I’am in love with the Gentle Giant Wally! The Wrasse Fish at the Great Barrier Reef Cairns, Australia. Elsie Gabriel

I’am in love with the Gentle Giant Wally!

The Wrasse Fish at the Great Barrier Reef Cairns, Australia.

I have a confession to make. Hear me out. Am madly in love …. Ok the secrets out..its Maori Wrasse! He’s huge, handsome, attractive and colourful, humble and most of all, a gentle Giant. I fell in love at the Great Barrier Reef at Cairns recently and I can’t seem to get him out of my mind.

His gentle moves and serenading styles have me smitten! I have to tell you more about the place where I found him…The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. It was love at first sight. What a fabulous swimming companion he made. As I hugged him, he took me on an amazing underwater tour of the worlds best known eco system filled with the bio diversity like no other. Wally gave me the experience of my life…..nirvana under water.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, spanning a length of 2,300 km along the east coast of Queensland. There are about 2,900 reefs, which represent about 10 per cent of all the coral reef areas in the world. Great Barrier Reef fish are some of the most colourful, striking, diverse and rare fish found on any coral reef system, anywhere on earth, estimated to be between 1,200 and 2,000 species.
 Wally resides among more than 2,900 individual coral reefs that comprise the mighty Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, occupying a total area of 348,000 km2.His underwater kingdom is magnificent.

Well, Wally’s real name is Maori Wrasse. This Humphead is possibly the biggest Great Barrier fish which can live up to thirty years. Like I told you, he is highly prized, not only for his looks always but sadly for his taste among some poachers thus leading to his extinction. Unfortunately, this has led to them being listed as endangered on the Union for Conservation of Nature list, since 2004. They have been a protected species in Queensland since 2003.

These Giant Maori Wrasse are seen on many Cairns dive trips and snorkel trips provided by numerous catamarans and cruises, including those provided by Reef Magic, at their Marine World platform. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981, is a multiple use marine park, supporting a wide range of uses, including commercial marine tourism, fishing, recreation, scientific research and indigenous traditional use.

Thirty species of whales, dolphins, tortoises and porpoises have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef, including the dwarf minke whale, Indo Pacific Humback Dolphin, and the humpback whale. Large populations of Dugongs live there. The fish species that live on the reef, include the Clownfish, redbass red-throat emperor, and several species of snappers and coral trouts. Seventeen species of  sea snake also live on the Great Barrier Reef too.

I took the Reef Magic Cruise to meet my date-Wally. The Reef Magic has exclusive access to a stunning coral reef location selected for it’s superior water clarity, coral quality and overall diversity of marine life. Depart directly from the  Cairns pier on this fast, stable catamaran which provides a smoother ride and reduced travel time, leaving more of your day to experience the magic of the Great Barrier Reef.

I found the cruise relaxing and not filled to capacity. The ride was smooth all the way to the Marine World platform which caters for all activity levels. You can snorkel in the sheltered coral lagoon, go scuba diving or join the Marine Biologist on a Guided Snorkel safari.

For all those who fear getting wet, try the semi-submersible reef viewer, glass bottom boat or underwater observatory, try a Helmet Dive for a scuba-style experience or soar above it all on a spectacular Reef Scenic Helicopter Flight.  

 All pics copyright @ Elsie Gabriel

Six species of  Sea turtles come to the reef to breed – the Green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, hawk bill turtles,loggerheads turtles, flatback turtle and the Olive Ridley. Around 125 species of Shark and  Stingrays live on the reef. Close to 5,000 species of  Mollus have been recorded on the reef, including the Giant Clams and various snails. Over nine species of Seahorses have said to be also recorded. 

Over two hundred species of both sea and shorebirds visit the reef or nest or roost on the islands, including the White bellied sea eagle and Terns which circle the reef. It makes a perfect day for sighting for all those bird watchers.   

I spent five hours with Wally underwater at his home soaking up the tropical warmth, on my first date and I promised to return again.
And if you happen to visit him before I do, remember to give him a wet kiss! 

................Don’t grin, he lives underwater.

Phak chi, phak chi farang, phrik haeng phrik yuak!Come away with me to Thailand in Mumbai!

Phak chi, phak chi farang, phrik haeng phrik yuak!

Come away with me to Thailand! 

Don’t worry ,it isn’t a line of abusive adjectives, these are the names of  authentic Thai ingredients like the red hot chillie, ginger and garlic which create the aromatic Thai food filled with flavor! Not necessarily pronounced the way you did!

Elsie Gabriel.

It is a very sensational and aromatic experience at the Lalit Mumbai’s Thai festival being held till the month end[January 2014], taking me back all the way to Thailand, my favorite culinary destination. I simply loved the food offerings by renowned Thai Master Chef from Thailand - Chef Paithoon Pan Phan ,who has over twenty years of experience perfecting the art of Thai gourmet and knowing the blends of authentic tastes and flavors. 

The lavish spread consisted of delectable soups like Tom Yum Veg, Tom Yum Kung, Som Tam Thai Salad prepared by fresh ingredients like Sriracha chilli sauce, Matsaman curry paste, Pea aubergines, Kafir lime leaves and lemon grass.

Explained, Executive Chef Subroto Goswami of the Lalit at the Thai festival, “Some of the popular Thai dishes like Phad Thai noodles, Kung Phad Kaprao, Kai phat khing - chicken stir-fried with sliced ginger.Kaeng khiao wan - called "green curry" which is a coconut curry made with fresh green chillies and flavoured with Thai basil, and chicken or fish is excellent for the Indian pallet. Try our numerous soups and tantalizing salads too.”

I loved the authentic taste of the Thai dishes which were lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components. Thai food is known for its balance of three to four fundamental taste senses in each dish or the overall meal: sour, sweet, salty, and bitter.

"Thai food is a simple combination of elements to create a harmonious artistic cuisine.I love the experience here at the Lalit Mumbai,” said Thai chef Pan Phan, a man of very few words but much magical cooking skills. 

The other array of dishes I loved were stir fried with crispy pork with vegetables and black mushrooms,.Phat kaphrao or chicken stir fried with Thai holy basil, chillies and garlic. Even the stir fried combination of vegetables were heavenly and ofcourse the fruits to end the Thai extravaganza were outrageously divine. Some of the sweet deserts with a lime flavour dressing and lemon grass simply stole the show. And the Thai mango juice flavoured with bird eye chilly and kaffir leaves were just right enough to wash down the food.I have never had that one before!

Of course it was endless, I couldn’t stop experiencing each dish, flavor by flavor, go on try them you will find yourself surrounded in Thailand.