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Dublin zoo and the Heineken cup - Leinster vs Northampton Saints. December 2014

Saturday 14th December dul Laighean! Go Leinster! It's easy enough to get from Belfast to Dublin, one can go via train, bus or coach. We went via the Aircoach which goes straight from Glengall Street at the Europa bus station in Belfast and stops only twice, once at Dublin Airport and then to Dublin's main street; O'Connell street near the "point" Unfortunately for us, being December the weather wasn't the best. Wet and windy, typical Irish weather. We browsed the shops, bustling already by noon on a Saturday, despite the weather, but with less than a fortnight to Christmas it was only to be expected. We checked into a charming hotel/B&B, The Fitzwilliam Townhouse, an old Georgian house still beautifully furnished with framed information on the house and the roles of family members and staff. Being young, we were given one of the rooms on the top floor as there was no lift and apparently the young "Love to keep fit." The porter was a lovely fellow, from Mauritius, who recommended some Thai dishes in the Thai restaurant we planned on going to later Kanum http://www.kanum.ie/  We had a great lunch in the pop up restaurant +Skinflint  a pizzeria. A really funky, laid back hipster theme, we ate of revamped painted doors, which song lyrics on it, we drank homemade lemonade from a jar and the toilet was male/female/ladyboy. The grapefruit Lemonade which We decided to try was far from sour, it was delicious, and the pizza wasn't like anything i had before, it actually seemed healthy and delicious, is that even possible?? (I went for a garlic spinach and mushroom one, its more of a crispy  flatbread, not circular stuff crust scenarios, hint of truffle oil and cheese but cheese enough. Perfection. Couldn't even eat it all, a shame really, but it seemed rude to take away haha!) We decided to head to the match early before the madness began in the rush towards the Aviva stadium. My first Rubgy match, I was looking forward to it. Amongst a sea of blue +Leinster Rugby shirts (myself included) there was the odd English supporter sporting green and black of the +Northampton Saints I'd never been to the stadium before, let alone been to a match, but i could already feel my anticipation and excitement rising. Passing many, many merchants, selling their Leinester and Ireland wares, from hats and scarves to flags and programs, we wound our way around before finding the correct gate entrance. Much to our delight and surprise, we found ourselves in a nicer area of the stadium, carpeted, a good bar and flat screens showing other matches, our seats themselves we comfortably padded. Unfortunately for us and some of the other Leinster fans, we were surrounded by what seemed to be the majority of the Northampton supporters, ready to make as much noise as possible to get their own back for the last match they played against Leinster were the fans stayed behind rubbing their defeat of the Saints in their faces. We had a great performance before the match began, with a blue Leinster Santa sliding down from the stadium ceiling on wires before jumping in his Blue sleigh and doing a tour of the pitch while fire dancers and performers danced in the middle of the pitch before Leo the Lion, the Leinster Mascot ran on and the match players of both teams were introduced, Leinster to a theme song of "welcome to the Jungle" by Guns n Roses. Sipping on a pint of Stella Artois Cidre (a first time taste and huge success) the match began, what I didn't know I guessed while watching having had the points system explained I soon became quite caught up in the struggles on pitch, to the point I found myself having leapt off the seat in a near try, yelling "Go Leinster" to little avail. The Northampton Saints were giving it all they could, they weren't having a repeat of their last match versus Leinster. The game ended with a score of 18-9 to the Saints, the cheers and chants from their supporters which seemed to surround us having got steadily louder and slightly bawdier as the time went on.. Disappointing, but still a great experience of what I doubt will be my last match.

Having escaped the madness of the exiting disappointed Leinster fans, we made our way to Kanem a 6 minute walk away, like the stadium it was also pretty packed, but the squeeze was worth it. Having been to Thailand myself, I know good Thai food when I eat it, the cooks in the back were all Thais and were using authentic recipes, tasty stuff! Well recommended! After a good night's rest, falling asleep to the comedy programmes of a Saturday night of RTE we got up early to head to the zoo.I had just got out of the shower when a fire alarm went off. Dripping wet, no makeup I was not in the mood to trudge all the wall down the several flights of stairs to be told it was just a false alarm or something else. However, it prevailed for a further 5 minutes, we stuck our noses out the door, seeing others do the same and head downstairs, we followed suit. Of course by the time we reached the lobby, we were told everything was fine, some food in the restaurant and to head back up, Typical eh! Finally ready, we got directions from our friendly Mauritius porter and headed for a bus to take us to the zoo. Annoyingly, you can only use change on the bus, and even then if its too much you don't get any back. it was a sunday morning and hardly anyone was there, perfect! To add to this, it wasn't raining, and although very cold the sun was out. having paid in we turned left and headed towards the wild cats! the regal proud lion and lionesses, he roared as if yelling, "here i am come look at me" a small roar but all together impressive, I'd never experienced it before. there was a large troupe of small monkeys on a small island on a lake area, many busy grooming each other. I then spotted the snow leopard. What fabulous creatures, I literally jumped up and down in excitement at spotting them. One came particularly close, so fluffy and such a beautiful coat, I just wanted to cuddle him! There were many more monkey areas, wolves (unfortunately hiding or asleep so we didnt see them) beautiful tiger and some funny looking otters and seal who loved splashing about in their pool area. Herons flew around, flying low but still out of reach, perching above and peering at the few who were visiting the zoo. I Admire them, but at the same time find them slightly daunting and odd looking?

 There were so many different types of monkeys in several different enclosures, the orangutan in particular with their funny shaped faces, the male was so huge that we only noticed 2 of 3 females as he blocked one with his sheer size! A large chap indeed languidly resting on the rest while he ate one of the females food. from here we traveled on into the "african plains" area. it was amazing, reminding me in effect of my safari tour in Kanchanaburi. Having played on the craved wooden zebra like the child I am and used the toilet which was styled like an african hut we admired the giraffes, zebras and ostriches. I was particularly fascinated by the oryx, I never seen them before, they reminded me of the graceful gazelles but were even more fascinating as they're more rare and endangered. beside this, cordoned off  aesthetically with rocks was a "crash" of rhinos. amazing animals. even from afar you could see the unmitigated power and muscle of their bodies (or if you're from the North you'd just say, "pure tanks")

There were perhaps 8 or 9 of them including a "baby" still wouldnt feel comfortable with a small one! on round from the Rhinoceros were two very similar and even deadlier mammals, Hippopotami. closer to this and looking from above, these animals were enormous! there pool area was very deep, so that you only saw them briefly when they rose to the surface for air, except for the one having a doze in the mud. I guess when you're that size and that dangerous you can simply do whatever pleases who, no-ones going to stop you eh?