Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

We are enjoying a leisurely week off for the Chinese New Year holiday and relishing our family time together. This morning we decided to visit the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium. Taking Isla to an aquarium was one of those “first milestones” I’ve anticipated with great excitement. I could not wait to see her light up with wonder as she came face to face with schools of colorful fish, playful seals, and graceful rays. Determined to capture the magic of these moments, I brought my camera along only to have the batteries die two minutes after walking in the door. Argh! My camera has become such an extension of myself, and it affects how I experience the world around me. Taking photos heightens my awareness, allowing me to focus intently upon and preserve details that I never want to forget. While I was disappointed to have my good camera out of commission on my baby’s first trip to the aquarium, I still had my trusty old iphone 4, albeit slow and grainy, to help me capture our experiences, and I couldn’t love these images any more…Isla was completely captivated by her surroundings and loved examining each exhibit. She excitedly waved to the fish, pointed at the massive sharks in wide-eyed amazement, and giggled as the seals examined her shoes through the glass. Her greatest thrill, oddly enough, seemed to be perching herself along the ledge of each tank. She was absolutely tickled to find so many perfectly-sized seating options everywhere we went!