It's 8:21pm on Saturday, March 8, and I’m sitting on the sofa in our lounge room, writing this while Mum watches The Delta Force with Chuck Norris. For some reason, it's one of her favourites—her go-to movie when she has nothing else to watch.
I don’t mind it; it has that classic ‘80s vibe that I like, especially the music. But the biggest drawcard of the movie is Chuck Norris himself—he's the ultimate hero. My brother and I send each other Chuck Norris jokes all the time. Here are five that I think are pretty funny:
- It takes Chuck Norris 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.
- The dinosaurs looked at Church Norris the wrong way once. You know what happened to them.
- Chuck Norris's cowboy boots are made from real cowboys.
- When Chuck Norris's parents had nightmares, they would come to his bedroom.
- Chuck Norris can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.
The Delta Force is also based on a true story—the hijacking of Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight 847. The flight, traveling from Athens, Greece, to Rome, Italy, was hijacked by two armed Lebanese men from the militant group Hezbollah.
I’m not really watching it, to be honest—I feel like I know half of it off by heart.
Something amazing that I finished watching yesterday was Our Oceans, a five-part Netflix documentary series narrated by Barack Obama. It was my second time watching it because I loved it so much.
Each episode focuses on a specific ocean, highlighting its unique ecosystems, marine life, and the intricate currents that sustain them.
In the first episode, which focused on the Pacific Ocean, there was a segment on orcas which are killer whales, intentionally beaching themselves to hunt prey. They temporarily strand themselves on beaches to catch unsuspecting seals. Obama explained how this hunting technique is passed down through generations and can take up to seven years to master. The documentary highlighted the grandmother of the pod as the primary teacher, reinforcing the idea that knowledge is transferred within the family. For me, this strategic behaviour showcases the orcas' intelligence and adaptability in securing food.
The second episode, about the Indian Ocean, demonstrated the magic of the oceans and the intricate relationships between marine life. They showed manta rays visiting cleaning stations, often referred to as "infirmaries" because of their role in maintaining marine health. These stations are vital hubs where manta rays and other species receive essential cleaning services from smaller fish, which remove parasites and dead skin, promoting overall ocean health.
I absolutely loved this. It made me wonder: How do manta rays know where to go? How do they instinctively allow the smaller fish to do this? And how do the smaller fish know what to do? There is an intelligence in nature that I think we humans often underestimate.
Episode three was about the Atlantic Ocean and explored the lifecycles of sea turtles, which I think are very special creatures. But what really captivated me was how the episode began—with the most beautiful dolphins, Commerson's dolphins. These striking creatures are black and white due to countershading, a form of camouflage that helps them avoid predators and hunt more effectively.
The fourth episode focused on the Arctic Ocean and the effects of melting ice on marine life. However, what really caught my attention was the puffin! The episode showcased the remarkable behaviours of puffins, particularly their monogamous relationships and the challenges they face in the harsh Arctic environment. It captures the poignant moments when puffin pairs reunite after months apart, highlighting their enduring bonds and the intricate dynamics of their breeding season.
I truly saved the best for last. The final episode of the series took us viewers to the Southern Ocean, highlighting the survival strategies of emperor penguins—creatures so striking they resemble works of art. The episode also examines the adaptations of marine organisms to extreme cold and the crucial role of sea ice in the global climate system.
But what really captivated me was the orcas employing their wave-washing technique to hunt seals on ice floes. It was remarkable to witness the hunting strategies of Antarctic B1 killer whales, known for their cooperative behaviour in creating waves to dislodge seals from floating ice. During this particular hunt, the orcas initially target a Weddell seal, successfully knocking it off the ice and eating it. However, they then spend four hours attempting to dislodge a crabeater seal, which ultimately evades them.
It was heartbreaking to watch the seals as they were hunted—their fear and determination to survive were palpable. Yet, this technique is a testament to the orcas' intelligence and adaptability in securing prey in the harsh Antarctic environment.
From January to April each year, orcas can be spotted just off the coast of Bremer Bay in Western Australia. I would love to visit and go on a tour to see these incredible whales. Bremer Bay is about a 5.5-hour drive from Perth or a two-hour drive from Albany.
Traveling alone can be challenging, and since I don’t drive in the country, I’d need to find another way to get there. I’m sure there are buses or flights available.
Seeing orcas in the wild has been a bucket list item for me for a long time, and the older I get, the more I want to prioritise experiences like this.
