Times Online - Awestruck in Antarctica

You can always rely on the Times to feature some inspiring travel.  Here's a great online piece by Gareth Jenkins, who is  'Awestruck in Antarctica', having decided to quit the daily grind and trot off around the globe with his trusty camera. 

Gareth travelled onboard the 46-passenger former research vessel, the Aleksey Maryshev, and recounts his experiences in an article that brings the experience of visiting the Antarctic Peninsula vividly to life.  Having been privileged to travel onboard the sister vessel to the Aleksey Maryshev, the Grigoriy Mikheev, he took me right back there to the peace and tranquility, and astounding beauty of the area.  Take a peek at his image gallery - some truly breathtaking shots on there.....

Other Antarctic blogs....

Thought I'd share with you some choice Antarctic blogs you may like to dip into:

My absolute favourites, from the guys down at Port Lockroy (Base 'A' now run as a living museum and post office by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust) - http://www.ukaht.org/portlockroydiaries.htm and http://rachelhazellisaway.wordpress.com/ and http://helen-in-antarctica.blogspot.com/ - they're just about at the end of the season down there now...

http://antarcticjournal.blogspot.com/ - written by a graduate student who is resident on Ross Island, studying penguins.

http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/ - the British Antarctic Survey's blog featuring a Halley Station webcam.

http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2008/nov/blog111607.html - University of Delaware blog from the South Pole.

http://web2.clarkson.edu/projects/antarctica/blog/ - John Bean's Antarctic blog from the US base McMurdo.

I'll be looking forward to reading Ben Saunders' SOUTH expedition blog - http://www.bensaunders.com/south/ SOUTH will be the first return journey to the South Pole on foot, and the longest unsupported (human-powered) polar journey in history.

http://www.dumont-durville.ift.fr/ - a blog from the French base Dumont d'Urville (amazing photo of the southern lights on there at the moment) - this is very close to where March of the Penguins was filmed...

Any other recommendations are most welcome!

Taking Photographs in Antarctica

It's definitely not going to be a problem finding absolutely breathtaking subject matter in Antarctica, but how do you go about capturing it on camera?  Well, for starters, it's best not to place too much emphasis on trying, as there's no way you can truly capture this vast and beautiful continent. Just absorb the peace you feel sitting high up on a bank of snow looking out at what looks like hundreds of mountain peaks stretching as far as the eye can see, or the smell, sound and shere numbers of a nesting ground of gentoos on Aitcho Island, or the gentle plink plunk of melting ice when your zodiac driver cuts the engine and you drift slowly alongside a mammoth iceberg the size of a house..... You can't capture that in a picture, but I still can't help but break into the hugest smile when I flick through my own Antarctic photos.   

Aside from remembering to look at Antarctica not just through a lens, you'll no doubt take some amazing shots to reflect on at home.  There's a great website I found giving some really useful tips and hints at taking photographs around the white continent.  Michael Reichmann gives some useful overviews of what equipment he found worked best in Antarctic conditions. It's worth remembering however that all expedition voyages take place during the Antarctic summertime - when temperatures down there are at their warmest and the coastline becomes alive with breeding wildlife (not the howling blizzard conditions of the South Pole that you so often see in the documentaries).  Anticipate an average of around zero degrees.  Still - you'll need to allow for some possible blizzards (it really is known as the windiest continent for a reason!), cloudy weather and also spells of bright blinding sunshine (don't forget your T-shirts - layering is the way to go)! 

Most people take two cameras (incase one fails), and use extensive zoom lenses for wildlife pictures, as well as polarising lenses (that soak up the colours).  Zooms aren't always necessary, as penguins are absolutely everywhere (even if you try your hardest to stay the specified distance away from them).  Chicks in paritcular can be fearless and curious and often feel the need to check that your Wellington boots really aren't edible (and that goes for coat and rucksack toggles too!).  Zooms are of course very useful for capturing close-ups of seals on ice floes or other wildlife best seen at a distance. I kept my camera warm by stuffing it down the front of my parka - remember that batteries run down more quickly in colder conditions, and mechanics can jam. Also ensure that you have your camera in a waterproof bag to keep out any salt spray thrown up on zodiac rides to the landings.  Take a BIG memory card too- you don't want to be limited and have to cull your images half-way through your trip. Click here for a report by Andrew Curry on professional photographer Rosemary Keogh's experiences - somewhat more extreme than many of our passengers will experience! 

Passenger Annie King's blog - Classic Antarctica

So - you've read the brochure, been scanning through the website, have watched the films March of the Penguins and even Happy Feet - now's your chance to read an entertaining first-hand account from one of our passengers  who travelled aboard the 110-passenger M/V Orlova on the Classic Antarctica voyage (visiting the South Shetland Islands and the Peninsula) starting on 10 November in Ushuaia last year. 

Many thanks to Annie King for allowing us to post this link - looks like she had a wonderful time - we're of course not jealous at all!!!  Annie's blog starts in the UK - with the flight over to Argentina, and then begins in earnest in Ushuaia at Tierra del Fuego (the end of the world...).  Read on and you'll learn about Annie's relatively calm crossing of the dreaded Drake Passage (renowned as one of the roughest stretches of water in the world), leading on to the first sightings of Antarctica and her amazing experiences exploring the wonders of the white continent.

It was lovely to see my colleague Rachel's name mentioned - we were delighted that Discover the World was able to assist in the planning of Annie's trip of a lifetime. Not a bad job that we have - helping make experiences like Annie's happen!

Antarctic video footage on Youtube

If you're considering booking a voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula, why not have a look at one of our past client's videos on Youtube and see what you could experience yourself - this fantastic footage was taken aboard the Aleksey Maryshev, on a 12-day 'Antarctic Peninsula' voyage which set sail from Ushuaia on 16 Dec 2006 (see the itinerary here).    Highlights include comical gentoos playing around icebergs and on land, an Adelie penguin and tiny chick, amazing footage of a leopard seal swimming around and under a zodiac, a crabeater seal moving across an iceflow, and elephant seals sparring on a beach.  Plus stunning mirrored mountains reflected in the glass-clear waters of the Antarctic.  This really is such a special place....

March of the Emperor Penguins - Successful first voyage!

The first ever Emperor Penguin Safari to Snowhill Island, in the Weddell Sea has just returned safely to port, with an extremely satisfied shipload of adventurers! The skill and experience of the Expedition Team and Kapitan Khlebnikov's officers and crew enabled travellers to spend three full days at the Snow Hill rookery in Antarctica. The combination of almost perfect weather and young chicks in the care of adults provided unparalleled photo opportunities.

The second voyage aboard the icebreaker, which is currently underway, arrived at the rookery a day ahead of schedule. Indications are that this will be another smashing success!  Can't wait to see the photos.  Early booking is definitely advised as these voyages are ultra-popular, largely due to the Oscar-winning documentary film, March of the Penguins.

Antarctica voted BBC Holiday Programme's No 1 Trip of a Lifetime!

Are you glued to the BBC Holiday programme each week like us here at Discover the World?  If so then you may have seen that our Classic Antarctica voyage was voted No. 1 Trip of a Lifetime - an accolade which made us all grin from ear to ear!  Seems that presenter Sabah Douglas-Hamilton (you may know her from Big Cat Diaries) has also fallen in love with the breathtaking white continent.  She travelled with us at the end of November to the end of the earth (literally!).  If you missed the programme and are wondering what left Sabah almost speechless (never a good thing for a presenter - except in circumstances like this when the landscape and wildlife speaks for itself!) then you can view a video clip at the BBC's website.  Full details of our Classic Antarctica itinerary can be found on our Discover the World Antarctica webpages.  Alternatively, if you prefer a good old-fashioned brochure then you can order one from our website or contact us with any queries that you may have as we'll be delighted to help!  Discover for yourself why Antarctica really is the Trip of a Lifetime (we're so glad the Beeb agree!).

Antarctica - 'the most amazing experience of my life!'

I received this delightful email yesterday from a really lovely lady who travelled with Discover the World on our Crossing the Antarctic Circle voyage aboard the Professor Molchanov in December 2005.  Sounds like she had a wonderful time, and I have to admit being a teeny bit jealous!  Brings back such fond memories of my trip to the White Continent………. It’s so lovely to receive feedback such as this – makes my job really worthwhile!

Dear Nikki,

That trip was the most amazing experience of my  life!

I've fallen in love with Antarctica - and want to go back!

A few highlights:

Sitting in the zodiac (inflatable boat) whilst a leopard seal played around us.

The ship grounded in fast ice (sea ice attached to land) and all of us getting off the ship and walking around where no one has walked before.

Standing on the bridge of the ship, in heavy falling snow, surrounded by glaciers, getting a bear hug from a Russian sailor.

Meeting the most amazing people - staff and passengers, who made the trip even better.

Having a bbq on the bow of the ship in the Lemaire Channel under intense blue skies.

Watching humpback whales off the bow - so close I could smell them and got wet from their blow

Seeing so much wildlife up so close - having my boots pecked by a chinstrap penguin, and having a gentoo penguin chick fall asleep at my toes.

Learning Russian and Swedish.

Oh, and sooo much more!

Thanks for your help in organising this trip for me –  it's changed my life!

Thanks to C McGuinness for her very kind words (and stunning pictures)! C McGuiness works for the National Blood Service –  please consider giving the gift of life and donating blood today. Thank you.