Alright, it’s not really the North Pole but it’s as near as one of us got in 2008 (about 500 miles south – and still no sign of Santa). Kvitøya - it means White Island – is remote, almost completely covered with ice, Polar Bear ‘infested’, and is known as the place where Salomon August Andrée and his two companions, Fraenkel and Strindberg landed after their ill-fated balloon expedition to the North Pole in 1897. Though it’s sobering to imagine the ultimate fate of Andrée’s expedition – I’ll leave that bit out as it’s hardly full of festive cheer - for me it’s also a steely reminder of the almost unquenchable power of the natural world: forbidding; fragile; astonishing; and mysterious. What setting could be more other-worldly for Father Christmas? Could there be a more elemental dwelling from which to span the planet’s sky in a sleigh pulled by aerial reindeer?!We here at Planet Whale want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. We’re looking forward to an awesome year of whale, dolphin (and wolf) adventures in 2009, when we hope to see lots of you, but for now we suggest you kick your festive season off with some gasps and grins . . .
Did we tell you that we love Killer Whales? If you do too, then get over to YouTube for two tales of Orcas and daring escapes!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iig-Eq2biK4&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwqbqZ3L60&feature=related (for this one turn the annoying soundtrack off)
Happy Holidays!
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