{"id":2412,"date":"2014-04-24T11:25:26","date_gmt":"2014-04-24T02:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2014-04-24\/2412"},"modified":"2014-04-24T11:25:26","modified_gmt":"2014-04-24T02:25:26","slug":"shirahama-trip-day-2-adventure-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2014-04-24\/2412","title":{"rendered":"Shirahama Trip Day 2: Adventure World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nGimme a Little<\/span> Kiss<\/span>\n\u30c1\u30e5\u30c3\uff01<\/span>\nat Adventure World<\/i> in Shirahama, Japan\n\u767d\u6d5c\u306e\u30a2\u30c9\u30d9\u30f3\u30c1\u30e3\u30fc\u30ef\u30fc\u30eb\u30c9\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

After day 1 of our\nweekend trip to Shirahama Japan<\/a> we debated on what to do for the second\nday before making the three-hour drive home to Kyoto that evening. The area is<\/span> known for having pandas, but I'm not a big<\/span> fan of zoos so I didn't<\/span> really\nwant to go. (I've lived a 5-minute walk from the Kyoto City Zoo for 10\nyears, and have been only twice.) But Anthony wanted to see the pandas, so\noff to “<\/span>Adventure World<\/a>”<\/span> we went.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>640 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSigns Above the Entrances:<\/span>\n“<\/span>FEEL NATURE”<\/span>    ·   “<\/span>for Your emotion”<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nApparently Not a Zoo<\/span><\/span>\n\u52d5\u7269\u5712\u3067\u306f\u306a\u3044\u96f0\u56f2\u6c17\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Upon walking in it was clear it wasn't a normal<\/span> zoo, with the entrance hall being highly evocative of\nTokyo Disneyland<\/a>, but the penguins quickly made it apparent that it was\nmore than a normal<\/span> amusement park:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>100 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 220 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPenguins<\/span>\nin what feels like a mall fountain\n\u30da\u30f3\u30ae\u30f3\u305f\u3061\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFlamingos<\/span>\n“<\/span>caged”<\/span> by a few<\/span> planters and a piece<\/span> of string\n\u30d5\u30e9\u30df\u30f3\u30b4\u305f\u3061\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

There were various colorful birds like cockatoos on trees inside without\nany kind of barrier or restraint (except clipped wings, I suppose<\/span>), so it\nfelt like you were very much “<\/span>with”<\/span> them, as opposed to looking in at them\nfrom behind a fence.<\/span> This was the theme for much of the wildlife at\nAdventure World, and we loved it.<\/p>\n\n

Like everywhere in Shirahama, they played up the whole “<\/span>panda”<\/span> thing...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 38mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPanda-Hat Photo Opp Service<\/span>\n\u30d1\u30f3\u30c0\u5e3d\u5b50\u306e\u64ae\u5f71\u5834\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Of course, what sets this place apart from everywhere else is that they\nhave real<\/i> pandas as well, but we'd not come across them yet.<\/p>\n\n

We next came across some penned animals like camels, horses, sheep, llama, and in this next pic, a pair<\/span> of alpaca...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 34mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nApproaching with Extreme Caution<\/span>\nthe little square sign hanging on the bigger one says “<\/span>beware of spit”<\/span>\n\u3064\u3070\u306b\u6ce8\u610f\u306e\u30a2\u30eb\u30d1\u30ab\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Even these penned animals were more approachable than in a zoo<\/span> (you could touch them if you had the guts to get\nspit on or bitten). Basically, rather than fences and cages, this place\nmaintained human and animal safety by allowing nature's own sense of self\npreservation to work.<\/p>\n\n

The only disappointment<\/span> was an American Bald\nEagle in a fenced<\/span> in area the size of a small<\/span> bathroom, with no room for anything resembling\nflight. I can only<\/span> hope they let him out from\ntime to time to spread his wings.<\/p>\n\n

We eventually came to the rides area, which we were disappointed cost an extra $20\/person on top of the $50\/per we'd already paid. But let me<\/span> tell you we got our money's worth, because a light<\/span> sprinkle kept the crowds away, and we never had to wait for a ride.<\/span> Ever.<\/p>\n\n

Anthony was most interested in the little carts one could drive:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 4S + iPhone 4S back camera 4.28mm f\/2.4 at an effective 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>180 sec, f<\/span>\/2.4, ISO 50 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEntering a Two<\/span>-Seater<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d\u306e\u306f\u4e8c\u4eba\u4e57\u308a\u3001\u30d1\u30d1\u306e\u904b\u8ee2\nphoto by Fumie<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\niPhone 4S + iPhone 4S back camera 4.28mm f\/2.4 at an effective 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>680 sec, f<\/span>\/2.4, ISO 50 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThree Minutes Later<\/span>\n\u4e09\u5206\u5f8c\nphoto by Fumie<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Once I'd taken him around in the two-seater, he was ready to try one all by himself.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 4S + iPhone 4S back camera 4.28mm f\/2.4 at an effective 67mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>390 sec, f<\/span>\/2.4, ISO 50 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTotal Control<\/span>\n\u4e00\u4eba\u4e57\u308a\u3001\u81ea\u5206\u3067\u904b\u8ee2\u3002\u751f\u307e\u308c\u305f\u304b\u3089\u521d\u3081\u3066\uff01\nphoto by Fumie<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

He's always loved these kinds of things (such as when\nhe was six<\/a>\nand again when\nhe was seven<\/a>), but this was the first time he had\ntotal control all by himself.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 4S + iPhone 4S back camera 4.28mm f\/2.4 at an effective 67mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>430 sec, f<\/span>\/2.4, ISO 50 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nIt Was so Fun!<\/span>\n\u697d\u3057\u304b\u3063\u305f\uff01\nphoto by Fumie<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Unlike the one at Disneyland, these had no rails... you just drove and\nhopefully kept it on the road, and hopefully didn't go backward, etc. They\ndidn't go all too fast, but fast enough that on the wet pavement with a bit<\/span>\nof skill you could do a power<\/span> skid to a full<\/span> 90-degree right angle. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n

Normally if you wanted to make another run you'd have to get in line and\nwait, but there was no line. Ever. We did it<\/span> 10+ times.<\/p>\n\n

Here's a scene of other folks in the carts that I took<\/span> later, just to give some context...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 48mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPart of the Course<\/span>\n\u30b3\u30fc\u30b9\u306e\u4e00\u90e8\u5206\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

All but the biggest roller coaster were closed for the rain, but the biggest one was open so I went.<\/span> The light<\/span> rain stung my eyes a bit,<\/span> but it wasn't too bad, nor too scary. Anthony was reluctant, but I finally<\/span>\nconvinced him to go. He survived, but once was enough for him.<\/p>\n\n

There was a large area with lots of free-ranging fowl of various types...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>640 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPoor Duckys<\/span>\neasy targets for toddlers\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nUp Close and Personal<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMore Flamingos<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nExotic “<\/span>Sea Urchin Head”<\/span> Birds<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBashful<\/span>\n\u6065\u305a\u304b\u3057\u304c\u308a\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Thanks to a comment by Mike Pedde<\/a> on Google Plus, I now know<\/span> that these are\nGray Crowned Cranes<\/a> from Africa\n(\u30a2\u30d5\u30ea\u30ab\u306e\u30db\u30aa\u30b8\u30ed\u30ab\u30f3\u30e0\u30ea\u30c5\u30eb<\/a>).<\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nIn Profile<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 360 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooks Can Be Deceiving<\/span>\n\u8105\u5a01<\/span>\u306a\u96f0\u56f2\u6c17<\/span><\/span>(\u3067\u306f\u306a\u3044\uff0c\u5b9f\u306f\uff09\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

In the photo above, the bird's head is at a slightly<\/span>-different angle than in this\npicture<\/a> that I posted<\/span> the other day, but the visual impact of that\nslight change is huge, creating quite the menacing look. It was a<\/span> look that\nwasn't actually there, but instead was created by the camera as it froze a\npassing<\/span> moment as the bird moved his head lazily, paying not much attention\nto me but perhaps showing a bit<\/span> of curiosity about the camera for a few<\/span>\nmoments.<\/p>\n\n

Later we had the luck to come across the hippo during his daily feeding,\nwhere we could throw pingpong-sized grass pellets into his well-trained mouth....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFeeding Time<\/span>\n\u3048\u3055\u3092\u3042\u3052\u308b\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 52mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSticking Out His Rather-Substantial Tongue<\/span>\nas a trick to please his food-offering fans\n\u30d9\u30fc\u3063\uff01<\/i><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The amount of blubber in and around his mouth was substantial, perhaps\nexceeded only by the vast amount of saliva and goo, as the lead photo of\nthis post might hint. The young<\/span> couple in upscale dress who fed him right\nafter me got somewhat of a goo<\/span>\/saliva shower as he rather actively\nslobbered down the grass pellet. I was lucky<\/span> to have dogged that\nbullet.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 40mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 450 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHumongous<\/span>\nyet relatively small, at only about 4,400 lbs\n\u3069\u3067\u304b\u3044<\/span>\n\u7d042000kg\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

He seemed jolly and docile, so I was<\/span> surprised to read on Wikipedia<\/a> that hippos\ncan be very aggressive, and they can run extremely fast (and could easily beat Usain Bolt in a 100m<\/span> race)<\/strike>.<\/p>\n\n

And finally, there were pandas. This one was totally enjoying a bamboo<\/span> snack...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 56mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 640 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nGlutton<\/span>\n\u5927\u98df\u6f22\u306e\u30d1\u30f3\u30c0\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This guy was spralled on his back enjoying his bamboo snack, peeling off\nits outside layer and crunching on the pithy inside. When he was done with\none stalk, he'd reach over for another like an armchair quarterback making\nthe effort to reach for another beer. Touchdown.<\/p>\n\n

The rain had picked up a bit by this time. We had him<\/span> to ourselves.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 5s + iPhone 5s back camera 4.12mm f\/2.2 at an effective 30mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>350 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nphoto by Fumie<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Pandas are, of course, bears with big teeth and claws, so this was one\nof the only places where you were physically kept separate from the animal,\nand the animal from you. With the hippo, for example, it was only your own\nsense of disgust and desire to retain your arm that kept you from thrusting\nit down the hippos throat. You could<\/span> ride on the elephant, and pluck a\npeacock's<\/span> feathers. It was much<\/span> nicer than a zoo.<\/span> (Monkeys were also separated, as well as the\naforementioned eagle.)<\/p>\n\n

The exit was, of course, through the giftshop.<\/p>\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>100 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 2000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLots of Pandas<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>100 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAnother Try with This Shot<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I'd posted a B&W version of this shot here<\/a>, but something\ndoesn't seem quite right about it. When I took<\/span> the shot I had<\/span> B&W in my\nmind as obvious, due to the panda faces of course, but it feels forced.\nThis color one feels better. (I think<\/span> he looks cute, of course, but Fumie is\nless enamored with this shot than I.)<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFaces<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 42mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n“<\/span>Puffy”<\/span><\/span>\none of the three stuffed pandas now gracing Anthony's bed\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It was a surprisingly fun day. Three hours later we were home.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After day 1 of our weekend trip to Shirahama Japan we debated on what to do for the second day before making the three-hour drive home to Kyoto that evening. The area is known for having pandas, but I'm not a big fan of zoos so I didn't really want to go. (I've lived a 5-minute walk from the Kyoto City Zoo for 10 years, and have been only twice.) But Anthony wanted to see the pandas, so off to \"Adventure World\" we went.<\/p>

Upon walking in it was clear it wasn't a normal zoo, with the entrance hall being [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2,3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2412"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2412\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}