SeaWorld California - 28th October 2007

Woo, so we went to SeaWorrrld!
Arrived about 10:30am. Headed straight to the orcas =]. Orkid was in the pool. At the close up I recognised Ruka (fellow orca lover). I was too scared to speak to her lol. She had her interaction stuff out abd was trying to interact with Orkid. Orkid did come over, but I fucked it up by getting out my pink dolphin lol! Ruka later went, and so I was at the glass. Orkid was just lapping, and I did manage to get her to come over, for like 2 seconds lol. She was looking at my orca stuffie =]. She resumed lapping, and I realized I wasn't likely to get another interaction, so I went to the skywalk. From then I watched individual training sessions in the show pool. I saw Ulises', Kalia's, Corky's, Nakai's and Sumar's training sessions. Very cool =].
They lasted a while, and then eventually the show's gates were open. I sat infront of the slide, then moced to the left side of it. The show was much better today. I mainly think because Ulises was in it this time =]. But there was alot more going on, and it was more exciting. In the show was Ulises, Sumar, Corky, Nakai and Orkid. So when the show was over, we had to leave straight away, to go to the airport.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562797394hOuZRb

Whale Watching - Monterey Bay - 24th October 2007

Place: Monterey Bay, USA
Date: 24th October 2007
Trip length: 3 hours
Who was on trip: Me, Mum, Dave
Wildlife seen: Californian Sea Lions, Humpback Whales, Seabirds

Wowie. Went Whale Watching. Saw 2 Humbacks =D. It was a 3 hour trip. About 1 hour was spent searching for them, 1 hour tracking and 1 hour going back.
It was really cool. Yeah we followed them. They'd come up to the surface, dive for about 4 mins, come up and it was repeated.
One time, they did this like lunge out of the water. Real cool. I guess they were feeding.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562811370ooKmkk

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - 21st October 2007

Went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo - Shouka!
Went on most of the rollar coasters, saw the Shouka show - and I got splashed by her lool. I went on an elephant ride! And I fed some seals =]. Goood day.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562796108SrgBiy

SeaWorld California - 19th October 2007

Today we went to SeaWooorld. Well, I was kinda unimpressed :/. I was expecting it to be bigger.
When we got there, I headed straight for the orcas. In the Dine With Shamu pool was Orkid and Nakai. They were doing a Dine, so I didn't bother trying to get an interaction. I then went to the skywalk. Sumar was practising a slide and squirt. Ulises was alone in a back pool, and Corky, Kasatka and Kalia were together in the other.
The dolphin show was starting in 15 minutes, so after the orcas we went there. That show has not changed since the first time I went there, and that was 9 years ago haha! The kid tried to jump in which was actually pretty funny. It was about time someone tried to :P.
After the show we headed to the Penguin Exhibit and the Wild Arctic. Just did the walk through. Polar bears, belugas + walruses. All good.
The Atlantic ride was shut, but I went over there to see the Commersons. Those guys are so cute and diddie x3.
I got out my pink dolphin stuffie and waved it about the glass. They came over and looked at it - before, they were just lapping. It was cool, one guy went upside down to look at it =]. They then went into the other pool, and it was about then I decided to head back to the orcas, because of our DWS. Had to be there 30 mins prior.
Ulises was in close up. Gosh that guy is so big! Real bulky. I didnt bother trying to get an interaction.
Soo we were let into the DWS area. We had a great seat, right by the pool =]. So yeah, obviously we had Ulises for our Dine. The trainer spoke about each of the orcas, how to become a trainer and gave Ulises signals. He did a belly breach, side breach, a froggie, slide out and a few other things.
At about 2pm, I left DWS, to go take my place in the stadium. I swopped places about 4 times hehe. Finally fot a place infront of the slide out.
So the show - effects and background: great. Show itself: poor. I was expecting way more. It wasn't very upbeat or exciting - I'm used to the shows of MLF i guess!
Anway, the guys in the show were Nakai, Corky, Orkid and Sumar. After the show I went to Rocky Point Preserve. I didn't get any food, but I watied and touched a few dolphins =]. One kept butting its head a bit =S.
After the dolphins i went back to the orcas. Nakai was in the show pool, Kalia and Orkid in the med pool, Corky and Kasatka were in a back pool, and Sumar and Ulises were in the other back pool. Sumar and Ulises then got moved into Shamu close up.
They were doing a dine, so I waited til they were done. I got my dolphin stuffie out, but they took no notice. Very gutted about that. I was even standing next to some woman who had clealy been quite a few times, because she knew their names, and she was saying how weird it was that Sumar wasn't coming over.
So I gave up, and went to the stadium for the 4:30pm show. I was pretty much the same, except I noticed the Breakspin this time, and another behavious. In the show was Nakai, Corky, Kasatka, Kalia came in with Kasatka but didnt do anything, and I can't remember if Orkid was there or not :/.
Soo after the show we went and saw the Sea otters, and then went back to the Hotel.
Still very unimpressed though. No intereactions! Atleast I got one with the commies though.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562660210rQHngL