A place full of wonder
I went to Antarctica!
Antarctica filled me with wonder.
It’s hard to describe what it was like being in Antarctica. When people ask how my trip to Antarctica was, it takes me a while to come up with the right words. Even now sitting at my computer trying to think about how to describe my experience, I pause and softly smile because for me what best captures the experience of being in Antarctica is a feeling, rather than words. But since I can’t plop you inside my head, let me try to articulate and share that feeling.
There’s that first moment where it hit me that I was in Antarctica - my “oh sh*t” moment (which didn’t happen until my second day, so I was initially worried that I would be let down). The feeling of exhilaration of being actually being there and being surrounded by so much beauty. Then there are the moments scattered throughout the trip of being in awe, moments where I would softly let out a little breathless “wow” when I saw something majestic, like a humpback whale’s tail gracefully emerging from the sea or the intimidating-looking mountains looming over the pure icy blue of enormous glaciers. I felt so incredibly humbled and filled with amazement by the force and the beauty that is Mother Nature.
Then there’s the most memorable part of the trip. I went sea paddling and our group conducted a five minute silent meditation. In those five minutes of silence I was completely immersed in the experience of being in Antarctica. I could hear everything - the air emitting from a humpback whale’s blowhole from some distance away, the gentle lapping of the waves against my kayak, and the splashes from penguins porpoising their way through the ocean. The air was so pure and crisp and clean, and in that moment I felt utterly content and completely at peace.
Then there were times when I’d be in the Zodiac (a small inflatable boat fitting ~8 people that takes you around the icy waters) and it seemed like we were the only ones that existed in the world because you couldn’t see or hear any other people or boats. It was only us and the wildlife, and it felt exhilarating. There was also a feeling of insignificance in knowing that nothing was out there other than the wildlife, miles of snow, and me. Everything else - personal struggles, frustrations at work - fell away. Nothing else mattered except that present moment.
I think the best that I can come up with is that Antarctica filled me with wonder. Wonder at feeling complete with and being one with nature. Wonder at how the universe can create majesty such as this. Wonder at being alive and here and now.
Click through for photos that capture those feelings of wonder.
