Just a gallimaufry of photos ...
Bengal clock vine 
The curious name ‘clock vine’ comes from the fact that it twines around a support in a clockwise direction.
.jpg)
Just a bird sitting on a rock contemplating life ...
.jpg)
Ketupat
Rice cooked inside a pouch made from woven palm leaves
Lemang
Glutinous rice cooked in hollowed out bamboo tubes
In Japan, frogs are a symbol of good fortune.
FROM THE SHOEBOX — PHOTOS THAT RARELY SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY
SeaWorld, San Diego 1990
I was amused and entertained by orcas aka killer whales.
I AM SO ASHAMED.
I didn't know then ...
Ocean Park, Hong Kong 1993
 |
| Hoi Wai, also known as Suzie Wong, was a 20 year old female killer whale who lived at Ocean Park Hongkong. She was captured in Iceland on October 12, 1977 and died on April 21, 1997. |
I thought killer whales cavorting with trainers and leaping high out of the Shamu Stadium pool was the coolest entertainment ever. Never before had I been in the presence of such talented, magnificent creatures ...
... until...
I watched the documentary Blackfish. The disturbing footage and emotionally charged interviews with former SeaWorld trainers made me realize the plight and cruelty involved in keeping wild animals captive for the sake of tourism and entertainment. I should have turned my back on cetacean captivity.
Looking at these photos, I now feel so guilty of not recognizing how horrendous it was for the orcas to be basically living in a bathtub and being forced to perform 3 times a day.
KILLER WHALES ARE NOT MEANT TO BE DOMESTICATED!
Me and Shamu
Shamu lived in SeaWorld for six years in the 1960s. Since then, many orcas at the controversial marine park have performed under the same name.
Fun Fact
For centuries, orcas have instilled fear in the hearts of mankind. The name 'killer whale' is actually a misnomer because these orcas are in fact dolphins. When mariners plying the seas hundreds of years ago saw the orcas taking down large whales, they labelled them in their language as “whale killers".Over time, the name was lost in translation with many people taking it very literally.
 |
Pelicans are cute and funny birds. I agree that orcas and dolphins should not be kept as toys for humans...
ReplyDeleteThat ketupat sounds interesting. It has to be delicious if the rice is cooked like that! I thought I recognized Sea World San Diego from that picture. A lot of people enjoyed the shows for a long time. I don't think you should feel guilty about it, Veronica. Now that you know the facts you'll never participate in something like that again (I would imagine). And you'll do your best to educate others. I think we all have things we have done in our past that we feel guilty about or have regrets about but when we learn what we perceive to be the truth (which might not be someone else's truth) we turn away from that behavior or activity and we try to tell others to do the same. I watched countless "killer" whale shows over the years when I lived in San Diego. I didn't think much of it at the time. Now I would think differently.
ReplyDeleteGreat assortment of pictures.
betty
Dearest Veronica,
ReplyDeleteWe all know deep inside our hearts that animals are best left in their natural habitat... But it is also special for having 'met' them more up close.
As for the frogs, I still feel very awkward for having eaten them as our colleague took us to a frog restaurant in Bandung, Java... Why kill them for so little meat on their legs?! They made soup and all sort of different dishes with them.
LOVE those critters and that's what made it so hard for me to bite down on them...
Well, it shapes us and makes us think deep(er) about things in our life.
Hugs,
Mariette
These statues are very cool and that flowers look very special.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely flowers:) thanks for your sharing...
ReplyDeleteThe clock wine is very beautiful. I have never seen it before.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week ahead, Veronica!
Interesting photos and memories.
ReplyDeleteMe gusto las flores y el arroz. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeletei enjoyed these. We use to go to San Diego to Seaword when the guys were little. I will watch the video in a bit. I, like you, didn't really think about what Orca's endured - back then i was too busy to think about other creatures. I'm very different now. The food looks good. and I enjoyed all the photos.
ReplyDeleteI never heard befor I read here from a flower names Clock vine - so a beautiful flower.
ReplyDeleteWe should not keep such animals as orcas in captivity, they are so intelligent and take up so much space. Thank you for this Link to the Film,
Greetings Kirsi
Beautiful clock vine! Both real pelican and the statue are fun. And I would love to try some of those rice dumplings.
ReplyDeleteSticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves from the local Asian restaurant is one of my favourite foods. As for Orcas being restrained in captivity and incentivized to become performing clowns, thank goodness such practices are no longer in vogue. I am glad that you saw the light, Veronica.
ReplyDeleteThe birds are beautiful and it's a shame that the orcas had such a small pool! the pool here in the Australian Sea World looks a lot bigger and that's just for the dolphins! They do a rescue, rehab and release at Sea World here, so the animals they have in the park are those that wouldn't make it out in the wild again :)
ReplyDeleteHope you had a good weekend :)
Away From The Blue
Great photos once again, but there is no reason to be ashamed. We were all delighted with seeing orcas perform until we learned the hard truth, but it was a valuable lesson learned that none of us will ever forget I'm sure! Love all these great photos!
ReplyDeleteGostei destas belas fotografias.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e tenha um boa semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados
LOVE that pelican! The food looks interesting, especially the Ketupot (spelling?) which is gorgeous. You do such amazing photos. Thanks for visiting me!
ReplyDeleteOh, you were in Seaworld:) It's worth seeing these large fish, eh? The lavender flowers are very pretty, and I like the pelican holder. Thank you for keeping in contact, but please a little bit more often, because your comment came in the spam:) Thanks - oh, before I forget, is rendang easy to make? (I remember that dish from my mother, very tasty!). Have a great week, Veronica!
ReplyDeleteThe plight and cruelty involved in keeping wild animals captive for the sake of tourism and entertainment has been going on for a long time all over the world. The Trichur puram held in Kerala every year is one such example where Elephants are kept in captivity in the name of "tradition must go on"
ReplyDeleteThis article of yours reminded me of the visit we had to Orcas Islands. There at least they were free in the Ocean.
A fun assortment in your gallimaufry - which is a word I still can't remember until I visit you each week! Thanks for broadening my verbal horizons and for sharing your photos at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2022/07/happy-independence-day-usa.html
ReplyDeleteHey Veronica, sorry you had trouble finding me, but I am not on blogspot. I am on wordpress. so just as a reminder I will give you the link here (one word)
ReplyDeleteliving between two realms (dot) wordpress (dot) com
It was a big change, but the cool thing is on wordpress is that when I send you a comment, it automatically comes on my own (wordpress) blog. I don't have to actually look up your blog.
Pelicans are one of my favorite birds. Nice statue of the pelican and the real one too. Have a great week!
ReplyDeletePelicans are super cool and so are the whales, such beautiful creatures!
ReplyDeleteI have some Sea World photos of a similar era. We know better now, so we do better.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images. The clock vine has lovely blooms. Great captures of the pelican and is the other bird a Stork or Ibis? I like the frogs and pelican statues. I have mixed feeling about the sea life aquariums, Orcas and the other must be happier when they are free in the ocean. Thank you so much for linking up and sharing your post. Also thanks for the comment. Take care, enjoy your day and happy new week ahead.
Love the Pelican Veronica.
ReplyDeleteMe encanta El collage y las fotos. La Thunbergia grandiflora azul es preciosa.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
Lovely photos I couldn't stop looking at the pelican close up brilliant
ReplyDeleteHave a gallimaufrytastic week 👍
I agree with you, no animal should be kept in captivity for the entertainment of anyone. I saw orcas in the Pacific Northwest, they are such graceful animals. I do love the pelican, such a beautiful bird. And your dish looks very delicious.
ReplyDeleteah ... birds with beaks, purple blooms. lovely here this evening, friend ...
ReplyDeleteThe clock vine is very pretty. Orcas live in the waters around our island and we see them occasionally. I think all animals are best in the wild and do not enjoy going to zoos. We have all changed our views on keeping animals in captivity for our enjoyment, and it's part of growing and learning. No need to feel ashamed.
ReplyDeleteLove the different ways of cooking rice - in the little triangular packages, and in the tube-shaped ones. Have a good week, Veronica.
Pelicans and flowers are the perfect combination for me
ReplyDeleteThere are many interesting information in this post, Veronica. I didn't know that frog is a symbol of good fortune in Japan.
ReplyDeleteI've never had rice cooked inside palm leaves or bamboo tubes, as Japanese restaurants here in Rome and its surroundings don't serve that rice dishes. It sounds delicious :-)
Enjoy the rest of this week, Veronica!
Those clock vine flowers are so pretty! We have been to Sea World a few times in my life and I never thought much about it until watching Blackfish either.
ReplyDeleteGlutinous rice with a bamboo flavour looks yummy.
ReplyDeleteI always love your assortment of photos.
ReplyDeleteWe loved the killer whale shows also but wouldn't go any longer. Also, elephants in circuses. It's a good thing that we are becoming more sensitive to animals.
Clock vines are a fascinating aspect of nature!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful variety of photos! The pelican is extraordinary. I have not seen its coloring before, beautiful! I lived in San Diego for many years. When we first moved there my husband dropped us off at Sea World and picked us up at the end of his workday. It was our first visit ever and we had a marvelous time, such a lot of fun. But over the years I have learned and been dismayed. We have been educated and I will never go to Sea World again. It was the same for me and circuses but those I never liked because of the way the animals were treated in their performances. That knowledge came to me early in my life. Sea World came much later, but the knowledge slowly dawned on me when we moved there and there were instances of orcas turning on their trainers. Now we know. Thank you for reminding us Veronica.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone back then knew about mammals in captivity, we know better today.
ReplyDeleteThe frog statues are cool!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Lovely
www.mynameislovely.com
The first time I saw orcas in captivity was at a dolphin show in Spain on our honeymoon in 1971.Like you I knew no different back then. No wild animal belongs in captivity and made to perform for people.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of the pelican, so much detail in it's beak. The other bird made me smile. I never imagined them sitting like that with their knees bent!
The two pelican photos are fun!
ReplyDeleteI have actually never been to a sea world or aquarium and to the zoo only once in my life. I don't like seeing animals in captivity ever since I've been a child.
You still have wonderful memories of your trips to sea world as a child, cherish those!
Elza Reads
I love sculptures, so amazing
ReplyDeleteWe are always amazed at the use of leaves in cooking and serving food. It is so creative.
ReplyDelete...the clock vine is a beauty!
ReplyDeleteI love your rare photos. Impressive show, even these kind of creatures must me be in their natural environment. The bird is so cute. And I love the color of flowers! Another amazing selection, Veronica! Thank you and Happy WW!
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous week!
Orka's are amazing creatures... lovely photo collection.
ReplyDeletesad story of killer whales .....
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing beautiful photos as always
The Bengal clock vine has very beautiful blooms on the vines, Veronica Lee, and seeing the photo of caramelized beef stew, yes please. I have never had sticky rice in lotus leaves but it must also be delicious. You can be forgiven for not knowing about the conditions the whales were forced to live in because many of us also have such ignorance. The only sea show I have ever seen was dolphins and unsure if their conditions were the same.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how many times I see pelicans, I get excited every single time. I'm not going to watch the movie about the orcas because it will make me sad. I already know. If they keep marine life only because they would die otherwise, or they are holding them temporarily to care for injuries, that is something...keeping them for entertainment purposes only? An entirely different thing for so many of them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs and delicious food.
ReplyDeleteWild animals need to be protected but live in the wild. I agree with you.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. 💞
It's sad that so many wild animals are caught and kept for human entertainment.
ReplyDeleteI went to Sea World many a times and sadly I didn't note the horrendous truth either until much later. The identical pelican photos are great finds and your food photos always make my mouth water.
ReplyDelete-Soma
i like lemang so much Veronica, sometimes i eat them with tapai, sweet and sour but fresh...and sticky...
ReplyDeletei like pelican bird too...and usualy visit zoo that near my house. Have a nice day Dear ^^
I think your photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWild animals such as Orcas belong in the sea and not in a space that is too small for human entertainment.
Greetings Irma
Birds, flowers, food and more - a delighful set of pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome photo of the pelican. Haven't seen one in a long time. That white bird sure is pretty too. You take the loveliest bird photos. The rendang dish looks delicious. I didn't know frogs were a symbol of good fortune, that's interesting. I have a green glass frog that was on my father's work desk for many years, and when he passed away, I got his frog. Dolphins are highly smart animals. Your posts always make me smile. Thank you, my friend, and for all your visits too.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
I like these flowers. They look so unique and color is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFantastic detail in those two bird pictures. The one sitting on the rock has very interesting legs. I've never seen a bird with legs that bend like that when sitting.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are beautiful. I love that color.
And I never knew orcas were dolphins. Nor did I realize how cruel their treatment in captivity was.