Galapagos Islands

Trip Start Nov 26, 2006
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Trip End Jan 19, 2007


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Monday, October 30, 2006

Galapagos is obviously a once in a lifetime journey but, well, I can't say I was *that* impressed. I don't think I had felt like that much of a sheep tourist in a long time. On some of the smaller islands, you can see all the tour groups in the different spots around the island at one go and apparently our visits were timed in 15 minute slots. In one slot our group would pass by the gaggle of blue-footed boobies and 15 minutes later it was another group. The animals are so used to people that they don't bat an eyelid and there was something a tad spooky about it.
Still, obviously the nature is incredible. The animals are incredible. The water is incredible. The islands are basically the tips of volcanoes that popped out of the water a few thousand years ago. There is only very rough vegitation and sand. You get to see the real life-cycle of the animals - from babies to recently deceased carcasses of sea-lions on the beach.
While the snorkelling wasn't fabulous, I had an amazing moment where I dove down into a school of fish which separated to let me through. I looked to the right and there was a tiny penguin swimming by! Amazing.
I went to the Galapagos with my parents and sis. My mum and sis suffered a bit from the rocking boat which was fair enough. It really did rock a bit and sometimes it drove all night to get us to the next island. But we felt very 'loveboat' with our little cabins and attached bathrooms.
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