25 January – Punta Arenas
We arrived in Punta Arenas at night, the southern gateway to Antarctica. Fatigue from the journey blended with the anticipation of reaching the farthest south. Our flight to King George Island was scheduled for Thursday, but Antarctic weather quickly reminded us who was in control. From Monday through Friday, no aircraft departed due to strong winds, low cloud cover, and poor visibility.
The airport became a place of suspended time, filled with researchers from across the world, stacks of equipment, exchanged stories, and a shared need for patience. When a brief weather window finally opened, more than twenty delayed flights had to be reorganised. We eventually departed on Saturday morning.
Saturday – King George Island
Landing on the gravel runway in Antarctica was the moment anticipation turned into reality: sharp light, cutting wind, and the unmistakable sense of entering a different rhythm of the world. The DAP airstrip, a remote logistical landing zone surrounded by volcanic terrain and ice, was our first physical contact with the continent.
From there, we were transferred by a Turkish vessel and taken across the water to King Sejong Station.
King Sejong Station
We were hosted alongside research teams from Turkey, Portugal, and Korea. The first days were dedicated to adaptation, logistical coordination, and planning field operations. Life in Antarctica moves according to one rule: everything must happen quickly when the weather allows.
Fieldwork
Each day we spent five to six hours in the field, working across multiple sites around the station: Sejong Hill, Araon Valley, Gaya Hill, Marian Cove, ASPA 171, Haeundae Beach, and Hwaseok Hill.
The landscape shifted constantly between volcanic rock, ice pockets, wildlife colonies, and vast ocean silence. We collected water and soil samples, documented micro-ecosystems, and covered long distances across demanding terrain.
Laboratory Work
Returning from the field did not mean the work was finished. Samples had to be processed immediately. Evenings often stretched late into the night with labeling, measurements, and preparation for the following day.
The pace was relentless, yet every completed sample carried the feeling that we were working within a natural laboratory unlike any other on Earth.
Reflection
Antarctica offers little comfort, but it offers clarity. Each day is shaped by discipline, international collaboration, and a constant sense of wonder before a landscape that feels as though it belongs to another age.