A Post-Christmas Winter Adventure at Winter Funland

It was a post-Christmas winter adventure.

The New Year had just started, the Christmas vacation had gone quite quickly and we were still yearning for another “major, major” fun activity at least before the resumption of work and classes.

Christmas lights along Roxas Boulevard still brightly lights the evening

That activity was one experience I had been planning for some time. To feel cool wintry weather complete with snow and all, without leaving the country! That’s what one of Star City’s famous attractions, “Winter Funland” claims to give its patrons.

Nearing Star City - home of the Winter Funland

I don’t know what those globes are - but they’re definitely not snow!

Not surprisingly, the entertainment center located at the reclamation area near Roxas Blvd. was still filled with people that weekend even in the evening, surely with the same intent of maximizing their remaining vacation time with loved ones.

A cowboy mime artist at work entertains the people

Long queues were everywhere along the area for rides and other attractions. The line for Winter Funland was very long. Longer than any other line I reckon. Long enough for us to even buy and eat some merienda while waiting in line for the winter area attraction.

Long queues everywhere

As we came near the entrance, we were given plastic bags for our electronic gadgets, protection I believe for the cold temperature and the moistness that might occur. Each of us was given a jacket before we entered the funland area. I think it was a good one hour before we got inside but it was all worth it!

Picture taking is not allowed inside the funland so I could fully explain the “fun” we all experienced inside. First of all, it was really darn cold! Chilly enough to put mist in our breaths and numbness to our hands and faces.

The freezing temperature enabled us to make snowballs from the ice you could shovel at one area. Maybe not enough for a snowman but you could have a decent snowball fight inside.

There were two designated areas where you could have your picture taken. One was beside an igloo and the other was a park scene with a wooden bench. We had our family pictures taken at both areas as our only visual memento inside this winter wonderland.

The main draw inside was of course the ice sled area! One climbs up a stairway leading to an elevated portion where you slide down the ice riding on some sort of an inflated rubber sled. It was a short ride but fast enough to give you a few thrills. I couldn’t fully control my descent as the sled tends to turn as you go down. If you’re not careful, you might just get a nasty bump here and there.

The kids obviously loved the ride despite the numerous people and icy temperature. I think we stayed for around thirty to forty five minutes inside before going out.

Small world - Relatives from my mother’s side were also there at Star City

Later that night inside the Star City premises, we met Tito Manoling along with some other relatives from my mother’s side of the family as we came out from Tropical Hut Restaurant where we had our dinner.

We didn’t go for any other rides but rather concentrated in scouring the tiangge section looking for interesting stuff to buy. That evening, the boys’ toy gun collection just got bigger and Faith also had a new toy to play with.

It is interesting to observe that most of the long lines had disappeared near the midnight hour. Mental note: If we wanted to try the Winter Funland attraction again, (or some other attractions) this was the best time to do so!

We’ll be back!

At this point of our lives, we do not have the resources to go to a country as a family to experience Christmas winter. But Winter Funland surely gave us a sufficing glimpse of things that are yet to come! In the meantime, from the looks of it, it was a fun ‘winter’ adventure bound to be repeated in the near future.