The Best Zoo In The World (Part 3)

The Best Part of the Best Zoo in the World was a section called "Fragile Forest." It's a covered, greenhouse-like area where you can walk right in amongst lemurs and flying foxes. It's seriously one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I've alway loved lemurs, and it was amazing getting right up close to them. I easily could have picked one up and petted it (they come right up to you), but I was trying to follow the posted rules and leave them alone. That didn't stop a group of school kids from petting them. Hmph.

The flying foxes were even cooler..... literally like little flying dogs. But sadly, that's when my camera died. Gahh, I shouldn't have wasted pictures on the alligators!

Such awesome little animals. Like cats crossed with monkeys. If lemurs were domesticated, I think they would be the most popular pets ever.

Lemur? I hardly know 'er!

See the lemur in the upper righthand corner? They were right there! And much closer. So cool.

The cheetah was one of the animals that I though could just leap its moat. It was right across from the zebra exhibit.... I don't know how it resists going for a midnight snack.

Meerkats!

Anyway, the point is, the Singapore Zoo rocks.

The Best Zoo In The World (Part 2)

Sideways came to the zoo, but after a close call with the alligators he elected to remain safely tucked away in my bag.

Only after I took this (admittedly bad) photo did I think how difficult it would be to explain to the zookeeper why their prize endangered alligator choked on an action figure.

Ford vs. Chevy, Coke vs. Pepsi, Alligators vs. Crocodiles.... ahh, the eternal arguments.

Behind you. BeHIND you! For the love of God, BEHIND YOU!!!!!

Komodo Dragon! I didn't realize they were so orange.

One cool thing is that the zoo was celebrating Chinese New Year. It is Year of the Tiger, of course, and so the exhibits were mostly tiger-centric (culminating in a pair of white tigers.... sadly, my camera ran out of batteries before I got there). Anyway, they had banners up celebrating all the animals of the Zodiac, and used the Komodo Dragon for Year of the Dragon. Kinda neat, not all zoos have dragons on hand.

These guys were so cute, I figured I really otter get a photo.

(That was for Lisa. And Glen.)

The Best Zoo In The World (Part 1)

I haven't been to every zoo in the world, but I feel confident saying the zoo in Singapore is the best one. Seriously. Photos don't do the Singapore Zoo justice. The cool thing about it is that it is mostly open-air. While the animals don't exactly roam free, it sure feels like they do. There are very few cages, fences, or glass walls; you really feel like you are sharing the space with the animals. Orangutans swing over your head, while monkeys scramble around inches from you on railings. There are moats on some exhibits, of course, but they're not that big. I honestly don't know what keeps some of the big predators from just hopping over and eating the rest of the animals at night.

Talk. Talk, damn you! I know you can do it!!!

I know they can do it.

Climb as high up that tree as you want, I'm still higher on the evolutionary scale. Yeah.... how do you like them bananas?

Dinosaur!

Okay, these were one of the coolest animals there, the giant tortoises. I've never seen one up close before, but you could walk in and interact with them like a petting zoo. For giant prehistoric armored reptiles, their faces have such personality.

So cool they need two photos. Is it nerdy that these make me think of Super Mario Bros.?

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Well, Chinese New Year came and went in Singapore. You know, when I realized I would be here for it, I was excited. I figured it would be pretty huge. And it was, I guess.... decorations were everywhere, and it felt pretty festive. But when it was winding down, I felt like I hadn't really taken full advantage of it. I missed the parade, unfortunately.... my fault, I never found out where it would be. And while I saw a few lion dances, I neglected to take any video of them. So I'm afraid my New Years post is a little like my New Years experience.... underwhelming.

So, wheeee, with that kind of intro, enjoy!

Red and gold everywhere.

Okay.... I think this is supposed to be the God of Wealth, Kuan Yu. Apparently he is recognizable by his red face and long black beard. But the internet hive-mind says that he normally wears green, so I don't know for sure. Someone feel free to set me straight on this if I got it wrong. Sideways was no help, he is Quaker.

For New Years dinner, my co-expat Eric and I decided to cook. We made the traditional food of Chinese New Year: fajitas.

Poor planning in action! Turns out unripe avocados are about as tasty as a bar of soap. We should have bought them days earlier. So our fajitas were, sadly, sin guacamole.

The Lion Dancers were plentiful in the two weeks following New Years. Crews of them travel around in little trucks, systematically blessing businesses with their dances. Here they are blessing, uh, a sports bar across from my house.