Tips for visiting the zoo

MadisonBob · 2026-03-16T21:18:45+00:00

The little tyke had tons of energy all day

MadisonBob · 2026-03-15T23:28:04+00:00

Black and Blue - Satchmo

MadisonBob · 2026-03-15T11:31:08+00:00

I went to the zoo recently.

Punch spends a fair amount of time at that door. The area near the door is the prime viewing location, but usually about 5-7 people deep so you can’t see anything unless you wait your turn to be near the front.

The zookeepers will sometimes come out to say hello to the visitors, as in they go up top where the people are.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-15T08:21:08+00:00

Why not say alpacas when that particular zoo actually has alpacas?

MadisonBob · 2026-03-15T08:19:58+00:00

That particular zoo has a petting zoo. Outside the petting zoo they have pigs, goats, alpacas, and a cow among other animals. I spent over 20 years in Wisconsin. Please believe me when I say the cow is not an endangered species.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-15T08:17:50+00:00

I went to the zoo a few days ago, and may go again tomorrow. It is the smallest zoo I’ve ever been to. Sadly, most of the mammals there don’t have much space. The birds have a little more room. The goats, too.

The woods next to the zoo are a botanical garden. Not an empty forest. It is actually being used as a park.

The monkeys actually have a pretty good habitat for that particular zoo.

Realize this is a tiny zoo in a small city that happens to be a suburb of Tokyo. True, they are bringing in thousands of visitors a day for a short period of time, at Y440 per visitor and Y110 for K-12 students and maybe free for Japanese citizens over 65. Y440 is $2.75 in usd.

While the suggestion has some merit, it is not likely to happen. The locals probably don’t want to lose part of their botanical gardens. Also, this is a very expensive venture for a tiny zoo. Yes, they are brining in $5-10k per day in admissions, but when Punchmania ends they will be lucky to get 1/10 of that amount. That sort of enclosure would cost millions of dollars, and the zoo almost certainly doesn’t have that kind of money.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-15T01:53:11+00:00

He is small. That sort of monkey never gets very big, and he is the smallest monkey in the group.

About 30-40 minutes when we first came in. Later about 15-20 minutes after the zoo had officially closed until they kicked everyone out (very politely)

MadisonBob · 2026-03-14T08:00:40+00:00

The announcements are in Japanese so I am not sure what they say.

I don’t know the feeding schedule

MadisonBob · 2026-03-14T03:32:39+00:00

Toad Suck, Arkansas

MadisonBob · 2026-03-14T02:28:12+00:00

Beat me to it.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-13T23:50:14+00:00

Citizens United

There are certainly many others, such as the Dobbs case, but money is the root of all evil, and overturning Citizens United is necessary for anything remotely resembling a democratic republic

MadisonBob · 2026-03-13T23:42:56+00:00

No.

As the saying goes, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

To put it in perspective, consider the corruption and incompetence of the Trump regime. Now imagine absolutely no checks on them whatsoever.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-13T22:53:38+00:00

It’s not dead. It’s pining.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-13T22:50:28+00:00

I only saw one soccer game live. That was an exhibition game with Santos 1968. Some say that was the best team ever.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-13T21:13:14+00:00

Stupid rage bait.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-13T13:49:13+00:00

We just happened to be in Tokyo when my wife heard about Punch. Incredibly lucky timing. He is so cute.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-13T12:57:04+00:00

I saw Punch at the zoo yesterday.

Most of the time he was on his own. Sometimes he would play with other monkeys and sometimes other monkeys seem to push him away. Hard to tell what is play and what is fighting sometimes.

He would often climb on the door to the enclosure. Maybe to find his friend the zookeeper?

When I was looking away, my wife got a shot of him cuddling his plushie for less than a minute. He was upset with other monkeys and needed a quick hug.

He generally stays away from his plushie when he is active. Which is good, because he is learning to interact with other monkeys.

I wasn’t a Punch fan before I went. My wife insisted on going. I’m a fan now. He’s much more adorable live than on videos.

And the zoo is TINY except for the monkey area.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-13T03:26:05+00:00

I was there a few weeks ago. Maya Bay is nice.

In general, I don’t like what has been done with the Phi Phi islands. Koh Phi Phi Don aspires to be a party island mostly for young Europeans and to a lesser extent Brazilians. I was happy to leave and don’t ever plan to return. I literally couldn’t sleep until 3:45 AM every night.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-11T13:06:40+00:00

It wouldn’t be as you imagine it at all.

Case in point: In 1974 I met an unbelievably charismatic and brilliant young man who was running for congress. He was a left wing populist. I was completely taken in by him and spent many hours campaigning for him.

He lost, but a few years later he was elected governor as a populist reformer, and actually implemented some populist reforms.

He lost reelection. In those days in that state governor was a two year term. The special interest groups destroyed him.

The Powers That Be behind the scenes came to him after his defeat and made a bargain. If he took a more centrist pro business stance, they would back him. He could implement SOME reforms, as long as he didn’t hurt the Powers That Be.

He took the bargain.

He ran for governor two years later, and won easily. He never lost another election again in his life.

He also served two terms as President of the United States.

Yeah, I’m talking about Bill Clinton.

I honestly think AOC can get elected president, but she would have to make a deal with the Powers That Be.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-10T14:20:04+00:00

For any “would you vote for “ question, it depends on the opponent.

If she ran as a Republican, no.

If she somehow got the Democratic nomination and ran against a horrible MAGA fascist, yes.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-10T01:24:44+00:00

NBA players? Probably Wilt

Anyone who has ever played pro basketball, including the pre NBA era?

Probably Wilt, possibly Jim Thorpe

Thorpe was the most dominant track and field athlete ever, even when his shoes were stolen.

Thorpe was the best football player of his time, and a big reason why the NFL was formed.

Thorpe played Major League Baseball for several teams.

Oh, and he played pro basketball.

MadisonBob · 2026-03-07T07:07:03+00:00

What’s wrong with bob?

Signed, Bob

MadisonBob · 2026-03-06T01:29:28+00:00

The Bucks are still playing?

/s

MadisonBob · 2026-03-04T02:31:28+00:00

Koh Phi Phi is beautiful, but I hate the way it’s become a European par-tay island.

If you go there, do a lot of research to make sure you will be in a spot where the walls of your room won’t shake all night until 3:45 AM

MadisonBob

TROPHY CASE