Scientific Philanthropy

Part of the cost of our trip was also a fundraising exercise as part of Abercrombie & Kent’s Philanthropic program which has been running for 26 years. The funds raised from the passengers on board as part of the A&K Fighting Climate Change in Antarctica program, was about $12k which was used to pay for scientific equipment for the US Scientific program in Antarctica and more specifically research work at the US base Palmer Station on Anvers Island.
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Sir Ernest Shackleton

Though Amundsen and Scott are great stories of exploration, it was not the story that amazed me most and gave me a new hero. How I did not know of the Story of Shackleton!? It is beyond me, but thanks to the lectures and conversations with Bob Burton (Polar Historian) and reading a couple of books, His amazing journey is now etched into my memory.
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100 Years Since The Great Race

I have always had an interest in the great explorers and adventurers and in my aCairdmic years studying history I have often read and learnt about these great people. As a child in Britain learning about the great explorers and adventurers of the Polar Regions is that it was always the Scott vs. Amundsen great race to the South Pole that took precedence over any other expedition.
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Antarctica

It was with great anticipation and excitement that we set off from Buenos Aires on our way down to Ushuaia. Ushuaia is the southern most city in the world, this is where we would board our ship that would carry us to the white continent. La Boreal was our charter a fine 200 berth specially designed ice class ship.
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For the Fans

Now running a blog, we have learnt after 7 months since we set it up, is no easy task. Having a blog that actually gets readers and an audience is even harder. Having a blog that keeps and attracts more and more in audience numbers is even harder. But the priceless part of it all is feedback and also a sense of pride through some of the messages we write about and we see action through these messages from you our audience.
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Africa’s Top 10 – Saying Farewell

Leaving Africa was full of mixed emotions. Over the past two and a half months we have traveled through 12 countries on this incredible continent and to think we have only scratched the surface is unbelievable. Africa is a place that when you visit it captures your spirit and your soul! Before we traveled to Africa I had heard many people say “once you have experienced Africa, the ‘Africa Bug’ will always be with you”, and they couldn’t’ be more accurate. No matter where else I travel in the world or what I do in life a small part of me will always be in Africa and a big piece of Africa will always be with me! I will forever feel connected to this addictive land.
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On the trail of Mandela

This is more of a short essay than a blog, and more of a reflection of my time and experience of a country born from turmoil and colonialisation. On reaching South Africa there is one subject you cannot avoid and are drawn into learning about, that is Apartheid. A theme that is inextricably linked with Apartheid is the life story of Nelson Mandela. As much as South Africa is a fantastic country with a beautiful and varied backdrop and amazing people it still has the workings of a country divided in a common democracy.
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