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View Full Version : An Incredible Experience



Alysser
08-27-2012, 11:56 PM
I haven't been posting much but over this weekend I took a short road trip to Georgia, particularly the Atlanta area. We pre-bought tickets to the aquarium, but while on the website I saw an interactive experience with the Beluga Whales being advertised and it seemed WELL worth it. So, despite the fact that I shouldn't be spending extra money, I paid for it and even purchased ALL the photos they take throughout the whole session. Basically, you get to go into a training session with the Beluga whales, pet them, and things like that. Additionally, you get to meet the harbor seals. I thought I'd share some pics with you of the experience.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/217955_10151221695316756_857620174_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/561744_10151221695086756_176527295_n.jpg
This was Qinu, she was not fully grown yet at 4 years old. She was gorgeous.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/574773_10151221695646756_1342264331_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/376883_10151221698986756_740968154_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/539244_10151221698601756_378594430_n.jpg
This is Beethoven, he's a 20 year old 3000 pound male. You can tell how much bigger he is then Qinu.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/217995_10151221695461756_1592830257_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/424271_10151221695726756_1193216151_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/DSC_2005.jpg
More pics of Beethoven...yes, he splashed me.

I have a few more!

Alysser
08-28-2012, 12:00 AM
As an additional bonus we got to meet the harbor seals...OMG they were ADORABLE. I got to pet Floyd. He was soooo cute.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/431496_10151221700201756_633229262_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/424207_10151221699721756_1756387671_n.jpg
Just look at the face....:p

Despite being by myself, my group was so much fun and everyone was really nice. Overall it was an incredible experience and of course it just makes me want to work with Marine mammals even more...we will see what happens with that LOL.

We also went to Stone Mountain, which was really neat and beautiful:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/431031_10151221777481756_417183996_n.jpg
Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/bobbernut/562854_10151221776676756_1076598349_n.jpg
And this was hiking down stone mountain, that was quite the adventure in itself. It was beautiful though! I really love Georgia.

Karen
08-28-2012, 01:35 AM
Wow, what a cool experience! Looks like it was worth every penny!

mon
08-28-2012, 03:47 AM
Amazing! Thanks

chocolatepuppy
08-28-2012, 05:17 AM
That looks like a great experience Alyssa! Thanks for sharing!:)

Freedom
08-28-2012, 07:25 AM
Oh my goodness, I am SO Jealous! What a fantastic opportunity!!!

I am surprised you were able to get in so easily. The "swim with the dolphins" tour in Florida requires you to sign up almost 6 months in advance, it is so popular.

I can perfectly understand you spending the money for this, and getting all the photos they took. I am so excited that you got to do this!! And the harbor seals as well? Super!!!

I've never heard of Stone Mountain so that was great to see. Thank you for sharing all your fun time with us.

Queen of Poop
08-28-2012, 07:35 AM
Wow, what an awesome experience!!! Thank you for sharing it! :love: :love: :love:

Barbara
08-28-2012, 08:45 AM
This looks fantastic! It's something you'll never forget.
Who could resist Floyd???:)

phesina
08-28-2012, 10:02 AM
What wonderful pictures of such a wonderful experience. Thank you so much for sharing!

*LabLoverKEB*
08-28-2012, 09:47 PM
Those are FANTASTIC pictures! You look great! The whales the the little seal are just adorable, I'm so jealous!! What a neat experience. I swam with the dolphins in Puetro Vallerta, Mexico when I was 16, it was sooo cool!

Alysser
08-29-2012, 06:55 PM
LOL Kait, I made sure I looked half decent, I knew there were to be pictures.

Thanks so much guys, I KNEW you guys would enjoy it. It truthfully was remarkable to get up close and personal with such beautiful rarer animals. The whole thing cost me somewhere close to $270, but that was WELL worth it:cool:

I think it's fairly new so that's why it wasn't completely booked. I swam with the dolphins as well, which was cool, but this was a whole 'nother level of "cool".

Also, a lot of people have no clue what Stone Mountain is, I didn't until my brother brought it up. I said wow, I'd like to go sometime and he basically planned the whole trip in one night LOL. Stone Mountain was really cool. They had an awesome lazer light show with a lot of country music, which I liked. :p

Laura's Babies
08-30-2012, 06:33 PM
We went to Stone Mountain and stayed for the laser show! Did you see that? If you didn't, next time you go to Atlanta, you MUST experience that! It was AWESOME! One one the most momorable things I ever saw! We spent the day there and stayed for that.. All I can say is WOW! WOW! WOW! The show and the music that goes with it is something I will never forget!