Day 147 - I Spoke to The Animals ... REALLY

the rainbow's end
baby kangas
wary of the cassowary
a pea for peanut
peas for pumpkin & peanut

it's not often that i get back to my suite and drink a large glass of champagne BUT today has been so excellent that i just had to! my emotions have been taken to extremes as i will now explain ....

first thing, i headed to jungle island - 15 minutes drive from the setai ...

here i met up with pr - brigitte who in turn introduced me to the "vip" tour guide ryan jacobs ..

jungle island is a "jungle in a concrete jungle" that has some amazing animals including a liger (tiger/lion mix) and a bengal tiger (HUGE) ...

first up, in the enclosure with some hungry baby red kangaroos ... they nibbled at me ... in a lovely way. could things get better ... YES!

next, the cassowary - one of the most dangerous animals on the planet. the cassowary has killed 9 zoo-keepers in 20 years ... its related to the veloceraptor (dinosaur) ... and even though its a flightless bird ... it has serious issues with anger and death. it is a killing machine ... and comes from north australia and indonesia. you are NOT allowed to keep these birds as they kill ... i cannot stress how dangerous these birds are ... anyway, i was 10 cms from one of these birds as she sniffed and eye-balled me! i was terrified! totally terrified ... absolutely terrified ... but could things get better .... OH YES!

to end the visit, i met up with two baby orangutans ... peanut and pumpkin ... babies bred in captivity ... who are just adorable. i even got a kiss from one of these lovely gentle babies ...
i love animals and the morning was just the most perfect ... ever ... i am still totally mentally exhausted by the visit ... awesome ... i love my jobs for days like this ...

in the afternoon, it was work hat on as we headed back to collins and the ritz-carlton south beach. opened in 2003 - it has 375 rooms inc 41 suites. it was built in 1953 under architect morris lapidus - and was THEN called hotel dilido - its now one of the hottest properties on south beach.

we got through the afternoon being looked after by the lovely "south beach" jennifer and stunning "regional director" michelle - both the best prs r-c has ... great hotel ... with the world's first (& only?) tanning concierge ....

ok - i am too tired to write more!!! watch the show!!!

Song of the Day: Love Plus One (Haircut 100)

Weather: Mixed