awake

[bluebeard]

3am, and I'm still awake. Too much caffeine today? Perhaps. For awhile now I've been sleeping midnight-8a, much to my relief.

Tuesday, mom, dad and I went to the Memphis Zoo. According to their site, they've spent millions on the place in the past several years.. Getting there and walking around, it became apparent fast that those millions were spent entirely on appearance. What a crock. The animals are not happy there. It was really, really sad. Even the animals that travel in the wild are in tiny (average, I'd say, less than half an acre) spots. The hippos have a tiny puddle to hang out in. Gazelles in a spot smaller than my front yard. The aquarium has a lungfish in a tank half it's length. I could go on.. it was pitiful.

Disneyland's Animal Kingdom so rocked. That's really the only reason to set foot on any Disney property in Florida.. It's all safari-style, and animal is in it's own "natural" habitat. The only cages to be found were for bats and rodents.

And, on another note.. perhaps this Nevada vacation guide might be useful to someone.

Comments

[trickymartin.livejournal.com]

Oh the Memphis Zoo is so damn sad. Especially the way they have the Hippos. I only go on Free day which I guess you did too since its on Tuesdays.
My partners dad though is supplying the zoo with the bamboo for the pandas when they get there so we might get a membership for free out of that.

Hey, we live right across from the zoo btw. *hint hint*

[dom-ino.livejournal.com]

Yeh, we went on free day, although I still had to pay 'cause I don't have a TN ID yet.. I'm still relying on my Oregon ID.

Pretty spiffy on the possible free memberships.. If only it was a more enjoyable place :P.. well, and if only it were somewhat cheaper. $10 entry isn't bad, I suppose.. but once you get inside, it's nasty. $16.95 for an instant camera?! I don't think so, especially when they cost 5-6 bucks elsewhere. They really should spend more of that money on the habitats, instead of the outward appearance of the place.. People go there to see animals, not *statues* of animals.

We (me, ex and his family) were at Animal Kingdom around Christmas of 2000.. All the animals were out and about then, despite how cold it was. It hit like 15F the day before we arrived. I was really impressed with the place.. Of course, they're Disney, so they have that much more cash to spend on making sure the animals are in better conditions. Prices were steep there as well.. but that $5 burger was totally worth it.

As for the hinting.. Wot, want a visit? :P I'm up in Covington, and carless.. All my talk about hanging out with Patrik, is all 'cause of his wheels vrooming here and back. Mebbe next time we could stop by your place or go eat or something?

Re:

[trickymartin.livejournal.com]

That would be cool. Me & the sig other are always down for double dates!

[trickymartin.livejournal.com]

oh & though I havent been to the Animal KIngdom, my sister complained that the animals are never out when you go. But it kinda makes sense, i'd rather them be in a "natural" environment than forced on display.