Antarctica Things to Do Tips by Sharrie

Our first trip ashore on Explorer II to the Falklands & Antarctica was actually at Stanley, Falkland Islands.

But at Stanley, I only get a glimpse of the Magellanic penguins from afar.
First off, they put me on the wrong excursion.
Makes me boil just to think I missed the King Penguins because of this.
I did signed up for the 2 excursions but was told that only 1 was available.
Hence, went to Gypsy Cove. It was nice but not something I wanted.
So, remember this well... if you wanna see King Penguins, go to Lagoon Bluff Cove instead!!! or South Georgia Island (which we didn't!).

Anyhow, many penguins on this trip.
No need to fret over spilt milk!

Arctowski (the Polish Base) was where my close encounter with the penguins came true.
Ok, I've this thing for penguins... even if they have a peculiar smell. Not too bad, really.

Now, don't u think they are most adorable?

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Did I hear tuxedo? ;-)

Ahem, let's put on a show!
Action! Cameraman, start rolling...

& here comes the 2 B & B!

This cutie is an Adelie.

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Penguin talk.
If you sit around long enough, you'll learn a thing or 2 about penguin language!
Trust me...
Just observe.
They are almost human ;-)

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While the Weddell seal is taking his nap...

Ok, a seal is a seal, right?
Wrong!
On this trip, I found out the different types of seals:
Crabeater Seal
Elephant Seal
Leopard Seal (predator of the penguins!)

I'll write about them after I read the signed copy of "Ship in the Wilderness" given by Captain Demel. Such a thoughtful act! Thanks, Captain! :-)

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The Polish Antarctic Station is the 1st one we visited enroute to the continent.
Known as Henryk Arctowski (oh wait, that means I've visited Poland now? ;-)) it was completed in 1977 & located at (62°14'16"S, 58°28'15"W) Admiralty Bay, King George Island.

To read more about this station, please proceed to its official website - click here.

Those penguins preceeding this tip were all residing along with 10 people who are required to maintain this station daily.

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What? A gift shop in Antarctica?

Sshhhhhhhhh... not so loud!
My colleagues want those penguins!

Here's Bill caught on film heading for the "shop"!
Hey Bill, where's my present? ;-)

No, I didn't head that way.
Spent too much time learning penguin language.
The ship was calling us back on board!
Ah well, next time perhaps?
I was told later that it was an Australian managing the shop.
There's no escape from globalisation, is there? :-)

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The zodiac was our mode of transportation for the most part when we were heading towards the continent or just merely cruising around the iceberg fields.

Our 4 days after crossing the Antartic Convergence relied a great deal on these zodiacs. Each zodiac takes about 10 passengers. The zodiac drivers are usually the naturalists. Yes, we had that many on board the ship & they are very qualified in their profession.

Here's Charlie with passengers heading for the Arctowski base.

What's the Antarctic Convergence?
Well, according to Ocean Explorer, it is this:
"Antarctic Convergence - Sometimes called the Antarctic Polar Front, the convergence is a natural boundary between the cold, north-flowing Antarctic Surface Water & the relatively warm Subantarctic Surface Water.
The Antarctic water is low in temperature & salinity, as a result of summer melting of sea ice & icebergs.
It sinks to the bottom as it flows northward & plays a major role in governing the planet's climate."

Good gracious, does this make sense to you? ;-)

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Back on board the ship we cruised further south to the Antarctic peninsula.

The sea was manageable after those rough nights (we were on the Drake Passage for 5 nights in total, 1 heading towards Stanley & another 2 to get across the Antarctic Convergence & back).
How rough?
Generally about 20-ft high waves though on 1 night on the way back we got a 35-ft high wave.
Explorer II manages the sea well as long as it doesn't get beyond 60-ft. This is what I heard.
We were warned to keep our cameras in the cabinets or on the floor. Well, it's a ship & things move around!

Upon reaching this part of the world, we were constantly greeted by icebergs of all size & shapes. Some of the more interesting ones will be highlighted here. Others will be uploaded to the travelogue sections.

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We have been aboard the ship for 6 nights now.

Jan. 14 - Embark.
Jan. 15 - Drake passage heading towards Stanley, Falkland Islands.
Jan. 16 - Falkland Islands Shore Excursion.
Jan. 17 - Drake Passage.
Jan. 18 - Drake Passage.
Jan. 19 - Arctowski (Poland) Base.
Jan. 20 - Neko Harbour!

Jackpot! We have finally arrived.
The ship was anchored as near as possible towards the Antarctica Continent.
A few zodiac drivers were sent out to "test" the waters & good news!
Both Discovery & Endurance groups will take turns to go ashore.
I was in the Discovery group.
We get to go later as we went first yesterday to Arctowski.
Never mind, we all were as excited as we could be!
It's our first landing officially on the continent anyhow!
For many, it's a dream comes true.
For me, I just can't wait to get ashore.
Finally, the moment of truth arrived :-)

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Ok, this is one of the most stupid things a ship could ever do... ie, a makeshift signage.
Their excuse? Well, we'll never really know where we ended up successfully having the 1st landing on the Antarctica peninsula!
& this is why I'm right here behind this incredibly stupid-looking sign-board!

Well, we all still want that defining moment ;-)
So here we are...

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