Welcome to get sleepy. The podcast where we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas, and it's my honor to be your host and to have your company as you settle down for the night. In tonight's story, Nadine will be narrating as we wander through an aquarium after hours and explore the breathtaking exhibits. This week, we have a special gift for all of our guests, sleep premium listeners. We'll be releasing not one, but two bonus episodes tomorrow.

Michelle will be coming back to the lineup after a little time away to read a dreamy fictional story about a mysterious but peaceful town. And then on Friday, we'll be releasing a special version of the jewelry shop series that you may remember me narrating in the latter part of last year. This special episode is over two hours long and features all three of the stories from a Dallas jewelry shop sewn into one. So if you're a fan of our extra long episodes and don't miss out on this one, be sure to sign up.

Forget sleep premium to get access to those episodes and our entire back catalog completely ad free. You even get a seven day free trial. So you can be sure that you love our premium feed. Simply go to get sleepy dot com slash support or just follow the link in the show notes to learn more. And before we begin tonight, a story I just want to thank our sponsors, Headspace is your daily dose of mindfulness in the form of guided meditations in an easy to use app.

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So now all the housekeeping is done, let's prepare for our story tonight with a nice deep breath breathing in through the nose. And backout. And if you sense any lingering tension or discomfort and just try squeezing your shoulders up to your neck as you breathe in and holding the tension there for a few seconds. And as you breathe out, release your shoulders, feeling the tension flowing out of your body. Let's do one more of those together breathing in.

Holding the tension. And then. Releasing. Feel your muscles soften. And your body sinking a little further into the bad. Feel free to continue those deep breaths for a while longer. There's no hurry to be relaxed. We all settle down in our own time. And while you continue to settle in, I'll hand over to Nadine for our story. It starts at the edge of a quiet harbor just as night, it's beginning to form. Across the ocean.

It's a warm evening and the last hint of the recent sunset glows on the horizon. There at the harbor, just a few steps away from the entrance to the city aquarium. It's the perfect location to spend a few relaxing hours, you think? Looking ahead towards the setting sun, you can see rows of ships hopping gently on the tranquil water. The sea is fresh, salty and invigorating. Turning around, you find yourself facing the fast shining complex of an aquarium.

You imagine you can smell the same familiar scents within the building to. This aquarium is famous for its incredible collection of fish and other sea creatures from urchins to turtles. You've heard about some of these enchanting exhibits. Magical spaces filled with colored coral and anemones and a vast room with tropical fish on all sides. Even swimming above you on the ceiling. You can't wait to experience it for yourself and to see these exotic creatures with your own eyes. Best of all, you're visiting the aquarium after hours.

This is a special privilege granted only to the lucky few if managed to secure a rare ticket. This late in the day, the aquarium is closed to the general public, but the doors are now opening for you and just a few others. All part of you would like to stay and watch the faint glow of the sun disappearing on the horizon. They're excited for the visit ahead. You walk along the waterfront has put you in a relaxed, almost dreamy mood.

You can think of nothing better spending an hour or two drifting from room to room watching the fish float by. You take one last deep breath, the fresh evening. Relishing the scent of the sea and then set off towards the aquarium entrance. A young man greets you warmly as he takes your ticket. This is by far the best time to visit, he tells you, no crowds, no groups, no noise. It's so much easier to appreciate the exhibits without distractions.

There are no guided tours this time, but there's an audio guide you can use if you like. He hands you a small blue headset and ushers you into the entrance hall with a smile. Enjoy your visit. He says. You find yourself in a large, dimly lit room with a walkway that winds through a vast sunken tank. While the tank takes up almost the entire floor space. The water is at the same level as your feet. As you wander slowly along the maze of bridges and walkways, you can see right into the water.

It feels as if you're standing in the middle of the ocean. The most magical sensation. There's so much to see that at first you're not sure what to look. You decide to take your time. There's no rush after all, you can walk at an easy pace, stopping whenever something catches your attention. Looking down into the tank, you see fish of all shapes, sizes and colors, slow moving charcoal gray fish that drift near the bottom, seemingly half asleep.

Colorful groups with emerald green fish that dart through the water moving as one. Looking closer, you even spot a red starfish reclining on a rock. Watching them give you a sense of peace and calm. You could easily stand here for hours, leaning on the railings, peering down into that tranquil underwater world. You reflect on the simplicity of their lives and the grace of their movements, which is almost like a dance. Then as you're following the sleepy waltz like trial of a slender yellow fish.

He noticed another movement. Swimming into view from the far side of the tank is a large green sea turtle. You stop for a moment to gaze at it, only half listening to the soothing voice of the audio guide. The title makes his way slowly through the water propelled by large patterned flippers. As he swims closer, you begin to get a sense of just how big is more or less the size of a human. Although he weighs nearly 200 kilograms, he seems weightless in the water.

There's something almost mythical about him. According to the guide, the green sea turtle has special significance in Hawaiian culture. It's known as the HONY and is a symbol of good luck and protection. The turtle is the navigator. And it represents the eternal connection between Earth and the ocean. Watching the dreamy movements of the title now. You can understand why this creature has cast a spell over humans for centuries. It seems wise and knowing. A traveler from another place or even another time.

And in some ways, that's true. The ancient ancestors of this turtle shared the world with the dinosaurs. You continue to wind your way through the rain. Moving in random, aimless loops. The following your instinct, just like the fish. When you're not gazing into the tank, you enjoy watching the few other visitors and seeing their faces light up as they spot the turtle. One family seems particularly captivated. A couple stands on a bridge holding that child up to the railings to get a better look.

At first, you think I must be admiring the turtle, but then you realize what has caught their attention. There's a person in scuba diving gear swimming along the bottom of the tank. What are they doing? You wonder? Cleaning the glass, perhaps, or feeding the fish? The scuba diver looks up and sees the family watching. They waved to each other. And then the diver turns back to whatever they were doing. It must be such fun and rewarding work.

You think spending your days swimming through the water and getting to know the fish personally as you feed them by hand? It's like escaping to another world, a quieter, simpler universe in the depths of the Tang. But even above water, the atmosphere in the aquarium is one of peace and quiet. Whenever the voice of the audio guide falls silent, the only sound you can hear or the soft hum of the tank and the flow of bubbles in the water.

Some of the visitors on the far side of the room are talking quietly, but most seem happy to admire the exhibit in awe and silence. Eventually, you decide to leave the entrance hall and explore some of the other rooms. A moving walkway spirals up through the center of the building, carrying you slowly to the next floor. As a map on the wall. But you decide not to look at it. You rather walk on for now, leaving everything to chance.

You like the thought of finding something unexpected. So when you enter the next set of frames, you have no idea what's in store. The first impression is of a dark, quiet cavern. With rows of glowing tanks lining the walls on both sides. The tanks are relatively small. There's certainly no room for sea turtles here. But something tells you that there's beauty and mystery behind the glass. You walk up to the first exhibit, a gorgeous curved tank filled with vibrant coral, that's all manner of shapes, sizes and hues.

Bright pink trees with twisted branches, pearly white mountain ranges. Pale green boulders. And darting through this luminescent little world are countless fish. Weaving in and out of the rocks and branches. The coral reef is like a city in the middle of the ocean, bursting with all kinds of life, the complex structures provide the perfect hiding place, the smaller creatures. Some reefs are advanced ecosystems, home to thousands of different species of fish. And while the coral in this tank may look like a collection of rocks or plants, it's actually a living, breathing organism.

Much of what you see on display in other parts of the aquarium is artificial coral, it's a helpful addition to many of the tanks and makes the fish and other sea creatures feel right at home. But you know, from the audio guide that what's in front of you here is real. Although no matter how closely you look, it's hard to tell the difference between this and everything else you've seen. But even the false coral is impressive in its own way.

As a testament to the artistry, talent and painstaking efforts of its creator. All the tanks before you are bursting with life and have within them every color of the rainbow. One tank is filled with electric blue damselfish, a pretty little fish can often be found in tropical coral reefs. To the untrained eye, they look similar to many other tropical species without any distinguishing feature apart from their vivid color. But there is something unusual about the damselfish, according to some experts, this species has a special relationship with the tiny shrimp that live nearby.

The shrimp helped fertilize the algae that they both eat. In return, the damselfish protect the shrine, keeping them safe from other predators. You gaze at the little blue fish drifting serenely through the tank. You could never have imagined the richness of these secret underwater worlds. The longer you spend exploring the aquarium. The more you appreciate the intricacy of these aquatic societies. So many creatures have complex, interdependent relationships, just like life on land. You're keen to see more tropical fish, so you walk on towards a circular room gently illuminated by blue lights.

At the center is a large round tank filled with colorful fish plants, a mountainous coral formations. You decide to sit on a nearby bench and watch for a while listening to the soothing voice with the audio guide. The bench is surprisingly comfortable. You lean back and close your eyes for a moment, enjoying the relaxing soundscape created by the soft narration and the bubbling water in the surrounding tanks. You're feeling so relaxed that you could fall asleep right here, drifting off into aquatic dreams.

When you next open your eyes, the colors seem even brighter than before. Flame like orange, electric, blue, luminescent white like the moon. Why do tropical fish have such vibrant colors? You wonder? And then, as if by magic, the voice of the guide answers, it's almost like having a conversation with someone seated right beside you. The guide explains that no one is exactly sure why tropical fish are so flamboyant, part of the reason for this mystery is that we don't quite understand how fish perceive color.

Something that appears fluorescent yellow to us might look quite different to fish. But there are two theories about the bright colors that are worth considering. One is protection in the rainbow environment of the coral reef, it's easier for a fish to hide. Its body is equally radiant. Another theory is that the bright colors and intricate patterns actually allow fish to stand out as individuals. In other words, the colors make it easier for fish to recognize each other within a larger group.

This, in turn, allows them to live more peaceful lives. Regardless of the reason, it's easy to enjoy the mystery and beauty of these gorgeous, radiant colors. One of the most striking tropical fish in this room is the emperor angelfish. Its appearance is just as majestic as its name. It has vibrant blue and yellow stripes across its body. And a dark stripe across its eye that resembles a mask. This unique fish can be found on reefs across the world from the Red Sea to the South Pacific.

Then there's the sweet clownfish, distinctive for its bright orange body and white stripes. It swims slowly through the water. You watch and appreciate the elegant movements of its delicate fins, which resemble fabric swishing back and forth. This beautiful creature is also called by a second name. The anemone fish. You notice how many of them are nestled among the shining tendrils of a pink anemone, as if they're taking shelter. These two organisms have a symbiotic relationship, a close long term connection with mutual benefits.

The anemone offers food and protection from other creatures on the reef. In return, the fish provide nitrogen, which helps the anemone to grow. And they also defend it when needed. Still seated on the bench, your gaze drifts from the orange clownfish, hiding in the anemone to other equally vibrant species. The variety and beauty is breathtaking. You could sit for hours just watching them and daydreaming about the sub aquatic paradise. Apart from these that live on the tropical reef, there are also many vibrant freshwater fish, which you'll find in other rooms.

You listen as the guide recites a list of enchanting names like Rosie, Bob and Golden Wonder. Just as their appearance is, art and names sound like poetry. These magical descriptions resound through your mind, soft and sweet as a lullaby. You close your eyes just for a moment and your breath becomes slower and deeper. She breathe in and out, you can feel yourself drifting off and slipping into sleep. After tosing for a while on the bench, it gently awakened by the sound of footsteps.

Another visitor is coming into the room to admire the tropical fish. It's time to move on. You decide. You leave through a different door and find yourself on a wide, dimly lit landing. There are no exhibits here. Just a vast window that stretches from floor to ceiling. The view is spectacular and so unexpected that it feels even more special to have found it. A full moon shines brightly across the harbor. You can see the dark water and the silvery masts of the silent ships glinting in the moonlight.

Everything is perfectly still in the water, hardly seems to be moving at all. It could almost be a painting. You stand by the window for quite some time, mesmerized by the beauty of this moonlit panorama. It fills you with a deep sense of well-being and peace. The longer you look, the more relaxed you feel. Focusing on the stillness of the scene allows you to notice even the smallest movement. About gently bobbing up and down in the water.

Or the fringed leaves of a palm fluttering in the breeze. You wonder what the time is, but only for a moment, it doesn't really matter. You tell yourself. You have all night to explore the aquarium. You can wander here for as long as you want or leave whenever you feel ready. It's refreshing to lose track of time and follow your instincts wherever they lead you. There's at least one more rain you'd like to see before you leave.

You've heard it's the most beautiful and relaxing room in the entire building. It's filled with some of the aquarium's most exotic fish. You walk on slowly down a spiral staircase. Down and down. Deeper and deeper. Until you reach the heart of the aquarium. You find yourself in a large circular chamber blowing with a soft blue light, the color of water. But this is no ordinary room. The light comes from the tanks, which form the walls and ceilings of this spectacular exhibit.

Looking around you in wonder, all you can see are fish of every possible size and color imaginable. And then not just around you, but above you, swimming gracefully right over your head. At the center of the room is a huge piece of furniture in the shape of a clamshell. It's something between a bench and a bed with a plush cushion across its whole expanse. A couple of other visitors are comfortably recline at the far end of their klam gazing up at the fish, whispering to one another.

They're speaking to quietly you to follow the conversation. But you can hear the sense of awe and wonder in their voices. You're feeling relaxed and sleepy, so you decide to follow their example, slip off your shoes and stretch yourself out on the clamshell, it's large enough that you're nowhere close to the other visitors and it's even more comfortable than it looks. Fun and soft all at once. Your whole body is supported. As you watch the fish above you.

It is as though you're being lifted up or somehow floating closer to the water. You know, it's just an illusion, but it's the most tantalizing feeling. Who no longer listening to the voice of the guy. So you decide to switch off the headset. You feel you've already learned so much from your visit and now it's enough to simply look and take in your surroundings. You're more aware of the ambient noise now. The echoing, bubbling water. And the quiet voices of the other visitors in the background.

You watch the fish drifting above you. Some are huge. Others are so tiny that they could almost be mistaken for bubbles or tricks of the light. What amazes you is the variety, a thousand different colors and patterns. One that looks like a full moon, another. It reminds you of a tropical sunset. And even the smaller, simpler fish, a beautiful. Gorgeous flashes of color and dance like movement. Then you're drawn to a large, slow moving fish.

Its body is ocean blue. So from some angles, it's difficult to spot. It blends so well into its watery surroundings. But when the fish turns, you see the bright green patterns that cover its skin. And it catches the light, the whole fish seems to shine. It moves so slowly, it seems to be half asleep. You wonder if the fish really could be sleeping or at least resting the drifts smoothly through the water. The thought makes you feel even sleepier.

Let your eyes follow the fish. And your breaths gradually grow slower and deeper. Until you're drifting into peaceful dreams.