Antarctica – Don't Stop Living

5 Cool Things To Do When Backpacking in Antarctica🇦🇶

Posted on July 1, 2020September 3, 2024 by Jonny Blair

This post originally appeared on a site about travel without borders but the author removed it, so here it is on my site now!! I cannot believe Antarctica was 10 years ago for me now – I feel so old thinking about it…

Jonny Blair is a global nomad. Ten years after leaving his Northern Irish hometown of Bangor, he has managed to visit over 180 countries across all seven continents. His travels have seen him work all over the place: on car ferries, on broccoli farms, in ice cream kiosks, in bars and in schools. He has visited China 20 times (some really remote parts) and also raves about off the beaten track places like lakal Suriname, Podjistan and Antarctica. He shares his stories on his travel blog “Don’t Stop Living“. You can also follow Jonny on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

First up let me introduce myself and my blog. I’m Jonny Blair, travel writer and editor at Don’t Stop Living and I’m delighted to be writing for the site over less borders in travel. It was my favourite bit of travelling in life so far and I’ve picked out a realistic 5 cool things to do in Antarctica, yes even on a low budget you can do these five…

Arrival in Antarctica at Barrientos. Panny Yu, unmet. — Arrival in Antarctica at Barrientos.

These are my top 5 cool things to do in Antarctica (yes – deliberate pun – it’s cold there!).

1. Go swimming!

Yes – this is the moment you’ve been waiting for! Lose your fear of cold weather forever by getting down to your bikinis and swimming trunks and heading into the waters for an icy dip. Believe it or not, it’s not even that cold. OK so I froze for a few seconds, but life is all about adventure so why not?! We got to do our “swim” at Whaler’s Bay on Deception Island. Myself and 2 others even did it naked! We were given a free shot of Kahlua and cream straight after it! It’s often classed as the “Polar Plunge” and if you’re in Antarctica, I’d recommend it!

jonny blair backpacking naked antarctica — Getting Naked in Antarctica – this is a blurry mild photo – ruder ones do exist.

My naked dip in Antarctica at Whaler’s Bay! Satisfying!

Russell goes in first – an Australian swimming in Antarctica!

2. Hiking

On your Antarctica you’ll get to do some walking and hill climbing. Not exactly strenuous hikes I must add. However hiking up to the top of Cuverville Island was an absolute highlight of my Antarctica journey! The phenomenal views you get and the fact that you sweat so much, means at the top you can be warm enough to enjoy the views wearing just a t-shirt. You can get back down extra fast by rolling down the snow! You’ll pass by hoardes of penguins on route.

northern ireland flag in antarctica — Loving the wilderness of my arrival onto the Antarctic mainland at Neko Harbour, with my well travelled Northern Ireland flag.

antarctica cuverville — Our group hiking up Cuverville Island in Antarctica, zig zag style

3. Snowball Fights

As well as building snowmen on the continent of endless snow, we had a few snowball fights! One on board the ship was certainly exciting as you couldn’t see ANYTHING in behind because we got caught in a crazy blizzard one night! But the best ones were on our first landing on mainland Antarctica. Everyone was throwing snow at each other!

All alone in the Antarctica mainland - a wonderland of snow at Neko Harbour — All alone in the Antarctica mainland – a wonderland of snow at Neko Harbour

4. Drinking

Just because there are not many bars about doesn’t stop you from drinking. The Vernadsky Ukraine station in Antarctica has its own pub! Plus there are two bars on board the boat which goes down well on Happy Hour. We also took our own cheap beers with us that we bought in Argentina and raised a toast as we drank them on King George Island – carryout loyal.

The table where I met Panny Yu in Antarctica — 5 Cool Things To Do When Backpacking in Antarctica

Out on deck sailing through Antarctica with Russell

Drinking in Antarctica: having a beer on Antarctic soil at Admiralty Bay on King George Island with my travel buddies.

Happy hour cocktails in Antarctica — Drinking in Antarctica: Don’t miss Happy Hour in the onboard bar!

5. Kayaking and Cruising

My trip included kayaking as an additional option. I must admit I didn’t fork out the extra money and do it – but those that did raved about it! I simply couldn’t accept or afford it after how GAP treated me. As an alternative I went cruising on the Zodiacs a few times, most spectacularly at Foyn Harbour and Elephant Island. Icebergs and wildlife galore. It’s such a breathtaking landscape.

Arrival at Bransfield House at the British Base of Port Lockroy in Antarctica where I posted a postcard.

antarctica zodiac 2010 — On a Zodiac cruising Antarctica in 2010.

If those five aren’t enough there’s also the “big one” for the extremists – visiting the South Pole! My budget didn’t take me there as it comes as a high cost, but if you do want to head to Antarctica on the cheap, check out my tips on it here: How to get a cheap trip to Antarctica. Live your travel dreams my friends!!

backpacking in antarctica — Living the dream back in 2010. How to backpack your way to Antarctica!

A photo I took at Point Wild in Elephant Island, ANTARCTICA

The amazing Cape Horn in behind me on my trip from Antarctica back to Chile and Argentina.

Enjoy the freedom of being offline while backpacking in Antarctica

antarctica half moon island — Flying my Northern Ireland flag in the sunshine at Half Moon Island, Antarctica.

Reminiscing My Luxury Antarctica🇦🇶Cruise

Posted on February 19, 2019September 3, 2024 by Jonny Blair

In 2010, I headed to Antarctica on what was a real travel dream of mine. I had worked really hard for months on broccoli and cauliflower farms in Tasmania, Australia to pay for this trip. I was to be heading on a luxury cruise ship, all inclusive and I would leave the Argentinian city of Ushuaia for Antarctica – the real land down under. I was so excited ahead of the trip and while it was years ago now, it remains my favourite trip from my travels.

Flag flying in Foyn Harbour, Antarctica.

However, some people are still unaware of how easy it is to book an Antarctica trip. You can still do it on a budget of course as I mentioned before, but realistically this is a great place to visit on a luxury cruise. You’re going to spend a lot of money on the trip anyway so you might as well live in pure luxury for the 10 – 30 day trip (which ever one you choose). It was the best trip of my life. If you don’t believe me, check some of my epic articles on Antarctica:

– My highlights from Antarctica

– The best islands in Antarctica
– Landing on Barrientos Island, Antarctica

Touring Barrientos in Antarctica in 2010

– Landing at Neko Harbour, Mainland Antarctica

– Visiting the Polish Base at King George Island

– Visiting the British Base at Port Lockroy

Organising Your Trip to Antarctica

For luxury passengers, check out Ponant luxury Antarctica cruises, who specialise in ensuring your cruise to Antarctica is of the highest possible quality. You are guaranteed a luxury Antarctica cruise with Ponant. You can choose from many different options on their website. For example if you want a cheap and easy trip, go for one of the shorter options – normally 10-11 days. These still get you to experience Antarctica but for a shorter time. These also work for those on strict or short holiday times. For the more intrepid tourist, try the 15 day or even 22 cruises. On these cruises you will experience a lot more, including the home of the Emperor penguins and a trip to the Falkland or South Georgia Islands. Choose the best trip for your timeframe and budget. Most trips come and go from Ushuaia in Argentina, so you will have to work out your transport to and from there.

antarctica-cruise-ship© Studio PONANT Laureen Robert — Cruising in Antarctica © Studio PONANT Laureen Robert

Sightseeing in Antarctica
Again, you must be ready for a truly diverse range of activities and sights here in Antarctica. The pre-conception that Antarctica is all about snow and penguins is far from the truth. The wildlife is extreme – you will see up to five different types of penguins, many seals, dolphins, whales and of course birds.

whale-antarctica-©Studio PONANT Clément Vial — A whale in Antarctica ©Studio PONANT Clément Vial

You will also stop at different Antarctic bases. At the British Base at Port Lockroy, you can visit a museum, a shop and a post office. The post office is fully functional and you can post a postcard from here, at the world’s southernmost post office. There are also bases for Poland, USA, Chile and Argentina. Depending on the tour you choose, and the weather conditions, you could be stopping off at any one of those bases!

posting postcards in Antarctica — With some of my postcards at Port Lockroy, Antarctica.

Also get ready for some sporting activities such as kayaking, sailing, hiking and climbing. The terrain of Antarctica is diverse and allows for some extreme hikes through thick snow, or rocky hill tops. You’ll be certainly keeping fit on your trip, as I discovered. We did a memorable hike to the top of Cuverville Island which had immense views.

After the hike, you can also roll or slide down the hills!

antarctica-expedition-cruise-©Studio PONANTNathalie Michel — Hiking in Antarctica ©Studio PONANT Nathalie Michel

Preparing for Antarctica
Once you have your trip to Antarctica booked, it’s time to start preparing for the trip. One of the most commonly asked questions will be about clothing – what to wear, what to buy, what to hire. I answered this in a few posts and I also hired some of my clothes as I was backpacking in South America after that and didn’t want to have to carry such heavy clothes.

ski ing — Well prepared for the cold of Antarctica, lose the lifejacket and the same clothes could apply to ski-ing.

Food and Drink in Antarctica
You certainly won’t be eating out at flash restaurants or on pub crawls through the snow. Bars, cafes and restaurants in Antarctica are few and far between. However, the Ukrainian base actually has a bar! The good news however is that you will love the food on board the Ponant cruise ship! You get exquisite meals each breakfast, lunch and dinner, served by excellent chefs!

Finally, get ready for the time of your life. Antarctica for me was a life changing experience – it was my sixth continent to visit (I later visited Africa for my seventh continent) and I met my ex-girlfriend there!

The Day I…Met My Ex-Girlfriend in Antarctica🇦🇶

Posted on October 2, 2018September 3, 2024 by Jonny Blair

“We got a love that ain’t got no name. We kiss our love with lips like pain. I said Oh Ho” – Brett Anderson (Suede).

the day i met my girlfriend in Antarctica — The Day I Met My Ex-Girlfriend in Antarctica

OK so…on my travels I often told this story to people who were somehow fascinated. But now, almost 8 years on, it’s not such a fantasy or a dream any more. That’s all been and gone. But, yes, I met my ex-girlfriend, Panny Yu, the travelling Hong Kong girl in Antarctica back in 2010.

You met your ex-girlfriend in Antarctica?

Yes, and we even met the very night we first stepped on Antarctic land. Whether it was love over staring at penguins or at being so far away from the busy boring office world or whatever, we met each other in Antarctica. We both boarded a boat to Antarctica in November 2010 and had never met before or had any idea where life was taking us. On the first night after landing in Antarctica for the first time, we were sitting at the same table together over dinner and got talking and introduced. She was travelling alone and I was too. As fate would have it we were both heading to Montevideo in Uruguay where we met up later. That was November 2010. Only the Gods know how this all came together.

“There’s four and twenty million doors on life’s endless corridor” – Noel Gallagher.

barrientos antarctica jonny blair — Yeah baby – arrival in Antarctica at Barrientos in 2010. One of my best travel moments from a decade of nomadery.

It’s thanks to my ex-girlfriend also that I brought you the story on how to get to Antarctica on the cheap, as she did it on the cheap. I wasn’t jealous that she had got the trip for $2,000 US dollars less than me, I was just happy for her. After all I had paid extra for the comfort and advantage of knowing I was definitely going. I booked my trip 6 months in advance from cash gained while harvesting broccoli 12 hours a day for over a month.

Looking back, the memories of the night I met Panny Yu are distant and hazy but the date was clear. The date we first met and spoke was November 8th 2010. In fact, I officially saw Panny on the 6th November 2010 but only on the boat as she walked past me with a green jumper, and later was in my drilling club for life jacket safety as we were leaving behind the port of Ushuaia. At the time, I had recently turned 30 and was about to live out a dream of having visiting 50 countries and all 7 continents by the age of 30 (though Africa had to wait 3 more months – it was actually my final continent). I was single and I was still torn by the Hungarian dancer Noemi, who rarely ever leaves my mind in a day, and probably never will. I had no plans for new love and certainly hadn’t been kissing or flirting with girls. I was into backpacking and football and trying to meet honest and nice people. I was eager to visit Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay on that trip. I had no plans but I was blogging almost every day.

Then she came along…Panny Yu.

How to travel Antarctica for cheap by Panny Yu — Panny Yu, The travelling Hong Kong girl I met in Antarctica and dated for 5 years

After our first ever landing on Barrientos, Antarctica the whole boat was buzzing. We had lived out that dream and could now concentrate on enjoying the rest of the trip knowing we had stepped on Antarctic land. The $5000 US I spent on it had been worth it – money I worked hard to earn on the broccoli fields of Tasmania. It was dinner time on board our ship, the MS Expedition. One table had an empty seat. So…I sat in it. And this was the table and the night when I first met Panny Yu. Just before that we had a champagne reception to celebrate our landing. I wasn’t dressed up for this. As ever, I wore my Northern Ireland football shirt.

“Don’t ever change” – Ian Brodie.

The champagne dinner on board the boat, the night I met Panny Yu

The champagne dinner on board the board, the night I met Panny Yu — The champagne dinner on board the boat, the night I met Panny Yu

I had been drinking champagne with tour mates Scott and Suman just minutes before I met Panny Yu.

And so I walked over to this table…

and this is the table where Panny Yu and I first chatted, first exchanged eye contact, first looked at each other, first laughed together.

Also on the table was John, our excellent guide and Paul Gray, who was to become a friend who I also met later in Poland and England on my journeys.

“Funny how it always goes in love, when you don’t look, you find” – Rita Coolidge.

Here’s what Panny Yu and I ate that night…

Dinner the night I met Panny Yu in Antarctica

The comedy?

There was a funny moment though – at first I thought Panny’s name was Penny!! Yes, really! But later that night, I had a cocktail and a beer and it was now Panny, it was clear I had misheard her. I had a new friend, from Hong Kong. I didn’t know that then we would end up living together, getting engaged, and visiting EVERY continent together and 44 countries. But that’s what later happened. Just look at what we did together – mind blowing

– hiked the highest peak of Central America
– did our diving certificates in Honduras
– got engaged in Sai Kung, Hong Kong
– watched the Mass Games in North Korea
– hiked the world’s 20th highest mountain, Mount Kinabalu
– visited all 7 continents together (we finished with Africa in March 2015 – we had both finished all continents separately by 2010-2011)
– visited 44 countries (the last of these, was to be Tunisia, in fact…)

Panny and I at a marvellous viewpoint in Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia

Panny and I mutually split in 2015, around 5 years to the day that we got together. I had lived in Hong Kong and Asia for so long and was glad to be back in Europe. I needed to be in Europe and she needed to be in Asia. Our relationship filtered out and we stayed friends for the first 13 months after the split. Then she decided to block me, so I blocked her contact back and decided never to see her again.

Sad the way it ended but this is life.

When I look back on all these pivotal moments since leaving Northern Ireland back in September 2003 (15 years ago), there are always weird coincidences.

November was the month where I met 5 of my ex-girlfriends and lovers. It was always November and I remembered the dates when I met these five girls – Lauren, Noemi, Panny, Ola, Monika.

Weirdly that night, in November 2010 at the captain’s dinner, we found out that the captain was Bulgarian and my drinking buddy that night, was Lukasz who was Polish.

Four years later, while I was backpacking in Romania (and still in a strong relationship with Panny Yu) I was to meet a Bulgarian based Polish girl who somehow worked her way into my life, later ruining this blog and my story with her lies. Of course at the time, that girl would only be a travel friend and to clear up any situation on here, I had no interest of dating anyone else or splitting from Panny Yu until November 2015. She didn’t either. I don’t even remember the date we agreed to split, but it was mutual and both of us were single and would remain single and dateless for at least 7 months.

We cannot rewind time.

Panny and I parted ways, but we stayed honest and true. That’s all I ever want in life from people – honesty.

Perhaps one day, the liar that later ruined my life will come clean and admit her lies and apologise. That’s all I live for.

Love with Panny has been and gone…thanks Panny!

Panny Yu and I deep sea diving off the coast of Honduras.

kayaking lago atitlan — Panny and I in our kayaks ready to sail on Lago Atitlan, Guatemala.

Panny delivers the perfect Guinness in Dublin!

jonny blair flag — Panny Yu and my travelling Northern Ireland flag in Azerbaijan watching Northern Ireland in 2013

kaluts desert iran — Panny and I relaxing enjoying the Kaluts desert in Iran.

hong kong panny yu — Panny Yu and I in Delaney’s Hong Kong

how much does it cost to book hiking up mount kinabalu — All ready to go at the National Park entrance – Panny Yu (Travelling Hong Kong girl) and I!

Jonny and Panny living a lifestyle of travel in Shuhe Old Town China — Caught on camera – myself and Panny Yu photographed in the main square in Shuhe Old Town by a passer by!

First proper date with Panny in Montevideo, Uruguay (November 2010)

Panny in the front row for the parade in Pyongyang, North Korea

Top 10 Cruises From My Travels

Posted on July 25, 2015July 25, 2015 by Jonny Blair

“I’d love to get you on a slow boat to China, all to myself alone” – Frank Loesser.

How do you like to travel? Boat? Plane? Bus? Train? Car? Jeep? Joe Baxi? For me, it’s anyway I can and I love the whole aspect of travelling, just being out there seeing the world. I once wrote an article on my top 25 random transport types and I’ll take the next chicken bus or hat-trick wheeler that comes as long as it gets me there. However when pushed for an answer, my top two ways to travel will always be by train and by boat. I’m not a big fan of flying at all – it’s the security, the safety and the idea of being in the air that I don’t like. The love of travel rises above it for me, but having worked on ferries for Condor and Wightlink, life at sea is hard to beat.

Antarctica Cruise — Life at sea: Cups of coffee in Antarctica

“Out to sea, it’s the only place I honestly can get myself some peace of mind, you know it’s getting hard to fly.” – Liam Gallagher

So here are my top 10 cruises from my travels so far. This list is also subject to change on any given day as I reminisce about certain parts of my journey, right now these are my top 10 cruises.

1. Antarctica Cruise, ANTARCTICA
Without doubt my favourite cruise ever was my trip to Antarctica in 2010. It was a once in a lifetime for me. Months of hard grafted work on the broccoli farms of Tasmania gave me the 5 grand I needed to book the trip.

My trip to Antarctica in 2010 remains a highlight

We sailed out of Ushuaia in Argentina on a brisk Saturday evening, toured Antarctica, stepped onto the snowy covered dreamland mainland and I met my girlfriend here on the world’s most remote continent. A crazy trip and probably one than cannot be beaten.

Cruising on the Drake Passage to the Antarctica dreamland in 2010

2. Cruising in Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
My first ever memory of a cruise was when I was only 11 on my first ever backpacking trip – a school visit to the Netherlands. On that trip, we cruised the canals of Amsterdam and I was suitably inspired. I have since headed back to Amsterdam to reminisce.

My Dad relaxing on a boat in Amsterdam — My Dad chilling on the canals of Amsterdam

The canals of Amsterdam and my time cruising on the Danube remain my favourite European cruise memories, check out a guide for solo cruisers for more information on European cruises in cities like Amsterdam, Prague, Mannheim and Budapest.

3. A Slow Boat Through CHINA
Down the years I have travelled through 13 of the 29 provinces of China so far and I love it – it’s perhaps the best country in the world to travel in. In terms of boat trips, I’m going for a cruise we did at Xinxiang Lake near Danxiashan in the Guangdong Province in 2012. Peace, landscape and relaxation – this is what a slow boat through China is really all about.

Though I also loved bamboo rafting on the Yulong River and my other Chinese boat experiences including the ferry to Gu Lang Yu and my time backpacking through the beast that is Chongqing.

A slow boat through China in Guangdong Province

4. Oiapoque, BRAZIL to St. Georges de L’Oyapock, FRENCH GUYANA
The “Guyana Hat-trick” of Suriname, Guyana and French Guyana will always be one of my favourite travel adventures. These are the three least visited countries in South America tourist wise and it is baffling, absolutely baffling to know why. My favourite cruise in this region was on a hot stuffy tropical day when we left the town of Oiapoque in Brazil on a dreamy boat through a jungle and river to the unknown town of St. Georges de L’Oyapock to arrive in French Guyana.

brazil to french guyana border — Boarding the boat in Oiapoque for St Georges de Loyapock

5. Star Ferry, HONG KONG
Hong Kong’s star ferry probably remains my favourite cheap “paid for” cruise in the world. At around 25 US cents, the 20 minute journey gives you excellent views of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island and you’re cruising on one of the Star Ferries that haven’t changed in years.

star ferry hong kong tsim sha tsui — The best value boat cruise in the world: Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central, Hong Kong.

6. Atauro Island to Dili, EAST TIMOR
My sunset boat from Atauro Island to Dili in East Timor was sensational. As I left behind the dreamlike daze of Atauro Island for life in Dili, East Timor, a rain swept across the boat, then the sun shone as I sipped a beer and relaxed on the 40 minute trip back to the mainland part of East Timor at Dili.

About to board my boat from Atauro Island to East Timor

7. Gudvangen to Flam, NORWAY
I’m still catching up big time on my travel stories and haven’t written enough about my time in Norway yet, but one thing’s for sure – the cruise on the Fjords from Gudvangen to Flam was absolutely sensational.

Touring the fjords of Norway between Gudvangen and Flam

Life slows down to a halt as you sail past tiny villages cut off from the world in simply inspiring and magnificent countryside.

8. Kettering to Bruny Island, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA
I spent half a year living and working in Tasmania and I headed to some of the more obscure parts of the island (such as Kindrid, Bagdad and Rinadeena). The ferry cruise to the magical Bruny Island was a highlight.

Lonely backpacking days on the Kettering to Bruny Island ferry in 2010

9. Dhow Cruise, Doha, QATAR
To include Qatar in this type of list might seem unexpected but the Dhow cruise I did in Doha is one of very few boat journeys I have done in the Middle East and it was memorable.

Quirky transport types - a dhow cruise in Doha harbour. — A dhow cruise in Doha harbour.

We couldn’t find a cruise cheap enough as we backpacked the city and scaled the Corniche looking for a bargain, then we met an Australian family who had booked an entire Dhow for a cruise. Panny encouraged me to ask them if we can pay a bit towards the cruise and jump onboard and they let us on. It made my top sights in Doha.

10. Labuan to Serasa, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Crossing borders by boat is something I love doing and one of the most relaxing and chilled out crossings was from the island of Labuan in Malaysia to Serasa in Brunei Darussalam.

Arrival into Brunei by boat from Malaysia

With every top 10 list there are those that have to miss out and I loved all these cruises listed below but they didn’t make the cut.

Notable absentees:
– Bamboo raft cruise in YuLong, China
– Spirit of Tasmania from Melbourne to Devonport
– Strangford to Portaferry, Northern Ireland
– Travel Trident Guernsey to Herm
– Bon Marin du Serk, Guernsey to Sark
– Gondolas in Venice
– Belize to Honduras border crossing
– French Guyana to Suriname border crossing
– Suriname to Guyana border crossing

and too many more to mention. Here are some videos from my top 10 cruises so far.

Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Backpacking in Antarctica🇦🇶

Posted on October 11, 2014September 3, 2024 by Jonny Blair

With my friend Haya from Israel at the peak of Cuverville Island in Antarctica.

You probably get bored by my endless posts (almost 50 now?) on my favourite continent, Antarctica. However it was the trip of my lifetime and I’ll never stop raving about it! I mentioned before about the checklist on what things to take etc. but here today I’ll give you my top 10 ways to prepare for backpacking in Antarctica.

My tips on preparing for your trip to Antarctica.

1. Don’t Overpack
This is very important. You do NOT need a load of warm clothes. The reason being, the city of Ushuaia (where most Antarctic trips leave from) is well equipped and you can rent everything you need a few days, or even the day before your trip. In fact I must admit I took too many clothes expecting it to be really cold, but we were there in Summer and honestly, I’ve been colder in parts of Iceland, Northern Ireland and China before. No poo poos Sherlock!

Gloves, scarf etc. but DON'T OVERPACK! — Gloves, scarf etc. but DON’T OVERPACK!

So yeah – take a pair of gloves, a windproof coat, a warm hat and HIRE the rest in Ushuaia – I ended up posting a load of my gear back to my family just after the Antarctica trip – and the postage cost more than hiring would have. So take the hint and find a decent hire company in Ushuaia to hire the stuff you need. Check the small print.

You can hire stuff in Ushuaia and most companies include wellies.

2. Arrive in Ushuaia a Few Days Early
Don’t arrive in Ushuaia the day before your trip to Antarctica. That would be insane. This is the trip of a lifetime and you want to be fully prepared for it. By taking 3-4 days here first, here are the advantages:
– You can buy/rent all the stuff you need without stress
– You can meet up with your fellow Antarctica travel buddies and chat about what you are taking, your plans for the trip etc.
– You can get all your online stuff done in preparation for 2-3 weeks offline (especially important for bloggers/those who work online – all my posts were scheduled)
– You can leave stuff in the hostel to pick up after the trip (better once you’ve spent a few days in a hostel and know the staff)
– You can see Ushuaia itself which is a cool city

Andrew Mozart does Ushuaia in The Liar's Guide to South America — Backpacking in Ushuaia – Fin del Mundo marker.

3. Prepare for Being Offline for 2-3 weeks
Don’t be an idiot and assume you can get online in Antarctica. For two reasons:
(1) You can’t get online in Antarctica. It’s a myth and any company that tells you that, I hope they’re wrong. You don’t go to Antarctica to get on Facebook. You go for penguins and beauty 😉

Just for a laugh I actually checked my wifi in Antarctica and there was a registered signal on the boat! The Polar bear Bar! Thankfully it didn't work. — Just for a laugh I actually checked my wifi in Antarctica and there was a registered signal on the boat! The Polar bear Bar! Thankfully it didn’t work.

(2) You shouldn’t want to get online in Antarctica. This is the trip of a lifetime and you want to enjoy EVERY minute of it away from the worldwide web. Sure, on dark nights in Antarctica, I had my laptop out to sort my photos and videos and write the odd offline post, but the experience is here to be enjoyed. Don’t be a dick with a laptop moaning about being offline for 2 weeks. Enjoy your time offline.
So you might want to set up an email reply that says you are currently backpacking in Antarctica and will reply on your return. Set your blog posts in advance as I did back in 2010.

4. Write down the essentials you need and bring them
For me these things are a complete MUST:
– A guidebook (I choose the Solitudinal Sphere)

– Other books (check my reading list here)
– Extra Memory Cards (There ain’t no Walmart, Woolworths or Tesco in Antarctica)
– Travelling Northern Ireland Flag

– Carryout

I wrote another long list of essentials. It’s an action packed trip though and you don’t get a moment of rest – you are sleep deprived (I spent 5 days in Ushuaia after the trip to recover!).

Wine and beer bought in Ushuaia in Argentina before my trip

5. Bring a Carryout
If you are not aware of the word “carryout”, then I’ll tell you – it’s a Northern Irish term for “takeaway alcohol”. Bring some beer, wine and spirits onto the ship with you. It’s perfectly allowed and will save you money. Sure there is a cool bar on the boat and it includes a Happy Hour and “Antarctic Cocktail of the Day”, but a few cheap beers bought in Ushuaia will come in handy. We also had a beer at King George Island.

With my Quilmes beer for the Antarctica toast at King George Island.

6. Bring Your Swimming Trunks
You’ll need them for the sauna on board the boat (epic after a day of hiking through ice, snow and blizzards). But more importantly you can do the Polar Plunge and go for a dip in the water at Whaler’s Bay. It has to be done. You will also get a certificate to say you swam in Antarctica. If you’re really keen, you can go naked in Antarctica and give your ship mates a shock!

Bring your swimming trunks for a swim, and the onboard sauna.

7. Bring a Logbook and Update it Daily
Every day I updated my log book – I bought a really cool one in Ushuaia the day of the trip. Basically I would write down the animals we saw, the food we had, the friends I made, the islands we passed, the weather etc. Everything, I wrote a detailed report in my log book for every day of the trip. This also made my blog writing a lot easier as I had all the information already!

8. Read The Small Print from your Booking

This is important. The company I booked with I will never recommend – GAP or also known as G Adventures. Basically they lied and their treatment to me was not great (apart from on board the actual ship). I booked my Antarctica trip in April 2010 after saving the money by working on remote broccoli farms and sleeping rough for a few months. This meant I was one of the first to book my bed on the boat. It cost me around $5,000 US back then in 2010. For that price you’d expect a lot back right? Wrong…

I wasn't the only one that was lying... — I wasn’t the only one that was lying…

(1) The trip was advertised as a 13 day cruise and we were told:
– To get to the Hotel Ushuaia early on the 4th November (I did – nobody was there – they tried to con me into booking a night in this shitty hotel so I packed up my bags and walked to a hostel). Incidentally the Hotel Ushuaia is one of the worst I have ever stayed in – I had to stay there the night after. In the end my 13 day trip was cut to 12 days.
(2) When I got onto the ship I found out that others in the group (that had booked after me) were given two extra options by email that I hadn’t been given. These options were kayaking and camping in Antarctica. In the end a Blizzard meant the camping got cancelled, but the kayaking went ahead. I wasn’t given these options but was one of the first few to book onto the boat. When I consulted the company about this they didn’t care, nor did they offer me the kayaking when I boarded the boat, or when I complained about it.
(3) The night we had in the Hotel Ushuaia involved the most basic room ever, having just come from the excellent Cruz del Sur Hostel, this was a step backwards. I asked the staff for a coffee or a tea. They wanted me to pay for it. “I’ve paid 5 grand for it” was my response. The previous night’s hostel of course – was free tea and coffee all day. Here in this shitty hotel, they wanted me to pay for it. Poncy hotel.

Shitty hotel - Hotel Ushuaia — Shitty hotel – Hotel Ushuaia

9. Extra Batteries and Memory Cards for Cameras
It’s cold in Antarctica and naturally your camera batteries die quicker so ensure you have extra batteries with you for your camera. You’ll also take a load more photos and videos when you’re in Antarctica, so bring extra memory cards and buy more if you need in Ushuaia.

Get extra memory cards and batteries as you'll take a load of photos and videos and in the cold the batteries deplete faster. — Get extra memory cards and batteries as you’ll take a load of photos and videos and in the cold the batteries deplete faster.

10. US Dollars
It’s a given that you should always carry US Dollars, but we visited 2 shops and a museum in Antarctica and they accept US Dollars or British Pounds (the UK Base only). So yes you do need to carry USD!

OK so that’s all there is to it – Antarctica is still the number one trip of my lifetime so far and I highly recommend it. If you want any advice on booking a cheap Antarctica trip there you go!

Check my Antarctica travel videos.

Top 5 Places to get Naked🍌🙈Around the World

Posted on May 1, 2014September 3, 2024 by Jonny Blair

We are born naked. Somewhere along the way some bright spark invented clothes and decided we should cover up. Possibly to cope with cold weather, possibly to keep clean, possibly to protect ourselves or possibly shame at showing our so called “private bits” to others. Sod that, I went backpacking around the world getting naked a few times along the way and enjoying the freedom of it. Here are my top 5 places around the world to get naked, all from my own experiences of getting nude, feeling the freedom and flashing my bits. This was actually a post I offered to write on my Facebook page depending on votes, and only one vote was cast but here’s the article anyway!

incahuasi naked guys — Getting naked with the lads in Incahuasi, Bolivia.

1. Antarctica.
Antarctica is the coldest continent on the planet and yes you do freeze there even with clothes on. But for a laugh, most tour groups organise a “polar plunge”, basically one morning set aside for everyone that wants to go in for a swim or a dip in the ice cold waters can. I put my green football shorts on to start with, but once I got into the cold waters, I just whipped them off and loved the freedom of it.

Although it was cold, we got rewarded with a cream and Kahlua shot as we boarded the boat again. Two others also got naked in the ice cold waters. Think mini penises and erect nipples. Think freedom and fun. Read my story of getting naked in Antarctica.

2.Dead Womans Pass, Inca Trail, Peru.
In 2008 I set myself a target to do the Inca Trail in Peru. I went through some dark times in 2009 however and after the girl I was sure I had finally found left me behind, I headed out backpacking again. When I reached the peak of the Inca Trail in Peru about 2 years later, I had a sudden sense of freedom and reality. The peak at Warmiwanuska is known as Dead Woman’s Pass. I got there ahead of my group and knew the hardest part of the hike was over and done with. So I got naked. I took my clothes off at the top of the Inca Trail.

dead womans pass peru — Getting naked in Peru at Dead Woman’s Pass, the peak of the Inca Trail.

My tour group buddy Roberta from Brazil came up a few minutes after me and while standing naked, I told her how good I felt about it. She took a few quick snaps, refused to join in this crazy activity (good decision Roberta!) and as the mist and rain fell I had that feeling of happiness return. I had left behind this Hungarian wannabe and was out seeing the world. 50 countries deep at this point and living my travel dreams. Naked and lonely with my fears. Read my Inca Trail stuff here.

3. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.
I loved the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. So much so that me and my two French travel buddies decide to do a load of streaking on the 3 day tour. We got naked at Incahuasi, on the Salt Flats, at Laguna Colorada and at Laguna Canapa.

getting naked in bolivia — The lads at Laguna Canapa in Bolivia. The flamingoes had a decent view.

4. Jimjilbangs, all over Korea.
Jimjilbangs are cool. They are a place to get naked, swim, shower, relax, eat and sleep. You can even check into a Jimjilbang and stay the night there is you fall asleep in one of the lounges. Some backpackers do that.

south korea jimjilbangs — I got naked in a Jimjilbang in Seoul, South Korea.

5. Turkish Baths, Turkey.
Turkey is famous for its baths and so I headed to my first ever Turkish Bath in Trabzon. I had been at some baths and massage parlours before around the world, some naked and some clothed. The Turkish bath I went to was male only. It was a bit sweaty and steamy in there which added to the oddness of it. After rinsing myself off, I have a guy come over and give me a full on wash, Turkish style. It’s a bit full on and apparently dead skin comes off.

turkish bath trabzon turkey — About to get my kit off in Trabzon, Turkey for a Turkish Bath.

So get out there and be free everyone – don’t worry who sees you naked – it’s hardly a major thing. In hostels I’ve seen more tits and willies than in a porn mag down the years. One thing though – on nude beaches make sure you wear enough sun cream.

“You make me feel naked, undressing me with your eyes” – Louise Nurding

Backpacking In Antarctica🇦🇶: My Top 5 Islands

Posted on March 24, 2014September 3, 2024 by Jonny Blair

I choose my top 5 Islands in Antarctica.

Every now and then I love to write about Antarctica again. It still ranks as my number one travel trip to date. A pure Winter Wonderland. An untouched paradise and a total dream backpacking destination. I’ve told my story countless times, of how I lived cheaply in Tasmania working 12hour days and 7day weeks on remote broccoli farms and managed to save enough money to pay for my trip and live my travel dreams. If you’re reading this and haven’t yet been I urge you to work hard and get it booked ASAP. It’s a truly life changing experience. A bit overdue then here are the top 5 islands from my 2010 Antarctica adventure. Ahead of your trip though, make sure you get your Antarctica visa and have plenty of winter clothing!

1. Deception Island.
Try and ensure a visit to Deception Island is included on your trip. It’s a forever deceiving island and a former volcano. A narrow passage takes you through the opening in the letter “C” and you’ll spend a day inside the letter “C” shaped island. Notable places inside are Whaler’s Bay, Neptune’s Window, Pendulum Cove and Telefon Bay.

The magical Whaler's Bay in Deception Island, Antarctica — The magical Whaler’s Bay in Deception Island, Antarctica

There is also a disused whaling station and an airline hangar plus some graves – they are all at Whaler’s Bay. I have written a total of 5 posts on Deception Island on here before, including the amazing Polar Plunge where I got naked in Antarctica by swimming in the ice cold waters.

2. Wiencke Island.
This island, Wiencke Island is not noted or recognised for its name, but for the significance of what sits on it – the British Base of Port Lockroy. This astonishingly proudly British quarter in Antarctica houses a post office, a museum and plenty more.

port lockroy antarctica — Arrival at the British Base in Port Lockroy in Wiencke Island, Antarctica

A tour of Bransfield House shows there’s even an old radio station here and British people live here all year round. I’ve covered my trip to Port Lockroy numerous times on here before:
– Posting a postcard from Antarctica
– Visiting the British Base at Port Lockroy
– Jougla Point

3. Cuverville Island
The magic of Cuverville will NEVER leave me. I was in tears. It’s just so beautiful. You hike up to the top through the thick snow for a triumphant moment, some breathtaking views and just diving in endless clean crisp snow. It was all so beautiful the day we did Cuverville.

cuverville hiking antarctica — That magical feeling at the top of Cuverville Island in Antarctica.

4. Half Moon Island
Half Moon was the island where the sun shone down on us. We got to see a load of penguins and seals and dived in the flat snow. Originally in fact I think we were meant to visit Penguin Island that day but they changed the schedule at late notice. It’s shaped like a half moon and I famously found a blue stick lying in the snow and tied my Northern Ireland flag round it.

There is also an unusual Macaroni penguin to be found here – in amongst a load of chinstraps and gentoos!

half moon island antarctica — Having fun in the snow at Half Moon Island with Italian backpacker Katarina.

5. Barrientos.
Last on this list but definitely not least. Little unknown Barrientos was a defining moment for me. It was a reality check. I had made it to Antarctica. Working hard to live out my travel dreams and there it was. A song which goes “it just don’t matter anymore” comes on the boat’s speaker system as we dock in the group known as Aitcho Islands. It’s time to head to Barrientos.

antarctica cold continent — That defining moment – arrival on Barrientos Island, Antarctica – the first photo of me in the cold continent.

As I stepped foot on Antarctic snow for the first time here at Barrientos, I was truly inspired. It was a life changing moment and one which I will never forget.

We also visited the Antarctic Mainland on our tour and cruised through a load of Antarctic waters and channels. I didn’t mention some of the other islands we visited on this post, but have covered them elsewhere, including Elephant Island, the Day we got caught in a Snowstorm and King George Island. I urge you all to get out there and see places like Antarctica – much better than a beach break to Ibiza or a booze cruise in Thailand. If you check my Antarctica tab you’ll see more of my Antarctica stories.

My Antarctica Videos – Jonny Blair in Antarctica
How to Get an Antarctica Visa
How to get from Argentina to Antarctica
How to get to Antarctica for cheap
6 Places for a Beer in Antarctica
My top 5 Antarctica Moments

A few resources for travelling in Antarctica:

How to Get An Antarctica🇦🇶Visa

Posted on August 17, 2013September 3, 2024 by Jonny Blair

Originally this was going to be a “tongue in cheek” type post but then I figured it doesn’t need to be. Nor should it. I’m all about decent travel advice to help you on your journeys! After my Antarctica trip in 2010 I did get a lot of people asking me “do you need a Visa to visit Antarctica?”. In retrospect it’s a serious question, and rather than reply to countless e-mails on the subject each week about how you can do Antarctica for cheap or backpack to Antarctica, I thought a new post would suffice. First TWO things first:

1. You don’t need a visa to visit Antarctica

2. There is no immigration or border control on entering Antarctica

However to get to Antarctica you will be in either:

Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand (so please do check if you need a visa for any of those places!!).

Here is what you do need to visit Antarctica: most of the tour groups that go to Antarctica will ask for the following, so have them ready ahead of your trip:

1. A valid passport with 6 months to run (for registration and identification purposes only)

2. Some kind of travel insurance that covers you for the duration of your trip (I hate buying travel insurance but it’s essential for this trip)

3. Tell the tour company your blood group (in case of medical emergency)

4. Tell the tour company your next of kin (in case of medical emergency)

Can I Get My Passport Stamped in Antarctica?

Yes you can and there are a few places you can get this done, mostly the bases, as well as the South Pole of course. My budget didn’t take me to the South Pole, so I got my passport stamped in the Post Office at Port Lockroy, Wiencke Island. It’s free to do so.

Do you get an exit stamp when leaving Ushuaia, Argentina?

Oddly – NO you don’t. Which I found strange. In fact I think it’s one of the only times I’ve ever left a country without having an exit stamp for one I received an entrance stamp for. I left Argentina illegally…

visa for antarctica leaving argentina — That time I left Argentina without getting an exit stamp…on route to Antarctica!

Do you get an entrance stamp on your return to Ushuaia, Argentina?

No – again you don’t. I guess there might be an exception if you left Chile for Antarctica and headed back to South America to Argentina. However I didn’t encounter anyone who did this.

What currency do you need for Antarctica?

As a rule you should always carry US Dollars. You can use them on board the ship and at all museums and bars etc. in Antarctica. However Euros will also be accepted in most places. At the British Base Port Lockroy, you can pay in British pounds. Which I did as I had some on me.

Unsurprisingly Antarctica has no official currency, no official banks and as such no official physical banknotes. However you can get Antarctica Dollars merely as a souvenir item!!! I found this amusing, the Bank of Antarctica even have their own website. So for collectors get on it!!

antarctica dollars — An Antarctica Dollar – for souvenir purposes only!

At the British Base you can get Antarctica Stamps in the Post Office (which say on them British Antarctic territory). I picked a few up for souvenir purposes.

On arrival at the Polish Base I asked if they accept Zlotys, the answer was no.

Visa and Mastercard are NOT accepted on the continent of Antarctica but can be used to settle bills onboard your ship.

antarctica stamp — The nearest you’ll get to an actual Antarctica visa is a stamp at one of the bases!

What Other Proof Can you get to say you went to Antarctica?

Our tour organised 2 certificates for us which make decent framed items:

1. A certificate to confirm I had stepped foot on Mainland Antarctica:

A certificate to prove I stepped foot on Mainland Antarctica

2. A certificate issued to swimmers only to confirm that we had swam in the water of Antarctica. If you read my naked dip story, you’ll know I was in the water!

antarctica swimming certificate — A certificate to prove I swam in Antarctic Waters (although the videos and photos would suffice!).

What Nationalities can you expect to meet on an Antarctica Trip?

On our trip there were people on board from the following countries:

United States of America, Argentina, Chile, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Philippines, Italy, Germany, France, Brazil, Poland.

I have written over 30 posts on Antarctica on this site alone and contributed a further 6 or 7 to other sites. Here are some others that may be of interest:

Antarctica Checklist – What clothes to take

Antarctica Checklist – A Reading List

Antarctica Checklist – What food and drink to take

Arrival at Barrientos

Arrival on Mainland Antarctica

World Borders – Crossing the Drake Passage

10 Things you Won’t Find in Antarctica

So don’t stress over that Antarctica Visa folks!!! Head to

antarctica northern ireland flag — Live your travel dreams and head to Antarctica!

the white continent and live your dreams! Cheers!