Just some things though: there’s something about Sea World that didn’t feel… right. I don’t really know how to describe it, but compared to when I was there in 2001, they seemed to have "downgraded" it in some way.

For starters, there were less shows. Maybe our going there on a weekday instead of a weekend had something to do with it, but (if I remember correctly) Shamu only performed twice, and the other shows only had three performances for the entire day, so we spent the majority of time shuttling from one show to the other to get good seats that we didn’t really get to check out the aquariums and other exhibits. Also, there seemed to be less sharks (in number and in species) now compared to before. I seem to remember hammerhead sharks in the underground aquarium before, but I didn’t see one when we went there. I was also sad that Cirque de la Mer wasn’t open yet when we were there.:(

Still, it was pretty cool. SeaWorld’s still my favorite amusement park in the end.:P

I was looking for a cute penguin, seal, or polar bear plushie there, but the stuff they have there were definitely tourist trap prices.x_x Gah. I ended up buying a couple of snow globes instead, since I always get at least one when I go there.XD

On to the pictures!

Bird’s-eye view of the park from the Skytower. We were there right during the opening, so there aren’t that many people yet.

Some of the dolphins and their trainers:

I wanted to post pictures of the sea otters, but the glare was so sharp on the photos, you could hardly see them.:(

One of the orcas of the Shamu show:

"Believe", the new show format of the Shamu show

Pets Rule! What’s cool about this show is that the pets they have there have been rescued from pounds.

Dogs dating.XD Heeh!

Clyde and Seymour Show - my favorite!

Parody of "CSI". Loved the fish outline.XD I laughed so hard when the sea lion imitated Horatio Caine.XD

No pics for the dolphin show, sorry.:( We ended up taking videos of it, and my net’s still pretty lousy to upload it on to Dream Studio.

Aquariums:

Flamingos!

View from the Skyride. You can see the Cirque de la Mer place from here. Got a little freaked out here, since I’m scared of heights.

Sharks!

Manatees!

Those aren’t floating ice things. Those are Beluga whales.XD

The polar bear was feeling lazy, I think.

A walrus having fun

Last, but not the least, penguins! Yay!

We also rode the Shipwreck Rapids ride. As luck would have it, my mom and I were the only ones who got wet - change that, drenched - out of all the people on the raft.x_x