Kingdom Shmingdom

Okay, picture this. It's Christmas Day, and you're in a foreign country with your kids and for the first time in their young lives, they don't have a mountain of presents to open (because, hello? they're in a foreign country!). Right. So what do you do?

How about go and see some tigers? Won't that be fantastic? That will be like their best Christmas ever!!!

Or not.

I was hopeful Tiger Kingdom would be better than I anticipated. I wanted it to be a truly genuine and emotional experience with some beautiful and misunderstood animals. Here is my summary in one sentence:

Pay some money and spend 15 minutes taking pictures with a sleepy tiger.

Okay, next!

Okay, now it's your turn. Hurry, quick!

Okay baby, make a growly face. Perfect!

I wanted more. I didn't care so much about the pictures. I wanted to cuddle and nuzzle the tigers. I wanted them to purr on my lap. 

I WANTED THE TIGERS TO LOVE ME. 

But instead, we got herded in like cattle, struck a few poses and had to leave for the next group to get their 15 minutes of cat-time.

Follow the rules

Big cats. You may have noticed the above pictures were all with the cubs. That's because when you have kids, those are the only ones children are allowed to be with. And of course, they charge a higher fee. To see the big ones, you have to be, well, big. 

Don't let this picture fool you. He was scared.

You can tell, we left quite an impression on them. I think this one is having dreams of us and wishing we would adopt him. Probably not.

This did not create the warm fuzzy memories I was hoping. Truthfully, my kids will have fonder and stronger memories of the tuk-tuks than of their time with the tigers.

Want my advice? Skip it.