(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Bader al Lawati and Ameer Abdul Hussain, who recently took part in the 2041 Antarctic Youth Programme' arrived in Oman on Tuesday. Popularly called The Freezing Omanis', Lawati and Hussain said their two-week Antarctica expedition was absolutely magical'.
From basic first aid training to the Polar Plunge, the duo found their expedition full of adventure.
''Every day of our expedition was great. On the first day, we were briefed on hiking and basic travelling at our base camp at Argentina's Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. As many as 74 people from 24 countries were part of the expedition,'' said Hussain.
Along with other participants, the duo trekked through Argentina's Ushuaia National Park as part of the acclimatisation process. They then trekked Martial Glacier as part of a mountain safety session to prepare for the journey ahead. ''On March 3, we embarked on the Sea Spirit and headed south to the Antarctic Peninsula. Crossing the Drake Passage was one of the most adventurous experiences of our lives.
''We had heard of how tough it is to cross the infamous Drake Passage. There were even stories about homesickness. But when it came to crossing the passage, we were actually thrilled rather than scared. Not everyone gets a chance to experience such an adventure,'' Hussain added.
During the expedition, the team saw seals, penguins and leopard seals. ''There were thousands of penguins. They made a lot of noise. The leopard seals were the dangerous ones, and we made sure that we maintained a safe distance. It was amazing to see a rich variety of wildlife in a place that is so far from human habitation.''
Lawati said the camping in extreme cold, the Polar Plunge and the trekking have been life turning experiences. ''We interacted with individuals who had different aspirations and inspirations. Listening to their stories and the Antarctica experience have given us a new perspective of life. We feel that this will help us in inculcating a culture of implementing small things which can make a big difference, whether it's towards conservation of energy or wildlife. We will now take initiatives on our own for the betterment of the country.''
''We would like to thank everyone for the support,'' H
