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.

U.N. Climate Change Conference: Bringing hope to Copenhagen

From December 7 to 18 of this year, a historic and crucial United Nations Climate Change Conference among the world’s top leaders will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The world’s fate may well hang in the balance at this conference as our world leaders shall determine how we as a global community will respond to the threats posed by global warming which in turn, effect severe climate changes.

I urge all blog readers to join my cause in bringing hope to the important Copenhagen meeting.

Let’s turn Copenhagen into Hopenhagen!

Become a citizen at http://www.hopenhagen.org/ and sign the Climate Petition at this website.

Also join organizations like 350.org and let the world leaders like US President Barack Obama feel the heat to craft “a fair, ambitious, and binding international climate treaty” in Copenhagen and back in their respective countries, pass and implement sound and significant climate policies enough to reduce carbon dioxide in our atmosphere below the critical 350ppm safe upper limit. One concrete way is to join organization’s massive weekend of action and candlelight vigils during the UN Conference.

Let’s all do our share in protecting our planet…the only home we’ve got.



Addendum: Help stop double counting at Copenhagen

In relation to the Copenhagen conference…..

I just signed a petition to Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who will be hosting the Copenhagen climate negotiations in December.

Many leaders are promising to help people living in extreme poverty adapt to the effects of climate change. This sounds great, but unfortunately, on closer examination, it turns out most of this money could be double counted - it's money that has already been promised as development aid. This double counting is dangerous as it undermines both sustainable international development and a good global deal on clime change. It needs to be exposed and stopped.

As host of the Copenhagen talks, Mr. Rasmussen is one of the people best placed to make this happen.

Please join me in taking action here:

http://one.org/international/actnow/copenhagen/index.html?rc=copenhagenpaste

Together as ONE we can make a difference!

Thanks!

Batista rocks Gateway Mall in Cubao!

From the 2nd GK Anniversary celebration last Sept. 9, Bro. Rhollie Ariňo was kind enough to give Joshua and me a ride out of Sitio Ruby along with his GK Botocan brothers and sisters, whom we invited to witness the changes in that GK site. We alighted at a bus station in Cubao to meet a new second nanny for Joshua and Faith. My wife told me we were there quite early so I decided to go around with Joshua to nearby establishments for lunch and look around for some items that I had to buy.

We eventually reached Gateway Mall, a relatively new first class mall in the heart of Cubao and ate for the first time at Taco Bell. By the way, the food there was great and drinks were refillable! I bought a Taco Bell cap before we left. We also bought some items at a hardware store and went around the place. Overhearing some of the sales ladies’ conversation, I learned that Batista, a famous World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) professional wrestler was coming to the mall to promote his fight in the Araneta Coliseum this month of October. No wonder why there were so many who kept on coming to the mall. It didn’t take long for Batista (who by the way, happens to be half-Filipino and proud of it) to arrive on the mall grounds…and the crowd went wild!

Joshua and I weren’t able to get near enough the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion of the world but I tried my best to get picture of him using my long time 35mm camera. And I almost got a decent picture of the Smackdown wrestler too considering the sea of humanity blocking my view. Anyway, I wish him well on his “fight” with King Booker T this coming October 21-22 at the Araneta.

...and i thought i got a good picture of Batista until that right hand showed up!

Can you imagine having someone like Batista being a guest speaker at a Couples for Christ CLP or a Youth Assembly or Kids Day! Oh Man! That would be awesome! Bring in Hulk Hogan and Rey Mysterio and that would really bring the house down! Pro-wrestlers for Christ! Such a mighty vision! Who knows! With God, nothing is impossible!