Gold Coast Day3 : Whale of a time

One of the best things of holidaying in Gold Coast in the Winters is the cool weather. The other thing is Whale watching. 

The Humpback whales make their annual journey from the colder waters this side of the world to the warmer Antarctica, for breeding purposes. These majestic creatures are known to be playful and their breaching and water-slapping are a treat to watch. 

                We boarded the Mahi Mahi along with a small group of people and cruised past houses of the rich and famous, along the river Nerang. It seemed all fine and smooth, and I wondered why the crew had warned us of choppy waters that day. Only when we hit the sea water did I realize what they meant. I am the only non-swimmer in the family. The rest of them ran to the viewing platform to watch the huge waves lapping against our boat. While I sat and prayed on the deck down, wondering why they never gave us the life-jacket beforehand, and what the point was, of having them on board, in case we never had time to wear them....and I asked a fellow whale-watcher, "Is it normal? The boat tossing thus?"

A wet-blanket watches as the last speck of land disappears from her sight

And nothing but the sea and sea marvels surround her

"I don't know...I wouldn't be here if it were not". I froze when he said "I dunno" but the second part gave me a bit of a relief. Still I watched in alarm from the lower deck as the boat rocked and rolled from one side to another, watched as the last speck of land disappeared and the ocean turned a darker shade of blue every passing minute.

         As all the other sporty sorts shrieked in delight at the first spotting of dolphins almost smiling at us, I felt an inkling of pleasure too. And then emerged the magical creatures, spraying mists of ocean water, now breaching, now clapping...

Here they come, with their tails towering high above the ocean waters

I'll huff and puff to bring your boat down? (Gulp!)

Then emerged one more, then a pair dancing in reckless abandon, ooh one more at direction 1 o' clock, look at this one at 3 o clock, and the Oohing and Aahing of the group, combined with "Hmm can we go back now?" by my fearful mind, what an experience of fear mingled with excitement! 

    The knowledgeable crew explained how the whale population had dwindled until Whaling was declared illegal in Australian waters in the 1960s. The poor whales were hunted for their blubber and meat without a care till then...

We had a bite of biscuits with hot tea in the cold evening, with wind blowing through our hair, a wondrous two hour trip lasted in our minds forever...What a relief when we finally sighted land...

Unforgettable Humpbacks! May your tribe increase!