Panda Base, Chengdu

Got to the airport in Xi'an and was told that my flight booking had been cancelled!! At first they had no seats left in economy only first class (yeah yeah, I know that game).  They told me to go on standby but I couldn't risk not getting on the flight as I needed to be in Chengdu and I was already late.  Decided to pay for first class £150, not that bad I thought.  When I went back to the desk they just so happened to have one economy seat left ;) so I booked on that....£76 (which was £24 cheaper than I booked online).

Arrived at the Traffic Inn hostel at 12:30am.  Had to share a room with 2 others and I had the squeaky bed in the middle...not good when I finally went o bed at 3am.  Met 2 english girls who gave me some hostel recommendations around Asia.

In the morning I met with the rest of my group.  Francisco - coordinator, Clare - Telford, Dex - Carlisle, Bronwyn - Australia, Jana - New York and Phoebe - Sydney.  They seemed a really fun bunch of girls as the laughter started at breakfast.

The girls

Took a bus for 2.5 hours to Ya'an then another bus to the base a half hour away.  The accommodation was great and no one else here.  Only thing was they had no western toilets but now I've just about mastered the squat without peeing on myself hahahaha!

My room

Bathroom with 'squat' toilet

We were split into 2 groups as one were doing 1 week and the other 2 weeks.  Then we went to get our uniform (overalls).  We have 2 panda's to take care of...Mei Sheng and Xin Ni Er, a boy and girl panda both 9 years old.

We start at 8:40 where we have to clean the cages and their garden area of poop and take all the old bamboo out.  Then we feed them at 11am, 2pm and 4pm where we give them a little more bamboo.  Easy day really.  The rest of the time we go and look at the babies and get online.

2 months old

my cleaning broom...couldn't resist

One night in the bar we played drinking games with the staff.  Was funny because they can't handle their drink like us brits.  One of the women took a liking to my belly coz it was big and they're not used to it.  She kept asking if there was a baby inside so I took it upon myself to put a panda teddy up my top and pretend to give birth to it.  She ended up on the floor pissing herself laughing as did the others.

Shots, shots, shots

Paper cutting...really easy when you know how

Having a great time here.  Its great to socialise with others but still good to be on my own once in a while where I wonder around the base and sit and look at the panada's. Sometimes I go to my panda's and have a cheeky stroke.

Xin Ne Er