Visit to the Mysore Zoo

Hi folks,

It is a bright sunny day with mild showers every now and then. Today being Sunday, we have decided to visit the Zoo! It is close by to our residence, but never got the time to take my little one as she comes back pretty late. Hopefully we should make it this afternoon after lunch.

I managed to wash the car mats to make it look less dirty. It isn't a brand new car - has been with us for about 11 years! Long time, infact. But it has served us real good. We have taken it on long drives, once to Hyderabad, once to Delhi and then once from Punjab to Gujarat! Now I am not too sure whether it can take us 1000+ kms drive.

My daughter is doing her Math work after some cajoling. She loves to read. Picked up a book for her last evening - 'Grandma's stories'. A good one and she is stuck to it ever since!

I am at present reading a novel by Len Deighton named 'Goodbye, Mickey Mouse'. It is interesting. It is about fighter pilots, their squadrons and their private lives during the span of the war. Good reading, fast paced and humour at right places!

What is my husband reading? Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! I think he just about completed it this morning. I have to choose between that and Battle Cry after the present book.

Alright, time to go, check on my daughter's work. What comes before 89?!


Well, well, did we go to the zoo finally? Yes, we did! Amidst fear of getting wet as thick dark clouds were hovering and threathening us. Though we did get wet, but a little as it was due to intermittent drizzles. The first sight that greeted us was a group of about four graceful and elegant giraffes walking with their heads held high. Their lazy walk coupled with their movement of the long necks looked to me more like a slow dance.. There was one baby giraffe, almost as tall as 20 feet didn't want to join in that slow dance! He was running and jumping all around much to the delight of the visitors.



Then, we walked along a row of beautiful, huge birds - from Indian hornbill to some colorful parakeets and cockatoos. I haven't seen such healthy looking birds anywhere else. All huge and well kept.



The giant squirrel, with its popping eyes, didn't seem to be scared of anyone. He kept coming closer to the mesh, maybe expecting something to eat!







The pink, pink, pink flamingos were showing off their ability to stay stable on their thin, fragile feet.






The white tigers on the other hand wanted to show their might on all fours! Eight months old tiger cub was all playful and excited seeing his food brought in by the zoo keepers.







Then, we moved on and came across what I named as the 'meditating Gorilla'! My God, he was a huge one sitting on a huge swing and dreaming. Infact, he looked more like a statue for the first few minutes. I was convinced he was real only when he rolled his eyes towards us. He didn't move at all, but kept giving us that cold stare. For a moment, I thought I will take the challenge he was offering, a stare fight! But, better sense prevailed when I realised I don't stand a godamn chance with him.

Ramba, the grand looking elephant treated us to a few of his tricks unwittingly. There was no water nearby, so maybe he was trying to show us how he showers ...he lifted up a small branch with leaves high above his head and showered(dropped) it on his back, which slid off his body to the ground! No, he didn't flinch! (And don't think much about the name and the gender, that is how they have named him!)

Apart from these, we got to see the double horned rhino, the sound-asleep, almost dead looking hippo (which was sleeping on his side, half immersed in water with his head popped against a cemented portion, dead to the world), the serene white deer, the mama and baby black bears(my guess) and just to add the design, the zebras.




Three black swans with red beaks floating along with a whole lot of other water birds was a very pleasant sight.





The most disgusting part was some passage called the noctural enclave or some name of that sort, which houses nocturnal animals like the civet cat. But, we entered and rushed out through the exit as fast as we could, as our nasal passages were attacked by really strong, unpleasant odor, that our eyes refused to notice anything but the dim light which came through the exit. Thank God, it didn't take more than 20 footsteps! Imagine holding your breadth any longer!

Overall (scratching off the last passage), we had a very exciting afternoon,out at the Mysore zoo.