What’s your travel dream? Visit every county in Ireland, every state in the Union, and every province in Canada. Why not think bigger? How about every country in the world? That’s the our goal. Chris Henry invited me to be a guest on   The Art 2 Aging . We gave up their Groundhog Day life in Australia and embarked on a journey that, to date, has spanned 92 countries and taken seven years. Our story is one long travel adventure, and I explain how it happened along with some great travel tips on the podcast.

We're beyond excited to share that our travel story is featured on Forbes ! A heartfelt thank you to Gary Stoller for beautifully capturing our incredible travel journey through 92 countries over the past eight years. Travelling has been the best decision for us—it’s helped us slow down, reduce stress, and strengthen our marriage, all while having loads of fun and creating wonderful friendships across the globe. Explore the magic the world has to offer with us through our story; check out our feature on Forbes!

Flamingoes, sand dunes, desert, and moonscapes—welcome to Namibia, country no. 89 on our journey! Arriving in Walvis Bay, or Whale Bay, if translated to Afrikaans, felt like stepping into a new hemisphere; the contrast between our previous West African destinations and here was stark and breathtaking. Today, we embarked on a half-day tour called "Treasures of the Namib Desert" on the Splendor with Regent Seven Seas . Our lovely guide, Arthur, greeted us with his off-road vehicle, ready to lead us through the beautiful, desolate Namib Desert. Our first unexpected surprise was witnessing a flamboyance of beautiful greater and lesser flamingoes. A sea of pink, these majestic birds were feeding just after we left the port. It is home to the largest seal population on Africa's west coast, with 250,000 seals culled annually due to the dense numbers, as there are no natural predators to manage the overpopulation. A large seal can consume up to 25 kg of fish daily, impacting the food chain and posing challenges to the fishing industry. To manage the breeding, they try to identify the frisky older males on the beaches. The culled seals are utilised in various ways: their Omega-rich oils and leather are used for products like belts and bags, while the meat is processed into a smoky sausage. Soon after our Flamingo viewing, we exited Walvis Bay and drove past the impressive dunes toward Namib Naukluft Park. We stopped at a viewpoint to marvel at the 350-million-year-old Moonscape. The vastness and nothingness left us all in awe. After capturing the impressive natural views, we continued past Goanikontes, where Arthur narrated fascinating insights about the lichen plants. Next, we found ourselves bumping and bouncing down the riverbed. This river has only had the pleasure of free-flowing water three times in recorded history: in 1927, 2010, and, more recently, in 2020. Our journey took us over the Dolerite ridge, where we laid eyes on the well-protected 350-year-old Welwitschia plant, which grows just 1 cm every 10 years. Returning to Goanikontes, we enjoyed a refreshing stop at a local campground called Goanikontes Oasis, where live scorpions were on display. Revitalised with drinks and snacks, we set out on a mission to collect a Namibian flag as a souvenir for our fellow passengers. Thanks to Arthur's connections, we managed a quick tour through the beautiful town of Swakopmund. Formerly a German colonial town, Swakopmund's streets boast impressive old colonial buildings. We were all gifted a flag as a perfect memento. Our final experience was a drive along the Skeleton Coast on the dune belt road. The road's name comes from the whale and seal bones littering the beaches and shipwrecks. To our left, the desert stood with its stunning golden sand dunes, while the deep blue Atlantic Ocean stretched to our right. We journeyed along a packed salt road that wove a narrow path between these contrasting landscapes. This 500 km coastal road is often referred to as "the end of the earth!" Afrikaans language tips: Baie dankie – The pronunciation is similar to saying "buy a donkey", which translates to "thank you very much". Lekker – Pronounced "lacquer" but has nothing to do with furniture polish. It actually means "good" and is a common phrase used to express enjoyment or approval. Fun Facts: Walvis Bay means "Whale Bay" in Afrikaans. Sailors found Walvis Bay a good place to catch whales in the 1700s. The Namib River has only flowed freely thrice in recorded history (1927, 2010, and 2020). Namibia's population: 4.2 million (excluding illegals). 2nd largest port is Walvis Bay on Africa's west coast. 2nd highest road deaths in Africa No.1 crime is corruption If you are caught poaching wildlife, you are sent straight to prison Other notable facts include Bushman's salt and pepper, significant oil discoveries in Lüderitz, marble and granite, green hydrogen, and it even snows in southern Namibia. This half-day tour was an unforgettable adventure through some of Namibia's most captivating landscapes and natural wonders!

Embark on a remarkable journey with us as we sail across the high seas from the historic city of Lisbon to the picturesque vineyards of Cape Town. Our voyage aboard the Seven Seas Splendor with Regent Seven Seas Cruises traces an exquisite route that introduces us to a tapestry of cultures, from the aromatic allure of Morocco's Tajines to the joyous spirit of children in some of the world's most remote communities. Our vessel, the Seven Seas Splendor, is a testament to nautical artistry. Her sleek design, from bow to stern, encapsulates luxury and comfort. The ship's ideal capacity made our voyage particularly exceptional. It balanced spaciousness with intimacy, hosting 746 guests with attentive service from 548 crew members. Every detail on Regent Seven Seas Cruises is finely curated to enhance the travel experience. The Splendor is perfectly designed to ensure guests never feel crowded, allowing each individual to savour their journey as though on their private vessel. With three specialty restaurants offering exquisite dining options and a selection of bars featuring live music, the ship offers many choices catered to every taste. Our all-inclusive experience onboard the Splendor was transformative. The convenience of an all-inclusive lifestyle where one needs not worry about the little things, like taking out a key card, adds luxury to the cruise that we quickly grew to adore. A highlight of our cruise experience was the extraordinary treatment we received when our laundry was returned—not merely clean but presented in beautiful boxes enveloped in tissue paper—a touch of elegance that did not go unnoticed. Above all, the crew of the Seven Seas Splendor amplified our journey to new heights. Skilled and passionate, each member showcased why they are the best in their field, turning exceptional service into art. This cruise from Lisbon to Cape Town is not just a journey across the ocean; it's an exploration of varied landscapes, cultures, and the human spirit. As we sailed from the bustling bazaars of Morocco to the tranquil wineries in Cape Town, what stood out were the universal warmth and smiles of the people we met—memories that will remain with us long after our splendid voyage.

St. Maarten | St Lucia We arrived in the Caribbean two days after leaving Miami on our 110-day cruise , sailing southbound to South America in preparation for our circumnavigation aboard the beautiful Marina with Oceania Cruises. Let's talk about the Caribbean islands we visited, where we got our little taste of paradise. St. Maarten and Saint Lucia. Day four - Philipsburg, St. Maarten Welcome to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. After two days sailing from Miami, we arrived at our first destination, Philipsburg, and made our way to the Amazon for Christmas and New Year. Seven years ago, we first visited St. Maarten, an island the Netherlands and France share. We spent our time on the French half on our first visit, so we enjoyed the Dutch half this time. After the Spanish abandoned their fort in 1648, a few Dutch and French soldiers hid on the island and decided to share it; soon after, both countries signed a formal agreement to split the island. After a quick water taxi to the centre, we were hunting for decent wifi, so we bar-hopped until we found a great connection. We also had a small shopping list of essentials, so we took this time to prepare ourselves for the next few months at sea. The island vibe was in full swing, swarming with cruise passengers from the four ships docked and the sweltering heat. The beach was filling up fast, and everyone enjoyed the hot weather! We decided we preferred the French side as it offered more quality dining establishments, was further from the port, and was more peaceful. Day five - Castries, St. Lucia This morning, we arrived in the tropical gem Saint Lucia, a small Caribbean island 27 miles long and 24 miles wide, located north of Barbados. We were docked in Castries, where we could wander off the ship to explore the nearby town and enjoy the local vibe. We visited St Lucia in 2015 and fondly recalled finding a local cafe overlooking the square, so we searched to find it. Afterwards, we strolled the streets, saying hello to all the vibrant and friendly locals and discovering St Lucia was home to a few Nobel prize winners. We discovered a familiar balcony cafe, although we soon realised it was different. We were previously docked on another part of the island; we later determined the restaurant we were looking for was another island entirely. We settled in all the same and enjoyed one of the most delicious coffees; we had to stay for two. We loved feeling part of the local life and watching everyone go about their day, the best way to immerse yourself into a new destination. After we were caffeinated, we took to the streets and enjoyed visiting the local market; everyone was super friendly and exuded the island's chilled-out vibe. Once we had reached our limit with the heat, we snuck back to the ship for lunch and then were spoilt with a golden hour sail-away, capturing the tropical gem of an island in the sunset. Thank you, St Lucia, for welcoming us back. Join us for our next chapter, 'Brazil', as we embrace and explore the Amazon over Christmas and New Year with Oceania Cruises on our 110-day voyage around South America.

The Northwest Passage - In the Wake of the Great Explorers - Alaska, Canada, Greenland Week five on our 13-week bucket list Pole to Pole cruise on the luxury hybrid expedition ship MS Roald Amundsen with Hurtigruten Expeditions . Day 29 - Beechey Island, Nunavut, Canada Today was magical! We had a nature landing on Beechey Island, an uninhabited island of Arctic wilderness. The weather was on our side, no polar bears were around, and the polar plunge was happening! We were so excited that we were geared up first thing and on our Zodiacs as soon as our group was called. Beechey Island is best known for containing the graves of three Franklin expedition members, first discovered in 1850. It was about 1 degree, so we were layered up to explore the island for one hour, got some steps up, took in the magnificent views and captured some lovely pics. We saw a geocache site with some time capsules, lust off a stone beach full of pebbles like polished gemstones and the most spectacular coastline views with sparkling turquoise waters. Next was the "Polar Plunge", where we could swim in the ocean! Wayne wouldn't miss out; he was out of his layers in a heartbeat to have a refreshing (and cold) swim. He was fearless, with just a little swearing to get him through! Another item ticked off the bucket list. After lunch, the ship continued until we arrived at a wildlife hotspot - where we saw our first belugas, hundreds of seals, and more birds and spotted about six polar bears! It was an incredible day of wildlife! The Captain stationed us in Radstock Bay on Devon Island for a few hours, which was a sensory overload. Pods of seals surrounded the ship, and the beautiful white belugas were a constant shimmer against the coastline. About six polar bears followed. One was swimming, hunting for food, and a mama bear was taking her little ones up the mountain. Fun fact: To remain healthy, polar bears must eat one seal every five days It was a beautiful afternoon of wildlife moments; we were all in awe! We were blessed to enjoy ourselves from our balcony, and we're grateful for our binoculars, as the naked eye wasn't quite good enough, nor the camera (iPhone) to capture the pics. All passengers with great lenses on their cameras will have arrested magical snaps this afternoon. We had dinner in Aune this evening, as the roast lamb always gets us! It was another delicious meal with ever-attentive service from our King Richard and Armani. A special thank you to Nenad (our Serbian friend), who runs a very efficient and energetic team. We always feel very spoilt by the warm welcome from the entire team. As the evening progressed, we sailed past a couple of vivid blue icebergs, followed by another sunset and the surprise delivery of the Polar Plunge certificate. This week, we have been spoiled with sunsets! Day 30 - Croker Bay & Dundas Harbour, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada This morning, the sun was beaming across the scattered sea ice as we opened our curtains; with a snow-covered island as a backdrop, we were sailing past Devon Island, which is 75% permanently covered in ice. We were attempting to land at Dundas Harbour, but the sea had other ideas. The captain continued to Croker Bay for a bonus glacier viewing as it was a pocket of calmness for the morning. This was our most northern point yet in the Arctic Circle. Morning coffee was on the balcony with the most mesmerising views of the glaciers as we navigated through the sea ice, a beautiful morning enjoying the best of nature. Soon, it was time for lunch after a few hours of blogging and publishing our four-week adventures . We landed a window table for our arrival into Dundas Harbour, an abandoned old settlement. You couldn't beat this morning, but the Captain topped it! He was busy navigating us through all the sea ice to find a cosy spot to park for the afternoon nature landings. The ship busily thrust all the sea ice from its path to clear our entry to the landing spot. Watching and being amidst all this ice and beautiful terrain. was thrilling The Zodiacs were released, and the expedition crew were off to scout the island for polar bears; they arrived back with good news, and the excursions were approved! They saw a couple of bears on neighbouring islands but stationed a few crew on the watch-out points with their rifles should the need arise to scare them away. Our group was second last today, so we had a few hours to wait until we were called. Once geared up with quite a few layers, even though the sun was still sharing its warmth over the ship, it was still very fresh, about 1 degree, and the wind was creeping in. Just as we were about to make our way to Deck 3 to embark on our nature landing, the sad news came over the PA that all future excursions were cancelled. The wind was getting more robust, and the boats struggled to pick up from the island due to the sea ice filling the landing spots. We were disappointed but understood safety comes first. Back in the room, we removed all our layers. We compensated with a few mojitos before dinner, chatting with our new shipboard friends to hear stories of their landing and enjoying the beautiful views as we made our way to Baffin Bay. As we were heading to dinner, we were all advised, 'One hand for you, one hand for the ship' as the ocean started showing us who was boss and was around for the evening. We all got through the evening with a gentle sway and were rocked to sleep. Day 30 - At Sea, Eclipse Sound & Baffin Bay - In honour of our Queen This morning, we woke, and the ship was very calm and steady, but the sea was still having a bad day upon opening the curtains! The strong winds were still fighting with the sea, which we suspect might make our visit to Pond Inlet difficult today. We were right; we arrived at lunchtime, and unfortunately, there was no anchor side and Zodiacs for a trip to explore. We quickly picked up a new ice pilot for our Greenland segment, returned our guest visitor Roger, a local from Nunavut and continued on our way. We navigated our way to Baffin Bay with misty views of surrounding mountain tops with a dusting of snow. Further along, we had sneak peeks of glaciers as we sailed out of the Northwest Passage for Greenland. During lunch, we all received an important announcement for our British passengers to confirm the sad news of the Queen's passing. This impacted all passengers of The Commonwealth, and we are Australians. In honour of our Queen, we celebrated her life and thanked her for dedicating her life to us all over a glass of Bollinger (by royal appointment). She will be missed, and it was a monumental moment. We spent the afternoon and evening with fellow passengers reminiscing about the Queen and sharing our gratitude for her reign, one of the longest-running monarchs in history. It gave us all a way of measuring the passage of time. It was a defining moment. This evening was spent in Lindstrom with our incredible team to keep us smiling, and we had some fun moments taking candid pics before we retired for the evening. Day 32 - At Sea, Baffin Bay, Canada We are on our way to Greenland! Today was spent crossing Baffin Bay as we navigated our way to approach our new destination. The waters remained friendly all day. As we sailed, scattered icebergs floated around us in the near distance, for everyone's viewing pleasure. We enjoyed lunch with our new ship friends, Robin and Lynn, and loved listening to their life stories. They are the travelling Arctic Dentist and nurse. They grasped every opportunity as they became young adults, and the doors that opened for them have taken them to fascinating places. The conversation was inspiring; now, they are visiting places they had once lived and visited over 30 years ago. The afternoon was spent recording a few video messages to our dear friends worldwide; we love checking in and sharing our experiences with everyone; the world is to be enjoyed by all. Dinner was another delicious affair, and we were again spoiled with a succulent piece of Bbeeftenderloin prepared expertly by the chef and served with lots of smiles and laughter from the great team in Aune. We lost another hour this evening, so an early night for our impending arrival in Greenland; we can't wait! Day 33 - Ilulissat, Greenland, Denmark Where do I start? Today is the highlight of the Northwest Passage segment (still seven days to go). Yes, we have seen the Aurora; yes, we have had to do a u-turn in the middle of the night due to our path being blocked by an enormous ice pack; yes, we have seen polar bears and snuck in a polar plunge, to name a few, but arriving into Greenland and being up close and personal with an ice fjord tops the charts. Mother Nature, you are the best gift of all. Let's first celebrate our 55th country; Greenland is an island of the kingdom of Denmark, so Denmark is our 55th country. Ilulissat is the Kalaallisut word for "Icebergs". Ilulissat is home to almost as many sled dogs as people. It has a population of 4700 and is Greenland's third-largest city and most popular tourist destination. Let's quickly summarise the day: as we cruise into Ilulissat , we are surrounded by enormous icebergs we have not seen yet; we are welcomed by two massive whales breaching as we approach the shoreline, or better yet, the ice line. The village is wrapped in an ice fjord; we jump on the first tender boat to make our way to the fjord (a short 30-minute walk from town); we are treated to a dog sled practice as we walk through the fields where the dogs are homed. Thank you, Arctic Living Ilulissat , for this enlightening experience on sled dogs. We were fortunate to see the dog sled practice and the level of excitement with all the beautiful dogs. We love how you put the dogs first, your high level of nourishment and care, your preservation of the Greenlandic dog sled culture, and your passion and love for this tradition. The fjords then rendered us speechless as we reached the top of the hill. We hiked through the breathtaking and colourful natural flora to the actual fjord to experience this magical moment for the first time. It was very picturesque, and we took many pictures to capture this incredible landscape and moment. Ilulissat Icefjord is 66 km wide and 555 km long and is a UNESCO natural world heritage site. The fjord is a collection of icebergs that have calved from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, the fastest and most active glacier in the world, one by one, with a speed of 40 metres per day. We followed this with a visit to the Icefjord Centre . It was incredible architecture with minimal impact and nicely blended with its surroundings, using only steel and wood to construct over two years. It only opened 11 months ago. It was imposing and a great way to learn about the life stages of ice, from a drop of rain to snowflakes, calving, drifting and melting! A friendly chap who worked there joined us for coffee and shared his stories about Ilulissat and the dramatic change they are experiencing due to climate change; recently, the permafrost has been reducing, and the houses are beginning to shift and become damaged; among the changes in the ice. Thirty years ago, it was much closer to go and touch; now, the drive has become much longer. In the Ilulissat Icefjord, global warming is evident. The Greenlanders are thankful for the growing interest in an issue they live with and adapt to constantly. The area is a site of extensive research undertaken for centuries and, as a result, is said to facilitate insight into climate change. We enjoyed listening to and hearing about the village and how tourism is doubling and becoming stronger each year from around the globe; it was a beautiful, charming community with excellent infrastructure, nestled among a seascape of ice. We captured a fantastic video of the dog sled practice and wanted to share it with the owners. Fortunately, being a small community, the lady from the ice fjord centre shared our contact details. Her name was Anso, and we later shared the video with her. They loved it, and Anso told us how much the dogs love the training; we could see how excited they were, too! What an experience. We finished the day exploring the beautiful town, its bright-coloured homes, and its scenic views. The ship was joyous this evening as the crew and passengers digested the sensory overload we were all grateful to experience, thanks to Hurtigruten. Fun fact: Greenland is 80% covered in ice. It got its name from Erik The Red, an Icelandic murderer exiled to the island. He called it "Greenland," hoping the name would attract settlers. However, according to scientists, Greenland was actually quite green more than 2.5 million years ago. Day 34 - Sisimiut, Greenland, Denmark The ship received a wake-up call from the waters of Baffin Bay this morning around 2:30 a.m.; it was time to show us who was boss again. The pre-evening announcement should have been 'One hand for your partner, and one for the bed!' We had a sneak peek, and the waves showed off at about four meters. The ship is impressive in handling the wild sea; apart from a few bumps and creaks, she is very stable. A special thank you to Captain Terje for keeping us safe and comfortable during these few and far-between times. We lightly slept to the morning, and upon opening the blinds, you could easily mistake the whitecaps for sea ice; this continued until lunch. Our arrival in Sisimiut was delayed about one hour due to weather conditions, but as we neared our new destination, we were protected, and the sea had a breather and let us dock at the pier. Everyone was off exploring the lovely village in a heartbeat and standing on solid ground for a few hours to recalibrate the body. We opted for the walk-off self-guided tour and set out on foot to take in the colourful homes and beautiful nature views around town. Other excursions included hikes to a volcano and up the mountains or a panoramic bus tour. Sisimiut means "the residents at the foxholes". The second largest city in Greenland and the largest Arctic city in North America, with a population of 5600, is also the fastest growing city in Greenland. It has been inhabited for the last 4,500 years. The population of modern Greenlanders is a mix of th e Inuit and Danish peoples, who first settled in the area in the 1720s. We first arrived at a lovely souvenir shop, which was also home to a litter of puppies; they had them on display for us to all say hello and have a cuddle. The lovely shop owner's daughter was sharing the dog mama's story with us, and we couldn't wait to stop in on the way back to make a purchase and support this lovely family. The whole ship was just as excited to find a souvenir shop, too; she flourished with business all day, making us smile. We continued walking around until we stumbled on a brassiere restaurant that looked cosy. It was part of Hotel Sisimiut. We stopped for a coffee and snack. It was so lovely we stayed for a while and just enjoyed the magical views. Chatting with the Thailand team and returning our basic Thai phrases after living in Koh Samui three years ago was enjoyable. We must note that both Greenland destinations had impressive coffee! It was time to head back to the ship, so I made a detour to uncover new sites. I came across a beautiful lake in the heart of town, stopped back at the lovely Greenland Memories Souvenir Shop, and made a cuddly purchase for the cabin. We welcomed 'Sami the Seal' to our family while supporting the children of Nepal in need with a portion of our purchase via Plan International. Sami feels at home already, and the crew enjoys his company, too. Golden hour was upon us, so we enjoyed taking some snaps of the bright and colourful homes on our way back. We were cautious of the fast-paced traffic, not sure if they get extra points for tourists or were trialling to become race car drivers, so do keep this in mind. Fun fact: Why are Greenland homes bright and colourful? In the 18th century, Greenland received timber kits from Scandinavia to build wooden houses. Only five colours were available, and each one had a special meaning. Nowadays, many of the colours are decorative. Red: churches, schools, teachers' or ministers' houses, and trade Yellow: hospitals, doctors, and health care personnel Green: power works, auto mechanics, teleoperations Blue: fish factories Black: Police stations This evening was roast lamb and Pavlova, always delicious, and we went to bed early before the moody sea was upon us again for the evening as we prepared for a sea day back towards Canada. Greenland, you were a treasure. Day 35 - At Sea, Labrador Sea, Greenland We woke to the morning update over the intercom at 9.15 am, welcoming the day. We were grateful to have slept through the night and felt refreshed, especially after hearing the waves averaged 5 metres throughout the night. The sea was much kinder this morning, and we expect the same for our arrival in Canada. Today's onboard activity was the bridge visit, which we are very excited about. As we have another two months on the ship, we thought we would give everyone extra space to enjoy it, as we will have another opportunity when it is quieter. Today was a distinct change in weather; the sun was shining, so we took advantage and enjoyed a glass of champagne in the sun on the pool deck, chatting and sharing laughter with our fellow Pole-to-Poleguests before dinner. Following dinner, tonight was a treat: Filet Mignon and Lemon Tart; we attended the Polar Molars session hosted by Robin, our Arctic Dentist friend, to hear his stories about practising in the 80s in the Arctic. We finished week five with the most magical sunset, taking us into week six . Join us as we travel South to the East Coast of Canada and the United States.

Welcome to Ilulissat in Greenland, but l et's first celebrate our 55th country. Greenland is an island of the kingdom of Denmark, which is our 55th country. We were fortunate to visit it on our North-to-South Pole cruise. Ilulissat is the Kalaallisut word for "Icebergs". Ilulissat is home to almost as many sled dogs as people. It has a population of 4700 and is Greenland's third-largest city and most popular tourist destination. Greenland is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland is the world's largest island. It lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The village of Ilulissat is wrapped in an icefjord; we jumped on the first tender boat to make our way to the fjord (a short 30-minute walk from town). Upon arrival, we were treated to dog sled practice as we walked through the fields where the dogs were housed. Thank you, Arctic Living Ilulissat , for this enlightening experience on sled dogs. We were fortunate to see the dog sled practice and the level of excitement with all the beautiful dogs. We love how you put the dogs first, your high level of nourishment and care, your preservation of the Greenlandic dog sled culture, and your passion and love for this tradition. The fjords then rendered us speechless as we reached the top of the hill. We hiked through the breathtaking and colourful natural flora to the actual fjord to experience this magical moment for the first time. It was very picturesque, and we took many pictures to capture this incredible landscape and moment. Ilulissat Icefjord is 66 km wide and 555 km long and is a UNESCO natural world heritage site. The fjord is a collection of icebergs that have calved from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, the fastest and most active glacier in the world, one by one, with a speed of 40 metres per day. We followed this with a visit to the Icefjord Centre . It was incredible architecture with minimal impact and nicely blended with its surroundings, using only steel and wood to construct over two years. It only opened 11 months ago. It was imposing and a great way to learn about the life stages of ice, from a drop of rain to snowflakes, calving, drifting and melting! In the Ilulissat Icefjord, global warming is evident. The Greenlanders are thankful for the growing interest in an issue they live with and adapt to constantly. The area is a site of extensive research undertaken for centuries and, as a result, is said to facilitate insight into climate change. We enjoyed listening to and hearing about the village and how tourism is doubling and becoming stronger each year from around the globe; it was a beautiful, charming community with excellent infrastructure, nestled among a seascape of ice. We finished the day exploring the beautiful town, its bright-coloured homes, and its scenic views. The ship was joyous this evening as the crew and passengers digested the sensory overload we were all grateful to experience, thanks to Hurtigruten. Fun fact: Greenland is 80% covered in ice, and It got its name from Erik The Red, an Icelandic murderer exiled to the island. He called it "Greenland", hoping the name would attract settlers. But according to scientists, Greenland was Let'sgreen more than 2.5 million years ago.

Icefjord Centre - One visit Upon arriving in Ilulissat on the west coast of Greenland on our Pole to Pole cruise with Hurtigruten Expeditions to visit the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, we followed this with a visit to the Icefjord Centre. We were impressed with the incredible architecture, which had minimal impact and nicely blended with its surroundings, using only steel and wood to construct over two years. The Icefjord Centre only opened 11 months ago. It was imposing and a great way to learn about the life stages of ice, from a drop of rain to snowflakes, calving, drifting and melting! A friendly chap who worked there joined us for coffee (the cafe onsite makes exceptional coffee) and shared his stories about Ilulissat and the dramatic changes they are experiencing due to climate change. Recently, the permafrost has been reducing, and the houses are beginning to shift and become damaged, among the changes in the ice. Thirty years ago, it was much closer to go and touch; now, the drive has become much longer. In the Ilulissat Icefjord, global warming is evident. The Greenlanders are thankful for the growing interest in an issue they live with and adapt to constantly. The area is a site of extensive research undertaken for centuries and, as a result, is said to facilitate insight into climate change. We enjoyed listening to and hearing about the village and how tourism is doubling and becoming stronger each year from around the globe; it was a beautiful, charming community with excellent infrastructure, nestled among a seascape of ice. The structure's roof has a viewing platform that provides a sensory overload of the Icefjord. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in this magical part of the world, be sure to visit.

Patagonia & Antarctica Ultimate Adventure - Antarctica In the final week of our 13-week Pole to Pole cruise on the MS Roald Amundsen with Hurtigruten Expeditions , we experience the big white wonder of the world and our 7th continent - Antarctica. Day 85 - At Sea, Cape Horn & Drake Passage We started the day with the news we had been waiting for for over 85 days: we won the lottery for kayaking in Antarctica and were in Group A, which provided us with the highest chance to get out on the water should the weather permit. We were very fortunate, as most of the 400 passengers also had this activity on their bucket list, with only four landings scheduled, a maximum of two sessions per landing and eight kayaks per session; you do the math, we were two lucky ones. Crossing the Drake Passage takes about two days; we had heard so many horror stories over the past few months from fellow passengers who had experienced the 'Drake Shake', so we were very fortunate to be blessed with the 'Drake Lake' for our crossing. Yesterday, we were scheduled for a landing on Cape Horn. Unfortunately, the winds were too strong, resulting in a no-go, so we continued our path to the Antarctic Peninsula. When we first set out on this cruise, we were unaware that the chances of landing on the mainland of Antarctica were meagre, as we had booked a Pole-to-Pole cruise. As most are quick to let you know, our landings would be on the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula; claiming this is not Antarctica; therefore, you haven't visited Antarctica. Although we suggest otherwise, as we have come this far, the peninsula is part of visiting Antarctica in our book, it is actually part of the mainland. It's a little like you have seen Tasmania, and then to find out you haven't been to Australia, or you have been to Koh Samui, but have you been to Thailand - yes, of course! Today was making the most of a relaxing sea bay before the big arrival. Day 86 - Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica Welcome to our final continent; all seven are now ticked off! This continent has always been on our bucket list, and finally, setting foot on the icy continent of Antarctica has been fulfilled. As the fog lifted this morning to present the majestic views, they were breathtaking, like nothing we have ever seen. Blessed to be joined by the sun and blue skies, we cruised closer to the first land we had seen over the past few days. The pictures were priceless and a great taster of what was to come. There is so much ice! The elevations were surprising; these mountains are enormous! We later learned Antarctica has the highest average heights in the world. Our kayaking adventure was postponed due to the stronger winds, so we layered up for the landing on Half Moon Island. As we approached the island, we could see all the little penguins and spotted a few whales, so we were excited! Especially as it is usually too early in the season for whales. The landing took us across to land where we could experience being up close and personal with the penguins, two breeds; the main colony were chinstraps who come to breed (up to 15000 eventually) and then the Gentoos who come to hang out by the water. They were adorable and clumsy as they would make their way down to the sea to feed, constantly tripping over their little feet; you could sit by and watch them all day. They didn't seem to be bothered by us humans, so they continued getting on with their day. It was cold, around zero, so thankfully, we layered up and enjoyed the hour on land. We were mesmerised by the natural wonder and adorable penguins surrounding us. As we were leaving, we sat with the penguins, just enjoying being near these birds full of character; oversee the following for a giggle, the one on the left:-) We can't wait for the next few days to experience this majestic place on Earth. Day 87 - Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica Today was fascinating; let's start in reverse! Heavy snow set in during dinner, and we scored a window table to ensure we could experience heavy snowfall while cruising; the first time we had been on a cruise and the ocean with snow, it was pretty surreal and beautiful, especially in Antarctica. It was heavy snow, and the snowflakes were the size of a cotton plant; it was what movies and picture books are made about. As dinner progressed, the deep blue ocean that engulfed us transitioned into a tinge of foggy grey; it was freezing over as the snow settled, and a thin layer of sea ice was beneath us. Let's jump back to the morning; it was an early start as our Kayaking was scheduled; take two. We made sure to fill our bellies with some fuel, and during breakfast, the news came it was cancelled. The weather was changing rapidly, and snow was gracing us with her presence; we did enjoy the morning show with the seals relaxing on the icebergs as we cruised by. The ship quickly changed its navigation from our original destination, Orne Harbour, to a new location, Wilhelmina Bay, where we could bring out the zodiacs and all get a chance for a scenic cruise through the sea ice and flows and be within inches of the icebergs. Before lunch, we explored the ship; seeing it covered in snowfall was a surreal experience. After lunch, we geared up; as the snow settled in, we loved popping back to our room to measure the snowfall; it felt like a winter wonderland with snow filling your balcony and a little like Christmas. We love it. Brendan was our host and zodiac driver through the sea ice for one hour, providing us with lots of insights on the icebergs, sea ice and all about the nearby birdlife as he expertly dodged and weaved all the ice flows and icebergs with limited vision. Being part of the sea as it began to ice up was also fascinating. It has the same texture as a slushy; the water on the surface becomes a light shade of grey and is mushy. Great work, and thank you, Brendan, for keeping us safe. After being woken up on the water and showered with snow, we returned to the ship to bring our body temperature back to normal, prepare for dinner, and wait for the boat to unveil our next destination as we explore Antarctica. Unfortunately, the passengers who had booked the camping on the ice due to the weather were also cancelled. Day 88 - Neko Harbour, Antarctica Will we kayak in Antarctica? It is becoming a million-dollar question. Another early morning for take 3 for us kayakers who were the fortunate ones in Group A (this means we were first to kayak before all other groups). It was 8.05 am, so it was time to pop into our cold suits; one leg in, the announcement popped up that it had been cancelled, and the wind was picking up. So close! Fortunately, the zodiac was still on, and we happened to be in the first group of the day, so we dressed up for the cruising and went down to the expedition landing. We were first on the boats and surprised it was a little warmer than yesterday, much more civilised with only light snow dust. We navigated the sea ice and enormous icebergs on the hunt for some sealife; penguins were the day's spot. The icebergs glistened in the water as the sun peeked through the clouds. Just remember that the visible part of the iceberg is only 10-20% of the actual size, so most of the berg lives underwater. We could see the entire length with the water pristine, and it was just wow! On the way back to the ship, we came across a sensational raft of gentoo penguins. Forty-five minutes later, we were back on the ship, and the weather was closing in, and the captain was concerned with all the sea ice also closing in on the boat that we could be iced in the harbour, so it was time to pack up and move on. We made our way for Danco Bay, and take 4 of Kayaking was on the schedule, fingers crossed. The ship changed direction again, and a new destination was on the map until the wind blessed us with her presence at up to 90 knots at one stage, so the ship maintained its position to keep us all comfortable and to wait out Mother Nature. Later in the evening, she cruised along the majestic coastline of Antarctica, filling our senses with icy mountain peaks and wonders. We sailed into Damoy Point, a rocky headland on the west coast of Wiencke Island, filling us with more delight with the size of the glaciers. The ship decided to spend the evening as the weather conditions were good, and activities looked promising for our last day in Antarctica tomorrow. Let's go Kayaking! Today was spent enjoying the changing weather and genuinely appreciating the perils of the weather. I was fortunate to sneak in a 'patchy video' call to Mum and Dad to share the experience of the wonders of the world. Day 89 - Dorian Bay, Antarctica The million-dollar question has been answered, and we have hit the 'Kayaking in Antarctica' jackpot! 🛶 This morning, we woke early to calm waters and weather. It was five, and we were optimistic it would happen! With our cold suits and straight to the meeting point, there was no wasted time. The sooner we were on the water, the sooner it was to become a reality. Fourteen of our fellow kayakers were on the same page, and everyone was ready. We were given finishing touches to our Kayaking outfit, a unique life jacket and gloves to keep us dry and hopefully warm. We piled into the zodiacs for a short five-minute cruise across to the waiting kayaks, and one by one, we were loaded into our kayak, two per kayak. Wayne was in the back, and I was seated up front as the head photographer. Fine by me, as poor hubby would need to do all the paddling (which, after knowing my rhythm, he much preferred to take control). Before we embarked on this magical experience through sea ice, we had a quick practice and 101 on manoeuvring the kayak and, of course, staying above the water. This moment was one we had been waiting for. It is nearly 90 days since we departed Vancouver, and we were hoping to kayak in the Arctic Circle; unfortunately, the weather continued to close the opportunities. The paddling commenced, and it was surreal. We were all lined up, navigating on the water's surface through large chunks of sea ice; the paddles driving their way through the ice chunks were eerily sounding but surreal and peaceful. We arrived at the most magnificent turquoise iceberg to capture pictures up close and personal. Unbeknown to us - this same iceberg would calve and start the process of tipping over a few hours later, which we were fortunate to witness from our balcony - play with sound. We continued closer to Damoy Point, a research station home to a Gentoo penguin colony. The station was being prepared for the arrival of four female researchers to spend the summer in a few weeks, so we all floated amongst the sea ice and bergs to enjoy the serenity, overshadowed by dramatic icy mountain peaks. We watched the penguins go about their day, swimming and diving, waddling, and even swimming beneath our kayaks in the crystal waters beneath us. It was one of those magical moments that will remain with you forever. After about 1.5 hours, we returned through the sea ice. We were all becoming familiar with paddling through (or, in my case, my darling hubby was); I was too busy trying to get my little fingers and toes to circulate again and keep the phone from going for a swim in below-zero waters). We approached the ship and were to wait for our zodiacs to pick us up and take us back to our cosy cabins; they were running a little behind, so we took the opportunity to row around the ship. It was magnificent to experience this impressive vessel from the exterior and at the water level; it was surreal. We were shortly picked up once we reached the stern and delivered back to the ship. A huge thank you to Molly and Orto from the Expedition team for a memorable experience kayaking in Antarctica; it was the perfect ending to our three months onboard. The afternoon was spent enjoying a lazy lunch, reviewing the incredible photos we captured, and celebrating ticking off another bucket list experience. Kudos to Hurtigruten Expeditions for being the first cruise ship to launch Kayaking in Antarctica this summer; we were the first group out on the water this season 👏 We were scheduled for a zodiac landing later in the evening to walk through the snow and see another penguin colony, but we decided to opt-out, as it was on the peninsula. We were all hoping it was on the mainland; therefore, we wanted to stay on our natural high from the morning; it was our perfect ending to Antarctica. Dinner was spent back in Lindstrom chatting with our new Aussie friends and enjoying drinks as we entered the Drake Passage, all with fingers crossed it would bless us with a crossing of the 'Drake Lake', not the 'Drake Shake'. Day 90 - Drake Passage The Lake is slowly becoming the Shake! Therefore, it has been a slow day. We enjoyed lunch and a bottle of wine; the afternoon was spent hiding away in the suite to stay horizontal! We find it much easier on the body; the motion sickness creeps in as soon as you wander around. Fortunately, it takes quite a rocky ship now to upset us, and we know how to avoid it! Dinner was quick, and back to bed! One of those days! A little penguin love and kayaking highlights; I hope it gives you as much joy as it does me:-) Day 91 - Drake Passage This marks our last day at sea for three months. Fortunately, the Drake was easing up as we approached land around noon. We enjoyed our last day over a lazy lunch at Fredheim, thanking the team and preparing to pack our cases and disembark for the morning. Before dinner, we enjoyed catching up with the Pole-to-Pole guests for the captain's farewell; drinks were overflowing as everyone was sharing all the unused bottles of bubbles and shipboard credit, as you can't take it with you. This was followed by a fun evening with a group of lovely Aussies we met on this segment; it was full of laughter and entertainment from the crew. We were incredibly grateful to the lovely crew, who cared for us throughout the cruise; you all made our trip more delightful. Thank you, team; we will miss your friendly smiles and daily chats. Beautiful moonlight glistened over the ocean as our next and final destination, Ushuaia, welcomed us. Thank you for travelling with us as we embarked three months ago on our 'once-in-a-lifetime' cruise from North to South Pole; we hope you enjoyed our travel moments as much as we enjoyed visiting parts of the world on our bucket list. Join us as we experience our next adventure, the ' Argentina Chapter ', one month exploring a new part of the world.

Today was an unexpected adventure in São Tomé, but with all things travel, you must go with the flow, and Mother Nature always has the upper hand. Upon arriving in São Tomé, our beautiful luxury hotel, the Regent Seven Seas Splendor ,  was anchored about 30 minutes from the port, so the tenders busily transported everyone across to land. During our tender trip, the sun was shining, and as we approached the shore, the skies had turned a moody grey and opened up! Fortunately, we are all waterproof and enjoyed our second shower of the day, which resulted in new hairstyles, too! But why miss an opportunity to explore a new destination? Our African Art & Lunch walking tour around town was to be reshaped, and buses were soon arranged to deliver us to the city hotspots! Our first stop was the São Sebastião Museum, a historical fort built in 1575 that first housed the colonial maritime defence command. The fort was primarily open air, but there were a few rooms throughout the house to tour and provide some reprieve from the torrential downpour; we quickly captured the artefacts and intriguing sacred catholic art statues and voodoo practices. We then skipped on the rooftop tour and were back on the bus; unbeknownst to us, we had joined another tour group, but no dramas as we were all heading to the local art gallery Casa das Artes Criação Ambiente e Utopias for lunch. The art gallery in this small town was incredible. The pieces were mesmerising and full of tales. We loved perusing the art and then enjoyed a local lunch accompanied by a local musician. We were super excited to try all the banana delights they had on offer, too! Once everyone's bellies were full, we all opted to walk back to the ship to glimpse more of São Tomé. However, the roads had other plans for us after the day's rainfall. They were impossible to cross by foot as they were all flooded, so we were all picked up by buses and deposited back at the port. Our tenders were waiting to ferry us back home. Kudos to the pilots; the waters were definitely challenging. Despite the rollercoaster-like journey, we all stumbled aboard the ship to settle our bellies and felt grateful for their expertise and the stable ground again. São Tomé and Príncipe is an African island nation near the equator part of a volcanic chain known for its striking rock and coral formations, lush rainforests, and pristine beaches. Our visit took us to São Tomé, the larger island, home to the capital and a population of just over 200,000. Notably, São Tomé and Príncipe is Africa's second-smallest and second-least populous sovereign states after Seychelles. It was a short and sweet visit to São Tomé, our 88th country, but one that remains with us due to the fun and unexpected adventure. Hopefully, next time, we will explore further afield, visit the magical beaches and lagoons, and understand more about this part of the world.