A few weeks back, full into the rainy season, Malini and I were wondering how to spend such a gloomy day. We decided to take a trip to the Osaka Aquarium which is about an hour train ride from our place in Nara. With Baba going into office to "get some work done," Malini, Rahul and I set out on a magical underwater Saturday afternoon journey to the ocean depths!
After eating some rice balls and green tea while watching the boats move past outside by the port we were tired of the rain and ready for some fun, so we went inside and paid for our tickets. The tour of the aquarium started with a Japanese forest exhibition. Here we watched for a long time the otters slipping and sliding in and out of their artificial river niche with their fish companions. We saw endangered giant salamanders, trout, and tiny crabs scaling a waterfall wall of rocks too. After this, there were 14 more simulated regions around the volcanic belt of the Pacific Rim: the "Ring of Fire" with species of all kinds to find out about. We then entered a transparent fishtank archway housing the most graceful, and extremely colorful tropical fish. It was here that Malini caught the first glimpse of her favorite sea species of the day, the stingrays! Only later would we find out they come in several shapes and sizes! We liked watching their gills from underneath the tank and we commented on how the small fish dart around with their own kind. Because each exhibit was so exciting, we actually had to force ourselves to move on to the next one - we could have been in there for days if they let us!
The main exhibits are structured in a big spiral that you follow through eight different oceanic levels. There were miniature crocodiles, sea lions, seals, tipsy penguins, frenzieddophins, eels, and eerie looking giant spider crabs from the Japan Deeps section. Towards the end there is a dark and mysterious feeling jelly fish exhibit that reminded ME of a Brian Eno light and sound show and a special exhibit on geckos and salamanders - do YOU know what the differences are??? Here Malini and Bapu tried on gloves that let them feel how geckos stick to the wall.
It was a wonderful day, we wrapped it up getting snacks at the Tempozan Harbor village market place and seeing a young and very energetic juggler dance around with firey torches before we put up our umbrellas to head back to the train station. Needless to say both kids fell asleep on the train most likely dreaming about life as a fish. I know for certain that the trip to the aquarium had a profound effect on Malini as a few days later she drew many of the creatures we saw with a great likeness to the real thing! I wish I could have taken all my young friends from Mustard Seeds Library to this special place too. It was spectacular!
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Front cover
Mustard Seeds Report
A visit to Sunderbans by Saptak Mohanta
Mustard Seeds Haiku Contest
The disappearance of my glasses by Chotku Parekh
Mini Chatterjee's Culture Corner: Dowry system in Indian weddings
Tanabata by Megumi Takemura
Write Me by Shohini Sen
Cooking and Science - Try It!
A Rainy Watery Excursion by Maura Aunty & Malini Basu
Association for peace exchange with Indian and Pakistani youth
More Haiku
Book Review by Arnab Chakraborty
Mango Bite: Interview with Puja Paul by Aparupa Biswas and Mini Chaterjee
Back cover
MUSTARD SEEDS MAIL ART CONTEST
