One of the biggest dreams a kid could probably have is to spend a whole day at Disneyland. Well, I did have that kind of dream. But considering the circumstances, I wouldn’t be able to do that as we speak. But that doesn’t mean that “adult kids” like me should sulk and wallow for not having to mingle with Donald and Mickey. Besides, here in the Philippines we also have theme parks and carnivals that I can say are just perfect to cater to every kid’s dreams as far as being in fantasyland is concerned.


For today, I’m going to share to you my experiences in one of the country’s most popular carnivals, the Enchanted Kingdom!

The Arrival
Saturday, October 13, 2007 at 2:03 pm
The Enchanted Kingdom is located at the prosperous city of Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. Actually, this was my second time at the park. I was here with my friends about 2-3 years ago. The park has seven (7) zones namely Victoria Park, Portabello, Brooklyn Place, Spaceport, Jungle Outpost, Midway Boardwalk and Boulderville. Each one has its own signature flavor and theme from the Victorian up to the space exploration era, which is quite interesting if you ask me.

When we arrived, there were few people lined up at the ticket booth, about hundreds. I say few because during my first trip there were plenty of excursionists and it took us several minutes to buy tickets. As soon as we got there, my friend pulled out her camera for a snapshot with the Wizard, which was very customary for the visitors. Afterwards, we bought our tickets. We wanted to enjoy unlimited use of the park’s rides so we picked the Regular Day Pass, which costs Php 600.00 on weekends. At last we were already inside the park.



Tip: There are two (2) other tickets that you can avail of. The first one is called Carousel Special Pass worth Php 150 that gives you free admission to the park grounds and unlimited access to the Carousel. The other one is the Child Day Pass worth Php 350 on weekdays and Php 420 on weekends. This is applicable to children between 36" to 47".

The Midway Boardwalk
At 2:09, we took pictures in front of Dodgem that’s located at Midway Boardwalk. Dodgem is that park's bump-car ride. When we arrived, the queue railings were almost filled with young and old people alike hence, we decided to skip the ride for later and headed towards Roller Skater.

Roller Skater is like a mini roller coaster ride without the killer loop. It’s probably intended for the fainted heart like me. At 2:21 pm, the skater made its move. It was cute and fantastic and I loved it because I get to feel my stomach falling without feeling really dizzy. This has been our first ride of the day. If you’ve been to a roller coaster before, the skater is just a walk in the park.

At 2:35 pm, we were deep into Boardwalk and just at the doorsteps of Anchor’s Away. Anchor’s is a ship replica that serves like a huge rocking vessel that swings you back and forth. And this swinging motion is what makes riders go crazy! Nope, we didn't try it as soon as you might expect. Then, at 2:43, we headed towards the Swan Lake and the Wheel of Fate for some pictures. Later that day, at 5:57 pm, we rode the Wheel of Fate, which was pretty nerve-wracking for me because a have a great deal of fear of heights. But it was nice being there at the top because you have a complete visualization of the entire park, which was actually cool.

Tip: At Midway you can also find a Henna Tattoo shop, arcade and a fantasy theater. Clowns also roam this place so make sure your kids don't miss them! Some riders are restricted by height or physical limitations. Refer to Safety Guides at all times.

The 3:00pm lunch

It’s almost an hour since we arrive so literally we got hungry. Then, we went to the food court and order chicken, fries and spaghetti. The food court is not that big and the menus to choose from but the free concert and dessert treats more than made up for it. Nobody visits Enchanted without having tasted the “Treats.” It’s a Sundae that comes in different flavors. I heard it was called “blizzard.” But anyway, our favorite flavors are cookies n cream and of course very rocky road.

In between scoops of ice cream, yours truly took a video of Space Shuttle. This is one of Enchanted’s main attractions if not the “main” attraction. It’s a roller coaster ride with a sci-fi theme located at the Spaceport Zone. This is the country’s first and only triple loop coaster that turns riders upside down 6 times!

Tip: It's kind of weird why they put the foodcourt beside the Shuttle area but anyway don't ride the shuttle when your full so you won't throw up! And when I say full, I also meant "pregnant."

The trip at Brooklyn Place
3:43 pm

After our sumptuous lunch, we strolled along Brooklyn Place. It is the centermost part of the park where you could take a sentimental journey down the streets of Brooklyn as it was in the 1940’s. This is where the Rialto, a motion simulator theater that combines sound, sight and movement is situated. This zone also has souvenir shops, photo shops and a kiosk named Soda Fountain.

At 3:58 pm, we were already inside Rialto. The featured film was Peril on Arkryls.

Tip: Don't cradle your kid on your lap when you ride Rialto because it's prohibited. And please don't cut the line and be respectful of the persons who lined-up earlier than you.

Boulderville: back to being kids
4:16 pm

Our next stop is the Boulderville. This part of the park is a prehistoric zone with dinosaurs all over that makes you want to come back to your toddler days. Obviously, this is where kids hangout. Rides located in this area includes Boulderville Express, Bumbling Boulders, Air Pterodactyl, Stone Eggs and Dinosoarus. There are also play facilities namely Rock Quarry and Petreefied House.

I wanted to ride the Stone Eggs but I knew my friends would tease me so I just passed up on it. Well,
maybe I will on my next visit. I’ll just make sure I’ll bring in my niece.

Tip: What is Wizard Money? Well, these are "gift" certificates that you can give your kids to buy Enchanted Kingdom's tickets, food, drinks and other cool stuffs inside the Park. It's available in denominations of Php 50 and Php 100.

The Portabello and the Flying Fiesta
4:24 pm

Still feeling the rush of the Rialto ride, my pal and I went to Portabello (the Caribbean themed zone) to catch the Flying Fiesta ride. Fiesta is a giant swing ride that gives you the adrenaline rush and the wacky feeling of weightlessness. Also Rio Grande, a wet and wild boat adventure, is located here.

Tip: For your safety, don't hold on to the chains while riding Fiesta. Instead, hold on to the safety metal bar on your lap.

Welcome to the Jungle
6:27 pm

It was already dark when we marched towards the Jungle Outpost. As the name itself implies, this is the part of the park that was inspired by the Amazon Jungle. This is the site for the Jungle Log Jam and the Swan Lake. Afraid to get wet, I managed to elude Log Jam and just settled to take some pictures and joined a target-shooting game, which I lost by the way. (I should’ve won if I wasn’t too cocky!)

Tip: At Jungle you can also find the Amazon Grill, Mexican Tacos Outlet and a photo and souvenir shop. The Park also treats you with an entertaining numbers from these performers (see picture).

Kart racer for a day
7:00pm

If you think going to carnivals is corny, think again! Here at Enchanted they offer a new ride for kart racing enthusiasts. For only Php 210 (single rider) and Php 320 you can enjoy 9 minutes of driving a kart along with other riders. Feel the need for speed? Nice offer, don’t you think? Here’s the picture of my friend who enjoyed being a kart-racer for a day!

Tip: Don't be offended if you're asked to sign on a waiver. Of course, kart racing is a dangerous sport and the Park just wants to make sure that you'll ride on your own risk.

The sultry dance number at Rio
7:51

We were walking along Brooklyn when we heard a beautiful song coming from Portabello. Excited, we rushed towards Rio Grande and were pleasantly surprised to catch an entertaining dance number to the tune of No Me Ames and another one, which I wasn’t so familiar about. But anyway, it was fun to see those dancers shaking their booty up. They were very graceful and nice. After the dance, onlookers mobbed and took pictures of them like movie stars!


Tip: I suggest that you ride Grande last because for sure you'll get really wet. You don't want to ride it early and spend the rest of the day with your wet underpants! Also, the line could really get very long so be patient while you wait for your turn.

The Grand Carousel
8:00 pm

Our next stop is the Grand Carousel located at Victoria Park. This is my favorite ride ever since because it’s serene and colorful and elegant. I told myself that there’s no way I’m going home without riding the Carousel. And so I did. Victoria Park by the way has an elegant Victorian era and ala-Queen Elizabeth style prinkled in it. This is where the Wizard mascot and some entertainers with turn-of-the-century costumes hang out.

The stars came down to greet us
9:00 pm

The mother of all highlights came to Enchanted at 9pm by virtue of the fireworks display. For 3 minutes, the sky was filled with colorful lights and firecrackers, which should make you, feel oblivious to the problems of the world. Indeed, the stars came down to greet us! And hopefully, also to you!

The departure
9:30 pm

With a smile plastered in our lips, we bid goodbye to Enchanted Kingdom. We really had a good time. This was far better than my previous visit because I was able to enjoy the rides I wanted to catch from the beginning. I’m sure this won’t be my last. I also hope that you would be able to come and visit this park. I’ve seen some foreigners at the site and just basing on how they looked, they seemed to have enjoyed their time, too.

Somethings you must know

1. No alcoholic beverages are allowed inside the premises of the park
2. Drugs, firearms, laser pen lights and other harmful items are also strictly prohibited.
3. Picknicking is not allowed inside the park.
4. Breaking of queue lines is a no-no.
5. Shoes and shirts must be worn at all times.
6. Seeing eye dogs are the only animals allowed in the park.
7. Radios, recorders and stereos are not permitted.
8. No smoking is not permitted in any ride, queue line, attraction and other marked areas.

For more information on how to get to Enchanted Kingdom, visit their official site.

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Renting a car is probably one of the smallest options you have to make in visiting a relatively unfamiliar country. But should you decide to avail of car rental services, you’ll have to carefully decide what rental firm you should hook-up with, the type of car that suits your requirements, and other services you might need (e.g. chauffer). Good thing that in the Philippines, we have several companies that offer this type of services. For today, I’m going to tell you the basic requirements for renting a car in the Philippines according to one of Manila’s better car rental companies – the JB Rent A Car Inc.

The Requirements

In renting a car from JB, the following should be presented by the renter (balikbayan or foreigner)

1. Passport
2. Proof of billing
3. Photocopy of driver’s license
4. Valid ID (company ID/PRC ID)

Terms and conditions

GASOLINE. Renter must return the vehicle with same quantity of gas as indicated on the check List or trip ticket. Any deficiency should be changed to the renter. However there will be no refund for excess gas.

RENTAL PERIOD. Daily rate equivalent of 24 hours rental and each hour beyond the said period will be charge 10 % of the daily rate. In excess of 4 hours a day rental will applied.

RENTAL EXTENSION. Rental station should be advised immediately and additional prepayment or credit authorization should be made. Renter should decide to extend the rental beyond the previously agreed return date and time. Failure to do so, would mean the renter is in violation of the Terms and Condition of the rental agreements. A surcharge of PHP 250.00 per day shall be added as overdue until the proper rental extension is made.

MODE OF PAYMENT. Renter should pay advanced rental (CASH) and 3,000 deposit for the cars and 5,000 deposit for the vans.

COLLISION AND DAMAGE WAIVER. The renter is liable to pay for the minimum of 3,500 and maximum of 7,500 php and 20 % to the damage parts.

DELIVERY AND PICK-UP. 500 PHP within Metro Manila.

RESERVATION. Must be made at least 2days before actual rental rate.

LOST KEYS. Fine of Php 500.00 will be applied


Tips in renting a car

1. Obviously, you have to be certain of the type of car you should need.
2. Inquire about special discounts and promotions being offered by car rental companies. This could save you a few bucks!
3. If there are ongoing promotions, scan through the mechanics and make sure you will not have to worry about the presence of hidden charges.
4. Learn and understand how you are being charged and billed. Don’t forget to ask about car insurances.
5. Aside from the above requirements, check with the company if there are other documents they might need.
6. Confirm your booking just before you arrive in the country.
7. Know the company’s contact numbers and contact persons.
8. Should you want to to avail of chauffer driven services, make sure that they’ll bring in a trustworthy driver.
9. Should you encounter an abusive driver, don’t hesitate to call the company’s attention but be cordial as much as possible.
10. Determine how the company handles car rental damages.
11. If you’re being charged with “damages” be calm, get the facts straight and cooperate with the rental agent.
12. When using the car, make sure you follow our country’s traffic regulations to avoid accidents and damages to you and to the car.
13. Of course know the company’s track record to ensure that you’re in good hands.


JB Rent A Car, Incorporated

Established in 1990 by brothers Engr. Belal Mahmoud and Dr. Jamal Hasan. They have offices in the following locations:

1. MANILA - 4A G/F/ Midland Plaza Hotel Adriatico St. Ermita Mla.
2. MABINI - Unit 006 Jalandoni Bldg. 144 A. Mabini St. Corner R. Salas St. Ermita Mla.
3. MAKATI - 1754-A N. Garcia St. (Formerly Reposos) Corner Conception St., Makati, Phil.

The full list of their services includes: 24-hour car rental, self-drive services, chauffer driven services, airport transfer, individual and corporate rental, and bridal car services. You can contact them through email at info@jbrentacar.com.

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