Footprints

2/14


2/15


2/16


* this entry from 2/17 *
At dinner, I spoke with a couple who immigrated to North America from India. When they departed they had only two suitcases, twenty five dollars each, and a fellowship to study. They talked about bucket lists, about consumerism, and about a photo of Obama with holes in his shoe's soles. To all the individuals who use their shoes, paving roads with views, Thank You.


2/18


* this entry from 2/19 *
From starboard side a Wandering Albatross is spotted. It soars with the wind, angling through the sea's swells. Not one flap of its wings. Sailing northbound through the Drake Passage, Antarctica fades in the distance. It feels like a dream, an incredible one, the type that wakes you up in a splendid stupor leaving goosebumps on your skin and the sensation of snowflakes in your hair.

I didn't journal much once we passed the Antarctic Convergence. I intended to, but couldn't find the words. I've been feeling a bit dumbfounded, a bit stunned, a bit like this is surreal. A gentleman on board described wanting to take photos of the humpback whale that rolled next to his zodiac and lifted its flippers but was unable to because his camera was facing the wrong direction and with a gaped mouth, he lost the coordination to press the right buttons. Another traveler, having been on the backpacker's road for four months said, "I think I will go home now".

Antarctica leaves footprints.



***



(Of the literally thousands of photos taken, I've tried to narrow down for the slideshow below. Though, neither words or pictures do justice; Antarctica speaks for itself)



To see a larger view, click on icon-link below, then on slideshow.

Antarctica Favs

May we visit this magical place, be instilled with awe and respect, and leave with no traces. To help Antarctica remain pristine, visitors should book trips through an affliate of IAATO - an organization which advocates and practices environmentally responsible private-sector travel to this "wild and delicate" place.(http://www.iaato.org/about.html)




...at the moment, Patagonia Aventura Hostel
It's a quarter past one. I'm wearing wool socks with flipflops, what's that saying -- the you can take the people out the ghetto but not the ghetto out the people.. well same theory applies here, only with california sun and cold weather & socks. This analogy is odd. that's a sign that it's time for bed.