Spending a Rainy Day with the Residents of one of the World's best Zoos || Solo Exploration of San Diego, California


   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.

Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.

However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.    

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.


Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.


On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out. 

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.


Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it. 

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.


I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast. 

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.


The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast. 

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.


There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do. 

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.


Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place. 

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.


Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side. 

   Ever since I was a child, I have been very curious about animals. When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on my father's stomach and listening to all the out-of-this-world stories about animal kingdom where good always triumphed, and poor carnivores were painted in a poor light all because of their diet. In those days, stories had to have a moral.       However, I believe somehow it is because of these stories that I developed a love for wildlife and I love seeing animals in their natural setting. I am undecided on how I feel about zoos though. It is because of them that we are able to see so many rare animals in our lifetime. But these animals pay a huge price for this. They are condemned to spend their lives in captivity.             Anyway, you may judge me for this, but I did visit the San Diego zoo. This was the second day of my solo trip to the city and the first day hadn't been up to the mark. For no fault of the city though. The city did offer a wonderful experience at the Old Town. Click here to read the full account.         On the second day, I woke up feeling much better. And decided to head to the zoo. The only problem being that heavy rains were predicted throughout the day. I had a big breakfast at McDonald's across the El Cajon Boulevard and then armed with an umbrella and a parka, headed out.          Even though it would have been ideal to explore local transport, i.e. buses, I chose to share an Uber ride instead. This approach gave me many opportunities to interact with people. I remember that this particular Uber Driver was very helpful especially because the San Diego zoo is at a comparatively isolated location and even though it is so big, it is very difficult to find. He dropped me right across the road and still I had to use Google Maps to find it.          I had a pass to the zoo so did not have to buy the tickets. And I could enter straightaway. At this point I was filled with anticipation. There were so many animals in this zoo that I had never seen before. My only worry was that I should explore the zoo fully before the rains get bad. So I was walking very fast.          The San Diego Zoo is divided into 10 regions - Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, and South America. And the flora and fauna in all of these regions represent the actual regions of the world. The zoo is huge and it is very much possible to lose track of where you are and where you are headed, so it is better to carry a map. And GPS works too. If you plan well, you can definitely cover all regions in a day, on foot. I managed it, so can you. You just need to be prepared to walk a lot and fast.          There were so many animals I had only seen on TV that I could finally see for real. Pandas for one - I had always thought that Pandas would be soft and cuddly, but it turns out that their fur is rough, at least that is what was mentioned in the story playing in the background. I saw a cheetah, which had a dog for company and the two seemed to get along really well. Cheetah's a smaller than the other big cats, but the one I saw had a very determined look as it paced the cage like wild animals are known to do.          Also the magical Okapi from Central Africa too was quite fascinating to me. Then the penguins and the puma, all beautiful and amazing animals. Flamingoes, though found in India, I only saw in the US. Kangaroos, polar bears, platypus, Tasmanian devil, so many animals from all corners of the world are all here at one place.          Moreover, in all regions, you can find interesting shops selling memorabilia. And all of these shops are different and unique. I did not buy anything from here because these are on the expensive side.          By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how.

By the time I was done with the zoo, it had started raining very heavily, so I thought it best to exit. My shoes were soaked and I had an interesting day planned for my last day of stay in San Diego. I was to visit the Waterworld, but things were going to get more interesting. Watch out for the next post to know how. 

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