I didn’t expect to find love at Monkey Mia

by Nadia Ismail (United Kingdom (Great Britain))

I didn't expect to find Australia

Australia was never high up on my list of countries to visit but I knew I had to tick it off one day. Oh, I was wrong not to visit sooner. The sixth largest country in the world, home to the greatest reef system, a variety of unique animals and a range of different landscapes – it had everything. With its mesmerising sunsets, jaw dropping terrains and spectacular wildlife, Australia soon became one of my favourite places in the world. This vast country gave me so much – I found my love and excitement for travel all over again like the first time I went scuba diving in Mexico – it was the euphoria of being free, stepping into unknown territory and breathing it all in. Australia had me down on my knees, captured and at the mercy of its beauty. It was like a drug - the love drug and I fell hook, line and sinker. As I travelled along the East Coast to the Northern Territory, down through the Outback and then over to Western Australia – I was blown away by the beauty each territory offered. How could the next adventure outdo the last? I don’t know how but there was always something that took my breath away as I moved around Australia ready to suck in everything it offered. When I hit Monkey Mia in Western Australia, I fell in love all over again. Monkey Mia is located in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, approx. 850km from Perth. It is a beautiful reserve surrounded by white sandy beaches, rustic red sand dunes and water teeming with wildlife. Many come here for the dolphin experience which started back in the 1960s when fishers started to share their catch with some of the dolphins. Over the years, the trust grew, and it attracted more and more dolphins and now Monkey Mia is home to the wild dolphin experience where excited onlookers can view dolphins being fed a small portion of their daily food requirements each morning. In this way, the dolphins still have to hunt for the remainder of their food and are not conditioned to alter their natural behaviour. Ever since I was a little girl, dolphins have always had a special place in my heart. These playful, altruistic and curious mammals fascinated me and now to be able to see them in their natural habitat was a dream come true. We arrived at Monkey Mia just in time for sunset and what a magnificent sunset it was. The sky was lit up by a beautiful burnt orange glow, while candy-floss coloured clouds speckled the sky and the dazzling sun, and all its colourful glory reflected off the calm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. After the spectacular sunset sights, I had dinner with the group and then made my way to the jetty to have a few beers whilst listening to the majestic water splashing against the wooden pier. After a few hours of listening to the waves and talking, the group decided to head to bed. I stayed a while longer as I didn’t want the night to end. Finally, I tore myself away and started to walk along the shore splashing my feet in the cool water while my feet sunk into the wet squishy sand. I looked up and could see shadows in the water, but instead of feeling scared, I felt calm and at peace. I stopped in the water and let my eyes adjust to the night light and to my amazement – it was two dolphins! I was transfixed. I stood still in awe as one came right up to my feet and nuzzled its snout in between them. I managed to get a shot with the camera that hung from my neck to savour the memory. At that moment, I felt a surge of love that was truly meaningful, real, and deep - it was as if she knew. This is what I could only have dreamed of and now my favourite animal chose me. It was my special moment with that dolphin, and it was then that I knew Monkey Mia had my heart forever. Further info on Monkey Mia: https://www.sharkbay.org/place/monkey-mia/