Big Fish

Continued jet lag + post home-visit blues = droopy blogger.

I was entirely too spoiled while I was home.  Now I have no energy or enthusiasm.  This, too, shall pass, I know.  I am not looking for sympathy; at least I didn't have to jump right back into twelve+ hour work days like someone I know.

I was happy to get out of this funk for a few hours on Thursday, when I met Mika and her sweet little girl for a day out.  We met at "Underwater World," a modest aquarium on the south end of Pattaya. The facility is open-air under a large, tent-like roof, so the 90°+ weather followed us inside.  The entrance fee is 500 THB (Thai Baht) for foreigners (about $15 USD).  Says so right on the ticket.  Not sure what the locals pay, because that part was all written in Thai, of course.

Mika and her little one arrived shortly after me, and we proceeded down the ramp to the first displays.  The first area is interactive - a "touching pond" allows you to reach your hand into the water to feel the fish swimming around and the starfish lying at the bottom of the tank.  You really have to be willing to reach down in there to touch them, though.  They also have feeding spots here where you can pay to feed the koi with baby bottles (again!); or you can slip chunks of fish onto the end of a metal skewer and hold it down for the big sea turtle to snatch.  The sea turtle looked just like "Crush" from Finding Nemo.  Didn't realize how educational that movie was.  For the adventurous, you can really get interactive by donning a wet suit and literally taking the plunge to swim with the residents.

I couldn't help myself.

After the activities in the main entry, we followed our little leader down a ramp into a dark, winding passageway where it was much cooler.  This part is divided into three main sections: the Coral Reef Zone, the Open Ocean Zone, and the Giant of Siam zone.  Each zone has a transparent acrylic tunnel that allows visitors to walk "through" the water and see the creatures swimming overhead.  The Coral Reef zone has lots of colorful, tropical fish, and yes, we found Nemo.

Nemo!

Lion Fish

Puffer Fish

Crab

Sea urchin

The Open Ocean Zone holds huge fish like sharks and rays, and the Giant of Siam has freshwater fish swimming in and out of a "shipwreck."  Smaller tanks and displays on the walls help identify some of the fish, along with granting an up-close look at some pretty fascinating creatures.

I think my favorite part was just past the underwater tunnels, where several dark rooms were decorated with many huge tanks of jellyfish that were illuminated with colored lights.  The sensation was quite like being transfixed by a lava lamp.   Hundreds of jellyfish danced in mesmerizing waves, with their insides clearly visible to the observer.  I was obviously captivated because I forgot to take a picture.  Mika's daughter instructed us how to do the jellyfish dance, and we had our own little dance party among the jellyfish.


I told Mick we'd be about and hour and a half, but we finished in just over an hour, so we sat in the concession area with a cold drink.  Mika's little one had a cup of ice cream, which she ate in tiny little bites.  She is so sweet and good-natured, and already learning three different languages at the tender age of three.  She speaks her native Japanese, and is learning Thai and English at her international school here in Pattaya.  She clearly understood much of what was being said when Mika and I spoke English to each other, adding to the conversation in Japanese.  I was absolutely charmed.

We took one more quick walk through the tunnels, being sure to reprise the requisite jellyfish dance, then made our way to the car.  Mick knows this area quite well, as he lives nearby, and so took many twisting, looping alleys to our chosen lunch spot, Mikes Mexican.  The three of us enjoyed a nice meal together, then Mick kindly drove them home.

Before going home myself, I stopped at a local Starbucks and asked them to grind a bag of coffee beans we brought with us.  They were quite amazed at the size of the (1 lb.) package, and asked where it was from.  Then they wanted to know how much it cost.  Their packages are half the size, and cost twice as much.  They very kindly ground the coffee, then I headed home (kahp bahn).

Happy Mother's Day to all.