1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #497 - Davis Island, Antarctica

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #497

- Davis Island, Antarctica

 

(Our final zodiac cruise for this Antarctica trip was around the Davis Island. We were finally lucky enough to see a leopard seal in the wild. This time, it was resting on an iceberg, with our zodiac being able to get quite close to it. Leopard seals are expert hunters of  penguins here, with a set of sharp teeth that can slice through the tough feathered  penguin bodies. Snow began to fall here, giving us another grand view of the exotic ice formations around the island and glaciers that are right by the edge of the sea)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #496 - Hydrurga Rocks, Antarctica

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #496

- Hydrurga Rocks, Antarctica

 

(Another onshore landing, this time at Hydrurga Rocks. This place is another Gentoo penguin breeding site, with weddell seals lazying around as well. The waters here must be closed to 0C, but that didn't stop some of the kayakers jumping into the sea to get their thrill. Even with their kayak gear on, it must be one cold dip - the only word to describe them is crazy. We wanted to kayak too here in Antarctica, but were not successful in signing up because the ship is licenced to only run 16 kayakers in each trip - we were late to sign up)

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #495 - Guvernoren Harbour, Antarctica

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #495

- Guvernoren Harbour, Antarctica

 

(The story of this ship wreck at the Guvernoren Harbour, named after the ship, was told to us by the ship's expedition crew and bears repeating because it showed the height of the whaling and seal-hunting during those early years of 1915 period when such hunting was rampant. Fire broke out on this whaling ship, but all the 85 crew members of this Norwegian ship were saved. The day for us was so sunny and crisp that the crew decided to have lunch outside the ship's deck. It was a nice change - open-air lunching in the middle of Antarctica)

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #494 - Overnight Camping, Antarctica

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #494

- Overnight Camping, Antarctica

 

(It was one crazy idea to sign up for an overnight camping experience out in the freezing cold and snow of Antarctica, but it was the best experience for us during this entire trip. Left on land by the crew at 9pm, we were required to flatten the unlevelled ground, pitch our own tent and then use a bare dug-out, open-air toilet all by ourselves - no waste to be left behind. At 2am, a mini snow-storm hit us, leaving behind at least 4inch of snow.  The temperature dropped to -2C, with the night still bright. It was simply too cold for us to get much sleep, probably an hour or 2 at most. We marvelled at a 70-old lady, Grace, who slept in a bivi, not in a tent, out in the open, inside a dug-out in the snow - so brave. The 360degree vdo below shows how insane this camping was. By 6am, we were all packed up and returned to the ship for our hot and well-earned breakfast. It was an awesome experience that we will never ever forget!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #493 - Orne Harbour, Antarctica

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #493

- Orne Harbour, Antarctica

 

(This is, for us, the most beautiful corner of Antarctica we have landed on. It is Orne Harbour, which upon landing, required us to start  on a strenuous hike up over 200m to the top called Spigot Peak. From here, with the sun rays lighting up the harbour and our ship below, it is an inspiring sight. A number of chin-strapped penguins made this place home, with one curiously looking straight at me at eye-level at the top, while keeping her egg warm and away from the big crowd below her. The timelapse video really gave us a wonderful sense of the beauty here)