My Peruvians!

i don't really look forward to go to Taman Safari, Puncak. kinda boring. sure it's fun to take a close look at the animals but i've long realized i aint really excited to see grass munching mammals such as deers, oxen, primates, goats, and the likes. I prefer birds, fish, and reptiles. 

Think been there twice before. first with Cika, Roy, and Vit. The second was with Anast, Cika, Hendra...night safari when the animals' eyes are like Swarovski crystals, twinkling, reflecting light in the dark. we did plan to go there again with oh-yes-let's-buy-these-cheap tickets. the papers' expiry date was yesterday. so off we went . now with boy Nathan and his Grandma and nanny. was hard to wakte up early, but my decision to do so and have a cold shower was paid off. 

I was not excited at all at first. but then, i thought, it's better than staying in my room. so was it. Cika & I kidded, we should see them through different point of view: 
"Look at that llama. it's white! think the fur will make good and warm coat."


"See the zebra? love the pattern. We can ink jet it to an attache." 


"Giraffe! it can make a nice overcoat." 


"See the phyton? lovely! the skin makes good laptop bag!" 


"Blue monitors? ah yes, they're really blue. wonder how long they're gonna grow to reach the adult size. you know, i need some exotic skin for my camera case." 


"Big cats! So cute! Think of a real animal print! Boots, bag, cap, and skirt!" 


"Cenderawasih? Ah, bird of paradise! my hat will look cool with its plumage, yes?" 


"Even now y can make a pair of sneakers using fish skin, I tell you!" 


"Don't we love animals?" yes yes yes. lol 

was superexcited to see the penguins. they were the main reason I went there. they're lovely and clumsy, and funny! Humboldt* they are: 1 foot tall, with highly streamlined body, lively in black and white antiwet feathers. they swam here and there, diving up and down, and walking around in tuxedoes! even saw a pair mating...in the water! wondered how they managed to ....ah well, to mate! 

I counted one two, three...twelve.... "Twenty two we've got here," said the guard. oh really? they successfully breed the Peruvian birds. perhaps to be exact: Japanese-born Peruvians, now naturalized (to be exact in 2006), holding Indonesian citizenship! I aint kidding. see the wings/flipper. they are tagged with some wire as an ID. I wonder what they should be called: a third generation penguins? 

From 10, they multiplied to 22! Heaven bless them! I only heard two eggs hatched! hey, there are 10 more. "And some will hatch soon," said the guard, adding the eggs take 30 days to hatch. 

Anast paid Rp 100,000 to buy some fish so that nephew Nathan could get near to feed them. "Sem, please tape us!" she said, handling her cam. oh, lucky moi! At your service! 


I couldn't hide my excitement.  I felt like a groupie granted wish to meet the stars.

The guard ushered us to the "backtstage". Inside the cage was cold. "We kept the temp at 15 degrees," said the guard who was wearing green coat over his green uniform. one penguin rushed to him, seeing him bringing a tray with 10 fish in it. it's cute! he knew my presence but ignored me. well, some stars have privilege to do that and still get overwhelming adoration! i forgive you!

When we entered the "main stage", other penguins rose and chased the guard. Meal time! oh they look very amazing! i watched them closely and they show no interest in me and thankfully, they were quite friendly as not to use their powerful black beaks to examine people (think of noisy ganders and some cockatoos!). I videoed Anast and Nathan feeding them. Their beaks clasped now and then, like black scissors any tailor has. funny to see they can't jump. they elongated their necks to snap the fish so quick. 

they left for the water as soon as they learnt there was no fish left. Only one left to examine my camera. or was it posing? the only thing i could be sure of was that people by the pool applaud our brief onstage collaboration. 

Peruvians, you made my day! 




* Humboldt penguins are listed as threatened species.