devilfish
Well-Known Member
I think visiting hours are a lot more open actually.
Unfortunately I've cancelled my plans to visit North Vietnam. Indonesia will also have to wait until next time.
Devilfish's Asian Adventure
- Thread starter devilfish
- Start date
I think visiting hours are a lot more open actually.
Unfortunately I've cancelled my plans to visit North Vietnam. Indonesia will also have to wait until next time.
I think visiting hours are a lot more open actually.
Unfortunately I've cancelled my plans to visit North Vietnam. Indonesia will also have to wait until next time.
Indonesia definitely deserves a dedicated trip of its own
Thanks devilfish for posting the details of your fascinating trip, I am following with great interest.
My son has travelled and holidayed several times in the Indochinese area and has told me some horror stories of observed casual cruelty and the general attitude the local people have re animals and wildlife.
My son has travelled and holidayed several times in the Indochinese area and has told me some horror stories of observed casual cruelty and the general attitude the local people have re animals and wildlife.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Thanks very much. I've seen some odd behaviour towards animals so far, but unfortunately I expect that I might see much worse to come.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Thanks.
My only (compact) camera is playing up a bit these days, and the ibis wasn't being too helpful, but given the subject I'm sure I took something worth posting.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Butterfly garden restaurant
This is my last night in Cambodia. What an amazing country. Over the past few days I've visited the Angkor temples, incredibly powerful memorials and museums for the horrific Khmer Rouge regime, and a number of other sights.
Before leaving Siem Reap, I wanted to see the butterfly gardens restaurant, so I got our driver to detour and wait briefly while I took a look.
The restaurant is almost entirely outdoors, and enclosed by a mesh. Butterflies are meant to be free-flying, but the few I saw seemed to be stragglers or lost wild butterflies as signs state that there are no butterflies on display this time of year.
It seems to be a nice set up, and I imagine that it's a nice atmosphere for a meal. However, with the paucity of butterflies I left and forgot to look at the menu.
This is my last night in Cambodia. What an amazing country. Over the past few days I've visited the Angkor temples, incredibly powerful memorials and museums for the horrific Khmer Rouge regime, and a number of other sights.
Before leaving Siem Reap, I wanted to see the butterfly gardens restaurant, so I got our driver to detour and wait briefly while I took a look.
The restaurant is almost entirely outdoors, and enclosed by a mesh. Butterflies are meant to be free-flying, but the few I saw seemed to be stragglers or lost wild butterflies as signs state that there are no butterflies on display this time of year.
It seems to be a nice set up, and I imagine that it's a nice atmosphere for a meal. However, with the paucity of butterflies I left and forgot to look at the menu.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Phnom Tamao Zoo & Rescue Centre
Yesterday I had a great day in Phnom Tamao zoo. By the end of the trip, my friends, our driver, and even our guide were all a bit fed up, but it was worth it.
I was surprised to see how many negative reviews the place had while planning my trip. The main problem seems to be that they advertise themselves as a 'zoo & rescue centre', which are conflicting terms in many tourists' minds. It certainly has aspects of both. Because many animals are released on site, the place is teeming with wild lesser adjutants and muntjac. I also saw my first wild birdwing. A high-quality complex built by free the bears is home to over 150 rescued sun & black bears, only a small proportion of which are on display. I caught the last few minutes of the weekly elephant show, which I didn't really like, but the elephants are kept in amazing enclosures and taken on daily walks through the forest. The zoo also has African lions, to satisfy expectations of visiting locals, but most of the enclosures are of outstanding quality. There's a big difference between the atmosphere here and at the ACCB, and I think visitors have to be open-minded in their approach to this hybrid zoo. I also felt it would help if the situation was explained more clearly to visitors.
Yesterday I had a great day in Phnom Tamao zoo. By the end of the trip, my friends, our driver, and even our guide were all a bit fed up, but it was worth it.
I was surprised to see how many negative reviews the place had while planning my trip. The main problem seems to be that they advertise themselves as a 'zoo & rescue centre', which are conflicting terms in many tourists' minds. It certainly has aspects of both. Because many animals are released on site, the place is teeming with wild lesser adjutants and muntjac. I also saw my first wild birdwing. A high-quality complex built by free the bears is home to over 150 rescued sun & black bears, only a small proportion of which are on display. I caught the last few minutes of the weekly elephant show, which I didn't really like, but the elephants are kept in amazing enclosures and taken on daily walks through the forest. The zoo also has African lions, to satisfy expectations of visiting locals, but most of the enclosures are of outstanding quality. There's a big difference between the atmosphere here and at the ACCB, and I think visitors have to be open-minded in their approach to this hybrid zoo. I also felt it would help if the situation was explained more clearly to visitors.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
I have a flight from Saigon in a few days' time so I'll be back soon, but in the meantime we've just got to Nha Trang. I've been hoping that we'd make it here and I'm glad that we have. Unfortunately all zoological plans in Saigon fell through, but I'm aiming to return with sufficient time before we fly, at least to visit the zoo. Among what I missed in Saigon were (my first) Irrawaddy dolphins, but if all goes to plan I should be seeing them soon.
I've been catching up with this thread after being away for a little bit. Very good. It is a damn shame about the hole the Malacca Zoo has fallen into though! It had its bad points but overall was very good, and the bird of paradise aviary was fantastic.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Thanks. A real shame. A real pity that I missed the aviary at its best.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
I'm now about to fly to Thailand. My week in Vietnam was very good, but I did still have some trouble. The first few days in Saigon were spent on a failed mission to add variety (perhaps in the shape of Hanoi) to the Vietnamese leg of our itinerary. In the meantime I had hoped to visit Cu Chi wildlife rescue station. I booked a tour of the tunnels but unfortunately I couldn't make it to the wildlife station. Tunnels were still good though. I took advantage of our stay in Saigon by sending my camera for repair.
Nha Trang was more successful from a zoological point of view, and although my camera was destroyed when we went snorkelling (dry-pak failed me), I spent yesterday morning/afternoon buying a new one, and took it to Saigon zoo. I had hoped to visit up to 3 collections but in the end I was lucky even to get to the zoo. My new camera is just a newer model of my old one. (DSLR too far out of budget, and now I can use my spare batteries) The camera is better in many respects but the old one still trumps it in some scenarios.
Next: Chiang Mai
Nha Trang was more successful from a zoological point of view, and although my camera was destroyed when we went snorkelling (dry-pak failed me), I spent yesterday morning/afternoon buying a new one, and took it to Saigon zoo. I had hoped to visit up to 3 collections but in the end I was lucky even to get to the zoo. My new camera is just a newer model of my old one. (DSLR too far out of budget, and now I can use my spare batteries) The camera is better in many respects but the old one still trumps it in some scenarios.
Next: Chiang Mai
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Vinpearl park
Finally, my first Vietnamese collection. Vinpearl park is a large theme park with a water park, aquarium, evening show and dolphinarium among its main attractions. It's located on an island off the coast of Nha Trang. The water park is really good, the dolphinarium which opens next month will house Irrawaddy dolphins (i saw a surfacing dorsal fin from a distance in the holding pens). The aquarium holds the disputable title of 'Vietnam's largest covered aquarium' (the word ' covered' having been added recently). It's a nice aquarium with some interesting fish, and an underwater tunnel. Two species of ribbon eel was a nice addition, as were some of the local freshwater fish, but an open-topped tank with juvenile sea turtles and visitors picking them out of the water was a serious weakness.
Finally, my first Vietnamese collection. Vinpearl park is a large theme park with a water park, aquarium, evening show and dolphinarium among its main attractions. It's located on an island off the coast of Nha Trang. The water park is really good, the dolphinarium which opens next month will house Irrawaddy dolphins (i saw a surfacing dorsal fin from a distance in the holding pens). The aquarium holds the disputable title of 'Vietnam's largest covered aquarium' (the word ' covered' having been added recently). It's a nice aquarium with some interesting fish, and an underwater tunnel. Two species of ribbon eel was a nice addition, as were some of the local freshwater fish, but an open-topped tank with juvenile sea turtles and visitors picking them out of the water was a serious weakness.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Nha Trang aquarium
There are three main public aquaria in or near Nha Trang. On my second full day, I visited the aquarium inside the oceanographic institute. It doesn't really have a single popular name, so until I think up something better, I'll call it 'Nha Trang aquarium'. The aquarium is only one aspect of the museum complex. A surprisingly nice aquarium, and much bigger than it initially seems. Some very nice exhibits and quite a few interesting animals. The spirit collection is incredibly diverse, and exhibition siderooms are focussed on subjects including sea turtles and phytoplankton, which was nice to see.
A few fish had generally well-healed injuries, which may be attributable to their capture.
The tanks are generally quite nice, my favourite being a 'mollusc' tank housing a crown-of-thorns starfish with various sea snails, including a giant triton! I can only guess that the triton displayed is just a shell.
The large turtle pool didn't seem particularly crowded initially, but a quick count found 16 hawksbill and green turtles. The seal enclosure (P. largha[!]) was the most ridiculously inadequate enclosure at the aquarium and brings down a fascinating display of the living wonders of the ocean.
There are three main public aquaria in or near Nha Trang. On my second full day, I visited the aquarium inside the oceanographic institute. It doesn't really have a single popular name, so until I think up something better, I'll call it 'Nha Trang aquarium'. The aquarium is only one aspect of the museum complex. A surprisingly nice aquarium, and much bigger than it initially seems. Some very nice exhibits and quite a few interesting animals. The spirit collection is incredibly diverse, and exhibition siderooms are focussed on subjects including sea turtles and phytoplankton, which was nice to see.
A few fish had generally well-healed injuries, which may be attributable to their capture.
The tanks are generally quite nice, my favourite being a 'mollusc' tank housing a crown-of-thorns starfish with various sea snails, including a giant triton! I can only guess that the triton displayed is just a shell.
The large turtle pool didn't seem particularly crowded initially, but a quick count found 16 hawksbill and green turtles. The seal enclosure (P. largha[!]) was the most ridiculously inadequate enclosure at the aquarium and brings down a fascinating display of the living wonders of the ocean.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Tri Nghuyen aquarium
My final Vietnamese aquarium was Tri Nghuyen aquarium, on another island off the coast. Shaped like a ship, it houses a reasonably small but fairly interesting collection, including more ribbon eels and cool sea cucumbers. The turtle lagoon outside is absolutely brilliant.
My final Vietnamese aquarium was Tri Nghuyen aquarium, on another island off the coast. Shaped like a ship, it houses a reasonably small but fairly interesting collection, including more ribbon eels and cool sea cucumbers. The turtle lagoon outside is absolutely brilliant.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Floating bar fishery
I've been avoiding writing about my visits to pet shops, restaurants with live fish, and fisheries I've visited, but I think boat island's floating bar fishery deserves a mention. It consists of a floating restaurant and a series of sea pens, with some housing cobia, squid and cuttlefish, as well as many reef fish and shellfish. You select your live prey, and it is potentially cooked in front of you.
My camera had died by the time of my visit, so I'll post a few photos from my camera phone when I can.
I've been avoiding writing about my visits to pet shops, restaurants with live fish, and fisheries I've visited, but I think boat island's floating bar fishery deserves a mention. It consists of a floating restaurant and a series of sea pens, with some housing cobia, squid and cuttlefish, as well as many reef fish and shellfish. You select your live prey, and it is potentially cooked in front of you.
My camera had died by the time of my visit, so I'll post a few photos from my camera phone when I can.
devilfish
Well-Known Member
Saigon Zoo
I managed a brief visit to Saigon Zoo, and really enjoyed it. Highlights included ferret-badgers and douc langurs, including a pair of black-shanked doucs! I was very pleased to see them as they were one of my targets had I made it to Cu Chi. I caught a few moments of the show, which I didn't like at all. Otherwise good.
I managed a brief visit to Saigon Zoo, and really enjoyed it. Highlights included ferret-badgers and douc langurs, including a pair of black-shanked doucs! I was very pleased to see them as they were one of my targets had I made it to Cu Chi. I caught a few moments of the show, which I didn't like at all. Otherwise good.
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I'm now about to fly to Thailand.
Next: Chiang Mai
Devilfish,
I cannot forget the horror I felt some years ago at Chiang Mai Zoo, watching a young, constantly weaving elephant, used to welcome the zoo carriages, that were arriving about every two minutes, filled with screaming visitors, who were all too eager to feed him with junk food.
After coming home I tried in vain to find somebody who could make an attempt to interfer.
If you should come across the same, maybe you would have an idea, how to go about it?
I didn't see anything like that at Chiang Mai Zoo when I was there several years ago