Page 8 - Seniorstoday January 2023 Issue

At Sea and Grand Jason Islands,
Northern Giant Petrel
decks enjoying the bird life around us –
white-chinned Petrels, Giant Petrels and
Pintados. While of course keeping a watch
for dolphins and whales. The weather was
fair – not too cold.
Talks on whales and dolphins and sea-
birds given by our expedition experts
followed.
The bar cum library on Deck 6 was where
most gravitated to when not on the decks
or in their cabins.
FUN FACT: All passengers were issued a
warning to turn off all mobile and roaming
data else our devices would latch on the
ships satellite. And our bills would be
astronomical.
Guess what? News spread like wild-fire
that a passenger had hacked the system.
And who was he? Of course, a Chinese
national.
FACTOID: Nature’s Marvel - Petrels
filter salty sea water through their tubular
noses, which sit on top of their beaks. So,
this way they drink desalinated water.
DAY 3
Thursday, 27 October
Wind Force – 5, Sea state – moderate
8
Falklands.
Boarding a zodiac
Post breakfast we heard a talk on the
Falkland Islands (comprising 788
islands). We were scheduled to visit one
of them, called Steeple Jason, post lunch.
Unfortunately, the weather reported
squalls in that area, with winds gusting up
to 60 knots (equal to 110 kmph), making
a landing on that beach impossible.
Changing course, we headed to another
island, Grand Jason, home to the largest
Albatross colony in the world. Though
favourable conditions prevailed, we had
to balance our way on a rocky uneven
island in our ungainly 7 lb. + muck boots
and 12 lb. + life jackets. A pole-marked trail
through massive clumps of yellow-green
Tussock grass led to the enormous colony
of Black-Browed Albatross and Rock
Hopper Penguins. Unfortunately as is
wont to happen in Antarctica, the weather
did a volte-face, winds gusting at Force
12, the waves 4 metres high. On returning