Zoo Negara

We decided to put all of the home hunting, car shopping, and getting to know Malaysia aside, and we allowed ourselves some fun at the National Zoo. Our entrance cost for the entire family was $12 US and lunch cost $5 with drinks. The zoo was full of all kinds of exotic animals and plants. We saw crocodiles, hippos, tons of monkeys, various Asian bears and tigers, and apes including chimpanzees. Many of the animals are indigenous to Malaysia like the Sun Bear also known as the Honey Bear which looks friendly enough, but I’d hate to run into any of these animals in the jungle while hiking or riding bikes. We took a family photo with a Shetland pony and Brian and I holding two boa constrictors. Phoenix got a little nervous with the snakes because they seemed extra interested in him and they kept wrapping themselves around his feet. The only other time I had the opportunity to hold a snake of this size was on our honeymoon in St. Lucia and that was two guys on the side of a street in the jungle. We didn’t stop for that photo.

The most obvious differences at the zoo here compared to the US, are that the animals are so much easier to see and they are really active. In many areas, you could almost get in with them if you wanted to, but I don’t think that it would be safe. We ended the day by the two boys feeding an elephant with huge tusks.