Going for the Trini Polar Plunge in Deception Island #WDMC

For some background information, while Deception Island sounds like something off the coast of Mordor or some place in Game of Thrones where the Dothraki have fun, it’s actually an old whalers station.

Everything is rusting and decaying … I assume that with all the whales that were killed there, it can’t be the happiest place on earth, with giant rusting barrels, decaying whale bones and black volcanic sand.

Where we’re going to take the plunge is a crescent-shaped bay, which due to the location, it is one of the safest harbors in Antarctica. You’re even in the shadow of distant, jagged black peaks of Neptune’s Window … I love the names of these places.

Trinis can be an adventurous type … I know I am. I’m chuffed that I’m going to be in Antarctica in 15 days, and having dipped my feet in the Ocean above the Arctic Circle, when I was in Iceland, I’m excited to be taking a Trini Polar Plunge in the some of the most Southern waters in the world. Now I know what you’re thinking …

When I think of a Trini in water … I think of the following …

In the Nylon Pool in Tobago!
Lifeguard Tower at Maracas Beach in Trinidad

You don’t think about the following, something that grey, dark and running into the ocean on black volcanic sand.

Three Sister rock formations in Southern Iceland

You don’t think about sub zero temperatures, a somewhat fierce wind chill, while standing out in open with your drawers on. Right? From the picture above, when I first dipped my feet in Icelandic waters, you get the idea right? Well, when you’re in Antarctica, one of those crazy things to do, is to do the Antarctic polar plunge in Deception Island. Even the name “Deception Island” sounds like the omninous title of some classic book or the name of a Kim Kardashian vacation reality show. From my previous polar plunge experiences, I know it will be the following sequence of events

  • Get all drunked up on Vodka
  • Feel invincible
  • Strip down to my drawers, with the extreme cold making my junk turtle up into my body. It’s science people!
  • Run madly into the water
  • Scream and “cuss” like a madman
  • Run out of the water as fast as Ato Boldon
  • Consume a shot of Vodka, slap my chest and revel in my manliness

For some background information, while Deception Island sounds like something off the coast of Mordor or some place in Game of Thrones where the Dothraki have fun but it’s actually an old whalers station in a volcano. Yeah, that’s right!!?!

deThe island is actually a caldera (a cavity) of an active volcano, which gives the islands its distinctive ring shape. Surrounded by land on almost all sides, the island is used by ships as a safe harbor.

… it’s actually an old whalers station in a volcano. Yeah, that’s right!!?!

Everything is rusting and decaying … I assume that with all the whales that were killed there, it can’t be the happiest place on earth, with giant rusting barrels, decaying whale bones and black volcanic sand. Where we’re going to take the plunge is a crescent-shaped bay, which due to the location, it is one of the safest harbors in Antarctica. You’re even in the shadow of distant, jagged black peaks of Neptune’s Window … I love the names of these places.

Finally I would have done the polar plunge at opposite sides of the planet! How about you? What’s on your bucket list?

About Rishiray

Rishi Sankar is a Cloud HRMS Project Manager/ Solution Architect. Over the past 15+ years, he has managed to combine his overwhelming wanderlust with a desire to stay employed, resulting in continuing stints with 3 major consulting firms (IBM, Deloitte, Accenture). He documents his adventures around the world on "Ah Trini Travelogue" with pictures and stories from the road/tuk-tuk/camel/rickshaw. You can follow him on Twitter at @rishiray and on Facebook at "Ah Trini Travelogue . He doesn't like Chicken Curry but loves Curry Chicken and is always trying to find the perfect Trinidadian roti on the road. He also doesn't like cheese and kittens ... and definitely not together. E-mail from his blog is appreciated like a 35 yr old Balvenie at rishi@rishiray.com

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