Back from Mexico! I return with spirits high and pockets empty. I also return with lots of dirty clothes, pictures to upload, email to catch up on. Allow me to finish that first and then, in my next entry, I will tell you how I waged a watery battle with giant manta rays in the Yucatan.
Disclaimer: I don't know if I can really call it a "battle". I did see giant manta rays in the water in Mexico, but I didn't really punch, kick, or poke them, as I stayed a few feet away at all times. That might not constitute a physical battle, but what about a battle of wills?
The manta rays were trying to lure me into the water through their exceptional size, closeness to their shore, and bribes to our waiter, who kept telling me how safe they were. It almost worked, manta rays; you very nearly lured me into splish-splashing right up next to you. I was even in the water close to you, maybe 8 feet away, and then I remembered a little something about manta rays.
Didn't you, the giant manta ray specie, kill Steve Irwin a couple of years back? While I do hope I eventually die in a strange and unusual fashion, I just couldn't take the risk that you'd give me the Crocodile Hunter treatment and then I'd be forced to spend the rest of eternity with that guy.
He seems like an alright guy and all, but I could only hear about the birthing habits of the komodo dragon for so long.
In retrospect, yes, it was a magnificent, enthralling battle of wills and I was victorious.
Posted by Cody at June 19, 2008 7:27 PM