Monterey Bay Aquarium - A window to another world!

The best way to explore and experience the wonders of the oceans is an underwater dive. If you can’t, then the best alternative is visiting an aquarium. I wish someday I too will dive because the world inside the ocean is mysterious and unique. I got a glimpse of that world when a submarine took me down 106 ft below the surface of the sea in Hawaii. The charm was so enthralling that I keep going to aquariums. Recently I visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the top things to do in Monterey, and loved watching another world in slow motion through glasses.

At Monterey Bay Aquarium with my daughter Chirantana!

The best way to explore and experience the wonders of the oceans is an underwater dive. If you can't, then the best alternative is visiting an aquarium. Click To Tweet

Monterey Bay Aquarium – A window to another world!

It was delightful and interesting to note my daughter, Chirantana’s surprises, fear, and imaginations while looking at the different exhibits of the Monterey Bay Aquarium..

What a beautiful and apt quote!

Monterey Bay Aquarium – Through my daughter’s eyes

I heard her giggle when she saw a turtle swim in front of her. Her eyes sparkled when she saw the group of Pacific sardines moving together everywhere!

Sardines set the water sparkling

I saw her scary wide eyes when she saw a big grey fish called giant sea bass. It is a slow-moving fish. In another 70 years, it could weigh more than 500 pounds. It swallows its prey in one big gulp.

The beautiful eye in this photograph is priceless. I love this capture of mine.

I wish her eyes were open!

In wildness is the preservtion of the world. ~ Henry David Thoreau

I saw how she was lost in her thoughts while seeing the exhibits of the beautiful jellyfishes. Those exhibits are living art galleries. The beautiful and intricate jellyfishes fascinated me too. We all loved watching the brilliant jellies pulse through the water.

Beauty can be so varied, isn’t it!

Jellyfish

The sea offers up flowers of glass like thick light. They are transparent landscapes ~ Raquel Jodorowsky

Jellyfish The sea offers up flowers of glass like thick light. They are transparent landscapes ~ Raquel Jodorowsky #Travel Click To Tweet

I saw wonder in her eyes when she saw the African Penguins. We were lucky to be present during the feeding time and loved hearing the valuable information given to us.

From the day I watched the documentary “March of the Penguins”, I am in love with them. Their perseverance and endurance inspire me.

Wilderness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from ~ Terry Tempest Williams

I saw glitter in her eyes when she saw the colorful world of coral reefs. She surprised me and Siddhartha when she folded a paper and pointed us to it. She held it in such a way that it resembled the shape of a fish! It was abstract, imaginative, artistic and of course surprising!

After folding a paper, the shape in the middle resembles a fish! I was surprised when my daughter pointed that to me.

How colorful is this world; how enchanting!

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water ~ Loren Eiseley

Unique exhibits of the Monterey Bay Aquarium

I loved exploring the unique exhibits in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Every installation is done with care and a lot of thought has gone into it. Not for a single moment did I feel monotonous. I also loved reading the beautiful and appropriate quotes scattered on the walls of the aquarium. I tried to add all those quotes to this article. While going from one exhibit to another I caught a glimpse of the blue Pacific ocean – the endless wonder.

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water Click To Tweet

Deep inside that ocean, lives a beautiful world

Kelp forest exhibit – One of the tallest aquarium exhibits in the world

I have visited many aquariums in different parts of the world but the kelp forest exhibit in the Monterey Bay aquarium is unique. The 28 feet kelp forest is one of the tallest aquarium exhibits in the world.

Kelp forest inside the aquarium

Kelp forests are underwater ecosystems formed in shallow water by the dense growth of several different species known as kelps. Though they look very much like plants, kelps are actually extremely large brown algae. They are recognized as one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on earth.

Kelp forest – one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on earth.

In one drop of water are found the secrets of all the endless oceans ~ Kahlil Gibran

Open Sea exhibit

The Open Sea exhibit is the aquarium’s largest exhibit. I loved watching the turtle, a group of sardines and sharks among other creatures through a 90-foot wide window.

An enchanting world on both sides. On one side, the digital world has found its way and on another side, a self-sufficient world in constant motion.

I stole some father-daughter moments through my lens.

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous ~ Aristotle

Food Area

Apart from the food I loved the views from the dining area. I sat with a tuna sandwich while watching the boats passing by, white swans and beautiful birds. I saw a lady gracefully looking at the ocean for quite some time and could not resist myself from freezing the moment through my lens.

All of us are sailing our own boat!

Play Area

The aquarium has several play areas for children of various ages. I loved watching my girl play with other children and enjoyed an area where I felt I was under a sea wave. It was fun! Not only the children but the adults too were enjoying the splash without getting wet!

Monterrey Bay Aquarium - a window to another world!, Travel Realizations

Let’s smile at the brevity of human life and celebrate our time here on earth.

Where to stay near Monterey Bay Aquarium

Best Western Park Crest Inn – It is located 2 mi from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and provides guests with a daily continental breakfast.

Book your stay at Best Western Park Crest Inn

Travel Realizations

I visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium once before as well. Two pictures from the same spot inside this aquarium is an uncanny reminder that our children grow fast. Let’s always strive to add a bit of art and a smidge of science in their childhood.

My daughter at 18 months and at 30 months. Time flies!

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Disclosure: I received two press tickets for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As always, all opinions are my own.

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Chirasree Banerjee

Hello. My name is Chirasree. I have been traveling for almost 11 years to places all over the world. I enter into a separate reality during my travels and enjoy the allure of escape from the mundane. I seek beauty through nature and human-made creations. Because beauty is powerful. I seek knowledge. I observe, absorb, and write about the places I visit and the profound realizations and inspirations that each place has to offer.

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Brianna

You are so right when you say that jellyfish are like art exhibits! Fantastic photos, it sounds like a wonderful way to spend the day. The exhibits are so much bigger than I realized! That open water exhibit looks enormous.

October 5, 2018

Danielle

I love Aquariums, they are always so magical! I loved going to them when I was a child, really lovely memories to have! Love your pictures!

October 4, 2018