The Five Year Old Grows Antlers?
It rhymes with “going” in case you need to know, and things like that bother you. They do me, especially when I am going to look stupid saying something incorrectly in someone else’s country, which is usually the norm…
Anyway, if you are in the area, and you want to learn about creatures native to Bavaria (as well as pronunciation), then Poing is the place for you. And if you don’t particularly like animals, but it’s a hot day and you need a big shady forest to cool off in, then Poing is also the place for you. See – something for everyone!
We have visited Poing quite a few times over the summer holidays, both Small People adore it. It also has what could quite easily be the biggest playground I have ever seen. Given half the chance I think they would bring a tent and camp here if they could, except they wouldn’t need to because there are wigwams.
And I like it too, for reasons like this…. I can take close up photographs of beautiful creatures we spent months searching for in our last location. People of Denmark, stop looking now. All the “Baby Storks” have moved here… I have found them (I am also imagining lots of new babies safely delivered in the area?)!
Don’t forget to buy animal food at the ticket desk, because as soon as you enter the forest there will be new and hungry friends waiting for you. They are incredibly gentle creatures though, even those with the biggest antlers aren’t that intimidating. In fact they are only a bit mean to each other, and the poor girls didn’t really get a look in thanks to the greedy boys. My little feminist was having none of it though, and spent ages actively seeking the girls out just in case they were starving…
I found the Beavers featured in a recent Silent Sunday here too (although we have been back since then), but now I think they might just be pretend Beavers as they don’t have the right tail. Anyone know exactly what they are?
There are brown bears too. Although the first time we came we didn’t spot a single one, which is possibly because their enclosure is sooo huge. But that’s how animal enclosures should be isn’t it? But on this visit they put on what could have been Bear Olympics, with some synchronised swimming, massive rear shaking, and a growling competition. There are no wild bears in Bavaria today though which is sad, these bears are actually Swedish.
The wild bird display is great too, even if I could only understand one word the presenter repeatedly said. What’s not to like about huge snowy owls literally skimming the tops of your heads (especially if you are Seven Years old and Harry Potter is the best thing ever!)? I managed to get a close up of one gorgeous bird, he did squawk in protest, but I think it adds to the picture!
Time for a visit to the ginorma-playground next! All was going well, until Small Boy insisted he was big enough to go on this…
Which will hence forth be known as the “Big Green Slide of Doom”. I had my fears about it, as a closer inspection revealed a ladder going up the inside of the slide. But his sister reassured me that she was definitely big enough, and she would definitely look after him. And so I waited for them at the bottom. And I waited. And waited. It then became obvious that the same children were reappearing again and again – without any sight of mine. After getting slightly worried, I shouted up “The Green Slide of Doom” to find out what on earth was going on. And then, as if by magic, they both appeared… The Seven Year clutching a hysterical Five Year Old around the middle. It turns out that the rungs were a little too large, and bigger children were clambering over the top of him, which eventually meant he was separated from his big sister. Who in the meantime, whilst waiting, had been inspecting some anatomically correct graffiti (according to her description) of various parts of the human anatomy, and was probably more Miss “Disgusted of Munich” about this, than the ordeal her poor baby brother had just been through.
Ice-cream is a great healer though, and we made our way back through the forest for various conversations with goats, big smelly boars, and tiny baby piglets, stopping to climb on various play spots here and there. And then suddenly, just as The Seven Year old was having her dress eaten by a goat, I turned to see this gorgeous thing, looking not unlike a seventies alpine “painting by numbers” scene, but only far more beautiful. He even looks like he’s smiling!
If this was a little staged “advert” with a tame deer to tempt us to come back, there really was no need… See you again soon Poing!
Those deer are so tame it’s astounding! (I want a go on those slides!)
I do believe they are led by their stomachs! Thank you :)
(Also, I edited your entry to the linky, so it should be fine now :-) )
Brilliant! Thank you :)
What a gorgeous place and clearly a great location for amazing photos! Thanks so much for linking up again, I love your blog and have a bit of a fascination with Bavaria, it’s a place that I’ve long wanted to visit as my Husband has family in the area and spent many a school holiday visiting them. I also love hearing his stories of Neuschwanstein in the snow and must take my little girl to the ‘real’ Cinderella castle one day!
Thanks so much for the lovely comment Jayne, and for sorting the linky out… We have yet to make it to Neuschwantstein, but it’s on the list! :)
Oh my goodness Sophie would love that slide that looks amazing, and the park I just beautiful like your photography, are you a professional because if your not this could be a new career for you
Thanks so much Helen! Nope, not a professional, I have so much to learn! But I come from a family of photographers, so perhaps it’s in the blood! :)
Wow, Poing looks amazing, I can’t believe how close the deer get to you.
I can imagine my kids having a similar experience on the slide too! Thanks heavens for ice cream hey? xx
Thanks Emma, I definitely think that’s why my two love it so much. They want to go back again, not sure they’ll go near the slide though :D
Firstly, love your title ;)
Secondly, wow! What a fab place! How lucky to have that on your doorstep. :)
Thanks so much Michelle :)
Great photos, well done. I can’t believe they encourage feeding the deer though. In the parks around here it is totally discouraged as the males can get quite aggressive and can be dangerous especially in rutting season. Perhaps being bred where it happens makes a difference or maybe they only allow this years young to be in the feeding areas. I’m sorely disappointed at you not really having a nice beaver and wondering what a lack of tail implies ;)
Thank you. Yes, I did wonder that. It’s open all year around so I will be interested to see whether they stop them from roaming freely at certain times of the year. I am also not very happy that either :D We do have a lot of real beavers in the wild though here, so I will keep an eye out for a real one :D
wow, emma – the photographs are priceless – I’m loving the larger photo sizes as well! and what an experience for the kids! i’d love to do it with chotto-ma some day :)
Thanks Pia. Glad you like the larger pics, I wondered whether anyone would notice! :) Let me know when you come over and we can all go together :)
Wow, can’t wait to go there and take my own pictures, I cannot believe you can get to close to the animals! You certainly all had an adventure there! Mx
We will definitely go when you come over, it’s already planned! :)
What an amazing place! I’d love a go on that slide. I still squeal like a child whenever I see something like that and try to sneak on without any adults seeing me.
Thank you! It’s in the middle of a section of forest that is quite secluded, so I think you would get away with it. My biggest worry was actually getting stuck in it, as it’s not that wide, and I am not that brave! :D
Hhhhuh (that’s a sort of gasp of wonder but I don’t know how to spell it) Bambi! And I love the bears.
Thank you! The bears were in fine form that day! :)
Looks fab. Apart from the ‘Green Slide of Doom’ which frankly looks quite terrifying! Well done to the Little People on getting out in one piece :)
Thanks Mary, I was just so pleased they managed to get out by themselves, I didn’t fancy going up there! :)