The entrance itself was already pretty satisfying. Cannery Row was just right outside but the Aquarium still made an effort to incorporate its aesthetic in the interior.
The first thing we saw was the Sandy Shore and Aviary.
It astounded me how much effort they put in recreating the natural habitat for these animals. I've always liked going to zoos and animal exhibits to see the animals, but I never liked the feeling that most zoos and exhibits just seem to provide another kind of prison for the animal. Sure, it saves that species from hunters and natural predators but most zoo setups are evidently cages and closed spaces. I think, the Monterey Bay Aquarium did an excellent job in designing their exhibits in a way that emulates an open space and encourages the feeling of freedom.
The next couple of photographs are just other things we saw in the aquarium. I actually have much more than these but I had to pick only a few.
We saw some pretty interesting things that we found hilarious.
Like these tempura looking things.
There are these fishes who are just very happy to see us...
And these fishes who don't want to deal with visitors at all.
"I'm not here, go home."
Of course, they took advantage of the Finding Nemo fandom too. The kids were very amused~
Another impressive thing we found in the aquarium was the Kelp Forest. Take notice of the school of fishes in the background. I couldn't remember exactly if they were Pacific Sardines or Northern Anchovies and I regret that I don't have a close-up photograph that would help me recall.
I've always seen it on TV or books but I never saw it in person. My year of Marine Biology in high school didn't teach me how fishes know what formation to take but watching it happen was so mesmerizingly incredible. In the photo below, they broke their former formation, headed lower into the Kelp Forest and started forming a tornado-like shape.
I found this fish particularly amusing as well. I wish I took a video because this photo cannot show it but this fish was just bobbing up and down the water like it's trying to swim upwards but it can't. Haha. You can also still see the school of fish in the background.
Another thing I enjoyed so much are the sea anemones. I really appreciate how the exhibits in this aquarium do its best to compliment the wonderful things in it. They make sure that the lighting and arrangement of each and every exhibit displays the creature inside it in the most appealing way.
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| (Barbie colors.) |
Aren't they beautiful?
I might be biased but those aren't even the most gorgeous things I've seen there. On my next post will be my most favorite marine creatures in this world. Jellyfishes!
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