From the title of this blog, I would forgive you if you'd assumed the subject matter was about the latest piece of pure top class television viewing (not!), i.e Big Brother. But, despite the titillating (and yes, I know that was a cheap shot) and edge-of-your seat drama that Big Brother is, my blog this evening is about a most pleasant family outing we had at Taronga Zoo.
The glorious Sydney Autumn morning - you know the type, streaming golden sunshine, picture perfect cloudless blue sky with just a hint of chill in the breeze - beckoned our little family out to enjoy what promised to be an awe filled ( for the babies) and exhausting (for me and hubby) day at the Zoo.
For those who aren't familiar with Taronga Zoo, it's an old animal house that's recently had a facelift. And, yes, the renovations and new Elephant sanctuary are world class. But, what I love most about Taronga Zoo is the breathtaking view from nearly every part of the park. Built at Mosman, it has arguably the best view of Sydney Harbour and the City Skyline. So, I suppose the astronomical amount of money you spend, in a way, is sort of justified for the old cliched million dollar view.
Pushing a double stroller and trying to contain my effervescent 3-year-old, we explored the zoo. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Taronga is the best place to lose a few kilo's of fat while tightening up those hamstrings. It's set on the hill and if it weren't for the cable car flying you back to the entrance, I dare say hundreds of tourists would perish and would no doubtingly supply an endless supply of fresh meat for the lone raggedy Lion.
Which brings me to the animals.
In essence, I don't agree with animals locked up purely for our viewing pleasure - that's what Big Brother is for (ok, another cheap shot). I know zoo's do a lot of good with conservation yada, yada, yada, but watching a big, black bear pace back and forth for HOURS on an elevated log like some deranged tightrope walker, begs one to ask if the animals aren't being mentally tortured. However, having voiced my moral outrage, I stood with all the other humans gawking at chimps indiscriminately bonking one another and finally understood how the creators of Big Brother found their inspiration! ( Ok, now I'm getting sick of my stupid Big Brother jokes).
I'm not a massive animal lover, but I do have a soft spot for Apes and Monkeys. I'm always in awe of the Giraffes - which Tara proclaimed as her favourite - and the Elephant's are cool. Eden loved the bird show and my hubby liked the Big Cats. One animal I really can't stand are stupid, ugly Koalas. Call me un-Australian, but I really, really hate Koalas. They are just too freaking weird! The way they sleep statue-like in trees (they don't even look real), they way they hiss and bark, and their rubbery noses almost make me want to vomit. Their babies look like maggots and their beady little eyes, are quite frankly - scary.
Anyway, despite paying $37 for two adult burgers, two kids burgers and four chips (yes, food vendors at the zoo think they can charge ridiculous amounts of money for slop which we hungrily swallow after walking for four hours), we had a marvellous day.
I hope the girls remember their first trip to the zoo, probably not, but just watching their wide-eyed expressions as they saw the animals of their picture books for the first time in the flesh, was priceless.
