We’ve been looking into our adventures for the coming years and all of these have definitely tickled our fancy.
What do you think?

Cycling the Great Wall of China

You have a choice – join the hordes and be jostled along a few hundred yards of the Great Wall of China or cycle over 300 miles beside it with a group of just a few and truly appreciate its awesome length. Discover Adventure has run trekking trips along the wall for a few years but 2012 sees the inauguration of its cycle tour, which crosses mountains, passes through traditional villages and offers frequent views of the majestic wall.

Kitesurfing in Sri Lanka

Whilst the civil war raged, travelling to the Kalpitya Peninsula on the northwest coast of Sri Lanka was highly unadvisable. Luckily for avid kitesurfers, or just those who wish to give kitesurfing a try in a beautiful and unspoilt area, it is now safe so the great breezes off the Indian Ocean can be harnessed by all. Stay at Kitekuda Kitecamp in well-appointed bungalows on the beach and you’ll be within walking distance of the kiteschool and the strong breezes of Kitekuda Lagoon.

Hiking in Georgia

There are many destinations around the globe in which to embark on an epic walking holiday but Georgia doesn’t often crop up on top ten lists. It should. The Grand Caucasus Mountains, which stretch from the Black Sea to the Caspian, offer incredible mountain scenery, wildlife such as brown bears, golden eagles and lynx, warm and welcoming locals and an exhilarating remoteness. Book a trek with Wild Frontiers through the heart of the Grand Caucasus Mountains and you’ll camp in high pastures close to the Russian border, climb Geoorgia’s highest peaks, and cross the stunning Abodelauri Pass at a heart-thumping 3500m.

Kayaking in Sardinia

A beautiful island off the coast of southern Italy it may be but in the high summer months it is also packed with tourists. Avoid them completely by taking to the warm waters of the Mediterranean in a kayak, paddling to remote beaches on tiny islands, exploring sea caves and passing by stunning limestone cliffs. Go with an organisation and you’ll get to camp on isolated beaches whilst still enjoying fabulous Sardinian food and wine under the stars. Wilderness Journeys offer a great week-long itinerary of kayaking around the Sardinian archipelago.

Rafting in Sweden

Those with dreams of living a Huckleberry Fin style life should hot-foot it to Sweden where, on the Klarälven River, you will build a timber raft and float downstream. Fishing for your dinner and camping on the forested banks under the stars isn’t exactly adrenaline-pumping but an adventure it certainly is. Under the guidance of the Explore! instructors, who aid your raft build, you will also get the chance to search for elk, roe deer and beavers.

Horse Riding in Namibia

Tackle the second largest canyon in the world on horseback on this epic trip through Fish River Canyon in the Southern Namib Desert, close to the border of South Africa. Ride to the very edge of the rim of the canyon for mind-blowing views before descending to the base and following the Orange River. From here, the route heads across the open savannah where African game roam freely, before reaching Klein Aus Vista where you’ll get a rare chance to spot the desert’s wild horses. It’s the experience of a lifetime but you’ll need to be an experienced rider.

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Video.

Viewing it? Awesome. Making it? Intimidating. In this 2 part series we are delving deep into the intricacies of creating engaging travel video content. Mike Corey of Kick the Grind TV has won 2 travel video blogging competitions, been featured in the Huffington post, has ascended to youtube partner status and has been featured in film festivals. He’ll be talking about the tips and tricks he’s learned the hard way while travelling our incredible planet with a video camera.

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Fully Loaded

First off, let’s talk gear. My main cameras are a Panasonic HDC TM- 700 Handicam and a Canon t3i (600D) DSLR. I also use a GoPro from time to time.

What I’ve learned is that if video is your main focus, you’re going to want a video camera. I know that sounds like “Cameras 101″, but for some reason our society has begun to think that photo cameras are better for video.

Perhaps Handicams have become synonymous with “Soccer Mom”, or maybe a DSLR around your neck is the “Bling” of the 21st century…but let me crack the shutters on the truth. There are some serious things to consider when choosing which road to go down, so here is a list of Pros & Cons of shooting video with similarly priced, medium tier cameras.

DSLR

Pros:                                                                          Cons:

• Interchangeable Lenses                                                             •  Extra Weight, and not “Pocketable”
• Large Sensor = Good in Low Light                                         •  No Internal Storage
• Large Sensor = Great Depth of Field                                       •  Poor Audio from Built in Mic
• Easy Access to Manual Shooting                                             •  Poor Anti-Shake
• Higher time lapse potential                                                       •  No Autofocus when filming

Handicam

Pros:                                                                         Cons:

• Built-in Auto Focus                                                                    •  Less Creative Options
• Great Antishake                                                                          •  Generally Smaller Sensor
• Better Built-In Mic                                                                      •  Manual Shooting (if available) is buried
• Pocketable
• Internal Storage
• Built in Zoom Potential
• Full-Auto is “Set & Forget”

DSLR videography is like DSLR photography; each shot has to established and composed. Handicams are built to quickly get that shot. If both photo and video are equally important, then you’re going to have to make a tough choice. Plain and simple, we don’t yet have a machine that does both extremely well.

Final Thought.

Gear is gear. A better camera is not going to give you better video. What will though, is a solid understanding light, sound, and how to operate all the features of your current camera. I’ve learned everything I know from online tutorials. Lynda.com = my digital savant.

Who’s Your Star?

A big turning point in my content was when I heard this gem: “People connect with people, not places”. It shook my foundation.

We connect with characters on a journey. Deciding who those characters are, and what their journey is going to be, is one of the most important steps in creating a successful video.

If you’re pulse just quickened, relax. If you’re familiar with my work, it’s not hard to tell who I often choose to tell the story. I recommend travel bloggers consider making themselves the star from time to time. It allows your audience to put a face behind the name, and helps you build a more genuine relationship with your readers.

Talking on camera is tough, but think about it this way: It’s not hard to dance to your favourite song.

To clarify the metaphor: Film things you are genuinely interested in. Passion is contagious. Just like a dancer or musician, if you are enthusiastic about what you do, the masses will be too. If you really feel a landmark is underwhelming, then why bother? Develop your story around nature, history, tequila… whatever you love. Show the world why they should love it too.

Note: The beauty of editing is that people don’t see the work it took to get it right. My personal “best” is 23 takes, what’s yours?

Top Shots.

Travel television is planned, and the best travel videos are planned.

We all aspire for a TV show, a pro-blogging gig, or a million hits on youtube. Why wouldn’t you try your best to make the most effective content possible? Planning is never wasted. I’m well aware that ”The Road” is capable of dealing you a tough hand. Trains can be delayed, weather can be terrible, highlights can pop up any second. But the unpredictable nature of travel shouldn’t stop you from planning. One of the best things you can start doing is create an “Idea Catcher”.

It can be a little black book, or it can be a document in the cloud. Keep track of shot & editing ideas, quotes, cool expressions, funny concepts, etc. Also, using it to record what shots you have, and what shots you might need helps a lot on Day 2, as well as when you return home to edit. Creating a well of resources makes life so much easier.

To finish off today’s article, I’d like to share something we all wish we knew from the beginning.

Golden Rule #1: Never NEVER say “I’ll come back and film that later”. Odds are that you probably won’t.

Make sure to check out more of Mike’s videos on YouTube. Plus, follow him on Twitter, Facebook and at his travel blog, Kick the Grind TV

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The penguins are adorable, the seals are spectacular and the whales have that “Wow Factor” that take your breath away when they pop up beside your zodiac. They could all easily be the stars of Antarctica.

So What is the real star of Antarctica?

Ice

Enjoy these photos of the varios ice formations in Antarctica.

The aquamarine colours of the Antarctica Ice

The stunning reflections of the Antarctic Ice

Ice takes on so many forms in Antarctica.

Black and White really brings out the drama of Antarctic Ice.

The ice in Antarctica makes for some interesting patterns.

Sometimes the Ice in Antarctica is so blue it hurts your eyes!

Ice towers are everywhere in Antarctica

Ice Floes are all over in Antarctica

A perfect Antarctica landscape

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Check out Quark Expeditions for planning your own Antarctic Expedition. Mention ThePlanetD and receive 5% off your booking - 5% can be redeemed on any voyage and be combinable with any of Quark’s promotions.

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Inspired by Peru by Arienne Parzei 

I remember the moment so vividly. I was on the phone with one of my best friends. She had just found out the news that she had been selected to lead a research and development team in Peru for 6 months. It was a big deal for her because it was her first assignment leading a team, and also meant infield experience for her. But little did I know at the time how much my friend’s new assignment would impact me.

After my congratulations I just blurted out, “I’m going to visit you”. She laughed and said, “of course, you have to!” I’m not sure if she thought I was serious, I didn’t either. I actually had to go and check a map to see exactly where it was located in South America, but for about a month after that all I could think about was Peru.

I made that trip a reality in January of 2008. It was full of firsts for me; my first solo trip, my first backpacking trip, and my first time visiting a 3rd world country. There were a lot of new things I had to plan and prepare for. This was going to be a different type of travel, much to the concern of my parents, and even to me truthfully. I decided it would be best that I join a tour for three weeks and then meet up with my friend for the final week of my stay in Peru. I wasn’t exactly going to be alone on the trip, but I was traveling solo.
I researched online for months about all the equipment I would need and general information about solo female travel. I had been awoken to a vast amount of online information that I never knew existed before. I was so inspired and felt more confident knowing that there were others who had done this before and lived to tell the tale.

Our tour itinerary was jam-packed. It would start in Lima, work down to Pisco and the Nazca Lines. We would visit the colonial town of Arequipa, climb the mountains to visit Colca Canyon, and stay overnight with a family in a local village on the highest lake above sea level, Lake Titicaca. We would then head over to Cuzco and hike the famous Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu for 4 days and 3 nights. Our trip would wrap up with a flight into the Amazon, exploring and staying in the rainforest and then finish back in Lima.

I remember waving goodbye to my mother at the airport, tears in both our eyes, with a sparkling new backpack on my back packed with everything I hoped would serve me well for the trip. I was excited and nervous, to say the least.
Nearly 4 years later and looking back on that trip, so many things are still fresh in my memory. I remember the beautiful faces of the children, the rich colours of fabric the women would sell on the side of the road, the horrible taste of coca-leaf tea (which is supposed to help with altitude sickness), the earthy smell of food being cooked, zooming head-first down a sand dune on a snowboard, flying in a tiny prop plane over the Nazca Lines, and the impressive strength and agility of our porters on the Inca Trail.

Hiking the Inca Trail was by far the highlight of the trip. It was grueling and exhilarating all at the same time. The scenery was impressive, and thoughts about the indigenous people doing the same route hundreds of years before danced in my head. It was a magical feeling sleeping in a tent on the mountains and waking up amongst the clouds. But it was even more magical reaching our final destination, Machu Picchu. It was a surreal experience walking amongst the ruins, taking it all in. I couldn’t help but think about how it was discovered in the first place, being surrounded by mountains on all sides. I still remember this eerie spirit, or mystical vibe of civilizations past, that seemed to float through the air. I spent some time just sitting on a rock near the top, soaking in the surroundings. It was a spiritual and humbling moment. I felt so calm and relaxed and inspired all at the same time. I literally could have sat there all day.

I got to see and experience so much in the four weeks I visited Peru, but I walked away with more than just memories and souvenirs. I walked away with more confidence in myself, and the ability to travel to developing countries. I also gained the understanding of the day-to-day life of those living with much less than we’re afforded at home, which put a lot of perspective on the kind of life I was living.
At the end of my trip, I had a clearer idea of what I wanted to accomplish in life and set two major goals for myself. I decided I wanted to live abroad for a period of time and that I wanted to do a major backpacking trip at some point that would last 6-months to a year. It’s now been almost 4 years later and I can say I’ve accomplished both. This past August, my boyfriend and I completed two years living and teaching English in South Korea, and we’re now 3 months into a long-term backpacking trip throughout Southeast Asia.

Traveling is so rewarding and educational for me in many ways. I learn something new about myself every time I travel. But more importantly, it gives me the opportunity to learn first-hand about other cultures and the people who live in them. I can’t imagine the rest of my life without travel in it.

Author Bio:
Arienne Parzei is a Canadian who has been traveling and working abroad since 2009.

Though a videographer by trade, she has now expanded her interests into travel journalism and web design. She lives and travels with her long-term boyfriend Tristan, always looking forward to where the road will take them next. You can follow their adventures at www.seeyousoon.ca,On twitter @seeusoontravel

Inspirational Series 

This is an ongoing series of Inspirational travel. If you have an experience in travel that changed your life, made you look at the world differently or an amazing moment that you want to share, please contact us for more details and we will email you right back.. You can also read more about submitting an article to this series at Calling All Writers, Share your Inspirational Travel Story

Read More Inspirational Stories

• I Celebrated my 50th Birthday in Chianti and Started a New Business
• Real Men Don’t Cry
• How Virtual Tourist Changed our Lives
• Round Trip Ticket, Backpack and Curiosity
• What Happens When You Follow Your Heart
• From Little Englander To Travel Lover 
• Freedom Found
•  The Yoga Retreat That Made Me Quit My Day Job 
• Learning that it’s OK to be a Quitter 
• Zulu Memories in South Africa by Green Global Travel
• What I Would Tell You (If I Had the Words)
•  Charity for the Philippines a Birthday Adventure
• Habitat for Humanity in Alaska
• Inspired at the Summit of Mount Roy 
• Inspirational Travel: Fishing For Friendship 

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A humpback whale breaches in Antarctica

Much of the staff had never seen something like this before and it was a special moment to see the excitement between both the passengers and the expedition team from Quark Expeditions. Expedition leader Shane stated over the PA that he had only witnessed a whale breaching for this long once before and other team members stated that this was a first for them as well.

Nobody knows why a whale breaches. It take a tremendous amount of energy and it is normally performed by a calf. This whale had its nearby. It could be to burn off extra energy, it could be to relieve a scratch on its back, whatever it may be it is a beautiful spectacle to see.

We were honoured to have moments like this regularly during our time in Antarctica and we were humbled by the beauty and power of nature that we witnessed every day.

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Check out Quark Expeditions for planning your own Antarctic Expedition. Mention ThePlanetD and receive 5% off your booking - 5% can be redeemed on any voyage and be combinable with any of Quark’s promotions.

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Have you been wondering what all this Twitter and facebook nonsense is all about? This event should help explain it all. Over a course of 5 consecutive days, events will be happening in different venues all over Toronto. Events are selling out fast, but never fear, new venues are being added each day.

Check out more at Toronto’s Social Media Week homepage.

Where Will We Be?

We’ll be sitting on a panel at the Ballroom of the Gladstone Hotel on Thursday, February 16 at 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM where we’ll be talking about Getting Serious About Travel Blogging.

Along with a panel of experts we’ll be talking about what exactly travel blogging is and how it has developed as an industry. Travel Blogging has grown leaps and bounds in the few short years we’ve been involved and we are excited to be a part of it. We’ll be sharing our experiences from ThePlanetD on how we’ve worked with companies, how we’ve grown the blog and how we keep it up to date and interesting while we are on the road and at home.

Come on out and chat about what the opportunities are for Travel Bloggers and how travel companies and pr firms can work with us. That’s our specialty, we love showing companies the way that travel bloggers can benefit them! You’ll be surprised with the reach and influence the online community has. If you’re a company, don’t be left behind, head out to social media week in Toronto. If your a current blogger or someone interested in how you can become a blogger or grow your business online…come out to social media week!

In Cairo: How Travel Bloggers Can Increase your Brand Visibility

Even if you can’t make it to our event, there are plenty of others that will grab your attention. This is a huge worldwide event and it goes to show how powerful the online market is becoming.

As I browse the events, I am excited to see all that is going on. There are discussions powered by LinkedIn, There are discussions on the ROI (Return on Investment) for social media, monetizing digital content, online marketing, building experiences on facebook…the list is huge!

Chet out the Schedule page for the session that is right for you.

We’ll be on a panel with

Meredith Howard account co-ordinator of the top PR firm in Toronto, High Road Communications
Jantine Van Kregten - Director of Communications for Ottawa Tourism
Evelyn Hannon - Editor of leading woman’s online travel magazine JourneyWoman
Andrew Hickey the Social Media manager for G Adventures
Adrian Brijbassi - Editor of Vacay.ca created by award-winning Canadian journalists

Getting Serious About Travel Blogging is brought to you by Toronto Travel Massive. For more information on the event visit Getting Serious About Travel Blogging

Follow Social Media Week Toronto on Twitter at @SMWTO 

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I decided to screw modesty and start to jump up and down on the side of the highway.  If they didn’t see me then, they sure will see me now. Still, no one was paying this 18 year old with her best imploring face any attention.

Until I saw a car slowing down. Uh-oh, did I see an overhead light above the car? Yup, I did. It’s a police car. He rolled down the window next to me and asked “Is everything ok?” I tried to explain in my best English what was going on… see, I have an appointment to see Hearst Castle, but the bus only goes until 3 miles away from the place.

He motioned to the back seat. I couldn’t believe my luck. I’m getting a ride from a California highway patrol. This is so cool.

Looking back at it, I couldn’t believe my dumb luck. First, I didn’t realize that hitchhiking is illegal along Californian highway and two, really, what was an 18 year old with limited English doing hitchhiking along a highway to begin with?

But that was also the start of my discovery that most people in the world are well…  nice and they’re willing to help each other out. Most of them are not out there looking to take advantage of lost and clueless travelers.

It wasn’t an isolated case. On the way back from Hearst Castle, I had to hitchhike again – this time the grounds keeper of the castle itself stopped to give me a ride.

Then there were these owners of a Chinese Restaurant in New York who sheltered me in their house when they found me walking around in Rochester – New York in a blizzard.

Or that Greek shop owner who was so determined to help us find a government office that he called his wife (and when she didn’t answer, his neighbor) to take us there. When nobody seemed to be available, he closed his shop and took us there himself.

The list goes on.

Each of this random act of kindness has left a glowing footprint in my memory of the place. Beautiful sceneries fade, photos got lost, but I still remember the stress felt and the relief brought by these strangers to the situation I was in. Even years down the line.

They inspired me to to keep on traveling despite my fear of travel.

The thing is – when I really sit down and think about it, travel scares me. So many unknowns and so many things could go wrong and have gone wrong: I’ve been yelled at by Chilean cops for apparently being stupid enough to get my stuff stolen and then not understanding their Spanish. I’ve been bitten by a potential rabid dog in Ethiopia. I’ve been chased by angry villagers in Lombok for unknowingly having run over a chicken while driving.

But the kindness of strangers we’ve encountered on and off our travels are always a good reminder that when I take that leap of faith into the unknown, there will be others ready to soften the fall. Friends and families. Strangers and unexpectedly.

It makes travel a little less intimidating.

More importantly, they’ve inspired me to give back to those in need. Especially to those who are out of place, those who are lost, and those are painfully and obviously do not know what they’re doing. Those like myself, really.

So when it’s your turn to take that leap into the wonderful world of travel, I’ll be there to help you as well.

Jill is one half of Jack and Jill Travel. Jack and Jill met in college, graduated, got jobs, got married, left their jobs, sold everything, and bought a one-way ticket to Colombia for April 18th. That’s their story in short and currently they are traveling the world together.
Likes: wine, chocolate soy milk, her Kindle (dubbed ‘Kindie’), and freshly baked bread.
Dislikes: wriggly insects, sour cream, and driving.
Follow them on
Twitter
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Jack and Jill Travel
This is an ongoing series of inspiring stories from intrepid travellers around the world. If you have an experience in travel that changed your life, made you look at the world differently or an amazing moment that you want to share, please contact us for more details and we will email you right back.. You can also read more about submitting an article to this series at Calling All Writers, Share your Inspirational Travel Story

• Real Men Don’t Cry
• How Virtual Tourist Opened My Eyes to Inspiration
• Round Trip Ticket, Backpack and Curiosity
• What Happens When You Follow Your Heart
• From Little Englander To Travel Lover 
• Freedom Found
•  The Yoga Retreat That Made Me Quit My Day Job 
• Learning that it’s OK to be a Quitter 
• Zulu Memories in South Africa by Green Global Travel
• What I Would Tell You (If I Had the Words)
•  Charity for the Philippines a Birthday Adventure
• Habitat for Humanity in Alaska
• Inspired at the Summit of Mount Roy 
• Inspirational Travel: Fishing For Friendship 

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Leo Mol Gallery Park in Assiniboine Park

Winnipeg, Manitoba saw a surge in popularity in Canada partly because of the return of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League.  But for people who have visited Winnipeg before there is another reason to celebrate the region and it is called Assiniboine Park.

The park is one of the largest urban parks in North America and to many who visit the city it is the most memorable natural attraction and recreation destination they will visit while in the region.

Assiniboine Park measures over 153 hectares (402 acres). It is situated north of one of the largest urban forests in Canada called the Assiniboine Forest. The park is very well developed while the forest is left in a wilderness state. Both are home to a smorgasbord of adventures.

Assiniboine Park dates back to the early 1900s when in 1904 the City of Winnipeg purchased 115 hectares (283 acres) of land on the southern banks of the Assiniboine River. The land was designated as a protected park and was named the “Suburban Park” for the first ten years until it was renamed the Assiniboine Park.

Flowers of English Gardens in Assiniboine Park

Assiniboine Park was the first park in the City of Winnipeg and – to this day – is one of the gems of the community. Since its early beginnings the park has grown into a major sightseeing and activity destination in the region. Some of the earlier attractions to take root in the park include the 1914 Palm House, 1907 Formal Garden and the 1929 Pavilion Gallery Museum (home to artifacts and art).

The Palm House has gone under some renovations since its early beginnings. In 1968 a new Palm House was constructed over and around the old existing attraction. Together with the Display Garden they form “The Conservatory” of jungle-love. It is a large complex which houses over 8,000 non-native plants and trees – it is reminiscent of a forest filled with many plants not known for growing in the province of Manitoba.

Pelicans in Flight on Assiniboine River

There are many floral gardens in Assiniboine Park. So much so that the park is a favorite for weddings, business meetings, special occasions, celebrations and photos. There are sections of the park which can be reserved for such an occasion like the Foyer Gallery (art gallery, gift shop & restaurant), Palm House (wilderness gardens) and the Floral Atrium.

There are many gardens in Assiniboine Park including the Herb Garden, Garden of Life, Daylily Garden, V.O.N Cutting Garden, Lily Garden, Mayors Grove, Butterfly Gardens, English Garden, Citizens Hall of Fame, Leo Mol Garden and the 1907 Formal Garden.

The Leo Mol Garden is part of and next to the English Garden. They are both housed in an enclosed section of the park. The Leo Mol is an escape for artists with statues, sculptures and a workshop… and the gardens is a horticultural gem with gardens on gardens of colors and scents.

The Leo Mol Garden includes outdoor sculptures, bronze statues and porcelains. A walking path explores from one statue to another, eventually connecting with the paths of the gardens. On site is the Schoolhouse Studio. It is where artists gather to work… and it operates as a gift shop and base for providing interpretive guided tours.

Atrium in Assiniboine Park

The Assiniboine Park is a recreation destination as well. There are some wide open spaces covered in grass lawns and shaded by groves of trees. People arrive to read books, play catch and enjoy picnics. Not far off in the distance are some sporting fields used for soccer, lawn bowling, bocce ball, baseball, volleyball and cricket.

There are many kilometres of recreation paths connecting facilities, services, gardens and attractions together. Some of them include an animal zoo, duck pond, outdoor stage, steam train ride, coffee house, restaurant, bike rentals, day use picnic sites, washrooms and a children’s playground.

For the young ones the Children’s Nature Playground is a popular destination. It is a large play area with tree forts, playground apparatus like swings and slides and some cool willow tree tunnels. In addition there are some mazes, sculptures and a large garden area designed as the popular board game “Snakes & Ladders”.

Cycling in Assiniboine Park

For the grown ups there is an outdoor stage called the Lyric Theatre. It is a summer bandshell and the site of jazz concerts, opera, stage shows, music symphonies, ballets, festivals and educational programs.

Assiniboine Park is not just a summer destination. Oh no. During the snow months the park becomes a winter wonderland straight out of a fairy tale novel. There are lights decorating buildings and artists having their way with the snow creating snow forts and ice sculptures. To warm up there are often open fire pits roaring as people gather around singing Xmas carols.

For the more active the winter pathways in the park become a 5 kilometre network of xc ski trails. After a day on the trails head back to the Duck Pond where there is a warming shelter and some good stories shared by the locals.

How to get to Assiniboine Park :

From Downtown Winnipeg, near City Hall, travel northeast on King Street and then take a right onto James Avenue. Next take right onto Main Street and continue to Portage Avenue where you take another right. Continue on Portage Avenue to the Highway #90 Exit. Take the exit and merge onto Century Street. Next you take a right onto Corydon Avenue and proceed to the park.

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Penguins are the perfect spokesman for Valentines Day.

Why? Because penguins mate for life!

Our zodiacs dropped us off on an island filled with Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins and you could feel the love in the air. (Once you got over the smell on the beach) Mating for life, the Gentoo Penguin  stays with their mate throughout the year. Unlike the Emperor penguins who separate for months to to take turns feeding, the Gentoo live and work together all year long.

Not afraid humans, these cursious creatures would march right up to us and peck at our boots, sniff our camera straps and pull at our pant legs. You feel instant happiness when you encounter a penguin. They stick close to each other huddling in groups like a tight knit community. They run and play and swim and talk and do all the normal things that any old colony would do. Marching in a line stamped out in the snow that leads from the ocean to the nesting area or to anywhere else the penguins like to go, everything is in order and they live in harmony.

Penguins-antarctica-aitcho-island

The distinctive calls of chick calling out to their parents to feed them can be heard as energetic penguins breakaway from the pack for a good run …er waddle…to the sea.

We had many a penguin encounter in Antarctica and we’ll be showing more photos and telling more stories, but on this Valentines Day, lets all use the penguin as a role model. Dedicated familymen and women who are monogomous and in love, the penguin cares for their chicks with kindness and perserverence. They stick together through thick and thin and come back to one another year after year.

The Penguins have it going on. There’s nothing better than sharing a life with the one you love. They know it, we know it, how bout you?

Dave and Deb, inspired by the love of the Penguin in Antarctica

Happy Valentines Day from Dave and Deb.

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