17/10 Ueno Zoo

I don't think I've ever been to a zoo, if Skansen doesn't count. But then again, all I ever saw in Skansen were dirty flying rats (read: doves) and a bunny or two. And a couple of turtles. Do they have elks there?

On Friday the 17th, some of us JLSP:ers + E went to the Zoo in Ueno, the oldest zoo in Japan, established in the 1880's. During the second World War, there was an instance where they had to put the larger animals down, due to fear of them escaping and becoming a threat to humans if something happened to the zoo.

Zoo just right ahead.

I took a couple of pictures in the beginning, but stopped after a while. Partly because of lack of battery, but also because I didn't see any point of taking pictures of animals in cages. I'm not trying to sound like an animal activist, I mean, if I didn't go to the zoo, I would've never had the chance to see so many different kinds of animals in real life. Some animals had pretty spacious living habitats, while others, such as the elephants, polar bears and zebras, didn't seem to have near the amount of space they needed.

1. The popular Lesser Panda. Looks more like a stuffed animal. So fluffy and cute that you wouldn't believe it was real.
2. Tilting its head to make a nice portrait for us.
3. A memorial corner for all the lost animals.
4. Gathered around a small glass case which is connected to the cage you see behind it. Was it otters? Can't recall. @_@
5. A thousand cranes by the memorial corner.
6. Interesting-looking leaves on a fake-looking tree thing.
7. She kept walking back and forth, as if she was defending her territory from the spectators.
8. Gorilla. At one point it punched the glass window and gave everybody a scare. It also tied a bandana to its head in an effort to charm the audience (?).

We checked out a bunch of other animals, some very bizarre-looking and some less intimidating ones. After going there, I don't think I'll need to go to any Zoo for a long time. @_@ Zoo-meter reached the top level.

Took a picture of the beautiful crepuscular rays that we saw that day. I think I see some anticrepuscular rays (the dark ones) in the top right corner as well! Nicest sighting of the day. :D

In the evening, we went to a nomikai at the cheap izakaya in Shimotakaido and had a pre-birthday celebration for A! Some of the volunteers were very sweet and gave her gifts and presents, amongst those a cute custom made little cake which she came over and shared with E and I later. Thanks A. ;w; That was so sweet of you even though it was your birthday cake!

Happy 2Xth Birthday Dear A. :D