Overland UK to Morocco with my son

What an incredible journey and experience. For 3 weeks my son Markus and I lived in our modified Land Rover which consisted of Tent, Cooker, Fridge, Shower and other expedition equipment to explore Morocco and the Sahara and to deliver donated supplies to the under privileged children in the remote areas.

We also managed to raise 1600 GBPfor a local charity called The Zipper Club who support The Papworth Hospital. Papworth specialize in cardiac surgery and saved my father several years ago. Below is a description of the trip, which I was asked to send to the local paper who did an article on our journey. There is also details of our trip on the Norfolk Zipper club web page- http://norfolkzipperclub.weebly.com/2011-morocco-adventure.html After driving from UK and through Spain we met the rest of the team in Malagaand headed to the ferry and onwards to Morocco. Things started to get interesting at the Moroccan border as my son was asked if he was carrying any guns or weapons.

He gave a cheeky smile and said No. The Moroccan border guard then ruffled his hair and then we were on our way into Morocco! Our first camp in Morocco was near the ancient ruins of Volubilis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volubilis We explored the ruins of Volubilis the next day and my son, Markus, was amazed how they lived back then! We then headed deep into the Cedar forest and climbed up to 7,000 ft in the Atlas Mountains through dense forest, crossing rivers, splashing through muddy puddles and sliding on muddy tracks to reach our next camp. As soon as we made camp high up in the cold Atlas Mountains the heavens opened and we were soaked through to the skin by a tropical storm!

Not the Morocco we had imagined..! As we descended off the mountains we stopped at a very remote school to hand out some of the donated supplies. Several pens, pencils, rulers, note pads and paper were delivered which was gratefully received by the Children. All that was near the school was goats, a water well and several chickens! We then made our way to the Imperial city of Meknes to stock up on supplies as we were now heading for the Sahara. Markus had great delight in discovering that they could make pancakes in Meknes but soon lost his appetite when he spotted a skinned goat with its head still on hanging outside the caf. Our route took us to the Berber town of Tinerhir and over the Jebel Ougnat Mountains and we stopped at an area where they are digging for fossils.

This area is littered with Fossils and the Moroccans make beautiful ornaments with them and sell in the Souks but not everyone realizes they are dug out by a few guys with nothing more than a pick axe in the middle of the Desert. The tracks were punishing and we soon got into the routine of checking over the vehicles everyday to see what had broken or fell off. Markus and I became slick operators at making camp and preparing the food. Markus even washed the dishes a few times although was not a fan of that chore We then entered the gigantic dunes of Erg Chebbi. Erg Chebbi is an incredible place and some local Moroccans have built an Auberge. This is a place with basic amenities but we were shocked and delighted to see a swimming pool in the middle of the Sahara after several hot, dusty and sandy days - http://www.aubergedusud.com/

The Berbers then presented Markus with a birthday cake! What a surreal experience to see my son enjoy his birthday cake followed by a dip in the pool in the middle of the Sahara. Tummys full, well rested and clean we then set off even deeper into the Sahara and after a day of fighting sand dunes in the Land Rover with our tyres deflated slightly to aid traction we arrived at a Berber camp. These are nomadic people and there lifestyle is as basic as you can get. Everything they own they can pack on the back of a camel and move house. We delivered some clothes to the Berbers, and they were very kind and showed Markus around their home. To say Markus was gob smacked would be an understatement! We the fought on for several more days and our next target was the 20th Century city of Zagora. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zagora,_Morocco

Zagora has gained its reputation of being a good stopping point of any expedition as it has several garages who can jump into action at the drop of a hat (and right price, normally called the diplomatic price ). We spent a night here for stocking up on supplies again and took the opportunity to get our vehicles checked over. We had 10 vehicles and 6 of them needed serious attention! One even had a broken chassis.! Disaster we thought! How on earth can we carry on and complete our planned route in time and deliver the rest of the supplies. The 6 vehicles were left at the garage at 4pm and by 11am THE NEXT DAY they were all ready! The garage mechanics worked through the night and waved us good bye the next day. You don't get that service in the UK.!!! We were glad we had all our vehicles checked as we were now entering the Western Sahara and going further and further from any form of civilisation. This was also a dangerous area as this is known as a disputed area so it is known for bandits to regularly cross back and forth from Algeria.

The Moroccan army try to police this area but due to an invasion in 1995 some of the area is littered with land mines. We always had a briefing by our support crew leader John in the mornings but this one was different. We had strict instructions to stick to the track and stay behind him as he had information of a track which had been swept by the Army and was clear of mines and to put a wheel outside this track may ruin our day. We decided to stay at the back of the convoy for obvious reasons. We battled on through this section which was very rocky with the odd sand dune to surprise us. We then started meeting children towards the end of the route. We had no idea where they had come from as there were no buildings in sight or any signs of civilization.

We stopped often to greet them and handed out the remaining donated gifts and supplies and wondered how they knew where the mines were!? Since Markus had been so good at helping with everything, I asked him if he wanted to drive. He sat on my knee and drove through the mine field area for 30 minutes. I dont think there are many 10 year old boys who can say they have driven through a minefield in the Sahara..! Thankfully we got through without loosing anyone and we headed for Taroudanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taroudant If we thought we would be arriving in a city full of glittering lights, cinemas and McDonalds then we would be wrong! Taroudant is a Berber market town and is full of character. Markus and I sat in the town and just watched everyday life go by.

We had a competition to see who could spot the craziest thing, I am not sure who won. We could not be further from what we consider our normal life back home! Markus and I walked around the Souks and investigated all the different arts, crafts and dried fruits. Even though Markus had been given a cake earlier in the trip, this was his actual birthday, and he put his hand in his pocket and bought me a drink to celebrate him turning 10 years old. Once at Taroudant our off road section of the trip was over and all our donated supplies had been handed out. It was tarmac all the way back to Spain, so nice easy drive, so we thought The road twisted and turned over spectacular cliff tops and sweeping bays. We stopped at the delightful fishing port of Essaouria which is fast becoming busy with surfers due to the Atlanic coastline.

The homeward journey took us via the coastal lagoons of Moulay Bousselham. However, our thoughts of a nice easy drive on tarmac was shattered when another tropical storm developed and washed the sides of mountains onto the roads. Roads were flooded and became slippery so we had to drive carefully through the floods, avoid the washed out roads and also keep an eye on the normal Moroccan motorist, who are not used to such slippery road surfaces. This can be confirmed by the amount of holes there were in the stone barriers on the side of the mountain passes. Tired and dirty we fell back into our hotel in Spain and enjoyed a full nights rest, hot shower and a few celebratory drinks. We had done it! Over the 3 weeks we had been to some incredible places, seen amazing things, met some fantastic people and had managed to deliver some donated supplies to make a small difference to a few children in Morocco.

The one single thing that stands out in my mind is just how friendly the Moroccan people are. Everywhere we went we were greeted with huge smiles, the shout of Salam and frantic waving as we drove past. We have raised over 1,600 GBP for the Norfolk Zipper Club which both Markus and I are very grateful. Just goes to show with a little effort you can make a difference and no matter where you come from, what your religion is or what you believe in, a smile is the same in any language!

Scott Laddiman Driver, Cook and Bottle washer

Outer Hebrides Way/ Timeless Way Hike

This is a vary rare hike, and we've only found 2 accounts of it ever being done (very strange). Crossing the Outer Hebrides The longitudinal nature of this island chain make it a great challenge to cross on foot, yet its astonishing that no official long distance footpath exists. Whilst plenty of short Km paths around these islands exist most visitors concentrate themselves in focal areas. Very few set themselves the feat taking in the whole chain. Stunning scenery and loads of wildlife awaits those who try bridging these islands.

The few small settlements will provide an insight in to a unique way of life here which has frontier feel about it. The expected hike will start at one of the main southern settlements of Barra and end at administrative capital of Stornoway some 140 miles later. A trip to St Kilda on the extremities of the UK, and whose population was evacuated in the 1930s is also on the cards as part of this challenge. 

Atacama Crossing - does anyone have any advice?

Hi In March 2013 i will be taking part in the Atacama crossing in Chile, this is a multi stage self supported event where competitors run or walk across 250km of the Atacama desert in 7 days.

The Atacama is the most arid inhospitable desert on earth and the whole race is at an altitude of between 2300-3300m . I am very excited about this event, I've waited all my life to take part in an epic hardcore challenge.

Has anyone out there done this already?

I'm always open to hints and tips .

Many Thanks

Emrys

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/SouthWalesfirerescue

The Brazil 9000 Expedition

Video Update #4 Black Gold (April 2014)In December 2013, 32 days after paddling out of Santarm, we reached the city of Belm and the end of our canoe voyage through Amaznia. The waters that wed followed for so long now disappeared into the Atlantic. It seems like ages since we set off from the source of the Rio Ma at Cabura, and it kind of has been; 158 expedition days, 3362km and a bunch of hold ups and side-projects on top of that. But thats ok with us, were learning to let this voyage run at its ownpace.This video update lets you see a little bit of our lives on the river, as we travel and build up our stories for an eventual film release. Watch it here.As always a big thanks goes out to all of you for your support and encouragement, our equipment sponsors and enthusiastic donors from all corners of the globe. And to the Amazonian river folk for their kindness, shelter and blackgold.Expect more news soon, now that our good old Ally canoe has been retired and we look south, to the road and the unknown.Until the next time,?Gareth Aaronwww.brazil9000.com****************Update #3 Caboclo Kingdom (March 2013)We are crossing Brazil from north to south on a historical human-powered journey of over 9000km (5500 miles), travelling by foot, paddle and pedal.Our time amongst the Amazonian people, known as 'caboclos', has been magical. This teaser video gives you a glimpse into life on the river and some of the stories we've been gathering. You can watch it here:http://brazil9000.com/caboclo-kingdom-update-3/A very special thank you to our equipment sponsors and all the kind folks whose donations are helping to keep our voyage across Brazil going.For more info please visit:brazil9000.comUntil the next time,Gareth Aaron****************Update #2Found in a Lost World (November 2012)Searching for our start point and the journey down the Rio Ma was one of the toughest phases of the expedition that well face. With so many stories to tell and already a big archive of footage, were releasing these brief video updates whenever we get an internet connection:http://brazil9000.com/found-in-a-lost-world-update-2/...and to get the full story and photos see http://brazil9000.com/diamonds-or-gold/Right now we are in Boa Vista, the state capital of Roraima. Its been good to get some rest, eat a lot and process our photos and video footage. We also need to fix our canoe which took a beating on the rapids on Ma. Manaus lies 800km away down the Rio Branco and Rio Negro, well be checking in there in around a month for another update. Along the way well be tweeting via our Yellowbrick tracking device - follow us @skeetoloungeA big thanks to everybody for all the support and encouragement.****************A record breaking voyage across Brazil by foot, paddle and pedal.Aaron Chervenak Gareth Jones are crossing Brazil from north to south on a historical human-powered journey of over 9000km (5500 miles).Its a journey that has never been attempted, not even with the use of motorized transport.The expedition started September 2012 at the source of the Rio Ma at Monte Cabura in the remote Amazonian region where Brazil borders Venezuela and Guyana. It ends, around 15 months later, at Chu on the border with Uruguay.After travelling through the Amazon basin by canoe, they will hike out across the scorched Caatinga hinterlands and on down thousands of miles of tropical coastline.Through photography and film, Brazil 9000 will present an unprecedented portrait of Brazil and the Brazilians; visiting indigenous territories, deforested ranch lands, industrial ports, deserted beaches, fishing villages, pristine jungle and huge metropolises.The project will reach a global audience, with content in both English and Portuguese, with regular web updates, film and a series of photographic exhibitions to coinicide with the Brazil World Cup (2014) and the Rio Olympics (2016). Ideas for an educational program linking UK/US and Brazilian schools are also being developed.

What makes an Adventure Traveller?

"At last weekendsAdventure Travel Film Festival, I spent a brilliant few days hanging out with fellow adventurous spirits from far and wide. Some were high-profile adventurers like Tim Cope, Jon Muir, Lois Pryce and Austin Vince.

But many were unknown explorers, trekkers, mountaineers, motorcyclists, rock-climbers, off-roaders, overlanders, kayakers ordinary people with an insatiable hunger to see the world or experience the great outdoors in its broadest sense. It struck me what a diverse group we all were. No type, no particular age, height or build. Adventurers, it seems, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are super-fit athletes for whom physical endeavour and achievement is a huge part of what drives them. For others, its the compulsive desire to break away from the nine to five and propel themselves into unknown places and cultures to learn in some way about the world and the people that inhabit it. For others still, its the need to get back to basics, to live off the grid and escape the stresses and trappings of modern civilised life to experience life in the raw. In fact, the more time I spent talking to people at the festival, the more reasons I heard as to why certain individuals give up the safety of the sofa, whether for a weekend or a lifetime.

But there was, I think, a uniting theme.In their own unique ways, most of these people had gone out there and DONE IT. Not just talked about an adventure, but actually given it a go.I met one couple in their 50's just back from a week motorcycling in Morocco's Atlas Mountains they'd always wanted to do it but weren't sure they'd be up to the long days of gruelling off-road riding in desert heat. Now they have the photos to prove they did it, and boy do they look good! At the other end of the scale, adventurer Jon Muir talked about his solo trek across Australia it took him FOUR attempts, but he said failure was all part of the adventure and it was something he just had to do. (This from the guy whose first thought when he arrived at the top of Everest was that he desperately needed a piss and a cigarette!). And I'd say to anyone that thinks they're too unfit, too old, too cash-strapped, too tied-down, or too scared for adventure think again!

People like you are out there dreaming up and then pursuing their own challenges great and small. You don't have to break a world record or be the first to do something (although if you do, big respect to you!). Your adventure is unique to you, so own it then get out there and do it!It was an inspiring weekend and I certainly came back with renewed vigour to keep pursuing my own adventures whenever and wherever I can (Im cooking up another one now......yeeha!). You wont regret it, I certainly haven't."

Sea Kayak Around Ireland

In June 2012 I will be attempting to kayak solo around Ireland in under 35 days. The journey of over 1,000 miles takes in some of the biggest sea cliffs in Europe and massive Atlantic swells.

www.mikejones.ie

What should go in an Outdoors First Aid Kit?

When we are working or playing in the outdoors, the remote environments presents certain complications that would compound an otherwise simple injury in an urban environment: A greater likelihood of injury A greater severity of injury Longer term care for the casualty because of our distance from definitive care.

We are in the habit now of attending specialised First Aid training courses for remote environments which help us prepare for these complications. Similarly our First Aid kits should also be adapted. The contents of a First Aid kit should be determined by its intended use. To that end it is usually better to make up your own kit rather than to buy an 'off-the-shelf' product. To decide what is to go in your first aid kit you must ask yourself the following questions: Who is this intended to treat? How you treat yourself may be very different to how you treat colleagues or people in your care. As a rule medications should never be given to anyone but yourself. Are there many people in your care or do you work with small groups? What am I likely to encounter?

The most common injuries are often the simplest: cuts, grazes, sprains and strains. Stock your kit accordingly. In the outdoors the injuries can be more 'environmentally specific'; Walkers will invariably get blisters. Paddlers are likely to catch sunburn. Cavers are likely to encounter grit and foreign bodies in their eye and open wounds. What is the environment I am in? In hot environments you want to be prepared for heat stroke and dehydration. In the cold you will need to prepare for hypothermia. Abroad you may consider stomach upset to be the most likely ailment. Will your kit need to be waterproof or crush-proof? The Bare Minimum Simply by being in a remote or industrial environment, the probability of a serious injury is increased as is the severity of that injury. As a bare minimum always have at decent sized trauma dressing and a pair of 'Tuff Cut' EMT shears to hand, be they in the glove box, buoyancy aid, jacket pocket or rucksack lid. In terms of life-threatening-injuries, Serious Bleeding is the most significant risk in industry and in the outdoors. The First Care Israeli type trauma dressings are ideal for these environments: Double shrink wrapped, they will last much longer languishing in the bottom of your rucksack or kit bag than conventional plastic wrapped dressings. They are purposefully designed for significant blood loss, much larger than traditional First Aid dressings.

Their wide, elasticated bandage also provide enough support to protect a wrist, ankle, elbow or possibly knee injury. The Ouch Pouch On most occasions there is little need to carry a full first aid kit considering the likelihood of an injury and the type of injuries one can expect to sustain. In many situations a small, lightweight 'Ouch Pouch' is preferable to an large, cumbersome or complicated kit. This type of kit is intended to stop serious bleeding, protect minor bone/joint injuries and provide a few extras to manage longer term wound care. This style of kit is favoured by Bushcrafters who encounter frequent nicks and grazes and Adventure Racers who are happy to sacrifice the luxuries in order to move lightly and quickly. Antiseptic solution- 25ml sachet Cleaning wipesx 4 Cohesive bandage- 6cm minimum Gauze swabsx 5 Non-adherent dressings( e.g. Melonin)5cm x 5cmx 2 Non-adherent dressings 10cm x 10cmx 2 Plasters- assorted Saline solution -25ml sachet x 2 Steri-strips - 6mmx 2 packets Tincture of Benzoin(also known as Friars Balsam, a sticky brown resin with antiseptic properties that is applied to the skin before steri-strips to help their adherence. Especially useful in hot, sweaty environments). Transpore tape- Stronger and easier to use than Micropore Zinc Oxide tape The Personal Kit We are frequently asked what should be in a generic First Aid Kit for outdoor activities.

This recommended list was produced and tested in consultation with a Mountain Rescue Team member, an Accident Emergency trauma specialist, a Mountain Guide and a Level 5 Sea Kayak Coach. It is a versatile combination of small and light yet functional and practical. Everything inside has been thought out and tested. It has been designed to cope with as much as possible using as little as possible. But remember - practicality must dictate. It is unlikely that any first aid kit will be able to deal with every possible situation and even more unlikely that you would be able to carry such a first aid kit!

Accident Casualty Cards Antiseptic solution -25ml sachetx 4 Burns dressing- at least 10cm x 10cm Cleaning wipesx 4 Cohesive bandage -6cm minimum Duck tape Tuff Cut Shears Gauze swabs- 5cm x 5cm x 5 Gloves Iodine dressings ( e.g.Inodine) -10cm x 10cm x 2 Light stick Needle Syringe- A wide bore, blunt needle (i.e. 18G 'Pink' Mixing Needle) and a 20ml syringe is used for wound irrigation. Non-adherent dressing -5cm x 5cm x 5 Non-adherent dressing -10cm x 10cm x 5 Plasters -assorted Saline solution- 25ml sachets x 2 Blunt/ Sharp Scissors- 'Nurses scissors' with one blunt and one sharp tip. Steri-strips -6mm x 2 packets Steri Strips -3mm x 2 packets Surgical blade -#20 is a usable size and shape. Tegaderm- 2 (Tegaderm is an advanced dressing; it is a thin, stretchy, flexible and low-adherent plastic film which is ideal for covering wounds on traditionally awkward places such as knuckles, jawline, elbow or places which experience constant movement. Being transparent it is ideal for monitoring wounds without having to repeatedly expose them.) Tincture of Benzoin x 2 Transpore tape Triangular bandage Tweezers Waterproof pen Wound dressing -Trauma bandage as above. Zinc Oxide tape Group First Aid Kit If you are responsible for a group the Personal Kit would not be suitable given that it is designed for one person and may contain medication. With large groups you need to prepare for serious bleeds and bone / joint injuries. The emphasis is on practicality so stock up on cheap, absorbent dressings and bandages for immobilising injuries. Accident / Casualty Cards Antiseptic wipes Cling film Conforming bandages Gloves Non adherent dressings Tuff Cut Shears Triangular bandages Wound dressings Zinc Oxide tape Waterproof Containers For watersports, a waterproof container is essential. There are a few options. BDH containers are relatively cheap and can be made more water resistant by using a wide rubber seal that is available, however they are not waterproof and the small, transparent, ones do crack. The larger, black containers are much more durable. Roll top bags are more expensive but much more waterproof and being soft they are easy to stow in bumbags or in kayak cockpits. Pelicases and Otter Boxesare the gold standard. They are completely waterproof and very strong but they are significantly more expensive. We have recently discovered Aloksaks and have since been testing our First Aid kits in these bags. They look like standard resealable plastic bags but are much more durable and about as water tight as they come. These are our thoughts. What are yours?

Moon regan transantarctic crossing

I was part of this ground breaking crossing, representing Imperial College London as science partner. Primary goal was to take wheeled vehicles coast to coast and back, this was achieved using two modified Ford econoline 6 wheel drive trucks.

The additional task was to take a Bio-fuelled vehicle to the South Pole this was achieved with the Winston Wong BIV (Bio Inspired Vehicle) this was driven from Union Glacier to the South Pole using E85 bio fuel. Additional science tasksincluded heart/cortisole monitoring , Weather data collection. In 2011 I had the honor of taking the BIV to Taiwan and installing it in an environmental museum in Tianan city, lecturing to students on the expedition and getting to meet the President. I have also had the pleasure of recounting this expedition to many hundreds of school children and college students.

In November 2013 on the third anniversary of the expedition I have Installed the BIV at the RAC club in London for ten days, and have the pleasure of giving my lecture on the evening of Monday the 18th of November, to club members and guests. Additional video is on youtube, user LVADMAKER"

The Last Explorers

That is the exploration that awaits you! Not mapping stars and studying nebula, but charting the unknown possibilities of existence. Leonard Spock Nimoy A new show on BBC has left me with a sour feeling.

It is not really that the show is bad, or that the host is annoying. It is not that the topic is stupid nor that the episodes are not interesting. It is rather the title that is raising a red flag in my unconscious explorer mind. Neil Olivers new show The Last Explorers tags itself as a series on the golden age of exploration, charting the routes of contact that drew together the farthest reaches of the world. They could have called the show The First Explorers, The Great Explorers, or simply The Golden Age of Exploration. Instead they chose to epitomize these men as the last of their kind, placing them in the same category as any other extinct species. Unfortunately, and sadly, that knot in my stomach, that needle in my brain, is there because I sadly agree with this statement. A little bit more than a year ago, I attended the Royal Geographical Societys Explore weekend and was enchanted by the speech of Arita Baaijens. As she described her journey through the desert with its violent sand storms, she concluded with one of the most sincere and refreshing types of advice I had heard in a very long time: theres a tendency to cover up expeditions and journeys with noble aims. Either to attract sponsors or to give the expedition a sexy or good feel.

But most first timers GO without knowing why they want to follow the Amazon River or reach the North Pole, or cross the biggest desert. Its an inner drive, and its quite a normal thing to do that is why there are so many legends, myths, fairy tales about the Journey of the Hero (Joseph Campbell). Young people want to test their strength, find out who they are, and what their place in he world is. Those journeys are directed towards your inner world, about WHO am I and WHAT is my place in the world, see Tomsons words. And when you have learned more about yourself, your motives, your prejudices and opinions, your place in the world, you are better equipped for another type of expedition, journeys of discovery directed towards the outside world, characterized by WHY HOW.

I think what The Last Explorers means is that the spirit of exploration has changed tremendously in the last decades, and for some, including myself, it is more of a loss than a gain. And nothing could be more evident to support this fact, than what is happening at the Explorers Club in New York at this moment. During my first visit to this historical club with legendary members such as Roald Amundsen, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Neil Armstrong, I was struck with disbelief when at the entrance to the main saloon, I saw a scale model of the ultra luxurious cruise ship The World. Was I at the right place? In the right building? Or had I mistakenly entered an Upper East Side travel agency for wealthy retirees? The latest events that have unfolded in the media seem to be zeroing in precisely on this existential issue. What is exploration? On one side are the New School Explorers, to whom exploration is a blend of commercial adventures surrounded by rich people that can pay their way. R.L. (his name is obviously not revealed) precisely embodies this new genre. He is a hedge fund manager from London who made good money and now can afford to collect exploration badges, making him an explorer. The man, who is more at home in Michelin star restaurants then in a bivouac, pays ridiculous sums to be taken into the wilderness by experts, then claiming the credit for himself. His latest adventure was in Antarctica, where he dished out close to 100,000 to get up and supposedly baptised an unnamed peak (needless to say, with a lot of help). His brashness goes so far, that he now gives talks to children on how to be an explorer! For this type of person, the Club is doing really well, befitting these modern times.

The Clubs supporters defend their position by illustrating how the revenues have increased by adding new members like him money much needed to renovate the crumbling building, suitably located between Madison and Park streets, on the chic Upper East Side, rather than funding new, real adventures. On the other side are the Old School Explorers, who care more about the Spirit of Exploration It is not what you do, but how and why you do it. The debate is surprisingly similar to what went on in the wine industry old world wines which were generally subtle and complex, versus the new world wines, usually described as bold, sweet, simple, and with great emphasis on the packaging. At the end of the line, the core of the issue, whether it is exploration or food, is quite the same: Quality versus Quantity. Local or Global? Small or Big? Does exploration have a Spirit or is it an industry? And if it is an industry, then how can we commercialise it, make it grow and become more profitable? Herein lies the core of the question: Is bigger really better?

Which brings me back to Aritas statement. Present day exploration could be divided into three categories: A rich pastime A personal ego-trip the desire to break a record or make an environmental statement A vague, virtual idea of discovering the planet from behind ones computer (see Nature is not in your computer). It is no longer about wanting to disconnect from overbearing city-life to experience the unknown. It is no more about wanting to escape the crazy modern world to seek true, pristine wilderness. It is no more about a journey to discovering your inner self. What it is today, is a business! The magic of new discoveries has given place to self-centred claims of saving the planet.

I explore because for me, the world makes more sense out there, than here. I explore because nature humbles me. I explore because it reminds me that there is something bigger in life, something sacred and mysterious. I explore because it makes me a better person. And, I really wish we would hear the same narrative from other explorers more often. I just hope I am not part of a dying species! The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.

Marcel Proust By Daniel Fox.