Grise Fiord....

I've been sitting here trying to decide what to write... and the words really aren't coming... today I'm going to let my photos tell the story! Hope you enjoy!!! :)

I've been trying to stitch together a few shots of Grise Fiord...to make a panoramic photo but instead of making ONE I ended up being successful at making TWO! (but if you join the left side of this one at the boats--to the right side of the one following... you'll get a whole view of Grise..just use your imagination!!)

I took the next two photos this morning just after 9am...I was on my way to do the buisness I had to do in town!  All morning the sun just sort of 'hung' out on the horizon until about 1:30pm it disappeared!!!

This was looking in the other direction from the hotel... LUV that the moon looks like a HUGE star..(as does the street light!!) have to love a little longer exposure!

Once I finished lunch I walked down to the beach area and took the next series of shots....(and the panoramic ones)...it was just before 1pm...and it was so beautiful....

As for self-portrait...I think I just found a new favourite!!!!

As I was standing there... all of a sudden I heard a big "THUNK" and it was the ice dropping... the tide still goes in and out...and the ice then drops... pretty freaky.... but still fun to look at!!

One last self-portrait!  it was fairly warm today... -14C with the wind chill... I've really enjoyed my time up here in Grise Fiord... I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to travel up to Canada's most Northern Community...

I'm flying back to Resolute tomorrow...weather pending

(let's hope the wind stays down...or I might have an extended stay here in Grise Fiord!!)

To the TOP of the Globe...the land of 24hour darkness...

Well this blog is going to be short..(famous last words from me!)...Just wanted everyone out there ie) my Mum and Family... I'm on the road again..... I'm heading to the TOP of the WORLD... no lies... it's true... I'll be in Resolute tomorrow evening...and Thursday I'll head up to Grise Fiord.... I'm pretty stoked to be at the top of the world... and to experience TRUE 24 darkness (the sun isn't rising in Grise...and the sun's hours are limited in Resolute!) How exciting.... I'll try to keep you posted while I'm on the road again.....

Now just to pack... because today it was -40C with the wind chill in Resolute..when I checked the weather online...

Strange Houses....

oday at lunch, while I was walking around Pond... I found this HOUSE.. it's got to be the most unique one I've seen in a long time!  Someone told me that it's not 'officially' move in ready...water and sewage tanks need to be hooked up... it was pretty awesome!! I'm imagining an Arctic Hobbit might live here!? who knows!

Of course I'm never one to pass up a pose in my 'super duper marshmellow puffy' Snow Goose Jacket!! (so glad I was wearing it today..with the windchill it was probably about -22C or so...

Just another look at the 'main' door.... can you also see a 'person!?'... this had a lot of thought in it... I'd love to see what it looks like inside!! I'm imagining a lot of 'custom' built-in furniture!

So yesterday I didn't take a photo of the AWESOME mountains on the other side of this water.... so here's my awesome mountain photo... (can you see them?) squint.. and you 'might' see them through the snow clouds!! (ps this photo wasn't lightened but was taken just after 1pm!)

The ice if forming... I actually could 'hear' it cracking and popping.. and hissing...(it was the weirdest sound)...can't really describe it.. at first it sounded like children playing... then I thought it sounded like an animal crying...but no just ice... cracking.... (you can also see some smaller icebergs that have washed in on shore..... that are soon to be 'ice-locked!'...)

That's the news from Pond... the sun rose this morning at 9:53am and set today at 3:58pm  (the sun will soon set in Pond not to rise again til the new year.... I think someone told me today that they are loosing about 15mins on the rise and 15mins on the setting time too!)... let's just say it's been a bit more difficult for me to get out of bed with no sunlight.......... I'm glad I was here to see some of the light.. because Pond is a Gorgeous place!!

Airline Food 101

I'm typing this from Pond Inlet... I'm travelling again this week.. .and had two great flights!  The flight from Pang to Iqaluit was a normal flight... (except for being a bit delayed!)... I got my Box lunch... with the typical pudding, brownie, cheese, crackers, 'soggy/frozen' sandwich....it was good times... The only difference was the sandwich looked like it had 'actual' chicken (still probably processed) but not the 'cold cut' variety.... it was still pretty good.. and I lucked out.. because neither my bread was mushy or hard as a rock!  I was pretty happy!!! (next time I receive one of these yummy boxes i'll take a photo!)

My next flight from Iqaluit to Pond Inlet...well it wasn't so nice.... when it came to the 'boxed' lunch... my heart sank a bit when I saw the flight attendent passing out the 'boxed' sandwich lunches..because I was going to tempt fate to get handed 2 boxes that had decent sandwiches to eat in ONE day.... but when I looked at it.... I did a double take.... then grabbed my camera.......I'll let the picture speak for itself right now....

hmmm interesting right!? let's start RIGHT to left... we have a small 'corn' like the ones you find in a can? then a SWEET pickle....and that's Genoa Salami wrapping COLD sausage.... all on a bed of bow tie pasta that is smothered by italian dressing.... (there was also cheddar cheese, melba toast(but it was broken in a million pieces) and crackers (also broken)... and the BEST part of this meal.... the Lindor Chocolate...

I seriously hope that this is not the NORM for meals to come on this AIRLINE..because seriously... this meal does NOT need to be repeated EVER!!!  the pickle was good... as was the cheese... and well where was my PUDDING?! but at least I got 2 Lindor chocolates out of it....it reminded me of the 'festive dinner' from Swiss Chalet...but well wasn't so festive... OK enough because frankly looking at this photo... is making my tummy turn......

Polar Bears... and 5am wake ups!

When I arrived at Resolute Bay, this polar bear greeted me in the airport.  it's a pretty big 'bear... under 'glass' I guess to keep him safe--and people don't 'pet' him too much?! Unless maybe he comes alive in the dark...and needs to be kept in his glass cage!? who really knows... (i think it is to stop people from 'touching' him...!)

This is the sign that goes along with the 'bear... I like the way they use the term "caught"...hehehe don't u mean shot and killed? I'm guessing it was probably a 'trouble' bear--that the hunter had to go out and get...but not 100% sure... perhaps that's why its in glass bc maybe it is really alive--but really good at playing statues?

When I arrived at the hotel... I came across this 'little' bear... and of course said 'hello'... I think this is as close as I ever want to get to one of these guys!

The flights south from Resolute Bay... leave at 'crazy' times... it's a 6:30am departure... so they request we are there by 5am to load all the bags etc... (so that means I got up at 4:45am)---perhaps I should tell you that I did learn something new-- Resolute is in a different time zone!  (it's an hour 'behind' eastern time)...so 5am is really only 6am EST but still too DARN early.  I've never liked mornings; and well this didn't really help matters being at an airport so early!  So what did I do? take some photos of course... here I am with the bear again.... isn't he HUGE!?

(please don't judge the 'bed' head and glasses.. remember it was 5am!)

Here's some 'random' people chill'n waiting for the flight.... (the plane was FULL like all 18 seats were taken!)

It was the longest walk to the plane... and COLD... but I did it quickly... and was one of the 4th people on the plane-- I got a window seat-- which is always important to me... because then I have the opportunity to take photos!

Here is Arctic Bay... from the air! it was clear and not a cloud/fog in site... but you see the airport is in Nanisivik (an old mining town)...about a 30-40min drive away.  This airport is higher up...and is known for its trouble with fog issues.. so even though the weather was clear here-- everyone on the plane wasn't sure it would land!

This is one of the last photos I took from the air... see we flew into 'fog' that was all AROUND the airport.  The pilots made a first attempt; and well abandoned it.... but because there was enough fuel, and there were 7 people that wanted to get off in Nanisivik--and they flew over the night before...they decided to do a 2nd try.... I literally HELD my breath the whole time the plane circled (I thougth for sure I'd be heading the 3 hours back to Iqaluit)... but I was wrong... slowly we decended... I got a bit nervous at the end when I looked out my window and saw runway zooming by...and well it was under the WING not the PLANE... but with a quick turn.. and quick stop... we were on the ground... Pretty amazing.... I was glad I was here!!

...my next question is... I wonder what the weather holds later in the week (thrusday) when I'm scheduled to fly out!? That's the part of travelling that is kind of cool... the fact that I dont' really know if I'll get IN or if I'll get OUT of communities... people call me crazy.. but I just think it's part of the Adventure...except I could do without 5am mornings!!

Lessons # 143 in Northern Travel

You might not end up in your correct destination!

This morning, I thought at this time I'd be all comfy cozy at the B&B in Arctic Bay---but seems like the weather at the airport in Nanisivik denied me this. 

So you might ask? where did I end up? well Resolute Bay of course!    (you can look at the map if you need to figure out where that was--compared to where I should be)... but this is the furtherest north I've been in a long time.. so that's pretty darn cool!

Tomorrow I have to be at the airport at 5am... YES that's right... 5AM---for my flight that leaves at 6:30am...  There will be an attempt to land at Nanisivk again... let's cross our fingers-- but you never know... I might just have to fly up here again!

I'll probably update you all with some photos at some point.... but for right now this is all!

...and there was SNOW falling on my head!

I arrived in Cape Dorset today.... before it got too dark I wandered around (with all the people from the cruise ship)...

(you can see the snow coming from across the water!)

...at the look out!..

Yep--that's the SAME ship...I'm convinced it's stalking me--from Pang...then Kimmirut and now Cape Dorset!  (this shouldn't affect the rest of my travel-- they are heading to Kujjuaaq and then back to where they all call home!)

Oh ya.. the SNOW is here... AND it's COLD and there was ICE in what use to be puddles (see the above photo!)...

In other news from Cape Dorset...there was a Polar Bear around town lately-- they had to 'scare' it away from town last night and this morning... and the Bow Head whale hunt has started.  This year there are 3 tags (or license to kill 3 animals)...that have been given to hunt the Bow Heads... they have been split up into 3 communities across Nunavut.  Cape Dorset has one, Rankin Inlet and Kugaaruk have the other two tags!  It's a 'controlled' hunt that the whole community takes part in... I'm hoping that it is 'caught' while I am here... because that would be an amazing experience... I'll keep you posted!!

Kimmirut...and more adventures in flying...

Today at my lunch time before my flight I was able to get a drive 'around' Kimmirut... to be able to take some photos!  Don the manager at the Co-op, where the hotel is situated above the store was also the cook while I had my short stay in Kimmirut!  It was fun to drive 'out' of town and see some of the scenery..so different from Pang, but so gorgeous still!

That cruise ship that arrived in Pang on Sunday(didn't blog about it)...where people from the cruise took photos of me, my friend and her daughter--ok soooo we were all on my friend's Honda (with her daughter) and my backpacked tied down to the front...perhaps I should have gotten them to take a photo with my camera? I honestly don't think about how to get from point A to point B...but a ride... without having to walk and carry my backpack... well that's a good thing in my book!! :) Well it arrived in Kimmirut just as I was leaving... and town filled with SOOOO many people.. and well it's heading to Cape Dorset-- So I've decided it's stalking me.... I think some day when I'm old and grey-- I will take a cruise like that and say... I remember the days when I use to live up here... I was a SUPER STAR! (or something as equally as cheesey as that!)

It was a fairly windy day in Kimmirut.  The weather has turned--and was COLD!! Hard to believe that it's only the end of September--my body is telling me like it's closer to the end of November (by 'southern' temps!)

The rocks are sooooooooo cool in colour!  had to take a 'close-up'! :)

.....this shows part of the road.... just a random shot from the air!

Here is the shot of Kimmirut from the air!... that BIG ship is just a tiny spec!!

Enjoy the shots from the air! And some other random shots----today I got to sit as close to the cockpit as I could... and really wish I knew what all those knobs and gadgets did! (flying lessons?--who knows..maybe?)

I was totally psyched to get this shot...and even the 'crazy' no smoking/wear your seat belt sign...came out the way it was! After I took this.. he turned around and said "you know I'm not that photogentic!" hmmm interesting eh?

And here are the pilots after my flight--just a quick 'snap' didn't even get it in focus..but strangely that doesn't make me sad! 

I could totally get use to this life of flying!!

Yep that's right... I think I'm hooked... if only I could get use to sleeping in new 'hotel' beds every night!

Flying with the Milk, Eggs and Cheese.....

This morning I had another first experience... travelling on a 'twin otter'... and it was a fun experience... I must admit I'm not so much of a fan of small aircraft--but I think this morning's flight has changed this!   Walking out to the plane I was like.. that thing is TINY..it looked like a baby plane compared to the planes that usually fly up to Pang!  Then they opened up the door and all six of us climbed inside...and the pilot stood outside and told us that the flight would take approx 35mins, the skies looked good..there were 4 exits for us to use in case of emergency and there was a 'security' briefing if we wanted to see it in the seat pocket in front of us....oh and keep your seat belts on the whole flight!...then he said, "I'm closing you in so I can go get this plane started and the heat on"... (which I was kind of grateful for because it was chilly this morning in Iqaluit!)...I kind of wished that it was a clearer view of the pilots(look very closely in the photo with the milk, eggs and cheese you'll see their hands)--because I kind of wished I could fly...maybe that can be my next occupation!? it was kind of weird to seeeeeeee the pilots turning knobs and buttons etc....through the whole flight and at one point when the pilot turned around to give us the THUMBS up (to make sure we were ok?I guess..but if we weren't I'm not sure what he could have done to help us out!? lol)  We flew above the clouds..but for part of the short flight you could see the land underneath us....I am always struck at how beautiful the land is...and how lucky I am to be able to travel around and see it!  Then we flew above the clouds...and out my window I could see a rainbow--the photo isn't that clear--but it was a pretty cool site! All in all it was a great flight..smooth and not so bumpy....and .....I must say that the milk, cheese, and eggs also arrived safely in Kimmirut too!! PS. (if you want to see where Kimmirut is...click on the map on the top of the side bar)

..Coming to a Community near you....

The next few weeks or should I say two months--are going to be busy!  Part of my job allows me to travel and visit other communities...so in the coming weeks I'm going to be doing a lot of travel-which I'm pretty excited about-this is one of the things I've been looking forward to since I started my job. I love meeting new people, sharing stories, seeing new things and of course I am always up for an adventure or two! 

I'm visiting Kimmirut at the begining of next week and then Cape Dorset at the end of the week with a few nights in Iqaluit inbetween!  So if you live in any of those places and want to show someone around that has her camera attached to her hip...or just say 'hi' outside of blogger land...

...leave me comment on this post or drop me an email at newbieinthenorth@live.ca

oh and in other news....

..I'm travelling for the rest of this week (flying out tonight after work) heading to Iqaluit...looking forward to flying out of town--it's been awhile since I've been been out of Pang--the last trip through Iqaluit was at the end of May!

This is the first of 'many' trips I'm taking this fall..... so heads up Iqaluit HERE I COME!!! (I'll post when I can--but I have 2 nights of buisness meetings--I guess the more meetings the better when you have to fly in people from far away!)...

Qikitarjuaq....

On Friday morning I flew up to Qik.. from Pang---I had been told that it was one of the flights with the best scenery and I wasn't disappointed! I was the only passenger on the plane...and hoped from side to side, seat to seat to take a heap of photos.... I got this awesome shot of Pang from the air.....

I have been taking a course to learn more about Photo shop---the above shot I fixed up tonight! ( LOVED it before...but it looks more like when I took it!!) I think this is my NEW fav photo from a plane!!

This is hard to see in the 'small' format...but something I learned how to do tonight... i took 4 photos and joined them in Photo shop...(have to love panoramas!)...it's of Qik.. on top of the hill that Emily and I climbed!)

After just resting on Saturday and watching movies, knitting, making books and visiting... Emily and decided it was time to get some fresh air...(I was feeling about 85% back to normal...) So Sunday, Emily and I went for a walk and decided to climb up one of the 'smallest' hills to get a good view of town....

The only hitch was the snow was soft...so well we kind of got 'stuck'...Emily was up to her hips at one point.. and then I sunk up to my hips too...it was kind of funny but also hard work to get 'unstuck' because the snow all around you is soft....(you almost have to experience to understand it!) but by the time we got to the top..(as you can see from the photos... our pants are SOAKING wet..but we were excited to be at the top!)

Emily at the top..... :)

I'm excited to be up at the top....just a tad wet..... LOL

Overall it was a great trip---I was able to fly IN and OUT without any weather delays...which was amazing!!! I'm glad to finally be HOME and sort of SETTLED for a bit... now just to get back into some sort of regular routine!

...I'm back

....I'm back from my whirlwind trip to the south....(May 23rd-June 1) with an extra night in Iqaluit....(wasn't able to land in Pang on Monday!...)

I've been a bit sickish....but made it back home on Tuesday afternoon.... after lots of sleep, fluids and antibotics....I'm feeling better.... I'm getting ready to go on a work trip this Friday....which I'm excited about... going to Qikitarjuaq (Qik)... that's where my friend Emily has been teaching all year.... So I'm staying over on the weekend---and that will be heaps of fun!!!

This is a bit short...but wanted to let you all know I was still alive up here in the Arctic!

24 hour SUN....

...makes it REALLY hard to sleep... I'm not sure if it was the NEW bed...or the fact that the sun was coming through the curtains...I had a really hard time sleeping.... FINALLY i put on my hoodie, pulled the hood over my eyes... .curled up and looked at the corner in the room... (that 'seemed' to work... and finally around 1am I was asleep!!

After I was done meeting the people I had to meet... Vera and I went up on the hill--it was FREEZING!!! and still blows my mind that it was 9:20PM!!!

Enjoy the photos... tomorow I fly back to Iqaluit!!! :)