travel

Captivated by Their Charm, my Heart Melts for Penguins… look what happened

The WildLife Conservation Film Festival: Official Selection!!

This latest selection of our Antarctica documentary film for The WildLife Conservation Film Festival is a significant achievement, as it underscores the critical message of conservation we aim to convey.

The festival’s focus on wildlife conservation aligns perfectly with the film’s mission to raise awareness about the environmental challenges facing the region, from climate change to wildlife preservation. Being part of this festival amplifies our film’s impact, fostering important conversations and inspiring action to protect one of the planet’s last untouched frontiers.

October 10, 2024

3359

Travel

43,100 Feet ‘Spa Experience!

That ‘First Class’ Emirates A380 Flight

Always wondered what it’s like to fly First Class to Maldives, transitioning through Dubai, with Emirates? We did too and well, life really is too short not to experience it once, given the opportunity.

Showering at 43,100 feet in a plane is certainly a far cry from the cramped, uncomfortable long haul flight of our normal Economy Class, so I was looking forward to this experience. But would it really stand up to my scrutiny and was it worth the extra, significant, cost?

Read on to get the answer…. oh and watch the videos, that’s a good way to come with me for this Emirates First Class experience.

October 4, 2024

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Environment, Travel

Best Short Documentary: Award Winning Film

Penguins are my heart’s compass, leading me to a world of pure joy and endless fascination.

Officially ‘Award Winning’ at the Rome International Short Film Festival for our ‘Antarctica. A Life Changing Experience’ documentary. Thrilled!

A master of his art Bruno Zaugg, Design-Factory GmbH, the film producer and director, has expertly and sensitively created this documentary, showcasing my passion for this region of the planet, especially my passion for penguins, the challenges the wildlife faces through the accelerated climate change and some simple steps we can all take to reduce our negative effect on the planet.

September 26, 2024

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Environment, Travel

Nurturing Turtles in the Burj Al Arab

What’s the story here?

One that’s not obvious to guests staying at the Burj Al Arab.

My turtle discovery journey started right outside the Jumeirah Al Naseem, where several ‘recovery’ lagoons are located and you can participate in daily turtle feeding (not during the very hot summer months, they tuck them away somewhere cooler). Afterwards, I spoke to one of the staff who surprised me! There’s a whole rehabilitation programme, right at the Burj Al Arab. We were able to get a ‘back of house’ tour with the Aquarium and Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project Director, Barbara Lang-Lenton.

This was one of those moments where you realise you don’t have to scratch far under the surface to find the unexpected. This is what we saw…

September 17, 2024

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Environment, Travel

The Nine Day Scientist

Expedition cruises can be unique learning experiences. And we aren’t talking just history and culture but also taking part in some very useful Polar Citizen Science.

If you have read my Citizen Science blog from Antarctica, then you know it was something I found pretty cool on that expedition. Why? Because it’s a way of giving back of course. Was going to be interesting to compare what we found in the Antarctic to the Arctic.

From plant identification to collecting plankton samples, here is what ‘us passengers’ got up to, doing their bit for Polar Citizen Science on our recent ‘Circumnavigating Spitsbergen In The Realm of the Polar Bear’ voyage – hence the 9 scientist day reference! This time I wanted to get out on the science zodiac taking samples… or that’s what I thought!

September 12, 2024

3589

Travel

BUCKET LIST Helicopter Flight From the Most Famous Helipad in the World: Burj Al Arab

Has to be done – add it to your bucket list!

We took the helicopter sightseeing tour of Dubai, from what is touted to be the most famous helipad in the world. Remember Tiger Woods tee’ing off and Roger Federer vs Andre Agassi tennis match on top of this iconic hotel? Loved David Coulthard’s F1 ‘donuts’ – this helipad boasts plenty of historic events. And we were there!

But just what was the experience like?

August 29, 2024

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Travel

Our Burj Al Arab Experience. There is Something Very Special About this Place

Mr SueQsWorld’s Favourite Hotel

Staying at the Burj Al Arab, this iconic hotel in Dubai is my husband’s favourite place in the world – well to be precise, sitting outside on the terrace having breakfast is it! Plus the ‘buzz’ at the Sal restaurant.

Our experiences, over the years, have given us a list that is kind of our ‘gold standard’ that we measure places we stay at against. Mostly this list stems from places like the Burj Al Arab and the Four Seasons Maldives, and to some extent Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond and Inverlochy Castle hotel – but not always!

The Burj Al Arab is a special place, as you might expect, but our lasting memories may not be what you would expect…

August 23, 2024

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Environment, Travel

Four Countries. Four Selections.

It’s Semi-Finalist Week – for ‘ANTARCTICA. A Life Changing Experience’

Four selections this week! It’s obviously ‘Film Festival’ season right now as they are coming into Bruno’s inbox thick and fast. And what a gift that is for the environment.

This second film is longer than the first, more of a documentary and using much of the video footage that we took on our expedition to South Georgia Island and Antarctica. Funny though, as I looked back searching through our photographs and video’s for good footage for the film, I realised that IF I had known that I would be writing and making short films back then, I would have done things differently. Well, I guess who wouldn’t.

August 14, 2024

3624

Environment, Travel

First Nomination for ‘A Life Changing Experience’

Am thrilled to announce, our ‘ANTARCTICA. A Life Changing Experience’, short film has been selected for the Barcelona International Environmental Film Festival in November.

As you may know, this is our second film, a little longer, more of a documentary and using much of the video footage that we took on our expedition to South Georgia Island and Antarctica.

It’s all about maximising the reach of the messages in the film for us. And to know that we can actively promote organisations that are protecting the Antarctic regions and our Southern Ocean.

That’s what makes this selection particularly exciting…..

August 1, 2024

3653

Travel

The Lonely Polar Bear

Camp Berantz

Disembarkation day. It was an early start, cases outside the room by 7am, out of the cabin at 8 am and ready to head onto the bus around 8.40 am. A quick tour to Camp Berantz before being dropped at the airport.

To be honest, none of us really knew what Camp Berantz was! Or why we were going there. But I have to say it turned out to be quite a special moment.

July 25, 2024

3724

Captivated by Their Charm, my Heart Melts for Penguins… look what happened

The WildLife Conservation Film Festival: Official Selection!!