Safari Park

We are either gluttons for punishments or certifiably crazy because on Wednesday we decided to take the whole crew for about an hour in a taxi to a safari park/zoo they have here in Guangzhou. We wanted to do one last fun thing before we begin the packing extravaganza.  It was really amazing (really probably the best zoo we have ever been too) but we were pretty exhausted.  For one, Ping Ping decided that she would not nap at the park and wanted to walk walk walk! She was staggering at the end she was so tired. She did fall asleep on the subway ride home for a little. (rush hour- couldn't take a taxi home).  

It was really neat though, I have never seen animals so close.  There is a part of the zoo where you walk around and see animals (beautiful habitats) and part of the zoo where you take a ride on a little tram like a safari. And they feed the animals- we saw baboons doing back flips for food (literally), lions and tigers being thrown meat and catching it with their mouths, and tropical birds swooping by to catch grapes in their beaks.  On the Safari ride the ferocious animals were behind areas with moats, some wires etc so they couldn't get to us but there were free roaming giraffes, zebras, emus etc. I have never been to Africa on a safari so it was wild to be right there with them. 

They also have stations throughout the zoo set up where they have monkeys (with trainers) just hanging out.  So you just walk up and there is a monkey hanging in front of you.  You could walk up and touch them (you aren't supposed to but you could. and I didn't).  Like I said I have never seen animals so close before.  We were walking down the path and heard a noise and look behind us to see a baby chimp holding hands with some trainers just walking next to us. Dennis was saying- wow I wonder why they don't do this in the US, um liability! But seriously (mom) it really did feel safe. :)

Yesterday we had our consulate appt to get a US immigrant visa in Ping Ping's passport- whew! Last paperwork stuff- tomorrow it is just packing packing packing! Then we will be out at 5am to begin our journey home on Saturday.