Anyone who tells you that they're not excited at the thought of going to a zoo is likely hiding their unbridled excitement under a seemingly cool veneer.
I know- because if a scheduled excursion to the local zoo can excite a semi-ambulant seventy-year old uncle three weeks prior- it can excite just about anyone else.
Mind, this is one uncle who is Asian, who has worked throughout most of his life in a variety of jobs, and who used to eschew entertainment and fun, frivolous stuff for the practicalities of life.
And yet when he was successfully selected to go on the excursion, he was thrilled enough to tell the nursing staff at the home he resides in that he wanted to see the elephants, and made sure he charged his phone just in case he wanted to take pictures.
It is heartwarming to witness the excitement a person has for such an opportunity.
Early he got up, early he showered, and when the team (including myself) trooped in, he was already at the table finishing up his breakfast of pau.
Part of the excitement included the journey to the zoo, of course, and he was all hyped up by the time we got there. It didn't matter that there was a program he had to adhere to. Neither did it matter that there was some sort of longish path he had to walk along before finally reaching the amphitheatre where there was an animal show.
Seeing the sealion (there was only one!), the birds (two, three?), the macaque (or some other animal which was from Madagascar) and the doggies were enough. I don't know which of the creatures he liked more- he couldn't say- but I'd think the sealion- with its splashes and sploshes and throaty bark- particularly caught his attention.
After all, how frequent is it that we get to see a sealion?
The zoo is a huge place.
And (as I soon discovered), it isn't flat terrain either. For the ambulant it means is that you get a brisk walk in the hot sun. For the semi-ambulant, it means you get an exhausting walk in the hot sun. And if you're non-ambulant or are using a wheelchair, it means that you get to trundle over planks and tar-paved roads with the sun high above your head whilst your companion gets a solid upper-lower body workout pushing you.
Said uncle was on a wheelchair- thank goodness- he would have been grumpy and tired otherwise and the entire excursion would have become less fun.
As it went, there was a little game activity of sorts where he won himself two badges, and then after that, it was off to the enclosures.
There was the alligator in his habitat with his snout just above the murky green water. There was the hippo with his/her large butt turned towards the visitors. There were the tortoises stretched out on a branch three in a row, and there were the monkeys who were busy humping in full view. In one enclosure there was this particular species of pig- which I now don't really remember if they were tapirs or some breed of mountain pig, and then there was the Siberian white tiger who, if I may say, decided to be very unmajestic today, lying lazily on his side in his enclosure and throwing us excited visitors his most bored facial expression.
We hopped across to some of the other enclosures after that, making a special trip, of course, to see the elephants.
For those who know, the enclosure is really quite a large one. There are two entrances, all of which lead to the same seating platform section where you can watch them roam about in their outdoor space. Not knowing which direction best to take, we simply went along one route, dodged an oncoming pram, and for a moment there actually got lost. But eventually we got the prime spot right in front of the performance area- which would have been marvellous- except that the show ended ten minutes ago and so we were left with only the sight of the keeper bringing two adult elephants and one baby elephant back to their private enclosure.
Still, it didn't disappoint the uncle too much- he was quite happy just to catch sight of them and their flapping ears. Whether or not he took a picture, I can't tell- maybe he did, maybe he didn't- but I'm glad we got to see the elephants, and I'm pretty sure, so did he.
When it will be that he'll get to have an excursion like this again, honestly, I don't know, but I hope he will. After all, if greenery, fresh air, animals, and general fun is healing to us, imagine how restorative it is, then, to them.
We hopped across to some of the other enclosures after that, making a special trip, of course, to see the elephants.
For those who know, the enclosure is really quite a large one. There are two entrances, all of which lead to the same seating platform section where you can watch them roam about in their outdoor space. Not knowing which direction best to take, we simply went along one route, dodged an oncoming pram, and for a moment there actually got lost. But eventually we got the prime spot right in front of the performance area- which would have been marvellous- except that the show ended ten minutes ago and so we were left with only the sight of the keeper bringing two adult elephants and one baby elephant back to their private enclosure.
Still, it didn't disappoint the uncle too much- he was quite happy just to catch sight of them and their flapping ears. Whether or not he took a picture, I can't tell- maybe he did, maybe he didn't- but I'm glad we got to see the elephants, and I'm pretty sure, so did he.
When it will be that he'll get to have an excursion like this again, honestly, I don't know, but I hope he will. After all, if greenery, fresh air, animals, and general fun is healing to us, imagine how restorative it is, then, to them.