This past Sunday I had the opportunity to take 275 kids to the Chiang Mai Zoo, it was so much fun. The day began at 8 AM, the kids were all dressed in their school clothes and lined up waiting for the buses. The Monks called 14 Rot-Dang (translation red, car but they are really covered red pick-up trucks with seats) to take us, again thanks for the donations everyone. Off we went in a caravan of kids singing and cheering down the super highway. When we got there the kids lined up again and the older kids that came broke them up in to groups so they could be watched over.
Now we had 4 hours to run around and see every animal we could. At first I was with the youngest boys sometimes holding the hands of 4 at a time so I was being pulled in every direction and we almost fell a few times. That had to change so we went back to 2 at a time. These kids are so sweet as you can see from the pictures. I then linked up with some of the kids that were a bit older. We happened upon a 7-11 opening in the Zoo and there was a clown making balloons and now for the next hour that was the most exciting animal to them, lol. 7-11, come on we were there for the animals, remember…It was now time to hang with some of the older girls and I think they thought I was their personal photographer. I have 100 pictures of the same 6 girls in every pose, by the flowers, by the fountains, by the animals, by the Panda statue, you name it I have the pictures to prove it.
The last hour was spent with 10 kids, we had ice cream, saw a show with trained birds and yup you are right took more pictures with the birds. Over all the day was great and the kids were happy and I was worn out. When we got back to the Wat a group of people were here making a donation of snacks or Ah-hon Wong as they are called here. Perfect timing, we were starving, thanks whoever you were…Later that day Phra Ah Jon called me in to thank me for taking the kids and I told him I would pass on the thanks to my all of my friends who also contributed, cop-con krap (thank you).
