Antarctic Journey A Sought After Expedition

Snow and cold was something appreciated by this gentleman after years at the Atigun Pass, the topmost area of the Trans Alaska Pipeline.

Hence, once this retired civil engineering expert heard more about the local university's alumni association's plans to travel to the white kingdom, Antarctica, he began to be all excited.

Such is a wonderful idea, I thought. Both real and armchair explorers aim to go to mesmerizing Antarctica despite being the coldest and least hospitable frontier in the world.

But as many travelers understand that it is not so easy to head to this place due to its many constraints, there has been less travelers to this White Continent recently.

The perilous road to Antarctica usually begins in the southernmost area of Argentina known as Ushuaia City, then a two day travel through the Drake Passage, where the roughest sea weather is, has to be undergone by the travelers.

It's the kind of experience that can have profound, life lasting personal effects. Travelers, since the 1800s have been venturing here after it was first sighted in 1820.

But commercial voyages here did not start until the Antarctic Treaty was entered into in the year 1959, establishing Antarctica as a natural reserve, dedicated to science and harmony.

The travel industry did evolve gradually but the significant rise only came in the 1990s, after the Iron Curtain gave way.

But opportunists ranging from Russian ice rated expedition vessels and tour operators who renovated these for commercial travel sprouted suddenly as scientific programs were scarce.

Seasoned travelers always need to see something different. But some, on the other hand, come for adventure and wish to be like Sir Ernest Shackleton, who boasts of the greatest expedition survival story, after his endurance expedition way back in 1914.

Antarctica's spectacular beauty has been known to enchant many a photographer, artist and nature lover, plus, apart from filling the landscapes, one can kayak around icebergs, and giant glaciers.

All whales species from humpback, minke and killer along with penguins and seals are all here. Just don't look for polar bears, which live in the circumpolar north.

Without the existence of developed ports and harbors, tourists had no choice but to hop on board zodiacs, which are small rubberized boats that are inflated.

Once ashore, activities include hiking, taking pictures or simply standing among the penguins, you can also kayak amid the icebergs.

Throughout the entire experience, naturalists from the expedition team are there to answer any wildlife, marine mammal, glaciology and historical queries.

For eight days, he was sailing in a 5 star cruise ship and then was in Buenos Aires for three more days and throughout such an exploration, he learned so much about the wildlife and scenery of the places he was traveling to.

Naturalist guided trips to a handful of penguin rookeries was something he could never forget. These short legged and adorable creatures put up a show for him, and it was interesting how they were curious but not fearful at all.

But then Antarctic travel is not impressive for every single individual. Some environmentalists look down on the growing number of tourists, as these might affect the delicate ecosystem of Antarctica, posing threats to wildlife breeding and reducing populations especially of the rarest of species.

The international alliance formed by Antarctic tour operators have volunteered to abide by the regulations set to counter the ill environmental impacts that tourism does to this region.

With strict adherence of excellent environmental and operational laws by tourists, companies and natural programs, the White Continent will be kept pristine.

He adds that television shows further compound the problem as these make us think that animals including the thousands of penguins that finds home only in Antarctica as just forms of entertainment.

Animals do not get tense if they are used to people. Several threats come from this kind of long term disassociation from the natural realm.

There is no applause from other conservationists when it comes to this. But by encouraging more and more people to venture into Antarctica, he argues, they will feel sensitivity for this land.