Iceland
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During the month of March, my family and I traveled to Iceland's capital: Reykjavik! Believe it or not, there are only 370,000 people in this whole country! In Iceland, we were able to explore hot springs, waterfalls, geysers, museums, northern lights, and so much more--I was absolutely fascinated by the natural beauty and wonder of this country. As an Environmental Proctor at my school, I was additionally able to return with new knowledge, inspiration, and increased desire for protecting our natural environment and home.
Blue Lagoon...
After a quick flight, we arrived in Iceland during the morning-time. Before we even got to our hotel, we took our chance to explore one of the 25 wonders of the world...the Blue Lagoon. This hot spring was absolutely gorgeous and was just like a massive hot tub. The temperatures were freezing, but when you dip yourself into the blue lagoon, you forget about all the cold weather. The place had showers, locker-rooms, and a drink bar in the lagoon itself. The water is made of minerals, so you typically don't dip your hair in the water. Iceland also uses geothermal energy, meaning that they use heat from the earth.
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After we got out of the lagoon, we had some lunch and some other snacks in cafes/restaurants next to the lagoon. The water in Iceland was so refreshening and clean!!
South Coast Tour...
The next day, we attended a "South Coast Tour," where we were able to view many landscapes of Iceland. We got onto the tour bus and drove for about 2 hours, with stops in between the view the landscapes, and to have a lunch break. On the road, we spotted this cute isolated tree in the river!​
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Our first stop was the most famous waterfall in Iceland, Skogafoss Waterfall.
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Next stop was the Black Sand Beach. The waves were super high, dangerous, yet beautiful. Tourists are asked to keep a distance.
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Here, we were able to touch a very old glacier! There was even an opportunity to climb and hike the glacier as well- which is not part of the tour so you must sign up for it separately.
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Last but not least... Seljalandsfoss Waterfall! It was quite windy that day. I would say in general, springtime in Iceland is not very cold, it is just extremely windy with wind sometimes at 30 mph!
On our ride back to town, the tour guide told us some stories and some intriguing facts about Iceland. If you notice closely, many mountains are shaped like faces. There is a belief that trolls live around Iceland, and that some of the them live in large stones as well. Inside the rock is like a huge kingdom, so if you move a rock, the trolls will get mad! You must find someone who can speak to the troll and ask the trolls if you are allowed to move their home. This is why some of the roads are curved- to curve around the homes of trolls who do not want to be disturbed.
The Church...
Later, we visited the largest church in Iceland, Hallgrímskirkja. From below, the place looked overwhelmingly big as it towered right over your head. This church is 244 ft tall and overlooks an amazing view of Reykjavik.
The Northern Lights...
At last, the highlight of the trip! Late at night, we went on the East West Tour and drove far out beyond the city to capture the gorgeous view of the northern lights. Our tour guide said we were one of the luckiest groups that night as we could see the faint lights with our own naked eye. Many times, you must use your camera to capture the vivid view of the lights. If you travel to Iceland eager to view these dancing ribbons in the sky, the best months to come are during winter and spring.
This was the most magical and surreal experience of my life! Very much so that I forgot how cold it was outside.
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Below are pictures taken with my phone:
The Geysers...
Our journey later continued with the exploration of another dramatic and stunning landscape--the geysers! Around every 5-10 minutes, water and steam erupts from the tube-shaped hole in the ground, and every moment is like a surprise. The geysers play a good example of geothermal water--naturally heated water formed from Earth's internal heat. This renewable resource was found all around Iceland from the geysers and Blue Lagoon to even our hotel sinks and showers!
Eco-Friendly Tomatoes...
When I say that this restaurant had the best tomatoes I have had in my entire life, I am not joking! At Friðheimar, an abundance of tomatoes are grown with rich quality and flavor while maintaining healthy, eco-friendly standards. The use of green energy and biological pest controls is what sets this large greenhouse apart from others.
While eating in this greenhouse restaurant, we also got a chance to walk around and see their bees and horses!
