The Antarctic weather was unpredictable and often inhospitable throughout our 1-week expedition cruise. Dramamine came in really handy the last day as we sailed the Gerlach Straight. I popped them like candy before cautiously eating dinner. Just a third of our 42 shipmates were at the tables; most took just one bite of their delicious Argentine steak before calling it an early night. But just the day before, the sun was beaming, water was glassy smooth, and I comfortably shed my upper layers down to a tank top during a hike to a viewpoint over Paradise Bay. Our captain joined us and mentioned that it was the most beautiful day he’d seen in at least 10 years. It was a beauty so vast and still, that the exuberant sense of joy of that moment felt deeply imprinted within me.

Brisk winds whipped the chill factor to 11 degrees and below as shifting ice, spastic snowstorms and remote conditions readjusted itineraries daily on the Antarctica expedition. But no one seemed to mind when Mother Nature took the helm. Every unexpected change created unbelievable moments. Around every corner, ice sculpture masterpieces floated in a sea of silence. Lone penguins stood sentry on icebergs and peered toward the sea. I long to return to Antarctica some day. Perhaps nowhere on earth can you better understand an important life truth: What lies below the surface is often the most important.

Visiting Antarctica is on many people's bucket list. I am fortunate to have traveled there to witness first hand the awesome beauty. My trip on a small expedition ship included stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia Island. There were so many highlights on a this 2-3 week adventure, but none as exciting as seeing penguins at play on the giant icebergs near Point Wild. This is very near the place where Shackleton's men spent four cold and miserable months in 1916, while Shackelton sailed for help. The trip to Antarctica in a small ship made it possible to do two zodiak raft excursions nearly every day. That is not possible if you visit Antarctica in a big cruise ship. It was from one of these zodiak trips that I was able to witness the spectacle of marching penguins on city-block sized icebergs. Truly an amazing sight to see. If you want to see wildlife in a largely untouched setting, a trip to Antarctica is the thing to do. There are many companies that run tours to Antarctica, and prices vary greatly, so check out several operators and compare the itineraries and prices. I visited in January, and believe that December to early February is the best time to visit. It offers warmer weather, and you also get the chance to see many Penguin chicks during this time.

Ah yes the Emperor penguins. They may walk funny on land but at sea they can dive up to 1,850 feet (565 meters) deeper than any other bird, and stay under for more than 20 minutes. They are the largest of their species standing about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. The males keep their soon-to-be chick's eggs warm by balancing the eggs on their feet while Mom is on a food feast some 50 miles (80 ks) away. She must journey this far to open water.

This little slice of life was captured on 35mm red scale film (manufactured by Lomography) to give it an added twist. I originally wanted to enter this photo into the CATCH contest under the 'Unlikely Art' theme but I asked the Digital Team at AFAR if I could do a print giveaway for the online community and they approved. The first commenter to correctly identify what the item is in the photo will receive one free print (of the photo above) from me, Colin. Hi.

After arriving to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, when temperatures are still cold early in the summer season, an unassuming hiker can unknowingly catch the only moisture in the air from his breath and hold it on the tips of his eyelashes. The only indication of the ice build up to him is a slight 'sticking' of the eyelids if he blinks for too long. But for those around him, it is a frosty sight!

There are few places with as much ambiance as the Coffee House at McMurdo Station. When you drum up your ideas of what a coffee and wine bar in Antarctica should look like, this matches to perfection. I enjoyed my time there so much that I also spent numerous hours behind the bar serving up bottles of wine and lattes with an occasional biscotti to scientists, contractors, and several notables who traipsed through the Station as "distinguished visitors." The building was once used as an exclusive Officer's Club, but has since been opened up to the summer population of as many as 1100 people. After a cold day of work or weeks in a field camp, folks can warm up with a coffee or hot cocoa; often with a spot of Amaretto, Baileys, or whiskey thrown into the frothy mix. The fact that dry milk is the staple on station is usually secondary to the use of a 'real' espresso machine, and it also makes special deliveries of fresh New Zealand milk by friends in the Air Force all the more special. The coffee house culture runs deep here where people come to play a game of cribbage, socialize over knitting, chat with the bartender/barista, listen to live local music, watch a movie, or just escape from the weather.

They own this part of the globe, and maybe that’s why it’s so special. It may be one of the last places on earth where man hasn’t taken over. A world where humans are not the center of attention – that’s exactly what draws me here. The wildlife in Antarctica is vast and certainly special. You are entering their world - from birds to seals, to penguins, to krill, to whales – they all go on in their circle of life hunting each other in the freezing cold waters they have adapted to. A ferocious animal in the water, this Leopard Seal and young baby nursing on an iceberg barely moved as we pulled the zodiak up close for a look. When humans step into their world, they barely blink. A penguin may stop and stare, and then move right on by you within inches knowing that you are no threat. Go enter the animal kingdom of Antarctica while you can! How to get there: Cruise through the Drake Passage and set foot on the 7th Continent. There are lots of options for Antarctica cruises - I used Expedition Trips. http://www.expeditiontrips.com/

They say after a winterover in Antarctica that the human brain does not operate quite as clearly as before. While I felt pretty sharp after my winter on the Ice, I had to think twice when I walked outside on a Sunday morning to see the bronze, orange, purple, pink, and green streaks across the horizon from horizon to ceiling. Nacreous clouds are gaseous clouds that form high in the upper atmosphere above Antarctica during the 'springtime.' They catch the sun's rays long before they reach the terrestrial island where a few lucky winterovers can witness the surreal brushstrokes in the sky.

Working at McMurdo Station offers no promise of seeing wildlife. However, one amazing summer weekend, a crowd of Adelies came to visit and observe the human contingency posted at Ross Island, Antarctica. Humans are prevented by order of the International Antarctic Treaty from approaching, touching, or altering behavior of wildlife in Antarctica, but that does not keep the penguins from curiously waddling in the midst of camera-toting, parka-clad people and altering their behavior.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Antarctica made my list of ‘wow’ travel moments, it’s one of those few destinations that seems to inspire everyone who visits. The signature moment for me while on a fly-cruise to the seventh continent was when I got to see massive icebergs in person. Of course everyone expects to see endless ice when visiting Antarctica, but to witness the stark and powerful icebergs floating by just a few meters away is truly a personally transformative experience. I experienced Antarctica on a fly-cruise, a way to see Antarctica without sailing through the Drake Passage. The advantages are that passengers save considerable time and avoid most of the nausea inducing moments that make the Drake so infamous.

This might not look like a happy housewarming, but given a flat white field of snow, these tools and a couple bags of survival equipment provide exactly what you need for reliable and potentially life-saving shelter in Antarctica. "Happy Camper" (aka, snow school or outdoor survival training) was one of the requirements for my contracted work supporting the US Antarctic Program. We learned all sorts of skills including sawing snow blocks for quinzee huts, building trenches to quickly get out of the wind, melting snow for water, setting up tents, understanding the symptoms of hypothermia, and all sorts of survival techniques to stay warm and healthy until help arrives. This course was critical to learning how to STAY protected from the harsh continent. I still cannot understand how Shackleton and his crew survived so long in the frigid outdoors, but I am confident that I could make do for a week or so!

During austral winter in Antarctica, it will stay dark for six months. We met & fell in love right before the longest sunset in the world whilst watching slowly shifting iridescent nacreous clouds roll in. They are formed by tiny ice crystals and have the color of bathtub bubbles.

A gorgeous endless Ross Island evening watching the sun try to set before a long dark winter in Antarctica. These two men reflect on the disappearing light next to Vince's cross commemorating his untimely Antarctic death; and the passings of many others on the Continent. The ice shelf beyond is reigned in on the opposite shore by the TransAntarctic Mountain Range, including Mount Discovery (the highest peak in this photo).

Mount Erebus is a unique mountain, sharing Ross Island with two research stations including the United States' McMurdo Station and New Zealand's Scott Base. Erebus is an active volcano; one of two of a kind on earth. The other is Mount Kenya in Africa. There is always a plume rising from the top of Erebus from the active lava pool that can be seen from the crater's rim. Seeing mountains from sea level to their peak is always impressive. This photo is taken from the Ross Sea Ice Shelf, looking back on Ross Island.

Antarctica is the land of superlatives and as such, it is only appropriate that the Continent hosts the southernmost International athletic competition on earth. The New Zealand and the United States have an annual rugby match every year that is played on the Ross Ice Shelf, just off the coast of Ross Island near the research stations of Scott Base (NZ) and McMurdo Station (USA). Both teams practice during the austral summer season when it is light outside 24 hours a day. Every year this competition inevitably culminates in a landslide win by the Kiwis. It is the ultimate Sunday afternoon sporting event for everyone in attendance.

The first two days on the ship I think I went to at least 5 kayak meetings; safety briefings, mud room loading and unloading, gear fittings, and a ‘weeding out’ meeting. I didn’t have the experience required and I was ready to back out. The last time I had done real sea kayaking was about 8 years ago, I had no real training or experience and had never done a wet exit. But Ian, the boat's kayak master, took pity on me and allowed me to still participate as long as I was in his kayak. And thanks to his kindness – I was able to experience the best thing about a cruise to Antarctica – kayaking. The first time we went out I was excited and nervous, but the moment I got in the kayak I realized why it was so special – you were at a whole different perspective – at water level. As we paddled away from the ship my senses were heightened as it felt like my whole view of the landscape had changed. One of the most beautiful things about kayaking was the fact that it was quiet – super quiet. You were able to get close to the shore and cliffs where the other boats couldn’t go and it was then when you realized just how massive the icebergs, glaciers, and mountains were. I felt small. But I felt wonderful. More Information on Cruising Antarctica with a kayaking supplement: http://www.expeditiontrips.com/antarctica-cruises-peninsula/antarctica-cruise-t3061.html

A popular option for those who want to avoid the time and nausea associated with crossing the Drake Passage, fly-cruises to Antarctica feature the best of Antarctic exploration. Passengers fly from Punta Arenas, Chile directly to Frei Station, Antarctica where they meet their cruise ship for a five-day exploration of the icy continent. This is a fantastic option for people short on time or for those who want to skip the dangers associated with crossing the Drake Passage.

Getting to the White Continent isn't easy. Ask anyone. So after a 3 day sail from South Georgia Island with nonstop 30 foot waves and seasickness that had me begging for mercy, this little guy welcomed me into his world of solitude and stillness. What struck me most about this place is that it's truly a natural paradise, but one I wasn't expecting. I've seen animals, I've seen landscapes, I've seen what the planet can do. But here there are no paths drawn by humans, only animals. This is their world, not ours. This adorable penguin, who I'm quite certain has no twitter page nor tumblr account, showed me for the first time that we people, in our puffy red parkas, were the insignificant ones.

The winter in Antarctica is intense, long, and cold. But the forever lasting friendships are warm, the sky is brillant with the brightest stars ever, phenominal borelous light shows, and bizarre-entertaining social behavior like non I've ever witnessed.