In This File Photo, Polar Girl Najibah Eradah Al-Sufri At
The Commonwealth Woman's Antarctic Expedition
Selection And Training Camp In Norway.
Picture:Courtesy Of Robert Hollingworth

Bandar Seri Begawan - After just one day of trudging across the bleak Antarctic landscape on a 910km trek to the geographic South Pole, Kim-Marie Spence from Jamaica has been forced to turn back after her fingers suffered frostbite.

Kim, one of the eight people who comprise the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition, suffered frostbite while struggling to set up camp in strong winds and severe cold on Sunday night, the official expedition press office reported yesterday.

The rest of the team, including Brunei's own Polar Girl, Najibah Eradah Al-Sufri or "Era", are continuing their trek south and enjoyed more favourable conditions on the second day.

On Monday, Era, 26, posted on Twitter. "Today we did 20km! Yay! 875km more.. 42 days left.. weather was sunny with hardly any wind.."

Despite Kim having to return to the Patriot Hill base camp, Era reported in a podcast that the team made good progress on the second day.

"Today is the 23rd of November 2009. It is 8:00am, local time in Antarctica. This is

Era, reporting to the UK voicemail The current location coordinates are South 82 degrees, 41.766 west 56 degrees 22.576. Our distance covered was 10.3 nautical miles.

"I did it! But I managed to get a blister and who knew you could get a blister on the front of your fret? I thought blisters only happen at the back so I was really surprised at that.

"Health and morale is good. Sun was shining again, so we were almost sweating in Antarctica. Mojo is six (out of five!), I think, because we've covered more than we had to cover. We were wanting to cover 6.5 nautical miles, but we've covered 10.3 so we've covered quite a bit. We're eating chicken casserole with rice for dinner. Breakfast is the same, snack bag was the same. That's it. Talk to you next week.

"This is Era reporting out. Bye."

Meanwhile, Kim said through the expedition website that her injury is testimony to "what kind of place Antarctica is".

"Its really tough and I have blackened fingers to prove it. The doctor here said that I cannot continue unless I'm willing to lose my fingers but that's not sensible.

"I wish the best to my fellow explorers and fellow colleagues. I know that they will reach the South Pole. I also want to thank everyone for the support that I have gotten. I will continue to follow this expedition," she said.

The expedition brings together women from eight Commonwealth countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cyprus, Ghana, India, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

The project aims to highlight the achievements of women from across the world.

The team is expected to arrive at the South Pole around January 1, 2010. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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love from your family
written by family , November 26, 2009

You will always be in our prayers for a safe and succesful expedition. Allah is always with you...

Love from your family.

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