Welcome to the Bangalore Zoo

When we first got to the zoo I wasn't quit sure what to think. There were little tarps set up with vendors trying to sell anything they could. Of course being American we were prime target. We got swarmed with people begging for money. There were a lot of moms with there kids having them beg for money. It was really sad, but there are so many. How do you choose who you should help. We just kept on walking and the just followed.

We went on a little safari while we were at the zoo. We got on buses and went through a gated area. It reminded me a lot of Jurassic Park. Not very many of the animals are caged in this zoo, so you get to see them up close and personal.

The Indian people like to have their pictures taken.

This was our tour guide on the Zoo Safari
We got special treatment because we were the only American's on the tour. I got to sit right next to the driver and he made sure that we got the best pictures possible of the animals

This is a group of bears that are just hanging out on the road. They aren't scared of the buses and won't move for them so they just drive around them.

This tiger was right out our window. It was only one of many.

Vijay trying to bargain a price on a hat for the kids. The price is much less for him to buy stuff, but doubles or even triples when we come around. A lot of times they will just tell him what to buy and he will go and buy it for a much cheaper price. We will for sure take him along when we go shopping for souvenirs.

There are monkey's like crazy. All of them are just roaming the zoo and not in cages. They are so cute and must not mind people to much.

The elephants were just behind one small cable. This is just 3 of many elephants that we saw. I think there were 3 different areas in the zoo that had elephants.
We got to ride on an elephant, but I didn't get a picture on my camera. Kerri stayed off of the ride to take pictures, but she took them on her camera. (I will have to post them later)

This is the elephant zoo keeper. He is making the elephants food with palm tree leaves and rice

We were the main attraction at the zoo. Some of the times it felt like we were getting looked at as much as the animals. A few of the people asked if they could get pictures with us. They also love Annie (Alan and Kerri's youngest daughter)

All of the babies and little kids are so cute in India. I would love to be able to bring one home. They love to have their pictures taken and then they like to see the picture after you take it.

We got a kick out of this sign at the zoo. We had Vijay translate it for us and it says.......
"If you hurt the animals you will be arrested."

This is a picture of a beggar. We had to wait for Vijay to get the car when we were done at the zoo. While we were waiting we got swarmed with little kids and their moms begging for money. It was really sad and I would have loved to help, but couldn't because I hadn't changed any of my American money to Rupee's. Kerri did give one of the little girls some pop and she was very grateful for that.