It’s currently whale season in Sydney. From May to September, the majestic creatures travel from Antarctica along the Australian coast, putting on a show for a few lucky onlookers. My roommates and I went to Bondi Beach a few weeks ago to try and spot them, but only saw spouts erupting in the distance. Not even our expert whale calls brought Willy to us, but alas, we continued sipping our coffees and taking in the blissfully blue Pacific Ocean.
This past Saturday, I got the chance to give whale watching another go. But this time, I’d be out on the water! I grabbed my digital camera with a zoom lens and eagerly awaited the day to come. When we got to the dock, the sun was shining, the birds were screaming (yes, screaming, welcome to Australia), and the sky was blue as could be. I took a deep breath, exhaled, and had my first of many moments of gratitude.
We set off into the harbour, casually breezing past the famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House. As we reached the grand cliffs hovering on the border of the harbour and open ocean, we all braced for a bumpy ride ahead. Our strategy was intricate and well-thought-out: go where the other boats were! With my camera safely secured around my neck and my boyfriend assuring me he was holding me tight, I took the opportunity to look up at where I was: sailing in the Pacific Ocean, with the vast horizon in front of me.
Deep breath. Exhale. Moment of gratitude.
Zooming towards the pod of boats, we spotted movement in the water. Being vertically challenged and navigating the bumpy waters, I struggled to get something better than a blurry shot. I thought, “Oh well - it’s better than nothing.” We contemplated our next move and decided to go off to the right, towards the silhouette of ships. Joining the circle of eagerly awaiting whale-watchers, we held our breath. My eye locked into the viewfinder on my camera while my finger stayed glued to the shutter button. Gasps erupted around me.
Snap snap snap!
I barely had time to check if I was getting good shots, as the whales kept popping up in every direction. One even swam right in front of our boat! A quick flick through told me that while I don’t think I have a career in animal photography ahead of me, my work wasn’t too shabby. Not even the drops in my stomach with each wave break, or the heaps of salt water crashing over us, could dampen the incredible act of nature we had just witnessed.
Once we were safely back in the harbour, we decided to stop near a little beach for lunch and a swim. A chilled bottle of white was the first item out, which we all lechaim’ed with for a job well done. A few nibbles of crackers and hummus were the perfect fuel for a dip in the arctic water. A very quick count to 3 and I was in! I forgot how to breathe (and swim) for a moment, but once I got over the shock, my arms started moving in a professional-looking doggie paddle. We made it to the beach and took a stroll along the sand, looking at the creatures lining the tide pools. The time came to swim back, so with a bit of encouragement, we made the journey back to the boat.
In a cosy jumper and dry pants with the sun streaming down on me, I sat back and soaked up the situation I found myself in. Refreshed from the cold plunge, happily full, and surrounded by people I now consider a second family, I couldn’t help but smile. I grabbed my camera to take a few pictures. Photography has always been a safe space for me, and this day was a reminder of how much I love it.
Our boat ride back to the dock took us past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge at sunset.
Deep breath. Exhale. Moment of gratitude.
What a wonderful day.
Welcome back to writing
Marvelous and wonderful!