AdvenTOUR

I woke up with the sound of my annoying alarm, it’s 3 o’clock in the morning and I only had a couple hours of sleep. ‘Exhausted’ quickly became ‘Excited’ as I realized today is the day, our Tour 2016.

We waited at Ynares Center for a while and were the last ones to depart as there were some complications on bus arrangements. Nevertheless, we were still thankful and prayed for a safe trip. My seatmate was Daniel and we listened to music until we arrived 3 hours later at Manila Ocean Park, our first itinerary.

Oceanarium featured different species of aquatic animals. The best part was the tunnel, a glass dome where you can pass through as if underwater. It was breath-taking, could stay there all day. Unfortunately, the tour must go on.

The next and my most favorite part of Ocean Park was Trails to Antarctica! It was the first time I saw a real penguin, and I was so happy when the penguin followed me, stopped and smiled for a selfie. We also got to see the Sea Lions, Vincent and Ysabelle, do incredible stunts and learned mind-boggling facts about them.

Manila Ocean Park was a great venue if you want to see absolutely astonishing marine life, at the same time learning all about it.

The journey to our next destination, Enchanted Kingdom was fast. We were the first ones to arrive there from our school. We did not want to waste any minute while we’re there, so we changed to our section shirts, alighted, took pictures with Sir Baguinon and then went inside to start our magical experience.

Our first ride was the EKstreme Tower, it made me lose my fear because it takes you 150 feet above ground and drops you really fast in only 2 seconds. It prepared me for all the extreme rides I’m about to encounter for the second time.

We rode the Anchor’s Away next, but I did not really enjoy it since I was separated from my classmates. The next one is the Air Race, airplanes revolving and spinning upside down. I was relieved of all the stress and anger as I shouted it all during the ride.

Then, the most exciting and the main highlight of this year’s Tour for me, Space Shuttle. Together with, Daniel, Kathleen, Cloei, Arianna, Rienne, Lindssy, Grace, Amalia, Jara, Carlo, Mya, Timothy, Shella and Paula, we rode the toughest ride there is. My first time last year, I closed my eyes shut and held the seatbelt tight, but this time I did not only opened my eyes the whole time, but I also waved my hands in the air, shouting to the top of my lungs. It was amazing!

After that, we rode the Air Race again and went back to the bus because it’s already time. I listened to music on the way home but I did not fall asleep, perhaps it was the adrenaline rush still going on inside me.

It was truly a memorable experience, even though we only had limited time and spent most of it falling in lengthy lines, I enjoyed every second of it.

To sum it up, this year’s tour is definitely one of the most unforgettable day of my life!

KwenTOUR

Simula na ng aming paglalakbay. Nagkaroon man ng aberya dahilan ng pagkagulo-gulo ng paghahati sa bus at natagalan ang pag-alis ay hindi ito naging hadlang para masira ang isa sa magiging pinakamasayang araw ng aming buhay.

Pagkatapos ng pag-aayos ng puwesto sa bus ay nagdasal muna ang lahat para sa isang ligtas na byahe, masayang araw, mabuting panahon at seguridad na ligtas rin ang aming mga minamahal sa buhay na naiwan sa aming mga tahanan.

Katabi ko si Daniel at nasa likod naman namin sina Miguel at Paula. Nagkwentuhan ang bawat isa habang kami ay nakikinig sa mga tugtog at minsan ay nagse-selfie o kaya naman ay kumukuha ng litrato ng mga nadadaanan naming lugar.

Masaya kaming nakarating sa una naming destinasyon: Manila Ocean Park. Natagalan kami dahil sa matinding trapiko kaya mahigit tatlong oras rin ang naging byahe.

Gayunpaman, sinulit na namin ang napakagandang lugar na aming napuntahan. Kanya-kanyang kuha ng litrato, puro ngiti ang makikita sa mga mukha ng mga masasayang tao.

Ang Oceanarium ang nagpakita samin ng iba’t ibang uri ng hayop na nakatira sa karagatan. May isang tila kweba na gawa sa salamin na puwede kang lumakad papasok habang pinagmamasdan ang mga isda at tila nasa ilalim ka rin ng dagat.

May magandang view rin ng Manila Bay, at nakapanood rin kami ng Sea Lions show na talaga namang nagpasaya sa amin.

Ang hindi ko malilimutan sa Manila Ocean Park ay ang Trails to Antarctica, na dinala kami sa south pole sa sobrang makatotohanan ng lugar na balot ng yelo at kalamigan. Dito rin ako unang nakakita ng tunay na Penguin.

Napakaswerte ko dahil itinapat ko lamang ang aking cellphone, sinundan na ako ng Penguin at tumigil para sa isang litrato.

Hindi na naming tinapos ang dancing fountain dahil sabik na sabik na kaming pumunta sa susunod na destinasyon, ang Enchanted Kingdom.

Mabilis lamang ang nging byahe, isang oras. Hindi na kami nagaksaya pa ng panahon, nagbihis na kami sa aming mga section shirts at bumaba na ng bus.

Sabay-sabay kaming ngumiti para sa isang litrato kasama ang  aming adviser na si Ginoong Arvin Baguinon. Pinamigay na ang aming ticket at pumasok na kami sa Enchanted Kingdom at tumakbo sa unang ride na gusto naming sakyan.

Inuna namin ang EKstreme Tower na itataas ka ng 150 feet at biglang ihuhulog sa loob ng 2 segundo. Sunod naman ang Anchor’s Away na isang malaking swing na lumalagpas pa sa 180 degrees ang taas ng ikot, at ang Air Race na mga eroplanong umiikot at bumabaliktad.

Space Shuttle – ang pinaka-extreme na ride sa Enchanted Kingdom. Isang roller coaster na may mga loop at umaandar ulit paatras para sa ikalawang round.

Halatang halata na sobrang kinakabahan at natatakot ang aking mga kamag-aral sa pila pa lamang.

Siyempre, kinakabahan rin ako ngunit hindi ganoon kakaba dahil nasakyan ko na ito nung isang taon.

Napakasaya at isang achievement kapag natapos mo na ang ride na ito at masasabi mo nang matapang ka dahil mawawala na rin ang takot mo.

Sunod ay sumakay ulit kami sa Air Race, ngunit dahil sa kakulangan ng oras ay napilitan na kaming bumalik sa bus pagkatapos at nakauwi rin ng ligtas.

Napakasaya ng araw na iyon para sa akin, at tunay naming nag-enjoy ako. Isa ito sa hindi ko malilimutang araw ng aking buhay, at ito ang aking KwenTOUR 2016.