Three Chennai retirees journey to each ends of the Earth

CS Chandrasekaran (67), Venkata Subra Maniam Raju (65), and Krishnan Venkatesan (65), three pals from Chennai, are simply again from an expedition to the Arctic. In July this 12 months, they launched into a luxurious cruise (Swan Hellenic), crusing by means of the distant Svalbard archipelago, North of mainland Norway to the breathtaking vistas of the Arctic area.

Swaddled in layers of heat clothes and gliding by means of icy fjords, taking in jaw-dropping views of snow-dusted peaks, it was a journey that impressed awe. “The magnificence and the silence had been chic — a reminder of how small we’re in Nature’s grand design,” says Venkatesan.

But this was not their first polar expedition. In January 2024, they travelled to the Antarctic Peninsula, a journey that opened their hearts and minds.

The three senior residents, who retired as senior executives from corporations in West Asia, have been long-time pals, who shared a ardour for journey and journey. Currently settled in Chennai, the globe-trotting trio, who’ve every travelled to over 40 nations, determined to chase a cherished dream — to journey to the poles.

In 2023, they put their heads collectively and began planning a visit to Antarctica. Things fell in place and by January 2024, they had been set for the journey.

They did their analysis and ready effectively, went to the gymnasium for health. “We knew the journey could be intensive, given the climate situations. But our households had been very supportive and we felt we had nothing to lose. We might afford to take some dangers,” says Chandraserkaran, who even did a polar plunge, together with Raju. “We needed to dive into icy waters from the ship. It was an inexplicable expertise. All I can say is, the center stops beating for a number of seconds and then you definitely come again alive,” he provides.

Polar expeditions are about uncooked journey and a whole disconnection from the trendy world and its chaos, say the buddies. “An expedition cruise in Antarctica means kayaking amongst icebergs, mountain climbing by means of untouched snowfields, and being surrounded by wildlife. We noticed herds of seals and rookeries of penguins. We even caught sight of the elusive Emperor penguin and had been fortunate to see a humpback whale breaching close to our Zodiacs (rugged inflatable boats that ferry folks from the ship to the shore). Watching the animals in such large numbers of their pure habitat was an expertise that may stick with us eternally,” says Venkatesan.

They flew throughout the Drake Passage from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island in Antarctica and set sail on the Ocean Adventurer (of Quark Expeditions). With temperatures round –5°C, daily (they had been in Antarctica for eight days and 7 nights) was crammed with excursions on Zodiacs. Their journey concluded with a detour to Patagonia’s Torres del Paine, providing a remaining distinction of rugged mountains and windswept plains.

But the expertise wasn’t with out reflection, say the buddies. They witnessed firsthand the consequences of local weather change — melting glaciers and shifting ice patterns — a reminder of the planet’s fragility. “In our staff had been researchers, who defined to us how quickly the area is altering,” says Venkatesan.

Back in Chennai and energised by their Antarctic success, the buddies had been set on finishing their polar quest. In July 2025, they took a chartered flight from Copenhagen to Longyearbyen in Norway — the world’s northernmost city — to mark the start of their Arctic expedition.

The wealth of wildlife was the primary placing factor in regards to the Arctic. “They appeared to seem in a dramatic vogue. One morning, we watched in silence as a polar bear ambled alongside an ice floe — majestic, highly effective, and humbling. On one other day, we floated previous walruses lounging like grumpy giants on the shore. We noticed various reindeer and snow foxes. Puffins, guillemots, and Arctic terns stuffed the skies, whereas belugas and seals danced within the icy waters,” says Raju.

It was summer time and one in all their lasting recollections from the journey is standing on the ship’s deck at 2am, sipping scorching chocolate below the midnight solar.

A go to to the famed Global Seed Vault (on the distant Arctic Svalbard Archipelago) was particular. “A storage facility for seeds from world wide, it’s humanity’s insurance coverage coverage for crop biodiversity,” Venkatesan provides.

Chandrasekaran and Raju dove as soon as extra into polar waters within the Arctic Circle.

As they departed Longyearbyen, they carried greater than souvenirs and snapshots, taking with them recollections etched in ice and sky.

The trio, of their sixties, considers it a feat to have accomplished each polar expeditions inside 18 months. “From adapting to sub-zero temperatures (a far cry from our heat Chennai) to managing vegetarian diets, the journey examined our endurance, planning, and spirit. But each problem was met with resilience, camaraderie, and unyielding curiosity,” says Chandrasekaran. And, sure, that they had an Indian chef, who rustled up some vegetarian dishes for them.

Until they plan their subsequent journey, the buddies will speak about their journey to the poles — the silence, the purity, and the enormity of the expertise that left them deeply moved.

(As informed to Anasuya Menon)