Mermaid Rain

I recently put out requests on Facebook for merfolk to send me their stories of being seen by unsuspecting humans. The following two stories were sent in by Mermaid Rain Hauger. I hope you find them as entertaining as I did. I am still looking for more such stories, and will present them in future blog posts. Please send them to the email address below. Here is our first story:

I was swimming in the north shore at Shark's Cove. I was in my mermaid tail just enjoying the sun and swimming through the wierd rock formations and corals. I startled a Japanese couple that was swimming close by. I was in my own little world and didn't even realize them until I was hit in the head with their camera! Apparently I had scared them because all they saw was my tail! They then followed me throughout the entire cove watching me and taking pictures. Every time I turned my head I saw them peeking out at me from behind a rock lol. I would wave and smile and continue on swimming with the fishes and the little turtle. But they were still following me. I don't think they spoke English because every time I tried to say 'Hi' they would smile and nod and then whisper to each other! A camera to the head hurts let me tell ya.

Mermaid Rain

When you are visiting the ocean, you might just spot a mermaid. Don't forget to bring your camera, but please don't hit the mermaid over the head with it!

I also was in Hawaii, and this time I wasn't in the water. My mother lives by Pokai Bay and there is this long beautiful rock wall were I swim to the ocean side of the rock wall and I would lay out and sun bathe. This bay is where all the tour boats from Wikiki would go to bring tourists to swim with dolphins. I was laying there when I heard all this shouting and I turned to find all the people on the boat pointing and screaming at me lol. Instantly the boat began to play music from The Little Mermaid and the tour guide told everyone to wave at Ariel, The Little Mermaid.

I can hear it now, "We are now entering Pokai Bay. On the left you will see... OMG A Mermaid!"

Thank you, Mermaid Rain, for the great stories, and for the following...


The Mermaid Rain Program

The Mermaid Rain Program was created by Mermaid Rain to help children learn about water safety and Ocean Awareness.

The Main Focus of the Program is first and foremost the child's safety in and around water. Every year in the Arizona Phoenix Valley there are at least 10 cases involving a child drowning. This is due to the fact that children aren't properly taught about water safety. Every parent says, "Oh my child is fine, he/she is a great swimmer." That may be the case but things happen.

A very good friend of mine at the age of 16, when I was also 16, drowned in a neighbor's pool. Due to peer pressure he ended up doing something he shouldn't have and drowned! I lost a good friend that day, and a boy who had a bright future died before he could have ever have reached it. 

In the program I talk to children about the do's and don'ts of the pool rules! As well as encourage them to swim and enjoy themselves, but in a safe manner. I also talk to the parents. I give the parents the tools they need to talk to their children, to remind them of the water safety rules. I let the parents know that they are the key to keeping their kids safe. The Mermaid Rain Program is available to anyone and everyone who needs it, not just businesses or child care facilities. 

The Mermaid Rain Program is Non-Profit which means it is Free. I do not charge any money to have me come to your child's party or your pool party or your event. I believe a child's life is too precious to put a price on. I'd prefer to be poor and a child safe. However, the Mermaid Rain Program does except donations. All the donations go back into the program whether it's for information pamphlets, flyers, props that I use for the kids, the little treasures I like to bring them, or the upkeep of my mermaid tail.

Love, and Fishy Kisses
Mermaid Rain 

And always remember watch your children around the water this summer!

You can find Mermaid Rain splashing around on Facebook as well.

Best wishes and starfishes,

-Mermaid Cynthia

cynthia (at) goldmermaid.com

Mermaid Kariel

In the coming weeks, I plan to introduce you to a very special breed of mermaid. These are the professionals. They have worked long hours in order to pursue their dream of making a living as a mermaid. One excellent example of true dedication to the ocean and the mermaid profession is Mermaid Kariel of Hawaii.

The nickname Kariel was given to her by her mother at a young age. It seems Kariel has been a mermaid fanatic her whole life. Mermaid Kariel makes her own tails out of recycled wet suits, very eco-friendly. A typical tail takes from 350 to 400 hours of work to create. Tails also need periodic maintenance. Mermaids don't see a lot of free time.

Mermaid Kariel teaches a mermaid fitness class at a hotel in Hawaii. Students wear mono-fins and learn how to swim like a mermaid using the dolphin-kick technique. This is great exercise, and a lot more fun than a treadmill.

Hawaiian residents and visitors can rent mermaid tails from Mermaid Kariel for photography sessions. She can also put you in touch with a professional photographer. You'll want to frame these vacation photos.  They won't be among the ones collecting dust in a forgotten photo album!

Kariel has written a children's book which gives children the knowledge to use their talents to accomplish their dreams by believing in themselves. The book's profits will go to a nonprofit to help rare cancer research.

What better way to make a young girl's birthday special than to have a surprise visit from a mermaid?  Mermaid Kariel and a handler (assistant) provide the entertainment: face painting, stories, games, and a mermaid swim (optional). All you do is provide the cake! Details are available on the web site.

Mermaid Kariel has been featured in a number of magazine (including ELLE) and newspaper articles. She does promotional appearances and corporate events. In the Living Social list of 365 things to do in Honolulu, swimming with Mermaid Kariel at her Wednesday fitness class is #25. That's hard to beat.

You can follow Mermaid Kariel and her adventures on Facebook and at www.mermaidkariel.com.

A big wave and splash to Mermaid Kariel, a true professional and an inspiration to us all!

Mermaids Magazine

Mermaids is the name of a special-issue annual magazine edited by author Carolyn Turgeon. The first issue will be out on March 30th, but can be pre-ordered now at the Faerie Magazine website. List price is $14.95. The first issue will be over 200 pages, and will feature Mermaid Hannah Fraser on the cover.

Articles will include: Ten Ways to Fall in Love with a Mermaid, Advice for Aspiring Mermaids, and Hannah Fraser on Swimming with Sharks. After its release, the magazine will also be available at Barnes & Noble as well as independent booksellers across the US.

Best wishes and starfishes,

-Mermaid Cynthia

cynthia (at) goldmermaid.com

Just Add Water

The Australian television program, H2O: Just Add Water (H2O for short) is sure to put you in the mood for a swim.  The show is quite popular with mermaids and mermaid fans.  As such, you may already be very familiar with it.  It is my hope that I can share some additional information in this article.

H2O is the product of Jonathan M. Shiff Productions and was shot on location at Sea World along the Gold Coast of Australia.  In Australia, the program is broadcast on Channel 10.  In the US and the UK, the program is shown on the Nickelodeon Teen network.

The show follows the adventures of three teenage girls that turn into mermaids after visiting the mysterious Mako Island during a full moon.  The girls look normal on land, but when they get wet they turn into mermaids.  The three agree that this will be their secret, and nobody else should know about it.

As season one opens:
Emma (on right, played by Claire Holt) is the confident intelectual, and a member of the school swim team.
Cleo (center, played by Phoebe Tonkin) is shy and awkward, and one who has to work to keep her school grades up.
Rikki (on left, played by Cariba Heine) is the rebel and daring one, and she will not be pushed around.

The girls' ability to keep the secret to themselves doesn't last long. Cleo's friend Lewis (played by Angus McLaren) finds out soon enough, and then tries to discover how it all happened.

Originally, two seasons of the program (26 episodes each) were created and broadcast.  The popularity of the show prompted a third season be created.  Emma has moved away (Claire Holt was busy with other projects), but Cleo and Rikki soon meet Bella (played by Indiana Evans), who became a mermaid at age 9 in Ireland. Lewis is also absent for part of season three (Angus McLaren was working on a movie).

Wikipedia has a pretty good article on the show, if you haven't found it already.

There are a number of behind-the-scenes videos of H2O on the net, including this one.

The H2O theme song, No Ordinary Girl, is an upbeat tune that can easily become any mermaid's theme song. A shortened version is played at the beginning of each episode. The song and lyrics are available so you can sing along. Mermaids love to sing! The player is just under the "No Ordinary Girl Lyrics Widget" heading on the left side.

This video clip from the very first episode shows the original three girls discovering that they are now mermaids.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a Twitter 'Live Tweet' with Phoebe Tonkin (Cleo) and other H2O fans. (Update 12/2012 Chat text)

The show is not for everyone, however. Because the show is targeted at pre-teens and teens, some adult merfolk find it too immature and unable to hold their attention. I quite enjoy the show, myself.

Before buying any DVD's of the show, note that a DVD created for Australia (Region 4) will not play in the US or Canada (Region 1), or Europe (Region 2). Here is more info on DVD regions.

If you can't get enough of H2O, note that producer Jonathan M. Shiff is planning to produce a sequel entitled Mako - Island of Secrets. Look for it in late 2012. More information on this new show can be found at if.com.au and h2o.wikia.com. In this spin-off, a 15 year old boy named Zac becomes a 'merman'. This is bad news for the three (new) mermaids that watch over Mako Island. Many H2O fans are disappointed that Zac will have fin-like feet instead of a fish tail.

As always, your comments and questions are welcome!

Meet me at Mako,
-Mermaid Cynthia
cynthia (at) goldmermaid.com