On this day, on a little-known Russian island, in the far east of the Asiatic continent – adventure was had. Whereas many of us are here for the journey to Wrangel Island, today brought an unexpected surprise of swimming polar bears and hundreds of walruses swimming about our Zodiacs. This amidst a stunning array of seabirds dashing back and forth above our clicking cameras as they made their journey in and out from sea. The amount of wildlife was difficult to take in. It was a true sensory overload, and just when we thought we could relax and recount over cocktails, the sea exploded with whales. Humpbacks, gray whales, and most surprisingly a multitude of rare bowhead whales – a first for many of naturalists – were seen surrounding our ship.