The airplane window is like a catalog: a big, glossy catalogue that flaunts it’s not easily attainable, but very desirable merchandise. Do you know what you fly over on a direct flight from Australia to San Francisco? I have no idea, but the views from the airplane window would blow your mind! Although, I would resist the urge to open that window shade and peek out onto the wondrous landscapes if I were you. Why? Because as soon as you do, your “Places to Go” list expands profoundly.

While the airplane window can mercilessly take advantage of those infected by the travel bug, if you need inspiration I encourage you to look. That’s right. Pause that okay movie that came out a couple of months ago and look out into the clouds, over the mountains, or into the ocean. During the very first flight of this trip I distinctly remember looking out the airplane window; hovering just below the cloud line, we appeared to be gliding across a puffy snow bank that went on and on for as far as the eye could see. The whole scene radiated a calming stillness: just our plane, us passengers, and a fluffy, impeccably white floor. The most amazing part though was out in the distance, on the horizon the sun set and exuded vibrant orange and pink hues. Of course, to the people below, the sun was simply lowering itself from a thick layer of clouds that had selfishly concealed it for the entirety of the day; however for us, and all of those above the clouds, the sun put on a magnificent early showing.

Today, on the last International flight of the trip, I sit here writing this post. The captain just announced the commencement of our landing in San Francisco and the flight attendant asks we put away all electronics. Time to browse the catalogue.

I wasn’t kidding when I said a well-trained dog. Just stick your arm out and Wally will approach looking to get a slippery brush across the side of his blue scaly body.

I, personally, was obsessed with this large tropical dog like fish. When I first offered him a pat he swam to my hand, but rather than letting me give him a brush across the side, he wrapped his lips around my now, very tense hand. I’m all too lucky he didn’t take a finger along with him, for Wally does have some teeth. Thankfully with all my digits in tact, I would follow him up and down the reef looking to get another encounter; but he was bored with me and swam to give some other snorkelers a chance to pat the famous Wally.

Try and search Wally the fish on the Internet and you’ll get a bunch of images of this extraordinary animal. Or better yet, come visit yourself in Wally’s fantastic home.

Dad and Tuck hanging out with Wally!

Wally likes to get really close to everyone!

I had gotten to the edge of the coral and from there it cut off, plummeting straight down into the sandy bottom that I could barely make out. I dared not go over the edge, I understood Nemo’s friends. Then, looking ahead, coming towards me, was a school of shiny green fish. The vast number of small bodies all swimming together was enough to make me hold my breath in wonder, though I noticed a few of them abruptly change their course of direction… and then their color. Soon, one after the other, each guy slowly began to go from green to blue following the newly set path. I didn’t understand. One of the Marine Biologists aboard the boat had said you could see these color-changing fish and it had sounded cool even then, but to actually witness it was beyond anything. The Great Barrier Reef just kept getting better and better. I wonder what next I’ll find….

It was cool to be this close to the fish!