BACK TO NATURE II

We went to the zoo on 10th the Thursday.

It has been a really long time since I've last been to the zoo. So long; I can't even remember what and how the zoo looks like.

The last time I bothered to do as such is in late January this year, when we went to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve for a Biology field trip; but undeniably, it always feel good getting back in touch with Mother Nature. There is always this twinkling excitement that is residual of a fresh touch from Mother Nature. For the couple of days after the visit to the zoo, it STILL feels good. So good; that on those days, I still mentally visit the zoo in my mind.

Perhaps we went to the zoo at the wrong timing. Almost all the tigers/lions/emus/kangaroos/wallabies/you-name-it were in a lazy mood. Tigers and lions are supposed to roar resoundingly. Kangaroos and wallabies are supposed to jump and bounce around dynamically. Emus are supposed to... Well... Anything but sleeping.

I had wanted to see the ostriches; I've never seen a real live one before. What a pity that none was sighted when we visited the zoo. I've always thought that ostriches are really strangely clever-looking; especially with those disproportionally-sized small head and big eyes. Their necks have always amused me as well. I've always wondered, too, if it is actually possible to tie a knot with an ostrich's neck.

The giraffes are awesome too. You should have seen their tongue. Awesome; awesomely long.
The monkeys are wide in diversity - all of which are adorable. Their agility amuses me deeply. One of the monkeys tried to give me a "high-five" through the window plane, and ended up falling off the branches time and again. Oh, we also saw the baboons and their iconic red butts as well. Do you know that the bigger the red butt, the more dominant a male baboon is? Well, apparently so.

We saw the Giant Tortoise as well. They look sooo ancient and cranky. Tortoises of this gigantic size blew my mind away. There are two domestic tortoises at home, and my eyes nearly popped out at the sight of those giant tortoises. Anyway, just as the name implies, the giant tortoises are outrageously humongous! Their scaly limbs are shamelessly fatter than any pigs' trotters! Their gargantuan size shocked me so much that I was initially skeptical of reaching out and touching them; lest they swerve around and snap at me venomously like Jaw the shark. Eventually, after some persuasion, I did (KC: Aiya! They're so big! They won't even feel you touching them!). Using two fingers, I hesitantly stroked the shell of one of the giant tortoises momentarily. It seemed totally oblivious to my presence. It could have died and no one would be none the wiser. Feeling more brazen now, I placed three fingers on the side of the shell, and PUSH against it heavily. The obscenely fat reptile didn't even move an inch. It didn't even so much as bat an eyelid! I can't believe it! I JUST GOT DEFEATED BY A FAT, UGLY, AND ANCIENT TORTOISE!

We also visited the Rainforest Show and Splash Amphitheater. Personally, I prefer the latter to the former. The baby penguins and otters are oh-so-cute! I won't mind being up close and personal and hugging the otters. As usual, the seal is the star of the show. The seals are also one of the animals that have always intrigued me. The black, shiny, thick coat of skin. The powerful fins and flippers. The stream-lined body. The friendly demeanor. The smart lil' brain that picks up tricks easily. The small, beady eyes. The cute lil' whiskers.

We also saw the polar bears. One of the polar bears was happily basking in the limelight, proudly and elegantly swimming in and out of the waters through the see-through windows; while the rest of his/her companions were lazing around inside the land enclosure. The attention-seeker, we nicknamed him/her fondly. Anyway, the polar bear is so mightily huge! It is at least twice my height! I doubt it would be a difficult feat to squash me flat if the polar bear so chooses to. It seemed to be just like a white, massive FURBALL. The polar bear was swimming so gracefully and gently; momentarily, it seems utterly unbelievable that these harmless-looking furball of polar bears are capable of brutal aggression. If not for the glass enclosure, I would be so sorely tempted to climb in and nestle my head in one of those massive furball. But then again, I've read of a news report which involves a drunken man in China who - in a drunken stupor - climbed into a panda bear enclosure; thinking that the panda bear (named Gu Gu) looked lonely and so, wanted to give him a hug. Of course, the startled Gu Gu ended up biting the man. The man's response? He opened his mouth and bit back the poor panda. Alcohol can really make one do stupid things, I tell you.

We saw the meerkats too. Meerkats, I don't know, but they've always had a soft spot in my heart. The first time I heard of meerkats is when I was in primary school, when I read an article about them in Readers' Digest. I've always thought that not only are they cute, but they're also an independent and loyal bunch (talk about guard sentry duties!). Though small in size, they have a beautiful spirit!

We also visited the Reptile Cage thingy. Halfway through the journey, my eyes got teary. Because the lizards are frightened the soul out of me.



Anyway, I think that a zoo is only a real zoo when the animals are carefree instead of lying around idyllically waiting for feeding time. And what's it about paying $8 to get an elephant ride, or $5 to ride the tortoises or feed the giraffes? It makes everything feel so commercialized. A zoo should be a place where everything is spontaneous. Mother Nature has always been spontaneous and pretty; rather than structured and restricted. If anything, all these should have been included in the entrance fee, I feel. Well, just my personal thoughts.

Anyway, I also think that all lizards/chameleons/iguanas/kodomo dragons/anything-that-has-relation-to-the-lizard-family should just drop dead on the ground and die. Really. Simple as that.



My secret wish is to get kissed by a seal, or hugged by a dolphin at least once in this lifetime!