Our trip to Subic Bay...

Subic Bay was once the site of the largest U.S. naval base in Asia. The base was even used during the Gulf War. The last U.S. ship left Subic in 1992. Subic has now become a tourist area.

The view from Ocean Adventure

We stayed in Subic for 2 days. The 1st day we went to Ocean Adventure. We saw the aquarium, a dolphin/killer whale show, and a sea lion show. There is also a place to swim with the dolphins and whales. We didn't do it this time, but may have to go back and try it!

Ever had a sea lion wink at you?!?

*L* at the Aquarium

Our "helper" Agnes with the kids and her neice (our driver's daugther), Ika

The second day we went to the "Zoobic" Safari, which is part of the old US Naval Base. It was kind of neat to see the old buildings and bunkers and think about what it once was. There was a zoo-type thing on the base (if you can call it that). They used some of the old navy buildings to house the animals. There were a bunch of animals in way too small of cages though...or just wandering around outside the cages. There were different animals than we have in the States, so don't get me wrong, that WAS neat to see. Zoobic just wasn't the cleanest/nicest place I've ever been to though--which nothing here is clean, so I should really learn that by now! The big joke between us Expats is "Lower your expectations" and it will all be okay! :o) Low expectations are definitely a MUST here (as is LOTS of hand sanitizer)!!!

By far the coolest thing at Zoobic Safari was the tigers! We rode in a caged jeepney out to where the tigers roamed freely. We bought about 5 dead chickens for like 50 pesos each ($1) to feed to them through the trap doors on the jeepney. It was awesome!! The tigers would climb right up onto the sides of the jeepney to eat the chickens. We had some pretty crazy Filippinos with us that were pulling the chickens back inside after the tiger would get ahold of it. I thought one of them was going to get their hand bitten off! *L* wasn't scared at all...she was growling back that the tigers! :o)

The Jeepney we rode in (Jeepneys are the local transportation here....

minus the cages of course!)

Tiger cubs sleeping at entrance to Zoobic