Christmas In Punta

The winds are still blowing hard in Patriot Hills, delaying the departure from Punta Arenas. Windspeeds can not be more than 20 knots, but at the moment it is gusting more than 30knots and snowing. Webcam from Patriot can be found here: http://thistle.org/wx7/index.shtml As a result, app 50 people are eagerly waiting in PA, and about the same are on the ice waiting to get out. The flight was scheduled for Dec 16, we now are 8 days overdue. So far, there seems to be no window before Dec 26. We spend the the time sightseeing the area, yesterday we went as far south as possible on the american continent; the countryside along the strait of Magellan is beautiful, wind sculptured, rugged and still so colorful. Animals and birds are everywhere, from wild geese to birds of prey, and we even saw sealions playing along the shore. The waiting game is hopefully soon over. Will now go to enjoy some hot chocolate and christmas music on a local café to get some x-mas mood;)
To my family, friends and everyone who reads this blog: Merry Christmas and my warmest regards for the holidays:)

Antarctica Calling

Within days the environment has changed dramatically; I am in Punta Arenas, Chile, waiting for a plane to Patriot Hills, Antarctica. This barren country, home to thousands of both chileans and other folk groups, is more or less the farthest you can go on mainland before hitting the ice capped continent to the south. Although the flight alone to PA took app 19 hours from Spain, it is still more than 3000km to our final destination. Puh... Contracting for ALE, I'm looking forward to 5-6 weeks on the ice, working with medical issues for clients and staff seeking a cold adventure. Currently the weather is to bad so we are shopping, socializing and sightseeing around PA. Today I bought a christmas gift that will be exchanged on christmas eve - our little way of keeping up the tradition...

Rumble in the Jungle

The heat and wetness of the Maldives was in the beginning of November replaced by another form of heat and humidity; The jungle of Brunei. Working as a doc in the jungle is very different to any other environment I have ever been in. Six weeks in different locations, eating mostly army rations, sleeping in a hammock and getting acclimatised to the constant humidity and warm temperatures is something I will always remember as something quite different from the mountainous terrain I normally work in. It is surprising how little hostile one finds the jungle after a while; on the contrary, one learns that these vast rainforests are very rewarding to the person who knows what he's looking for. I have much to learn... The lungs of the earth are massive, home to an amazing flor and fauna and yet so vulnarable. Visiting them in person was a rewarding experience I can deeply recommend.