From the Editor
I’m writing this note from the Qantas First Lounge in Sydney – that’s what they call living the brand! – as I prepare to fly to Santiago then onwards to Antarctica.
It’s a trip I have dreamt of doing for much of my life... yet I know little of what to expect.
Of course, we’ve published stories about Antarctica over the years and I can rattle off the wildlife I’ll likely see and the intricacies of doing the “polar plunge” (which involves wriggling into a safety harness before jumping into the icy waters below). But I know that it’s not until I’m standing on the deck of Silversea’s Silver Endeavour, witnessing the silent largesse, that I’ll truly understand how it feels to be at the bottom of the earth.
So much of travel is emotional... for me, at least. I love to immerse myself in a destination, gathering facts and stories as I see some of the world’s greatest sights. But when I look back on some of the most momentous trips I’ve taken, I always remember how particular places and experiences made me feel. The surprise at seeing a blue-footed booby torpedo into the water from my Zodiac in the Galapagos. The prick of tears as I touched the walls of an ancient tomb in Egypt. The trepidation as a gargantuan manta ray hovered over me in the waters of the Maldives. The simple joy of wandering through a food market in Bangkok, holding hands with my daughters.
When I travel, I always write. Yes, for work (and I hope you’ll enjoy the story I’ll create about my Antarctica trip for our February issue) but also just for me. I often read back over those diaries and one thing always stands out: gratitude. How lucky I am to be able to travel (especially now, with a post-COVID perspective) and see things anew.
And now – Antarctica awaits! What an adventure I’m about to have. I hope that you, too, have some wonderful adventures in 2024.
Our writers are not armchair travellers. Rest assured any assistance we accept from the travel industry in the course of preparing our stories does not compromise the integrity of our coverage.