Antarctica with Apprehension

[Flying mermaid]

Some beautiful seals just enjoying the ice and birds too

 

[Flying mermaid]

We had a surprise where we met up with Tim Amm and others handing out hot chocolate and drinks. Reminded me of the game reserves in Africa, where they love to spring a surprise brunch on you out in the bush

 

[Flying mermaid]

Some general pictures and sunsets from that day.

 

[love_the_life]

I just loved the blue ice when we were on zodiac rides - the colour and the different forms were stunning. Looks like you have the same gorgeous examples.

 

[irv]

i have been having this debate with him for years - it’s why I don’t want to take photos, I just want to lose myself in it and have it in my head. He has got better and now will sometimes just sit and watch, but he is very hooked into his cameras,

Umhh, I think I know he feels, but you can relive the memories when your brain is old and has shut down

 

[irv]

these are the upmarket version - I have ordered the original ones. Boarding Ring seem to have a deal with Citroen. Couldn’t get these ones either - seems to have been a delay with the manufacturer.

Do they stop you from getting sea sick cause everyone is laughing at you?? I am with your husband, probably a 44 gallon of snake oil

 

[Flying mermaid]

I just loved the blue ice when we were on zodiac rides - the colour and the different forms were stunning. Looks like you have the same gorgeous examples.

Yes it was so beautiful- almost unique really. Was the Arctic the same?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Do they stop you from getting sea sick cause everyone is laughing at you?? I am with your husband, probably a 44 gallon of snake oil

well they certainly worked with motion sickness in the car when I tried them out. I am hoping Dr FM might go on another cruise and then I will get her to try them.

The thing is you only wear them for 10 minutes and can use them in your suite, so no one has to see you . You don’t have to walk around with them on all the time. Although to be honest if I had had them when we were crossing the Drake and they stopped me from feeling ill I would have worn them 24/7 and not cared.

 

[Tamerton]

I loved this report. Thank you and I have a new itinerary for my bucket list.
I am also going to try the glasses. There is a cheaper Chinese set on ebay so I might try those.
It’s the same principle so they should do the job just as well.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I loved this report. Thank you and I have a new itinerary for my bucket list.
I am also going to try the glasses. There is a cheaper Chinese set on ebay so I might try those.
It’s the same principle so they should do the job just as well.

I haven’t seen the Chinese ones - doesn’t take them long to copy . Would love to hear how they go.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Sigh - I better nag Mr FM for some more photos so I can finish this report. he seems to have segued off onto his models photos at the moment.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I loved this report. Thank you and I have a new itinerary for my bucket list.
I am also going to try the glasses. There is a cheaper Chinese set on ebay so I might try those.
It’s the same principle so they should do the job just as well.

I had a look at the Chinese ones and they look like the ones Boarding Ring has developed with Citroen. The manufacturing is being done in China, so I guess someone has managed to get a small supply from the same factory and is flogging them off cheaply. So they should be identical. Typical of what happens in China unfortunately- manufacturing there is always a bit two edged.

 

[Pushka]

I had a look at the Chinese ones and they look like the ones Boarding Ring has developed with Citroen. The manufacturing is being done in China, so I guess someone has managed to get a small supply from the same factory and is flogging them off cheaply. So they should be identical. Typical of what happens in China unfortunately- manufacturing there is always a bit two edged.

It’s rather sad isn’t it when someone spends the money on product development and research, owns the IP and that happens.

Attended a photography workshop yesterday and the facilitator said that 70% of Photo cards in use right now are rip offs. And that photographic companies do a roaring trade extracting the photos from them when they invariably fail.

 

[Rod James]

Great photos. Thank you.

 

[Flying mermaid]

It’s rather sad isn’t it when someone spends the money on product development and research, owns the IP and that happens.

Attended a photography workshop yesterday and the facilitator said that 70% of Photo cards in use right now are rip offs. And that photographic companies do a roaring trade extracting the photos from them when they invariably fail.

it happens a lot in China where they have very weak laws.

I suspect in this case they are not even manufacturing themselves - just getting some “leftovers”.

I once bought a fabulous skirt for Ms FM from a department store in Shanghai for around $30. The following year she was shopping with a friend and they wandered into an expensive boutique in Melbourne. One of the assistants said - “oh - lovely, you are wearing one of our designs from last year - are you still happy with it”.

 

[love_the_life]

Yes it was so beautiful- almost unique really. Was the Arctic the same?

The arctic is similar but different, if that makes any sense. Of course no penguins but there were polar bears and walruses which were cute. There were some dry landings and overall less snow and ice, but we were there in August so quite late in the season. Probably not as many animals but the polar bears are special. Lots of birds, earlier in the season there are puffins as well.

 

[Tamerton]

I will lodge a report when I’ve tried the chinese
glasses. We’re doing a NZ cruise in 3 weeks and I will try them out. Hopefully they will come before then.

I haven’t seen the Chinese ones - doesn’t take them long to copy . Would love to hear how they go.

 

[Pushka]

The arctic is similar but different, if that makes any sense. Of course no penguins but there were polar bears and walruses which were cute. There were some dry landings and overall less snow and ice, but we were there in August so quite late in the season. Probably not as many animals but the polar bears are special. Lots of birds, earlier in the season there are puffins as well.

I’d love to see polar bears. I think we will see puffins and brown bears in Alaska. I shall have to photoshop to make them white.

Speaking of which I’ve started gathering items together. Paying in full for an expensive cruise kind of puts you into that mode.

 

[ozflier]

Hi,
There was a cruise to the Antarctic apparently late November 2018 that encountered severe weather on the return thru the Drake Passage.
It in involve waves crashing thru windows into the 3rd deck level and trapping an injuring passengers and inundating that levels corridors. Several were hospitalised on return to Ushuaia.
I have seen a photo and the ship was the National Geographic Explorer and temporarily repaired windows on the side.
I'm away from home at the moment otherwise i would have included the image.
I know that the trip has its risks and travellers accept that.
Has anyone more knowledge of the incident?

 

[tgh]

Rough Crossings of the Drake Lake are relatively common and it's only the occasional damage to a ship that makes the news.
Most expedition ships are well up to the task, but (and it's a big but for the passengers) some handle the weather better than others.
I have crossed the Drake in Heavy weather aboard a very weatherly ship and quite enjoyed the experience.