi nag-CR pa kami. Para itong pet exhibit kung saan may mga tricks na pinapakita ang mga trained dogs, cat, and monkey.

Exciting sa lahat si "Tiny," isang pagkalaki-laking sawa. Nakakatawa kasi nagtawag ng volunteer sa audience iyong host without revealing kung anong magaganap. Nang inilabas si Tiny at pinahawak sa kanila, nagpulasan iyong mga babaeng nakapwesto sa bandang ulunan nung sawa. Iyong isang Ate nga napatakbo pababa ng stage. Siya kasi iyong nakapwesto pinakamalapit sa bibig. Panay kumbinsi sa kanya ng host pero ayaw talaga niya hawakan. Nakakatakot naman kasi talaa. 


Ni-reassure naman siya nung host na safe. Umakyat na si Ate pero lumipat ng pwesto. Nagpunta siya sa pinakabuntot. Pero naloka rin siya nung pinabaligtad ng host ang posisyon. Napunta na naman siya sa ulunan ng sawa. Karipas na naman ng takbo si Ate.

to be continued...