MINA SUNICO HAS UNCONVENTIONAL IDEAS FOR COUPLE GETAWAYS BEYOND THE USUAL CHAMPAGNE AND ROSES — NO COUPLE MASSAGES HERE, EITHER!
TEXT ON CLARK BY TARA FT SERING
PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES
Clark, Philippines
Sparks will definitely fly at Clark, an hour-and-a-half’s drive north of Metro Manila, with these heart-stopping nature adventures that will make you feel alive.
JUST TAKE THE PLUNGE
Nothing seals the deal more than a shared rush, and the Omni Aviation and Skydiving school will take your relationship to all new heights. Sign up for light-plane flying lessons or a day of twin sky-diving — hold hands, scream for your life and just do it. You know you want to.
HORSE AROUND
Sure there may be horses in many other places, but few trails can offer what Clark does. Book twin rides at El Kabayo Riding Stables and clip-clop in pairs along scenic Sacobia River or down majestic lahar canyons carved by Mount Pinatubo’s eruption. If the exhilarating trot on horseback doesn’t put a sparkle in your eyes, the romantic golden-hued sunset surely will. Seal the moment with a kiss.
SWIM, SOAK OR SIZZLE
It doesn’t get hotter than this — at Puning Hot Springs, the temperature at the main source, a waterfall, hits a high of 90˚C. Too hot to handle? Don your skimpy suit and head to the peripheral pools, a relatively cooler alternative, where you can swim or wade and spend quality time (therapeutic health benefits included, thank you very much).
DO THE LEGWORK
The weight of bliss can sometimes become an unsightly literal reality. Clark’s numerous hiking, trekking and biking trails are location-perfect for bonding while breaking a sweat and burning the piled up calories of all those candle-lit dinners. Don’t forget to wear a helmet. Sign up for one of these adventure tours with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department and Freeport Services Corporation (FSC). Go and explore the deeply forested nature areas of Baton Falls, Hidden Falls, El Kabayo Falls, Pamulaklakin Forest Trails and the Pamulaklakin River in the Binictican Heights area.
Cebu Pacific flies to Clark from Cebu, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Macau and Singapore. www.cebupacificair.com
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Close your eyes and think about lush rain forests, beautiful tropical islands and beaches and the very exotic Mount Kinabalu — the capital of Sabah, Borneo, also known as Kota Kinabalu, is all about wild adventure!
GO WILD
Go jungle trekking and get au naturel with your honey. Give each other a kiss, spray one another with insect repellent, and then venture to nearby Gaya Island (for beginners). This lowland rainforest has loads of unique flora, fauna and mangrove swaps to scout. For the brave, opt for the thick rainforests surrounding Kota Kinabalu — but we suggest hiring an experienced tour guide. Otherwise, losing your way in the dense foliage will truly put your love to the test. Don’t forget your camera!
GO FISH
Try your luck at sport fishing. Kota Kinabalu has some of the best fishing grounds in the world and you can arrange for a fishing charter any time of the year. See who can catch the bigger grouper, mackerel, snapper, tuna marlin or any other of the dozens of fish species in these waters! But be prepared to haul them in — some of these babies can weigh up to 80lbs!
GET CULTURE SHOCKED
Connect with the locals at Monsopiad Cultural Village, about an hour and a half SouthEast of the main town center. This quaint park is dedicated to preserving the culture of the Kadazan ethnic group. It tells the story of the warrior Monsopiad, who killed 42 men that attacked his village. The skulls of fallen enemies are still hanging at the Hall of Skulls. Mildly creepy, but utterly fascinating. Walk hand in hand through it.
RUN ON THE BEACH
Just 6km from the city is Tanjung Aru, right at the end of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. Named after the aru trees that grow on its shores, the beach is the perfect place to indulge in both land and water sports like snorkelling and scuba diving. Once you’ve had your fill, you and your honey can enjoy a front row seat to an amazing sunset. Just look into each other’s eyes as you sip your cocktails!
GO FOR A CHALLENGING WALK
This is as close as you get to a romantic stroll while keeping your heart rate cranked up a notch. Mount Kinabalu Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to one of the largest and richest flora collections in the world. The park is so enormous that it’s actually larger than some small countries and is home to flora from the Himalayas, China, Australia and Malaysia to name a few.
Cebu Pacific flies to Kota Kinabalu from Manila twice a week. www.cebupacificair.com
Osaka, Japan
Move over Tokyo. Japan’s second largest city is also a dynamic travel destination with its mix of old-world charm and the bustle of modern activity.
GET YOUR SUMO ON
If you’ve never gotten into Japan’s national sport, both you and your significant other may turn into certified fans of sumo wrestling after attending the Sumo Spring Grand Tournament. Usually held in March at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, the live wrestling action between two hefty men with topknots as they try to push each other out of a circle, is thrilling even for newbies. Sit hip to hip as spectators.
GET A SERIOUS CASE OF VERTIGO
They don’t call it a Floating Garden Observation Deck for nothing. The platform is actually a bridge that connects the two towers of the Umeda Sky Building and gives you a 360˚view of Osaka and its surrounding locales. The sights are breathtaking but the height — at 170m — is dizzying, so cling to each other and don’t let go.
WATCH A PUPPET SHOW
Forget a romantic comedy flick this Valentine’s day. The National Bunraku Theater is one of the last few places in the world where you can watch these traditional puppet shows that date back to the Edo period. You may think it’s all child’s play, but these huge puppets (which require three operators each) plus the traditional Japanese narrative and music are absolutely captivating. In this way, the experience will help reawaken your sense of wonder as a couple.
EXPLORE A 500-YEAR-OLD FEUDAL CASTLE
Himeji Castle, located just outside Osaka, will require extra travel, but it’s worth it. This one is extra special, Japan’s oldest and most beautiful surviving castle. This UNESCO World Heritage site remains intact, undamaged by wars or disasters.
VISIT THE MOMOFUKU ANDO INSTANT RAMEN MUSEUM
The world would have been a dreary place without instant ramen, so make sure that you and your love pay tribute to its inventor, Momofuku Ando, at this campy museum. Try this bonding experience: Get your hands “dirty” and make your own noodles from scratch or choose unique flavors and design instant ramen cups for each other. The creativity of the moment might just be the beginning of more fascinating forays as a couple.
Busan, South Korea
WATCH A BULLFIGHT
It may not seem like the likeliest of Valentine’s Day activities, but this is one unique bonding experience and will definitely get your adrenaline pumping. Unlike Spanish bullfights, the Korean version is all about bull versus bulls. You’ll have to make your way to nearby Cheongdo, but it’s definitely an awesome and gut-wrenching sight to behold.
The energy is infectious and the excitement, very real.
GET HOT IN DONGNAE
What could be sexier than sharing a hot spring bath at Dongnae Spa. This spring has been popular since the 1800s and is the most famous spa in the country. Legend has it that your body will be cleansed almost instantly because the alkali salty water has temperatures of up to 55˚C. Now, that’s what you call hot! Have some good clean fun!
GET TO KNOW SOME HARD-CORE FISH
A walk through rows and rows of aquariums is a great place to have another first kiss ala Fifty First Dates. At the Busan Aquarium, the country’s largest of its kind, you can get to know more about 250 marine species with the 35,000 fish and marine life on display. There’s even a nifty 3D ride you’ve got to check out.
EXPLORE TAEJONGDAE PARK
This isn’t just any park — it’s also one of Busan’s most famous attractions with its dramatic lighthouse overlooking a beautiful sea and lots of natural sights. Lace up those trainers and hoof your way around the park with your sweetie. You can also hire a boat and ride around Olyuk islands, and then climb to the lighthouse observation deck for one heck of a view and a romantic sunset moment.
Cebu Pacific flies to Busan from Manila twice weekly. www.cebupacificair.com
Singapore
This city-state is well-known for its efficiency and economic success. But with its pockets of national gardens, hot nightspots and new recreational spaces, lovers will find some active pursuits to enjoy here too!
TOAST EACH OTHER 165M ABOVE THE GROUND
Here’s one experience you two will never forget: Try the Sky Bar flight at the Singapore Flyer — the world’s largest observation wheel. You’ll get access to the VIP lounge and priority boarding privileges into the the Sky Bar themed capsule, which is decked out with chandeliers, plush seating and a stocked bar with a bartender on call. Both of you can lounge in the sky, drink in hand, as you tower 165m above ground and take in a 360˚ view of Singapore’s Marina Bay area.
GO ON A NIGHT SAFARI
Singapore Zoo’s Night Safari is one of the country’s most popular attractions for kids and adults alike. Lest you skim over this option, we highly recommend that you give it a shot. Watch one of the entertaining animal or cultural shows, take a guided tram ride around the park, or even share a candlelit dinner together in the middle of all that wildlife. Feel like a lovers’s stroll? Hit the trails and go wild in the wild!
LIVE THE HIGH LIFE
The Marina Bay Sands is definitely the place to see in 2010 when in Singapore. While taking in the awesome design and architecture, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to activities. Take a private stroll through the gardens in the 1.2-hectare Sky Park 200m atop the hotel. Be each other’s lucky charms at the spanking new 24-hour casino And spend your cash at the ultra-luxurious retail space.
GO BUNGY JUMPING IN CLARKE QUAY
Opt for a major adrenaline rush and try the G-MAX Reverse Bungy or Extreme Swing in Clarke Quay, Singapore’s clubbing mecca. Invented by Troy Griffin in New Zealand, the ride has recorded over 1,000,000 jumps in six countries. The bungy reaches 60m into the air at 200kph. After that, bar-hopping may seem like a mundane activity. But twosomes will never run out of things to do here. Blocks of colonial shophouses are converted into modern bars, restaurants and clubs in an outdoor air-conditioned complex. (Yes, you read it right, outdoor AC — who knew?)
Bookmark This Post
