Sunburn

I got fried today. Toasted, roasted and turned on a spit. Or at least my face

did. For a team of caucasians who haven’t seen the sun for six months, and,

when they have, have had every inch of flesh covered, I didn’t think we were

that pasty. Before today. Now, as I glance in the mirror on my way to the shower,

I see black hair (freshly dyed, it was faded orange yesterday) above a bright

red face outlining dazzling white panda eyes. From my chin down again, luminous

yellow-white. Another example of how few comparisons and benchmarks we have

here. There is no perspective.

I visited the penguins again today, thousands of them cooing and trilling,

so many that an entire ice cliff was grey with their shadow. The same feeling

though: I have no perspective. The first time I saw an Emperor I was over-awed

by its majesty. Now, as my friend so succinctly put it, visiting them is like

going to the park to feed the ducks. Very pleasant – but surely there’s

something not right?!

Perspective did however visit us on our return to the cliffs, in the form

of a rogue Adelie. Scurrying about the ice, he was a mucky scruffy little thing

but I love Adelies cos they make me laugh. I can’t look at one without hearing

the clown theme-tune in my head. And next to this little buddy, the Emperors

stood tall and proud again, magestic. I guess we all serve our purpose on this

planet.

Another thing that made me laugh was the queue that formed behind our backpacks

while we walked among them. The abseil access point is perhaps 800m from the

main gaggle of penguins but there is always a small welcoming party that comes

to meet us. Usually a handful of adolescents sliding on their bellies. Once

we’ve reached the sea ice, they then often wander back to the crowd with us.

Last time, I remember just one stayed behind near the bottom of the rope. He

had obviously led the group out there and not realised that the rest had lost

interest and wandered back. Not to worrry; they picked him up again when they

escorted us back an hour or two later. [In this aspect I feel a strong affinity

with penguins,- my attention span is now so short and distraction by shiny things

so compelling that it has pretty much become part of my persona here. Hmm, I

must tell you about melt-tank someday.]

Anyway, you can see for yourself the line that had formed by the time we returned.

They really are sheep. Metaphorically… though I do like the idea of furry

penguins that bleat. The reason why they find Halley every year is because they

follow our 18km drum-line from the coast thinking each next drum might be a

relative. I believe this entirely now.

All in all, we had a lovely day at the sea-side. There was unfortunately no

candy floss or pub to warm up in but I did at least pick up some colour. And

before you chastise me too much for being a fool, yes, we did take sunscreen

but it fell on the floor of the sno-cat while driving there and was frozen solid

upon arrival.

Oh, and here’s a map for Stefan: