27 may - Shenzhen Safaripark (Zoo)

 This morning I saw the sun when I looked out of my window on the 15^th floor! We had planned to go to the Shenzhen Safaripark (Zoo) so a little sunshine was very welcome!

I decided to travel to the last point of the metro line (Window of the world) and then take a taxi, as that would be much cheaper. So we did. We bought some croissants at a bakery at the Gloriaplaza shoppingcenter (where the metro station is) and hopped on the metro. The metro in Shenzhen is very easy and overall very nice. I saw no signs of pickpockets anywhere, most people where busy with their cellphones or looked a bit strange to Shen and me. It takes about 20-25 minutes to the last station, which costs 5RMB (only for me, Shen is considered free as he is 110 cm. exactly). That is about EUR 0,60, which is very cheap. We spotted a taxi immediately after we came above the ground (in the sunshine again!) and it took another 15 minutes to the Zoo. There were almost no visitors in the Zoo. The first part we walked almost allone. The animals have a lot of space with tropical trees and flowers around them. Very nice, some green and nature in combination with sunshine! We walked from animal to animal and talked a lot. It was very hot and sweaty weather, so we drank a lot of water. At a certain point Shen wanted some ice-cream and he picked one from the list. Unfortunately that one tasted very bad. Shen fed some monkeys with pieces of apple, he fed the big goldfish, and we saw a show with lions and tigers (also white tigers) and a bird show. We didn't pay for a show with a bear, we both thought that the bear on a leash is not leading a nice life so we didn't want to pay for that. Then we saw a show with dolphins and other water animals (and divers and a lady in a hoop performing art). As we walked to the tiger and lion part of the park, suddenly rain started falling down, and we waited a while. At first we thought it wouldn't get dry again, but after about 15 minutes the rain stopped, and we walked the footpath above the lion and tiger fields. Very nicely done, all animals have space for themselves. It took more than an hour by taxi back to the hotel, it was very busy in Shenzhen, but that only costed RMB76,50 (about EUR 8,50). Then we went for dinner, accross the street is an Indian (halal, muslim) restaurant, and it was very good. I had chicken Tikka Massala with naan bread, and Shen fried rice with shrimp. Tomorrow on our last night we're going to eat at the Greenery's again, I promised that to Shen. He loves the Hot Pot corn there.

Tomorrow our guide will have a car arranged for us, and we are going to travel outside the city. The plan is to head for Dapeng fortress, and Xichong beach.