Tagged With "sea lion"
Comment
Re: St. Martins Sea Caves, New Brunswick
Fascinating place. I love the outside shot of people about to enter the cave. My first impression was that the rock was a large tree and dwarves were about to enter a hole right above its roots.
Comment
Re: Sea World gives up its killer whale shows
I grow weary of political correctness. Orcas are highly intelligent animals, no doubt -- and have the "cruelty" we expect of intelligent animals (anyone who's seen them hunt a baby gray whale for hours, only to kill it, eat its tongue and let the rest go to waste knows what I mean). I never saw Blackfish, but I do recall at the old Marineland park in Southern California. The park was closed for a number of months, and the orcas got depressed. Listless, didn't eat, didn't look good. Someone...
Comment
Re: Swimming with Galápagos Sea Lions (S. America, pt 2)
What a fun adventure! I had no idea sea lions had such a sexist culture. Thanks, Kirsten.
Comment
Re: Swimming with Galápagos Sea Lions (S. America, pt 2)
Thank you Kirsten! Another great blog in your series!
Comment
Re: South America, part 3 - Nesting Leatherback Sea Turtles
Bravo! Another excellent post...I learn so much from your pieces and photos!!
Comment
Re: South America, part 3 - Nesting Leatherback Sea Turtles
Fascinating! I was just visiting Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia today and discovered that leatherbacks like to spend their summers off the coast feasting on jellyfish. Amazing what long journeys they make to lay their eggs.
Comment
Re: Kruger National Park - South Africa
You've some excellent photos here, David! Well done!! The ones of the jackal and lion cubs are my favorites. Hope you'll share more of your journey with us.
Comment
Re: Trainer for Day: Dolphinarium, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
That sure looks like a lot of fun! What was the temperature of the water?
Comment
Re: Trainer for Day: Dolphinarium, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Great question -- and I should have put that in. The water was warm -- in the low to mid 80's ( Fahrenheit ). My wife is a woos, so she wore a skin (actually to prevent sun burn). You are not allowed to wear sun-screen as it contaminates the water for the dolphins!
Comment
Re: Trainer for Day: Dolphinarium, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Great info! I feel like I've been through orientation and am ready to go! I hope Dolphinarium sees this great piece.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, June 13, 2014: The Damsels of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
The lovely damsels of Sigiriya would be quite at home at Hugh Hefner's PLayboy mansion! Amazingly well preserved given their 1500 year age. Key to visiting, Mac, is to go very early before it gets too hot, or late in the afternoon as it starts cooling down. But a spry young dude like you should bound all the way to the top of Lion Rock like a springbok. One of the most memorable times I've ever had in my travels was at the top of Sigiriya, right at the end of the day, when I was the only...
Comment
Re: Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park, Hawaii Island, Hawaii
Some beautiful photos, Ottoman! I'm fond of black sand beaches because you only find them in places with active volcanoes, and I love volcanoes. White sand beaches are generally formed from the breakdown of coral (often by parrotfish, who eat it and clear the fine particles out the other end). This beach isn't that large, but the black sand is striking. And the turtles -- how lovely they are. They look soooo relaxed. Makes me want to take a nap in that warm sand, too!
Comment
Re: Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park, Hawaii Island, Hawaii
You'd love the Canary Isles. Volcanic islands off the north west cost of Africa. Its a winter hotspot where the islands belong to Spain. Its party time all year and a favourite with the younger set. Its famous on Tenerife for young men to drive up Mount Teide in winter and collect snow from the peak in Cooler Boxes. Drive back down to the 77'f / 25'c beaches and throw snowballs at the topless sunbathers. Might be a bit too much for non-Europeans !!
Comment
Re: Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park, Hawaii Island, Hawaii
GarryRF -- I think non-Europeans can also enjoy the sight of sunbathers being pegged by snowballs! The first hit, especially, must be quite enjoyable as the injured party wonders "where did that cold hard thing come from"?
Comment
Re: Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park, Hawaii Island, Hawaii
Hi DrFumblefinger and Garry RF Thanks for the feedback. DrFumblefinger, you are so right about the relaxed turtles. If time would have permitted, I would've joined them for a nice nap. GarryRF, I have copied and pasted your comment into my "things to do" folder. I think I'll fit in quite nicely at Tenerife, for living in the Great White North (aka Canada) has given me a lot of practice at becoming a snowball sharpshooter.
Comment
Re: How a super-ship manages 12-hour turnaround
Sometimes when I'm in Vancouver I head to Canada Place to watch the cruise ships coming and going. You actually get to see the belly of the ship being loaded. The dozens of palates of food that go on is amazing. Would you have thought a cruise ship would consume 3 massive containers of potatoes in a week? 2 of onions? Might even have been more, that's all I saw. It is truly a model of efficiency.
Comment
Re: Whoa! Not so fast on that shrinking baggage size!
That's good news! But rather than saying airline consumers were a lion, I think I'd have used "the sheep have bleated -- loudly"
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 19, 2015: Giant ship, little town
It looks like the giant ship is there to feed on the small town, although I suppose in reality it's the other way around.
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#340)
I wouldn't be lion if I told you that looks like a Roman soldier... Here are the Saturday clues! Two more tomorrow and that's it. But if you've figured out the answer, you can email it to TGSuggestions@gmail.com
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo #366
A few more pieces of furniture. A wood carved lion chair and a pedestal clock...
Comment
Re: The Lucky Chair in Victoria by the Sea, P.E.I.
Interesting! Did the chair bring you luck yet? ;-)
Comment
Re: Exploring the Baltic Coast. 1) Poland
Wonderful narrative and photos!. You make me want to go to Poland even more now.
Comment
Re: Exploring the Baltic Coast. 1) Poland
Thank you for this. Poland really is wonderful and the people are some of the most generous in the world. I spent some time there in the 1980's, and at that time a tourist, could live on a dollar a day, although the government forced tourists to exchange more. Even though it was so cheap for me, my Polish friends insisted on paying and life there for them was expensive.
Comment
Re: Exploring the Baltic Coast. 1) Poland
Great post and photos and a nice introduction to the Baltic region. I look forward to your second post next week on Latvia! I'm coincidentally in Krakow today, and there is a familiarity to the architecture here in this city with what's in your images. Having a nice time. They Polish people are very kind and the country certainly is a travel bargain.
Comment
Re: Exploring the Baltic Coast. 1) Poland
I really love Krakow. Those colourful streets, little squares, amazing castle... Once while backpacking (it was supposed to be walking holidays in Lithuania ) I crossed Krakow and decided to stay there for all that time (10 days), I just went for hiking around, went to Warsaw and understood that Poland is the most amazing place in Europe! Everyone should visit it at least once!
Comment
Re: Touch a Shark at Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
I love visiting this aquarium, too, Samantha! The shark tank is extremely cool and there are lots of interesting exhibits to explore -- especially fun with kids. Still, my personal favorite is the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Comment
Re: Baja California: La Paz — John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
Thanks for the note, TravelandNature! AeroMexico has pretty regularly scheduled flights into La Paz, though through Mexico City, so you'll have to connect. Worth checking major search engines like Expedia or Kayak, though, because it is a rather long drive, though I enjoy the desert scenery of Baja California.
Comment
Re: Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, California. Where Gumbo Was, #74
Looks a bit like the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf. Lots of tourist attractions to help part you from your savings. But the Sea Lions waving their fins to catch some sunlight make it all worthwhile. Yes - I know - the kids love it - but watching who gets pushed off the floating boards to make room for the big fella is absolute poetry. Then he in turn pushes another Sea Lion off. Fine explanation of the "pecking order" Looks like a great location to spend the day - and pedestrian friendly...
Blog Post
New gonzo cruise ship even has sky-diving!
In the race to think up more features to add to cruise ships, Royal Caribbean is looking up...with a top-deck skydiving simulator on its newest ship, Quantum of the Seas, which has just started operating out of the New York area. Would you believe...
Blog Post
Gumbo's Pic of the Day, July 18, 2015: The Winged Lion of Venice
The winged lion is a symbol you see everywhere in Venice -- palaces, flags, statues -- everywhere. It seemed a somewhat unusual mascot for a seafaring power and made me wonder what the origin to the symbol was. Turns out the...
Blog Post
The Medieval Fortress and Town of Chinon
There are few places in France of greater historic importance than Chinon. You wouldn’t know that by what you see when you drive thru it today as it seems a small sleepy rural town. You’ll see little evidence of...
Blog Post
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park, Hawaii Island, Hawaii
I love visiting the state of Hawaii. Although I have enjoyed all the Hawaiian islands I have visited (Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii Island), my favorite island would be Hawaii Island (aka the Big Island). The diversity of the Hawaii...
Topic
Bosphorus Cruises in February (Turkey)
I'm preparing for a mid-February week in Istanbul, and would like to include a Bosphorus cruise, specifically one of the more-or-less all-day ones that goes up to the Black Sea, has a lunch break at a small port on the Black Sea, and then returns....
Blog Post
Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 14, 2015: Canada’s original safari – African Lion Safari in Hamilton Ontario
Southwest of Toronto, about one and half hours of driving, Canada’s original safari – African Lion Safari -- is situated near the city of Hamilton, Ontario. The 20 hectare wild life park has a slogan of,...
Blog Post
How a super-ship manages 12-hour turnaround
Today's (Mar 22) NY Times has a fascinating article on the "backstage" operation involved in getting 6000 passengers off a ship, washing 93,000 pounds of linens, loading up all the food and water, and getting the next 6000 passengers out to...
Blog Post
Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 4, 2015: Sea Gull Inn, Mendocino, California
March 10, 2015 On my road trip to the Northern California coast in March, I stayed with a friend 17 miles down the road from Mendocino. But on 2 previous visits I’d stayed at the Sea Gull Inn . The first time was in...
Blog Post
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is one of the most desolate place I have been. Others include central Greenland and the Dead Sea. Death Valley is the lowest place in the western hemisphere at 282 feet (86 metres) below sea level. The Dead Sea in Israel is 1,370...
Blog Post
Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve
My adventure in Kenya begins in Maasai Mara, widely considered to be Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve. With more than 200 square miles of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest, the Mara is joined by privately-owned...
Blog Post
Disneyland Shanghai Delays Opening
It was announced by Disney's CEO that the 5.5 billion dollar Disneyland Shanghai will now open Spring of 2016. It was scheduled to open late 2015. Disneyland Shanghai is a joint venture between the Chinese State owned Shanghai...
Blog Post
A Day in Ponce, Puerto Rico (Where Gumbo Was #87)
On our second-to-last day in Puerto Rico, we headed to the south shore of the island, to the city of Ponce. It's smaller than San Juan, has less tourist traffic—all that, and yet it considers itself the cultural equal of the capital or of...
Blog Post
September 26, 2017: Saltburn by Night.
Night views of Saltburn give a different outlook to this Victorian North Yorkshire coastal town. Photos by Paul Hunter.
Blog Post
A Visit to the Al Ain Zoo, U.A.E
DrFumblefinger was pleasantly surprised to find a lovely first-class zoo in the middle of the desert, near the oasis city of Al Ain.
Blog Post
Syracuse's Greek Temple Cathedral, Sicily
Gumbo was visiting a most unusual cathedral. Built as a Greek temple about 500 BC, it was already over a thousand years old when it became a church.
Blog Post
April 18, 2017: Sunrise, Sunset: Life in the South African Bush
Join Marilyn Jones on a photo-safari in South Africa.
Blog Post
Bombay Beach, CA : Where Gumbo Was (#214)
Gumbo was found in the unique desert community of Bombay Beach in California
Blog Post
Journey through Karnataka: Hampi
Professor Abe's fascinating journey through the Karnataka region continues with an exploration of the fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi.
Blog Post
Yellowstone: Upper Geyser Basin
PortMoresby begins her geothermal education with a walk around Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin.