Part 1:

Today is the 17th of June, there is an iced chill to the air that's creeping through my window. I cover my legs with my scarf so I can endure it a little bit longer while I enjoy the view of simisut as we drift away.

A lovely walk through the little town of simusit, enough to get some snaps and stop off at the supermarket to try and get some dinner. This ended up in a cartoon of yoghurt for 5 krn (90 cents).

I woke several times through the night last night, every time I woke i took a peek out the widow to find the same grey cloudy skies that I saw when I went to sleep. The sun never set last night. Luckily it didn't bother me too much, as the rocking of the boat lulled me back to sleep every time.

At 7am we docked in kangarmiut. We only had an hour so it was a brisk walk through town as there's no way I am missing my boat to be stranded in the Arctic circle.

There's a peace about Greenland. There is silence in the streets, with the occasional chatter of children playing, or birds flying overhead. The towns are so small you can hear a car engine on the other side of town and know exactly where it is.

Despite many houses there are minimal people out and about. This could be because it's 7 am, but I have noticed for the number of houses there are minimal people. And even the houses are quiet not even a peek.

Part 2:

Ria stands on the ship's deck with me as we arrive in sissimut. She's here with her mother and grandmother. I have watched them since they arrived on the ship this morning, they have spent hours sitting, taking, laughing. No distractions with phones, media, technology they are forced to enjoy their company and surroundings. Despite the age gap over 3 generations, you can clearly see the respect, love, and enjoyment they all have in each other.

Ria quickly involves me in they conversations, pointing out the baby whale peeping through the waters to the South. As we leave town they take the time to include me in their conversation, proudly educating me on their way of living. They point out the fish factory, the main source of income for Greenlandic towns. The small factory just off the coast of simusit has just 7 workers, what's your favourite thing about Greenland I ask…and as if a pre recorded message his reply…. “the nature”.   :) supply fish to Denmark and some of Europe. The workers meet at the dock in the morning if they want to work, and are taken by boat to the factory by the manager. Once done they are made to walk back home over the mountain despite the weather or conditions or distance. Ria explains that they look forward to autumn when they can pick berries on their way home.

There's is a long steep staircase leading up to the top of a rocky mountain, I've been curiosly wondering where it leads since i arrived. Rias grandmother says when someone dies they carry the body up the stairs to bury on the other side. Families are close knit here in Greenland, when someone dies their name is passed on to the next baby born, the family who accepts this honour is then considered part of the family.

‘Its the nature’  the key to surviving and loving life on this isolate island. I have asked this question to every person I have met and never had any other answer.

It's the nature and peace that keeps them here. Ria is from a small town in the North, and she tells me that she does take the boat down to nuuk to see friends but after awhile she gets sick of the noise. I think she would be in shock if she tried to live in my apartment!

The population of her town is 800 people. Her favourite thing to do when she isn't studying is skiing and enjoying the nature. She will take a friend out and one will skii while the other drives the snow mobile, as there are no skii lifts. They are taught from a young age how to survive in this desolate location. They all look out for each other, and celebrate often. They know the environment and conditions. This was evident when rias grandmother saw pointed to a flock of geese flying over head, with shock she shared that these birds aren't found in Greenland.

They all know three languages, even the elderly. In school they are first taught Danish, as they have a close relationship with Denmark and many have migrated from there. They use Greenlandic in the homes, however are briskly able to change to English and speak it fluently.

Each of the ports are docked with shipping containers, half on generators. Some have come in and some going out. The ones on the generator are stocked with fish awaiting collection, and the others are packed with the towns supplies.