Magical Bedtime Story | Antarctica

Let yourself get sleepy with a dreamy voyage to "Antarctica," in tonight’s magical bedtime story narrated by a soothing female voice. Picture yourself aboard a luxurious cruise, gliding through the Drake Passage to the serene beauty of Antarctica. Majestic whales gracefully emerge, penguins playfully frolic on icebergs, and hourglass dolphins enchant with their elegance, all against a backdrop of soothing shades of blues and whites. As you retreat to your warm cabin, the gentle rocking of the ship and the tranquil ambiance of the Antarctic night lull you into a peaceful slumber. It’s time to dream away.

Transcript

Embrace the coziness and icy wonderland of tonight's sleepy story.

You are listening to Antarctica.

In this cozy bedtime story,

You travel the Drake Passage on a luxurious expedition cruise en route to Antarctica.

Upon arrival,

You observe penguin chicks frolicking in the frigid waters,

Hopping from one glacier to the next as you ride on a zodiac.

Whales and seals make their presence known as you embark on this life-enhancing voyage to a remote and spectacular icy world.

So find a place to settle and relax.

It's time to dream away.

Welcome to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I am Michelle,

Your guide on journeys to places where we embrace beauty and look through a lens of hope.

Let this be the place where you release yourself from all thoughts and feelings,

Then interrupt your right to contentment and deep peace.

Feel free to click subscribe if you haven't already,

As this story will induce sleep and you may wish to hear more of it in the future.

With that in mind,

Please make yourself as comfortable as you possibly can.

Focus on the sense of security and peace that come in the sanctuary of your room and that you may foster in the sanctuary of your mind.

Prepare yourself for an imaginative journey that will be different with each listen,

And that you may customize however you like.

If any detail doesn't work for you,

Feel free to change it,

And if sleep arrives before the story ends,

Simply surrender to its embrace.

But right now,

Let's enjoy a brief relaxation.

Open your mouth and sigh with ease and grace,

Freeing your lungs of any tension.

You welcome a sense of lightness as you inhale slowly through your nose.

Feel your chest rise,

Drifting into a sense of release,

With the grace of an iceberg floating across the turquoise waters of the Southern Ocean.

And then exhale through pursed lips,

Releasing the air from your lungs in a steady,

Persistent flow.

Do twice more,

Inhaling,

Sighing,

And breathing however you like.

Imagine the air is crisp and cool,

Warmed by your nostrils in a kind act,

Before the oxygen is delivered to your lungs.

Every sigh is an opportunity to sink deeper into your bed and to align you with an intention to simply relax.

Whenever you are ready,

Let your breathing resume its natural rhythm as we embark on a great adventure in Antarctica.

At some point in the 19th century,

The first explorers arrived at Antarctica,

Later depicting the high mountains covered in snow,

Safely entering the region during a moment of calm seas.

The snow-coated,

Frozen region made it hard for one to differentiate between land,

Ice bridges,

And glaciers.

But the remote wonder was abundant with seals and whales,

Reveling in the pristine waters untouched by humankind.

Long ago,

These first journeys were marked by fierce challenges.

But for any modern-day voyagers,

Technology and modern conveniences have upgraded the experience.

And yet,

Aspects of the journey and its wildness remain,

Adding an edginess and awe-inspiring experience for all who dare to visit.

As you sit in the comforts of your suite on a cruise from Argentina to Antarctica,

Satiated by innovative meals and delicacies that make you feel tended to,

You peer out at the rough seas of the Drake Passage with admiration for the crew and deep gratitude for the warmth of this cozy haven.

You settle into a plush upholstered chair in a deep soothing shade of blue that matches the high waves outside your window.

The vessel rocks back and forth,

And while the ocean is fierce,

It is manageable by the brilliant captain and team.

The motion lulls you into a relaxed state.

You are completely present to the sensory experiences that you wish to retain on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Experiences on the boat since your departure from Ushuaia,

The southernmost point in Argentina,

That is known as the end of the world,

Have been teeming with enthusiasm from fellow passengers.

A celebratory mood permeates the air,

As if coming upon the countdown to a new year.

There is a beauty in all of this that comes with your freedom to engage with others in games and events,

And connect with an array of kind souls from diverse backgrounds,

While also having the opportunity to reflect in the solitude of your cabin.

You see a sudden movement as you peer out at the frigid waves and their persistent force with a mood of its own.

A pod of hourglass dolphins leaps above the white-capped waves at a synchronized pace.

You hear an announcement from the captain come softly through the speaker in your room,

Inviting passengers to enjoy their performance.

The hourglass dolphins are unlike any dolphin you have seen before.

Their small,

Sleek black bodies are marked with features on both flanks,

A white patch positioned at the front,

Extending above the beak,

Eye,

And flipper,

And another thick white stripe at the rear,

Linked by a slender white strip to form the pattern of an hourglass.

The ship slows down,

Giving ample time to watch the hourglass dolphins swim closer,

As if to say hello,

Whalers long ago would refer to them as whale cows or sea skunks,

And while they often travel in a pod of a dozen,

You count over twenty in this assembly beneath a grey,

Cloudy sky.

Snow begins to fall,

With small white flakes landing on the windows of your cabin.

Some spiral above the ocean like dirt devils,

Alternating between falling into the sea and being driven back to the sky by the polar winds.

The temperature remains a few degrees below freezing,

Getting colder the farther south that you travel,

And the weather doesn't seem to faze the hourglass dolphins,

Who continue where their evening play.

You watch until they disappear,

And bedtime beckons,

Although the sun never sets in Antarctica this time of year.

Sleepiness is enough to indicate the time,

So you draw the lush,

Linen blackout curtains closed and prepare for bed.

The cruise continues its final hours through the passage,

As the water becomes quite calm,

A phenomenon so rare,

The crew refers to it as Drake Lake.

The vibrations of the ship lull you into the deepest of sleep,

Tucked beneath a heavy duvet and bundled in crisp,

White sheets that offer a clean yet subtle fragrance of jasmine and lavender that you may always associate with a special journey.

The pillow is cool against your face as it sinks into the downy softness,

And your mind quickly drifts to sleep,

In the kind of deep sleep that no sound or motion could interrupt.

Your body restores itself in anticipation of the next morning's exploration of a new continent,

And while you sleep,

The toucan-shaped bow of the ship is designed to seamlessly forge its way through swells and icy waters.

In the morning,

You awaken to the view of a humpback whale outside the window,

As silvery white clouds waft across a cornflower blue sky.

The vessel cruises by an iceberg that rises two stories above the water,

Displaying bands of blue and aquamarine beneath its snowy white crown.

The shades of blue are dreamlike in their richness and vibrance,

And peering down into the crystalline water around its base.

You can see how deep the iceberg reaches toward the ocean floor,

How magical it feels.

To see what's below the surface,

As yet again the humpback whale rises out of the water and slams its flipper down playfully,

As if applauding the arrival of a new day.

As you take in this morning view,

The sun pours its beacon of brilliant white gold light in hundreds of slender rays that break through the clouds.

Its light is so intense,

Reflecting on the pure snow and creating a million mirrors on the rippling waves.

Prisms form in the translucent blue-tinted and clear jagged pieces of floating ice,

Offering colors you feel you are seeing for the first time in your life.

But of all the brilliant hues,

The variations of blue become the most unique and captivating.

In the quietude of the southern ocean,

They radiate waves of peace that go bone deep with a sense of serenity.

The light blues among the horizon meet the rich sapphire shade of distant waves,

And the surreal gradient of blues of the icebergs bring an intuitive sensation that everything is okay.

Whatever may be going on in your life,

Whatever thoughts have danced in your mind,

Now come to stillness.

For a moment you are lost in time as you take in the majesty of Antarctica,

Framed by the windows of your cabin.

You prepare for the day,

Dressing in clothes specially purchased and packed for this expedition,

About to be used for the first time.

Carefully selecting them before your departure,

Filled so many hours with daydreams and curiosity about a visit to a place where anything could happen.

The crew tends to your needs,

Preparing an array of comfort foods for breakfast before you prepare to leave the ship.

To protect the natural habitat,

You meet with others in the mudroom,

To change into protective winter attire in vibrant neon shades.

Your boots are cleaned and disinfected in a device resembling a miniature car wash,

As they are scrubbed with the added benefit of a foot massage.

Every whim and exploration is dependent on the fickle weather,

With winds that can shift with a moment's notice.

You exit the ship and descend a dozen stairs,

Stepping out into the crisp air for the first time today.

You feel your lungs inflate,

Taking in the slightly briny notes of the ocean and the clean metallic scent of snow.

The adventures begin as you carefully balance in the Zodiac,

An inflatable,

Durable vessel that careens through the deep blue water with ease.

Clouds clear the sky in this land of white and blue,

And you appreciate the warmth of your layers and knit cap as the Zodiac continues onward and the ship disappears in the distance.

The wind causes the waterproof fabric of the parkas worn by you,

The guide,

And fellow adventurers to create a symphonic flapping sound,

Joined by the persistent song of crashing waves.

But beyond the sounds created by the Zodiac,

The quietude is otherworldly.

It instills a deep,

Resonating sense of calm.

The sculpture garden of icebergs continues to enchant,

Some displaying mysterious caves and tunnels formed by nature.

The intense sun is once more concealed by the clouds,

Changing the color temperature of the world around you.

The Easter egg blue mounds and jagged snow formations seem to glow from within,

Like Himalayan salt lamps.

And just as you turn slowly around another iceberg,

A landmass appears,

With charcoal-hued rocks of a beach dappled with splotches of snow and ice.

Penguins appear,

Like a procession of thousands of souls leaving a stadium,

Occupying the landmass as far as you can see.

They are impervious to your presence as the Zodiac docks,

And you disembark with care.

With sheer bliss,

The young penguins waddle and explore,

Some daring to leap over narrow passages of water to icebergs.

You step onto the continent of Antarctica for the first time,

Wondering if this is how it felt for those who first landed on the moon.

Snow and ice crunch beneath your boots as you walk along the beach,

And the penguins squawk and engage with one another.

Oblivious to you and your fellow travelers dressed in neon,

They put on a show with no concerns about their audience,

Evoking a sense of joy and that this place is for fun.

You respectfully keep your distance,

Admiring the penguin highways that weave through the snow and ice,

Carved by a million steps of the colony.

The king penguins,

With their vibrant yellow markings on their beak and near their ears,

Go about their business.

The young chicks have fluffy brown plumage,

Like soft teddy bears,

That will one day molt to give way to black and white feathers.

The older penguins appear to barter and steal pebbles as they forage for their nests.

Every once in a while,

A penguin slips on the ice,

Recovering quickly,

But revealing an expected occurrence in this frozen land.

As you continue beyond the scores of penguins,

You encounter southern seal pups that approach one another with the enthusiasm of golden retrievers.

Once more,

You give the native animals space,

Watching as the adults pile atop one another with their blubbery mass.

The young pups are beautiful,

With their long whiskers,

Curious coal-black eyes,

And curled up lashes the length of your fingers.

The wind begins to shift,

As snowflakes fall,

Brought in suddenly by the changing skies.

The guide gives a signal,

Her neon parka standing out against the white landscape,

To head back to the zodiac.

The footsteps of your group create its own highway,

Intersecting with the penguins' carved path.

One leaves their mark without even trying.

Soon back on the zodiac,

You are led via a shortcut between two sheets of ice that rise as high as a three-story home around you,

Magical and reflective.

The silhouettes of your fellow passengers,

In the modest yet sturdy vessel,

Appear like an oil pastel landscape.

The excitement of the excursion,

And the nip in the breeze cause everyone's eyes to sparkle and their faces to glow.

You feel the collective energy of goodwill and reverence,

Once more swept away by a feeling of awe.

The ship reveals itself around the bend,

Snow furiously falling and melting in the waves.

You lick the snowflakes that land and melt on your lips,

Tasting like cold,

Salty water on a metal spoon.

The zodiac docks,

And you carefully ascend the steps,

Careful not to slip like the penguin you witnessed earlier on land.

The crew greets you enthusiastically,

Offering a hot towel and a festive drink.

You take your time,

Burying your face into the warm,

Wet fabric,

Only now recognizing how cold and numb your skin has become.

How wonderful it is to return to such pleasant comforts,

Unavailable to the whalers and explorers more than a century ago.

You once again sanitize your boots,

And change out of the expedition gear to spend the remaining afternoon hours gently cruising through the region,

Never tiring of the newly discovered formations and ever-changing weather and swells.

You are amused by how quickly your experience can transition on the ship from calm and serene to a funhouse where everyone tries to maintain their balance.

The ship approaches mountainous landscapes with tufts of snow like coconut mounds.

You ascend the steps to the roof deck,

Where passengers gather on heated benches to take in the changing sky.

Some dance and others imbibe.

As music plays throughout the space,

You smile and laugh,

Watching the awkward dance moves that come when bodies are snug in parkas and winter attire as puffy as marshmallows.

You approach a spot on a heated bench,

Where their audible jubilation fades into soft background noise,

And you may reflect on the experiences of the day.

The sky morphs into a gradient that begins with soft gray at the top and the most vibrant shades of plum and magenta that fade immediately into turquoise as dark smoke-bellied clouds slither near the horizon with a dark blue ocean below.

The beauty takes your breath away,

Conjuring a deep desire to set aside time each day to focus on the beauty around you,

Wherever you may be.

It enlivens a part of you that longs to feel and experience the sublime more often.

Antarctica awakens you to the untapped places within you that stir with the curiosity of a child and the appreciation for this elevated experience.

So far from mundanity and daily routine.

As you return to the dining hall,

You enjoy your favorite meal and the special camaraderie shared with fellow travelers and crew.

The first waves of contentment gradually evolve into sleepiness,

Yet you push through for a little while,

You choose to engage in activities that appeal to you most,

As chances to play cards,

Listen to music,

Sing and dance are available well into the wee hours of the morning.

You step out on the balcony one last time,

Amazed to discover the largest mammal in the world just beyond the ship,

The Antarctica Blue Whale.

The slender-bodied whale would even outrank dinosaurs in size.

It raises its magnificent tail and splashes it down with such force that you can feel a slight shift in the breeze.

Its blowhole emerges,

And mist is propelled from it,

Shooting into the cloudy sky.

The Blue Whale can live as long as 90 years,

And part of you feels honored to inhabit the same planet as this amazing creature.

Only now,

When faced with its regal beauty,

Grace,

And speed,

Does it come to mind that it shares this world with you.

All the while you go about your days,

Blue Whales like this are migrating through the ocean waters,

Truly free to follow their own paths.

Your eyes become heavy,

And the chill in the air inspires a desire to change into pajamas and settle in your suite for the night.

When you return to your cabin,

You discover your bed has been turned down,

And a sweet note thanking you for being a passenger with a promise of more exploration come morning.

The ship rocks as it continues to propel forward,

And you close the heavy wooden door to your ensuite to enjoy a hot shower.

What a glorious treat to get lost in the steamy air and persistent pressure of the shower water in this untamed,

Icy world.

The fragrant,

Soothing notes of the specialty soap and shampoo provided by the ship bury enchanting memories within your mind,

Memories that will be stirred and awoken.

Whenever these aromas grace your nose once more,

You step outside the shower.

Your sea legs are now strong and reliable as you towel off and slip into your favorite pajamas.

The grip of the cold is now gone,

And you feel all the work your muscles performed throughout the day as they soften with a welcome tiredness in anticipation of sleep.

Returning to the bedroom,

You notice the framed photos above the blue upholstered headboard depicting colonies of penguins,

And you feel a sense of accomplishment and delight that you now know firsthand what it's like to be among thousands of them.

You look out onto the light gray skies,

The celestial canvas having changed in a myriad of ways throughout the day,

And draw your curtains closed.

In the pod-like setting of your ship cabin,

You once more find comfort in the bed,

As the vessel rocks,

Vibrates,

And lulls you to slumber,

And you do not know if it's real or imagined,

But you can hear the whale's song inviting you to go deeper and deeper down into the depths of the ocean of your mind.

And as your mind fades towards sleep,

Images of Antarctica set the theme for your dreams to come,

Carried by the wonder and the hope of what awaits when you awaken.

But for now,

You simply allow yourself to fold into the embrace of restorative rest and bone-deep peace in sleepy,

Comforting shades of blue.

Finding peace,

Finding comfort,

Finding bliss,

Finding sleep,

It's time to dream away.

Reviews

This is my second time listening to this sleep story. It’s one of my favorites. I was curious if you actually have been to Antarctica.

I loved it! It brought back wonderful memories of my own trip to Antarctica aboard the National Geographic Explorer. Thank you!!

Thank you, Michelle🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻Night after night, I have fallen asleep listening to this Antartic adventure, never making it beyond the mentioning of the cruise starting in Argentina.However today, in the very early morning hours, I heard the whole story. Wow, your descriptions of penguins, dolphines, seals and whales were breathtaking…I had no idea you could even visit the continent. How majestic. There are many things I want to look up now. Thank you for expanding my horizons during my sleep🙏🏻🌟😇🦋💖🌟🙏🏻

Michelle, this bedtime story was amazing! I loved the uniqueness of Antarctica. I fell asleep last night listening to it & replayed this morning. The descriptions of the unique dolphins, whales & penguins was amazing! My neighbour and her daughter went there a year ago but only briefly stated how amazing it was. I had never heard of anyone going there before. Listening to you describe it was like taking the trip myself! What made you choose this as a storyline? Definitely one of your best adventures! Thank you kindly for this truly unique experience! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

Antarctica has always been a place I have wanted to visit. Thanks to your amazing details & description, I felt like I was there. I could visualize the dolphins. Thank you for another beautiful sleep story.