The Ice of Iceland (Finally!)

I've been trying to figure out what I wanted to post on today, I still have so much to cover about Iceland; it truly was an amazing experience to go there! And then I realized.... I've been talking about Iceland so much, and never even about the ice there. 

Sorry, there's no more ice in Iceland. Global Warming. Oops. Bye. 

Just kidding! For me, viewing the glaciers here in Iceland was one of the greatest experiences that I can remember; although I've been to Alaska when I was young, I really can't recall anything this fantastic about the glaciers. The one glacier I saw in Canada was nothing in comparison to these glaciers. The only thing I remember about the glacier I saw in India was just the hike up there; the hike was long (14 hours, I'm not kidding!) and tiring. So even if you don't go to Iceland, thats okay because there are still many other glaciers around the world! If you ever get a chance go and see one!

Quick tip for all those people who don't speak Icelandic: jökull actually means glacier, so the next time any complicated name has jökull as an ending, you'll now know its a glacier!

I never really typed in the name; my first view of Myrdalsjokull

This was one of my first views of any glacier up-close. We'd picked up some hitchhikers on the way, and they were about to go glacier trekking, so we decided to go and see this glacier.  I remember thinking when we got there, "Finally, we actually see a glacier. This must be where all the ice is!"And I also remember falling down quite a bit, because lets face it, this path looks a bit rocky. Near this glacier was a pool of murky brown water, with glacier fragments floating around in it. (Oh no, it's melting!) We got pretty close to the beginning of the glacier, and then we decided we'd come back tomorrow to do some glacier trekking.

The rock-filled sediment water!

While we were setting up for the glacier trekking, we were being taught some information about the equipment that we would use to hike up the glaciers. Since glaciers are pretty icy and really hard when you fall (trust me, personal experience) you need special attachments to shoes, known as crampons. They're like pointy little metal traps that you step in and tie into your shoe. Although they're definitely useful for staying in place on the glacier, they're actually pretty difficult to walk in. Through the journey, several people ripped their pant legs, because while walking normally the crampons come to close to the legs of our pants, and they're very pointy, so the pant legs tend to rip when they come in contact with them. Just in case we ever fall and we need some grip to remain stable, we're also given these walking sticks, which look almost like adjustable ski poles. And to top it all off, just like with any other dangerous sport, we're given helmets to at least protect our heads if we fall!

I think this was one of my favorite moments on the trip; although I was worried that I was completely destroying something that had been there for thousands of years. (To top it all off, the tour guide was telling us about how badly recent changes have been affecting the glacier and how much it has receded in the past couple of years... I wasn't sure if it was our fault for walking on the glacier, or whether the change in temperature over recent years had affected the glacier that drastically.) And I'm pretty proud of myself, for hiking around a large glacier that had been there for many years and actually not falling for once!

The lovely scenery.... oh and me!

While trekking and enjoying the scenery, I was also really worried, because I wondered how much dirt each tourist's crampons contained, and the effect that it would have on the glacier.  I began to consider if a lot of this dirt already present on the glacier was due to other tourists; but it's actually something called moraine. This glacier is in the process of forming a valley, and so when the glacier rubs against the mountains on the surrounding sides, the mountain begins to crumble, and the dirt remaining is left on the glacier. So I guess it's not really all my fault!

I was actually really scared of falling into a crevasse when I was hiking...

Even though there's moraine just about everywhere on the glacier, the water is still fresh and pure; it's one of the reasons my dad and I both love Icelandic water! (Icelandic water is taken directly from the glaciers) So we actually got to drink the water thats been solidified in a glacier for thousands of years! And can I just say the water is really good!

Remember when I said that my family and I got lost somewhere in Skaftafell National park? Well, I guess you could say we first got lost in this view, because this part of the Vatnajökull is so breathtaking! Although it's shrouded by some clouds in this picture, this should just give you a glimpse of how big the entire glacier would be if this is just a little part of the entire glacier!

Just a bit closer to Vatnajökull

Even better than the entire glacier trekking experience however, was actually floating around in a lagoon with the glaciers; the boat trip in the Glacier Lagoon. This beautiful lagoon was actually partially created by global warming! It's hard to believe that something so beautiful can be formed by something that's actually destroying the glacier bit by bit. This is actually the deepest body of water in Iceland! (I believe it's actually a large lake, but I actually don't remember) Seeing the full glacier itself was an amazing experience, along with walking on it, but coming close to the icebergs broken off from the glacier was something that's unforgettable! The cute little seals floating around in the water, the beautiful chunks of glacier bits that were icy white and blue all made this experience amazing! (I'm not even kidding, the seals were just swimming around the entire lake; they were so adorable!)

The boat we were on was called an "amphibian boat" because it could work on both land and water, a mechanical amphibian. When I first heard the name, I thought we were going to ride a giant mechanical frog, and I don't even have the excuse that I'm 4 years old. I guess there isn't an age limit on using your imagination!

My mom, the master photographer, and the child who's wearing her mother's shoes. Shoe models? I think so.

What I loved about this view especially was the lovely shade of blue on the ice. What happens is that a lot of these icebergs that have broken off from the main glacier are actually mostly submerged under the water, and so when they tip over and tilt under their own weight, the newer parts of the icebergs are actually more blue to the eye. Or if you don't really understand, just remember "blue is new" and "icebergs are pretty" and you should be okay.

Right above, you'll see a picture of me eating Icelandic ice. But it's not just any ice, it's 800 year old ice, that was about to melt! And if you can believe it, it tastes better than the tap water, and the fridge water!

If you decide to count the number of exclamation marks I've used throughout this entire post, you'll realize how excited I was writing this! The glacier adventures were some of my favorite parts of this entire Icelandic adventure. And the best part is, this beautiful lake and parts of glaciers, can actually be spotted directly from the freeway! So if you're running short on time, it's really easy to just take a couple of pictures and be on your way!

You should keep an eye out for my next blog post about the animals I saw on my travels in Iceland! 

Waterfall Kingdom

Welcome to the vast Icelandic kingdom of Waterfalltopia. I'm absolutely positive that you'd love Iceland if you love waterfalls. On my Grand Circle road trip through Iceland, I passed by and visited countless waterfalls. In fact, while on this journey, I was lulled to sleep by the sound of my family going "Waterfall!" Iceland, in my opinion, is officially the waterfall capital of the world. It just goes to show you the majestic side of this wonderful country! 

Its a good thing Carl Fredricksen, from the movie Up, didn't land in Iceland or he'd be saying "Which waterfall is Paradise Falls?" 

Exhibit A: The Waterfalls on the Hikes

I'd recommend hiking in Iceland, because all of the trails have a glimpse into the natural beauty of Iceland. And when you get lost on the trail, which is inevitable for all people who are as confused reading a map as I am, it's still an amazing view. Just walk slowly and enjoy the walk and the view! Remember when you're going on these hikes, it's extremely important to have a windbreaker and a jacket because you may just get soaked with the mist from the waterfall. And from personal experience, it's not going to be a great hike back down again when you're soaking wet. 

One of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland is Gullfoss! So a very quick lesson in Icelandic, "foss" means waterfall, so if you ever see something that looks like _____foss, it's a waterfall! Most of these waterfalls usually have a hike that can take you to some great views, like right next to the waterfall or to a towering cliff above the waterfall. Not only is waterfall-gazing (this is eventually going to become your favorite hobby after traveling to Iceland) entertaining, but you also get a glimpse into the rugged heart of Iceland. You see the rich green grass covering almost the entire country and the dense mist that rises from these large waterfalls. It's amazing how the water itself just blows around the surrounding areas because of the wind! Warning, you will be soaked at least once when you try either taking pictures of the waterfall, or simply going as close to the waterfall as possible. Am I repeating myself about getting soaked? I guess I'm just looking out for you, because from personal experience getting soaked by a waterfall is anything but fun in

     
                                                                                                                                 
Some trails allow you to go directly behind the waterfall itself. It's an amazing experience! There were times when we were so close to the waterfall that we could touch it! But be warned, this beauty comes with a horrible price. You will return to the car grateful for the warmth (remember the summer in Iceland is still cold), or you may be furious that your camera is completely wet. Ipsita's Tip #1: Bring something to keep your camera dry. Most of the people who were setting up their cameras when viewing this particular waterfall had it covered with a Ziploc bag, so that way the camera would remain dry. Thank god for the sales at a nearby Colombia outlet, otherwise we would have been soaking wet!

Imagine having a waterfall in your backyard! In some parts of Iceland, people had their own personal waterfalls behind them!

Where's the photographer?

Exhibit B: The Photo Opportunities

Whichever waterfall you're near, there's a high probability you'll find at least one photographer somewhere there.  It almost developed into a game, "Where's the Photographer?". At least they didn't ask me for my opinion on the photos. *cough cough mom*. Throughout the trip I constantly heard "Hold that! No not that, this! I need to change my lens!" "I don't care if you fall, as long as my camera is okay!" "Smile!" "Which photo is better?" Yes, you've guessed correctly, I've got a photographer in the house, my mom. But seriously, who can blame her? the photo opportunities are limitless, and I used some of the photos that my mom took and she let me use the camera. (Trust me that's a big deal!)

"OMG. A DOUBLE RAINBOW!"

We "discovered" this waterfall when we were lost on our hike in the Skaftafell National Park. This is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Iceland, with its unique basalt columns. (early geology introductions) After taking several wrong turns, we finally ended up viewing this beautiful "foss" and spending our time here instead. (You have no idea how long it took to get back to the car).

Here's another waterfall that we found while lost somewhere in the Skaftafell National Park. See? Good things do happen to people who're lost. You always find something that you're not looking for. (Is that why I can never find my keys when I'm locked outside my house?)

I think in my entire family, the one person who never got tired of the waterfalls was my father. He'd simply stare at the larger waterfalls, and would always push the rest of the family to go on hiking to view the waterfalls from different angles. And, this is some intense stuff. Just add a filter and make the picture black and white, and bam! Not only do you have a great photo, but you also look like you're staring into the edge of the world (all the more shocking because the world is round, just in case you didn't know).

This murky brown waterfall right above is Dettifoss, which is apparently the largest waterfall in Europe. I don't know about largest, because then I'd have to go and look at each waterfall in Europe, but I can tell you one thing. Imagine the sound of thunder. Now imagine that sound next to your head, constantly repeating. That was what it felt like standing on the edge of Dettifoss. Because there were no barriers separating the public from the waterfall, there were actually people whose feet were close to the water! Only in Iceland... if it was in the U.S. there would probably be signs saying "Caution!" and ropes or metal bars. But here, it was left as it was first discovered.

Of all the waterfalls I came across in my Iceland trip (and let me tell you, there were MANY waterfalls) Goðafoss (pronounced Godafoss) was my absolute favorite. Not only was the water crystal-clear, but there were little points where you could cross the waterfalls and there was a small beach that was accessible to the public (where this picture was taken). Not only was the water just stunning, this waterfall contained within it several other large waterfalls that remained enclosed in the semicircle you see in the picture above.

Of all the falls that I remember most distinctly, this would be one of them. Hraunfossar was a stunning view that would forever remain in my memory, not only because it was the last waterfall I would see in Iceland, but also because it contained within it multiple waterfalls that were all combined to make a stunning view.

Although I loved the waterfalls in Iceland, I don't think I'll be waterfall-gazing any time soon. The only falling water I want to see right now is from my tap. 

Can we just call it "The capital of Iceland"?

Reykjawhat? If you came to this post wondering how to pronounce the word Reykjavik, you're in luck. I came to Iceland like a fool saying it like "rayk juh vik", and after a couple of stares from my parents and from some locals who happened to hear me, I realized after I Googled it, that it was pronounced "rayk yuh vik". Well, oops. If you ever happen to create your own language, please either make it sound like it looks, or just create characters that don't use the English alphabet. Make it easier on people like me.

But despite the name, this city is as wonderful as the country. The lovely art sculptures, like the metal boat that you see above, and the wonderful ocean views all make this city an unforgettable place. Coming from Fremont, I walked into the city, expecting to be forced onto sidewalks. While we walked along the coast to the center of the city, I saw that this city has entire roads dedicated to bikers and other pedestrians who have come to enjoy the view. And can I just say that Icelanders are very active? On the roads, I saw several people jogging and most other people walking (certainly a lot more than I've ever seen at home). I'm not even kidding, they were running with dogs, with strollers, with shorts (even though I was barely warm with my jacket on). 

Would you like to guess what time it is in this picture? It's actually around 6 o' clock in the evening, which may not be surprising for all of you people who live in California like me. But it gets better... the sun sets around midnight, and then rises again at 2:00 AM. There's absolutely no darkness in Iceland during the summer time. So for all of you people who cannot sleep without it being completely dark, I'd suggest you bring some sort of blindfold to sleep in, or visit Iceland during the winter months.

Speaking of colder times of the year, if you live in Northern California, you probably don't know a snowy winter, yet you know the cold.  When I walked into Iceland, I had thought "Oh well, it's summer so of course I'm not going to need a jacket!" I was so wrong. As soon as I stepped out of the plane, I knew the temperature was that of a Californian winter. Around 50 degrees.

In comparison to California however, the wind was stronger and while in Iceland, I definitely cursed the strong wind internally.

the wonderful view on my walk to the center of the city

Like I said before, don't be fooled by the picture. This picture of a seemingly warm day contains a cold and cruel wind.

Some people journeyed to the center of the world, I go to the center of the city

While on our walk, I found the Concert Hall, one of the most, if not the only, eye-catching buildings in Reykjavik. Along with its concert hall with a lovely glass tile facade, this place also had a cafe. Maybe I was tired from walking more than I'd walked the entire summer, or maybe I was just desperately seeking some place warm, but I took refuge in the wonderful concert hall and explored inside.

All hail Icelandic hot chocolate!

Behind the concert hall, there was a quaint harbor, which captured my eye. Here, I use the word quaint, not to degrade Iceland, but to compare it's differences from the U.S. I felt that although Reyjavik was indeed a modernized city, it still wasn't a "concrete jungle". In Reyjavik, I feel that the city is uncrowded and cleaner in comparison to some of the more crowded cities in the U.S. like New York or San Francisco. It was a spectacular combination of harbors and boats along with the music and the arts of the modern world. I've always been interested in the life near the ocean, and I've always admired cities that keep its streets clean, so I feel that I truly appreciated the opportunity to visit Reyjavik and it's colorful streets.

If ever bored in Iceland, just go and take street shots. Not only do they look good, but they also capture a nice view of the "heart of the city".

Of all the things to see in Iceland, this gorgeous church is probably the most popular place to go when visiting Reyjavik, other than the Blue Lagoon of course. Unfortunately, we were not able to walk to the top of the church, since there was a funeral being held. However, we were able to walk around and marvel at the work of architecture that is this church.

Columbus who? Did you know that Columbus didn't discover the Americas? At least, thats what the Icelanders believe! In front of the church there is a statue of Leifur Eiriksson, who apparently discovered the Americas six hundred years before Columbus!

Remember when I said that Iceland has some roads reserved for pedestrians and bikers? Here's a prime example of one of them. This little pink bike isn't just some sort of fashion statement, like I thought it was. It actually prevents cars from going on the road! But I'd still probably recommend you hop on the bike and start pedalling as hard as you can. Hey, maybe people will stare at you, but its a good photo opportunity right?

I guess walking around the city does get a bit tiring. Please excuse my derps.

Ooh, last thing on the agenda? Find a playground. Especially playgrounds with free Icelandic toys to play in. If you have a child or a teenager who still loves to play with toys (and trust me, I can name a few teens who would be willing to play with them) I'd recommend coming to this park. It's filled with nice resting areas as well, for anyone who may be tired from their walks.

So let's make a checklist for Reyjavik shall we?

• Bring a windbreaker, or a jacket to keep you really warm!  Remember, in Iceland it's not the same summer that we all know of. 
• Bring a camera! Especially during summer, Reyjavik is a great place to take photos of and make all your friends jealous!
• Drink the hot chocolate here; there are coffee shops on almost every block. How many people get to drink hot chocolate in summer? Take advantage of it! And you're on vacation, remember to get the whipped cream!
• Take your time and read the signs, some of them are actually really funny!
• Take advantage of the lack of darkness, go explore till midnight and see the midnight sun!
• If you've got a strong stomach, try the shark pickle!
• If you're a vegetarian, you're not going to find anything, so you might as well go find pastries and the hot chocolate, or head to the nearest grocery shop!
• Attend a concert at the concert hall if you can!
• If you're rich, shop for clothes! If not, good luck getting stuff at Iceland!
• If you're bored, try reading the names of the street, or go look for seven houses that are each of the colors of rainbow. 

Even plane rides can be interesting...

I got to know Iceland's quirks on a plane. I'd suggest that while boarding the plane to an unfamiliar destination, the best thing that you can do for yourself is to look at the TV screen, if your destination is far enough. It's an important way to know where exactly you are, and sometimes it tells you information about the country that you may want to know. (However, the rest of what I'm about to tell you is specific to Iceland Air itself) While traveling on Iceland Air, I learned a couple of amazing facts about Iceland that made me do a double-take. Really, Iceland's prime minister's phone number is in the Icelandic "yellow pages"?

If any of you are planning at trip to Iceland currently (which I highly recommend), then I'd suggest you get to know all the interesting features of Iceland now! And if not, keep reading, because I hope these couple of entries will tempt you to go to Iceland.

• For all those green people out there (and seriously, go green), Iceland uses around 99 percent renewable energy! 

• I believed that all the Icelandic locals would probably recommend a dinner at the nearest place serving traditional food. (Would you like to try some pickled shark? Maybe some whale meat?) I was completely wrong. The most famous restaurant is a hot dog stand. 

• All of the Icelandic citizens have been found to be related to the original settlers. I guess people there love tracing back their lineage. But you have to admit, knowing that your ancestors were the discoverers of your country certainly makes you seem important.

• You thought you were high-spirited during New Years! Iceland uses around 600 tons of fireworks every New Years Eve. I'm embarrassed to say that I have barely even used fireworks.

• Hot water has a hint of sulfur in Iceland, since it's taken from the geothermal springs (which means beware of the smell for the first few days)

• Over 60 percent of the Icelandic people believe in fairies and elves. (See, don't you already like this place?)

Elf house? Have I found the fairies?

• Beware of the showering rooms- most people would love to visit the Blue Lagoon, an accidentally made hot spring, with a lovely shade of blue water; but unless you're not too self-conscious, it's going to be hard adjusting to the mandatory naked showers, without stalls or doors.

• I'd recommend taking a look at the Icelandic telephone books. There are definitely some strange professions out there, like hen whisperers, princesses, former tough guys and winners. "Oh no, my chicken's not laying eggs! Better call the hen whisperer!"

• Try to avoid having to say someones name. Icelandic names are definitely very hard to read (for me anyway). Test out your Iceland pronunciation skills with this name: Hnefill Brjansson

• Don't worry about keeping out of touch with family while in Iceland, there's pretty much WiFi wherever you go.

• A final tip, I'd recommend getting "The Little Book of Icelanders" by Alda Sigmundsdottir if you found that you still wanted to learn some more of the interesting quirks of Icelanders!