Ocean Park Hong Kong
This place does not bring back fond memories for me. Welcome to Ocean Park, a theme park in Hong Kong that I believe ranks better than the HK Disney Land. Today, I am able to give you an inside tour as I was urged by a friend to accompany him and his guest a few days ago.
After purchasing our tickets for $208 HKD a head (~$26 USD), we walked in and were greeted with lively music. This didn’t help suppress my memory… memory of what?
Of this. Some of you may already know my fear of heights. If you don’t – I’m terrified of heights. Others may find cable car rides exhilarating or very scenic which it is… until the cable snaps.
So my flashback begins when I was maybe 10-12 yrs old waiting in this same line.
At the time I already knew heights were not my thing, but I had no idea what I was about to get into. By the way, these two weakly welded frames did not paint a great image in my head before getting on. Where the hell is the actual compartment?!
Anyhow, I remember hopping in like so with my aunt, mom, and 2 cousins (5 & 6 yrs of age). Feeling excited because I had never been in a cable car before, I couldn’t wait to tour the park.
Until I found out the only direction it went was up. In reality the park is split into two parts. The cable cars are needed to get over to the other side of the mountain where all the coaster rides are.
The height wasn’t the only bad part. The worst part was my 5yr old cousin who couldn’t keep still at the time. She was real mischievous and probably saw the fear on my face. So what did she do? She fucking starts jumping up and down. That then eggs on her sister, and they both start stomping like a fraternity step off competition. I think I fainted. Don’t recall anything after that. From that day on, I made a promise to myself that I would NEVER return to this park.
Promises are meant to be broken right? This time around there was nobody jumping, but I still held on for dear life. I didn’t know a pair of hands could excrete the amount of sweat I produced.
To keep my mind off plummeting to my death I recorded the finishing stretch of the ride. Sorry about the sun glare and occasional wind hissing through the mic.
Happy to be off, we looked at the map to see where to go.
If I can’t handle heights you must think I can’t do roller coasters.
You’re right, don’t do them. The “Mine Train” has a bunch of drops and turns, no upside down loops.
One of the centerpieces of the park is the Abyss Turbo Drop. If free falling is your thing don’t pass this up. I would also like to make clear that the initial feminine scream heard in the beginning is not coming from me.
Ferris wheel.
‘The Dragon”
“Flying Swing” I think…
“The Eagle”. I decided to grow some balls and try this one since I didn’t do the others.
My experience recorded here. Disclaimer: don’t watch if you easily get dizzy.
Different games were available to play. What’s nice is that prizes for some games were awarded even if you didn’t win.
Little man trying to throw the ball in the colored circles.
A few prizes you could win if you’re lucky.
My friend opted to play this, said he was pro back in the day. He ended up not making a single frog on the lily pad but still got a small stuffed animal for effort.
Went to the ocean theatre to sit and catch the next dolphin and sea lion performance.
Dolphin preshow warmups.
View of some of the rides in the park.
Show time.
Sea lion got ups.
Took the trainer a few minutes to get the last sea lion onto main stage. He finally tempted it with food.
That’s like some Bruce Lee shit.
Off to the fish aquarium.
More than 2000 fishes and 250 species are in this 4 stories tank.
Can’t imagine the maintenance on this thing.
Shark looks pissed. Probably because I used the flash on him the first time.
Saw these guys off to a tank on the side.
I went into the Sea Jelly aquarium by myself as it was minutes before closing. No one was inside and it was pitch black. I found myself in this room which reminded me of alien tubes you see in the movies.
Jelly fish close up.
With the park closing it was back on the cable car and over the mountain again. There’s actually a lot more you can do and see in Ocean Park, but be sure to allow yourself enough time. Can’t say I’ll be coming back anytime soon, but I had a fun day nonetheless.
Ocean Park
Aberdeen, Hong Kong
852.3923.2323
Comments (7)
HA! Visited Ocean Park back in ’97 just 10 days after Handover. It was alright for a day out.
Dude – I really don’t like heights and get vertigo, but that’s what makes going on the Abyss so damn fun. Honestly, you should try it. First time I did it I was absolutely shaking like a leaf and out of my head scared on the way up. I screamed and laughed and cried all the way down and it was bloody fantastic. People who aren’t a-feared of heights don’t get half as much out of it. I have to go on it at least twice and go to Ocean park once a year at least in order to go just on that ride.
Did you notice the slogan on it – ride it! feel the depth – hmm…
I didn’t visit this park when I was in HK due to time constraint. Will visit that on my next visit there in HK.
Btw the “Flying Swing” that you mention, we called it “viking ship” over here.
@Made in DNA – ’97 was a while back, were the same rides still around?
@Scared of Heights – I admit the Abyss looked fun. I was building up my courage but managed to still pass it up in the end. Next time… hopefully.
@LEon – I might be mistaken on the name haha. Just grabbed a name that matched what I thought it would be.
i’m going to have a moment of complete honesty here, so you can’t make fun of me.
so i never thought that i ever had a height thing. ever since i was a wee one, i went on rollercoasters like they were no thing. i can look out windows from the tops of really talls buildings. all that good stuff.
BUT.. the TRUE pansy inside me finally came out of the closet when i went snowboarding for the first time. those lifts look like they aren’t too high off the ground.. but as soon as i take off, i’m clutching onto the seat for dear life and leaning back as far as i can so as to prevent myself from falling forward and plummeting to my death.
i’m not gonna lie, i got a little queasy from watching that cable car video. so i had to stop it in the middle. i feel your pain.. er.. fear..
You hate amusement parks
What made you go back?
Make a list of places to take me
Im excited for my return
although i think i might be broke by the time I get there….
@j.oh – Interestingly enough, the ski lifts don’t scare me as much. Maybe b/c in my head I think the snow will soften my fall.
@will.i.am – I went back because my friend wanted company. You gotta tell me what you’re wanting to do and more importantly, when you’re arriving!