Our last trip in Chicago may be quick but it is something that both of us will never forget.
Two days we spent there felt like a week.
If they said that time goes fast when you’re having fun. I would gladly add that time also seems to slow down when you are having fun. Maybe it’s because we chose to pause or that we are living every moment in it – not a second wasted. Or maybe it’s because I am just with the person who I love to be with and that brings a whole lot in the mix. We are married more than a year now but I am happy to still discover more quirks or let’s say idiosyncrasies of my husband and me together.
I like to think every relationship as unique and ours is not an exception. But have that unique blend especially we came from different cultures who chose to connect and try to understand each other.
Anyway, he told me he got something up on his sleeves for our upcoming trip to Chicago. Why so sneaky? Lol.
I know I am silly to keep asking him what he’s up to. He just said that there are lots of things we can do in Chicago and that I will never know until we are there and about to do it.
I kept that in mind. I was like let’s ride this waves of uncertainty. Although, my curiosity just makes it all hard for me. I like surprises but also I am very impatient. I want to know things like STAT.
I am very happy that I didn’t know (and that he didn’t tell me no matter how many times I kept asking) only until we got there.
SHEDD AQUARIUM
First, when we entered the building. The Amazon Forest is gallantly waiting and so is the giant snake or simply goes by the name Anaconda.
There is nothing to be afraid of. They aren’t as gigantic or monstrous like the movies lead us to believe although they can get really big that’s for sure.
You can find in the bottom of the poster:
Should we be afraid of Anacondas?
Answer: It might seem like anacondas are a threat to us, but people are really more dangerous to anacondas. Young anacondas can be drown in fishing nets. People often kill them in fear that they’ll eat livestock. And their habitat is being cut down at an alarming rate.
We, the human beings are really the biggest threat to the animal kingdom and not the other way around. Same thing with many sharks who are killed each year for their fins and their population are getting devastatingly low.
We at least should be reminded that every creature has a role to play. Sharks clean the oceans by way of keeping the population of other fishes healthy as the top of the ocean’s food chain thus making the ecosystem in proper proportion.
Life here in the Earth started from the ocean. So if our ocean will die just imagine the consequences to all life here on Earth no matter how big or small. The impact will be unimaginable and may be the end of the “life and Earth as we know it”.
Good news: We can do something about it now and help in any way we can. This is also making sure the next generations will see how beautiful our planet is and all its beautiful creatures too.
I thought his surprise ends here. I should have known better that when he said he has something up on his sleeves and so proud of it. I’d better believe him.
He got more room for surprises. In fact, it’s an entire floor.
I was taking my time in the Amazon Forest quarter when he keeps telling me to hurry because there is more to see. He rushed me to an elevator and I just gladly followed him without thinking this leads to THE surprise.
Sometimes my obliviousness has its own kind of merit.
My heart then just swelled up with pride, astonishment, admiration and so much happy feelings.
Like a switch – I was like a lighted bulb with a big smile on my face.
I can’t believe my eyes because this means so much to me.
Well- here it is.
To my husband and Chicago- you never fail to surprise me and amazes me at the same time. A whole floor dedicated to my homeland. Although, it is specifically dedicated to our coral reef system but I think you get the gist of it. I wasn’t at all expecting I can find something like this abroad or here in the United States.
I mean, come on. This doesn’t happen everyday or just anywhere. So this really caught me off guard.
I feel so home in that floor. I can almost camp out and spend the night there (but our flight schedule is in five hours) ugh wrong timing lol. Maybe next time…
I was so giddy and light that there’s no way anyone or anything can spoil my happy mood now. Oh, boy.. how I was wrong.
I learned things about my country’s coral reef system but also the ingenious destructive ways we do without thinking when you kill corals, you are killing the future.
Let me explain that clearly. At present it may be fast and convenient to kill as many fishes as possible and at once like in dynamite fishing. But doing that also kills the corals who’ve been living there for centuries or hundred of years and replacing one is a miracle in itself.
Think about the large trees who needs more than our average lifetime to grow and corals are just like that just multiply the amount of time. You will know how devastating the consequences will be if we don’t take care of them now.
With the rate we are going today, it is estimated 90% of world’s coral reefs will die in 2050 according to this article.
The truth may be hard to swallow but then we should face it. Mother Nature calls us to help in any way we can or we end up blaming each other. The coral reef especially the Great Barrier is the largest living organism in our planet. Our ocean is breathing. It breathe life on our planet billion of years ago. Also the reason why we are all here today existing, living and alive.
I find it amazing that our visit in Shedd Aquarium was really educational. Tidbits of information are there to remind us what’s really happening out there. It wasn’t a place for “underwater happily ever after” or the “under the sea wonderland”. It’s a place with a big message to tell. The ugly truth that our home planet and its inhabitants needs saving. Simple as that.
You can easily spend the whole day in there. Opening hours: 9 AM-5 PM. We spent about an hour queuing up in the morning. Lines go fast and tickets are affordable. Oh, did I tell you. Dolphin/Aquatic show was amazing and it was free. Just get a ticket for the show from any of the staff in the surrounding area.
It was a very eventful day. We had to hurry back to the airport but it’s simple one of our favorite trips to date. There is more to tell about our Chicago trip and I’m saving that one for the next post.
But here is a summary video of our quick trip (two days) in Chicago.
Enjoy!
-Anna
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