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Nik and Nat's Adventures
So after almost being flooded out in the tent by all the rain, we jumped back into Violet and headed back up north towards The Gold Coast. We had already prebooked the van site where we had spent alot of our time recently, so we knew we had a nice place to crash for the next couple of nights. We decided that the tent was still a bit damp, and so Violet was host to three bodies that night. We all managed to fit in quite well, along with all of our baggage, although I prefered my old bed compared to the front seat. After an interesting and cramped sleep, we had an early start as today was the day we went off to Seaworld. As you can imagine, we were all a little excited. Nat's about the Polar Bears, me about the Dolphins and Jenny about the Gift Shop!! I was met by a rather dishy man in a suit, (and I am sorry to say he wasn't the Dolphin trainer, otherwise how perfect would he have been!!!!) before the gates to the park where opened. I checked in and received my purple V.I.P wristband, which I proudly made a point of having out on display, as instead of the usual 4 people accepted on the program, it was just me on my todd!!!! I met Kim, who I shadowed for the day, she was so lovely and soon after meeting we realised we both had something in common...our love for Mr Johnny Depp!! Anyway of course I wasn't that interested as I was there to see the Dolphins and to learn about how they were looked after. Firstly Kim, showed me around the various Dolphin enclosures, which were actually much nicer than I imagined. All of the pools where large and the Dolphins could quite easierly get alot of speed up and chase each other around as they freqently did. The pools where also sandy at the bottom, and contained things like a broom head, which they could use to rub themselves againest if they had an itch. The trainers call this sort of thing enrichment! After I was introduced to all the Dolphins, told a bit about Kim's job role and different trainning techniques, I watched the Dolphin show. After the show I had my first water experience with a very timid pregnant Dolphin called Aiva. Kim explain how it was a break-through for this particle Dolphin, as it was not in her normal behaviour to allow people to touch her. I then had a second experience in the show pool with Nila, a very beautiful Dolphin, where she did some showing off for me and I had a fin ride. After lunch, I helped to prepare the fish for the Dolphins afternoon show, which was interesting and before the show I had a wonderful feeding experience before having a practice at doing some of the tricks with the Dolphins. They seemed to really enjoy it! Still not sure if I would prefer to work with these amazing creatures in capitivity or the wild, but one thing for sure, the close encounter was incrediable, and I am still really pleased the I chose to do it anyway. I then spent a little bit of time looking around the other animals and sights at the park, before we left as the gates where closing. It was a lovely day, one that has definately got me thinking, and one I will never forget.
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