As a kid traveling is far away from your interest, priorities are friends and figuring out who you are. Yet, often times traveling is a way to experience wonderful things and have create a life changing experience, thats what happened to me. I was twelve and on my way to the San Juan Islands, known for their famous residential Orca. I stayed up there with my family and godmother for a week. After landing in Seattle we drove to catch the ferry that would take us to Orcas Island. We stayed in a home that we rented out for the week. The next day was a typical tourist day, we went to San Juan Island and did the whole museum whale watching tours. We got out onto the water, saw a couple of whales here and there but nothing special to it. For one we didn’t see very many Orca and the ones that we did manage to get a peek at were far away.
â–º QUARTER FINALIST 2012 TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP
The following day we were supposed to all go to Lime Kiln point, a place on San Juan Island where Orcas can be spotted very close to land. We got up early since we know that whales are up and about as early as 6 am. Unfortunately my godmother didn’t feel to good so she decided to sit this one out. So it was me my brother and my mom who took the ferry to San Juan Island and navigated our way until we got to the famous sight seeing point. I had waited to see whales this whole trip and this was finally the moment. Then my brother spotted an Orca, when he pointed to it disappointment came over me, the Orca was a mere dot. I realized that that was as close as they were going to get and lost a bit of interest. However, since my mom loves to try new things and couldn’t care less what others think she decided to stand in water and started to sing. This attracted more attention to her than the Orca out at sea. If I could I would have hidden my face, but that was not an option so I just stood patiently next to her.
Then all of a sudden after about 5 minuets of my moms songs a pod of Orca was seen heading our way. It seemed my moms singing also caught the attention of the Orcas. It was J Pod, an Orca pod consisting of about ten Orca. Me and my brother decided to join my mom and started singing too. The Orca came swam all around us. Then from around the corner came another Pod of Orca, the L pod. Seeing two of the three Orca Pods that live around the islands was very lucky. We kept singing and we noticed that they made a detour from their path to get to hear us sing. Also do some spy hopping and breaching to get a closer look at us. At that moment I really was in a magical place. I felt so connected to these giant creatures but not the least bit afraid. I got so thrilled when I saw K pod heading our way. I felt so lucky and couldn’t believe my eyes.
Nothing changed me as much as those whales. That moment that I locked eyes with them, is something you can’t forget and is the reason that will keep you eager to see them again. I hope others also get the chance to see these incredible, majestic animal and too have an emotional and spiritual experience.
Here is my video:
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