3 September 2012
Panda dead, again
A couple of years ago I went to the Ueno zoo in Tokyo. It was largely closed down and in a state of disrepair, reason being their panda had died.
Today I went to Nanjing zoo, I had read that it is decent for Chinese zoos. Upon arrival the grounds looked very impressive indeed, huge green areas on the side of a big hill with a forest etc.
However where are the people? And why are all the shops and kids rides closed?
I headed to the panda pavilion. From a distance it looked large and impressive, but when I got closer it was overgrown with weeds.
I asked a staff member, where is panda (panda, zai narli?). Panda dead!
OK then.
Not to worry, I had a good walk around anyway. They have a heap of big cats all over the place, a few elephants, giraffes, hippos and about 10,000 monkeys going crazy.
The internet would have you believe that Chinese zoos are tiny cages where everyone can poke animals with bamboo poles to make them dance, and that you can throw rocks at them or any old rubbish, and that the animals are only fed plastic bottles people throw.
I didnt see any of this, I guess I saw some kids banging on the glass but that happens at every zoo.
However, Adelaide zoo, which has pandas, and is now fast going broke. I have seen your future. Once those pandas die its all over!
On my way to the zoo, store opening time. Out the front of every store the staff pledge allegiance to uphold the honor and principles of selling people as much cheap electronic shit they dont need as possible. Followed by fist pumping and cheering.
Seriously, every store, no matter how small, this is the scene just before 9AM. The same thing occurs in Japan. I am going to instigate this policy in Australia, im working on a very special pledge of allegiance right now.
We can all promise to be 'true to ourselves', and say 'nah, yeah' or 'yeah, nah' a lot, I am using our heroic olympic athletes as inspiration. CANT!
The entrance to the zoo. For 3 yuan you can rent an air rifle to shoot at the ducks.
The monkey pit. Theres a heap of monkeys in here going crazy. Its not the nicest enclosure as its nearly all rocks, but it is quite large.
Monkeys will quite happily beat each other senseless, all day long.
There were 2 tigers in here constantly stalking each other.
OK. For the remainder of my visit I was on high alert.
I dont know if this is a bengal tiger, or a liger or a tigon or a special new hybrid. His eyes never moved off me.
These two lions were quite happy. Sharp picture through dirty glass!
This ferris wheel is not worthy of my attention. Plus I would want someone else to ride on it first to prove it hasnt decayed to the point of collapse.
Elephants were happy with their green whatever.
As an Australian, I am ashamed to admit I do not have a popular Australian style wooden walkway. G'day!
Right outside the zoo there seems to be an army base. I wanted to take my picture standing next to this but there were too many soldiers watching and nowhere to put my camera. I might photoshop myself in.
Get into your tent, filthy smokers.
This is a particularly impressive street decoration. However I dont understand how a truck or bus hasnt hit it. I see a sign there that says no truck over a certain height, but if this was in Australia there would be a rubbish truck wedged under it within an hour.
For lunch, cantonese style Chinese food. Which means rice. I didnt eat the rice as its bad for you.
The tea drink I ordered which you can see in the background caused quite a drama. I still dont understand why. It was on the menu, I asked for it, pointed, then 5 waiters and a chef studied the menu. I got what I expected, sweetened milk tea. I do think I heard one of them say beer a few times. Is it really that unusual for a white person to order sweetened tea and not beer?