Hi, I'm Nikki!

I was born in New Zealand but spent my younger years moving from place to place, and eventually settled in California and Hawaii. I've been around the world two times, and now I'm on my third journey exploring our planet. I've stayed in everything from tents to hostels, small boats to cruise ships, RVs to Airbnbs, popular hotel chains to luxury resorts. Most times I travel alone, but sometimes with friends or family.

Every destination has a story to tell. Approach each place with wonder and openness to learn something new. 

Embrace Curiosity

Be kind and remember the best travel experiences come from genuine connections with the people who call a place home.

Connect with Locals

Respect local cultures & etiquette, support local businesses, and leave only footprints behind. 

Travel Mindfully

My Travel Philosophy

Travel by the Numbers

My career as a TV News Producer allowed me to witness history firsthand. My big assignments included Presidential Elections, the Olympics, pre and post coverage of The Grammy Awards & the Super Bowl, and so much more. I won 4 Emmy Awards throughout my career, an Edward R. Murrow Award, several Golden Mikes, and other awards.

My greatest happiness however, was raising my three children. I enjoyed every moment not just as their mom but also as their team mom for sports, ice cream mom and snack stand mom at school, Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout helper, and even as a stage mom when my kids were child actors.

Through the years, my passion has always been traveling. I want to see the top sights in the world, explore the ancient past, taste the local food, and immerse myself in the culture. I chronicle all my travels in journals, emails, photos, video, and in vivid memories that last a lifetime. I hope you enjoy reading my adventures and they inspire you to plan some of your own.

My Story

Travel Enthusiast & Emmy Award Winner

My trip to Bali took me to an exotic land, filled with incredible Hindu temples, vibrant green rice terraces, beautiful beaches and coves, lush jungle, and all of it, relatively inexpensive to visit. 

GETTING THERE 

Bali's International Airport DPS has direct flights arriving from across Southeast Asia, also Australia and New Zealand. It's a very long flight from the USA and Europe, but a fun stopover could be included in the plane ticket for no extra charge. 

I decided I wanted to experience Bali, two different ways. I could get a top of the line resort  for a reasonable price, and also a decent hotel for cheap.  I booked the budget hotel in Kuta Beach to watch the sunsets and I stayed in a resort in Nusa Dua to see the sunrises.  

AMAZING EXCURSIONS

The beach was spectacular in Nusa Dua and the clear turquoise blue water was filled with marvelous creatures. I saw Starfish with black and orange tentacles, Seahorses, Hermit Crabs, and even some small Sea Snakes glided by me in the water!  

Kuta Beach was a hustle and bustle of activity, cheap trips, tourist gifts, and young people looking to party.  People zipped around the busy narrow streets on scooters and motorbikes. Restaurants of all kinds could be found, filled with fabulous food, including Indonesian Fried Rice and Sate.    

I took several excursions during my stay, all inexpensive and easy to book when I arrived. The countryside was magnificent, with temples everywhere, rice terraces, people walking around with baskets on their heads, or with a bamboo rod balanced on their shoulders with baskets on either end. In some more remote areas, people would dry their washed clothes by laying them on bushes. As I drove through different towns, I noticed each community was dedicated to a specific purpose; woodworkers in one area, silversmiths in another, basket weavers, and bamboo makers in others.  

I visited the Monkey Forest in Ubud, which was a temple overrun with mostly friendly, although some  cheeky, even naughty monkeys. I spent hours watching them socialize with humans and with each others. I fed them, and watched as they groomed each other. I also noticed something 'breathing' in the trees and realized there were many bats, upside down, sleeping, holding onto branches.   

There were several waterfalls in the area, including the tall Tegenungan Waterfall, which had a good sized swimming hole, and the smaller Sumampan Waterfall, with various temple ruins shrewn about. Also, Ubud had zipline adventures through the forest canopy, and giant swings which offered a unique aerial view of the lush green forest.  

Another excursion took me to Lake Batur, which was inside the caldera of an active volcano!  My guide said it was a sacred site for people in Bali. In addition to the lake, there were several smaller volcanos inside, and one of them was smoking!  There was also a natural hot spring in a nearby village.  Afterwards, I visited Besakih Great Temple, which was on Mount Agung. Besakih was the largest and most sacred Hindu Temple Complex in Bali. It had many intricately carved staircases and terraces, climbing up the mountain slope. 

I took another excursion to Tanan Lot Temple, which was on a small rocky island,  cut off from the mainland during high tide. But during low tide I could walk to the island and tour the temple complex. It was quite a spectacular sight and I spent several hours there, wanting to watch the tide rise. The temple also had a freshwater spring on site, which locals said was sacred water.   

My trip to Bali was both affordable and fascinating. It was the perfect combination of culture, natural wonders, and a fun atmosphere. 

BALI

My incredible journey to Cambodia took me through the ancient Angkor Wat temple, past homes on stilts and traditional rice farms, to a fascinating floating village. 

GETTING THERE

I focused on Siem Reap Province, the location of Angkor Wat.  There were direct flights from Bangkok BKK to Siem Reap SAI, and also flights from the capital of Phnom Penh KTI.  I took a taxi from the airport to my hotel, and I asked my driver if I could hire him for my whole trip. He was happy with the idea, and he picked me up each morning.   

I stayed at an historic hotel, which was perfectly restored, even its elevator from the early 1900's worked. I ate Khmer Cuisine which was light and subtle, deliciously seasoned with lemongrass, lime, coconut and more, no flavor overbearing another.   

AMAZING EXCURSIONS

The people in town were friendly and many spoke good English. I was told to be careful where I walked in the outdoors because there could  still be landmines hidden beneath the dirt. Animals walked around, pigs, cows, water buffalo, and there were lively markets selling everything from local food to t-shirts for tourists. 

I went to Angkor Wat, and watched the sun go down over the Hindu temple complex. My driver said it was one of the largest religious structures in the world. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site with five towers. The temple represented the mountains where the God lived,  it was surrounded by a large mote representing the ocean, and there was a bridge over the water representing a rainbow to God.  

While it was a remarkable sight from a distance, when I got closer it was sobering to see bullet holes all over the facade, the remnants of the Cambodian Civil War. Once inside, there were huge artistic reliefs carved into the flat rock hallway walls, some as long as football fields, which showed battle scenes between good and evil. I hiked up to the top temple and lit incense, burned candles, gave lotus flowers, and banged a gong. I went back to Angkor Wat several more times, because there was so much to see.

I heard about floating villages miles out of town and asked my driver to take me. I noticed the farms were irregular shaped, and barren because everyone was waiting for the rainy season to plant rice.  Also many of the homes were on stilts, since flooding was extensive in rainy season.  '

At one point the dirt road went through muddy creeks, and it got so deep that I told my driver to stop and turn back. Then I noticed some guys in a 4x4 and asked them 'how much?'  It was only a few dollars to get from that muddy point to the floating village, so I jumped in the 4x4.  It was a wild, bumpy ride, but completely worth it once I arrived. 

The floating village actually moved along Tonle Sap Lake, connected to the Mekong River. Sometimes the village was 2kms south, sometimes it's 10kms north. People in the village lived in tiny shacks, attached to strips of bamboo to float. The shacks had no electricity, no water, no bathrooms, no windows.  Inside they only had a hammock, a clothes line, and a wood burning stove. I was the only westerner for miles and miles, but I didn't feel unsafe at all.  People were curious and approachable. Since I had come so far I decided to hire a boat to look around.  The first thing I noticed was some of the other boats had weapons on them which looked like machine guns! It made me raise an eyebrow but still I didn't feel unsafe. We buzzed through the water, getting a closer look at life in the floating village. People used the water for everything! They went to the bathroom in it, they bathed in it, they washed clothes in it, and they used it for their small fish farms attached to the bamboo. Fish was their major source of income, trade, and of course food.  

On the way out on the 4x4, I witnessed a funeral ceremony. A person on a loudspeaker was wailing about the deceased person, others were chanting, and the smell of incense was wafting lightly through the air, then I saw the body in a hut wrapped loosely in cloth, ready for cremation.  

My trip to Cambodia has been etched in my mind forever, for the elaborate architecture of Angkor Wat, the remote floating village, and the kind people who crossed my path. 

CAMBODIA 

This journey to the spectacular Whitsundays in Australia took me around stunning islands, to one of the most beautiful white sand beaches I've ever seen, on a hike to a platform with a mesmerizing view, and to a secret beach with kangaroos!  

GETTING THERE

Most people arrive at the Whitsundays from Sydney SYD, landing at an airport on Hamilton Island HTI, or at Whitsunday Coast Airport, also known as Proserpine Airport PPP. Some visitors arrive by boat from Airlie Beach, on cruise ships, and on SuperYachts.
 
AMAZING EXCURSIONS

The Whitsundays include about 70 visually dramatic islands, most of them different mountain tops with the base submerged underwater. They are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. I visited the islands on a fast powered catamaran. We left from Airlie Beach and skipped across the Coral Sea. 

First up, Hamilton Island. It was very high end and most vacationers drove golf carts everywhere, no rental cars here! It had a couple resorts and hotels, some restaurants and bars, but most of all many eye-catching beaches and coves.   

Next was Whitsunday Island, where the famous Whitehaven Beach was only accessible by boat, seaplane, or helicopter. It had pure white, powdered sugar type sand. Our guide said the sand was mostly silica, which gave it that brilliant white look. The crystal clear blue water was shallow and I could see the sand glistening through it. Palm trees speckled the shoreline, and boats dotted the sea. It was breathtaking!     

At one end of Whitehaven, I hiked to Hill Inlet Lookout. It's best seen during low tide, so timing had to be right, and our timing was perfect! I looked down upon an incredible view of a swirling hypnotic mix of bright white sand and turquoise water.  I had seen photos of it before on Instagram and it was even more magnificent than I imagined.       

Afterwards, I snorkeled off Fitzalan Island. I discovered colorful coral - pinks, blues and more, some swayed like wispy barren bushes, some looked like blankets covering rocks. I also saw intriguing large clams, as big as two feet, with fluorescent purple dotted fringes, and many types of tropical fish surrounded me.  

I left the Whitsundays and took an excursion from Airlie to see sunrise at a beach in Cape Hillsborough National Park in Mackay, where kangaroos came onto the sand to eat mangrove pods. I hired a private tour guide, but most of the other visitors had camped overnight in the park.       

The drive from Airlie Beach was a little treacherous, about two hours in the pitch dark Australian bush with no street lights at all. Add to that the stress of the timing, because the kangaroos wouldn't stay long. At one point a giant semi-truck crashed and blocked the whole highway. My guide asked the police if she could 'go around'. The next thing I know we are vertical going down a small hill then off-road around the crash site.      

We made it to the park with no time to spare, the kangaroos were already on the beach and some were moving away. But I got fabulous photos and video of several kangaroos feasting on mangrove pods, jumping on the sand, all with the sun rising in the background.        

The Whitsunday Islands in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park were impressive enough. But the ability to combine them with Airlie Beach and Mackay, made it a fascinating and fabulously diverse trip. 

WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS

This adventure to Australia's Great Barrier Reef took me on a boat across the Coral Sea, to the largest coral reef system in the world, to experience a spectacular underwater world.

GETTING THERE

The most popular ways to get to the reef are via the city of Cairns in northeastern Australia, or from the resort town of Airlie Beach, about 400 miles south along the coast.  I've visited the reef from both! 

To get to Airlie Beach, I flew into Proserpine Airport PPP from Sydney SYD.  As I looked out the plane window, all I could see was Australian bush. No shoreline at all. I thought I had taken the wrong plane, but it ended up I was just a one hour drive to Airlie Beach. 

AMAZING EXCURSIONS

The resort town had a tropical climate and a laid back lifestyle, with everything from budget hostels to luxury hotels. The stunning Coral Sea hugged the coastline, along with several marinas, filled with tour operators, ocean sports activities, and SuperYachts.       

There were many wonderful Great Barrier Reef excursions to pick from, I selected one which had a large pontoon stationed at the reef, along with an underwater observatory and a semi-submersible sub, all of it included in the price.      

It was about a 3 hour boat ride to the Outer Reef of the Great Barrier Reef, so we set off early. We went past the stunning Whitsunday Islands, cruised in the open sea for a while surrounded by nothing but deep dark blue water, then all of a sudden I noticed underwater large long sections of extremely light colored reefs. They were made up of many different hues of pale blue and aquamarine green. 

We arrived at the pontoon, and I quickly set out to be among the first group of people on the submarine. We floated through schools of giant fish, some as big as bicycles! Colorful coral - purple, red, yellow, and more - were everywhere.  They were different shapes and sizes, some branched out like bushes, some were shaped like balls, others looked like mushrooms. On the bottom of the sea lay some coral that was stark white. Our guide said they were damaged remnants from a tropical cyclone which made a direct hit 7 years before. He said it took about 10 years for the coral reefs in this area to recover after a big storm.            

Next up, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef! At certain times of year, jellyfish swarmed the reef, but I selected a time before they arrived, so I didn't need to wear one of their 'stinger suits', which basically looked like a wetsuit. I jumped off the pontoon into the warm clear waters and snorkeled for hours. In addition to all the fabulous coral, there was exotic marine life everywhere. Bright Tangs, Angelfish, Butterfly Fish, and Parrotfish. Many of them reminded me of fish I had seen snorkeling in Hawaii, but of course the same Pacific Ocean provided a link between both places. I also saw various vibrant sea anemones, some with long tentacles, some with short ones, and dazzling large clams, about two feet long with glowing neon fringes.

My other trip to the Great Barrier Reef was from Cairns. The airport CNS has direct flights from across Asia, and connections through most big cities in Australia. Cruise ships also make stops here. 

Cairns was a beautiful coastal city, with a rainforest in the hills, and the reef in the sea, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was filled with marinas, SuperYachts, restaurants, hostels, hotels, and luxury resorts. There was something for everyone! 

Tourism was its big business, so there were many tours to pick from. On the reef from this location, I saw the same spectacular marine life as off Airlie Beach. But there was an added bonus - Giant Clams! I'm an avid snorkeler, and I hadn't seen anything like this anywhere before. I couldn't believe my eyes as I snorkeled close to these massive creatures, about four feet long, maybe 400 pounds, and in some cases almost 100 years old! They were multi-colored, majestic and inspiring, some with their shells open, some closed.

I have been to Australia many many times in my life, and I even lived there when I was young. It has many interesting and exciting places to visit, but the captivating natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. 

GREAT BARRIER REEF

A trip to New Zealand offers something for everyone; rugged coastlines with black and white sand beaches, stunning rainforests, snow capped mountains, green rolling hills dotted with grazing sheep, geothermal mud pools, an abundance of campsites, delicious fresh seafood and award winning wineries. It's too diverse to cover in one post, so here I'll focus on New Zealand's North Island.       

GETTING THERE

Most people fly into New Zealand via Auckland Airport  AKL or Wellington Airport WLG. There are direct flights from most major cities along the Pacific Rim, and also from Australia. Once inside New Zealand, it's easy to travel from town to town by plane, train, Intercity Bus, or rental car. One of the best ways to see the countryside is the fabulous Northern Explorer Train Route which travels from Auckland to Wellington and points in between.        

Auckland was a large, waterfront city with the Tasman Sea on one side, the Pacific Ocean on the other, rainforest in the hills, mountains beyond that. Volcanic islands dotted the water and it's quite beautiful to see. Auckland had an easy and efficient bus and ferry system, incredible seafood restaurants, a giant Tower with a vertical zipline, and many options for accommodations, even big name hotel chains were reasonably priced.  

AMAZING EXCURSIONS

I took a ferry trip from downtown Auckland to Waiheke Island. It was easy to explore using its 'on off'  bus. I traveled through the entire island, visiting many of the vineyards, wineries, olive groves, and secluded beaches. It offered a breathtaking view of the setting sun over the grapevines. I could have easily spent a week here but I had to move on.       

I also ventured north of Auckland, to the Bay of Islands, a popular sailing, fishing, and vacation destination. Several communities dotted the Intercity Bus route, so it was easy to travel from place to place. Ferries and water taxis also connected islands and towns. Bay of Islands was also home to Waitangi Treaty Grounds historic landmark and museums to learn about the native Maori culture. Many honey farms were sprinkled along the countryside, offering New Zealand's famous Manuka Honey, used by the Maori people for generations for various health benefits.  

Farther north was 90 Mile Beach, with its sand dunes, and the ability to drive on the packed ocean sand during low tide, but be careful the tide rose back quickly and I heard stories about people getting stuck!        

I took a several day excursion to New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula. It's a few hours drive east from Auckland, and I visited a place called Hot Sand Beach. I used a shovel to dig a hole in the beach, then it filled up with hot geothermal water from underground. It got very very hot so I also created an extra opening in the hole for cold seawater to come in.   

Nearby, I hiked into a Kiwi Bird Reserve, up a muddy mountain then down into a magnificent hidden bay to swim. I also visited Pauanui, an exclusive scenic town and popular holiday spot for New Zealanders. The location was impressive, on the mouth of the Tairua River, with wonderful walkways along the water.  From here at night, I also saw the Milky Way in all its splendor, beaming through the darkness.

Other excursions from Auckland included Lake Taupo, which was the caldera of a volcano, where travelers enjoyed swimming, cycling, skydiving, hiking, fishing and more. Another fun spot was Rotorua, with its hot mud pools and spa destinations. Also, the Waitomo Caves where people could take a boat ride through a grotto filled with glowworms and nearby there were popular tours of the Hobbiton movie set, where "The Lord of the Rings" movies were made. 

It's common to combine a North Island visit with a trip to the South Island. It has majestic mountain ranges, fjordlands, spectacular rivers, and miles of unspoiled beaches. It's inexpensive and easy to reach via plane or ferry.      

A trip to New Zealand has something for everyone, and many budget friendly options. Don't miss out on the islands, the beaches, the wineries, the seafood, and the extreme beauty of this paradise in the South Pacific.

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NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND - NORTH ISLAND

My journey to Easter Island uncovered mysterious Moai statues, ancient legends, and stunning beaches, all of it secluded in the Pacific Ocean far away from the modern civilization. 

GETTING THERE 

Easter Island is also called Rapa Nui and it's one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world. It's part of the Polynesian Triangle in the Pacific, yet it's a special territory of Chile, some two thousand miles away. Most tourists arrive into Easter Island Airport IPC on flights from Santiago SCL, to see the enormous stone statues which made the island famous. 

As I left my plane, I immediately noticed the warm tropical breeze and the sweet smell of flowers. My host greeted me at the small airport with a lei. It was just a short drive to his home near the beach in Hanga Roa, which he had set up as a bed and breakfast.  

AMAZING EXCURSIONS 

Right away, I set out to explore the small town. I made it to the shoreline and rounded a corner, then saw my first Moai statue. It was about 20 feet tall and stood alone in front of the harbor, with its elongated body, distinctive hollow eyes and proud nose.  Not far away, I found a second large statue laying on a big grassy area. These discoveries pumped me up and I was very excited to see more!  

After a tasty meal of coconut infused seafood I went back to my B&B. I hadn't booked any tours in advance but my host offered a few different excursions for the following days.  I booked them all.    
 
First I went to Rapa Nui National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A small bay on the eastern edge of the park was home of Ahu Tongariki, the largest and most impressive group of Moai statues on the island. Ahu means stone platform and more than a dozen statues were in a perfect row, on a tall platform made mostly of volcanic rocks. The Moai were different heights and sizes, but all had the distinctive inset eyes, proud nose, and strong brow. They faced away from the ocean, towards the sunset. Waves crashed on the rocky bay behind them and in front of them was a vibrant green field.   

My guide said the latest theory about the Moai was they were carved by ancient civilizations and they represented ancestors, mostly chiefs. The villagers paid homage to the chiefs because it was believed they had special powers, even in death, which could help their followers.   Most Moai faced inland to protect the communities where they stood. They were mostly made from a type of volcanic rock which was easy to carve.  Some also had white coral or iridescent shell pieces in their eyes, which created an illusion that made it seem like they were actually watching you! 

Next I visited a place known as the Quarry.  It was called Rano Raraku and it was an archeological site where it's believed many of the Moai were made.  There were many statues, half carved, sticking out from hillside, some were partly buried in dirt over the centuries.  My guide said it's believed when ancient carvers were done making a statue, dozens of people would carefully move it down the hill using levers to lift it and  ropes to shift it. Once off the hill, teams would carry it to a village on a wooden plank moving along rollers.    

Another day trip took me to the beautiful Anakena Beach.  A couple of lively restaurants and bars sat on one side of the small, pretty coral bay. A few Moai statues stood on the other side, most of these ones had hat like shapes on top of their heads.  Pure white sand, swaying palm trees, and vibrant green grass covered the rest of the area, and fringed the clear blue cove. I spent a relaxing day hiking among the Moai and swimming in the warm tropical waters.  

My final excursion was a sunset viewing on a cliff overlooking the ocean. There were several Moai here, including Ahu Ko Te Riku which my guide said was the oldest statue on the island. Its penetrating stone eyes had been vividly restored. They peered down on the hundreds of people sitting in the large field, watching the sun slowly going down, everyone waiting for that perfect photo of the rays of sun beaming around the statue.   

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EASTER ISLAND 

My expedition to the bottom of the world took me on a trip of a lifetime, through the dangerous Drake Passage, past giant icebergs and ancient glaciers, to see whales breaching, seals basking in the sun, and penguins breeding in their rookeries.

GETTING THERE

The most inexpensive and common way to get to Antarctica is by ship, from South America, traveling either from the tip of Argentina or from the tip of Chile.  I flew from Buenos Aires EZE/AEP into Ushuaia Airport USH, in Argentina's Patagonia region. 

The charming town of Ushuaia billed itself as the 'End of the World'. It was organized and efficient, with fast WIFI, and other modern conveniences. It felt very European, a combination of tall old homes with ornate facades, and new contemporary buildings, but none were very high, so the magnificent scenery of snow covered peaks, midnight blue water and clean crisp air was preserved.  

THE EXPEDITION BEGINS 

I boarded the small ship, with 90 other passengers, some young adventurers, some older people on a bucket list trip. We glided along the Beagle Channel, past dramatic mountains and ancient glaciers. 

Once in the open ocean, large swells gently rocked my ship. I spent two days going through the infamous Drake Passage, one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the world because the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean collide with the powerful Antarctic Polar Current. Luckily, for this crossing, the waters were calm. I attended every seminar put on by the Naturalists and Biologists on board.  I also watched as Wandering Albatross birds followed the ship, flying through the air with their giant 10+ foot wingspans. 

AMAZING EXCURSIONS 

We arrived at Antarctica, and the scenery was dramatic, the colors vibrant! The jagged snow covered mountain ranges were topped with white puffy clouds floating against azure blue skies, and large icebergs dotted the water. It was simply spectacular to see all the snow glistening in the rays of sunshine. 

The crew launched the zodiacs, and we saw our first penguins swimming in the water, not just swimming but leaping out of the ocean like dolphins. The Biologist said the penguins were arriving in the area to nest in rooks, many of them looking for their same mate as the year before.  

The goal of everyone visiting Antarctica was to walk on the Continent, so the Captain found a safe location, in a large bay, surrounded by walls of glaciers as far as the eye could see. The zodiacs were dropped into the water and we followed biosecurity protocols, all of us putting on tall disinfected rubber boots, to protect the pristine environment. 

I walked up a crude ice staircase that a crew member made. Then I carefully climbed a huge hill completely covered with snow. Just yards from me penguins marched up the hill to get to their breeding rookery.  Once at the top, I was surrounded by hundreds of penguins, but all of them completely ignored me. Some were loving on each other, some were fighting, some were chasing away other male penguins trying to steal their mate.   

DRAKE PASSAGE STORMS

As we toured the Antarctic Peninsula, we watched seals basking in the sun, penguins swimming, and various types of whales breaching, and sending air bursts out of their blowholes. But our time of tranquility was about to end. The Captain told us that three consecutive storms were heading towards us and we needed to leave immediately to try to outrun them. We were told the safest place to be was in bed and we should stay there until they announced over the loudspeaker it was ok to move.   

Within two hours, the winds started blowing and the seas got rough. The Drake Passage was about to live up to its reputation. It was a long night, powering through the first storm, as the ship rocked in the darkness. 

The next day,  the seas quieted and we were told it was the calm before the second storm, so we got out of bed to eat and look around. I went to the Command Deck to see the ocean.  There were no ordinary swells heading in the same direction like normal, there were only giant waves all crashing into each other like bumper cars. 

We rode out the second storm the same as the first. A night of powerful wind, pounding rain, and big swells. Again, the next day we were given the clear to leave our rooms.

The Captain moved the ship as fast as he could, to outrun that final storm. Remarkably, we made it to Argentina’s sheltered Beagle Channel before it hit. We were very grateful to our crew for their quick thinking and smart maneuvering. 

I will never ever forget my expedition to Antarctica. The Drake Passage, the walls of ice, the ancient glaciers, the penguin rookeries, and the extreme beauty of the 7th continent will live in my mind forever. 

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