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Published: October 27th 2009
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We left in the van at 7:20 on the dot from The Loft Hostel. There were 5 of us on the tour from 2 hostels; Pete and I, a couple from Montreal and a guy from Japan. As we arrived at the Panda Base it was around 8am, opening time. Once we got in our driver, who doesn't speak English, lead us around to the different exhibits. The main/ONLY reason we came was to hold/sit with the panda bears for 1,000 kuai=$146.41 per person. This is the ONLY place on Earth that you can do this. Yes we could have seen and did see Panda's at the San Diego zoo, but not as many as this place in Chengdu and you can't get near them at SD Zoo.
We got to the the feeding of some 1 year old cubs, many adults Panda's, red Panda's and newborns. The 3 newborns were SO CUTE, but you couldn't take pictures of them and they had 2 cops there watching so you wouldn't take pictures. Twin cubs was born 7/19/09 born at 100 grams and 122grams, then another cub was born on 8/23/09 at 137grams. Life is full of converting since the USA
is the only or one of the only countries that uses Lbs, Miles, Farenheit, Feet and Inches. Obama would be great if he switched the USA to the rest of the worlds measurements, HOPE, back to our trip.
It was then time to go in with the Panda. In our group were 6 Japanese business men all wearing suits and us. It felt like we were going into surgery, we put on booties over our shoes, scrub jacket and gloves. We got to be in the area for about 15 minutes since the Japanese business men went first, then us. It was the MOST SURREAL moment to be next to such an animal that is in such danger, less than 5,000 in the World. Upon researching the panda holding experience we found that most people were taken in as a couple or as an individual, put on the clothes, sat with the panda for about a minute, then escorted out. We were lucky to be with such a big group and go
After we were in with the Panda we then went on to see the Red Panda's. They look like a racoon like animal and they cost
100 kuai to hold, Pete wanted to do that also but since it was raining we couldn't. Unsure as to Why? since China doesn't know that word, just do as you are told and don't ask questions type of society. After being at the base for about 3 hours, which was plenty of time, our tour headed back to the hostel. We had lunch at the hostel again since it had such good food. This time I had spaghetti and Pete had a club sandwich with fries. We then rested in our room and read our books until we need to eat dinner then head to the Sichuan Opera. We decided this vacation we were going to relax more and read books to unwind, that is they whole point of vacation, besides seeing and experiencing new things.
For dinner we saw a Hot Pot restaurant near our hostel that was packed the night before so we got there around 5:15 to eat dinner, by the time we left it was packed again. The food was great and it was our first experience of Hot Pot. The Sichuan Province is known for Spicy Food, the province that Chengdu is located
in. We had spicy beef, chicken wings, bamboo, bean sprouts, cauliflower, and rice. We didn't chose the following items that were on the menu: ox penis, ox spinal cord, pigs blood, many other things that don't come to mind but I would NEVER try.
The Sichuan Opera was entertaining but not worth the 150 kuai=$21.96 per person that we paid for the VIP seats. Well maybe after I see the currency conversion, 150 kuai is just ALOT of money in China when buying things, CRAZY. Our seats were in the 4th row and dead center to the stage.
There are lots of pictures on this entry, make sure to hit the next button and scroll down to see all 31 photos.
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Mom
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Day 2
Sounds like an experience of a lifetime....The opera looks like a neat experience...the colors were beautiful in you r pictures!!!!