Adrenaline Romance

Manila Ocean Park: A Window to the Living Ocean

Posted by Gian and Sheila on January 28, 2014 in Backpacking, Metro Manila

Manila Ocean Park

Let us talk about numbers for the moment. According to the World Atlas of Coral Reefs published by the University of California, coral reefs cover more than 284,000 square kilometers of the planet. That is just 0.1 percent of our ocean’s total surface area. A majority of the area occupied by coral reefs, around 92 percent, is located in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Southeast Asia, Australia, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Around 32 percent of that coral-encrusted area is in Southeast Asia.

Tags: Interactive museum, Manila Ocean Park, Musical fountain, Oceanarium, Philippine oceanarium, Philippine reef creatures, Philippine reef ecosystem, Philippine reef organisms, Philippine reef systems, Tourism in the Philippines, Travel Philippines Permalink

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Power Up Tandang Sora: The Birthplace of Filipino Rock Climbing Legends

Posted by Gian and Sheila on January 17, 2014 in Metro Manila, Wall Climbing

Power Up Tandang Sora

Wall climbing and rock climbing are exciting, adrenaline-pumping activities that are, sadly, just faint blips in Philippine sports. In fact, there are only a handful of artificial walls in the country much less outdoor crags and bouldering areas. There is almost no government support in promoting the sport or developing climbing areas, and even the private sector gives wall climbing and rock climbing a cursory glance.

Tags: climbing holds, Climbing wall, Indoor climbing, Manila adventure, Philippine adventure, Philippine climbing, Philippine indoor climbing, Power Up Center for Climbing and Fitness, Power Up Climbing Gym, Power Up Tandang Sora, Wall climbing, Wall climbing as exercise Permalink

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Museo Pambata: Where Learning is Actually Fun

Posted by Gian and Sheila on January 12, 2014 in Backpacking, Metro Manila

Museo Pambata

Learning a great deal about the world is not and should not be confined in the four corners of the classroom, the study hall, or the library. Nor is it or should it be confined to textbooks, photos, videos, websites, documentaries, and other media. In fact, most of what we truly learn comes from our experiences and interaction with the real world. We have a vastly better understanding of the concepts we encounter in textbooks, teacher’s lectures, educational TV shows, and other media if we have a glimpse of or if we experience the real thing.

Tags: backpacking, Children's museum, Interactive exhibit, Interactive museum, Learning is fun, Manila city tour, Manila museum, Manila trip, Museo Pambata, Practical learning Permalink

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Saying Hello to 2014 and Farewell to an Adventure-Filled 2013

Posted by Gian and Sheila on December 31, 2013 in Special Posts

Happy New Year 2014

Whew! We never had the slightest expectation, but 2013 turned out to be a superb adventure-filled year! No, Team Sweetie is not exaggerating. The fact that virtually every weekend, we were somewhere out there, away from the warmth and comfort of our own home, is a testament to our hunger for exploration, discovery, adventure, and a healthy dose of adrenaline. And in undertaking each heart-stopping adventure, in planning and visiting each unique destination, in witnessing a magical sunrise, in partaking of a unique cultural heritage, we grow stronger…not just as a fun-loving couple, but also as steadfast advocates in appreciating, respecting, and protecting the Philippines’ indescribably beautiful treasures.

Tags: adventure, Happy New Year, Philippine adventure, Philippine travel, travel, welcome 2014 Permalink

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Discover Scuba Diving: A Fun First-Time Visit to the World Under the Sea

Posted by Gian and Sheila on December 21, 2013 in Cebu, Scuba Diving

Discover Scuba Diving at Kontiki Dive Resort

According to oceanographers all over the world, we know more about outer space than our own oceans. Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the planet, but we know less than 5 percent about them. In fact, much of the land under the oceans remains unmapped and unexplored, and we haven’t actually understood how oceans work. Why is that, despite our advanced technology and unending determination?

Tags: coral reef, corals, discover scuba diving, dive instructor, dive resort, dive resort in Mactan, dive spots in Mactan, diving, DSD, Jonjie Deparine, Kontiki Dive Resort, Lapu Lapu City, Mactan Island, Maribago, ocean, PADI, scuba, scuba diving, scuba diving in Mactan, scuba gear, sea, snorkeling, underwater Permalink

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Multi-pitch Climbing in Cantabaco: An Adventure 250 Feet Above the Ground

Posted by Gian and Sheila on December 16, 2013 in Cebu, Rock Climbing

Multipitch Climb Cantabaco

As a team, Sweetie and I have been rock climbing and mountaineering for almost two years now. Through all those years, we have developed a certain high for heights. We definitely feel exhilarated as we ascend new rock climbing routes, sit quietly on a mountain peak and enjoy the vista below our feet, stand up at the lip of a waterfall, or even climb treetops to feel the cool breeze. We didn’t even spare the water tower in the housing subdivision where we reside in the hopes of having a good glimpse of a V22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft at the military base a few miles away.

Tags: adventure, belay station, Cantabaco, Cantabaco crag, Cebu outdoors, Cebu rock climbing, Climbing Philippines, Crag, extreme sports, Heights, multi pitch climbing, Philippine rock climbing, Rock Climbing Permalink

Lust for Lime IX: Climb, Chill, Party, Beer

Posted by Gian and Sheila on December 7, 2013 in Cebu, Rock Climbing

Lust for Lime IX

As mentioned in a prior article, rock climbing in the Philippines is quite a new, almost unknown sport. There are other factors that inhibit the growth of the sport—the high cost of rock climbing equipment, the insufficient supply of both traditional and sport climbing equipment, the lack of bolted crags, the difficulty of bolting a crag, the difficulty of asking permission from property owners to bolt a crag, the inherent danger of climbing high cliffs, etc.