What is full of wild beasts and is wonderful in a terribly un-PC way? The Shanghai Wild Animal Park! Half of the park can be viewed only through tour buses which venture into corraled areas where cheetahs and tigers and bears roam relatively free. And then the other half of the park is like a zoo, animals in fairly naturalistic settings...including the adorable pandas!Where else can you see a baby elephant sneaking in snacks while the zoo keeper is gazing off in the distance?
Where else can you see bears and monkeys riding bikes? (I have to say, the bear on a bike was disturbing and wrong in a way that a sea lion performing stunts does not bother me.)
But the best moment of all was convincing my spouse's driver to play hooky with me and the kiddos. We cajoled Zhang Shiful into the park with us. His joy at watching the animals was a highlight only seconded at his joy at spoiling my kids with lunch at the park.
Today I am thankful for all the people in China who have taken care of us, most especially Zhang Shifu who protected me and the kids every day that we have been here. He has looked out for us, thought about us, worried about us.
Should the bear have maybe been wearing pants? Oh, but I kid. I can imagine how disturbing that would be. Sort of like Iorek in "Golden Compass"--tarnished, abused nobility is awful.
ReplyDeleteI would have found a way to free the bear . . . or thought about it and talked about it. Loudly.
ReplyDeleteThat is a REAL bear?! Yes, and come to my house to see a REAL penguin check e-mail!!
ReplyDeleteThe sea lion looks like he's having fun. As to bear -- if I hadn't seen the photo I would have said it isn't possible. Very strange!
ReplyDeleteJanet
I send a hug to Zhang Shifu for taking such good care of you and the children! What a dear heart.
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