Andy Montgomery has written an excellent post on getting the most out of your holidays in Tenerife. With the island’s glorious sunshine, the sun, sea and sand type break is very tempting but as Andy says (though much more politely), if you burst out of your bubble and try something different you will have so much more to talk about and remember.

I know that is true. Of two weeks I had in Cairns, Australia many years ago, it is the bungee jump and the horse trekking through the tropical rainforest of North Queensland I remember.

While the rest of that holiday has faded into dim and distant memory those two days remain crystal clear.  I can still feel my knees knocking together before I leapt off the bungee tower and the thrill of plummeting to earth only to be snapped back on what seemed to be a remarkably slender rubber band.

Like all first-timers I had nervously asked the steward how many times the bands were used. ‘Awh, ’bout a hundred’, he said. ‘Yer number nointy-noine.’

There used to be bungee jumping in Tenerife at Sky Park but that sadly closed. Still,  the Tower of Power at Siam Park is just as thrilling and you can go camel riding as well as horse riding in Tenerife.

To add a few more ideas to those given by Andy you can also go sightseeing by helicopter, channel your inner James Bond by going Bob Diving and I believe you can even go spelunking.

(I have never come across a half decent link to spelunking in Tenerife so if you run a tour company that organises spelunking tours or this is something you have done in Tenerife and you would like to provide some info about this activity please get in touch).

So while you are making your mind up where to stay in Tenerife this summer, you might also want research which activities to book to fill your days with memories to take home again.

One of my favourite things to do with visitors in Tenerife is to go for a wander with them round Jungle Park (also known as Eagle Park or Aguilas Park). The plantings in the grounds are mature and lush and the paths and trails cleverly double back on themselves giving the impression that the place is much bigger than it actually is.

The wild bird show is spectacular. I have no doubt that in a perfect world those birds, the American Bald Eagle, the condors and the vultures would be happier soaring over wilder lands far, far away from here but as animals in captivity go, these at least are given the chance to spread their wings and fly freely a couple of times a day.

The first thing you should do on arrival at Jungle Park is check the time of the Raptor Show and make sure that your meanderings within the park will have you near the show arena in time to pick your seat and get settled. If you want to get a truly bird’s eye view position yourself under the wooden posts which are set there for the birds to perch on.

As a presenter commentates, several species of wild bird are put through their paces. One small falcon may hop from head to head of the spectators, while a couple of secretary birds peck seed politely from their hands and larger birds of prey circle over head preparing for the cue that signals their dramatic, plunging entrance to the show.

In previous years, the presenter used to give a running commentary of the birds, their species, size, diet, habitat and so on in several languages. The show was always prefaced with the most important information: sit down, stay seated, don’t eat anything during the show – again this used to be given in several languages. To my surprise, on this visit the presenter only spoke in SPanish and not even the safety drill was given in any other language.

Towards the end of the show, a dopey Englishwoman stood up and wandered over near to a handler, urged on by her husband, as he angled the camera trying to get a dramatic shot. He quite likely would have got a more dramatic shot than he had bargained for if the handler had not quickly changed position and smartly connected with the bird of prey that he had been signalling to plummet at him from the sky.

The lack of translation would only bother those that expected to hear it. The birds are more than dramatic enough to make up for the missing commentary. I guess it was a cost cutting exercise that put paid to that and to the African dance group that used to welcome the African ibex at the end of the show.

Moving on round the park after the Raptor Show you will come across many other animal and reptile species and also another bird show -  parrots this time.

On our most recent visit to Jungle Park,  we were accompanied by Scottish couple, Jim and Carol Ramsay who had recently been visiting some theme parks in Florida.  They commented on how Tenerife’s Jungle Park measured up most favourably to what they saw on the other side of the pond.  Jim is a talented freelance photographer and took the shots that you can see in the gallery below.

[View with PicLens]

Further to yesterday’s post about revolting neighbours in Costa Del Silencio, today’s Diario de Aviso reports that a spokesperson for the owners at Chayofita contacted them to deny that there was a majority uprising against the planned urbanization works. On the contrary, he said, “the majority is in favor because at the owners’ meeting there were only two votes against.”

Oh what a shame. I was looking forward to a bit of a public mêlée.  Not that two people sat down in front of a small digger would have been much of a spectacle.

Anyway sticking to the whole Costa Del Silencio development story yesterday Costa Del Silencio’s shiny new image was unveiled to the  media and sundry worthy government bods who were proudly shown the finished work at Jose Antonio Tavio and Calle Diana.

Much was made of the broad walkways, gardens and the aesthetically pleasing fence that is set to sweep round the town in a uniting ribbon of metal.

I wonder if anyone  told them that though the broad walkway is complete at Calle Diana the aesthetically pleasing fence has only just been started. You can see the foundations for it behind the original fence which is still standing  up the length of the road from Bella Vista to Maravilla.

Once it has actually been erected the new fence for all its modern chunky poles is pretty useless anyway as I have seen a whole family squeeze between the bars in a shortcut to their apartment in Eureka.

According to the Mayor, Jose Alberto Gonzalez Reveron, there is still plenty of money in the kitty to finish other streets of this town (which I am sure will come as a great relief to the residents of Calle Minerva where works are currently in progress) as well as for a  65,000 square meters park.

There has been talk of a theme park being built in the neighbourhood for years so it will be a significant leap forward for this area should this rumour actually come to pass. The park when completed would be roughly a third the size of the spectacular Siam Park and no doubt shovel tourist money into the area by the coach load.

Diario de Aviso:  Costa Del Silencio Renews its Image

Yes, I admit I was sarky about the (very) delayed opening of Siam Park. I also admit that when my nephew decided that on this trip to Tenerife, Siam Park was the one day out he really had to go on, I was less than thrilled. Something about the thought of all that cold water just didn’t make my heart pound with glee. “What else is there to do there except freeze my tail off in cold water all day long?” I wanted to know.

My family assured me that the water was bound to be heated and that they’d read that there were plenty of other attractions in the park for those who were determined to be difficult. Despite the fact that they lied shamelessly on both counts I actually had a fabulous day.

On entering through the gate, first impressions are of lush greenery and graceful wooden Thai architecture. High up on the hill a great, green giant’s head leers down at innocent newcomers who will later discover two exciting water rides inside that massive dome.

Like all theme parks in Tenerife there is a photo opportunity just metres after entering. The photo costs €6 and can be collected from a photo board just before the park exit. For once our family resemblance to Fester, Mortitia and the rest of the Adamses was not too pronounced and we were happy to cough up the dosh for our group memento of the day.

The park is very cleverly designed with trails that double back and wind round bridges and hills. Sun patios with beds and chairs are tucked away in leafy corners alongside a lazily flowing ‘river’ which carries visitors along on big yellow inflatables. We also passed the Wave Cove which on later investigation proved to be a huge area with plenty of seating, sun beds and fine white sand. The wave machine was very impressive and if it were not for having the little kids with us we would have likely made camp at this spot.

Instead we kept on till we came to the Lost City. This large and complicated structure of ladders, water slides, spouts and pistols was obviously built to answer every kids’ dream. As soon we arrived all three were off to check it out.

Though Conor at 11 was big enough to enjoy all but the largest of the main water slides, and Hania tall enough to be allowed on two of them, this was it for 4 year old Sami. Not that he cared. Apart from a trip round the ‘Mai Thai River’ on the inflatables with Mum and then again with Uncle David, The Lost City kept him happily amused all day.

A large monkey head sits atop the Lost City. Every three minutes or so a bell chimes and the head tips gallons of freezing water over delighted kids of all ages below.

The adult rides were really breath-taking. My seven year old daughter was tall enough to get into the first of these, The Mekong Rapids which she thoroughly enjoyed. She could also have shot face first down a steep water course on a blue mat though she decided against that particular experience. Maybe next time.

For me the Volcano was the best. I was shot on spirals through the dark on a raft shared with my brother and nephew while laser lights flashed and the Volcano rumbled until finally being sucked down a central plughole and spat back out into daylight screaming with laughter. The other rides were equally exciting though I decided to leave the Tower of Power for braver souls and without spoiling the surprise I thought I’d screamed my last during The Dragon (aka the Mutant Dog).

There were a couple of tiny complaints which would be easy enough for Siam Park to remedy. Principally there was no mention at the bottom of the long climb to the start of the main rides that riders must remove all their jewelery. This necessitated a second climb back up just to retrieve necklaces and rings and walk back down. Similarly many park goers unnecessarily hauled yellow inflatables up flights of steps only to find that specialised rafts were already waiting for them at the top.

Siam Park is great value for money. The management are to be commended for not tacking on extra costs for hiring life jackets for the kids or inflatables, charged for sunbeds or other sundry items but after your entrance fee (€28 adult/€18 kid, €25 resident adult/€16 resident kid) you need only pay extra for any food or drink items you purchase in the park.

Time flies by at Siam Park and before we knew it we’d come to the end of a spectacular day. I asked each my family how many marks they’d give the day out of ten. No one gave a number smaller than 50. And on asking who would like to visit Siam Park again I was deafened by their unanimous shouts of ME!

I admit I was very tempted to headline this story with Vulture Attacks Two Old Ducks in Jungle Park but in the end I had to admit that having two stone of feathered fury land on your shoulder is surely no joking matter.

The two women who were injured by the Griffon Vulture are still traumatised by the incident and one of them, Mrs Corcoran, quite rightly asks, ‘What if it had been a child?’

In response, the Aguilas Park spokesperson says that this is only the second such incident of its type that she’s heard of in the last 15 years. If that is the case, then I was present at the previous bird attack in Aguilas Park though admittedly that one did not make the international press. Maybe that is because it was only a handler that got beaten up by the birds that time.

The clever lad was in the throes of his multi-lingual presentation describing a particularly dumpy land bird which was blessed with black glossy feathers, red beak and a ton of bad attitude when it took a leap at him and gouged his cheek.

No sooner had the poor soul recovered from that attack and forged on with the show than a vulture took a dislike to him and swooped down catching the back of his head.

The handler was a real trooper as he soldiered on finishing the show with blood trickling down the back of his neck. I was attending the show with my brother whose girlfriend of the time was deathly afraid of birds. She had taken refuge in the cafe at the back and was by this point probably safely tucked under a table.

I’m ashamed to admit that I had one of those awful guilty school moments when you know you shouldn’t laugh but you just can’t help yourself. Something about the way the poor man carried on to the end of the show despite an involuntary flinch every time a bird flew over his head just cracked me up.

I have been to Aguilas Park countless times and always make time to watch the raptor show. The birds are as free as it is possible to be when they are part and parcel of an Animal Park of this kind. During the show they soar so high up in the sky that they are tiny specks and the handlers have no guarantee that they will make their return in time for their appearance in the show. A large part of me wants them to just keep on flying but they always come back eventually (at least according to the handlers I have spoken too) even if the show is over and the public have all gone home for the night.

Yippee. At last. After all the false starts Siam Park, with its world class water rides, is open to the public. It looks to be an absolutely brilliant day out and you can find out more about it on several places online.

The main Siam Park webpage is very colourful and beautifully designed but (at least today) it does seem to be experiencing problems with accepting online bookings. I am sure they will get that sorted right quick although in the meantime you should know that tickets are available at the gate.

You can expect to pay: €28 adult, children (3 to 11) €18. There is a resident discount of €3 for adults and €2 per child so remember your residents cards if you have them.

A Twin ticket will also be available with which you get Loro Parque thrown in. Unfortuantely I can’t give more details on that as on clickthrough the info page was down.

Just to whet your appetite for this glittering addition to Tenerife’s tourist repertoire enjoy this exciting account from a Times reporter who seems to have found the Siam Park experience totally invigorating and concludes his story with the words, ‘it’s quite simply the most fun you can have with your clothes off.’ Ahhh, okay. If you say so, mate.