Ocean Adventure

     It is fun to watch dolphins jumping and swimming beside a moving ship. How much more if you can watch them perform in a show and you can even command, touch and play with them afterwards.

   

     This is again, another bonding trip with my family. This time it is a part of my birthday celebration. After a 3 hour ride from Manila, we finally arrived at Ocean Adventure, nestled in Subic Bay within the Subic Bay Free Port Zone in Zambales    ( a former American Naval Base). As we parked our vehicle, I noticed that the area is marked by forested mountains in the background with a sign "do not feed the monkeys". I eagerly looked for one monkey but there was none that day.  

     We were late for the Sea Lion Show and we can hear the delighted applause and laughing of the audience. We settled for the Dolphin Show and as we waited we can see the picturesque horizon of the bay together with the dolphin holding area and the trainers. Once in a while few dolphins are bobbing and swimming around the pens. A bigger fish is swimming with the dolphins and introduced later as a false killer whale. Later, we saw other visitors and the Sea Lion audience as they trickled in after the show was finished. 

     At last the Dolphin Show started with an introduction from the emcee and the high jumping act of the dolphins and the false killer whale. The dolphins were well trained and obedient as they jump and swim in synchrony with what the emcee said. The trainers continuously fed the dolphins and whale small fish to motivate them to perform the tricks. A boy who volunteered was met with a surprise from the false killer whale. The show was very entertaining and at the distant we can also see dolphins performing for family or small group where they can be touched, rode upon in a "merry go round" style and commanded with the aid of the trainers. At the end of the show, those who paid for the picture taking with the dolphins (me and my wife included) were called and prepared to pose beside a dolphin and touch its skin. I am amazed to see that the dolphin knows how to pose, even with a "smile"!

     There was a wild animals show in the other staging area with some members of an indigenous tribe who showed the audience how to survive using materials in the jungle (making fire and cooking with dried and freshly cut bamboo stems). There was also audience participation where they were able to touch the wild animals.  While waiting for the Sea Lion Show we rested in a nipa hut for free and took pictures around. Then we visited the salt water aquariums with many tropical fishes. In the middle portion of the area is a  restaurant. The last show is the Sea Lion Show which is also very entertaining. It is a little bit tiring trip but a satisfying and a happy one.