antarctic

Keeping your cool...

2009-06-29T12:15:01+01:00

As temperatures here in the UK soar into the 30's this week, the thought of a refreshing dip amongst the icebergs becomes increasingly appealing! I'm not quite ready to attempt another polar plunge just yet (still thawing out my toes from December's icy swim) but I did start wondering how on earth does a polar bear keep cool as our northern hemisphere summers get warmer?

With a four inch layer of blubber and a cosy fur coat, it's sometimes harder for a bear to stay cool than warm. The answer is to conserve energy as much as possible - running after prey can cause serious overheating, so instead the bears wait by air-holes in the ice to allow the seals to come to them rather than the other way around.

Lying down to spread their surface area over the ice also helps, and of course a quick swim in the icy waters is always a good way to cool down... not for the faint-hearted though!

If you fancy escaping the heatwave for an icy adventure of your own then why not join us on a voyage Around Spitsbergen - you can view the polar bears in action and keep your cool at the same time.

'Encounters at the End of the World'

2009-06-22T14:38:35+01:00

Antarctica has forever excited the minds of curious travellers, geographers and filmmakers alike, and the renowned director Werner Herzog is no different. His 2007 film ‘Encounters at the End of the World’ follows the lives of those who call the Antarctic continent home during the five months of the austral summer and focuses the lens on the stunning scenery and wildlife of the continent as well as those ‘lifelong dreamers’ who call the Antarctic home. The movie, which stunned critics and viewers alike, is to be screened on the Discovery Channel this Wednesday (24 June) at 9pm.

Despite it’s remoteness, the Antarctic continent provides residence for some hardy souls each year, including geologists, glaciologists, wildlife enthusiasts, computer technicians and scientists. And we mustn’t forget that the world’s most unique post office, situated at Port Lockroy, needs staff too; and a Discover the World employee recently took some time off to spend four months working in this remote postal outpost. Whilst we can’t quite offer employment on the great white continent, we can offer you the experience of a lifetime on one of our fantastic voyages to this stunning location.

Andy Silvester

Images from the High Arctic

2009-06-22T11:47:37+01:00

Photography is often quoted as one of the many reasons our clients head off on our polar voyages, and with stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and incredible soft light it’s not hard to see why. Until the end of October, an exhibition of Arctic photographs is being displayed in Canada House, just yards from Trafalgar Square in London. "The Accessible Arctic" is a fantastic showcase of images from Canadian Geographic, the Royal Canadian Geographical Association’s official magazine which this year celebrates its 80th birthday. Take the opportunity not only to examine the rapid advances in photographic technology but explore the way in which the Arctic has changed over the years, whilst still being extraordinarily beautiful. With stunning pictures of huskies, icebergs and calving glaciers, it’s impossible not be caught up in the magic of the white North – and perhaps it might whet your appetite for your own voyage to the High Arctic?

Andy Silvester

Join James Cracknell and Discover the World for a night of Antarctic adventures!

2009-06-01T12:05:38+01:00

Further to my recent blog about Ben Fogle & James Cracknell giving a talk about their South Pole adventure in Bristol next week, we're delighted to announce that we will now be joining James at his London lecture the following week. Taking place at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday 18th June, James will be sharing the details of his recent Antarctic experiences and promoting his new book, Race to the Pole, co-written with Ben Fogle.

In addition the Discover the World team will be on hand to help you start planning your own adventure to the Great White Continent - we look forward to seeing you there!

Tickets cost £7.50 and are available through Stanfords at sales@stanfords.co.uk Full contact details can be found here.
The event is organised by Stanfords, The World’s Largest Map and Travel Retailer, and will take place at 7pm on the 18th June, at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR. The nearest Underground stops are South Kensington and Knightsbridge.

The Arctic comes to Greenwich

2009-05-27T17:27:03+01:00

Still got a couple of days of half-term to fill? Then why not take a trip to the Arctic.... or at least, to the next best thing at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich?! Launched this week, the North-West Passage exhibition focuses on the fascinating history of the Canadian Arctic and the intrepid search for the route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the heroic adventures of the 19th Century British Arctic expeditions, the exhibition also offers a fascinating insight into the lives of the Inuit who have inhabited this hostile terrain for thousands of years. Admission is free and the exhibition is open daily from 10am-5pm.

Also worth a visit is the Planetarium at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Here you can view a new show called 'Ice Worlds', exploring the frozen moons and planets of the Solar System, including the Earth's own polar ice caps. The show is narrated by Emily Watson - yep, that's Harry Potter's mate Hermione! Showings daily at £6 per adults, £4 per child and family tickets £16 (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children).

And if all that inspires you then it's not too late to book your own Arctic adventure this summer - spaces are filling fast, but call our team to check the latest availability on our very own Heart of the Northwest Passage voyage!

Ben Fogle & James Cracknell - Race to the Pole!

2009-05-06T09:17:52+01:00

Despite being beaten - once again - by the Norwegians, our own British Team QinetiQ were deservedly proud to come second in the Race to the South Pole earlier this year. And in the process team members James Cracknell, Ben Fogle and Ed Coats raised awareness and funds for the children's medical research charity, Sparks.

Coming soon to BBC2 is a five-part documentary which follows their epic adventure across the ice, but for a more personal view why not head down to Bristol on 10th June to hear James and Ben's story in their own words?

The event will be held at the University of Bristol's School of Chemistry from 7.30pm (School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS). Tickets cost just £6 and are available from Stanford's in Bristol - full details about the event can be found here.

Celebrate Canada's Newest Territory...

2009-04-21T16:16:12+01:00

...Nunavut! April 2009 marks the 10th Anniversary since the Nunavut territory and government were established in 1999. The Nunavut archipelago in the Canadian Arctic covers an expanse of about 2.2 million sq km ranging from Ellesmere Island to the north, Baffin Island to the east and westerly Victoria Island. Nunavut is a truly spectacular region comprising magnificent wildlife and fascinating Inuit culture.

So explore Nunavut to your heart’s content either close to home at the Nunavut exhibition at the Canada House Gallery until 29 May 2009 or alternatively, venture to the Canadian Arctic and see for yourself this remote and spectacular region…Look no further than our Arctic voyages as for a limited time only bring a companion to share your experience on our Hudson’s Wake voyage for just the cost of the airfare!

Snow and Sunny Spells - Four months at Port Lockroy

2009-04-17T10:03:55+01:00

Another note from Nikki, our pal from Port Lockroy, talking about the changeable weather down on the Antarctic Peninsula:

No doubt the snow and ice will be moving in imminently to Port Lockroy – upon arrival to Goudier Island we were faced with a front door half buried in a snowdrift, and spent the next few days digging out around the building – the bunkroom and museum windows were obscured by a blanket of white. At least the shovelling warmed us up at the start of the day and burnt off a good few calories; we were often invited to join guests for dinner on the ships, and the food is fantastic – no comparison with the dried/tinned goods on base, although we managed to whip up some pretty good grub with just a few basic ingredients!

I particularly loved the months of January and into December as we had a significant amount of snowfall and the island was kept lovely and clean with the snow on the ground. Slowly as it melted away from the island, the smooth grey rocks and craggy crevices appeared, together with many other treasures – huge whale bones from the tragic time when the island had been used by the whalers, old dogsledges and the wooden skeletons of waterboats.

After Christmas we were lucky enough to have some long spells of gorgeous sunny days with bright blue skies, however days like this were dotted throughout the whole of the season. The landscape became particularly atmospheric in the low cloud and overcast skies, and during calm days the reflections of the ice in the silvery water were just spectacular. Amidst this grey and white expanse the blue tones of the icebergs were even more vibrant and provided amazing photographic opportunities. The impressive storms and howling winds that occasionally came through often blew in rafts of bergy bits and brash ice. Some of my most memorable walks down by the shoreline at low tide were after such storms; one day the weather blew in great sweeps of crushed ice, which, when the waterline fell, were unbelievably beautiful – they looked like handfuls of diamonds littering the rocks.

Leopard seals would float on their iceberg beds just off the island, and often sitting on the rocks looking out into the Neumayer Channel I could hear whales blowing in the distance. I could reminisce forever! The narrow waterways, crumbling glaciers and looming mountain peaks, as well as the animals that call it their home, make this the most magical place in the world for me *sigh*.

Passing the time with the penguins - Another note from Nikki

2009-04-15T17:23:42+01:00

Penguin-obsessed at Port Lockroy.... Here is another note from Nikki, on her favourite topic - penguins (and not the chocolate biscuit kind!).

Observing the reproduction cycle of the gentoo penguins was an absolute fascination for me. As we had arrived on base at the very start of November, we had chance to follow our plucky gentoos from when they were just a tiny glint in a frisky adult's eye, through to the juvenile birds fledging into the frigid waters off of Goudier Island - quite a privilege!

From the nest-building with hundreds of little pebbles (which were constantly on the move, thanks to cheeky pinching of prized samples) in November, to watching the gentoos battle with the sheathbills and skuas to keep their eggs safe from harm in December. My absolute favourite time was when the chicks started hatching; the first one spotted by visitors to the island on 21 December! I could hardly believe the minute scale of their little wings, and the huge size of their bellies in comparison, full of regurgitated krill and fish no doubt! Time flew by as they doubled and tripled in size, and by mid-January we were overwhelmed with massive bundles of hungry fluff with huge orange feet, falling over rocks and each other whilst making a mad dash after their next meal! It was an absolute joy to watch visitors to Goudier Island stop and gaze in awe at the penguin spectacles – they could almost always be guaranteed to perform!

Whilst all wildlife at Port Lockroy is of course subject to the IAATO guidelines (and five-metre rule) the chicks don’t seem to know about this, and there seemed no stopping their curiosity. Green wellington boots, backpack and parka toggles seemed to appeal most. Visitors quickly learnt to just crouch down and be still for a few minutes, crossing their arms to avoid the temptation to touch one of the chicks, and they would often be rewarded by a moving experience – on the gentoo’s terms. It is astonishing to think how quickly the juvenile penguins become reading to fledge and hit the water. In our last week at Port Lockroy (end Feb/beginning March) we saw numerous timid gentoos hovering by the water’s edge, paddling around in the rockpools and testing their new feathers. The gentoo chicks must first moult their downy ‘baby fluff’ before they become waterproof, resulting in lots of patchy and ‘punky’ looking juveniles, who ran amock like teenage tearaways! I wonder where they are now and how they like life in the open ocean…..

Stay tuned for more of Nikki's 'Port Lockroy ponderings' in the next few days!

100 Year Anniversary Celebration - North Pole

2009-04-08T10:00:02+01:00

Yesterday marked the 100th Anniversary of man's arrival at the North Pole. The achievements of that day in April 1909 when Edward Peary and Matthew Henson are said to have reached the northernmost reach of the planet, have long been under debate.

Last month I was delighted to hear polar explorer Tom Avery to talk about his adventures in the polar regions; including his recreation of the race to the North Pole, beating Peary and Henson's time by just five hours! Tom has just released an excellent book, To the End of the Earth, retracing his challenging journey and proving that these brave men did infact achieve their ultimate goal of reaching the pole. Nowadays it is incredible to think that people can travel on an expedition voyage to the North Pole with a powerful nuclear icebreaker in comfort and safety - very different conditions to those experienced by these hardy men.

Descendants of Peary and Henson gathered at the Arlington Cemetary yesterday, together with Tom, to celebrate the achievements of these men a century ago; read the full report in the Washington Post here.

Best polar wishes! Nikki

Back from the Ice - A Note from Nikki

2009-04-07T10:35:16+01:00

Nikki Rickett was our 'Polar Journeys' Product Manager up until October 2008, when she waved goodbye to the warmer climes of Banstead and set off south for a four-month stint in Antarctica. We didn't need to ask her twice to share some of her unique experiences with us here at Discover the World! Read on....

Having a love of mountains, snow, ice and wildlife, I was hopelessly hooked during my first expedition voyage to Antarctica, in December 2003. As anyone who has been privileged to visit the white continent will tell you, it is a place so completely unique and stunning, that you can hardly believe you have set foot on this outer-worldly landscape. Discover the World have worked with the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust on various fund-raising and promotional initiatives, and I had also visited UKAHT’s flagship fundraising project; a little wooden hut at ‘Port Lockroy’ during my voyage in 2003. So it was a dream come true to be given the opportunity to head south again, and to spend the entire austral summer on the ice - I could hardly contain myself!

Living and working for four months at historic Bransfield House - essentially a small ‘wooden hut’ without running water or mains electricity, and very little heating – was both challenging, invigorating and lots of fun! The house was built in 1944 on tiny Goudier Island, and was the first British base to be constructed on the Peninsula. Sadly it was abandoned in 1962 and lay in rack and ruin, until 1996 when a dedicated team (including our Base Leader, Rick Atkinson), set about clearing up the site. Thanks to the tender loving care of the UKAHT, it is now fully restored to its former glory and is open during the summer months (November to March). Our team of four welcomed the smaller expedition ships visiting this area of Antarctica, with over 14,500 passengers stepping inside the ‘living museum’, little gift shop and post office in just four months.

My primary role was to ‘keep shop’ on the base, as well as greeting visitors and ‘getting grubby’ with ongoing maintenance work to the base. One of the most enjoyable jobs was up on the roof with the snowy sheathbills, slathering on the bitumen paint in the glorious sunshine. It possibly took a bit longer than necessary, as I couldn’t help but be distracted by the sound of ice calving off the Thunder Bay glacier and the stunning sweep of the Fief Range! Another memorable ‘DIY moment’ was when some of our curious gentoo penguin chicks decided to ‘taste-test’ my boots and overalls whilst painting the old boatshed. A mischievous pair followed me around the whole perimeter of the building, keeping me company the entire time. The chicks were often very plucky and would look you straight in the eye if you stood still and crouched down to their level – I could sense them wanting to chirp out, ‘you’ve missed a bit’, at one point! There were so many magical moments like this throughout the season....

Best polar wishes! Nikki

Watch out for more of Nikki's tales from the freezer in the next few days!

BBC Wildlife Cinematographer joins 'Emperors & Kings' voyage!

2009-03-26T16:58:53+00:00

This week's guest-blogger is Nikki Rickett, back from her travels in the Great White Continent and doing what she loves best - writing about, er, the Great White Continent!

We're delighted to announce that award-winning wildlife cinematographer Doug Allan will be joining the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov for the fantastic 'Emperors & Kings' voyage this November.

If, like the team here at Discover the World, your DVD collection is full of box sets such as Life in the Freezer, Planet Earth and Blue Planet, then you'll want to grab this unique chance to travel with one of the most talented and inspirational cameraman ever to have visited the polar regions.

Doug found his calling when working as a research diver on the British Antarctic Survey station Signy Island in the South Orkneys in 1976. He spent ten years diving and filming in Antarctica. Eventually footage he shot of Emperor Penguins was optioned by the BBC series Birds for all Seasons. His career as a freelance wildlife cameraman was born.

He may be best known for his work as a principal cameraman on Blue Planet and Planet Earth, the BBC Natural History Unit's Emmy winning documentaries. More recently Doug contributed stunning footage to the Disneynature film Earth (premiering shortly in North America). During the Emperors & Kings voyage, Doug will present behind-the-scenes footage and tell about his work in remote polar environments. His insights are humourous, filled with suspense, and just plain entertaining... You will never watch a documentary the same way after sailing with Doug! Doug will be accompanied by his wife Sue Flood, who herself is an internationally renowned and acomplished photographer and wildlife film producer.

This is a brand new itinerary to combine wildlife-rich South Georgia with the remote and ice-locked Snowhill Island in the Weddell Sea. Nestled against the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula, there is a reason that you will be travelling onboard the powerful icebreaker the Kapitan Khlebnikov! If you like penguins then this is THE trip for you - Emperors, Kings, Gentoo, Chinstrap, Rockhopper, Adelie, Magellanic - seven of the 17 species of penguin could be seen on this voyage!

Best polar wishes! Nikki

Come and meet our team at CRUISE this weekend

2009-03-19T14:16:00+00:00

This weekend we will be exhibiting at the CRUISE Show at ExCel London, where we will be showcasing our expedition voyages to the Arctic, Antarctica and the Galapagos. Our enthusiastic team will be on hand to answer all your questions and to our share top tips and favourite memories from our own experiences in these intriguing destinations.

Our very own Antarctic explorer, Nikki Rickett, will also be with us fresh from her 4-month stint working at Port Lockroy on the Antarctic Peninsula, and has countless stories to tell about what life is like amongst the penguins!

The CRUISE Show is open from 10am-6pm on Saturday 21st and 10am-4pm on Sunday 22nd March, at ExCel London. We look forward to seeing you there!

Freeze Frame

2009-03-04T09:45:33+00:00

Today sees the launch of 'Freeze Frame', a fantastic new website created by our friends at

the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI).

SPRI holds a vast collection of images and documents relating to the study of polar environments, and they have now digitised over 20,000 photographic negatives in order to both conserve and share these unique pictures. Dating from 1845 to 1982, the images tell a fascinating story of polar exploration over the years, supported by excerpts from journals and reports.

Discover the World are proud to support SPRI's research into global warming and are currently funding substantial aspects of the Eurasian Arctic: Melting Ice project.

The Big Yin heads north!

2009-02-16T09:30:00+00:00

It's with great excitement that we'll be tuning in this Thursday to watch ITV1's
new series 'Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World'

In his usual inimitable style Billy will be exploring the Arctic, from Nova Scotia across the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean, in search of bears, whales and icebergs. But perhaps what stands out the most are the variety of characters that he meets along the way, who have made this unique wilderness their home. Legendary explorers, tragic victims and quirky locals make up a rich tapestry of humanity past and present, and bring this frozen expanse to life.

For those of you that enjoyed his series 'Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand' back in 2004, this is definitely one to watch... You can find out more about some of the destinations featured - and start planning your own journey to the edge of the world - on our website.

Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World can been seen on ITV1, Thursday 19th February, at 9pm

Shipmates ahoy...

2009-02-09T16:57:55+00:00

We've just spent an enjoyable few days exhibiting at Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show. It's always great to have the opportunity to meet so many people passionate about travel and all it entails - and it gives us a chance to share our own passions! One of the questions that kept cropping up was about who you're likely to be sharing your voyage with - so here's a brief profile of some of my ship-mates that shared my recent Antarctic adventure:

The ages ranged from early 20s (an Israeli backpacker) to a number of passengers well into retirement. There was also a large number in their 40s. They were of all different nationalities and backgrounds - lawyers and doctors, students and teachers, American, Australian, Taiwanese, Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, German, English... Of particular relevance to some of our favourite destinations was Pall Steingrimsson, a charming Icelandic film producer, and Linda Besse, a successful wildlife artist (take a look at some of her Arctic studies, including some life-like polar bears - penguins to follow shortly!). The one thing we all shared, regardless of age, nationality, status and wealth, was a passion for Antarctica, for the wildlife, the scenery and the adventure, and sharing such a unique experience brought us all together in a way that few other experiences could.

Bear Necessities!

2009-01-20T17:30:09+00:00

This week I’ve had the enjoyable task of sifting through some rather lovely polar bear photos to add to our new-look website (it’s a tough job…!). So I was delighted to then go home to find a particularly cute mother and cub lurking in my tv guide last night, highlighting a new documentary airing this Friday, 23rd January. The Natural World is showing on BBC2 at 8pm, and will be focusing on global warming and the impact it is having on both the polar bears and the grizzlies of northern Canada. As the temperature increases the bears are beginning to find themselves in the same areas, as the grizzlies head north to cooler climes, and the two species have even started to interbreed. One to watch this weekend!

Race for the South Pole!

2009-01-09T12:14:00+00:00

Here in the office we’ve been excitedly watching the progress of our old friend Ben Fogle, as he competes in a race for the South Pole. After a delayed start due to blizzard conditions, the 6 teams finally commenced the Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race on 4^th January. This 495 mile slog over the Antarctic Ice-Cap was inspired by the race between Captain Scott & Roald Amundsen back in 1912 – Scott’s team arrived at the Pole five weeks after Amundsen, but sadly none of the team survived the return journey.

Team QinetiQ consists of Ben Fogle, double Olympic Champion James Cracknell, and junior doctor Ed Coats. They've maintained their lead since Day One, but they face tough competition out on the ice. You can keep track of their progress on the official Team QinetiQ website.

Winter Reading

2009-01-06T08:58:00+00:00

On sale now! The January issue of the BBC Wildlife Magazine features a 24 page pull out supplement entitled the 'The 20 Greatest Wildlife Spectacles', as voted for by over 300 of the world's top wildlife experts including photographers, film makers and conservationists. Pick up your copy now to read all about the fascinating life of the Emperor Penguin – it may even inspire you to start planning your own penguin adventures… What better way to spend these cold grey winter evenings than by planning your next trip?!

Adventures in Antarctica

2008-12-31T15:22:06+00:00

Back in the UK it's hard to believe that the last few days here have been several degrees colder than anything we experienced in Antarctica...!! And as the year draws to a close I've been looking back over this trip of a lifetime and thought I'd share the following excerpt from my adventures:

"Today we set foot on the Antarctic mainland - and what an experience that was! We arrived in Charlotte Bay on the west side of the Peninsula, at 64 degrees south, to find glassy smooth water scattered with icebergs and surrounded by snow covered mountains and icefields. The sky was a beautiful blue, the Weddell Seals were once again basking in the sun (they're a lazy bunch!) and we trekked up the ice-field for spectacular views of the bay. The Clipper Adventurer looks very small and insignificant in such glorious surroundings! We had some difficulty getting back to ship as it became surrounded by ice whilst we were on land - a good excuse for an impromptu zodiac cruise as the captain manouevred his way free.

Our next challenge, still in these icy waters, was the dreaded Polar Plunge... Yep, like a bunch of crazy penguins we lined up and followed each other in jumping into the Southern Ocean. Approximate water temperature: -2 degrees. It was COLD!! But also exhilirating - a real one-off experience which left us buzzing with adrenaline (or maybe that was frost-bite?) for the rest of the day..."

Argentine Delights

2008-12-09T09:20:34+00:00

As Nikki heads off into the sunset (figuratively speaking - austral summers don't allow much for sunsets or sunrises), it's time for Liz to pick up the reigns for all things polar and a bit beyond...

On Location
"When I found out I would be travelling to Antarctica I was over the moon - this really has been a life-long dream and I couldn't believe it was about to become a reality... As a result I've spent the past few weeks agonising over how many sets of thermals I need, whether it matters if my mittens don't match my bobble hat, how to use my friend's fancy camera and how on earth I'm going to find Nikki amongst all those penguins!!

Consequently I didn't really give much thought at all to the additional time I would be spending in Argentina pre- and post my voyage - and yet the past few days have been one amazing experience after another! After a brief stay in Buenos Aires I headed north to Iguazu. Surrounded by lush sub-tropical rainforest my excellent guide Marcela pointed out numerous butterflies, lizards, coatis (cute little racoon type creatures), black vultures, turtles... the list goes on! And if that wasn't enough to impress, then there were the world's largest waterfalls!! Iguazu Falls stretch for nearly 3kms across the Argentine/Brazilian border, and a height of up to 82 metres. They are BIG!!! We viewed them from both sides of the border - in Argentina you can get up close and personal (and wet) with various walking trails and an exhilirating boat trip into the thunderous spray at the bottom of the falls (very wet). The Brazilian side offers a more panoramic overview and a great way to appreciate the scale and size of the falls we´d explored on the Argentian side the previous day. You still get wet though - very refreshing in 30 degrees heat!!

Iguazu was an unforgettable sight and a total contrast to my next adventure... I'm writing this from El Calafate, Patagonia, in the south of Argentina. From the sub-tropical jungle to a sparkling glacial landscape, it's one extreme to another. Here I will be visiting the spectacular Perito Moreno glacier, before continuing my journey south to Ushuaia and beyond..."

Off to Antarctica - Goodbye from Nikki

2008-10-24T08:34:56+01:00

Well, today I bid a fond farewell to Discover the World, after an incredibly enjoyable 8 years of working with some of the best people in the travel industry. The ice and penguins of Antarctica are calling me back - I am thrilled to let you know that I'll be flying out from the UK next Thursday to Argentina, on my way down to Port Lockroy. I'll be working for the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust at their flagship historic base - Bransfield House on tiny Goudier Island, nestled along the Antarctic Peninsula. I'll be joining Rick, Judith and Laura, and around 700 gentoo penguins! Words cannot describe how excited I am!

My duties will include welcoming visitors from the expedition ships to Port Lockroy, helping man the shop, Post Office and 'Living Museum' down there, maintance of Port Lockroy and monitoring penguins! This is an amazing opportunity which is a dream come true. Port Lockroy is pivotal in raising awareness of Antarctic heritage, conservation issues and also in bringing funds to the UKAHT. I look forward to perhaps meeting some of you down there this season, if you're swinging by between early November 08 and early March 09. Do say hello and have a look around! You can keep track of goings on at Port Lockroy by reading the Diaries/Letters from Lockroy.

I've thoroughly enjoyed blogging here for Discover the World - and hope to send a few diary notes from Antarctica - so perhaps this is not quite goodbye! I will leave you in the trusty hands of my colleague Liz, who will be blogging about all things polar, so stay tuned! All the best to everyone out there who shares my passion for the White Continent! Cheers. Nikki.

Antarctica - A Place Like No Other - Video

2008-09-29T09:59:18+01:00

The British Antarctic Survey has launched a fantastic video introducing the Antarctic continent and their work in this stunning frozen environment. The video (click here) is approximately 20 minutes long - grab a cuppa and lose yourself in Antarctica for a few Monday morning moments!

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, it has, for almost 60 years, undertaken the majority of Britain's scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. It now shares that continent with scientists from over thirty countries. BAS employs over 400 staff, and supports three stations in the Antarctic, at Rothera, Halley and Signy, and two stations on South Georgia, at King Edward Point and Bird Island. The Antarctic operations and science programmes are executed and managed from Cambridge, and rely on a wide-ranging team of professional staff. The BAS station that is potentially visited on Antarctic cruises to the Peninsula is Rothera - only the longer Peninsula itineraries such as 'Crossing the Antarctic Circle' allow for enough time to potentially (ice and weather permitting) push south enough to reach Rothera.

Penguin Breeding Areas Map

2008-09-05T09:26:17+01:00

Something a little lighthearted for the end of the week - have just discovered a rather fun interactive map, showing an overview of the most important penguin breeding areas. Hover over your chosen species, and up they pop on the map! Remember, penguins aren't just found in Antarctica, but also in New Zealand, South Africa, South America and even the Galapagos archipelago. Enjoy!

Merino Underwear - Chocolate Fish Merino Webshop

2008-08-21T15:43:51+01:00

We all know that layering is key to keeping warm when out in the cold, and I'd like to share a new tip with you - Merino Wool is THE base layer to keep you warm and toasty in polar conditions. Whether you're out on a zodiac cruise drifting past spectacular icebergs and porpoising penguins, on land gazing in wonder at a nesting albatros, or up on deck keeping an eye out for whales or seals drifting past on pack ice - Antarctica and its environs tends to stop you in it's tracks, pause a while and soak up the moment! It's when you stop moving however, that you may start to feel a little chilly. For this reason, ensuring you have the essential gear to stay warm and comfortable during your voyage is imperative.

Chocolate Fish Merino is an online shop that I've recently dicovered, offering outdoor and travel clothing. The staff are friendly and helpful, the quality stock is well-priced, and they supply the British Antarctic Survey with their kit (an endorsement if ever I heard one). Chocolate Fish have also just kindly agreed to donate clothing to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust - to keep the staff who will be manning Port Lockroy (Goudier Island, the Antarctic Peninsula) cosy and warm this coming season! Furthermore, their gear has kitted out contestants for the Arctic Polar Challenge (race to the North Pole) - an impressive testing ground if ever I heard of one! The clothing is made in New Zealand using the finest merino wool.

Merino garments are light weight, don't hold odour, and are incredibly warm. Merino is far superior to other materials in retaining warmth due to the increased number of air pockets in this fine mesh fabric. You can read more about the science bit (apparently it keeps you cool too in the heat!) on Chocolate Fish's website. It is well worth investing in a few key items (such as longjohns and long-sleeved tops) at the very least, if you're heading down to Antarctica or planning to take an Arctic cruise.

Polarising is best for polar photography!

2008-07-18T15:37:10+01:00

In spite of the lack of sunshine here in the UK, I couldn't help but be tempted by a pair of very flash polarising sunglasses at the opticians the other day. The (very adept) sales lady was more than encouraging when I told her about my love of polar cruising.

It's important to take good sunglasses with you on a voyage to Antarctica or the Arctic; ideally a minimum of category level 3. Snow reflection and the glare on the water can cause strain and damage to your eyes; a pair of wrap-around polarising sunglasses will save on headaches and mean that you make the most of your polar cruise.

Polarising filters and lenses significantly cut out a lot of the light and glare - meaning that you can literally 'see into' the water - whether it be leopard seals darting around and under your zodiac, penguins slicing through the inky depths, or the looming mass of a submerged iceberg - you'll want to take in as much as possible both above and below the waterline! Polarising lenses (whether in sunglasses or fixed to your camera) cut out much of the 'unuseful' light so that the colours 'pop out'. An example of how polarising filters can help with polar photography can be seen in Seth White's images of Antarctica (see the link here) - where he has taken a picture through his polarised sunglasses (scroll down to the pictures of clouds at the bottom of the webpage).

Remember, if you're wearing polarised sunglasses and have a polarising lens on your camera, then the two filters will cancel each other out and darken the viewfinder - perhaps invest in a sports strap for your sunglasses, so you can take them off and safely wear them around your neck when taking that breathtaking shot.

Extreme Tourists - The Richard & Judy Show

2008-07-11T16:30:39+01:00

Antarctic tourism really is a hot topic at the moment (no pun intended on global warming - *groan*)! Earlier this week Patrick Barkham from the Guardian quizzed Discover the World on how a desire for 'extreme adventures' draws polar travellers to the Antarctic continent. Read the article here. Then we were called by a researcher from the Richard & Judy Show, looking to unlock the minds of so-called 'Extreme Tourists' (a bit media-speak for me to be honest!).

We were only too pleased to assist with putting them in touch with our past passenger, the bubbly and friendly Dawn Collins, who is a true polar aficionado. Dawn, together with her husband Sean (a fantastic amateur photographer - see his pictures here), has travelled both to Spitsbergen in the Arctic, and the Antarctic Peninsula. I'm sure Sean was delighted to see his pictures of a polar bear and penguin on national television, courtesy of the Richard & Judy Show!

It was Dawn however who took the limelight with her 15 minutes of fame 'on the box' last night (Channel 4, at 5pm), talking about her polar experiences and how it was possible to find her own space behind a piece of ice, and reflect on the reality of visiting the stunning Antarctic continent.