Bucket List - Blog Posts
In which I achieve a lifelong dream, of sitting on the seafloor with a bunch of giant Australian cuttlefish
This morning I checked a major bucket list item off the list: hanging out w/Giant Australian Cuttlefish. They're super focused on mating, and are shockingly chill about people hanging around. I'd heard this was true, but whew, it was wild to experience firsthand.
It's a rare thing for an animal to reliably be found at a certain place & certain time. So often "lifer" animals depend on luck to seen. With these cuttlefish, so far it's been like clockwork. Late May-August, go to Whyalla in winter, and there they are, resplendent and numerous.
Good news:they're reliable + stunning. Bad news: Whyalla is a friggen hike from Philly & the water is a bit chilly (58 degrees F today). If you want to swim with them, you better get a thick wetsuit on and maybe be a bit cold (I was honestly too excited to be cold).
Seeing mating behavior up close was so completely amazing. The males perform dominance displays where they roll black bars across their body directly at another male. It's mind-blowing to see in person. They generally do it with the half of their body facing the other male.
That's so high or am I just too small 🌸
**A silent encounter in Ximen's living heart**
The day was long and tiredness had me firmly in its grip. In my hotel room, I didn't feel like going out again - but something inexplicable finally drew me into the evening streets of Ximen. The area pulsated with life: colourful lights, laughing people, the muffled sound of the city. But in the midst of this hustle and bustle, I came across an oasis of calm - a temple hidden modestly between the modern facades.
The red lanterns cast a warm light on the carved wooden gates and the scent of incense hung in the air. I paused for a moment in front of the altar with the *Mother of Heaven* (天上聖母), mesmerised by the peaceful atmosphere. Here, between the whispering prayers and the golden statues, the hustle and bustle of the city seemed like a distant memory.
I lifted the camera and captured a few details: the ornate lettering, the *"Southern Show of the Guanyin Bodhisattva "* (南燕视世音菩薩), the simple elegance of the *Huade Dehua Temple* (华治德化堂). Each picture told of a world that took its time - a contrast to the restless hustle and bustle outside.
As I left the temple, I felt light, as if this chance encounter had reminded me of something important: that there are always places of calm in the midst of chaos, if you are only prepared to see them. The evening ended with a smile - and the certainty that it had been exactly the right moment to leave the room after all.
But duuude..... Have you ever just went on a long road trip with someone, where you had a really fun & great conversation; Then you both fell into comfortable silence for a really long time and just enjoyed that together? Like no awkwardness, no anxiety?
#couldbeus #BUCKETLIST