Happy 5th of July, everybody! My three-day weekend has been nice and busy. Amy's friend Ray is in town visiting from Chicago, and I've joined them for a couple of adventures.
On Friday, in spite of what happened the last time I went hiking with Amy, we (Amy, her roommate Daniel, Ray, and I) drove east into the mountains to climb up to Rattlesnake Ridge. It was a much shorter, much easier hike than Lake Serene, but it still kicked my butt (perhaps because I've been to the gym only once in the last month). There is also a certain amount of mental fortitude needed to climb up a mountain (of any size), and I'm just not sure I have it. Will work on that.
The view from the ridge was pretty nice...okay, amazing.
Lake at the trailhead in which hordes of people were frolicking. It would be the perfect place to bring a kayak.
Amy and Daniel took a 'jumping' picture, and though they were very safe about it (and far from the edge), a concerned bystander scolded them and said, "somebody died here a few weeks ago doing that." Which is true. Cannot imagine seeing that happen.
Amy has been here three times now. It's her favorite hike for visitors to Seattle, and in her opinion, the best view from the top.
Here is a friendly chipmunk. Daniel and I offered him tasty cashews which he loved. We thought it was funny that he liked to eat them perched at close to the edge as possible.
After returning to civilization, Amy, Ray, and I went out for some delicious Indian food. I think the closest thing I've had to Indian food before this was when I visited England at the age of 13, and our family friends (Eric & Emma) prepared a delicious (and spicy) curry. Anyway, I ordered chicken tikka masala, and was not disappointed. Keeping with the theme 'India' (and because neither Ray nor I had seen it), after dinner we all came back to my place and watched Slumdog Millionaire.
I've put off going to the Woodland Park Zoo here in Seattle, because it costs money. Having grown up in a city with a really nice zoo that is free...I didn't see the point of paying to look at animals. But after spending a day there, I must admit it is a very nice zoo, and it supports/lead conservation efforts around the world. I learned a lot, and will gladly return. It will be especially fun to take my niece(s) and nephew(s) there when they are old enough to appreciate it.
Checking out the map at the start of our day.
Giraffe. He got excited and started running around in circles in his enclosure. It was fun to watch...you could tell he was having a blast.
Amy, Ray, and I in a replica of a primary school in a Kenyan village. Actually, the village is modeled after the one Jabes (pronounced Jah-base) grew up in. He has worked with/for the zoo.
This would be my 'bedroom' if I lived in a Kenyan village. It was interesting to see how things in a rural east African village differ from an urban west African one.
Behold, the most fearsome creature in all of Africa!
Amy and I aren't scared of no stinkin' hippos (when they're fake).
This Macaque gave us a pursed-lips, chin-up gesture like any other cool guy would have :)
El Tigre. Heehee...it reminds me of Calvin & Hobbes:
"Tiger sprawling in the sun!
Fast asleep, his day is done.
Lying here, 'twas warmth he sought.
The sun has make his tummy hot.
One sad fact he overlooked:
His brain is now completely cooked!"
Wolf pups. Even though they're fake, I love them. I only caught a glimpse of a real wolf.
River otters. This was hands-down my favorite exhibit. They swam back and forth, and did flips and twirls in the water. You could tell how much they LOVED swimming.
I could have watched them frolic for hours. Also, if I had shape-shifter powers and could turn into any animal...I'm pretty sure I'd want to be an otter.
For your viewing pleasure....
After the zoo, Amy and Ray were heading down to the park for Seattle's sweaty-mass-of-humanity 4th of July celebration. I wasn't in the mood for that, and spent the afternoon relaxing in my 80 degree apartment (stupid wave of heat!). I went out for dinner with my roommate and her family, then watched the fireworks from our rooftop deck. It was great, we had an unobstructed view and didn't have to fight hordes of people afterward. Fun day...
