Tiger = Large Cat?

Sure, if your large cat has 3-4 inch fangs and doesn't really bother to distinguish between lunch and the person who brings it into the cage...

Needless to say, I made it back safely from my trip up north this past weekend, but I also had some truly unique experiences as well. While the 8th Annual Harbin Snow and Ice Festival was absolutely amazing, the highlight of the trip was, without a doubt, my side trip to the Siberian Tiger Park, home to over 700 of the world's largest tigers. Not only did I get some amazing pictures but, using a 4 foot wood pole, I also got the chance to feed a chicken to one of the largest of the tigers in the park. Only in China... and Thailand it turns out, where not only can you feed the tigers, there's actually an attraction called "Walking with Tigers." This liability nightmare outside of Bangkok is run by monks who have supposedly trained the tigers to the point where it's "safe" to walk around a small cage with the allegedly docile predators. I was more comfortable with the large steel bars separating me from the claws and fangs.

On another travel note, I'm getting really excited for Chinese New Year trip next Friday to Tokyo. Kim, my generous host for the week, has even set me up with a side trip on the bullet train to Kyoto for a couple of days to see the Gold and Silver Temples. I'm not sure how well I'm going to deal with the sticker shock over in Japan though, as it will be the one place I will have travelled in the last 6 months that is significantly more expensive than the US...

And, in even more travel news, I am currently passport-less as I submitted it, along with $75 and applications in triplicate to the Indian Consulate General with the goal of (hopefully) having a tourist visa in hand next Tuesday afternoon.

Headed off tonight to a going away dinner for Justin & Nellie (the New Zealanders) as they leave for Singapore, for good, in two weeks.