Category: Polar regions

The Perfect Sunset

Location: Olare Orok Conservancy, Maasai Mara, KenyaDescription: The dawn of another day in Kenya's Maasai Mara

This week on Taraji Blue we’re recalling and celebrating our favourite sunrises and sunsets.

It was taken in the Maasai Mara a few years back on a return trip we’d longed to take. It captures the rising sun through the silhouette of a tree and symbolises not only the awakening of the bush, but the way Africa awakens my soul every time we visit. To me, it captures the essence of the bush and symbolises the hope of the day ahead. I have it blown up in my living room at home in the UK and it never fails to raise a smile from me, and plays havoc with my wanderlust to return to Africa.

This photo is a continuation of a week where we celebrate our favourite sunrises and sunsets. If you like this picture, please feel free to share using the social media links provided below.

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A perfect cocktail of sea and sunset

Homeward Bound

This post kick starts a week of sunsets and sunrises here on Taraji Blue. This is the Drake Passage – one of the most feared sections of water in the world. It’s renown for its rough waters and difficult crossings, but on this beautiful night I could not resist heading out onto the ship’s deck, clutching the railing and watching a stunning sunset reflect in the waves of the turbulent waters.

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Bumping into an old friend

A blue whale surfaces in the Greenland Sea

Whilst visiting the Arctic in 2010 we were incredibly lucky to see this Blue Whale off the bow of the ship. It is a rare sighting – confirmed as such by the excited squeals and announcements by our crew on the ship’s tannoy. At that evening’s lecture we reflected on the sighting and the crew described it as being as rare as bumping into an old friend out here in the middle of the ocean.

The crew informed that the whale was likely 70 feet long. It was immense. We stayed with the whale for about 15 minutes, watching him blow and swim along until he submerged. This was on route to 80 degrees north – a milestone reached over dinner that night. It was an incredible day.

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This image is the last in this week’s “Arctic” theme here on Taraji Blue. But there are plenty more where this came from. For more of our images from the Arctic, please visit the Taraji Blue Arctic photo gallery.

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The world’s comfiest mountainside

Low lying vegetation explodes out of the slopes around Sydkap in eastern Greenland.

This is, without a doubt, the world’s most comfiest mountainside. It’s in Greenland and this shot was taken as I lay on the bed of red heather with the sun beating down on me, a gentle breeze ruffling my hair and a huge smile on my face.

I was alone.

I’d hiked up here from the shoreline with my camera with the aim of having a damn good sit down to enjoy the view. It was a stunning sight to behold. I found myself chatting away to myself, remarking on the immense icebergs dotting the horizon, saying goodbye to our ship as she moved offshore to anchor in the deeper waters. Even the presence of a crew member wielding a large rifle (in case of polar bears) did nothing to detract my mood or focus. I simply sat and stared. Bliss.

This image is the penultimate one in this week’s “Arctic” theme from Taraji Blue.  If you like this picture, please feel free to share using the social media links provided. We also welcome feedback and comments on our website.

For more images, visit the Taraji Blue photo gallery.

You can also show your support for Taraji Blue by liking us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tarajiblue following us on twitter https://twitter.com/TarajiBlue and connecting with Alistair and myself on Google+

The enormity of Greenland is astounding

Exploring Greenland’s fjord systems, I stumbled upon this wild and immense landscape which immediately stole my heart. The singular pinnacle of rock nestled among blue skies, was framed by blankets of cloud, and dwarfed passing icebergs which paraded past. It was like nothing I’d ever seen before.Notes: From the deck of a ship

Greenland is immense in every way possible. The oceans, the fiords, the geology, the skies, the icebergs, the mountains – everything fills your vision and stretches on endlessly. Huge bergs are dwarfed by jagged mountain tops, large seabirds are daunted by the 200 foot high icebergs. Flocks of Kittiwakes are lost against the glistening white backdrop of the groaning glaciers, which carve huge chunks of ice into the waters as if they were pieces of dust. This is why Greenland takes a firm hold on your heart – it has to be seen to be believed.

This image continues this week’s theme of “The Arctic” here on Taraji Blue, when we share our favourite photos and experiences from the Arctic.

If you like this picture, please feel free to share using the social media links provided below.

For more photographs of Greenland, visit the Taraji Blue Arctic photo gallery.

You can also show your support for Taraji Blue by liking us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tarajiblue following us on twitter https://twitter.com/TarajiBlue and connecting with Alistair and myself on Google+