Friday, May 11, 2012

Amana Waterpark Philippines. 2011 Summer Adventure with Good Old Friends

This is the second installment from my previous post, Water Parks Within and Nearby Metro Manila, Philippines.  Amana Water park - the venue of my two “Sunday Quote and Photograph” guessing game posts:

1. The Justice League


2. The pool of people – King Kong is at the front end of the pool where the giant waves are coming from.

This is the main attraction in Amana Waterpark, the 3,500 sq meters wave-pool that produces the biggest (Diamond) wave.  Claimed to be the biggest wave pool in the Philippines that offers 13 different magnificent gigantic kinds of wave.


The other main attraction is the (over 100) life-size characters scattered all over the resort.  They also offer horse back riding, picnic grove, souvenir shop and cottages made from local materials.  Their website says a Zipline is opening soon.

If it wasn’t for the great photo opportunity with the different life-size characters, our summer memories at Amana Waterpark will be remembered as a “not so fun” experience.

The first thing we noticed during our visit is that the resort is not yet totally finished.  The walkways and  parking areas are still dusty roads.  Most dressing rooms. shower rooms and toilets still lack the necessities.

The Hulk – he’s just around the parking area.


We were unlucky to visit Amana Waterpark in the summer of 2011, during the week when they were currently having massive television campaign. I assumed their campaign was such a huge success because there were so much visitors during our visit. It was way too over crowded that they need to stop accepting visitors. They also failed to satisfactorily addressed the visitors needs and concerns.  It was chaotic in the cashier's area.

Darth Vader, Jar Jar Binks and a smaller King Kong version standing nearby the cashier’s area.
I almost memorized the scratches and marks of their structures because we waited too long in this area.  We were early but I guess the local people in the area came earlier than us.  The line at the payment/registration is too long and when it’s our turn, there’s no more available cottage. 

IMG_0698IMG_0700

For several times we were given choices of the available cottages just to be cancelled later telling us that it is no longer available.  In the end, we were provided with a collapsible umbrella as our cottage in a not so pleasing location with a not so pleasing smell in the air.  Also, the umbrella itself is dirty that we need to call a resort crew to clean it first.  The collapsible cottage umbrella comes with two free chairs only and we need to pay every piece of extra chair aside from the cottage umbrella.  Our group is composed of  fifteen people so the total we paid for this uncomfortable cottage is almost equivalent to one decent cottage.

IMG_0704
The cave-like main entrance is supposed to be amusing but it failed to amuse us because of the hassle we experienced in the cashier/registration area.    
We didn’t try the big pool with the giant waves.  There were so many people and we felt that it will only further “annoy” than freshen us.  We just took lots of photos in the big pool with King Kong.  But they do have Jacuzzi style and kiddie pools with sprinklers.

IMG_0730IMG_0733

Shrek and Family.  One of the cutest life-size characters located near the kiddie pool. Behind this is their home where visitors are allowed to touch the huge Ogre household items.
IMG_0722
Since our “cottage” is so uncomfortable and the pools are too crowded, we decided to pack our things early and put them safe in the car, then spend the rest of the day exploring the resort.  The life size characters scattered all over the wide resort is entertaining. At least it erased the not so pleasing experience that welcomed us in the resort.

Most of the routes are grassy and still under developed but at least it adds to the exploration thrill.
IMG_0766
I like the concept of this water park.  The owner may have something specific in mind but not yet fully executed during our visit.  One friend from this group of friends of mine suggested this water park because it was in the news at that time.  We want to entertain two “balikbayan”  friends who were both on a hectic vacation schedule.  We have no option for other days for this sort of reunion.

I am sharing some photos individually, then some of the other photos are in the album at the end of this post.

One of my vacationing friend Elvie with the Madagascar Characters
IMG_0739

My big boy captured by King Kong while the whole gang screams in the next photo.

This is far above from the wave pool shot.  See the (steep) ladder at the back of King Kong? That is where my boy climbed to reach King Kong to have his photo taken as if he was a capture.

IMG_0817

My boy this time with Jack Sparrow (Johny Depp) , The Thing and Gandalf
IMG_0823

The girls at the Lord of the Ring signage and with Gollum
IMG_0780IMG_0774

Elvie with Marilyn Monroe and the big boy with Elvis
IMG_0782IMG_0786

The gang with the Dragonball Z gang


More photos and the larger version of the small photos on this album.

18 comments:

  1. Indeed, it’s more fun in the Philippines. The pool is so tempting to plunge in. I wanna photograph myself in the Shrek and Family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Correct sis! Lots of amusing place :) The Shrek house is so cute also. They have giant household things :)

      Delete
  2. perfect for the whole family specially with kids.. Amana waterpark pala yan, nice one Balut!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Gracie kids and kids at heart will like this place :) THANKS!

      Delete
  3. That was such a huge crowd!
    With all the life-size characters and if the water park is fully constructed now, it would be fun for kids and the entire family to go there. Thanks for sharing this Ms. Balut. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi "Anon"
      The life size characters are really enjoyable and a great photo opps. I do hope that the the place will be finished soon. The last time we were there last year, it looks like there's still a lot of works to be done.

      You're welcome and THANKS also for the visit. Hope you'd come back visiting my blog and that your name will no longer be "Anon" ;)

      Delete
  4. Wow.Ang ganda pala ng Amana Waterpark, di lang ako maligo magpa-picture na lang ako.hehehehe. Bongga-bongga masyado yong mga Characters nila sis. Kids would love it and perfect talaga sa family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Include it in your adventure list sis. The Little Travelentz will surely love it especially the life size characters:) Sana lang di ganyan karami ang tao pag punta nyo ha ha

      Delete
  5. wow it's amazing, mukhang patok na patok sa dami ng tao!! pero san po to located madam (o hindi na mam ha) :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hello Sir (lol madam ka kasi jan)
      kaso sobra naman sa over yung tao parang hindi na hygienic (lol) mag swim ha ha ha. sa Pandi Bulacan, eto yung link for complete contact details & the other resorts na rin para makapili ka :)

      http://balutmanila.blogspot.com/2012/04/waterparks-within-and-nearby-metro.html

      salamat sa dalaw :) nakauwi na ba kayo?

      Delete
  6. isang beses lang ako nakapagbeach... buti ka pa mukhang kumota ka na sa mga resorts and beaches. haha

    ayos! Happy mother's day! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ha ha OA na ko no? I'm always hunting for water parks and resorts para kahit nasa city pwede mag summer get-away ;)

      Salamats sa greet and sa dalaw :)

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Uy sis Happy Mother's Day din to you!!! Binati kita sa twitter baka di mo pa namalayan ha ha ha

      SALAMAT ulet sa pagdaan ;)

      Delete
  8. THANKS! just that the place is not fully developed during our visit. But Jack sparrow is just around the pool area? unlike the LOTR casts - they are located quite far from the swimming area. I haven't heard about the Kung Fu Panda Pool. I hope we could try them again when everything's done.

    Yes I have checked the rewards THANKS for reminding and for the visit ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. baka naman may "MJ on toes" di ko lang nakita? but I googled it wala ring result eh. Anyway pag nalaman ko sabihan kita agad :)

    THANKS sa dalaw ;)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nice waterpark hindi na rin talaga papatalo diyan sa atin. There are so many changes since I let 4 years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi sam oo nga. naku mas marami pa ngayong magagandang water park and amusement parks. Sana lang dumami pa yung gagawing "world class" ang level. 4 years wow, kelan ka vacay dito? THANKS for dropping by pala :)

      Delete

Comment moderation is temporarily enabled by author due to detected threats. Sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you.

What To Do When You Left Your Hand-Carry At The Airport of Origin

First, how did it happen?  We almost missed our flight! We were running late, and the cabin door was about to close when we boarded the airc...