Sea Lions Seeking Refuge on Rocks, Mom and Pup Seals at the Beach

Sea Lions Seeking Refuge on Rocks, Mom and Pup Harbor Seals at the Beach

Why do sea lions and harbor seals haul out on rocks or at the beach? The answer is, just like humans, they need to rest too, and more importantly, not to burn so much energy.

Water, compared to air, conducts heat easily. Thus, we feel many times colder in water than in air because we lose a lot of our body heat in water than in air at the same temperature. It's for that same reason that sea lions and harbor seals usually haul out more during the cold season, plus of course, it's their mating and breeding season. 

Mom and Pup Harbor Seal

There are various ways for them to get warm in cold water: grow furs ( sea lions and seals have furs), build mass or grow bigger, eat a lot of food for metabolic heat, or haul out on land to rest. Sea lions and harbor seals combine these different methods. 

Today's waves are really huge. If you notice in the video above, the sea lions are trying to get higher on the rocks. Here are some pictures in addition to the video above about why sea lions and harbor seals are mostly on land right now at La Jolla Cove.

Because the waves are huge, some of the sea lions were displaced from their "home" rocks. A lot of them seek higher ground.

Sea Lions on Higher Ground

The sea lions that are safe at higher level, seem to be concerned as well with their brothers/sisters who still are trying their best to get on the rock. They kept on barking at each other looking down at the other sea lions on water struggling to get to the rock.

Sea Lions Trying to Get on Rock

While the sea lions were trying to use the waves to bring them high on rocks, some were enjoying the waves.

Surfer Enjoying Waves

At the other side of La Jolla Cove, are the harbor seals peacefully hauling out at the beach. There are a lot of baby harbor seals on shore, and some mom seal were training their baby seal both on land and on water.

Mom and Pup Seals

Nature and Music

North Torrey Pines State Beach, San Diego, CA

The picture above was from yesterday's beach walk after work, taken in between periods of rain. I love rain, especially if we have been waiting for it, to end the threat of drought here in California. I actually love hiking in the rain. I love seeing the circle of water droplets from my rain pants to rain jacket. I love the sound of rain drops on my rain jacket. It's nature's music, in another calming and soothing form. 

I remember a colleague once told me, "I love bringing my classic beginners guitar by the beach, somehow, as I strum the guitar, I hear the blending of the strings with the splashing of the waves, it's so soothing and relaxing that takes all stress away."

Though I don't play guitar, but I could very well relate to the unending music of nature everywhere. So, what a joy it was yesterday to hear the music of soft rain with the splashing waves.

Today, is a different story. Winds are howling and rain is very heavy. What we did not have for 10 months, probably we got for one day. But nevertheless, it is still a beautiful music. Different, but beautiful.

Because today the rain is harder and non-stop, and the gusting wind is very strong it is toppling some trees, I skipped walking along the beach after work. Here are some pictures instead from a few days ago, of sunset.

It started with what I thought another flat sunset, no fluffy clouds to add more colors and drama to sky. I decided instead to use slow shutter speed in my shots to soften the water, hoping to create some drama.

Sunset, North Torrey Pines State Beach, San Diego, CA

But then, a couple walked in to the frame of my picture, the sky may not have fluffy clouds to add color and drama, but I believe this couple did! :)

After sunset, I heard some music playing, and I saw a family singing together. I did not have my zoom lens, so I took them a picture from afar. I used an 11-16 mm lens with an ND filter. Because of the ND filter, if I use the lens at its widest ( 11 mm), there is vignetting. However, because I saw in the frame a man also at the bridge looking out at the ocean and sunset, I decided to use my lens at its widest, 11 mm, thus the vignetting below. I did not crop the vignette ( the dark edges), because it seemed the vignette separates me from them and I was looking out at their world from far away.

Weekend Wanderings 4: San Diego Zoo

Saturday, February 8, 2014

San Diego is almost synonymous to San Diego Zoo,  oftentimes the highlight of most visitors to this outdoorsy city. San Diego Zoo is part of San Diego Zoo Global that is dedicated to the science of saving endangered species worldwide. The other facilities are the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. We are not as often at the Zoo than we are at the Safari Park, because we love more the wider exhibit at the Safari Park where animals run wild and free almost like seeing them in Africa. 

Mom and Baby Orangutan

However, once a while, we visit San Diego Zoo whenever we heard of a baby. :) We do love babies, may it be baby animals, or baby humans. Babies are always cute, adorable, and oh, so joyful to watch.

The baby orangutan was the reason we went to San Diego Zoo that Saturday. :)

We learned that the baby orangutan could best be observed in the morning, so we went there when the zoo opened, at 9:00 am. :) We sure are early birds. We went straight ahead to the orangutan exhibit. True enough, we were joyed observing mom and baby orangutan, and their other members of family. 

Orangutan Family @ the San Diego Zoo

After we had enough of the orangutan exhibit, instead of leaving the Zoo, we decided to just stay and visit other exhibits. The San Diego Zoo houses more than 3,700 animals and more than 650 species and subspecies, however, seeing them all in one day may not be possible if you take time like us in observing them and enjoying them. Unless, you are like "stop and go". So, the pictures here were only from the exhibits we visited that Saturday.

Though nearby are the Monkey Trails and Gorilla Tales exhibit, but we kind of skipped them, since maybe, we were so filled with orangutan joy already. :) Or maybe, we prefer more the Gorilla exhibit at Safari Park, with little boy Monroe ( 3 years old now). 

So, from the orangutan exhibit, we wanted to go to the Birds Aviary. However, on our way to Aviary, I got sidetracked with the many fishes and the kids enjoying so much the Crocodile and the Pygmy Hippos exhibit.

Kids enjoying the crocodile exhibit, they were there already when I spotted the fishes, and they were still there when I left, they kept on following the crocodile, while I was simply enjoying watching them and the fishes :)

Did you see the crocodile's nails above? Don't you think it is so naturally well manicured? Haha! I love the color. While I was enjoying watching the kids and the fishes, hubby was patiently waiting to get a more up close picture of crocodile. 

crocodile- shot by hubby

Travel into the U.S.A. and The Grand Circle

"We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.” – John Hope Franklin

Traveling enriches us in many ways. It enriches us mentally, for there is always something to learn about the places we explored. There's always that sense of wonder when we experience new environment. It enriches us spiritually, for we get to experience the many forms of God's gifts to man whether it be in nature's wonders or seeing man's ingenuity. It enriches us emotionally, for as we adventure into the unknown we learn more of our inner self and capabilities.

Since I started this blog, I often get queries about travel tips for a Grand Circle Adventure not only from people living in US but also from travelers around the world.

PARKS AT THE GRAND CIRCLE

A lot of the queries outside of US come from Europeans which is not surprising. Each time we take an adventure in the Grand Circle, it seems there are more Europeans than Americans. The past years, I also start seeing more Japanese and other Asians exploring the Grand Circle. 

What is The Grand Circle? It is a beautiful vast region in US Southwest that contains the largest concentration of National Parks for a given area. The region is filled with fascinating geologic shapes in bold splashes of colors.

top going clockwise: Grand Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Zion National Park, Monument Valley and Petrified Forest National Park

When It's Good To Hike Not Alone

Olmstead Point, only 0.25 miles round trip, with only 100 ft change in elevation! How easy is that! A lot of people don't even walk the 0.25 miles here because the view at the parking lot is already very inspiring. 

view from parking lot of Olmstead Point, Yosemite National Park, CA

Actually, the parking lot may even have more interesting views, thus my husband and cousin at the time we were there did not even bother to take the short trail to Olmstead Point thinking they were already at Olmstead Point :)

Gnarled Tree @ Olmstead Point

Preparing for an Adventure Vacation

Adventure!! Just the sound of it makes me always giddy like a child! An adventure vacation is something I look forward to as a prize of hard work. 

Exploring Antelope Canyon, Page, Arizona

Why do I love adventure vacation? 

Adventure a lot of the times gives us "ohhh-ahhh"- when we connect what we had learned previously from reading or from school to what we see and experience. But what is more fascinating for me is the, "hmmmm, why is that????????" part of adventure, where so much questions are framed in our minds. We talked about it, we discoursed about it, and we would go back home searching for answers to our queries. If we could not find answers, it's time to set up an EXPERIMENT about it, if doable. An adventure in nature brings "WONDER". 

Now, how do we make most of our adventure vacation so that we go home inspired, stronger, and maybe wanting more?

I know, some of us pride about "little planning" vacation, or "spur of the moment" vacation, or being spontaneous. Somehow, I was kind of like that also before, when our vacations were still more about city and resorts. It's easier to play it by ear when you are going to a place with almost everything in it. Until...... the great outdoors lured us into "adventure vacation". 

When we slowly transitioned into adventure vacation 2007, I must admit we were so much a newbie that we made a lot of mistakes. Thankfully, those mistakes were not bigger than our love for wandering that they did not stop us from exploring our natural world. Instead, they were mistakes that made us learn and made us more equipped for the next one, giving us more fun.

Here are some of the adventure vacation preparation tips that we have learned through the years.

1. Research for the best hikes that cater more to your interest.

Do you prefer challenging hikes? Or do you prefer easy hikes? Or do you have no preference whether it is easy or challenging as long as it is super awesome and scenic? Know which kind you would enjoy more. When you know your limits and interests, it is easy to search and prepare for it.

For us, it is about the scenic wonders. 

South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

We do not look down on easy hikes. 

We do not coward away from challenging hikes either because we know we could prepare for it.

It's about, "I really want to experience grandeur of nature there!" How do we know we wanted to experience the place?  Haha, by reading and watching featured places in National Geographic and other Outdoor magazines/channels.

Once we have found out the places we wanted to explore, we search for more detailed description, such as: mileage, change in elevation, type of terrain, weather, environment conditions, challenges, etc. Knowing a little bit some possibilities of what we will be into, we prepare for them. We prepare physically ( if it is challenging), mentally and emotionally ( if it is VERY CHALLENGING, as there are some hikes which are more mentally and emotionally challenging than physically challenging), spiritually ( praying for safety ), and materially ( appropriate clothing and gears). 

2. Plan your itinerary.

Planning for your itinerary will prepare you for full fun exploration of the place. That is when you will know the gears to bring, such as ice trekkers if trail is hard and icy, waterproof hiking shoes if hiking on watery or snowy conditions, what layered clothing are necessary and much more. Adventure is so much fun, only if you come prepared for the elements. 

Harding Icefield Trail, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

3. Choose the right car and car rental company.

Once you have prepared for an itinerary and have done research on the kind of road conditions and terrain, it is best to choose the right car to rent and car rental company. Does the terrain need high clearance vehicle? Does it need 4-wheel drive? Does the car rental company allows unpaved road driving?  Does the car rental company allows for drop-off at a different airport if flying out airport is different? Are you a big family, maybe you need a rental caravan? There are many factors to consider,  and only you will know these factors from advance research and careful planning. There are many car rental companies, but there may only be a few that would serve your needs. Click here to check some of the options that may fit your self-drive holiday needs.

4. Check for more interesting places that could be your scenic stop-over on your way to your major activities.

If you love scenic wonders and is into taking pictures like us, this is a must! :) You simply do not want to miss scenic wonders that though may not be part of your major adventure activities, but is perfect for a place to get awe and wonder.

Mono Lake South Tufa State Reserve, Lee Vining, California