Skip to main content

Africa Selection Camp – Day 1

Written by adminmike on . Posted in Sponsors, YOUNG EXPLORER CLUB. No Comments on Africa Selection Camp – Day 1

Blog written by Agustina (Argentina) and Marius (Germany):

We have been dreaming of this camp for almost 60 days, getting more and more excited every second and now it is finally coming true.

Eighteen young explorers (16 candidates plus two special guests) representing 11 different countries finally descend on the small Swiss village of Château-d'Oex!

No matter where we were picked up — at the airport or the train station — both of us enjoyed our drive through the Alps. (Except one fellow whose jetlag caused him to sleep all the way to Hotel le Ville! We were too filled with excitement.) After the first wave of us who arrived in the early afternoon had a nice walk around the village, the rest of us the group arrived. Thanks to our amazing hosts, we had a warm welcome and got to know each other in person. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to take our first photos wearing our new Mike Horn equipment as the sun was just setting between the snow-capped mountains. (But it's warm, the temperature is in the 20 Cs) In order to keep ourselves busy during the individual photo shootings, we started sharing our different cultures and some national folklore. It was great fun to learn all those interesting dances and movements from all over the world but we finally ended up dancing a Macarena in the famous church’s foreground.

As soon as we finished our head-shots, we came back had our first delicious camp meal together (for some of us it had been something like a midnight dinner, according to our internal clock!). The first day of our awesome experience ended up with a variety of inspiring autobiographic presentations and a quick introduction of the Mike Horn Team and the specialists from the Mayo Clinic USA. It doesn’t matter how exhausted we are, our excitement of what lays ahead is keeping us fueled for the days to come!

– Agustina and Marius

 





Amazon Expedition – Day 16

Written by adminmike on . Posted in Sponsors, YOUNG EXPLORER CLUB. No Comments on Amazon Expedition – Day 16

This morning, I was really surprised to wake up in Manaus. I was not expecting the boat Pangaea to travel all this distance in the night. We took advantage of being in Manaus by shopping for more supplies. It was exciting to come back to this city and to buy our food as local people do. We spent several hours in the city before returning to the boat.

In the boat, we watched the two videos we edited yesterday, to try to make one whole video to describe our notions of traveling, our interpretations and feelings. We also began working on rap for a music video about our Life on the Pangaea Sailing Boat. We worked on the lyrics and on the rhythm we wanted to sing. We also made some water filters thanks to Katadyn, to distribute them to the local communities.

Then we began sailing from Manaus in the direction of Belem. It was so amazing to come to the crossing point of the Rio Negro and the Amazon. The water from the two different rivers was not mixing and was different colors. The blood color of the Rio Negro and the golden color of the Amazon were forming a curved line separating two parts of the Amazon region. I had never seen such a distinguished line before, made by the power of water. The reason of this difference comes from the difference of speed and density between the two rivers.

Moreover, when we passed this line, Mike wanted us to jump in the rivers to see, feel, smell, and touch the different types of water. This experience was incredible because the Rio Negro was much more warm, maybe due to its blood color, compared to the Amazon.

The landscape also changed a lot as we were crossing the Amazon. There were less trees but more relief. I prefer this part of the Amazon region because the landscape changes more frequently. The weather was so amazing and being in a boat allows us to see every cloud, every star and all the landscape around us. It gives us a wide-open view of all our surroundings.

Furthermore, we had a gorgeous evening during the sunset. The colors of the sky were so bright, like a painting with red, pink, orange and blue touches. Everybody was taking pictures from the boat in all angles to try to capture these wonderful colors.

Pangaea/Mercedes-Benz Photo Exhibit in Singapore

Written by adminmike on . Posted in Sponsors. No Comments on Pangaea/Mercedes-Benz Photo Exhibit in Singapore

Singaporean Young Explorers, Li Jie and Zhixin, stopped by a school in Singapore to promote Pangaea and its message about the environment. Toh Yan Jean and Yoong Wei Theng, Singaporean students who found out about Pangaea at the Exhibition’s launch, also came by to help spread the word.

To find out more about the photo exhobit, click here

Tirza speaks to Geberit SA

Written by adminmike on . Posted in Sponsors, YOUNG EXPLORER CLUB. No Comments on Tirza speaks to Geberit SA

On the 25th of October, young Swiss explorer Tirza Niklaus, speaks to the guests of Pangaea Expedition's Presenting Partner, Geberit SA, in Zurich.

Tirza inspires the audience by telling them about her amazing voyage to Mongolia on the 6th Young Explorer Expedition held in August of 2010.

Tirza talks about the friendships and the visions that will stay with her for the rest of her life, as well as her ambition to continue to protect the environment and to engage other youths to support her in her mission.

 

             

Mercedes-Benz Stuttgarter Sternstunden

Written by adminmike on . Posted in Sponsors. No Comments on Mercedes-Benz Stuttgarter Sternstunden

Mike Horn and the Young Explorers created a lot of interest during the Stuttgarter Sternstunden, held in Stuttgart, Germany from the 10th – 14th of August. Mercedez-Benz celebrated their 125yrs centenary in style by offering to the city of Stuttgart displays of their Smart E mobility car and the beautiful concept car to be released in 2012. Pangaea made her mark on the public as the Young Explorers discussed the expedition with an inquisitive crowd, held workshops and did a clean-up in the center of the city.

Click here to see news reports on RTL2 and Pro7

MB Pangaea Photo Exhibit

Written by adminmike on . Posted in Sponsors. No Comments on MB Pangaea Photo Exhibit

Long before the first guests arrived, the six of the Singaporean YEPs, Andreas, Benedict, Leonard, Li Jie, Nicolette and Zhixin, stood around the photos that had been most helpfully put on display by Mercedes-Benz, who also allowed us the use of their space and resources for the first ever Pangaea-Mercedes Benz Photo Exhibition.

With Mike Horn himself coming down all the way from Alaska for this event, we could barely sit still with nervousness, unsure if the program would be a success. As it turned out, we needn’t have worried. The audience remained captivated the whole 45 minutes Mike spoke, gasping in shock when Mike talked about 12-m long anacondas and flesh-eating ants, and looking on in concern when told about Mike’s near-death experiences with deadly snake bites. The passion for life and living Mike had was clearly evident in every word he spoke, and by the thunderous applause he received at the end he was clearly a great inspiration for every person in the room.

Leonard then spoke about the harsh training program he underwent before and during the Himalayas Selection Camp, attempting to capture the grandeur of the Swiss Glaciers with words, while Benedict and Andreas shared about the conservation efforts they carried out in Borneo. Nicolette then talked about the Mongolia Expedition, and as the video of the YEPs rolling down sand dunes was screened, the audience could only look on in envy at the ‘giant playground’.

When the exhibition commenced, the YEPs were kept busy with queries about the program and their experiences, but of course, with this being the passion close to all our hearts, no one tired of it.

Meanwhile, a large crowd had formed around Mike, determined to hear more from the guy who has done it all. Recognising that this was a rare chance to meet this great explorer, person after person clambered to take photos with Mike, and half hour after Mike first claimed that ‘this would be my last photo!’, he was still good-heartedly posing with others!

All too soon, the launching ceremony for the Photo Exhibition was at its end. We all left without regrets though, knowing that today, the lives of so many more have been touched, by the passion that is Pangaea.

Nespresso sets examples with Gwaii Haanas clean up

Written by adminmike on . Posted in Sponsors, YOUNG EXPLORER CLUB. No Comments on Nespresso sets examples with Gwaii Haanas clean up

If we all commit to the environment like Nespresso has committed the past 5 days on their Ecotrip the world will stand a chance to survive for the future generations to come. Getting your hands dirty, educating yourself, investing and setting up sustainable programs is what we all should do on a daily basis as our social investment for the future.

Panerai Press & Client Event in LA

Written by adminmike on . Posted in Sponsors. No Comments on Panerai Press & Client Event in LA

On Thurs, May 26th, 11 journalists representing local LA newspapers, lifestyle magazines and watch trade magazines attended the Panerai LA Press Event at the Marina Del Rey Yacht Club. The day started the morning with prescheduled 1:1 interviews with Mike Horn followed by a welcome and overview which lasted almost 2 hours. Once lunch was served, Pangaea sailed up the coast. Young Explorer Garrett Celestin and his family were in attendance as well.

The Commodore of the Del Rey Yacht Club (a Panerai owner) and his wife attended and the Commodore was very proud to have his yacht club be selected for this exciting press/client event and proud to own/wear a Panerai.

The sailing day was followed by Private Raw Bar and Cocktail event on the yacht club terrace with a gallery of Chase Jarvis photos produced on transparent plexi-glass hanging on the glass walls overlooking the marina. Everybody agreed the effect was exquisite. Mike signed the photographs to be given as souvenirs for several guests and for Panerai NA offices.

On Thursday evening, a VIP Client Dinner for Panerai’s Beverly Hills’ clients was held at the Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey Terrace, with Mike Horn as guest of honor. It was a beautiful evening and very well-attended.

On Friday, May 27th, guests of the Del Rey Yacht Club were invited to tour Pangaea and meet Mike in the morning before the Client guests arrived. 65 “new” guests in total toured Pangaea and interacted with Panerai execs and Mike Horn with a lot of attention being given to the timepieces on display. The Vice Commodore and his wife attended as well.

At 11 AM, more Panerai guests arrived, along with a documentary film crew and journalist from the Watch Journal. Mike gave a lengthy and thorough overview of his experiences and the Expedition, which very much captivated the Panerai guests.

The sailing day was again followed by Private Raw Bar and Cocktail event on the yacht club terrace with a gallery of Chase Jarvis photos hanging on glass walls. Mike and crew spent a lot of quality time with the Panerai guests and also gave lengthy interviews to all the journalist involved.