3/20/11 - Day 11: Safari Park

Before we left for the Safari Park, we had some behavioral challanges from our kids. Carter was fine. The others were not. A great time was not had by all. Grandma and Grandpa have got to be loving being on a different floor instead of next door.

We finally made it to breakfast. This time Carter's sherpa procured a bread roll when passing the bread station before attempting to sit at a table. The meal started with everyone in a better mood. And the meal ended without major problems.

Then we headed off to the Safari Park. I realized our guide did not plan to join us inside the park. I asked her if she wanted to go and said that if her company was not paying for her ticket we would like to. She said thank you but it was too expensive. After getting past this I said we would be glad to buy the ticket if she wanted to join us. Her big smile and hand clap said it all. Bonus - we later determined it was her birthday so we had great timing! Grace also said she had been to the safari park before but had not seen the different animal shows, which she really liked. Hey, I can do some things right occasionally.

The Safari Park was excellent. Everyone had a very good time. We took a tram ride through the safari part first, and then hit the walking part. Carter has decided to sit happily in his stoller and we all took turns pushing him (April & Bennett love helping and we allow this depending on crowds and if Carter is not napping). There were more of each animal in most sections then we had seen before in different zoos or animal parks (we have been to many zoos and animal parks in the U.S., Russia, and China at this point).

The animal habitats were well laid out, the kids loved it, and the shows we saw were great. The elephant show was basically a long circus act. The tiger show was almost as good. We missed the panda show due to arriving late in a crowd but saw the panda exhibit later when it was almost empty. We saw baby tigers up close. We had read great reviews and now know why everyone raves about the Safari Park.

For dinner we headed off to a place we had learned about close to the hotel. This time our directions were spot on and we found the Irish pub without wandering around. Since it serves Western food the pub was our most expensive meal to date, but it is all relative. And I am sure HKG will make this one look cheap in turn. Back to the meal - ahh, BEER. Did I say we had a few pitchers? Bliss. And the food was surprisingly good also. The kids had Spaghetti Bolognese kid meals per a recommendation (our selected bangers & Mash was sold out), I had chicken cordon blue, Grandpa had a Reuben sandwich, Lisa had a chicken & mushroom pie (or some type of pie), and Grandma had Irish Stew. Plus we had English chips for an appetizer. Carter had a little of everything and was in a severe food coma by the end of dinner. Carter could not stop smiling. The dishes were all made differently then we are used to and the changes made them special and tasty.

Unfortunately, after dinner Carter was not tired (hmm, long nap in the stroller at the Safari park and almost no walking at the park or anywhere all day?). Mommy was wiped out so Daddy carried Carter back to the hotel on his shoulders for the first time, which Carter really liked. April & Bennett were snoring in 5 minutes without argument but Sir Stinky Pants fought it (sometimes loudly) for 2 hours.

Tomorrow we go to the Six Banyan Temple (very neat place plus we will get Carter blessed by the monks - we'll take any good vibes we can get), hit the Guangdong Government Arts & Crafts store, get the TB skin test read at the medical clinic, and plan to stay on Shaiman Island after the medical clinic (to pick up our laundry, try to get some requests for friends, and do some shopping at the souvenir/adoption focused stores on the island). We will try to pick up some NorthFace rain jacket/shells for Carter & Bennett given the weather forecast.

My editor has crapped out before me again so any errors or bad posts are my sole responsibility.