Friday, 28 November 2008
1 down, 1 to go ...
Urg I have such a bad headache, but figured I would update my blog now (I doubt I'll have the time next week)...
Monday, 24 November 2008
exams amongst other stuff ...
Once again I have neglected my blog :'(
I have been so busy with (lack of) revision since I have exams this week and next week. I really hate exams, and think it's really silly that I need to hand in my term essay two days before my first exam.
In the last 13 days (thanks for pointing that out Pete!) I have actually been up to a few things... as I am limited on time I will just add photos and add a few comments.
A few weeks ago (!) I spent the night in an ice cave, or more precisly the Larsbreen moraine cave. Outside was about -18C but inside was probably -5C or so ... so not too cold.
It got quite narrow at some points ...
Random chamber, and cool ice crystals on roof
We spent the night near the entrance where it was the flattest. Note how we are sleeping on ice
Then a few days later we went up to the disused mine 2b (see photos from July see what I mean) - it's just the entrace of an old mine found on the slope of a mountain near Nybyen. Anyways, the point was that this guy in my class, Eivind, decided to show a movie inside of it. So we all brought our sleeping bags and down jackets. I was surprised at how many people turned up - around 60 perhaps? It was so cold outside (and inside too), but I was stuck in the middle of so many people that it was fine. The photo really doesn't show you what it was like
And then finally, last week, I went to visit a proper coal mine. But when I say proper I really mean it! I can't even explain it, and we weren't allowed any cameras inside. I can't believe how lucky we were because tourists are not allowed, and our teacher had to ask permission twice before we were allowed. As I am running out of time, I will simply copy and past what I wrote on Pete's wall.
"pete oh my god. you have no idea how amazing it was. i cant even explain, but
it was a proper proper mine. dark, cold, lots of coal, very low tunnels. it was
crazy. the roof was just over a metre high, and we 5 km into the mountain. one
of the miners drove us in this vehicle that was like 90cm high barely and we all
inside like sardine. and he was driving so fast, in these dark tunnels and i
could just see the roof just inches away from me. and then they showed us the
end, where they were actually drilling. and we even saw some footprint they
found on the roof, belonging to some ancient mamal (50Mya). We werent allowed to
take any photos because any spark could cause an explosion, so my story doesnt
stand up to it. but oh my god it was like the rollercoaster ride of my life."
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
the polar night
It is well and truly night time throughout the "day" now :( ... but I'm kind of used to not seeing the sun anymore. I know I have lots of work to do and that it's sometimes nice to stay in, but I do miss the midnight sun.
View of Nybyen at mid day
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Krispy Kreme on Svalbard !!!!
OH MY GOD! I have just landed back onto Svalbard and am now unpacking my bags.... and hey what do you know I find a Krispy Kreme doughnut in my bag !!!!! I had completly forgotten that I bought it yesterday morning at Stansted ... this must be a first!
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
home?
Long story cut short but I am now back in the UK !!! This time round however I have decided to spend a week because the flights back are so long and expensive. I then took the train up to Edinburgh to see some friends ... and now here I am sat at one of my (old) university's computer lab ... where I used to spend many sleepless nights revising. It's also very weird visiting all my friends and going back to flat I used to live in... It all feels so normal - as if nothing had changed but in the meantime I have done so much ...
I don't know how to explain, but I always feel like I'm dreaming. I feel like going to Svalbard was just a dream and that it never happened, but the fact is I now live there and that, really, going back to the UK will just be a dream. Thank god my Svalbard experience is not over ... still have until June!
I compare my experience to Narnia ... here I am at "home" and then I step into a parallel, frozen world. In my Narnia I live all these adventures and then come back to reality and try explaining my surreal experiences to the others. I do feel a bit childish and never want this fantasy to end :(
