Up Close with the Dolphins at MOAP

It was my first time to be out-of-town on a holy week.  April 6 is Pat's birthday and it fell on a Good Friday.  So when I asked him in February what he would like to do on his birthday, he said we'd go out-of-town.  And we decided to visit MOAP, Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park, located in Sinacaban, about 20 minutes with jeepney ride from Ozamiz City.  We arrived at MOAP at past 10am.  And we went directly to the Dolphin Island.  Though we waited for about 20 minutes for the boat to take us there from the main land.

Our boat.  Just arrived from the Dolphin Island.  Entrance to the Dolphin Island costs P300.00 per person inclusive of the boat ride already.  Minimum passengers of the boat is 10 and you have to pay extra if batch is less than 10.  Extra fee would depend on the number of people.  In our case, only Pat, AJ and I were the passengers, so we paid an extra P280.00 atop the P900.00.  

The boat ride.  Pat and me.  AJ took this picture. 

We are now approaching the Dolphin Island.  Excited already!

Pat and AJ looking at some people swimming with the dolphins. We immediately changed into our swimming wear as we can't wait to be with the dolphins already.  :-)  The fee for swimming with the dolphin is P300.00 per person.

There were three dolphins at the moment.  But only two were with us when we were feeding them.

I am bringing the fish that would be used to feed the dolphin so we can make them come close to us.  The fish (1/2 kilo, I think) is free of charge.

I am feeding the dolphin! My first feed.  Yeheeey!

Pat feeding the dolphin.  

 

AJ's turn to feed the dolphin.

But a few times of feeding the dolphin, we could not touch them.  The guide said we have to go in the deep part of the water and use the life vest and goggles so we could touch the dolphin.  Because it would be difficult for the dolphin in the shallow water to stay in place.

But we didn't rent the life vests and goggles.  Pat just decided to go near the deep part, up until his chest level.  And there, we were able to touch and feel the dolphin with our bare hands!  :-)  Yeheey!

 I like the feeling, so much.  We thought the dolphin's skin was kind of slimy.  But it is not.  It is shiny, smooth.  I don't really know how to describe it.  You have to feel it yourself to know it. Hehehe...

AJ was able to touch the dolphin many times compare to me.  She was more aggressive than me.  I have the tendency to be a bit afraid so when the dolphin comes near me, I sometimes hesitate to touch it.  And I regretted it.  So I promised myself.  The next time I get the chance to be with dolphins again this close, I won't for a second hesitate. I'll grab the opportunity and touch it as many times as I can. :-)

I tried to see the dolphin underwater.  But I forgot that I am in the sea water and I didn't have goggles.  I was not able to see clearly the dolphin and my eyes hurt a bit.  hehehe...

The guide gave us each a starfish to hold for picture taking.  These starfishes were not intentionally put there.  They simply happen to be in the area at the time.  :-)

When the dolphin would swim behind me, and when I see its fin above water, I would be reminded of the movie JAWS.   Pat laughed at me when I made the sound of the Jaws' theme song... dan dan dan dan dan dan dan.... hehehehe...

Too bad, the crew taking our pictures was not able to take a photo of me touching the dolphin.  It was only captured in the video.  And only a few times. Tsk tsk tsk.   Next time, I'd make sure I'd touch the dolphin so many times so that I would have a souvenir photo of it.  :-)

Below are two videos taken by another crew at the Dolphin Island.  It's good to know the crews there know how to use cameras and videos.  :-)

The next time I'd be able to go back to MOAP, I would also go to the side of the resort where I'd get to see the corals and other fishes.   We were not able to do it then because of time constraints. 

Where Is My Bag?

I am known to my family and some friends as a forgetful person.  Again, I had an incident of my forgetfulness.  And this time, it's BIG TIME!

Here's what happened.

Pat, me and his niece (AJ) went on a trip last week for the holy week vacation.  On our last day, we were at the bus terminal of Ozamiz City waiting for the bus for Iligan City.   After about 20 minutes of waiting, I went to the comfort room to urinate, bringing along with me my shoulder bag.  Before urinating, I looked for a  hook to hang my bag on and luckily found one.  Actually, I was supposed to just have my bag with me but since I saw a hook, I hang it there instead.  After doing my thing, I flushed the toilet bowl and left the comfort room.  Returned to the area where Pat and AJ were seated.  Just sat there silently.  After a few seconds, I thought of taking my cellphone from my bag to check the time.  That was when I realized my bag was not with me.  I told Pat, "Nabilin akong bag" (I left my bag.) matter of factly.  I stood up and walked back to the comfort room.  Half way through, I ran.   The man sitting in front of the door of the comfort room had a big smile when I ran past him.  I didn't say anything.  I just ran straight to the toilet room where I left my bag.  Hah!  I was sooooo relieved to see my bag still hanging there.  Whew.  Grabbed it and whispered a thank you.     When I came out of the comfort room, with my bag, the man said "limtan man" (forgotten eh), still with the big smile on his face.  I just smiled back and said "lagi" (yeah). 

Then I headed back to my seat.  With a big smile on my face.  AJ asked if my camera was in the bag.  I said, everything.  My camera, my wallet and other stuff.   Then I just sat down like nothing happened.  Pat then told me to check the contents.  Oh yeah, I forgot to check if everything's still there.  So, I checked.  Yap, everything's still there. 

Then Pat said something to me that really jolted me to what just happened.  He said that he was not worried if the camera or the money would be gone.  What worried him was what could have happened to me if my bag was not there anymore.   Then it hit me.  Oh my God, I almost lost my bag and all the valuable contents inside.  And the most valuable at that time is the memory card with all our pictures during the trip.   Then a bit of panic hit me.  My heart started throbbing.  I looked at Pat.   And I also could not give an answer to his question.  Yeah, what could have happened to me?  At that moment I said a little prayer thanking God for guiding us and keeping us safe.  My guardian angel sure was not asleep.   Thank you.

(image source :  http://www.bolokids.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=178)

With what happened to me at the bus terminal, I learned two lessons that I will always have to remember for the rest of my life.

1.  Never again separate my bag (or other things valuable) from my body, whenever I am on a trip or attending some events.   Pat said specially in public places like comfort rooms.  :-)
 
2.  To be at the present moment always.  This is what actually causes most of my forgetfulness attack.  As I am doing something, my mind would also be thinking of something else.  That is why I have the tendency not to be aware of what I am actually doing as I am deep in thought about something else.  And so I tend to forget what I am supposed to do next.  So, when I finished urinating, I forgot to get my bag from the hook because the last thing I remembered was that my bag was with me.

Whew!