Chengdu - Panda

Ok...I can't begin to tell you how awesome this day was. I was really looking forward to visiting the Panda Breeding Sanctuary in Chengdu. This place is amazing. The history of the Panda is interesting. The Giant Panda has been around for over 8 millions years. And has adapted and survived to climate changes when most creatures have just died off. They used to be meat eaters and now only eat a specific type of bamboo. There are 3000 wild Pandas left in the world. They are amazing, beautiful, and majestic creatures and it saddens me to know that there is a high chance that eventually these creatures will be extinct. In spite of the amazing efforts of the breeding sanctuary who does what it can to try and preserve the Panda.

When I came across my first Panda tears starting welling up instantly, which is not shocking for those who know me!! This place is 35 hectares of lush, bambooed forest. The sanctuary houses both red pandas and the giant panda. Both are amazing creatures. The red ones are a lot smaller than I expected and very gentle creatures. So cute! The giant pandas are gorgeous. We spent the whole morning there. It was funny, because on the Great Wall we met news anchors from a station in Illinois which is affiliated with NBC, and they were doing a documentary for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. They had asked Carmen and Megan and I if we wanted to be video taped on the Great Wall to which we replied in NO in unison. We were sweaty, hot and tired, had no desire to be on camera. Well these guys were at the Panda Sanctuary as well, and asked me if I would like to be on camera. I said yes this time, so they filmed me while I was in the kindergarten area for the baby pandas. They said they will be airing their documentary in August, so keep your eye open. Anyway, back to the Panda. I was able to pay to pet a giant panda, which they say goes to the research and preservation of the giant panda. From far away, this seemed like a great idea. But when I crossed the bridge over into their area I was pretty freaked out. I realized, shit this thing could totally rip me apart. The panda was eating an apple, and I'm sure he didn't actually notice me. But it was awesome, words can't explain. A once in a lifetime experience that I will never, ever forget! Panda day in Chengdu was so awesome.

Bye for now!