Thinking Allowed: Island getaway

We went away this past weekend. In a way we would have enjoyed a quiet weekend in town after a few busy weeks. But, we came to Melbourne very last minute and this past weekend there was lots going on in town and it was also Grand Prix weekend. Somehow, cars going around in circles throws everyone into hyperdrive and hyperglee. So of course accommodations were few and far between and twice as expensive as usual. We had bad memories of Grand Prix weekends from the last one in Montreal where we were also homeless for very different reasons (burst pipe issues) and decided Grand Prixs were not for us and we better flee town. And also we really didn't need so much convincing to go visit Phillip Island.

Phillip island was quiet and peaceful. The beaches on the island are a hotspot for surfers and tourists but it was stormy and cold so we mostly got the beaches to ourselves. We layered up and went on a few nice wet scenic coastal hikes. After thawing with some hot soup we ventured back to the beach for the evening to see the little blue penguins waddle home for the night.

The penguins are an interesting tourist attraction. Somehow, penguins have managed to endear themselves to humans and rise to the status of cute animal. I don't deny they are cute -they are - but are they more deserving of our affection than other birds or animals. I don't see anyone rushing to buy anteater or bat dolls and clothing. Nobody knits sweaters for manatees. There are many other birds that have coastal cliff burrows but hey they aren't penguins so who cares. And so you can pay a pretty penny to sit on the beach with thousands of other people to watch the nightly commute from ocean to land. There are bleachers, there are spotlights, there are loudspeakers, there are fans and so we brought a bag of popcorn because it seemed fitting. We did really enjoy watching the skittish birds run from the waves to the safety of the cliffs. In fact, we were mesmerized. After, we roamed around on the boardwalks and watched penguins seek out dens and socialize. I felt a little inappropriate staring at them as they carried out their nightly routine as it can't be that fun to be watched every night. And it made me think a lot about ecotourism and really how humans can be odd creatures. And at the end of the night as Tova and I said good night to our little blue penguins I asked her if the penguins were her friends and without hesitating she said "NOOO." And she is right, though we observed an intimate part of their lives, they are not our friends.