tourist destination – Jellybeans in the City

A sweet and whimsical tour of The Dessert Museum

Are you a sweet tooth? I know I am!

Since I was young, I’ve had this deep affinity for sweets and I’m also a firm believer in the adage “There’s always room for dessert!”

Imagine my delight when I discovered that there’s a special place in the metro for dessert lovers like me: The Dessert Museum!

This destination is 12,000 square feet of space dedicated to desserts. It features eight themed rooms focused on a particular sweet treat, each with eye-catching visual elements such as giant-sized simulations of well-known products, background info on desserts’ history printed on the walls, games that visitors can play and other bric-a-bracs that complement the theme.

In these rooms, visitors can take fun and whimsical pictures of themselves in dessert-themed fantasy environments.

To a dessert lover like me who likes to geek out about her favorite food, this place surely comes close to my version of heaven.

Is it any surprise then that I would go here? Check out my trip through this wonderland of sweets!

Raining Donuts Room

Ten Thousand Marshmallows Room

Candy Cane Groves

Banana Beach

Room of Never-ending Bubbles

The Bewitched Bakery

Pinata Party

Kake-Pop Kourt

The appeal of The Dessert Museum mostly lies on the sheer number of great photo opportunities it provides. Knowing this, I had my daughter, #ExhibitA, accompany me so I have someone to take those snaps “for the ‘gram.”

During our two-hour tour throughout the museum, we were given fifteen minutes per room. The flow of people were managed by tour guides in each room to ensure that it won’t get too crowded and to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines. The museum also employs official photographers who can take group pictures fort he souvenir photos which you can buy for Php250 each at the gift shop at the end of your tour.

Thanks to the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, guests of all ages are now allowed. Adults (at least 18 years old) are required to be fully vaccinated while kids (below 18 years old) should be accompanied by fully vaccinated adults.

Tickets are priced at Php799 for walk-ins, tickets bought online through thedessertmuseum.com are priced at Php699. As our visit fell during my birthday month, my daughter and I were able to take advantage of the Birthday Babies Are Free Promo, wherein we just needed to pay for #ExhibitA’s entrance while I got in for free.

You may also book your tickets via Klook.

Our tickets entitled us to enter the themed rooms, as well as get four dessert samples each, which were mostly made up of small pastries and bite-sized candies. I suggest you have a meal or a snack prior to your visit as well as bring a tumbler of water so you won’t get hungry or thirsty during your tour.

The Dessert Museum is located at Units 124, 126, 127a, S Maison, Coral Way, Conrad Hotel Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

Summer fun with the barkada at Manila Ocean Park

Hey, hey, summer’s here!

And while the barkada might be raring to go out of town for some summer fun, the good news is that you won’t even need to leave the city.

Right here in Metro Manila is a place where friends can come together for a full day of fun: Manila Ocean Park!

MOP Summer — An early start to our tour of Manila Ocean Park

As the country’s first world-class marine theme park and premiere educational entertainment destination, Manila Ocean Park boasts of attractions that will surely appeal to everyone in the barkada.

According to MOP’s EVP & COO Francis Low, the park’s attractions are designed to be educational, interactive and experiential. These design pillars sets Manila Ocean Park apart from similar establishments. With exhibits that visitors can not only look at but also interact with, the park helps create memorable moments for the guests as well as add to their knowledge.

Want to know what you and your pals can expect at Manila Ocean Park? Well, read on, then.

Oceanarium

This is home to 14,000 marine creatures across 277 species indigenous to the Philippines and Southeast Asia. With a 220-deg curved walkway tunnel with an amazing view of sea creatures swimming overhead, Oceanarium will give your barkada the feeling of being at the center of the ocean’s wonders, as well as lots of spectacular photos for your Instagram feed!

Trails to Antarctica

If the summer heat is getting to you, make a beeline for Trails to Antarctica where you can learn more about this mysterious frozen continent as well as its inhabitants. An example of these would be the Humboldt penguins, curious and highly sociable animals that you can interact with for some feeding, and of course, a photo opp for just Php650!

By the way, some of these cuties were hatched and raised right here in Manila Ocean Park, thanks to its very successful breeding program.

All-Star Bird Show back to back with a Sea Lion Show

Manila Ocean Park is also home to our feathered friends such as macaws, cuckatoos and birds of prey which display their intelligence and skills through stunts and tricks during the All-Star Bird Show.

Back-to-back with the bird show is the Sea Lion Show which showcases Manila Ocean Park’s South American sea lions which include Sandra, the sexiest female with all the suave moves; Icis, the prettiest among the females; Ira, the youngest and cutest; while Yeni, the smartest. The only thorn among the roses is Vincent, a big and beefy male sea lion who is also diligent with his training. These marine mammals display their skills through funny antics and entertaining skits during the show.

The All-Star Bird Show and Sea Lion Show are performed back-to-back at 12.30pm and 4.30pm on weekdays and at 12.30pm, 3pm and 4.30pm on weekends.

While the park’s aviary, The Birdhouse, is still closed, you can book your very own Bird Encounter and give your inner Disney Princess (or Prince!) free rein.

You can also get up close and personal with a sea lion through the Sea Lion Encounter. For Php3,500 per person, a group of at least five people can get an exclusive demonstration of a sea lion’s talents and intelligence through learned behavior such as giving you a kiss, jumping through hoops and performing a water ballet with you. Sea Lion Encounters are available only via reservations and is subject to availability.

Jellies Dancing Sea Fairies

Did you know that jellyfish are sometimes called the “dancing sea fairies?”

This moniker is no doubt due to their grace and transparent beauty as they glide below and on the ocean’s surface.

They are showcased in their element against a fascinating display of multi-media effects and soothing music in the Jellies Dancing Sea Fairies Exhibit.

World of Creepy Crawlies

Sure, they may be scary (and sort of icky) but they’re definitely interesting. These snakes, frogs, lizards, worms and insects all have their own beauty and seemingly amazing superpowers that drive their survival despite the harsh environments they inhabit. You and your pals can see them in a new light at the World of Creepy Crawlies.

Super Toy Collection

Got comic book fans in the barkada? Or those who idolize the Man of Steel?

Well, they can geek out at the largest collection of Superman toys and memorabilia at the Super Toy Collection. Your entire group can even immerse yourselves in memorable scenes from the Superman movies.

Christmas Village

Despite the feeling that we’re almost melting in the city because of the sweltering summer heat, we can still experience the chilly holiday season at the Christmas Village. You can all hang out with Santa Claus or check out the snowy gingerbread house; your sneak peek into a winter wonderland is right here.

All these exciting experiences and more are waiting for you and your buddies at Manila Ocean Park.

So get set to enjoy the summer fun right here by booking your tickets online now with these fantastic deals available until May 29, 2022:

Jolly Splash 6 (Php560, previously Php2,300): includes access to six attractions – Oceanarium, Trails to Antarctica, Christmas Village, World of Creepy Crawlies, Jellies Dancing Sea Fairies, and Super Toy Collection
Festive Wave 8 (Php680, previously Php3,300): includes access to six attractions – Oceanarium, Trails to Antarctica, Christmas Village, World of Creepy Crawlies, Jellies Dancing Sea Fairies, Super Toy Collection, Sea Lion Show and Bird Show

Manila Ocean Park is located behind the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. You may also book your tickets via Klook.

For more news and updates on its attractions and offers, follow Manila Ocean Park on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Manila Ocean Park:

Garden Dining at Home (White Moon Bar) — Garden Dining at Home

Manila Ocean Park's Francis Low — Profile: Manila Ocean Park’s Francis Low

Horrific journey into madness at Asylum Manila

Opened in 1939, the Asylum was a premier psychiatric medical institution for the criminally insane. The worst and most violent of psychiatric patients were brought here for treatment and seclusion.

Dr. Vanicutt, a renowned psychiatrist from Pennysylvania, heads the asylum. When his wife died from a mysterious accident, the doctor sank into madness: tormenting and conducting grotesque experiments on the patients.

During the Japanese occupation, the Asylum was mistaken for an abandoned building and a garrison of soldiers was stationed there. They ended up going insane and slaughtering each other.

From then on, the Asylum has been abandoned. The poor souls who wandered there were never heard from again.

Now in 2019, the doors are open again, welcoming new patients while the many unthinkable events that took place in the Asylum are still waiting to be uncovered.

That’s the premise of Asylum Manila, the newest horror attraction in the metro. It is a massive walk-through of dark attractions with sinister live actors, jump scares straight out of horror movies and Hollywood-caliber special effects.

You and your gang (who will, hopefully, stand with you no matter what terrors you encounter inside) will enter the Asylum as its newest patients. Two creepy nurses will check your vitals (making sure that you have no pre-existing medical conditions that will make you unable to complete your journey), then they will reveal the Asylum’s sordid history before ushering you into the house of horrors.

Inside, you will be chased up, down and around by crazed orderlies, chainsaw murderers, cannibalistic undertakers and mutilated patients. You will even encounter characters straight from horror movies such as Annabelle and the Nun from The Conjuring series and Pennywise the Clown from It.

By the end of your 45-minute journey through winding pathways, moving floors and walls, flashing lights and creepy music, you will have experienced thrills and chills that will leave your adrenaline pumpin’ and your knees shakin’.

My friends from #SaanSaPH and I got a sneak peek of Asylum Manila’s attractions the day before it opened to the public and and let me say that the experience was one of the most fun, albeit scary, times we’ve all had together.

Tickets go on sale starting June 20, priced at Php699 Mondays to Thursdays, and at Php799 Fridays to Sundays. VIP tickets priced at Php1,200 are also available giving holders priority in queue. To buy online, visit AsylumManila.com.

Asylum Manila is located at 1148 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City (in front of Christ the King Mission), open from 4pm to 12 midnight. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 945 3007408, +63 945 3007404, +63 947 4612808 or +63 947 4612807.

Some reminders:

The attractions are not recommended for children under 12 years old or for persons with known and pre-existing medical conditions such as pregnancy, breathing/heart/psychological/joint/muscle conditions or any conditions made worse by physical exertion.
Wear comfortable clothes (no heels) and don’t bring backpacks or bags
No taking of photos or filming inside the attractions except in the assigned areas.

Thanks to Zarrah of TheBandWagonChic.com for extending the invitations!