Animal Encounters Archives - Bucket List Publications

Snorkeling with the Ballerinas of the Ocean

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Lesley | 18 Comments

I prepared to jump from the Hula Kai Adventures boat into the endless abyss. I had no idea what to expect below. Resting stations were set up only feet from the boat, but in the dark of night on the Pacific Ocean I could feel my pulse quicken. Before I even stepped off the boat, I could see the gigantic shadows gliding through the…

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Visiting the koalas at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Befriend a Koala

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Kirsten Muolic | 0 Comments

Bucket List Item #1: Befriend a koala (and possibly kidnap one as well). It has been a lifelong dream of mine to have a pet koala. Yes, a real koala – and YES as an actual pet. Obviously this isn’t allowed in America, so where might I find this cuddly little bear, you might ask? Australia of course. And so I…

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Where the Wild Things Are: Sanibel Island, Florida

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Jen Curley | 2 Comments

We just returned from a family trip to Sanibel Island, Florida and were completely charmed by the small town feel and natural beauty of this 16-mile long island on the Gulf coast. We were only there for a long weekend, but would love to return again for a longer trip. There is a lot to do on this small island…

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Tracking Africa’s Big Five

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Charles Ray | 2 Comments

Almost everyone who visits Africa, whether big game hunter, photographer, or just a run of the mill tourist, quickly becomes captivated with the continent’s Big Five; elephants, lion, rhino, leopard, and Cape buffalo, animals that Africa is famous for. These Big Five animals aren’t all that Africa has to offer, but big game hunters have singled them out because of the difficult…

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Southern Elephant Seals: Giant Slugs of the Sea? Or Just a Lot of Blubber?

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Suellen | 5 Comments

Everywhere I looked elephant seals were piled up like heaps of exhausted Sumo wrestlers. Sometimes it was easy to overlook them–mistaking them for sand hills. The penguins must have thought so too, as they paraded amongst them willy-nilly. Penguins and Southern Elephant Seals mostly ignore each other on land The seals are not a threat to the penguins on land,…

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My Thai Top 15

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Jennie | 1 Comments

After one year in Thailand, I have come to love a culture and country which is so different to my own. Thailand really does have so much to offer and I have been asked several times what kind of things I would recommend to do…. so thought I would make my top ‘Things to do’ list!! I came to Thailand…

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Stumbling Upon Bliss on The West Coast Trail

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Christineonthebrighterside | 9 Comments

You know those rare, incredible moments when all seems right with the world? When you feel absolute, pure happiness? I encountered one of those moments on the heels of one of the toughest, most rewarding challenges I’ve faced: backpacking the West Coast Trail. The West Coast Trail (WCT) is part of the Pacific Rim National Park along southwest Vancouver Island….

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Gentle Giant Interaction at Sea World

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Lesley | 9 Comments

Beluga whales are the gentle giants of the sea and at SeaWorld San Diego, I had the animal interaction bucket list opportunity of a lifetime to interact with these beautiful creatures. Between 12 and 14 feet long and weighing about 2000 pounds, belugas are roughly twice the size of bottlenose dolphins. These attentive animals played and interacted with their surroundings and…

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Battembang- Crocodiles, Bats and Killing Caves

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Jennie | 0 Comments

After an extremely long day of travelling, I arrived in Battembang, Cambodia. (Pronounced Bat-dam-bang) It is a small city two hours from the border of Poi Pet and is often overlooked by tourists who head straight to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap or the capital, Phnom Penh. On our first day in Battembang, we decided to rent a motorbike and go in…

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Houston, We Have a Problem

Posted on April 15, 2012 by talesfromthemotherland | 2 Comments

I probably shouldn’t waste that title. God knows I could use it for other posts, but that’s what I found myself saying throughout the day, this week, as the U.N toured the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Anyone who hasn’t lived under a rock for most of their lives, unless, I guess, they are from a foreign country (as two members…

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