My first step on the Antarctic sea ice felt like landing on the moon. A four-person ‘basket’ acted as the slow rocket that hoisted me from the comfort of the SA Agulhas II into a cold and somewhat desolate world. I stepped onto the ice, and noticed an immense silence, the only sound being the crunch of the snow under the weight of my oversized pumpkin boots. The warm polar attire bore close resemblance to a space suit, both limiting mobility but nevertheless being highly necessary.
