Being a cruise ship employee certainly has its advantages, and I was paid to travel to Antarctica and South America! I was an employee on Orient Cruise Lines, and the ship that I sailed on was called the ?Marco Polo?, which has since been decommissioned and replaced by a newer ship called the ?Marco Polo II?.

I live in Vancouver, Canada, and flew from there to Chicago, Illinois, and from there flew into a tiny city at the southern tip of Argentina called Ushuaia (the southern most city in the world), where I boarded the ship.

From there, we sailed across the Drake Passage towards the great white continent ? Antarctica! Once we arrived in the area of South Georgia island, we sailed around the Lemaire channel and Elephant island for a couple of days before heading for the Falkland islands were we spent the day exploring.

Thereafter, we set sail for the ports of Uruguay (Montevideo), Argentina (Buenos Aires) and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) where we spent a couple of nights, before heading up towards the southern Caribbean with a stop at French Guiana on Devil?s Island. This tiny island off the coast of Venezuela used to be a prison ? check out the Steve McQueen movie 'Papillon' which is based on the island!

After exploring Devil?s island for the day, we set sail for the mighty Amazon river! This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip, because only small ships can enter the river due to the depth limitations. We stopped at a tiny village called ?Boca da Valeria? where we met very enthusiastic locals who were very 'westernized' in the ways of asking for a dollar if you wanted to take a picture of them, or just walk with them!

The locals all live in tiny houses built on stilts (to avoid flooding). Other ports of call along the Amazon were Manaus and Santarem. One of the trip highlights was going on a night safari on the river to look for caimans (which resemble tiny crocodiles) and piranhas (which apparently, don?t eat human flesh)! The remainder of the trip was spent visiting the beautiful ports such as St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, before heading back to civilization as we know it.

My favourite meal was definitely the local delicacies, such as the Brazilian steakhouses who serve 'Churrasco' which is grilled meats served on a skewer. We did brave the local delicacies which were to be found on any street corner being barbequed by a local. I am fairly sure we were eating beef, but can?t guarantee this. Whatever it was, was very tasty!

"...be prepared for the weather..."

Whenever I travel, I try to explore on my own, as I enjoy the local culture, rather than being stuck in the usual tourist trap! Although it?s not always a wise idea to explore on your own, it is by far, the best way to find hidden restaurants, markets and stores, because local is always better!

If you are planning a trip to Antarctica, be prepared for the weather, as the temperatures range from very cold to cold and not much in between! Layer clothing is always best, but ships do provide thermal underwear and protective gear for when you are allowed off the ship. For the rest of the trip, expect hot, tropical climates and pack accordingly! Also, be very careful when in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, as tourists are mugged frequently. Do not wear jewellery, and try not to keep cash or valuables with you when on the beach or exploring.

I met some very interesting locals, especially on the Amazon leg of the journey; the villagers were very friendly (partly due to them wanting your dollars)! The children clung to your arms and legs from the time you set foot in the village, until the time you departed!

The best way to get around in most places is on foot, or by taxi (which is fairly cheap). Public transport is available (buses etc.), but not advisable, as they are not maintained very well.

When you are in Brazil, and especially Rio de Janeiro, be careful not to get into any unmarked taxis, and don?t accept offers from strangers offering to drive you around, because chances are you will end up being dropped off in a 'favela' slum. Tourists have been known to be dropped off in these areas and end up being robbed or worse!