A Pandemic of Bad Puns in My Head
Went to see Tai Shan yesterday... He is the cutest thing that has ever existed ever and the experience of visiting was MUCH nicer and easier than I expected it to be, so kudos to the National Zoo!
Our scheduled viewing time was 11:40, so Jill, Christie and I made our way to the metro around 11, got to the zoo at about 11:25 or so, and headed straight for the Panda House. There was a bit of confusion as to the line being formed. Everyone seemed to be in one line regardless of their viewing time, which kind of defeats the purpose of a line, you know?
A couple minutes before 11:40, the guy at the front of the line called for all the people in our viewing time, and we made a new line underneath an awning outside the Panda House. He was kind of hard to hear, so if you're towards the back of the line waiting to be called, make sure you pay attention! While we were waiting in this second line, we were debriefed on the procedures of panda viewing. We were told that Tai is a typical 5-month-old, and that he was napping, but that we would see him, since he was sleeping in the exhibit area. We were also told that Animal Planet was there filming, so if we called in sick to work we might want to rethink going inside. Wokka wokka.
Then we started to see other people coming out of the Panda House, nearly all saying words like "cute" and "aw" and "best day ever," and not long after that we were allowed inside. When you first walk in, to your left is the area where the volunteers watch panda cams, so you can see all the different views that they have and what the other pandas are doing while you're insdie there. Then there are two main exhibit areas, and you can also sort of see the dens. The one with the big platform that Mei always sleeps on is mostly visible. Tai was in the exhibit next to that den, curled up in a little ball right near the glass, sleeping quite soundly. Cutest thing ever. He was much smaller than I expected, he looks so sturdy on Pandacam and in news clips, but he's really tiny, and so calm inducing. I don't know if it's the maternal thing or just the (I can't believe I'm about to type this) amazement at our world and the jaw-droppingly unique things that live in it, but I didn't want to leave.
The people who were there looking were being very un-Washingtonian and letting other people get a chance near the glass. It was shockingly polite for DC. You're inside the panda house for ten minutes (they also have exhibits about past pandas in Washington and about panda breeding and stuff), and then the guy who led us in initially came back and announced that it's time to go, so off we went. Luckily Mei Xiang and Tian Tian were both outside, so we got to see them for a little bit too before heading back to the office.
And then even better, went to Jill and Lauren's for a girls night in dinner soiree last night, perfect way to end such a nice day!
Our scheduled viewing time was 11:40, so Jill, Christie and I made our way to the metro around 11, got to the zoo at about 11:25 or so, and headed straight for the Panda House. There was a bit of confusion as to the line being formed. Everyone seemed to be in one line regardless of their viewing time, which kind of defeats the purpose of a line, you know?
A couple minutes before 11:40, the guy at the front of the line called for all the people in our viewing time, and we made a new line underneath an awning outside the Panda House. He was kind of hard to hear, so if you're towards the back of the line waiting to be called, make sure you pay attention! While we were waiting in this second line, we were debriefed on the procedures of panda viewing. We were told that Tai is a typical 5-month-old, and that he was napping, but that we would see him, since he was sleeping in the exhibit area. We were also told that Animal Planet was there filming, so if we called in sick to work we might want to rethink going inside. Wokka wokka.
Then we started to see other people coming out of the Panda House, nearly all saying words like "cute" and "aw" and "best day ever," and not long after that we were allowed inside. When you first walk in, to your left is the area where the volunteers watch panda cams, so you can see all the different views that they have and what the other pandas are doing while you're insdie there. Then there are two main exhibit areas, and you can also sort of see the dens. The one with the big platform that Mei always sleeps on is mostly visible. Tai was in the exhibit next to that den, curled up in a little ball right near the glass, sleeping quite soundly. Cutest thing ever. He was much smaller than I expected, he looks so sturdy on Pandacam and in news clips, but he's really tiny, and so calm inducing. I don't know if it's the maternal thing or just the (I can't believe I'm about to type this) amazement at our world and the jaw-droppingly unique things that live in it, but I didn't want to leave.
The people who were there looking were being very un-Washingtonian and letting other people get a chance near the glass. It was shockingly polite for DC. You're inside the panda house for ten minutes (they also have exhibits about past pandas in Washington and about panda breeding and stuff), and then the guy who led us in initially came back and announced that it's time to go, so off we went. Luckily Mei Xiang and Tian Tian were both outside, so we got to see them for a little bit too before heading back to the office.
And then even better, went to Jill and Lauren's for a girls night in dinner soiree last night, perfect way to end such a nice day!
posted by lunchbox at 7:47 AM
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