Thailand Holiday - To Pattaya
The next day we checked out and met a taxi driver - only not the original one we had had from our airport trip. The explanation was that the original guy had gotten into an accident and couldn't take us which was a pretty compelling story but we think he just passed the job onto his mate. Anyway, our new taxi driver seemed ok and spoke some english. We conveyed that we wanted to go to Pattaya via Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi and have him return in two days to take us to Bangkok airport. Seatbelts are pretty much for front seats only - just as in China - so it took a little effort for Sebastien in particular to sit quietly for the trip. The zoo was about halfway between Bangkok and Pattaya so it would be a good place to break for lunch. We got there in plenty of time for the advertised shows, said goodbye to our taxi driver who'd pick us up later, and ... no shows. Although they don't appear to say it anywhere, the shows do not take place in the offseason when we visited. Disappointed though we were to have paid the differential "non-thai" price we checked out the exhibits that were open. First up was the butterfly area where we were more interested in the koi in the pond.
Then onto the petting zoo area. 
This Zoo is a little different to other zoos we have been to in that you may buy a bag of fruit and vegetables to feed the animals. Some animals aren't supposed to be fed and there are small signs at those pens asking visitors not to feed them but it didn't stop many from doing that - perhaps one of the difficulties of allowing visitors to feed any animals at all. We showed Alex just how small she is compared to baby elephants, giraffes, rhinos and tigers. 
Alex got a big kick out of feeding beans and bananas to various animals - especially the goats (just like at Grandma and Grandad's). There was a small cold house where you could pay an additional admission fee and see the penguins so Alex and Mummy did that. 
Very depressing the small, concrete pen where the penguins were housed with paint peeling from the concrete, at least it was airconditioned. We headed over to the hippo section where a footbridge passed over the water. From there you were able to toss bananas and other food directly into the hippos' mouths - though this was too much of a challenge for Alex.
Possibly the highlight of the visit was feeding the giraffes - Alex was scared at first and would only approach them with Mummy beside her - check out that tongue!
But before long she was happy to feed the baby giraffe - who was only marginally smaller than it's parents - and was so excited when the giraffe took the bean out of her hand. I only wish my finger had been a little slower on the button.
Sebastien managed to fall asleep again and so we headed to a stall for some lunch - hot baked chicken and salad. Refrigeration, just as in China, seems lacking. 
The lady making the Tom Yum salad allowed me to photograph her but put on her serious face for it.
Mummy was interested to see the different style of brooms used by the cleaners in Thailand - the brush has no leaves unlike the ones in China. Also, the hats are broader.
We saw an interesting sign that surely was referring to Alex and Sebastien,
but became clearer when we came across tens of monkeys begging for food from tourists. These monkeys were also stealing food from the various pens.
Finally we saw the elephants. Quite sad for Mummy who hated to see them chained there with the ever-present stick, doing tricks for the tourists. Alex and Sebastien were interested in them but preferred the giraffes. We gave the last of our food to the elephants and walked back to the carpark.
On the way we saw a newly landscaped garden 
with the ubiquitous veneration of the Thai king. 
The orchids were divine.
Then we found our taxi, complete with dozing driver (the post-lunch sleep seems to be undertaken throughout asia) and completed our journey to Pattaya. Just as in some states in America, people are able to travel in the beds of utes which was strange to us - especially on a highway.
We passed several road-side shrines 
and then under a sign honouring the king and queen 
and then Sawasdee kha/krab ("sah-wat-dee car/crap" girl/boy).
Then onto the petting zoo area. 
This Zoo is a little different to other zoos we have been to in that you may buy a bag of fruit and vegetables to feed the animals. Some animals aren't supposed to be fed and there are small signs at those pens asking visitors not to feed them but it didn't stop many from doing that - perhaps one of the difficulties of allowing visitors to feed any animals at all. We showed Alex just how small she is compared to baby elephants, giraffes, rhinos and tigers. 
Alex got a big kick out of feeding beans and bananas to various animals - especially the goats (just like at Grandma and Grandad's). There was a small cold house where you could pay an additional admission fee and see the penguins so Alex and Mummy did that. 
Very depressing the small, concrete pen where the penguins were housed with paint peeling from the concrete, at least it was airconditioned. We headed over to the hippo section where a footbridge passed over the water. From there you were able to toss bananas and other food directly into the hippos' mouths - though this was too much of a challenge for Alex.
Possibly the highlight of the visit was feeding the giraffes - Alex was scared at first and would only approach them with Mummy beside her - check out that tongue!
But before long she was happy to feed the baby giraffe - who was only marginally smaller than it's parents - and was so excited when the giraffe took the bean out of her hand. I only wish my finger had been a little slower on the button.
Sebastien managed to fall asleep again and so we headed to a stall for some lunch - hot baked chicken and salad. Refrigeration, just as in China, seems lacking. 
The lady making the Tom Yum salad allowed me to photograph her but put on her serious face for it.
Mummy was interested to see the different style of brooms used by the cleaners in Thailand - the brush has no leaves unlike the ones in China. Also, the hats are broader.
We saw an interesting sign that surely was referring to Alex and Sebastien,
but became clearer when we came across tens of monkeys begging for food from tourists. These monkeys were also stealing food from the various pens.
Finally we saw the elephants. Quite sad for Mummy who hated to see them chained there with the ever-present stick, doing tricks for the tourists. Alex and Sebastien were interested in them but preferred the giraffes. We gave the last of our food to the elephants and walked back to the carpark.
On the way we saw a newly landscaped garden 
with the ubiquitous veneration of the Thai king. 
The orchids were divine.
Then we found our taxi, complete with dozing driver (the post-lunch sleep seems to be undertaken throughout asia) and completed our journey to Pattaya. Just as in some states in America, people are able to travel in the beds of utes which was strange to us - especially on a highway.
We passed several road-side shrines 
and then under a sign honouring the king and queen 
and then Sawasdee kha/krab ("sah-wat-dee car/crap" girl/boy).
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