Ok... So we finally made it to the Shanghai Wild Animal Park. It was not quite what I had expected. It was separated into different sections, but the animals did get to roam free within their own domain. And they did come very close to the bus, well at least the brave ones, or the ones that weren't lazily lying around did.
Tourists get to go into a big bus and the bus takes you through the park. I heard you used to be able to drive in your own car through the park, but since an incident a while back where a driver of a car got out and got killed by a lion, they've since changed that policy.
The bus had to drive through a pool to clean the tires before entering the park. The first animals that came in view were zebras, giraffes, deer, camels and other similar animals. Eric made the observation that there were almost no grass left for the animals to eat. Guess there were too many animals with too little greens.
Next were the lions, in a separate area naturally. Each area were fenced with chain-link fences and double gates. The lions were already waiting for us at the gates, expectantly. Upon entering the first gate, the driver announced that for 5RMB each, us passengers get to "buy" two live chickens for the lions. And exactly what happens, you ask? The driver picks out two chickens from a small cage to the side of the road, put there for this specific purpose obviously, and hangs the chickens on the side of the bus! Each chicken already had a straw rope attached, so as to be easily "hung" from the bus. The chickens were hung on each side of the bus, one toward the front and one toward the back. And the lions were supposed to jump up and snatch the chickens from the bus. So make sure you close the windows, we were told. No one wanted to test that theory! No wonder the lions were waiting right inside the gate. They knew a meal's coming! Anyway... snatch they did! As soon as the bus was through the gate, two anxiously waiting lions jumped up and got the chickens and trotted away with their prizes quickly, away from the bus. There was quite a commotion on the bus needless to say. That was SOME experience! Well, quite a disgusting experience, to be honest, which was why when we entered the tiger area, most of the passengers on the bus opted NOT to repeat the performance again with the tigers. Thank goodness! Jared kept asking "where did the chicken go, Daddy?"
After that, the rest of the tour seemed almost tame and uneventful. We got to see black bears, cheetahs, an area where tigers and lions co-exist, since they were all born in the park and grew up together so they live peacefully together. I'm sure I'm missing some animals, but frankly my mind had trouble focusing after the chickens...
Anyway, then we got to the fun part. There's also a small zoo (well big area but not many animals) attached to the safari part. The kids' favorite had to be Lemur Island! You can buy a cup of bananas to feed the lemurs. And the lemurs really try to reach for the food and sometimes jump onto the kids for them. It was great fun! I had to buy another round of food for the boys, since no one wanted to leave and there were so much giggling and laughing. There was even a pregnant lemur there, so naturally it got extra attention.
Then we got to see giant pandas, up close and personal! VERY cool! The one inside was nice and clean, but the ones outside were looking a bit brown. I'd never been this close to pandas before, since in the States they are always behind glass walls and well protected.
After the park, we headed back to Pu Xi and visited the famous Xin Tian Di, where they preserved parts of Shanghai's old architecture and culture. Xin Tian Di has become more of a "hang out" for younger people now, with lots of hip (and usually expensive) restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs. The funniest part of our visit to Xin Tian Di was Jared at Haagen Daz. It being Valentine's Day, they had pink heart-shaped balloons in the store. Alex and Jared really wanted them. So Ricky told Jared to use his cutest tone to ask the waitress for a balloon. And he did. In that sweet baby-ish tone and a big grin on his face, he asked the waitress, according to Ricky's instruction, "Could I have a balloon?" And the waitress IMMEDIATELY nodded happily and went to get them. Three of them, in fact, and Ricky eventually flatted his and promised to bring it to his girlfriend. :D
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