*** PHOTO Trip Journal aboard Carnival's CONQUEST (Sept. 2012, Caribbean) ***

[daliflor]

Note that the SEA LION SHOW @ Cozumel's Chankanaab Park is bilingual -

you may need some time though to get used to the back and forth between Spanish and English!

 

VIDEO (Diego, the Sea Lion that opens the show @ Chankanaab):

 

 

DIEGO (the 2 years old Sea Lion) is opening the show @ CHANKANAAB on Friday, September 28th 2012!

 

 

VIDEO (Diego, the Sea Lion opening the show @ Chankanaab):

 

California sea lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness, and noisy barking.

 

We now learn that DIEGO is a Sea Lion, not a Seal. So they use this opportunity to talk about the main differences between a Seal and a Sea Lion.

For example, we are told that these members of the otariid or walking seal family

have external ear flaps and large flippers that they use to "walk" on land.

 

The trained "seals" in zoos and aquariums are usually California sea lions.

 

The stage is then cleaned up, awaiting its second Sea Lion: 6 years old ROCKY!

 

The California Sea lions' color ranges from chocolate brown in males to a lighter, golden brown in females.

 

Males reach 850 pounds (390 kg) and seven feet (2.1 m) in length.

 

Meet ROCKY - the 6 years old sea lion @ Chankanaab(and its funny behavior)!

 

VIDEO (Rocky, the second Sea Lion from the show @ Chankanaab):

 

They have a "dog-like" face, and at around five (5) years of age, males develop a bony bump on top of their skull called a sagittal crest.

 

The top of a male's head often gets lighter in color with age.

 

VIDEO (Rocky, the dancing Sea Lion from the show @ Chankanaab):

 

California sea lions are found from Vancouver Island, British Columbia to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico.

 

They breed mainly on offshore islands, ranging from southern California's Channel Islands south to Mexico,

although a few pups have been born on Año Nuevo and the Farallon Islands in central California.

 

There is a distinct population of California sea lions at the Galapagos Islands.

Edited November 20, 2012 by daliflor

[daliflor]

Remember - the SEA LION SHOW @ Cozumel's Chankanaab Park is bilingual!

 

 

 

VIDEO (introducing BINGO, the STAR of the Sea Lion show @ Chankanaab):

 

 

"He's handsome, he's tall and he's 8 years old" - BINGO, the star of the show!

 

 

VIDEO(BINGO and its bag of tricks @ the Sea Lion show - Chankanaab):

 

California sea lions are sometimes seen "porpoising," or jumping out of the water, presumably to speed up their swimming.

 

 

This part was hilarious - star of the Sea lion show, BINGO barking and engaging the audience:

 

 

VIDEO(BINGO singing "Who let the dogs out" @ the Sea Lion show - Chankanaab):

 

We learn that California sea lions are very social animals, and groups often rest closely packed together

at favored haul-out sites on land or float together on the ocean's surface in "rafts."

 

 

Sea lions have also been seen "surfing" breaking waves.

 

 

California sea lions are opportunistic eaters, feeding on squid, octopus, herring, rockfish, mackerel, and small sharks.

 

In turn, sea lions are preyed upon by Orcas (killer whales) and great white sharks.

[cruiser4four]

daliflor:

 

Your pictures are very beautiful and I enjoyed most of them, but I would hate to think that someone is taking my pictures while I'm sitting on my private balcony or while leaving the ship then posting them on a website. Unless you have permission to take and post some of those pictures, I don't think you should be posting pictures of your fellow cruisers without their knowledge.

[daliflor]

The sea lion population is growing steadily (current population is approximately 238,000), and California sea lions

can be seen in many coastal spots such as the Monterey Coast Guard jetty and PIER 39 in San Francisco.

 

 

 

 

VIDEO (playful BINGO, the STAR of the Sea Lion show @ Chankanaab):

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

VIDEO (BINGO, the STAR of the Sea Lion show @ Chankanaab becoming... romantic):

 

 

 

[daliflor]

daliflor:

 

Your pictures are very beautiful and I enjoyed most of them,

but I would hate to think that someone is taking my pictures while I'm sitting on my private balcony or while leaving the ship then posting them on a website. Unless you have permission to take and post some of those pictures, I don't think you should be posting pictures of your fellow cruisers without their knowledge.

 

You make a good point as I didn't see it this way at the time.

 

Your criticism is appreciated and shall be use it constructively in the future.

[slybear]

daliflor:

 

Your pictures are very beautiful and I enjoyed most of them, but I would hate to think that someone is taking my pictures while I'm sitting on my private balcony or while leaving the ship then posting them on a website. Unless you have permission to take and post some of those pictures, I don't think you should be posting pictures of your fellow cruisers without their knowledge.

 

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way! I know people will always be in the backround of photos, but I do have a problem with zooming in on unsuspecting people and then posting their pictures on the internet. I am glad I was not on this sailing. It really creeps me out. And now these posts will probably disappear.

[daliflor]

 

 

 

California sea lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness, and noisy barking.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

A playful BINGO, going back and forth, taking pictures with the guests @ Chankanaab (September 28, 2012)

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

Another splash by star sea lion BINGO and the show @ Chankanaab came to an end that Friday...

 

 

We did learn a lot of new things about those beautiful creatures while having fun too @ Chankanaab!

 

 

Note that most pups are born in June or July and weigh 13 to 20 pounds (6 to 9 kg).

They nurse for at least five (5) to six (6) months and sometimes over a year.

 

Mothers recognize pups on crowded rookeries through smell and vocalizations.

 

Pups also learn to recognize the smell and vocalizations of their mothers.

 

 

Breeding takes place a few weeks after birth.

Males patrol territories and bark almost continuously during the breeding season.

 

 

California sea lions are found from Vancouver Island, British Columbia to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico.

 

[daliflor]

 

Carnival's MAGIC (and Conquest) & Allure of the Seas in Cozumel

(seen here from the Chankanaab Park on Friday, September 28th 2012)

 

 

Before our dophins encounter, we took a snack break and then

decided toexplore the Chankanaab Park's green areas.

 

 

Note that it's easy to navigate around on your own, following the visible signs.

 

 

However, when we first entered the park, we were provided with a MAP and

the main events of the day were also pointed out up front for us.

 

 

 

Chankanaab is a warm, tranquil place in Mexico's otherwise pretty wild Cozumel!

 

[daliflor]

 

Free guided tours are available @ Chankanaab.

 

However, we decided to follow the jungle paths on our own,

passing by the archeological park containing a Mayan village and

replicas of sites throughout Mexico.

 

 

It was an extremely HOT day that Friday (September 28, 2012)!

 

 

 

 

Next stop: the Exotic Gardens (followed by the beautiful Lagoon)!

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Spending some time exploring the botanical gardens @ Chankanaab (with over 350 species of tropical plants).

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Getting lost inside the Botanical garden @ Chankanaab (with over 350 species of tropical plants).

 

 

 

Cathing a glimpse of the lagoon - right before the RAIN started!

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

The inland lagoon @ CHANKANAAB - home to corals, large communities of fish, mollusks, crustaceans and marine gardens.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Then it started to RAIN @ Chankanaab - out of the blue !

(maybe the blue of the beautiful Lagoon?!)

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

The word Chankanaab comes from the Mayan language;

Chan (small) and Kanaab (sea or ocean) are making reference to the natural lagoon formation

located in the interior of the Park.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

At first, we thought that the RAIN will stop soon... but it didn't!

 

It became heavier and heavier despite the heat and high humidity @ Chankanaab!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

We got really soacked from the RAIN; so a refreshing, umbrella drink was our... reward @ Chankanaab!

 

 

 

 

SALUD!

 

[daliflor]

Note that @ Chankanaab Park, there are various dolphins activities (for $$$).

 

 

However, the park also offers a free tour where the bilingual guide takes you around to see the dolphins and the manatee.

 

 

The free "Dolphin presentation" and "Manatee exibition" starts here (on the boardwalk):

 

 

 

 

And it ends on the other side of the Pier/ Boardwalk (from where you can see the ships docked in Cozumel):

 

 

 

The free tour was informative and although we did not get into the water,

we found ourselves in close proximity to the dolphins and the manatee.

[daliflor]

 

Now the best part of the day was the close-up encounter with the dolphins @ Chankanaab

(prices differ based on the type of package one will choose).

 

 

One of the many things to do in Cozumel is to

swim with dolphins in their natural habitat @ Chankanaab.

 

 

Being able to enter the beautiful world of dolphins and interact with them is just one of the many things

we love about Cozumel!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

VIDEOs (few of the dolphin activities @ Chankanaab):

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a wonderful time @ Chankanaab Park that Friday (September 28, 2012)!

 

 

As always, all good things must come to an end at some point, so time had come for us to return to Puerta Maya...

($10.00 USD for the short taxi ride to the Pier in Cozumel's Puerta Maya)

 

[daliflor]

 

Returning to the Pier @ Puerta Maya, we were dropped off by the fountain.

 

 

The funny thing was that the RAIN caught only Chankanaab earlier that day!

 

 

There was NO rain at all in Puerta Maya

('til later on - right about the time when we had to get back on the ship for the Sail-away!).

 

 

 

We had plenty of time left before we had to board the ship, so we continue

the exploration of the Pier area that Friday afternoon!

 

[daliflor]

 

Next stop: LOS CINCO SOLES!

 

 

There are lots of silver shops by the Pier!

 

However, for whatever reasons, we seem to always find really wonderful, unique jewelry pieces @ Cinco Soles!

 

The prices are fixed and somehow on the high end, but the selection is excellent!

 

 

 

"Los Cinco Soles" is huge and filled with tasteful items, including clothing, arts and crafts from all over Mexico,

jewelry and many other items.

 

 

They're also selling tequila (and invite you to taste it before you buy it).

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

"Los Cinco Soles" is filled with tasteful items, including clothing, arts and crafts from all over Mexico,

jewelry and many other items.