After the wonderful adventure of Disney Land yesterday, today we were ready for another big day. We were set to head off to Ocean World Park. We had a very filling and delicious American breakfast in the hotel before waiting for our tour guide to collect us from Hotel Reception. Once we boarded the bus we began to make our way to Ocean World Park only to be surprised to discover an unanticipated stop was to be made first at a local jewellery manufacturer.
We were ushered inside and given a presentation about jewellery in Hong Kong and the chance to win a free gift before being shown into the main showroom full of overly eager sales staff. Connor and Ryan were about to be exposed to their first hard sales pitch and like any lambs to the slaughter they didn't see it coming despite our best efforts to prepare them. So needless to say we walked out of the jewellery store with a free garnet won by Connor, a glass swirl necklace, a year of the monkey pendant and a year of the snake pendant. Hmmmm!!!
After this slight detour that left our wallets a little lighter we finally made it to Ocean World Park. Its an interesting place that combines aquarium and sea creature exhibits, and panda exhibits with an amusement park.
The park is enormous and is spread out over two main levels. One on ground level and the other on the mountain summit. On the advice of the tour guide we made a bee line to the cable cars and headed straight to the summit.
At the summit the kids headed straight to the Thrill Mountain section. The family favourite ride was the Rapids. The warning sign said "You will get wet. You may get soaked". This was an accurate description. We got absolutely soaked!!!
Other fun family rides included the Bumper Blaster Bumper Cars where Connor and I certainly come off the worst after being repeatedly rammed by David and Ryan. We also all went on the Rev Booster which after spinning at high speed left David and I feeling unwell and in the need of something to eat to settle our stomachs. The Ferris Wheel was a much tamer way to pass some time and to admire the views from the summit although it was very cold at the top.
The other very interesting thing that happened was the transformation in Connor. We don't know where it happened exactly but somewhere between the Royal Adelaide Show last year where he did not want to go on any rides and Ocean World Park Connor became the roller coaster king. Connor puts it down to Space Mountain. Poor David had to go on the Hair Raiser, the Dragon, and the Mine Train roller coasters. Connor loved it.
Between all the rides we also made time to go to see the Sea Jelly Spectacular. This was an amazing display of different size and shape jelly fish from all over the world. They were displayed in different illuminated tanks which often changed colours. It was beautiful.
After we finished exploring the summit we took the cable car back down to the Waterfront to see what other exciting things were around. Our first stop was the Amazing Asian Animals which included red pandas, giant pandas and enormous gold fish which Ryan called "Sumo fish". The boys seemed to really enjoy watching the animals.
Next we went to Whiskers Harbour where we went on the Balloons Up Up and Away small ferris wheel and Connor and Ryan went on the Frog Hopper. Ryan in particularly seemed to love bouncing up and down on the Frog Hopper. We had to prise him away after the 3rd or 4th ride. Connor in the meantime made his way to a small climbing wall.
We started to bring the adventures to a close by wandering through the Grand Aquarium - this biggest aquarium in Asia. Ryan got brave and touched the star fish while Connor was busy taking photos of all the fish. There were some beautiful corals and fish to see.
After we had finished in the Grand Aquarium despite the cold and rainy weather we bought some Hagen Daz ice cream - you can tell we must be on holiday.
After we had finished in the Grand Aquarium despite the cold and rainy weather we bought some Hagen Daz ice cream - you can tell we must be on holiday.
After time for one last photo we were picked up and taken back to our hotel. We headed out for Dim Sum where we managed to find tubs of Ben and Jerry's Ice cream. We took out Ben and Jerry's back to our room to enjoy while watching the laser light show. Ryan has now said that today was the awesomest day of his life.
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