A byootaful Life

Quick note: I’ve made some changes to the way my photos are loaded. If you can’t see them (especially if you are reading this via a feed) please let me know so I can fix it!

———-

The Vancouver Aquarium, located in Stanley Park, was the number one tourist attraction on my to-do list when I moved here last year and finally, in May, I got my opportunity to go with my Mum when she came to visit. Phill isn’t a big aquarium or zoo person, so if I ever want to visit those places, I need to find someone else to go with me (or go alone, but that’s no fun!). I was super excited when we joined the queue at the door, but it’s a bit of a tease because you’re stuck queuing up to get in while you can see the people who are already inside and enjoying the first few tanks of sea life. Okay, so I’m a little impatient.

The first thing we did once inside was head down the stairs to get a proper look at the first big tank. When we were in the queue, I’d seen a scuba diver in there waving at the kids watching him, but by the time we got in, he was gone. I know it’s just a guy in a wetsuit in a tank, but a part of me still thinks that’s totally awesome and the best job ever.

I was very impressed (and a little surprised!) with the variety of sea life and other animals at the aquarium. I guess they don’t call it one of the best aquariums in North America for nothing! In addition to the usual fish you’d expect to see, there were birds in the tropical room (which played havoc with my camera lens, fogging it up something crazy and giving all my photos from that room a hazy, steamy look)…

… and butterflies in the butterfly room…

…and garden eels sticking up out of the sand (I’d never seen these before and thought they were really really strange)…

…and spiky black urchins with beady white eyes that you definitely do not want to step on…

…and of course there’s a few obligatory Nemos (I found him!)

But I think the highlight of the day had to be C.C the pacific octopus, who contentedly hid in the shadows of the rock in the back of her tank. When I took the following photo, I couldn’t see C.C at all, so I was amazed to see the camera had done it’s thing and there she was, in all her tentacled glory. It was a bit of a shock to see the first photo of her because I didn’t realise she was that big. I wish she’d have come out and had a bit of a swim around but if I had a hoard of children screaming their heads off and banging on my tank, I’d be hiding in the back too.

Our next stop was the jellyfish room. I love jellyfish. I am intrigued by their see-through bodies, their long (and sometimes short!) tentacles and the danger that comes with many of them. They are terrible little things but also beautiful, especially with different lighting effects on them. We spent a while in the jellyfish room while I took a gazillion photos. My Mum was very patient.

So pretty! So weird! After the jellyfish tanks, we decided to go to the 4D movie, which was definitely an experience. They gave us lots of warnings about young children seeing it and of course, as soon as the movie started and the effects began, a good handful of screaming and/or crying children were hurridly removed from the room by their parents. There were a couple effects that made me jump, but I won’t spoil it for anyone hoping to go. All I’ll say is, if you go to the aquarium, really try to see the movie – it was very good!

Stay tuned for Part 2… next up we visit the frogs and then head outside for the sea lions, belugas and seals!