I have to be honest. I claim many days to be ‘the best day of my life’. But most of these days happened in Antartica.

Every day in Antartica was another ‘best day of my life’.

Even the days that seemed to be set up for disappointment.

Sorry Antartica. You can’t disappoint me.

The day was planned to be spent in Cuverville Island but with 60 knot winds hanging around the island the crew decided to change course to Paradise Harbour.

I believe it was aptly named for the glaciated mountains and ice cliffs affording protection to the harbour.in bad weather but also aptly named for the fun I had there.

Paradise Harbor, also known as Paradise Bay, is a wide embayment behind Lemaire and Bryde Islands in Antarctica, indenting the west coast of Graham Land between Duthiers and Leniz Points.

Argentina’s Almirante Brown Antarctic Base stands on the coast of the bay, alongside Chile’s González Videla Antarctic Base.

It was our first landing in a part of the continent where humans call home during warmer months. It was a complete contrast to our previous landings as it showcased the contrast of human structures alongside the wildness of Antartica – in this case a large colony of sad-looking malting penguins.

Paradise Harbour was the landing where I had the most fun. I decided to climb to the top of the cliff.

It was a challenge.

Much older members of the expedition hiked quickly past me with their hiking sticks while I struggled not to slip all the way back down the mountain with every icy step.

It seemed to take a lifetime but eventually I reached the peak.

The view was phenomenal.

I admired the sheer beauty of the place for as long as I could justify before facing my next challenge: getting down.

I knew there was only one reasonable solution.

I slid down that mountain like a child at a playground. I was 100% soaked by the end of it but 200% overjoyed with the fun.

I liked to thing of myself as a mature 21-year-old but even on the coldest content on the planet I can apparently still act like a complete child.

The harshest place on the planet was my playground that afternoon and it was worth every goosebump.