It all started here for me.


It has been a year since I heard about a plan to head down to Antarctica. I knew I had to take this journey even if I had to travel alone. Maybe I was looking for who I have not yet become.

David pictured below, (the Adventurer, Mariner, Social worker, Foodie, Biker, and most importantly wonderful Dad to two young daughters and husband) mentioned to me about a year ago, about a short trip across Drake Passage. The Drake Passage is  in the Southern Atlantic ocean and connects Cape Horn to the South Shetland Islands on the Continent of Antarctica. It is approximately 450nm (830 kms)



The sailing trip across sometimes treacherous waters seemed  a 'bad' joke at that point in time, but the "spirit" (pun intended) in me said a "YES, why not !!". Getting back to the 'seven seas' and to an Ocean I have never sailed in, made my overnight decision the next morning seem 'blissful' . As the story of the trip unfolded, I realised that the boat was no Carnival Cruise ship, but a 50 foot sailing yacht crewed by the Captains and us the 'paying' passengers. We would be spending three weeks on the boat, visiting Islands on the continent of Antarctica. 

David (after permission from the one and only "Lo") and myself discussed at length on the trip, and came to one conclusion, not only we must do it, but we should also throw in a couple on months of back packing in South America, as we are anyway travelling so far to board the yacht

David : Researching for the trip




And this is the boat which will be home for a month

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Adversity - Remember the airplane takes off against the wind

Image
  It has been nearly 3 weeks since my last post. It should have been a free running blog with a post every few days, but a muscle spasm to my back laid be low for a week in Mid December. Due to this unfortunate turn of event, we had to cancel our sailing trip down the west coast of India, 24 hours prior to planned departure. A big disappointment? – Yes, but these are adversities of excess and sometimes an opportunity in disguise. The back spasm partly cured, and I hopped on to my car and drove to Pune to spend a most wonderful Xmas with Terence by brother. On the seat besides me on my trip to Pune, was a friend of ours, who is trying to build skyscrapers (and spoil) Bandra from the ruins of old ancestorial properties.   A week in Pune was followed by a trip back to Mumbai so that I could drive to Karjat to spend a New year with my dear childhood friends. In this every growing materialistic world of false secularism, messiahs, leaders   and social media that thinks for...
Read more

Keep it Local: Shop, Buy and Think

Image
I always wanted to live in a small town, and if you call #panchgani a small town here I am. Sadly, although I have set up temporary home around the world, I always pack the wrong things. . So I landed here in Panchgani, on a humid, rainy, misty cold  day and commenced setting up 'home' . Before long, I realized how ill equipped I was. Clothes that would have sufficed in Mumbai are not much use out here. Its been four day and the washed clothes have not dried yet. I am roaming in wet socks and moist clothing. I quickly drew up a list of clothes, toiletries, groceries that I needed. Much like the city bloke I am, I sat down an entered my requirements on the various Apps that claim next day delivery at half the price. I came to Panchgani not only to enjoy the weather/water but also try and do something for the town that has given us so many memories. I then decided to walk down the one road town and purchase the items on the list locally rather than the online stuff. Surprisingly ...
Read more

Tiger Tiger burning bright

Image
  In the mid seventies Bandipur National Park was established as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. It adjoins Nagarhole National Park. I have been told it was once a private hunting reserve(sic)for the Maharaja of Mysore, now it now a Tiger Reserve. Bandipur is located south of Mysore and it is a 2 hour easy drive. The road at times looks infinite and appears to stretch all the way to Kanyakumari. The lodge that we stayed was clean and neat and the food wholesome. The guides told us to avoid safaris after monsoon as the bushes and shrubs are very dense. The during summer one could spot wildlife on the main road itself .   Road less travelled    Bandipur  The reserve is a short ride from the lodge. A guided safari is arranged and dusk and dawn. The forest was still very green due to the late departure of the SW monsoons and early arrival of the NE. We were told that forest turns shades of orange and brown in the summer, an...
Read more