"Sharrie's Antarctica Miracle" Top 5 Page for this destination Antarctica by Sharrie

Antarctica Travel Guide: 1,203 reviews and 2,539 photos

Timelessness! Paradise on Earth! - Antarctica

THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED
TO MY PARENTS & SIS
WHO HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE!

ANTARCTICA was a dream.
A dream I knew one day would turned into reality.
Which day I had no idea.
The idea was implemented sometime last October...
I stocked up on winter wear while visiting in Toronto.
I had a vision it'd be the next Antarctica season then.
Which cruise? What day? I had no clue at all!
I went about traveling around Europe & America the next 2 months.
Upon my return from Spain in end Nov, I began to plan.
Looked around for a cruise ship. I much prefer going on an aircraft but as of now, nothing exists commercially.
So, cruise it shall be.

Found out Radisson Seven Seas Cruises has the shortest journey.
I can't afford to be on leave for a long stretch of time.
So, RSSC it shall be.
Alas, found out I needed a visa to enter Argentina.
Had to fly to Jakarta to get a visa.
God help me!
The Embassy took 3 weeks b4 it granted me a visa!
& they made me "worked" for it as well!
Ok, finally got the approval on Dec. 30!
Geez, I was scheduled to leave for L.A. on Jan. 10, 2004.
10 days to get everything in order.

Incredible it had been... the journey pre-Antarctica.
To me, it was even more incredible that everything finalised nicely in such a short period of time.
Guess what? I didn't even pay a single cent until Jan. 5 or 6!
Oh, it broke my heart when I knew how much I had to fork out.
If I live in the States, it's amounting to buying a new car!
So, finally I was scheduled to leave on the Jan. 14 cruise.
It was an amazing start for the year.
Rush was the very word associated with this trip.

But, this is only the beginning...
A trip evolves... without me realising what's to come to pass...

A great beginning to the year 2004.
A sense of accomplishment.
Success! - My last continent.
It's my dream to have set foot on all the 7 continents; if not every traveler's!

I tried to do the impossible - 1 step further.
To head for Antarctica & then back up north to the Arctic in a single trip!
It was not planned prior to departure...
It just turned out the way it was...
A miracle manifested!

I did it! 2 "poles" in a single journey!
What a feeling!

Facts about Antarctica

Area: 14 million sq km.
Population: 4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter.

Web Resources
CIA World Factbook: Year 2009
Online Travel Guide: WorldTravelGuide.Net
Antarctica Destination Guide: Lonely Planet World Guide
Map of Antarctica: Lonelyplanet.com

Plenau - Icebergs Field

We were very lucky... extremely lucky, according to Trip, our expedition leader.
We had phenomenal weather at the right time at the right place.
Everything was just the way it should be.

Amazing though it sounded & fantastic though it looked, the idea that I had made it to one of the most "remote" parts of the planet didn't hit home until I'm home!
It took me quite awhile b4 realising I've became one of those elite few who are very lucky to have seen something akin to a miracle in reality.
Whatever you see here... all these icebergs will never be seen again even if you were to travel there this week. It's gone forever... something else replace these but not in the same form ever again!
Hence, no 2 Antarctica trips will ever be the same!
That alone, in essence, made it so very precious!

Natural Arch

Blue Ice - Well, this is as blue as we get on this trip.
I saw this wonderful "sculpture" on one of the coffee table books a few years back. I had a copy of it in my living room.
We didn't get to see it this trip.
We searched for it but didn't find any.
As I've said earlier, time does not exist here.
Nothing is permanent individually but rather in an entity.
You'll always find icebergs of different sizes & colors but there's no continuity in any of them.
It's a strange thing about time...
When one gets to this part of the world, the rest of the world no longer exists.
There's no communication with the rest of the world either.
Satallite phones don't work either.
I tried... it was Chinese New Year afterall.
Tried calling home but to no avail.

It's the part of the world where it doesn't belong.
Humanity does not belong here.
All else falls away... the elements dominate!
Trust me, when u encounter a 35 ft wave (which we did) or a 60 ft wave (which someone else's ship did), all you have & need is faith...

Last visit to Antarctica: Jan 2004
Intro Updated Dec 18, 2009
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Reviews (182)

Cruising by the southern tip of the New World - Antarctica

Cape Horn, Chile Off The Beaten Path (5)

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A song to remember... A song to help me remember... A song I cried everytime I listen to it... A song that accompanied... more travel advice

Driving the zodiac Sports & Outdoors (2)

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When he's not exercising his hands, it's his legs! - Antarctica

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This is about as much sports as I could see! (Good views though :-)) Whatever happened behind close doors, well, can't... more travel advice

Hotels (2)
See All Comes with 24-hr room service, music &...
Restaurants (5)
See All Cocktails
Things to Do (104)
See All Give it up...
Warnings Or Dangers (2)
See All Skills... Look who's talking!

Local Customs (20)
See All Ernest Shackleton
Transportation (18)
See All Crews & Staff onboard M/S Explorer II
What to Pack (2)
See All Oakley & Chanel
Nightlife (2)
See All Music... food for the soul

Comments (159)

iblatt Sep 29, 2011 at 6:17 AM Report Abuse

Hi Sharrie, what an experience this must have been! Of ocurse I envy you... Great photos!
Ilan
eriksson977 Sep 25, 2009 at 8:20 AM Report Abuse

Hello Sharrie, Outstanding pages. Thanks for the virtual tour. Tomas Eriksson :)
richiecdisc May 30, 2009 at 5:49 PM Report Abuse

At those prices, the beer better be VERY good. lol Now, the ice arch...that's pretty cool.
hunterV Dec 31, 2008 at 9:41 AM Report Abuse

Hello, Sharrie! I admire your traveling experiences and wish you every success in your travels! ~ Have fun! ~
Toshioohsako Apr 22, 2008 at 4:29 AM Report Abuse

Fantastic Antarctica. Wish I could go there. Yes, Entrevaux may sounds a little unusual. Its one of the best experiences I had while staying in Nice.
volopolo Jan 28, 2008 at 7:39 PM Report Abuse

Excellent job! Nikos
angiebabe Nov 1, 2007 at 5:04 AM Report Abuse

that perfect weather! such a blessing to be able to get such wondrful photos of such a special trip! and thanks that we can get to it too!
leigh767 May 12, 2007 at 9:48 AM Report Abuse

You listened to Josh Groban's My Confession while on the trip?? That's a beautiful song-- fitting for a beautiful land. Your tips are just wonderful and I seriously thinking about it after seeing a few of these amazing pictures. Great work!
Craigellachie Apr 15, 2007 at 6:11 AM Report Abuse

What an inspiring (and well-written) page! I WANT TO GO TOO!!
Manyana Apr 4, 2007 at 10:53 AM Report Abuse

oh my my! goodness! i just love the pics!!!!!!!!!!!!! left me speechless:-|