Where do you work when you have a fear of fish? The aquarium of course!

The Two Oceans Aquarium is at the waterfront and very easy to get to using the new bus system in Cape Town. As an intern I was allowed to help out with pretty much anything, whilst signing absolutely nothing ie. no health and safety. 

Just chilling with Hopper

Week 1 was spent with the penguins, 11 African penguins and 7 Rockhoppers. Let me just say there was a lot of dead fish involved but now, at the end of my two weeks, it doesn't phase me at all. Chopping up pilchards and stuffing prawns inside squid seemed a fair price to pay for my penguin experience. The rockies were the friendliest and on my first day I was asked to literally p..p..pick up a penguin! You bend down with your hands outstretched and they jump on so that they are lying with their belly on your hands. They are also very happy to hop onto your lap if you sit down in their enclosure. I was totally in my element! My other tasks included weighing a chick, which was a ball of warm fluff, and even feeding the rockies on my last day. I figure that leaving Two Oceans with this experience and all 10 fingers still intact puts me in good stead should I ever want to work with penguins in the future.

Rockies on a walk through the aquarium to their outside enclosure

Diesel looks a bit scruffy during her mault

Two week old African chick

Zuki taking part in a radio interview

For my second week I worked with aquarists (yup, I didn't know what that meant either, basically they are the ones in charge of the fish tanks). I did my fair share of tank cleaning but had a great time with everything else. I fed tiny pieces of fish to baby sharks using a skewer, fed eels using some tongs and fed the nemos with...my hand! They literally form a ball of fish around your hand but they were so soft. I am definitely well on my way to curing my ridiculous fish fear hurray!

Even though I was kept busy, there was plenty of time for me to wander. A couple of other interns and I loved to sit and watch the predator tank but there was a slight risk of snoozing since it was so relaxing, especially when they started playing Enya. 

Looking into the predator tank from the roof- wouldn't want to fall in there!

Cannelloni training to eat in a cage so the sharks won't bother her

Large sting ray in the predator exhibit

Tiny baby sharks

 I don't want to bore anyone with too many aquarium stories but I do have to tell you about one more sighting. While on our way out for some drinks, friends and I were confused by a lot of people milling around on the street. Then all of a sudden we worked it out- it was a small film set, and guess who was filming? None other than the biggest crush of my teenage years, Orlando Bloom! I slightly embarrassed myself in front of these people who I had only known for a short period of time, but I don't care. I even managed to snap a photo. Best evening in Cape Town by far!

Orlando Bloom!!