DAILY PHOTO: African Carpenter Bee on a Flower

Taken in May of 2016 at the Palmwood Lodge in Lusaka

Taken in May of 2016 at the Palmwood Lodge in Lusaka

 

I’m back from travels in Thailand, Zambia, and the UAE with lots of new photos. This is an African species of Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa caffra) hanging from a flower. Lusaka was in full bloom, despite the fact that it’s [southern hemisphere] winter there and the weather was cool.

DAILY PHOTO: Uncouth Chimp

Taken in November of 2013 at the Mysore Zoo

Taken in November of 2013 at the Mysore Zoo

DAILY PHOTO: Hungry, Hungry Hippo Hides

Taken in November of 2013 at Bannerghatta

Taken in November of 2013 at Bannerghatta

DAILY PHOTO: Elephants at the Amber Fort

Taken in November 2015 in Jaipur

Taken in November 2015 in Jaipur

IMG_1952 IMG_1951

DAILY PHOTO: Chimp in a Cage Reading a Book at the Amritsar “Zoo”

Taken in Amritsar on April 10, 2016

Taken in Amritsar on April 10, 2016

 

So many questions:

1.) As it’s clearly not a real ape, why the need for the cage?

2.) Why did they anthropomorphize this particular primate? (i.e. Is it just whimsicality, or is it a statement of some sort?) [Most of the creatures are in animalistic poses–though often not to scale.]

3.) Did the chimp start off reading huge (Tolstoy / Dickens / Ayn Rand style) books, or did it have to work up to them?

POEM: Conceit of Man

An elephant will never forget.
No car keys to misplace, I’ll bet.
A tiger is fearless, I will confess,
but it’ll never be audited by the IRS.

An owl may be wise; you can tell by the eyes.
But it’s never asked to comment on the size of a girl’s thighs.
Dolphins are smart ones, that much is true.
But, pray tell, who is in whom’s zoo?

In all domains humans think themselves the greatest.
And we are the very best of sadists.
You’ll never see a bonobo bureaucrat,
nor get tech support from a vampire bat.

At masochism, too, we’re none too shabby.
At the karaoke bar, ever see a tabby?
Ever seen a chimp with a nipple ring?
I’ll tell you now, that’s not a thing.

Our narcissism has grown beyond the pale.
One lifetime to the rocket from the sail
will give any species some cerebral swelling.
I’m not saying our’s isn’t a tale worth telling.
Let’s just make sure it doesn’t turn cautionary.
Basking in awesomeness, one forgets to be wary.
Next thing you know, super-smart apes are getting the itch,
or the Alpha Centaurians have made Earth their bitch.

DAILY PHOTO: Egrets in Varkala

Taken on March 2, 2016 near Varkala

Taken on March 2, 2016 near Varkala

IMG_3271 IMG_3273

 

I’m breaking a lifelong maxim (i.e. “Live life with no egrets.”) to bring you this post.

DAILY PHOTO: How’d You Like to be a Crocodile Dentist?

Taken on December 21, 2015 in the Mekong Delta

Taken on December 21, 2015 in the Mekong Delta

 

Being able to see the color of a crocodile’s tongue, but not the color of its eyes, isn’t comforting.

But could someone get in there and floss the green gunk out of this fella’s teeth.

DAILY PHOTO: Water Buffalo in Khajuraho

Taken in October of 2015 in Khajuraho

Taken in October of 2015 in Khajuraho

DAILY PHOTO: Regal Camel

Taken in Pushkar on November 28, 2015

Taken in Pushkar on November 28, 2015

 

We just missed Pushkar’s Camel Fair this year, but the evidence of it–from Ferris Wheels to vendors of swords and halters–abounded.