One of the things Ryan and Laura wanted to do while here in the States was to visit the Wild Animal Park affiliated with the San Diego Zoo. We were super glad that they didn't mind if we tagged along... so we DID! Shamu is great and all, but it was nice to go to an attraction we hadn't been to yet. Ryan lived near here as a child, so he was familiar with the area and was reminiscing about his days at the park as a kid. I am pretty sure that there was more to do here than we got around to doing, but we really enjoyed everything that we did!
One thing the park has done is to try to keep the local environment intact, using lots of native plants and creative solutions to traditional cages. It lends itself to a very open feel at the park. You really do feel like you are on one continuous African Safari. The below pictures were taken on the same bridge, at the same spot, just opposite railings.
I love that on this side, Jeremy and Amelia were surrounded by all the desert plant life we have come to know and love,
and on this side, Marshall and I have a very different view of rolling California hills and trees. Very GREEN to our desert accustomed eyes!
This endangered California Condor just seemed to pose for a picture, giving me a full view of his impressive wingspan. Not the most attractive of birds, but amazing all the same.
~So did you notice that they do use cages here?... someone needs to work on creative containment for the flying species! :) It still looked to be a very natural habitat for the animals. No polar bears living in a hot and humid dirt pit here! (ps... shame on you, Baltimore Zoo!) ~
I completely lucked out with this shot of an owl that was participating in an animal program in the morning. He flew out of that hole behind the tv screen and his target point must have been right behind me because it looks like he's flying right for me!
The Wild Animal Park had just begun their African Summer Festival 2 days before we visited. When you first walk in the park, they give each of the kids a "Passport to Adventure" card. It's very cute and looks just like a passport.... Ok, it looks like what I THINK a passport would look like! Then on the map are various coordinates where the children can find stations to stamp their passport. All 6 kids loved this feature and would get very excited when we found one.
This is African Chief, Kahle. He is on hand to greet people, offer advice and take pictures with the natives... oh and did I mention that he's searching for a bride? The little outfit Amelia is wearing is what his bride would wear. When we walked up to him, we overheard the discussion he was having with an older woman. She wanted to know what part of Africa he was from. She was quite disappointed and almost appeared agitated to learn that he was in fact from Chula Vista! :) He was quite convincing and had the accent down pat. Thanks to an old VBS tape, the kids and I already knew how to say hello to him... JAMBO! (or just hi will do, I guess... He IS from Chula Vista!)
Probably one of our favorite exhibits was the Lorikeet Landing. For a small fee, you can purchase a tiny cup of nectar and the birds just come right up to you and drink from the cup. Obviously they are more comfortable with this idea than our young Marshall is. This picture was taken immediately after we entered the area. I have to say that I think this is one of the funniest pictures that the Man Cub has ever been the subject of. That "NOT AN EXIT" sign behind him makes it even funnier as if he were ABLE to move, I'm sure he would have gone right out it!
Amelia thought it was great that for once, an animal wasn't afraid of her and didn't run when she approached. She was very gentle with them and held very still while they had their treat.
Of course, Marshall became quite fond of the birds too! (After they got off his head, that is!)
See... we're friends now! Right?!?
Jeremy got in on the action even though he didn't have any nectar.
After we left the birds, we headed out to some shade trees to eat applesauce cups I had thrown in my bag. I thought they'd be eating them with lunch, not as a "hold you over" type deal, so I didn't pack spoons. Silly Mama! They were adaptable though and just used the birds methods of getting the snack out of the cup. Can you tell who didn't get a cup?
The Black Rhinos were Marshall's favorite. Apparently, this one is hugely pregnant?!? Hard for me to tell on a Rhino. Oh, and did you know that their heads weigh 900 pounds? Crazy! I'd need a nap just from having to hold that big grape up!
This is a... a.... oh, I give up. I can't remember. :) I tried to google it, but apparently his little trick is more common in the animal world than one would think!He can climb up the pole and then flip over on himself with his hind feet staying in position to descend the pole. The ankle joints just rotate. Ick.
The Cheetah was pretty cool. He definitely wanted what was in that bucket!
After the show, we were able to move our way up front and visit with some of the animals. There was a large white dog on the stage at the same time with this Cheetah. I asked the dog handler why the dog didn't care that there was a cheetah 5 feet from him, because let's face it, Semper would be going NUTS whether or nut it would be beneficial to her health. He said that the dog and the cheetah are actually roommates and have been since they were babies. They are still young... I think he said only a year old. The only time they are separated is to feed them. Guess why... the cheetah wouldn't get enough food! Apparently they are super fast but avoid confrontation at all cost. So the dog would end up eating all the food and the cheetah would go hungry. Who would have figured! He also said that they live together because it helps to socialize the cheetah. In situations where the cheetah may get nervous, like on a stage with strange people and small children approaching, he takes his cues from the dog. If the dog isn't worried, he isn't either. So since the dog enjoys people and crowds, the cheetah finds it easier to be cool about it. What a cool relationship!
I found my family resting in this rather large hollowed out log at one point in the day.
Towards the end of our day, we ventured back to a large grassy area where the kids made beaded necklaces and bracelets....
And the rest of us* acted like fools. :) Here is Pastor Ryan showing us how the hula hooping is done....
Oh, yes way!
Here Pastor Ryan is demonstrating a rarely seen rendition of jump rope, RiverDance style! This man's talents are ENDLESS!
Ryan showed the kids how he used to play with hula hoops when he was a kid. Get them rolling on their side, run as fast as your little legs will carry you and then dart through the upright circle. Abby got pretty good at it!
The last show we caught was the Acrobats of Tanzania. No kidding. No Chula Vista here! The Chief told us that these guys were the only guys brought in for the African Summer Festival. They were pretty impressive!
This guy was really bendy. The kids all loved this trick.
How is it that I STILL manage to fall down the stairs on a fairly regular basis and he can do this?
So not fair!
It's time to go and we are ONE stamp away from finding them all. Not to be outdone by a couple of fake coordinates on a nonsense map, the adults had to get involved.
Had to take a break for a few spins around on the carousel. Who could ever resist them?
Not Amelia! Especially when they have animals resembling horses!
Ahhh... Success! Six happy kiddo's with completed passports.
Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to the Ashlocks in the parking lot. There is nothing better than good friends who are so easy to be around that you pick up right where you left off. We love you guys and look forward to crashing at YOUR pad in November!
*Disclaimer- Yes, Laura and I acted like fools too... We just did it like normal people. Behind trees where you can't be photographed! :)
1 comment:
Love that you included that picture of Jeremy not getting a cup!
What great memories! Glad we'll get to make more soon. :)
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