12th Feb was the Safari Zoo Run which dear Aloysius asked me to gatecrash since he didn't have a running partner and we're both animal lovers ^_^
I had to admit though that we weren't prepared, I got the timing confused, thinking that the run starts at 3.30pm (5pm instead). As usual we're running late again....
We had trouble getting a cab (which is the usual case during weekends) during which, we spotted a Filipino couple decked out in 2XU gear; so obviously going for the run. We bumped into them again at the orang utan enclosure haha.
Mandai Zoo isn't exactly accessible nor centralized, and there's only 1 long road leading the way to the entrance and the other lane was closed (for the run) and the sun was blistering hot. The cab fare came up to about $14 and we were traveling really light, I only had an arm pouch and between us we only had a measly $26!
The road was congested so we decided to alight and walk the rest of the way, the weather didn't help and I wanted to kick myself for not bringing a bottle of water (hydration is vital during a run).
The exclusive Safari Zoo bottled water sells for $3 (500ml), that's daylight robbery!
We endured and boycotted the obvious ploy to monopolize drinking water at a secluded location.
After finding out that the run kicks-off only 2 hours later, I got a ticket and we set-off to the zoo (again) =)
It was Aloysius' second time and my umpteenth time; previously I brought him here too in 2008, and on that day I actually got my 1st digital cam (on the spot at AMK hub) just especially for his special excursion =D
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Back to the present day, we were looking forward to the adorable otters! But they were in a drowsy slumber from the afternoon heat, sigh.. although I could still smell them haha
We also saw the Penguins, Orang Utans (the adorable little ones were struggling when trying to swing around the trees and one fell smack on the wooden ledge), Tigers (the same angry one pacing around in his corner, I think he's up to something), a lone Crocodile as still as a wooden log, pink Flamingos, the Gibbons weren't home =(. There were Elands and Rhinoceros with gigantic poo, Zebras with their alluring stripes, so uniformed and perfectly patterned.
Then spotted Giraffes gettting close to some people on a bridge and we ran there, and it's feeding time! How lucky =D The giraffes are huge and fascinating creatures and their heads are as big as Aloysius torso and you can feed them for just $5 and they're just next to you haha. Aloysius couldn't resist so he stood beside them although there were quite intimidating since they're the tallest land animals. They were stretching their long tongues out to gobble the carrots and he got a lucky lick from a Giraffe =D
While Aloysius was captivated by the giant cats and I was looking out into the open, watching the Zebras feasting in merriment despite the rain, their tails swaying in a pendulum in front of their shapely striped bums haha. It's a strange scene.
The rain didn't seem to be letting up anytime soon but everyone with their brollies and ponchos made their way out. We were about to go when I noticed 2 of the cats lowering their heads in unison, a keeper had entered their enclosure with a broom. This didn't seem right, I thought he was there to clear out something, but he approached them and the cats growled. He got closer and just shooed them off with his broom, 1 human vs 3 cheetahs?! My heart almost skipped a beat when we witness this right in front of us. The cats retreated and the keeper had shooed them off, presumably for their feeding time. He was muscular and armed with a domestic weapon but these are wild animals! This was something...
We made a dash out to the next shelter but the raindrops got heavier before we reached Ah Meng cafe. It was packed with runners who were stranded.
There was hardly any 3G reception, we couldn't see the animals and we're surrounded by just people..arghh..
I was getting restless, I don't like to sit around and wait, so we tried to make our way again after the rain subsided.
We finally reached the entrance and there was a snaking Queue. You can take the girl/boy out of Singapore but you can't take the singaporean out of a local. So naturally we joined in the Q hahaha, and we asked the friendly girls in front of us, and they were just as clueless. They found out that it was for the water bottle, but there wasn't any water. We were severely dehydrated so I grabbed some 100plus from the tents outside, we endured for 2 hours for this, oh my..
Slowly, it turns out we were the last few in the Q and they gave (only) Aloysius the finishers' medal?
The rain has ceased and we heard a few runners crossing the finishing line. It turns out that the run for the Mens' Open has started and they thought he was the 1st few finishers?! hahaha
It was too late to start running, so we went back to look for the rest of our animal friends.
There were so many deja-vu moments when we kept passing by the Ah Meng Cafe, the Orang-Utan enclosure and the 7KM mark! Yet I still felt lost...
We looked for the Giant Tortoise, the swimming Crocodiles, the Komodo Dragon, Squirrel Monkeys, the Sleeping Snakes, we caught the last bit of the Sealion show, who was just adorable and playful, and he's pretty huge ;)
We found a brave Pelican sitting on the edge of the Sealion pool, who was apparently oblivious to the gawking humans haha.
We eventually reached the other end of the compound where the kids zone was.
There were horses in the stable, and we were surprisingly closed to them, it seemed like they could leap out anytime. Candy was the only one that stuck her head out of the railing to graze on some of the stray hay and she gave us a shock when she let out a huge snort haha. They're really huge and beautiful animals.
The Ponies didn't look happy though, there was one that was looking so emo and standing so still with her hoofs closed together.. hmmm and most of them were cramped in 1 stable with alot of poop...poor things.
Next door, the Goats were chewing non-stop on the metal railing, which I bet doesn't taste good at all, but they couldn't stop and everyone was trying to pat their heads. I doubt Goats are friendly creatures though.
While looking for the Kangaroos, we heard screeching and a keeper was crouched in the bushes and there was a small portable cage. I thought was catching a creature on the loose, then we saw him holding the neck of a flying squirrel with it's 'wings' all stretched out. I was confused, he placed it on the trunk and supported it with a rod, then he let go while it tried to clamber up then it lost it's grip and fell! Then he carried the fella to another tree and this time it went up to the branches, but it's back was facing the ground and it fell again! Smack onto the ground, the poor creature was petrified and still hurt. Yet, something new we saw today, wow!
Sadly, the Monkeys, Baboons and giant Orang Utan were no where to be found, so were the Elephants, but the sun was almost setting and it was time for the nocturnal animals to reign.
It's been a long while since I spent a day like that with Aloysius, just walking, far from urbanization and close to nature, it was a really good day although it didn't go as planned. Life is always full of little surprises ;)
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