**The Journey to the Frozen White Continent**

The moment I titled this travel log, I realized that neither the title nor my words could ever fully capture my feelings and experiences. Yet, I feel compelled to write and share as much as I can.

My journey to this frozen white continent was a long solo adventure. It began in Mumbai, India, with 30 hours of flight time, including a layover in Dubai and a technical stop in São Paulo, Brazil. Finally, I landed in Santiago, Chile. Before heading to Antarctica, I spent a week exploring the Atacama Desert in Chile. Typically, the easiest way to start an Antarctic expedition is by flying to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then onward to Ushuaia, the southernmost tip of South America.

Ah, so much for the introduction to this expedition! From Ushuaia, also known as the "End of the World," I boarded a small yet luxurious ship that would be my home for the next 10 days. Little did I know, countless memories were about to be created during my time onboard. Everything felt beautiful, new, and mesmerizing. After checking into my suite, I headed to the highest deck to take in the surrounding views before we set sail for Antarctica.

The journey to Antarctica was expected to take about two days and one night, depending on the conditions of the Drake Passage. The Drake Passage, a body of water separating South America from Antarctica, is infamous for being the roughest in the world. When I signed up for this expedition and watched videos of the Drake Passage online, my heart sank. Thankfully, the Drake Passage behaved like "Drake Lake" instead of "Drake Shake," and I enjoyed a pleasant stay onboard.

Before landing on the Antarctic mainland, we had to go through numerous safety drills, instructions, and rules. It felt like being in military school—exciting yet intense. Amidst these briefings, there was also a welcome party. It was New Year's Eve, a special evening for everyone onboard. On January 1, 2019, we were set to step foot on the white continent. For the 200 passengers onboard, this was a dream about to come true.

I felt a mix of emotions—excitement, happiness, and cheerfulness—but also a tinge of loneliness. While everyone celebrated these once-in-a-lifetime moments with their loved ones, I was solo, unable to share my emotions with anyone. The ship's internet was sporadic, sometimes good, sometimes bad.

Then came January 1, 2019! Around noon, the ship's captain announced the sighting of the first iceberg. Excitement filled the air as everyone rushed to the observation deck and the bridge. People expressed their joy in various ways—some jumped with excitement, others shed tears, couples hugged and kissed, and many, like me, ran around with cameras to capture the moment.

After the initial excitement, the focus shifted to taking as many pictures as possible, as if it were a do-or-die moment. In that frenzy, we forgot that this was just the beginning. Many more icebergs of different shapes and sizes awaited us in this mysterious white land of ice and snow.

The most defining moment of the journey had just unfolded—the sighting of the first Antarctic iceberg. This event signaled our proximity to the white continent. Everyone was ecstatic yet exhausted from the sudden rush of emotions. As the excitement subsided, a profound silence took over. All eyes were fixed on the small white peaks far away on the horizon.

I found myself in complete silence. Time seemed to stand still. My mind was numb, my heart ready to burst, and my nose and fingers were pink and freezing as the ship moved closer to those distant white structures. After freezing for a while, I went back inside, wondering what tomorrow would bring.

Happy penguin