Adventures with Asperger's Syndrome

The rainbow turned out to have a meaning after what myself and the other campers were lucky enough to see when camping on Leith Island. Following the amazing sunset seen from Leith Island while camping, it was difficult to imagine a sight just as wonderous. But whereas it was pure coincidence that a spectacular red sky pleasing to the camera lens appeared shortly after a rainbow, there is often a little more truth in the age-old expression ‘red sky at night, shepherds delight’. Human ability to observe and remember patterns, including in the skies and with the weather, often has deeper scientific meaning behind it. Red skies are caused by dust and particles being trapped in Earth’s atmosphere scattering the blue light and leaving behind the red. Red skies at sunset mean that high pressure is moving in from the west, which often means that the following day will likely be dry and pleasant. Passed down through several generations, including through times when observation and experi

After the fantastic sightings of abundant wildlife in the South Shetland Islands, it certainly felt like the rainbow I had seen at Ushuaia had served like a gateway to another dimension. But it turned out that the rainbow was to have a second meaning for the next part of my adventure, camping in a tent overnight on Antarctica. According to certain folklore, especially regarding the Irish stories of the one lucky enough to find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow guarded by a Leprechaun, rainbows have also been known to bring luck. Being able to go on Zodiac landings and do activities such as camping in Antarctica during a cruise are weather dependent. Just like it is said that Everest decides who succeeds in reaching its summit and who doesn’t, Antarctica has the last word on what activities are possible on the day. As seen when crossing the Drake Passage and visiting the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current together with the continent’s southernly latitu

Arriving in Ushuaia, Argentina, a spectacular end-to-end rainbow appeared as the backdrop to the port. Myths and legends from different cultures often give the sight of a rainbow a special meaning, including a spiritual connection as believed by the Vikings and Incas of a connection between the world of the living and heavenly abodes. As it turned out, this rainbow had rather special significance for me as well as over a hundred passengers boarding G Adventures’ ship MS Expedition, for the start of my latest adventure, a voyage to Antarctica! Rainbow seen at Ushuaia My previous visit to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, was where my first South American adventure through Patagonia ended back in 2011. Seven years later, in my 40 th year, it was the beginning, with the rainbow symbolizing, for me, the ‘gateway to the unknown’. When deciding what adventure to pursue as a personal 40 th birthday present, I decided upon something that not only I would likely do once in a li