4th and last day in Iceland

It is my last day in Iceland. And today I did more than I did in last three days. today we drove for more than 5ookms. We drove from Reykjavik to east to hofjokull glacier. we almost reached it. the only thing that kept us from climbing it was the lack of a big 4 *4 vehicle. Neverthless the scenery was brilliant. Then Orvar (my friend in Iceland) drove me to this waterfall Skogarfoss. A very big waterfall. minutes away from the sea. 

And then we went to another waterfall called Seljalandsfoss. A waterfall, where you can even walk behind the fall..... and it feels amazing. Atleast it did to me. Again the words can not do justice to the feeling. the only drawback was that my video camera decided to act up exactly at that moment. not a big deal.

After that, since i could not curb the lust of driving on these never ending beautiful smooth roads of Iceland making their way through the ever beautiful landscape, with permission of my friend I drove his jeep. And that felt like I have fullfilled my trip. 

Once we were back in Reykjavik, we went to swimming pool in the area, since it was a very sunny hot day the pool was quite full. spent couple of hours there. and after that Orvar took me for dinner at Iceland's probably only vegetarian restaurant, which turned out to be clearly influenced by indian food and culture.

I had daal, rice, salad, yogurt, samosa (i had to ask what it was) and bread. It was good food. the restaurant is called gr
aenn kostur (green way). 

After that we went to the city centre where I saw shit loads of bikes and bikers; some sort of bikers' club with so many different kinds of bikes. The amount of bikes together I have never even seen in a bike shop...and all bikes, one better than the other. It was just mind blowing shit.

I hadn't come out of that trance yet that another amazement met my eyes. Apparently, every thursday, in Reykjavik, people take out their vintage cars and drive around the city centre like a parade. And this happened immediately after  I saw the bikers. Can't stress on how I was feeling. out of this world.

We turned around and entered a bar called Ice bar. and as the name suggests, it was an Ice bar where you are served from behind a bar made of Ice, and you are inside a room made of Ice, and your seats are made of Ice and your table is made of Ice. Except for you and your drink, everythig else is Ice. Good Experience. 

And then we drove back home and I started packing my stuff away... for I have to fly tomorrow morning at 7:15. That means I have to leave home at 4:30.

So till next time Asta La'vista. 

BABY 

Day 3 of my gorgeous Icelandic vacation

Well even though I can´t post any photos yet, let me tell you its well worth waiting for them. Today (read 7th May) was probably the most click happy day till now. My day started with a croissant and a cappuccino. And today was the first day when I saw my friend´s sister who lives in the same flat as him. But I didn´t get to see her till now. And today is first time that I came to know that my friend has a brother and three sisters in total, not just one sister as I thought. 

Well cant help it as i have a very limited speech here as i only say something when someone speaks to me in english otherwise most of the time I dont understand what they are talking about. HAHAHAHA

:) Anyway...

So as i was saying the only photos can do justice to this post, but that will have to wait till I get back to my Love - My Apple.

So after the breakfast, we headed for the days activities. My friend had planned the famous Icelandic-Horse riding tour in the mountains for us. So we arrive at the iSHESTAR horse riding company who conducts the tours for tourists and locals equally. 

I was really excited. I had never ever rode a horse in life, leave apart riding, never sat on it. So it was a double excitements for me. It was fairly ok day as for weather is concerned. we were about 7 people. 

We went on a about 2 hours ride in the mountains on the horses. the scenery was from the top was just breath taking. as long as you can see, was covered in lava rocks, which in turn was covered with green moss. beautiful at the same time very creepy. As if straight out of the lord of the rings movie.

by the time we finished, my ass was hurting like a burning hell. Still it was worth it.

The second highlight of the day was the extraordinary beautiful land scape of iceland. which can only be explained by watching it in person. No words can do justice to it. only part of it can be said by pictures.... which are coming soon.

Iceland day 2

Day two in Iceland starts with breakfast at a vegetarian restaurant in Reykjavik. Yes vegetarian, I did never in my dreams expected to see or find a vegetarian restaurant in Iceland, but here it was. I had lasagne in the morning for breakfast. 

And then the excitement started. My friend had planned a trip to watch whales in the sea. So we went to the sea on the tour boat from Reykjavik harbour. the wind was blowing hard and the temperature was freezing, boat was rocking like a leaf and the rain was falling; still we were on the deck in the open waiting for the darling whale to come above the surface of the water. We saw dolphins and again waited in anticipation of whale. We waited and waited and waited but the Whale never came. May be she got the news that I was onboard the boat :) 

Well so this trip went in vain but not completely because it was my first time in the sea ... and I did feel the power of waves, how they can be so overwhelming when they are rough

The other highlight of the day was the "Blue Lagoon" the natural silica water lake about 47 km out of Reykjavik. It is famous for its medicinal value of silica, which is considered very good for skin diseases. the water here is unnaturally blue, almost as if some one has added some paint in it, but its natural and it is naturally hot. Yes it is very cold weather in iceland but the water is always hot because of the rich sulphur content in the earth. 

So I also had myself dipped in the silica infused hot blue water of the famous BLUE LAGOON of Iceland.

Again the photos will only be available when I reach back to london on friday evening.

Tomorrow! probably I shall be going for a horse riding trip. I hope the weather is better tomorrow, because it has been raining ever since I have come here. No that I complain but its just that it is not very much camera friendly weather, thats it.

There are different things about Icelandic culture as well which I probably shall write in one of the posts later on when I have more time to groom my words.

   

Iceland

Today, or rather I should say yesterday, as its already 6th may now, was my first half day in Iceland. Iceland, where I have been planning to come since last year. And at last I am here. 

Iceland, Middle-earth, the land that Tolkien described in Lord of the Rings, in the real form. Iceland where its day for 6 months and night for the other 6.

Yes I am in the same Iceland......and its beautiful. Even though there are barely any trees here, it compensates its beauty by so many other natural wonders.

The Hot water Geysers (Geysir) is to name for one. Yes its the same Geyser which we all have seen on television with awe and thought that is it possible that the water is already so hot when it comes out of the Earth.....Yes it is ....I have touched it with my own hand.......Today.

The same Geyser that throws the hot water out of the heart of the earth about 8 metres high like a fountain as if a giant whale is breathing. I have seen it with my own Eyes....Today......for real.

I have seen the crater caused by a volcanic eruption......Today.

I have seen the Sun glaring in to my eyes with its full intensity at 8:30 in the night and 5 minutes later I saw blinding fog so thick that it was difficult to drive the car.....And another 20 or so minutes later at about 9:10 in the night I again saw the same sun glaring again into my eyes. Yes it was half nine and the sun was still there as if it was only afternoon. At half ten, sun was still there.

Today was an amazing day, I could not believe that I was actually watching these natural extraordinary phenomenon with my own eyes. For me these things have always been a story book material...to see them and experience them for real is an amazing feeling inself which cannot be explained in words.

The only disappointment was my camera's battery which died half way through. 

i shall be posting the photographs...but I would rather wait till I have some proper good ones and then I shall present them to you for your viewing.

Tomorrow is another day...  and I dont have a clue what's in store for me as I have given the planning responsibility to my friend and host in Iceland, Orvar Arnarsson. He's been so kind to accommodate me in his flat for these 4 days and show me around. Its courtesy him only that I have been able to see what I saw. 

Well its 01:32 in the night right now, but outside it seems like as if sun is about to rise. So before the sun rises, I want to go to sleep.

Keep checking this page for more update ....... I'll try to do that every night.

Chiao