Journal Contest: We Have Our Winners
August 15, 2009
We would like to congratulate everyone on their wonderful journals, and extend a great big thank you for sharing your travels!
Drawing Winner
Our first journal contest has come to a close - and I am pleased to announce the winners of our journal drawing are Les Moore and Sabine Westland. Les and Sabine's Antarctica journal, Antarctic Cruise aboard MS Andrea was randomly selected from the completed collection of our online journals. They have won an Alaska voyage for two with our partners Cruise West!
..."As we woke, the ship arrived at Deception Island, where we landed at Whalers Bay. This is the site of an old Norwegian/Chilean whaling station that ceased operation in 1931. The British destroyed the station's fuel tanks and equipment during WWII to prevent German ships from using it as a base. After the war it functioned as a British research station until a volcanic eruption in 1967 led to it being abandoned.Some volcanic activity continues - with steam rising off warm water, and some passengers actually swam at Pendulum Cove.
We then left Deception Island and set off across the Bransfield Strait for Trinity Island. On the way a pair of humpback whales accompanied us, swimming beside the ship for 10 or 15 minutes, before surging ahead of us..."
Click here to read more.
Best Journal Winner
Winner of our Best Journal contest is Wayne Ng, for his journal Epiphanies in Ecuador and the Galapagos. Choosing a winner for our Best Journal was no easy task -- our travelers did a terrific job with their submissions, and there were over a dozen finalists. But Wayne's stood out from the pack. Wayne has won an Antarctica adventure on board the Antarctic Dream.
..."During lunch on the ship, several of the crew race into the dining area: ballenos, they exclaim--humpbacks a mile off the stern. When the crew still reacts with awe to wildlife, it tells you how special this place is. Who says you have to be young to be a kid? Who says age tempers the adrenal glands? Everyone on board lines the stern side, grinning as if they just learned Santa Claus was real and had adult gifts.
We motor to Punta Suarez and hit the booby trail. The sea lions now have to share the stage with hundreds of marine iguanas basking in the sun on rocks, blue footed boobies wobbling about their nests, giant albatross' putting on an air show when not courting their lifelong partner to be - all within inches of us. It is a rich and diverse island whose scenery alone would merit visitation. We wonder if the trip had already climaxed, as we can’t imagine a better day. My sister-in-law, Chantel, snorkels for the first time and though we see no sea lions in the water, she spies a manta ray and is totally hooked..."
Read complete entry.
About the Contest
Earlier this year, we launched a new Online Travel Journal feature on our website that invites travelers to share their travel stories, photographs, map itineraries and more!
The first 100 Adventure Life travelers to post a trip journal were entered into a drawing for an Alaskan Expedition Cruise for two - valued up to $7,000 - with our wonderful partners Cruise West.
And there was contest for the Best trip journal - judged by a handful of Adventure Life staff. The prize is an Antarctica adventure on board the Expedition Ship, Antarctic Dream.
Deadline for this contest was July 31, 2009.
