As We Took So Many Photographs,

I have split this post into two parts,

 our first port of call, The Million Years Stone Park & Pattaya Crocodile Farm, the place is huge, it is on a 70+ acre piece of land and better still just 15 minutes' drive from Pattaya,

 in the first part of the garden there are pieces of petrified wood on display,

 then various water worn rocks,

 another nice feature is the number of mature trees that were left when the site was designed,

 and the seats that allow for pictures to be taken,

 everywhere you look there are plants and walkways to explore,

 there are a number of animals and birds on display, like this Silver Pheasant, (Lophura nycthemera),

 and lots of parrots like this Blue and Gold Macaw, (Ara ararauna),

 it must have been peacock breeding season,

 normally when I have seen peacocks in the past the males like the females just walk around feeding and doing not a lot else, but here every enclosure had a male showing of his plumage,

 show over a walk around,

 then in the next aviary another male going through his show, maybe it is the time of year, but 3 or 4 males in different cages were all showing of their feathers,

 next stop the catfish pool, for 50 baht you can buy some food to feed them, they are Mekong giant catfish, (Pangasianodon gigas),

 great fun for all of the family,

the ones here are about 5 feet long, so they still have a bit more to grow,

 this part of the park was very popular, people seem to like feeding fish,

 one more handful of food and we were off,

 a view of the lake from the shore,

 there is also a small zoo to visit, with zebras, camels, horses and deer,

 and some bears,

 not to mention a few tigers,

 we made our way past the crocodile show, but we were a bit early, the show is on the hour if you want to plan a visit,

 past the coconut stall,

 then to the tiger photo shoot, Dioshane decided to have her picture taken with one,

it is only when you see a tiger up close you realise how big they are,

then to the crocodile show,

Dioahane and Sandio were I think a bit nervous about sitting so close to the crocodiles,

then the show began, first with a prayer,

then taking one of the reptiles from the water,

and making friends,

all of the family enjoyed the show,

especially this bit, the performer takes a run at the crocodile then slides on his belly,

stopping just short of the crocodiles mouth,

look no hands!


this is something you should not do at home,

oops!

now from this side,

and a wave,

those teeth look really sharp, and in case you think they are all tame crocodiles if you do a search you will see many You Tube clips where things have not quite worked out as planed,

then the grand finale,

as the trainer and crocodile wave goodbye,

Sandio gave a small token to the trainer as a show of our appreciation of his performance,

after watching the show we just had to go crocodile fishing,

take a bamboo pole, tie a piece of chicken to it, dangle it over the water,

and wait for a bite,

you do not have to wait long!


I am not sure how many crocodiles there are here, but mention was made of over 7,000,

remember the song? Never Smile at a Crocodile,

some time ago in the flood a portion of the outer wall gave way so it is being repaired, it is rumoured that some of the crocodiles escaped and might still be out there,

in one of the pens there are some that have lost their tails, whether they were born this way or the result of fighting is not clear,

I think this is the African slender-snouted crocodile  (Mecistops cataphractus), or one of the two Ghavial Crocodiles of India, the jaws are long and thin with much finer teeth to aid it in catching fish,

we then walked past the Cassowary enclosure, I have mentioned before this bird's face almost to me looks like a dinosaur,

 

it was then time to buy some bananas,

when ever you are near a banana stall,

 

you can be sure elephants are near by, Diana showing Sandio and Dioshane how feeding them is done,

these two are waiting for their turn,

but back to Sandio, who is not sure this is a good idea at all!

both the elephant and Sandio are at the limit of their reach,

then Dioshane gives the elephant a banana,

Sandio is much more confidant now,

as is Dioshane,

it is all so easy,

really!

Sandio is still not that sure though,

but confidence is building,

it looks so easy now,

if you have ever wondered if elephants can see in colour, Diana's handbag is the same colour as the bananas, when she gave one of the elephants a banana it ignored the one in her hand but tried to grab her bag, so I am guessing it was the colour that triggered the response,

 

Sandio now looking like a true professional,

before we arrived some of the elephants were painting T shirts,

here's one they did earlier,

then a surprise for Sandio,

he got on so well with the elephants Diana decided to give him a lift,

  

both he and the elephant had to say goodbye,

the it was Dioshane's turn,

soon she was,

 up,up and,

and away,

she was giggling so much,

a quick pose to say goodbye,

and one more along with Sandio,

we now started our walk back but on the way I spotted this tree,

 

these are jack fruit, very tasty if you know how to prepare them, the sap inside of the fruit is so sticky it will not wash off your hands, even with soap or washing up liquid, if you find yourself sticking to everything after peeling one here is a tip, apply baby oil to your hands, work in thoroughly then wash your hands with soap, the baby oil I think the term is emulsifies the sap then the soap washes it off,
 

there are so many flowers to take pictures off in the extensive gardens,

we stopped on our walk back to take a few snaps,

this one at the top of the waterfall,

just do not slip!

another pose for the camera,

so much work must have gone into creating this waterfall, the rocks used must be more than a few tons each,

the view across the park,

some rain clouds were coming in, but the rain held off,

little bro and sis strike the pose,

one last family shot and we are on our way,

well not quite, one more of Dioshane for her friends then back to the truck for the next part of our day.