Walk Slowly

Who can resist the opportunity to pet a 600 pound Bengal Tiger, the second-largest species of tiger on the planet?  

Sure, they look harmless.  

Just over-sized kittens, right?  

They are around curious tourists all the time.

Well, that's the thought process at the time I was entering the tiger's cage and reaching out to stroke its hide.

 

No doubt the trainers sensed my ever-so-slight apprehension to enter the cage when one of them whispered in my ear "this particular tiger likes Canadian meat".  Thanks.  The humor definitely took the edge off.

I was wondering if I should have my head examined while walking into the cage, but then was glad to have the experience when it was over.  

So now that I'm experienced, maybe I won't be quite so apprehensive next time I'm walking in a jungle of Thailand and meet up with one of these Bengals...?  

...Ya, no doubt... let me have this one.

The Finer Things in Life

I haven't seen my friend Mark for over 20 years, since having lived in Denver back in the 90s.  Who would have thought back then the next time we met would be in the country of Thailand half the world away?

Besides dinner at a favorite restaurant in Chiangmai called the Kaomao-Khaofang Imaginary Jungle, Mark and I were introduced to an English speaking taxi driver who was willing to drive us to various attractions in the mountains that surround the city.  

One of our stops, the Orchid and Butterfly Farm was a relaxing place "to stop and smell the orchids", so to speak.  It was incredible to experience the variety of orchids and butterflies in enclosed areas off our mountain road.  

I don't know a lot about gardening but it seemed kind of impossible to both Mark and me that the orchids could have roots hanging down, never touching soil, and still survive.  

After a little research, I found these flowers actually survive on a mixture of moss-covered surfaces while also drawing moisture and nutrients from the surrounding atmosphere.  These orchids find what they need in a way I never would have imagined.

This answers the question why some flowers in these parts of Thailand can be found growing out of trees some 4-8 feet above the ground.  Turns out the flowering plant finds the nutrients and support from the tree in its natural environment!

There was another enclosed area visitors can walk containing butterflies.  It was a great opportunity to get some closeup pictures and learn some interesting facts about these winged insects.

For instance, I saw plates of fruit throughout this area and thought that was a bit strange, until I learned that butterflies have 'taste receptors' on their feet.  Who knew?

Our next stop was not quite so serene, for Mark and I actually paid to enter a cage with tigers 😬

Along the Limmat

The Limmat River runs 35 km through Switzerland as an important navigational route. Records as far back as the twelfth and thirteenth centuries reveal how the Limmat River was used to navigate between Zürich and neighboring towns. Then in 1447, the Emperor Frederick III granted the privilege of free navigation on the Limmat between the Rhine and Zürich.

Undoubtedly, the Limmat is still used for navigation today but perhaps more for tourist purposes in Zurich than industrial.  The buildings and walkways that follow the river are beautiful, to say the least, encouraging visitors to continue walking to see what lies ahead!

It is only a few minute walk from the main train station to the river.  Once at the river, walkways on both sides of the river allow people to see architecture and statues of yesteryear and witness how the locals interact with this setting.  Here are some random pictures taken along my walk...

There are two historically important cathedrals visible in the area of the Limmat River I toured.  The clock tower and steeples make these landmarks easy to identify.  

One of the cathedrals is a Romanesque-style Protestant Church known as Grossmunster in the neighborhood of Niederdorf.  It is over 800 years old with its inauguration in 1220.  The core of the present building near the banks of the Limmat was constructed on the site of a Carolingian church, which was, according to legend, originally commissioned by Charlemagne.  It was originally a monastery during the Middle Ages and later transformed into a public cathedral for the masses in the 16th century.

Across the river from the Grossmunster is another cathedral named the Fraumunster, originally an abbey that stands out in Zurich's old town. It was one of the first central points in the area with an inauguration date over 1150 years ago, on September 11 874. Shortly after its establishment, King Henry III granted the convent the right to hold markets, collect tolls, and mint coins, and thus effectively made the abbess the ruler of the city. Approximately 500 years later, this abbey turned into a Swiss-German reformed church through the efforts of Huldrych Zwingli.

 

Of course, the flavor of the city doesn't only exist along the river but in adjacent neighborhoods.  I arrived on a Saturday morning, in time for street vendors selling their wares and people on relaxed walks along the cobblestone streets.