One of the main reason’s we chose San Diego as a destination for our recent trip is that I’ve always wanted to see their zoo. While I love animals in the wild and would prefer to see them there any day, I do believe in the conservation and educational value of zoos. So many people gain their respect and love of animals not from the wild, but from the zoo. How many of us can afford or are able to visit the remote and exotic destinations to see all these species in the wild?

While many groups will argue against zoo’s, there is no denying the benefits they have by making people more aware of the needs for conservation. How many people become active in helping to preserve animals and their habitat by education gained after visiting a zoo? I just love animals period. Wildlife or domesticated, zoo or in the wild. But I also feel strongly about preservation.

During the tours we took they always asked what people’s favorite animals were. Most responded with things like giraffe’s, elephants, lions, meerkats (these guys are the zoo worlds celebrities thanks to Disney and Discovery Channel). Mine have always been the apes and their human-like antics. What does this have to do with conservation?

One of the easiest choices we can make as consumers is to not consume products containing Palm Oil. Every time you use or eat a product containing palm oil you are helping to destroy the apes (and so many other species) habitat. There are better choices to be made in the products we use. Start making a difference by refusing to consume products containing palm oil, and start being vocal about your choice. Make manufacturers aware that you will not purchase their product if they continue to use destructive products when other less damaging, more environmentally friendly, choices are available.

If each of us takes just a small step in this direction we can make a difference, and the opportunity for species like this Siamang gibbons to survive in their natural environment will increase.

We just returned from an eight day vacation to San Diego. This was our first visit to California, except for a little stopover in San Francisco in 2001 right after 9/11 that we all would prefer to forget! I loved the laid back vibe here. There’s something about coastal communities and happy people. I think we’re doing life wrong here with our long cold winters.

We had a condo right on the ocean. Funny thing how many people (myself included) buy cd’s or sound machines with sounds of the ocean to help them sleep at night. Reality was the ocean was so loud I had to wear earplugs in order to sleep at night! How ironic is that? It is amazing how incredibly noisy the surf actually is. I even had a hard time hearing the phone over the sound of the ocean.

We spent our week hanging out on the beach, going to the zoo and safari park, driving a little convertible sports car up the coastal highway (and arguing over who got to drive!), and just generally kicking back and being tourists. I look a lot of photos. Most of them look pretty much the same – the beach, surfers, seagulls. I also had one day on the beach painting. That is pure bliss! I didn’t realize how badly I needed a “real” vacation until I got there.

I continue to be challenged by food and eating out. I haven’t stepped on a scale yet, but I’m hoping I lost some weight. There wasn’t a lot of eating happening. There was a lot of walking. Thankfully I had brought some of my organic protein bars with me. That and bananas kept me going. I had thought it would be easy to find suitable food in California, but it really wasn’t. The realization of just how restrictive and sensitive my diet has become was made very clear. Hopes of increased travel and exotic destinations pretty much went out the window, which is quite depressing for someone who has never wanted anything other than to see the world.

I’m only home for a few days before I’m off again for a 5 day painting workshop. Posting may or may not be sporadic. Lots of photos to share eventually…..