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June 2011, China Visa Office declared that Tourist Visas are only valid for 3-5 months in China. August 2011, this is my 7 month tourist visa..
"Why do you have 7 visas in your passport?" My legs turn to jelly as I explain that I am travelling around China, staying with friends. "Go to desk 4!" Trying to keep myself upright, I make my way down to desk 4, walking towards what I presumed was the deportation desk! Luckily, my wild thoughts were wrong and it was the Chief Officer, who told me this would be my warning and China wasn't going to issue me another visa.
18th August
Checklist:
Saw 'lazy but content' Pandas
As I don't know if this is my final month in Shanghai, so before I leave a must on my checklist is to see a Panda in its home country. Without the opportunity of travelling to Chengdu, Shanghai (undignified) Wild Animal Park it was..
Pardon my writing for this blog, I find it difficult not to curse after every other word. The frustration and anger caused by horrific scenes of the 20,000 animals and 200 rare species kept at this park.
Refusing to see an animal performance show, I did witness some of the animals in 'training'. A large metal door slightly coming off its hinges allowed me to peak through at where the whining noise was coming from. A small bear with its mouth wired shut was being forced onto the floor with a metal pole, with the bear having to push up, to develop his 'muscles' for his gymnastic tricks. I stood there, holding back the tears. I've seen photos of animals being mistreated but to suddenly be the witness to such events, it was heart breaking. The bear kept looking out of the corner of his eye at the metal door, hoping that any minute someone would walk in and help him. His whimpers muffled and his breathing heavy. Lindsey called me over to a cage where tigers were balancing on balls and basically s*** like that. It was the final straw, as I sat there and wiped away the tears.
An Elephant was taking when step forward and one step back, like a baby rocking when in need of some affection. The keeper next to her would jab her with a metal hook if she went too far forward or back. She was so beautiful, but her deep, cheerless eyes painted another picture.
A fine, female Elephant, who should have been leading the pack, was instead alone in a concrete pen with the same composure, bored rocking back and forth.
Giraffes walk around aimlessly trying to find a patch of grass after the trees were covered in chicken wire (how stupid!)
An Ostrich peaks at an old plastic bottle on the floor, feathers barely covering his scraggy body, all waiting as if in some kind of slaughter house.
Zoos/Parks are for protecting rare animals and educating visitors of why these animals are in danger, why they're so precious. Yet only small signs asking you not to tease or climb over were shown. Some animal pens had little descriptions, at least not enough for the less educated visitors to understand why you shouldn't be banging on the glass windows or throwing plastic bottles at monkeys!
Brought up with little respect for animals, thinking they're just there human entertainment. But they can't be blamed for their naivety, in a country where every thought or idea you have must be 'approved' by the Government, told what you can say or think. We're very lucky!
Despite all of this I did find a new animal love, Gibbons. With no tails, they dash around with at least one arm in the air. Our favourite golden fella was a bit of a raver, 'aving it large in Shanghai Park, running around with two arms in the air, "I looooove my life!"
The rare Snub-nosed Monkeys; perhaps the most beautiful animal I've ever seen, with their excitable blue faces and orange fur shimmering in the light.
Shanghai Wild Animal Park is the top park in the world for the most protected, rare animals. Although I think protected is an understatement… The whole set up was cruel and demeaning!
Gibbon loving Emma x x
-- When originally looking up this park, I came across Shanghai Animal Olympic. Were they seriously that dumb to think they could get away with something so stupid?! Although the Olympics haven't taken place again, some of the stunts are still shown at the Shanghai Park, for the idiotic people who find it amusing! (In Google images, type in Shanghai Animal Olympics)
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