As we end the decade, I reflect that 2019 wasn't all that great to me and hubs. We lost a good friend and hubs' aunt this year to cancer, and we had to say goodbye to our beloved Amber bun a few weeks ago.
There have been some notable high points in the last 10 years, such as hubs and I buying our own place, both of us going vegan, me finishing my Master's degree, and being able to experience the Vancouver 2010 Olympics outside our own front door. However, the positive nature of these occurrences starts to wane in the context of current political climes, an inordinate focus by the media on negative stories, and recent experiences that have been more bad than good.
But tomorrow brings a new year - and with it, a renewed hope that things can be better. There may be joy, yet.
Thanks to all of you who nudged me to start this blog about our trip to Antarctica. I really hadn't planned on writing anything! But it's been a nice distraction from a mostly sorrowful (at worst) and lacklustre (at best) holiday season. And it's forced me to revisit all of our trip planning materials and brush up on stuff we probably need to know before travelling, which has definitely been a bonus.
Here's something funny. I don't actually recall when I first started thinking about going to Antarctica. As I mentioned in a previous post, the decision to go was made sometime last year, with me turning 40 as the motivation. But the genesis of this thought to travel to a far-off land? No idea.
I have one clue. For the past few years, I've kept a copy of a Dreamscapes Travel and Lifestyle Magazine. On the cover is a shot of kayakers in front of an iceberg, with a headline describing, "Natural encounters in Antarctica." The inside article starts with a gorgeous two-page spread: "Antarctica Revealed!"
The date of the magazine? Fall/winter 2014.
2014! But is that really when I started thinking about venturing to Antarctica? If my memory is correct, I don't think I actually purchased this magazine. I seem to recall coming across it - maybe in an office, somewhere? - and taking it home. And on our kitchen counter is where it has sat ever since.
But there's no mailing label. No doctor's or other practitioner's address to indicate that I swiped it from someone's waiting room.
Maybe I had always been thinking about Antarctica. My love of penguins would be a strong lure, that's for sure. But honestly, I just don't remember.
Thus, the mystery remains.
Bah. It probably doesn't matter. Let's just hope Antarctica is everything I've always dreamed of, but have apparently forgotten about.
In my last post, I began describing "The Eight Great Penguin Species of Antarctica" and introduced the first four on the article's list. Here are the other four species of penguin that live in the Antarctic region, starting with #5.
By the way, if ever you see a commercial or TV program that shows a polar bear together with a penguin, know that this is factually inaccurate! Polar bears are from the Arctic north, whereas penguins live only in the southern hemisphere. Now you know... if you didn't already.
5. Macaronis
These island-dwelling crested penguins are the ones with the distinctive yellow and gold tufts of feathers atop their heads. In the process of sharing incubating duties, adult macaronis lose up to half their body weight! Talk about energy expense.
6. Rockhoppers
There are three distinct species of rockhopper penguins, based on reproductive behavior and breeding location: northern, southern, and eastern. Rockhoppers are one of the smallest penguin species, and get their name from their preferred habitat of rocky, windswept shorelines on the islands north of Antarctica. On Antarctic voyages, mostly northern and southern rockhopper penguins are spotted.
7. Magellanics
These penguins are named after the famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and are closely related to Galápagos penguins, Humboldt penguins, and African penguins. They tend to be shy around humans (aww), and if it gets too hot, they will shed beak feathers, pant, and stretch their flippers to catch a breeze. Magellanic penguins are comparably long-living, reaching around 25 years in the wild.
8. Kings
King penguins are so much fun! They are the second-largest penguin species after emperors, and the most marine of all penguins - and indeed all birds, spending more time at sea than any other. King penguins can dive to depths of more than 300 meters to pursue prey, staying underwater for up to nine minutes... amazing! They are highly social birds that gather in massive colonies. King penguins are known by scientists to have mid-afternoon naps, sleeping more deeply after lunch than during the morning (I can soooo relate).
There ya have it: a summary of the eight penguin species of Antarctica. I'm hoping hubs and I can check off seeing at least four on our trip. We'll just have to see what happens!
Those who have known me a long time will know that I have loved penguins for, well... forever!
I turned 40 years old this year and, to celebrate, hubs and I decided on this trip to Antarctica to see penguins in the wild. (Yes, I realize wild penguins also live elsewhere but, c'mon - these are official Antarctic penguins).
Ever since I started researching this trip, I have had a website open on my phone called, "The Eight Great Penguin Species of Antarctica." Here are highlights from the article on four of those types of penguins.
1. Emperors
Emperor penguins are the largest - and I'd wager, probably the most recognizable of all the Antarctic penguins, thanks to Morgan Freeman and March of the Penguins. They form large colonies on the sea ice and are found mainly in the Ross Sea and Weddell regions, especially Snow Hill Island. Based on where we are headed, this sadly means we won't get to see any Emperors on our trip. Boourns. (Hey, Antarctica is a BIG place. What can ya do?)
2. Adélies
The most widely distributed penguin species in the world, Adélies are found on the northerly Antarctic pack ice during the winter and in the summer return to the continental coastline and Antarctic islands. These are small and fiesty, no-holds-barred penguins who aren't afraid to pick fights (see video below). Hoping to see a lot of these guys on our trip.
3. Gentoos
As adults, gentoos are the third largest penguin behind emperors and kings. They build nests on beaches and in grass tussocks and are highly aggressive in defending their turf. Gentoo penguins live about 15-20 years and are one of the fastest-swimming birds, reaching speeds up to 36 kph (22 mph). So speedy!
4. Chinstraps
Why are they called "chinstraps"? Just look at their facial markings! With roughly seven million pairs of chinstrap penguins in the world, these penguins are one of the most abundant. They are also an aggressive species, often getting into fights with other penguins. (Hm, sensing a theme. Maybe all penguins are jerks?)
Want to know about the other four Antarctic species of penguins? I'll post about them next time.
In the last year or so, a common reaction when telling anyone about our upcoming trip to Antarctica has been, "How cold is it going to be?"
Fun fact: it is currently summer in Antarctica right now! That means...
Conditions are mild, and changeable. Enjoyable sunny days can swiftly change to cold, windy storms with snow flurries and rolling seas. Average daily temperatures in mid-season are between 25 and 35 Fahrenheit or -4 and +2 Celsius; however wind conditions can make it seem colder.
I stumbled across some other fun facts about Antarctica over the holidays, courtesy of Wikipedia:
At 14,200,000 square kilometres (5,500,000 square miles), it is the fifth-largest continent and nearly twice the size of Australia.
At 0.00008 people per square kilometre, it is by far the least densely populated continent.
Antarctica is a de facto condominium, governed by parties to the Antarctic Treaty System that have consulting status. This means that it is a political territory (state or border area) in or over which multiple sovereign powers formally agree to share equal dominium (in the sense of sovereignty) and exercise their rights jointly, without dividing it into "national" zones.
I've got more Antarctica trivia I could throw at you, about currency and time zones and types of penguins - but I'll save all of that for another time.
Hello everyone and hope you are all enjoying the holidays!
Hubs and I will be travelling to Antarctica in about a months' time. And as many of you have requested, here is a blog where we will document the adventure.
This is a trip that has long been in the works. I first started researching on how to get to Antarctica back in March 2018. Hubs and I then spent some time pondering our options and all of the various costs, and finally booked with expedition travel company Quark Expeditions in October 2018. Since then, it's been conducting a lot more research, securing insurance and just biding our time until departure day!
More to come on all of our trip planning. For now, bookmark this page or sign up by email if you're interested to follow along.
