Okay this is our last blog before we jump on the boat here in Palau...
Thursday we rented scooters and scooted about 40 minutes to the Tiger Temple. Yes, a tiger temple. No the monks are not tigers but they take care of tigers. We did the morning program with 8 other people.
We got to play with the tiger cubs for about an hour. A quick note... I don't much like cats. I was recently attacked by a large rather vicious 2 month old kitten and thought I might lose my hand to its vicious mauling so I am a little more timid. Suzi and Tammy on the other hand threw themselves into the middle of the cubs. They were hugging them and squeezing them and giving them new names. It was all fine and good until one of the cubs took a liking to Suzi's t-shirt sleeve. When I say liking I mean this cub decided he wanted Suzi's shirt as chew toy. At first she tried to pull the cub off and it got more aggressive and more vocal. The cute little cub started pulling Suzi's shirt off her shoulder. Two of the workers came over and started to pry the cubs jaws open. Suzi, and two workers were using all their strength to get this 20 pound 2 month old tiger kitty to let go of her shirt. At this point he was getting mad and his claws came out. Claws I tell you ... claws. After a bit more effort they got him to release and Suzi had scratches and everything. That's right Suzi got scratched by a tiger.
Now wanting to be out done, Tammy who was playing with a cub had it begin to "teeth" on her shoulder. That's right folks a Tiger Cub wanted to use Tammy as a chew toy. At first it wasn't much pressure and then I saw this look come into Tam's eyes... "I am baby tiger food!" Again a couple of workers came to her aid and pried him off. At this point I went into a corner and started sucking my thumb. All I could think is if this is what happens with the cubs how are we going to survive the grown up tigers with paws as big as Tammy's head? Tammy ended up getting bruise and lacerations. Yes folks the tiger drew blood. If the bigger tigers would have gotten a whiff of her blood it would have been a massacre. I alone would have survived as the only one with sense enough not to cuddle a tiger.
Note: do not let them close to Grizzly Bear cubs when they go to the Tetons. These girls just don't think right when it comes to animals.
After the cub maulings we took the larger cubs to a waterfall pool area.
Shawna did you just say "larger" cubs?
Why yes, yes I did...
And weren't Tammy and Suzi just playing with SMALLER cubs?
Why yes they were.
So this means the pool is filled with 40-100 pound tiger cubs would this be fair to say?
Why yes it would.
They let the tigers into the pool and asked like it was normal, "Who wants to get into the pool of death with the man eating tiger cubs?" Okay I lied they didn't say pool death or man-eating, but that's only because they are liars and I am not...really I am not.
I moved by the spirit of life preserved immediately said "Hell to the no." Suzi and Tammy looked at each other with this non-verbal ..."today is a good day to die" kind of look and both raised their hands. "We'll go in! We'll go in!" Tammy saying something along the lines of... "How can we pass up a chance to play with tigers in a waterfall?"
I will tell you, just say "No".
Another thing, and lets be honest, cat pee at its best is not a scent you seek out delibrately. That said, they let us walk our tigers back to their pens.... on a leash. As we were walking our cat he stopped at a tree. Now I am no animal behaviorist but I have been to a zoo and I have seen a tiger spray. I was concerned this might be the event about to take place.
Why I did not verbalize this to Tammy, I can't tell you. It's like I didn't know how to articulate "That tiger is about to pee!" Fortunately for Tammy she moves quickly. Unfortunately for all of us, not quickly enough. She caught a little of the spray on her shirt, which she carried with her and us for the rest of the day.
So for those of you reading from home. Suzi got her shirt eaten and arm scratched by a tiger cub. Tammy was bit, yes bit, by a tiger and to top it off peed on. They and I had the best time ever... go figure.
We have more on the Tiger Temple but are just to tired. We'll fill in the blog as soon as we can.
Thursday we rented scooters and scooted about 40 minutes to the Tiger Temple. Yes, a tiger temple. No the monks are not tigers but they take care of tigers. We did the morning program with 8 other people.
We got to play with the tiger cubs for about an hour. A quick note... I don't much like cats. I was recently attacked by a large rather vicious 2 month old kitten and thought I might lose my hand to its vicious mauling so I am a little more timid. Suzi and Tammy on the other hand threw themselves into the middle of the cubs. They were hugging them and squeezing them and giving them new names. It was all fine and good until one of the cubs took a liking to Suzi's t-shirt sleeve. When I say liking I mean this cub decided he wanted Suzi's shirt as chew toy. At first she tried to pull the cub off and it got more aggressive and more vocal. The cute little cub started pulling Suzi's shirt off her shoulder. Two of the workers came over and started to pry the cubs jaws open. Suzi, and two workers were using all their strength to get this 20 pound 2 month old tiger kitty to let go of her shirt. At this point he was getting mad and his claws came out. Claws I tell you ... claws. After a bit more effort they got him to release and Suzi had scratches and everything. That's right Suzi got scratched by a tiger.
Now wanting to be out done, Tammy who was playing with a cub had it begin to "teeth" on her shoulder. That's right folks a Tiger Cub wanted to use Tammy as a chew toy. At first it wasn't much pressure and then I saw this look come into Tam's eyes... "I am baby tiger food!" Again a couple of workers came to her aid and pried him off. At this point I went into a corner and started sucking my thumb. All I could think is if this is what happens with the cubs how are we going to survive the grown up tigers with paws as big as Tammy's head? Tammy ended up getting bruise and lacerations. Yes folks the tiger drew blood. If the bigger tigers would have gotten a whiff of her blood it would have been a massacre. I alone would have survived as the only one with sense enough not to cuddle a tiger.
Note: do not let them close to Grizzly Bear cubs when they go to the Tetons. These girls just don't think right when it comes to animals.
After the cub maulings we took the larger cubs to a waterfall pool area.
Shawna did you just say "larger" cubs?
Why yes, yes I did...
And weren't Tammy and Suzi just playing with SMALLER cubs?
Why yes they were.
So this means the pool is filled with 40-100 pound tiger cubs would this be fair to say?
Why yes it would.
They let the tigers into the pool and asked like it was normal, "Who wants to get into the pool of death with the man eating tiger cubs?" Okay I lied they didn't say pool death or man-eating, but that's only because they are liars and I am not...really I am not.
I moved by the spirit of life preserved immediately said "Hell to the no." Suzi and Tammy looked at each other with this non-verbal ..."today is a good day to die" kind of look and both raised their hands. "We'll go in! We'll go in!" Tammy saying something along the lines of... "How can we pass up a chance to play with tigers in a waterfall?"
I will tell you, just say "No".
Another thing, and lets be honest, cat pee at its best is not a scent you seek out delibrately. That said, they let us walk our tigers back to their pens.... on a leash. As we were walking our cat he stopped at a tree. Now I am no animal behaviorist but I have been to a zoo and I have seen a tiger spray. I was concerned this might be the event about to take place.
Why I did not verbalize this to Tammy, I can't tell you. It's like I didn't know how to articulate "That tiger is about to pee!" Fortunately for Tammy she moves quickly. Unfortunately for all of us, not quickly enough. She caught a little of the spray on her shirt, which she carried with her and us for the rest of the day.
So for those of you reading from home. Suzi got her shirt eaten and arm scratched by a tiger cub. Tammy was bit, yes bit, by a tiger and to top it off peed on. They and I had the best time ever... go figure.
We have more on the Tiger Temple but are just to tired. We'll fill in the blog as soon as we can.
This is soooooooooo COOL! Of course those two would go swimming with tigers! hahahaha What an awesome thing to do! Tammy....peed on! I thought you were quicker than that!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the best time ever....WOW!
Sounds like you guys are continuing to have a great time. I'm so glad that you are enjoying the trip. I expect you all to come back completely relaxed and zen from all of the massages.
ReplyDeleteI know you are on your boat now. I pary the diving is all you could possbly hope for.
I sure miss you and can't wait to see you and hear all about the trip!
Love you all! Please be careful and return to all of us happy and well.
Cyn
OK- apparently I'm not blog-savvy enough to comment. For some reason they don't post. I'm trying again.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you're having a grand time!!! I'm loving reading the blog and living vicariously. But you know, it is almost 60 here today so you've got nothing on us sitting in offices looking out at sunshine. :)
Don't forget sticky rice and mango. Yum.
I hope you can still blog from the boat. I'm looking forward to some diving pics! I am also sad that there were not bloodied photos from the tiger attacks! Please post all wounds.
xoxo
Betsy