Expeditions
May in Iceland and Greenland (II) 9-28/5/2026
Day 5 May 18 Ittoqqortoormiit Today, I signed up for a guided walk at 9:45 am on the ice with a naturalist. I put on the snowshoes which were heavy for me. I walked too slowly and eventually I left the group and walked on my own back to the village. It took me an hour … Continue reading
May in Iceland and Greenland (I) 9-28/5/2026
Iceland and Greenland are amazing with magnificent landscape and unique history. I like them and have visited both of them several times. This May I returned as I signed up for a 14-day expedition to East Greenland on Le Charcot 14-28/5/2026 while on a Northwest Passage with Ponant in August 2024. Before boarding the boat, I joined a … Continue reading
Australia 2025 (2): Kimberley Coast
July 22 – 31, 2025 Australia’s Iconic Kimberley onboard Le Soleal Day 1 (22/7) Darwin Boarding at 4pm As boarding would start at 4 pm, Kylie and I spent the day leisurely at the hotel. I continued with my writing. After getting onboard, we were ushered to stateroom 325. As a Grand Amiral member, I … Continue reading
Cape Town to London 2025 Part 4
Day 31 – 32 Cape Verde I first arrived in Praia on April 28, 2015 at the end of a 36-day voyage on Ortelius from Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Verde. I stayed for 18 days and visited six (Santiago, Fogo, Brava, Sao Vicente, Santo Antao and Sal) out of the ten islands. I had fond memories … Continue reading
Cape Town to London 2025 Part 3
Day 22 April 24 Abidjan, Ivory Coast Ivory Coast with an area of 322,460 km² and a population of 31.5 million (2024 estimate), is the third-most populous country in West Africa. The area became a protectorate of France in 1843 and was consolidated as a French colony in 1893. It gained independence under the leadership of Felix Houphouet-Boigny … Continue reading
Cape Town to London 2025 Part 2
Day 11 April 13 At Sea Lecture Day Of the three lecture on “Venom”, “Marine Megafauna of West Africa” and “China-Luisphone Africa Relations”, I enjoyed the last one by Clifford most. Clifford whose ancestors came from Goa and who was born in Kenya before migrated to the UK, is now teaching at the Centre of African … Continue reading
Cape Town to London 31 April – 1 June 2025
I love the sea and have been able to visit the North Pole, the Arctic and Antarctic region a dozen times. One of the voyages I have longed to take is the sailing along the west African coast following the footsteps of early Portuguese explorers. I therefore signed up for a 40-day expedition on Silver Wind … Continue reading
Peru & Chile
Day 11 November 10: Callo (Lima), Peru We were glad to step ashore after two sea days. Passengers were offered three excursions and I took a 6-hour tour to Huaca Pucllana in the district of Miraflores and Larco Herrera. Huaca Pucllana is an impressive archaeological site belonging to the Lima culture of regional developments. Evidence … Continue reading
Costa Rica to Chile 26/1–18/11/2024
My Third Expedition in 2024 While on Silver Cloud travelling from Puerto Williams to Namibia in March, I signed up for an expedition from Costa Rica to Chile on the recommendation of Peter Harrison. I invited my brother Lawrence and his wife Sally to join. Then Sally’s sister Sylvia and her husband Chu Sir and … Continue reading
Northwest Passage Canada – USA September 15 – 19, 2024
Day 15 September 10 Queen Maud Gulf – At Sea We sailed the whole day. The Queen Maud Gulf Bird Sanctuary located in the Gulf is Canada’s largest protected area. Unfortunately, no activity was allowed. I attended Alessandro’s interesting lecture on “plankton” in the morning and Julie’s promotional talk on “Le Commandant Charcot Destinations“. I … Continue reading