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What's the best thing in the world? This week, for me, the best thing in the
world is laying on my back in the middle of McMurdo Sound on top of 15 feet
of sea ice, with 1700 feet of water underneath it, and looking up at an
amazingly BLUE Antarctic sky. I am so completely happy to be here.
To review what is going here: I am in Antarctica for two-and-one-half months
on a National Science Foundation Antarctic Program Artists & Writers Grant.
The purpose: To compose, improvise, and record an instrumental, solo
acoustic and electric guitar CD about Antarctica-- its landscape, weather,
natural history, exploration, and the science of people working there today.
The CD will be recorded entirely on site in Antarctica. Portions would be
recorded indoors and other portions outdoors, incorporating musical
interactions with the natural soundscapes of Antarctica. The music will
include environmental sounds recorded by myself in Antarctica. While in
Antarctica I will also produce radio commentary and sound art for National
Public Radio's All Things Considered and video reporting about Antarctica
for the National Geographic Today television program. These reports will
include musical art, images, sounds, and interviews from Antarctica, as well
as accounts my own project's development.
I am based at the USA's McMurdo Base. Look for McMurdo Sound and Ross Island
on a map. That's where I am. I will be traveling to several different field
camps during my stay here. This coming weekend I will fly to South Pole
Station for a 3-night stay there. I say "night", but as you should know,
during the Austral Summer, the sun never sets on Antarctica; it is always
light and always seems to be daytime.
A week ago, I flew in a packed Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules
transport aircraft from Christ Church, NZ to McMurdo. This first week here
has been one of the most exciting and happy in my life. More about it in my
next report. For now, each and every day, I celebrate being the luckiest and
happiest person that I know of.
HK
Anticipation
Hercules Nose View
Hercules Rear Door
Embarking
Flying in Style
In Transit
Patch in Cockpit
Pretty Crowded
Disembarking
Airport
Wish You Were Here
 Back to Main Henry Kaiser in Antarctica page
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 See video clips of Henry in Antarctica.
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