TAKSIYAPO, Extreme Magicians and Good Food: An ISDAAN Tarlac Review

A decent road trip going up North or vice versa is never complete without a.0 seeing the sights and b.0 good food.

Combining the two criteria, Phil and I brought the 4 kids over to Isdaan: The Floating Restaurant / Theme Park along the highway at Gerona, Tarlac (they also have one in Calauan, Laguna).

Owned by the same owners as Barrio Fiesta, expect the cuisine to be Filipino. Here's what we did in our stopover:

Upon arriving at Isdaan's ample yet excruciatingly hot (during midday) parking lot, they have umbrella carrying personnel ambling about to bring you to the restaurant's entrances. We walked to a waiting area where the hostess will find a table for your group. Finding a table involves walking around the maze-like floating resto, so you'd want someone to take care of this for you.

at the waiting area/gift shop

For those with kids, life vests will be issued to them before you go to your tables, just in case they fall into the various ponds (some 6-8 ft deep).

Ordering is quite a tedious business. The menus are printed in a long board, have small lettered items on it and not all have pictures. Luckily, the waiters are quite knowledgeable. With the novelty of eating in a Thai/Balinese designed floating food place in the middle of nowhere, you kinda expect the prices of the dishes to be above average (which they were).

Ordering for our motley crew of 6, we were entertained several times as we waited for the food. First up was a magician who performed on a platform in the center of  5-6 huts, one of which our table was located in. You gotta give it to the guy. Doing tricks midday in a cheesy black velvet suit out in the open, without shade was just suicidal :P

this magician's hardcore

Next up was a trio of singers, who would serenade you as you dine.Our food had arrived by then, with them in tow, singing like the folks at Singing Cooks and Waiters (still owned by the Barrio Fiesta peeps). They even take requests. We had them stop after 2 songs :)

not a fan of live music this close :P

Right after we ordered, the waiter did a head count on how many kids were with us. Right before our food arrived, Angry Bird balloons and a small bag of goodies were given to the 2 kids (the other 2 felt too old for it already), while the 4 boys were given each a bag of fish food to feed the hungry koi that swarmed around the waters where our hut stood on top off.

freebies

that's fish food kids!!!

With regards to the food, the portions were proportionate to the amount you paid for and then some, but the flavors were good. Nothing extraordinary,  but not bad either. Took pictures as an after thought (we are MEDIOCRE after all), as hunger was front and center in our brains.

pork sisig: so creamy, so tasty, sooo goood!!

fried seafood platter: a lot of everything for everybody. The calamari was our fave

inihaw na liempo (roast pork belly): tasted more like adobo

food's flavorful, you're better off having plain steamed rice (bagong sinaing) or garlic rice

The food didn't really take that long to arrive as food is also prepared in stations near a cluster of huts to get food out efficiently. Here are our food comments as well as the menu:

cooking stations dot walkways

After paying for our lunch, we headed out to look around the place. This is what we saw:

 Our favorite was the Taksiyapo place where you can let lose (without any familiar foul language whatsoever), your resentment, anger and frustration. You may break mugs, cups, plates, saucers, vases and even a tv set, all for a certain fee.

stress relievers

None of us yelled "Taksiyapo" (which is supposed to be a Kapampangan expletive). Instead we yelled out names of family members who have irritated us at one point or another. And yes, two of my sons did yell out one of their brother's names :D It was good group therapy. I guess breaking something does that to you.

don't be Koi with me (lol)

After a few more quick pics of the place, we were back on the road to head out to Manila.

I have to admit, it was a pleasant and not quite ordinary place to be in. Even the older kids enjoyed the whole thing. A pricey stopover, but nonetheless, worth it.

thumbs up to Isdaan

From TMW, may all your wanderings be better than ours!

THIS SUMMER: The Zoobic Night Safari

Summer is often the time to take the kids out as a much deserved reward for the school year that was. Some folks aim to bring their kids to fun places, others to educational ones and folks, like me and Phil, to destinations that have both.

This is why we headed out to the Zoobic Night Safari.

Zoobic and the various activities/parks nearby are always great go tos in ensuring a fab vacay for kids of all ages. We've been to Zoobic before, but the thought of trudging along under the hot summer sun was something we didn't want to impose to the Zoobic first timer kids. Good thing the Zoomanity thought of a night safari. Every Saturday, from March 23 to May 25, 2013, the Night Safari is available to all those sunstroke fearing folks out there.

Here's a description of the highlights from the company website:
"Gear up your nocturnal senses and prepare for a series of roaring nights of fun in visiting Zoobic Safari’s classic attractions, Serpentarium; a wild encounter with snakes, lizards and iguanas, Rodent World, a magnificent collection of rodents, Zoobic Park, a walk-through petting zoo, Tiger Safari, an enclosed safari jeep ride that will take you to the tigers’ natural habitat, Croco Loco, a crocodile lair where you will have a chance to feed them. Take a walk together with the greyhounds and follow the night trail in Greyhound Walk. Also included in Zoobic Safari’s amazing attractions are Savannah, Close Encounter, Aetas’ Trail, Hip Hop Bay-A-Wak and Animal Muzooeum. Enjoy a different and bolder show specially prepared for the night’s entertainment; expect an explosive presentation that will surely growl your mind away."

Here's what we saw (and not all those advertised in the website was available): (the lack of pictures was something we had no control of as a lot of the areas had poor lighting, with flash photography not allowed).

1. Zoobic Park: much better than the last time we were there. The walk through petting zoo's path is now entirely paved and the animals in much more organized pens, unlike before when some of them were allowed to wander about. Downside: similar to the tour groups one can encounter in field trips, your guide gets too close enough to the next group that you're hearing two separate lectures and you end up being rushed along when this happens.

2. Serpentarium, Rodent World, Bone Museum etc- areas we were rushed through as the guides were trying to herd everyone to watch the night safari show behind the starting point of the trip. BTW, Some areas have steps that may make bringing a stroller a tad challenging.

3. Night Safari Show: a show comprised of the staff and crew of Zoobic. It features dancing, the star attractions of the park, fire eaters and an awkward ecological skit. It was fun, educational and entertaining at the same time. What irked us was the fact that because they were in a hurry to "herd" everyone to the once a night show, we had to wait a solid 30 minutes before the show started. Precious time taken away when we could have used that to go to the Tiger Safari. We got on the tour at 6:30 pm and should have been done by 9:00. By 9 pm we haven't gone to the Tiger Safari and the Greyhound walk (which we skipped as the kids were already hungry).

4. Tiger Safari: perhaps the most know attraction of the place...we only saw one tiger :P

RATES
Package 1: Entrance Only   

• Php 595  -  Adult   
• Php 495  -  Kids 4 ft and below, FREE - Kids 3 ft and below                            

Inclusions:

• Night Safari Tour (Zoobic Park, Rodent World, Serpentarium, Zoobic Cave, Forbidden Cave, Tiger Safari Ride, Greyhound Walk, Croco Loco) for approximately 2 hours.
• Zooper Tram
• Nigh Safari Jungle Show 

Package 2: Entrance with Set Meal

• Php 695  - Adult
• Php 595  - Kids 4 ft and below, FREE - Kids 3 ft and below

Inclusions:

• Night  Safari Tour (Zoobic Park, Rodent World, Serpentarium, Zoobic Cave, Forbidden Cave, Tiger Safari Ride, Greyhound Walk, Croco Loco) for approximately 2 hours.
• Zooper Tram
• Night Safari Jungle Show
• Set Meal

Package 3: Entrance with Accommodation

• Php 1,990  - Adult
• Php 1,290  - Kids (4 to 6 years old)

Inclusions:

• Overnight Stay at Tiara Hotel on a sharing basis (located at Crownpeak Area, only 15 mins drive away)
• Night Safari Tour (Zoobic Park, Rodent World, Serpentarium, Zoobic Cave, Forbidden Cave, Tiger Safari Ride, Greyhound Walk, Croco Loco) for approximately 2 hours.
• Zooper Tram
• Breakfast

Registration starts at 5pm and tour starts at 6pm. This is a guided tour of about 2 and a half hours.

As this is a limited time only Safari, you've got til May 25 to enjoy the park minus the blistering heat of the summer sun.

From TMW, may all your wanderings be better than ours!