Archive for category Zoo
Baluarte ni Singson in Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Posted by roanne in Ilocos Sur, Philippines, Vigan, Zoo on April 25, 2011
Baluarte is a wildlife sanctuary owned by Chavit Singson (present governor of Ilocos Sur), and also a part of his enormous abode in Vigan.
We indulged having a few stops there, granted that it’s just a 5 to 10-minute walk from the Caoayan ancestral house where we stayed, not to mention it’s most wanted by my younger siblings.
This 80-hectare vast terrain is laden with wildlife-from the commonplace zoo animals such as ostriches to the endangered species like musang (Asian palm civet)-where you can actually interact with some of them vis-a-vis.
Located along the western seaboard of Northern Luzon 408 kilometers north of Manila, bounded in the South by South China Sea, Baluarte has its breathtaking view of Vigan City.
The best about Baluarte is that it’s open to public. Admission and rides are free of charge. But of course, we’re very kind enough to tip the coachmen every time my brothers ride on the tiburin (a small horse-drawn carriage) or the bird caretakers when we had our picture taken with the great blue-and-yellow macaw sitting prettily nearby the porch.
Other places that we failed to explore (due to time constraints since we usually went there during late afternoons) include the Butterfly Garden. There’s also a live animal show that’s held 4 times a day. My advice is: go there during early mornings so that you can explore more of the place. 
You can click here for more information about Baluarte.
Baluarte in Pictures:
Baluarte at mid-afternoon
Kids riding the tiburin
Animals by the grassland
Visiting Antwerp Zoo
Posted by roanne in Antwerp, Architecture, Belgium, Personal Moods, Shopping, Zoo on April 8, 2009
It’s been a long time since I went to a zoo. I remember going to Manila zoo, Malabon zoo and, of course, the Wildlife in Quezon City when I was little. I was supposed to go to Zoobic Safari last year, but to no avail.
So, here’s my chance to finally get in touch with wildlife. Last Saturday, we had a chance to visit Antwerp, one of the biggest and prettiest cities in Belgium. We immediately barged into the zoo to take a look at the animals, and have snapshots of them as well.
Traveling to Antwerp is quite simple: from Ghent Sint-Pieters station, we took a train going to Anterwepen Centraal. Since the zoo is nearby the train station, we had it as our first stop. For adults, it usually costs around € 18.50 to enter.
To give you some history about the Antwerp Zoo, it’s considered as one of the oldest and largest in the world-dated back since 1843. It also houses thousands of animals from various parts of the globe. This is why we need an ample of memory space in our digicam ‘coz we really get to capture LOTS.
Lovely Flamingos in Antwerp Zoo
We got to see those penguins, sea otters, seals, angel fishes and various sea creatures; deer; lionesses, tigers, leopard and black panther; buffalos and oxen; elephants; owls, eagles, pigeons, flamingos & various birds; camels and donkeys; etc. We also watched a very cool seal show. Also, the nature surrounding it is something that beckons us to take some more shots!
Train Stations and Architecture
*(L-R:) Antwerp Central Train Station & Antoon Van Dyck Statue*
One of the things that really amaze me is the architecture. The pristine Romantic, Medieval and Renaissance and pillars are well-preserved and part of the country’s past and culture. Some are even a mix of the old and the contemporary, making them truly one of a kind! I also discovered lots of statues of Belgian figures who contributed to its thriving history.
Shopping & Entertainment
A MUST thing to do in Antwerp is, ehem, shopping! We really got some pretty cheap stuff from the shopping center of the city. I’m so happy that I landed on H&M, one of my favorite shops, which is not currently available in the Philippines [yet].
I bought some souvenirs and makeup[!] in Bozzy, one of the gift shops I randomly stumbled upon. Of course, getting a cutesy hat in H&M truly made shopping worthwhile.
We also got to try Ben & Jerry’s specialty brownie ice cream. I’ve been lemming for Ben & Jerry’s so long, since it’s such a rare find in the Philippines.
I also got to meet a human statue, in the guise of Nostradamus. 
*Human Nostradamus Statue*
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