Gulf News reader Alistair D’Souza took these pictures on his recent holiday to Antarctica.
He said: “This December, I sailed with my wife Andrea Cornel to the seventh continent — Antarctica. After a three-day sail from South Ameria, in a sturdy ice-breaker ship, through the Drake Passage, we saw the first sign of land — an Antarctic iceberg arising from the horizon.
“It was the time of the Antarctic summer [December-February], so the sun never set. The sun’s rays hitting the iceberg were a fabulous sight. Standing on the deck of the ship, staring into the endless blue ocean with sub-zero winds hitting our faces, we were reminded of how far we were from home.
“After we received repeated reminders asking us to wear multiple layers of clothing, not to interact with wildlife and not to carry any food items, we finally cleared for landing. On the shore, it was fascinating to see the hosts of the continent, penguins and seals, curiously welcoming us.
“Since Antarctica is off limit to tourists for nine months in a given year, these hosts were not used to seeing humans around, so they approached us quite comfortably to investigate, thus helping us take some amazing shots. We spent the rest of the days chasing elusive killer whales, camping, skiing, hiking and visiting research bases.
“There were times when we simply sat on the shores of the continent, doing nothing, because the scenery was so breathtaking. Time flew by quickly and to bid Antarctica farewell was difficult. This 11-day voyage was certainly the trip of a lifetime.”
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