The Noah's Ark in Amaya View, Cagayan de Oro

Yes, there is a Noah’s Ark in Amaya View in Indahag Hills, Cagayan de Oro. However, that is not the Biblical ark of the Bible. It is a replica of the famed ark designed and constructed to be one of the attractions of Amaya View. The concrete replica of the “ark” is built in the highest area of the hill with an elevation of 1,122 feet above sea level. Just by being in the vicinity of the “ark” is already a pleasure by itself because one can see the breathtaking view of nature- the sky, the mountains and hills, the trees and far beyond are some of the urban areas of the city.

At the “ark” are different replicas of animals such as tigers, elephants, giraffes, apes and deer. One can enter the ark for free. At the bottom of it are the aviary and mini zoo where different species of wild and domestic animals are kept and fed. A visitor has to pay 100 pesos to enter and view these areas. inside are birds such as wild ducks, macaws, peacocks, bantam chickens and others. The mini zoo has also kept quadruped animals for viewing to the public such as wild goats, pony, donkey, deer, tiger, llama, alpaca, crocodile and other animals.

Noah’s Ark is a place for entertainment of visitors of different ages including children.

The "Vineyard" of Amaya View, Cagayan de Oro

Grapes usually grow in temperate and sub-tropical climates so that vineyards draw people's attention in tropical Philippines because they are uncommon. Some areas in the country have successfully grown the fruit. There are vineyards in La Union in Luzon, and Arevalo, Ilo-ilo and Cebu in the Visayas.

Amaya View in Indahag Hills, Cagayan de Oro City has added another attraction, called “The Vineyard”, to the amenities they offer to the visitors. The high elevation of the place, the highest of which is 1,122 feet above sea level, is maybe conducive to the growing of grapes. Elevated place like Indahag Hills usually has cooler temperature compared to that of the lowland urban center of the city.

In the vineyard, visitors should follow protocols such as no pinching and picking of grapes, no cutting of any part of the plant, no climbing of the trellis and no stepping on the plant base.

Adult visitors have to pay 150 pesos , and children 4-12 years old 100 pesos and those 3 years and below free of charge for an entry into the vineyard. This is on top of the 300 pesos entrance fee for an all-access pass of the Amaya View.

The vineyard in Amaya View is the first ever in Cagayan de Oro. During my visit to “The Vineyard”, grapevines of the Amaya Red and Premium varieties are already producing bountiful fruits. Some of them are still green while others have already turned purple or black which is an indication that they are ready for harvest.

Although “The Vineyard” has proven that grape plants can thrive in this part of the Philippines, its economic prospect will determine its sustainability. Imported grapes from China have saturated the Philippine market so that even sidewalk vendors at Cogon Public Market sell grapes.  The once expensive fruit which are used to be eaten only during the Christmas Holidays are now available to most people at an affordable price in almost any month of the year because of the Chinese import.