Trots Around | Travels: January 2009

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Blue Lagoon – Iceland Part 5

Set in a black lava field, the milky blue spa is fed by water from the Svartsengi geothermal plant. Hot pots, wooden decks, hot waterfall, steam room, sauna and superheated sea water rich in blue green algae, mineral salts and fine silica mud… it just sound so good right.

Think I’m wearing too little for winter.

After such relaxing session, I’m off to the airport…

First to be distilled and bottled in Iceland. This is the premium vodka made from the purest water drawn from a 4000 yr old lave field.

Iceland is an expensive place to visit but its all worth it if you are a nature lover. This place is pack full with natural wonders but I only managed to cover a small fraction of it. I see the glaciers are melting over time and the earth are cracking up which is a sad fact that the world is changing. I was hoping to see northern lights but weather throughout my trip was crap as you can see from my dull pictures, plus its winter and daylight was short. Maybe I should return some day with peeps who like to join in a road trip… hmm think capturing northern light on camera will be too technical for me. Still I wanna see it some day!

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Hafnarfjörður & Reykjavík – Iceland Part 4

Hafnarfjörður

This is a town in the lava as it rests on a 7000 yr old flow.

Do you know many still believe that their country is populated by hidden races of little folks? Many icelandic have this small wooden elf house for the little people in their garden. How sweet. Hafnarfjorour is believed to lie at the confluence of several strong ley lines meaning mystical lines of energy and seems to be particularly rife with these creatures.

Siggubaer. Built in 1902 and preserved to as an example of the home of a labourer and a seaman.

Sivertsen house is the oldest house in town built in 1803 – 1805. It shows how an upper class family at the beginning of 19th century.

Viking village

I like that sign!

The used to be light house now surrounded with houses

Try this if you are a yogurt person…

Reykjavík

Old harbour

Hallgrimskirkja the concrete church

Check out that 5272 pipe organ.

Light a candle. Do not let the darkness prevent you from seeking the light. And when you have found it, let other people see, rethink and be convinced. If you want the light to live then give rise to the same yearning in other people. Light the light of frankness in the darkness of fear, light the light of justice in the darkness of corruption, light the light of faith in the darkness of denial, light the light of hope in the darkness of despair, light the light of love in the darkness of death. Light the light! Hahaha

Hofdi House built in 1909 is what to them the most beautiful building in Reykjavik. It is here where the summit meeting of presidents Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbatsjov marked the end of cold war. There is rumours saying that a ghost ‘White Lady’ occupied this place…

Sun Voyager

Just a catchy window display

I wish they export this… I really like this butter, it taste so good that I bought 1 block home.

Smurf! My childhood fave cartoon.

How can one eat Puffin???

If a friend bought me this as a gift, I will seriously Flipped.

You just have to end a tiring day with…. burps.

Monday, January 05, 2009

Lobster Soup - Iceland

@ Saegreifinn / Sea Baron

Everyone knows where to find the best lobster soup in town. Even the locals like it. It is situated by the old harbour, in an informal fish shack owned by a retired fisherman named Kjartan Halldorsson. The soup they served is like a rich creamy stew with large shrimp and lobster so delicious that I wished I have space for another. Ok I have to admit I’m a very soup person. Don’t forget to try their grilled fish too. If you are adventure enough, dig in to the whale or even shark meat and tell me if its nice. Really like the maritime theme of this place, its so very…. North Atlantic?

Add: Geirsgata 8, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland

Golden Circle –Iceland Part 3

Golden Circle – made up of Gullfoss, Geysir & Pingvellir

Another waterfall… but I can’t remember the name

Next: Geysir

Geysir is the oldest geyser that can spout boiling water up to 60m high but unfortunately it doesn’t erupt anymore. Luckily we still have the Strokkur nearby that erupts frequently up to 20m high.

Took me quite awhile to cut & edit this… watch how Strokkur erupts!

Next: Gullfoss

Lunch time! Icelandic Lamb soup!

Þingvellir

Pingvellir has been inscribed upon the World Heritage List of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of Pingvellir which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.

Pingvellir is a protected national park, regarded by icelanders as the shrine of their nationhood. It has been inscribed on the World Heritage List for its cultural and historical significance, its unique natural environment and its remarkable geology on the boundary of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. As the site of Iceland’s ancient legal and judicial assembly, the Alping, Pingvellir embodies Viking age concepts of social structure, law and authority. On these values the early settlers of Iceland shaped a new society, accompanied by a remarkable flowering of literary culture. Pingvellir contributes to and symbolizes the icelandic national identity.