Beijing Zoo = Pandas!

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Araaaaaaaaargh! I just wrote a very clever and witty blog entry regarding traffic, taxis, Pandas, and our visit to the zoo only to find out that Travelblog did not save the entry even though I pressed the "save" button numerous times. Since I'm the type of writers whose best material comes from the first draft, the rest of the entry will likely now be much much less clever and witty. Sigh. I really did write some fun things about waiting in "line" in China (with a McDonald's reference), how traffic lanes appear to be a "suggestion" rather than a rule and then comparing every taxi ride to getting to riding The Wild Thing at Valley Fair. Maybe I'll save these topics for another evening and give them another draft. Anyway, on to the zoo - take two!

We visited the Beijing Zoo and saw Pandas! For the most part the Pandas were sleeping, but we did see them. We learned that they like to live in solitude (sorry Jess, one cannot actually enter the cage to cuddle with the Pandas), can easily outrun Usain Bolt, and have jaws powerful enough to chew through the toughest bamboo.

The zoo was established in 1906 and has one of the largest collections of animals in the world. The zoo grounds are beautiful and you get to be really close to the animals who are for the most part in cages. I'll just say it is a lot different than the Minnesota or St. Louis Zoos. did I mention we got to see Pandas?

We did have a mishap when we returned to the hotel. Stephanie miss-stepped getting out of the taxi and tripped over a oddly placed barrier. Since she was carrying a sleeping Ying at the time, it could have turned out a whole lot worse than it did. Her athletic ability assisted in avoiding significant injury to Ying. Stephanie was not so lucky and ended up visiting a hospital in Beijing (coincidentally to be treated by Vivi's aunt - see the Baihai Park and Bird's Nest blog entry - who is not just a doctor at the hospital, but basically the chief doctor at the hospital). Stephanie was entirely out of action the next day and is in quite a bit of pain due to bruised ribs. She is getting better though and hopes to be able to go to tomorrow's scheduled activities of visiting the Planetarium and seeing a Chinese Acrobats performance. Thank you AGAIN Vivi for being such a valuable resource, we look forward to spending Thanksgiving with your Aunt and your family!!!!!!

That's it for the zoo. I would have provided a chuckle or two regarding lines and taxis, but Travelblog did not "save" when asked to do so.

Today's featured videos include Grace and Faith introducing and describing a sleeping Panda, Faith introducing a sleeping Panda, a Panda eating, and Grace introducing you to our dear friend Travel Monkey.

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Comments

[Auntie Chelle]

Panda
Did you ask him if he loves Kung Fuuuuuuuuu?

[China Adventure]

I love KungFuuuuuu
They run faster than Bolt, can bust bamboo. I think their Wushu is goooooooood! I walked through a diplomatic section of Beijing tonight. Waaaay cool.