Coree's Birthday: Giraffe Edition

Our girl turned 14 today...and in keeping with tradition, Dad was deployed. He's now missed 8 of Coree's birthdays. February is just traditionally a rough month for our family.

Charlotte was a real pal and tried to console her.

Since there was an early morning Girls' Camp clinic for church, Coree didn't want to have her sleepover the night before. She says the morning is the best part and didn't want that cut short. I can't blame her...we'll have it another day. So, I asked her what she'd like to do on her actual birthday instead. Just a little something fun to celebrate. I threw out a few ideas, one of them being a trip to the zoo (which is only 3 km from our house) to see the giraffes. Coree is obsessed with giraffes and she jumped at the chance. Patrick also wanted to come along. Troy had class (well, he always has class, but today he had his biology lab) and Jake didn't feel confident in his ability to walk that far. This turned out to be a good thing. So, Coree, Patrick and I set off on our first trip to the Okinawa zoo to see the giraffes. We hiked down the big staircase, paid our ¥500 each, and set off to find the giraffes. It didn't take long to spot one...

"I wish this was a real pet giraffe." (Save it for the birthday candles, Coree.)



Ooohh...there's another giraffe. We must be getting closer.



Coree plans to move to Africa to be a giraffe rancher when she grows up. She's going to train them to be ridden. I told her she didn't have to wait, she could ride one right now. She declined.



This way to the giraffes. It was at this point I was thinking it was a very good thing we didn't drag Jake along. For a small zoo, there was lots of walking.

And there they are. Aren't they beautiful? We spent the longest time just watching them move around their enclosure. This was one of the few exhibits that seemed adequately sized. If you come on a Sunday, for ¥100, you can feed them. Too bad we'll never be going back, ever...especially not on a Sunday.



This is why. The whole place was pretty depressing. With few exceptions, the enclosures were woefully inadequate and many of the animals seemed like their basic needs were not being met. This lion looked emaciated. The bear's claws were 3X the length they should have been, with nothing but the slick, cement floor of his small cage on which to wear them down. An elephant was chained up by the leg. What should have been a fun birthday outing, left all three of us sick to our stomachs and wishing we could send every animal to the San Diego Zoo.



Both of these animals seemed like they were going mad. The male lion is on the other side and had been doing the same thing, alternating with pacing his cage.



Gosh, I wonder why they'd feel the need to do this? Because they feel threatened, maybe? Thanks for the warning, though.



Sad. Just sad. {When I returned home, I did an Internet search to see if I could find any info about the zoo. You know...see if there was anyone else out there doing anything about this. The only hits I got were links to wolf organizations attempting to free an American Timber-wolf from this zoo...but sadly, she died a few years back. The photos they had posted of her were haunting. My only hope is that they either can't make enough money to profit and have to send these animals to safe, wildlife refuges (or decent zoos) or they come under new management that will straighten the place out. Until then, I can't support this type of thing.}

Anyway, I'm sorry to be a downer on what is supposed to be a happy post about Coree's birthday, but that is how the experience left us feeling. I realize I grew up with the San Diego Zoo and have little else to compare it to, but it just seems like there should be a basic understanding of what animals need. A cramped cage is not it. Neither is being tethered by a chain. {OK..end rant. Back to our recap of Coree's birthday extravaganza, already in progress.}



Who can resist one of these photo cut-out opportunities? Not me. Luckily they are everywhere here. This one is for the Chinese year of the rabbit.



This was the other exhibit that seemed decent (relatively speaking). These kangaroos were a riot. It was feeding time and they were all munching on these giant blades of grass.



Then this guy started putting on a show. I had never seen a kangaroo behave this way. Have you ever seen a kangaroo up on its hind legs? He then stood WAY up. I couldn't believe how tall he was. He was rubbing his belly...we had no idea what to make of it.



Then he came over here and started gathering up all the grass from the bucket into his belly. He yanked most of it out and...well, you'll have to watch the rest below. {Look at these other kangaroos staring at him..."Dude...what are you doing?"}



Sorry, I cut this short, but I wanted to back away in case we were next on his hit list. We were laughing so hard, though. I wonder what was going through his mind as he whizzed on the whole pile of grass? ("Aaaalll of this is MIIINE!)



The zoo was beautifully decorated with flowers, much like the aquarium is.



If only as much care was put into the animal habitats. {That's right, I'm done with my rant. Sorry.}



The End.



But wait...there's more! In Stuart birthday, tradition, the birthday girl got to choose whatever she wanted for dinner. This could be something at home, or any restaurant on the island. What would Coree choose? Indian curry? Korean BBQ? Sushi?



Subway.



Yes. Foodcourt Subway. Facepalm.



Look at Jake's face, haha! I can't remember why they were torturing her here. Her taste, maybe? Isn't her new haircut cute, though?



Then we continued the giraffe theme at home with presents.



Yea! I can tell she likes it...



I meant to take a closer picture later but forgot. This is a girl "walking" her giraffe. In the bottom left corner, it says, "Don't tell my dog." I thought it looked like it was created just for her.



And she got a bunch of {non-giraffe} clothing.



A set of giraffe wall decals...



And some giraffe stationary. What a haul.



Not to mention, darling friends who dropped by other gifts and treats...including these special birthday cookies by Sarah.


Oh, and can't forget the birthday giraffe toes. We both hit Cocok's for our birthday discount.



The End.