Lilliehöökbreen, West Coast of Spitsbergen
As the land touched the sea on the peaked coast of western Spitsbergen we entered the long narrow arm of the sea called Krossfjorden. Calm waters of the bay, encircled by the icy arms of the Lilliehöökbreen, provided us with the haven needed to deploy our fleet of Kayait (plural for kayaks; an Inuit word for killing boat used to hunt all species of marine mammals). We, without murderous intentions, paddled our kayait in the ice- filled waters, listening to the glacier with its sonorous voice warning us to respect its birthing rites. Calves of blue masses were born before our eyes as the ice moved inexorably back to its birth state in the liquid of the sea.
Later we resumed our journey towards the familiar bustle of humanity where we all live. We were once again reminded by the 60-ton fin whales, perfectly adapted to making a living in the world's oceans, that we humans, hurtling at a maddened pace towards some undefined destiny, are only a small piece of the unsolvable puzzle called Life. The Arctic is a humbling, refreshing and sobering experience that will be remembered forever.
As the land touched the sea on the peaked coast of western Spitsbergen we entered the long narrow arm of the sea called Krossfjorden. Calm waters of the bay, encircled by the icy arms of the Lilliehöökbreen, provided us with the haven needed to deploy our fleet of Kayait (plural for kayaks; an Inuit word for killing boat used to hunt all species of marine mammals). We, without murderous intentions, paddled our kayait in the ice- filled waters, listening to the glacier with its sonorous voice warning us to respect its birthing rites. Calves of blue masses were born before our eyes as the ice moved inexorably back to its birth state in the liquid of the sea.
Later we resumed our journey towards the familiar bustle of humanity where we all live. We were once again reminded by the 60-ton fin whales, perfectly adapted to making a living in the world's oceans, that we humans, hurtling at a maddened pace towards some undefined destiny, are only a small piece of the unsolvable puzzle called Life. The Arctic is a humbling, refreshing and sobering experience that will be remembered forever.
