A Bangladeshi dream lands in Antarctica

"I belong to a lower-middle-class family. To us, being educated, getting a secure job to earn a livelihood, and planning for retirement are the only safe options. I have never thought of travelling around the country, let alone the world. But now I can say I landed in Antarctica, the 'end' of the world," said Salahuddin Sumon.

The famous Bangladeshi content creator loves to wander the wonders of the world, believing his idea of not to count counties but destinations. He recently visited Antarctica and shared his breathtaking experience with the Financial Express.

His story is one of breaking barriers. For a person from a simple background, such a trip feels like a dream. Sumon proved that even the most remote places on Earth are reachable. He traveled with his friend, a prodigy, Nilay Kumar Biswas. Together, they represented their country at the bottom of the globe.

All about the surreal experience

It was unbelievable, 'surreal' as they said when they landed in Antarctica. From a country where the temperature ranges from 35 to 40 degrees or more than that in the summer, suddenly landing in a place where the temperature is barely 0, mostly in negatives. How did they manage such cold?

"We covered our bodies with multiple layers of clothes, gloves, jackets, thermal," said Mr. Sumon. "But to be honest, we were so mesmerised by its beauty and the whole experience that we could not think of anything else," he added.

Is it too expensive or not?

Many people believe that Antarctica is only for the rich. Mr. Sumon shared the specific costs of the journey. A room for four people with upper and lower beds costs 12,650 USD per person. For two people sharing a room with a discount, the price is between 17,000 and 21,000 USD. A single person pays the most. That price stays between 36,000 and 45,000 USD. Each tourist also gives a tip of 15 euros per person.

Sumon wants to change how people see these costs. "It is not so expensive as it looks," he said. He suggests booking the expedition five to six months before the date. This helps to get shared rooms and discounts. Sumon chose a package that included the Falkland and Georgia islands. He noted that one can choose to avoid these destinations to save money. "In that case, the price will be around 6,000 USD, which was costing 12,650 for a shared room," he explained.

Life on the Oceanwide Expedition

The travelers stayed on a ship named Hondius. It belongs to Oceanwide Expeditions. This is a Dutch company based in the Netherlands. The ship was a meeting point for many cultures. "There were 235 people inside the ship. 75 staff and the rest are tourists around the world. 21 country including people from Belgium, the UK, and India, came for the expedition, we were only two representing Bangladesh," Sumon said.

The ship had its own water system. There was a water treatment plant inside. It collects ocean water and purifies it. The plant cleans 1200 litres per hour. This provided adequate water for all the tourists. To reach the shore, the team used a Zodiac boat. This boat took them to different spots across the icy land.

What food do they eat?

The food on the ship was a mix of many flavours. The chef was Indian. He prepared three meals a day. Most of the food was Eastern. They served Malaysian and Indonesian dishes. They also served European meals. Everything was served as a buffet. Each meal had 30 to 40 items.

The chef also cared for the Bangladeshi travellers. "Sometimes, for us, he prepared Egg fry and Daal. We enjoyed the meal," he said. Having simple home-style food in the middle of the ocean was a great experience for them.

How environmental sensitive is the expedition?

The rules in Antarctica are very strict. The expedition team puts the environment first. Sumon was impressed by their care. "They are very cautious and sensitive about the environment. We were not allowed to sit or go near the animals making a distance of at least five metres. Not allowed to touch them," he said.

The team also protects the land from outside germs. "We had to wash and brush every single clothing item before going to places. Even a grain of dust is checked," Sumon added. The ship even recycled all human waste. "All the human filth and dirt were recycled there. This is their topmost priority," he explained. This ensures that the white continent stays pure.

Wildlife and nature

Antarctica is a place of rare beauty. Sumon saw many animals in their natural habitat. He saw the fur seal, elephant seal, crab-eater seal, and the leopard seal. He also saw Krill and the killer whale, Orca. Seeing these creatures in the wild was a highlight of the trip. The animals live without fear because humans must stay far away from them.

However, Panguins are adorable. There are plenty of them to see. King Panguins are the larger ones.

Tourists love hearing about our country

The journey was not just about ice. It was about people. The other tourists were very curious about Bangladesh. Mr. Sumon enjoyed talking to them. "They were friendly and keen to learn about our country. While talking with you, a couple from Belgium just came to me saying they would love to visit our villages," he said. This exchange showed that travel can bring different people together.

How to deal with Sea Sickness

The trip has some physical challenges. Sea sickness is very common. It causes dizziness and vomiting. The ship provides pills and a small dot to help. The dot is like a Bengali 'tip'. People put it behind their ears.

However, Sumon warns about the side effects. "It will reduce sea sickness, but if you use it, you won't see anything near your vision; you can't see a thing," he said. His fellow traveler Niloy could not see anything close to him. It felt like a layer was over his eyes. Because of this, Sumon suggests avoiding these dots if possible.

Preparations and gear

Before the trip, the team requests extensive health information. They check for infectious diseases, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and heart issues. Every traveler must be in good health.

Preparation also involves clothing. Travelers need jackets, thermals, thick pants, and gloves. Buying these items is very expensive. A pair of gloves can cost 200 USD. To save money, Mr. Sumon and Nilay, his friend and tourmate, rented their gear. "So we rented everything around 300 to 350 USD," Sumon said. This made the trip more affordable.

Salahuddin Sumon has a message for all content creators. He wants them to state the facts about Antarctica. His journey shows that with the right planning, a person from a middle-class family can reach the end of the world. He turned a distant dream into reality and brought the story of the White Desert back to Bangladesh. Mr. Sumon said, "I came to Antarctica, it inspires me to visit more and bring more places to our people, representing our country."

mohd.imranasifkhan@gmail.com