Tiger Kingdom & Patang beach - Day 8

31/12/2015


Had continental breakfast at resort. Mns and vedhu went outside to find about bikes. Rathna & myself went for foot massage. Went back to room after massage. Got ready and started to Pathang beach. We got down finding about bikes. Barath had subway lunch and I started exploring places around the mall. There are many activities going on in malls. Took some pics in the mall and went to Tiger Kingdom.

Tiger Kingdom is located in the Kathu district just 5 kilometers from Patong. There's an open-air reception area cum lobby where visitors can buy many packages. Tickets are priced according to the tiger's size. We picked medium tigers and Rathna and Barath picked small ones.
 

Sure, visiting Tiger Kingdom is a huge and somewhat expensive but when else would you ever get to do something like this? Sometimes rare opportunities that you know you will never in a million years have a chance to do again appear on this journey called life, and you know you have to grab them before they are gone. Cuddling tigers from the Tiger Kingdom in Phuket was one of my rare opportunities.

Many friends in Australia told me about how unethical it is to dose tigers with drugs in order to let them touch by visitors. I was in 2 mind sets before buying the ticket but after getting assurance from tiger kingdom I took the ticket. Tiger Kingdom claims to not drug their animals, and from my observation, it seems like that’s true. The tigers were all alert and playful when they weren’t napping and the handlers were very cautious around the animals.

There are more than 70 tigers in the kingdom (may be more).

One of the tiger got a little rowdy during our visit, we’d all have to be little careful until it calmed down. They all were well-fed, happy, and healthy. Also, the cages were pristinely clean, and a lot bigger than most. Tigers also have swimming pool to hop on when it gets very hot.

It was an amazing experience, and something I’ll always remember the rest of my life. The roughness of their fur, their smell, and the heavy rhythmic breathing I felt as I laid my head on their ribcage. A dream come true.

It may cost some money but a visit to Tiger Kingdom is pure joy and the photographs I brought home are priceless.

From tiger kingdom we went to Walking street, where tourist are in more number than locals. We did some shopping. Had coconut water and walked to beach.

Vedhu and Barath went on jet boat while we were waiting on the beach looking at para sailing. After they returned, we walked on other side of walking street and had Indian dinner.

Kids were tired so we hopped 'took took' to go to resort while Srini and Mns want to roam on the streets. 

We came back to resort, took shower went down to see the resort newyear celebrations and went for a walk with Rathna. Returned to resort, spent some time on balcony and went to sleep after wishing few people. Mns and Srini came around 11:40 ish but I was very tired to wake up. Looks like Vedhu and Mns went out to spend new year.