Day 14

15 April 2010

Finale. We should go out with a bang and we did. Pity we do not have images to do today justice. All that we did throughout the trip pales in comparison, in my humble opinion, to what we experienced today.

As promised, Kaikoura has lot's more in store than just seals. First and foremost, seafood. Geographically strategic, Kaikoura offers fresh crayfish, scallops, mussels, calamari, etc. We lunched at this roadside shack which served grilled scallops, seafood chowder, fish n chips, the lot... It was a rather romantic notion, a beachside shack. The food, sad to say, was mediocre.

Roadside BBQ

Elsewhere, the local fare is pretty much as shown below. All the tourists we met had not try the crayfish because although they are the region's specialty, crayfish are sold as per the international market prices.

White wine + garlic marinated green-lipped mussels

fish n chips

Coming back to Kaikoura's main attraction. The biggest, most popular tourist establishment in Kaikoura is "Encounter Kaikoura" - providing boat tours to get you up, close and personal to the marine wildlife of the South Isle. Boat tours, that grants you a unique opportunity to be really close to sea animals. Like the mighty seafarer ...

Albatross_albatross encounter kaikoura

Or the legendary Orcas

Killer Whales_whale watch kaikoura

Or how about Sperm Whales ..?!?!

whales_whale watch kaikoura

If you are still not excited by now, I guess it is pointless to read on and revel in the knowledge that Kaikoura Encounters does Dolphin Swims!!! Imagine. Swimming with Dolphins. Completely wild, totally unpredictable, out there in the wide open sea. Not just with one or two. Or even twenties. There are hundreds of them in a pod, most of the time, just swirling around, waiting for you to join them.

http://www.dolphinencounter.co.nz/

http://www.dolphinencounter.co.nz/

Ok, maybe they were not waiting for you to join them. But what a chance of a lifetime! Wouldn't you jump at an oppurtunity to swim with these friendly sea mammals? (or rather, cetaceans). They are very, very amiable, enthusiastic, sociable & intelligent!

The package includes all the necessary gears - (wet suit, face mask, flippers) and an introductionary 'lecture' video. We were advised on what is the best way to approach dolphins and what not to do. They are eager, curious creatures, so the more interesting you are, the more they will be attracted to play with you.

This is the last of a clear image

We were advised to generate noises as the dolphins react to sound. They live in a perpetual soundscape and communicate with each other as frequently as humans do. Also, dolphins will be attracted to those whom they find entertaining, so it is best we dive around, do a little jig, etc, etc.

Ok, brace yourself for an onslaught of blurry images.

Dusky Dolphins

We hoped on a catamaran, and were greeted by an enthusiastic tour guide who reminds me very much of a frisky dolphin herself. She is chirpy, has a twinkle in her eye, and darts around enthusiastically to and fro. We spotted the pod just 15 minutes away from the beach and quickly gathered round at the rear of the catamaran, ready to jump ship into the freezing sea. We slipped our head gear over, waited for the air horn to blast, then plunged into the abyss...

Me Drowning

The first thing that hit me is the cold. That just pumped up the adrenaline, and I found myself gasping for air. Then I found that everyone else has started snorkelling and playing with the dolphins! I'm wasting time! Quickly, I dunked my head into the water in an attempt to see them. It was so cold & I got too excited, I just ended up drinking saltwater. Over and Over and over again.

It was then a disappointing realisation hit me. I could not snorkel. Snorkeling is something so easy & natural, no one can really teach you how to do it. Like many things in life, you have to let the knowledge grasp you. Try as I might, I just ended up gulping mouthful after mouthful of seawater, burning my throat, scorching my lungs and dry retching.

Ever Elusive_so near yet so far

All the while the dolphins were checking me out, then finding out that I could not play with them, they swam away. On the contrary, D had an absolutely blast of a time. He could obviously snorkel properly (just like every one else), and managed to have a dance with one of them curious creatures. If the dolphins like you, they will circle you round and round, playing a game while tipping their bodies to a side, so they can have a glance at you. D managed to maintain constant eye contact with one of them, and he was very, very excited. They shared a watery waltz before D grew tired, and then the dolphin took its exit.

Hello Beautiful

Needless to say I was green with envy. I wanted to waltz with dolphins too! D had another trick up his sleeves. He hummed. While the rest of us were busing making ridiculous noises (because the video told us to!), D tried humming a proper tune. The dolphins obviously ignored our incoherent ramblings and were more attracted to music. In my haste to draw the dolphins to me, I forgot they were intelligent creatures, and that they respond to melodic sounds, not crass noise.

Third time lucky

It was hard work, as the dolphins are constantly on the move (dolphin lifespan - 25 years - u don't wanna live longer than that if you were to be moving all of your waking & sleeping hours). We had to swim back to the boat after every 30 minutes or so, where the boat would then speed ahead of the dolphins' path, drop us off, so we can intercept and intermingle with them as they swam across. They do this for 3 times. And it was on my third swim, that I learnt how to snorkel. Finally.

Ooh, it was beautiful, magnificent and glorious. I see them, families, lovers, friends, darting around in the water gracefully, approaching us, then swerving away at the last minute. I see them showing-off, doing flips in the air - just because they can. I see them frolicking, gliding, and studying us mere mortals with a hint of secret smiles as if they were aware of their divinity.

If you don't believe dolphins smile, check them out here

It was really sad when we were called back to the boat after the third plunge. The dolphins just went on their way, bobbing along, playing with each other, forgettting about us. To them, we were just a minor distraction, probably nothing more significant than a TV ad. To us, they were a lifelong memory, something etched into our braincells, that we hope we may relive someday.

Food for thought; if you had one song to sing to the dolphins, what would it be?