I lived in Chiang Mai for almost two full
months. I spent most of those long hot days writing in the many of the cafes of
Nimman. Each day passed monotonously, until I woke up on my second to last day
in Thailand and realized I hadn't done any of the quintessential touristy stuff
that I might want to do.
Now, I've prided myself on being a
sight-skipper, not a sight-seeer, but the feeling of wastefulness was gnawing
at me. I began to question why I was purposely skipping all the must-dos in
Chiang Mai. What point was I trying to prove? Who was I trying to impress? On
those last few days in Thailand, on my last few days of a 6-month journey
around Southeast Asia, I was filled with a mad desire to do and see everything
I could before flying back to the states.
Among those things was the Chiang Mai Zoo. Why?
Because it's close. Because it's there. Because why not. So I took a songthaew
to the zoo, which is right down the street from the bustling Nimman neighborhood
and spent an entire half-day there.
But this post isn’t about a zoo, it’s about an aquarium. Before I
went to the zoo, I didn't even know the aquarium existed. How could I have
forgotten to check for aquariums? They are one of the standard places I visit
on every trip, right along with libraries, cemeteries, and afternoon tea
houses, but somehow I had forgotten to look up aquariums in SE Asia.
Well, Chiang Mai Zoo, this would be my
chance.
I loved this sweet little aquarium. Is it the
most lavish, big, or beautiful in the world? Of course not. Could it use some
updating? Sure. But it bares some features that are uniquely its own. Some
quirky. Some cute.
There are may strange and colorful aquatic sculptures.
There were some interested aqua-terrarium displays I had seen no where else, and
the water passage was pretty surreal.
All in all, it’s much better than I expected of
aquarium in a zoo where the panda should be the star attraction. It is well
worth the time and expense of the ticket, and I have no regrets for my
delightfully touristy day.
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