My first trip to the Antarctic was in 1997.Shortly after，I went trekking in the Nepal Himalayas and chatted with my Nepal guide who had never stepped out of his landlocked Kingdom.He curiously asked me what the Antarctic was like.I said： “Imagine all the snow-capped mountains and glaciers in the Himalayas by the bay； mammals that look like fish the size many times bigger than an elephant； all the birds are black and white and they fly only in the water； contains 70% of the world’s fresh water but is the driest continent in the world…”
Is this place really on earth？ Indeed，not only is the Antarctic surreal for this Nepal Mountain folk，it is unbelievable for most of us.
Many visited the Antarctic just because it is the last continent for them to tick off the list.But to truly appreciate its grandeur，uniqueness and magic，one has to understand its geology and exploratory history.In fact，that goes for visiting any place on earth.Many thought capturing the best pictures of a place is to have the best camera equipment and photography skills.To me，it is about understanding the place’s uniqueness and capture them in a journalistic frame.
That’s why I appreciated Mdm Zhu Xiang Xia’s pictures so much.And that’s also why I always found great pleasure in hearing about her travel tales.Mdm Zhu and her husband Mr.Zhang Duo Yi travelled widely all over the world.And wherever they go，they travelled slowly to have time to have in-depth understanding of the destination，peeling layers after layers of local geography and culture in their own way.They do not go only for the “wow must see” but also appreciate the tiny details that complete the pictures of the places they are in.
Many Antarctic pictures show the most spectacular mountains and glaciers，the most beautiful sunset or sunrise，but Mdm Zhu’s photo log tells the story of her whole journey.To me this should be the true spirit of any travel.
May I wish Mdm Zhu and Mr.Zhang continue to globetrot and share with everyone their worlds through their own lenses.
Chang Theng Hwee
Managing Director
Country Holidays Travel
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