A sharing by Ling Sing Lin
One is bombarded with bad news on a daily basis. The ugliness of war and poverty. The unrelenting scamming practically anywhere in the world, etc.
I decided on a holiday where I would see nature in all its glory, untouched by human hands. Where else but in uninhabited parts of the world?
All I can say is that it felt as though I had died and gone to heaven. The scenery was stupendous, jaw-droppingly beautiful, awe-inspiring. It is difficult for photographs to do justice. I am referring to the Chilean Patagonia. This is where you find heaven on earth.
The Chilean fjords allow one to get close up to the glaciers, as the Lindblad/National Geographic ships are small enough to navigate the fjords.
Even so, one has to beach the uninhabited islands only in zodiacs (rubber boats that can seat 10 pax), and wade in ice cold water to shore. No worries, our legs were insulated by water-proof rubber boots and trousers. We even traipsed Staten Island in Argentina, the southernmost corner of the South American continent, open only to Lindblad visitors. To avoid contaminating this pristine island, all outerwear, ie footwear and coats, and walking sticks have to be sterilized.
Wildlife in Torres del Paine
Guanacos are the wild ancestors of the domesticated llamas. They are from the camel family.
Similarly, vicuñas are the wild precursors of the domesticated alpacas, found at higher elevations like the Atacama Desert.
Fur seals, elephant seals, sea lions, albatrosses, cormorants, kara kara, flightless rheas, condors, wild horses, pumas, etc were sighted.
There is giant kelp in the sea water, which grows 11 inches to 24 inches per day. It can exceed 100 feet in length. It is edible, but there is no industry to harvest and dry the kelp.
I am including more photos of the Chilean Patagonia.
You may be inspired to explore it, as well as other parts of South America. See my earlier article http://the most beautiful river in the world.
Thanks to Dr Ling Ai Ee, my travel companion, for many of the photos.
lingsinglin
Dr Ling Sing Lin is a medical doctor by training. She worked in MOH HQ for many years, in policy making and administrative positions, until her retirement.
