That was really fast I thought as we stepped out of the Cab at the gates of Dallas Zoo. Soon with a Map in hand we were heading towards the Aviary. A board read "Please wash your hand before you feed". Hands washed, a Bird feed in hand I Walked in. A small boy was feeding a Lorikeet. With its vibrant green, blue and yellow feathers the bird was pretty. The bird had buried its head in the cup. His doting mother was recording it. The bird came up and shuffled up a few steps but kept looking at him. The boy looked at the cup, the bird had wiped it clean. The boy looked sadly at his mom. He wanted more bird feed. I gave him mine. With a big smile he held it up to the bird and it immediately buried its head in it. The mom gave me a big smile too. Beaming I walked out. Did somebody say altruism is good for the giver :) It is getting up close and personal with the exhibits that is endearing in the US.
The Crimson Flamingos danced while the Koala looked at us through beady eyes perched in the fork of a tree stump. The Anteater decided it would take a look at us and lifted its head up and stared. The Cassowaries didn't think we were worth standing up but stared anyway. But we stood transfixed at the Dinosaur on the Car. It was straight out of Jurassic Park! A couple of toddlers were struggling to climb the "frog” seat and their mom (?) gently egged them on. She was holding a camera ready to capture the beautiful memory. What is it about little people that tugs at your heart? I stood and watched them. Finally, the kids clambered up the seat and posed delightedly. The mother and children moved away and we demurely posed on it for a picture. The snakes cared two hoots for us as we peered through their glass enclosure. Some slept nonchalantly aware that they held the upper hand if push came to shove. Neither did the Turtles care for us. They too had a game up their sleeve I guess, the slow and steady wins the race? "Look at that" a friend exclaimed pointing at the baby Elephant [statue :)] sitting on the ground beside a seat. It seemed tired and had just flopped down. "Where is mama?" I asked as I flopped down beside it. The Elephant seemed to sigh :) I was tempted to give it a hug :) It was cuddly and adorable.
We gave the Butterfly park a miss but ended up meeting an Owl and a Penguin in person. Their young keepers were more than willing to talk about them. Seated on the arm of its keeper the Owl stared boldly at the Camera while the little Penguin looked at it inquisitively. That encounter was sheer luck we thought as we hurried to the Monorail station. Huge cut-outs called Photo Ark with a picture of an animal each were scattered all over the zoo. They lined the tunnel leading to the Train too. This Photo op had to be a pit stop. Everyone seemed to have had the same idea. Finally, we were on the Monorail.
With the guide talking about the animals with a great sense of humour we set off. The Ibex with their curved horns were resting on the rocks under the Trees. One of them had occupied the most vantage point, on the top most rock and gazed at us serenely. He seemed to be enjoying the show the train and the gaping humans put on. Was it the balcony seat? Did they take turns at watching from there? Was that huge gaping hole the entrance to his abode? I gaped more. "There is an Eland” the train seemed to slow down. The Eland was standing solemnly in the shade behind some trees. Wonder what it was thinking? Water cascaded and gurgled over rocks. A Hippo was caught between giving up the shade or playing in the water. We left it struggling with that lofty question as we passed by the small stream with Pelicans on its banks. "Look out" a friend screamed as we passed behind a waterfall showering us with fine mist. "Wow!" the white Antelope blended seamlessly into the background behind the grass. The Chimpanzees had called it quits for the afternoon. The ropes hung listlessly while they sat around resting. The Mandrill went by in a blur as we struggled to spot it. Slowly the train came to a halt and we climbed out thrilled by the experience. We had seen 30 odd animals on this trail. The circuit had been well laid out, the guide had been good and the animals had all turned up to see us. The safari ride had been exhilarating. Worth every penny. Enthused by the whole experience we walked towards the Big Animals. The entrance to the Elephants was crowded by Elephant statues. But a mother and her scrawny child were the only occupants inside. We had seen better Elephants in India. A group of Giraffes beckoned. They were tall. A pair of them walked towards us and stood watching the watchers. Mother and child or were they a couple? I watched them. Slowly I turned away and a Jeep suddenly waylaid us. Perhaps this was the type that took you into the jungle? Why not a picture if not a ride? "Can you take a picture of us" I handed over my mobile to a friendly looking chap and climbed on it and we grinned in delight. A Lion roared above the human chatter. The King was on the move. We ran to his enclosure. People had already covered every possible view point. I waited for the guy in front to move and got a good view as the lonely King walked towards a pavilion, sat down and looked away majestically. He was not interested in playing to the gallery. But the Cheetah was a people person :). He was seated just on the other side of his enclosure and looked at us amiably. He was so close his tail and feet could have touched the curious kids except for the glass. The children didn’t know how dangerous the Cheetah was, did they? They leaned against the glass. I turned to confirm their parents were closeby and moved away. Standing in the glass enclosure jutting into the enclosure I watched the Gorillas. They were huge. I waited to see if it would beat its chest and howl. It just sat there doing nothing. It had everything and didn't have to compete for anything. Just as I made a move a Gorilla on all its fours turned and walked away with knuckles bent. Not wanting to leave without saying hello to the Warthog I peeped into its enclosure. A dull stink hung over it. I held my breath and walked away.
"Shall we eat at the food court in the Arboretum?" I hurried everybody. We piled into the cab and zoomed away happy with having had a beautiful experience. "Why is that girl dressed in a formal gown here?" I thought as we stood waiting for tickets at the gate. She was surrounded by young boys in formal suits. I was bewildered. Soon we were inside. It was Spring, the season when the weeds too blush with flowers. And in here flowers were cultivated. Different hued flowers and greenery stretched as far as the eye could see. Azaleas, Petunias, Geraniums and so many more in so many colours adorned the park. I stopped to read a placard. A sculpture show was on and the artist was sculpting in the park. Ah that explained the lovely installations amidst the flowers. Now why was that red gown girl sitting near the flowers and arranging her gown delicately around her? The boys were milling around her and a man was setting up a camera on a tripod. Wow! This was a photo shoot for? This was a Quinceñera , a sweet fifteen party and a Mexican tradition. A colleague enlightened me the following day. We would see such scenes throughout the Park. We would see this girl and other similarly dressed girls in different poses.
We had seen pictures of this Park during Thanksgiving and in our hurry to take it in we had forgotten looking out for food and water. But hunger and thirst slowly clamored for attention and we started searching for them. The food stalls were shutting down. A Popsicle stall came into view and we made a beeline for it. It was a hot day and topless kids ran around. The babies were in a stupor under the awnings of the pram while their parents huffed and puffed as they pushed them. The Popsicle made us more thirsty but where was water? Popsicle in hand we walked to a group of people. A man was chiselling away at a piece of stone in their midst. He had just begun. Going by the installations that we had seen, it would slowly be a piece of art. Life too chiselled us the same way I thought. We walked into the Tent where his sculptures were being sold. They were very pretty but made of stone. I couldn't lug it home. Sadly, I turned away.
There it was the line of trees forming an arc overhead, a picture postcard that everyone sent home. We had to do it too. We walked towards it. But a toddler had decided he would test his walking skills right then. His doting parents stood camera in hand and there was no way we would take away the kid's right of way. We waited until he had his fill before strolling under the shady drive. Some kids were playing in the fountains close by. They were having so much fun. I wished I was a child.
A stretch of Pink and Lavender flowers caught my eye. From far the Pink flowers seemed to be surrounded by swirling smoke. It was dreamy. Row upon row of Azaleas lined the walk. Blue had paired with white while Pink waltzed alone with the wind. A line of Cox Comb had lined up behind and I went up to see them. They are a cherished childhood memory. We had them in our garden when we were growing up. We hurried to the Yellow Azaleas before they could feel ignored. A group of Peach coloured flowers seemed to have sprouted out of nowhere. Red Canna flowers guarded a row of Pink flowers. Was that a Dahlia? I zoomed my camera at it. Another childhood memory of playing around small Red and yellow flowers rose up as we crossed a row of them.
We crossed a patch of Roses and found ourselves amidst bigger trees now. Magnolias were in bloom and dark and light green decorative plants had been shaped like a braid. We turned a corner and arrived at a Waterfall. The water fell into a pond and beautiful bright colored fishes could be seen swimming enticingly near the surface. Children were getting wet as they knelt to touch the fishes. Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Sigh.
A man in a cart passed by. "Where can we get water?" we inquired. "At the Food court" he waved his hand further ahead. We crossed all the trees in a hurry and walked into an empty court all shut down. Another big sigh. A wall of green trees formed an arc. It had a lot of space in front. Perhaps it was a stage? We had reached the edge of the Park and people had settled down at the shore of the White Rock Lake and were opening Picnic Hampers. We sat down on a bench and shared a couple of Oranges that we had brought along. A toddler and his antics with a Squirrel kept us amused. He had followed the Squirrel to the edge of the bushes. A slightly older child found him standing there, waving his arms at the uninterested squirrel.
Slowly we made our way out. Thirsty, hungry and tired we managed to reach the road and in the turning, was a faucet. We took turns to drink water until the cab pulled up.
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