Remember when I told you that I had a slight obsession with monkeys at Batu Caves? Well, that kind of applies to pandas too. In fact, if I’m being honest, it applies to most animals of all shapes and sizes.
I make no secret of the fact that I love a good zoo. So when I found out that a popular theme park in Hong Kong – Ocean Park – combined rides with a zoo which housed a family of pandas, it was immediately top of my itinerary. I mean seriously…a zoo AND a theme park? Together, in the same place?? Mind. Blown.
After almost an hour in a small, noisy bus through the traffic-logged streets of Hong Kong Island, we arrived to a grand entrance complete with unusual sculptures of sea creatures. I must hasten to add here that the main attraction of the zoo used to be a sea life show with a sea lion called Whiskers, but honestly, who has the time for sea lions when there are pandas to be seen?
As with many theme parks, Ocean Park Hong Kong is split into different sections revolving around different themes. My favourite of these actually didn’t contain any rides at all, but was a street reminiscent of old Hong Kong, with street sellers serving traditional dishes, old-style Chinese music and photo opportunities aplenty.
Now in my opinion, the rides at Ocean Park aren’t that big or impressive (I wasn’t scared, honest) but the star of the show is the cable car ride to get from one side of the park to the other. The views over the park and surrounding Hong Kong are amazing.
Then, of course, there were the pandas. We headed over to see them just as it was feeding time and a new batch of fresh bamboo leaves and fruit had been delivered.
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There were also some equally as cute red pandas, also known as firefoxes (yes, that is where the browser got its name and logo from).
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And as if all that wasn’t enough, we saw an adorable little otter at feeding time, diving for sardines. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you – this place should come with some kind of cuteness warning.
And there you have it: my perfect day. Rides, cute animals and tackiness all rolled into one.
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