Ice Ice Baby : Iceland Vacation

I have to admit, I had never quite understood the meaning of the term "hauntingly beautiful" before. Is it possible to be so stunningly beautiful yet so fragile, so volatile that it is scary?  Yes, it is.
Location - Iceland.

What was most impressive for me was that there were not too many 2-legged primates in this part of the world.  There is a major shortfall of the earth-killer homo sapiens species in most of its landscapes. Barring the cities and the small townships, about 70% of Iceland is free from human menace and interference. And maybe that is why it is so unspoilt and unadulterated. One of its kind.

Absolutely breathtaking landscapes where every direction you look towards is a picture postcard in itself. But trust me, you would not want to be stuck all alone in those deserted realms. You could travel a hundred odd kilometers and still not come across another human. It feels like you are alone on a different planet in the universe altogether. BEAU-tiful but terrifying at the same time.

Iceland is not all about Ice. It is either green, brown, blue or white. And miles after miles after miles of that at a stretch. Let me explain.

The Greens

Just drive a few kilometers out of the capital city of Reykjavik and you are stunned by the green. But this is not the tropical green that we find in the Indian subcontinent. This is not the jungle green or the grassland green - this is a a different green - the pale "moss" green. Iceland is the land of the violent volcanoes - and once it erupts it destroys everything in its path. And when that happens, for thousands of years at a time, the land lies completely barren narrating the harrowing tales of the demonic lava gushing down the hills. Totally devoid of life.

And then, slowly life happens. Nature takes it course - in the form of moss. Only mosses have the capability of turning a barren land to the fertile womb of mother earth that supports life. This is an extremely difficult and time consuming task, beyond the control of man.  Only the mosses know the magic spell to break this curse. So, all hail moss green!

The Blues

The blue ocean follows you as far as the eyes can see. And if somewhere you manage to get it out of the horizon of your vision - you end up finding a feisty brook, a gushing waterfall, a spicy hot spring or a determined river rushing to the meet the sea. Water always finds its way. Fresh icy cold waters abundant with fish or the mighty ocean hiding the whales, the sharks, the dolphins, the icebergs and what not in its depths, the blue stands tall amongst all the colours.

And did I mention the gorgeous waterfalls ? They are magnificent and some of them even come with their own personal rainbows.

The Whites

Having said that, if somehow you dodge the blue, you will be humbled in front of the white. The giant ice caps lining the horizons stare down at you like vigilant soldiers on guard at the border. Our earth's very own refrigerators. And apart from being the water reserve for the entire earth, they have another very important task. They are "Holding the door" against the destructive volcanoes to keep them from coming alive and burning everything in their path. The sheer weight of the tons of ice accumulating since millions of years keeps a significant part of Europe and its inhabitants safe from total and complete annihilation. Hodor!

The Browns

Speaking of Hodor, here's the wall in the North which protected us from the Wildlings and the Night King!

The Iceland arena belongs to the browns, i.e., the mountains. They come in all shapes, sizes and colours. There are the freshly baked pointy nosed ones and the wise old tabletop ones. Some are the moss covered ones that turn purple during the spring and some are bald rocky faced ones and others are the stern ice topped ones. Iceland is our earth's laboratory where she is busy manufacturing artifacts so you are bound to see a lot of experiments that are work in progress.

Planning Pointers

Some advice for those planning for a trip to Iceland:

Iceland is cold, like really cold, even in their summer. So make sure you pack your fluffiest jackets and you will need them for sure. If not during the glacier trips then definitely for the sea adventures. And try to have them handy in your cabin luggage because the check-in luggage sometimes get delayed during flight transits. And if you are as unlucky as us, who were stuck at the Iceland airport with luggage delayed, no jackets and wearing only T shirts, may God be with you!😵

Food is a luxury in Iceland. Be ready to shell out something like 30 Euros for a simple burger meal. A luxury dine out can make a hole in your pocket as deep as the marina trench. Why? Most of our edible stuff does not grow in Iceland, thanks to their extreme temperatures and unique soils. Practically everything is imported. So be prepared to pay the import duty.

While you are in the city, do not miss the extremely famous Icelandic hotdogs. They are to die for !

Tourism is one of the main economic pillars for Icelanders. They realise and acknowledge this at all times. Hence they have a very robust and efficient tour and travels network in place. It is tourist friendly and easy to explore. Hotels and tour operators have a very well organized system and they try their best to give you a wonderful experience in their country.

Black sands and blue seas always make the best contrast combinations. And in that sprinkle some ruggedly handsome mountains standing in the middle of the oceans. And what you get is the brilliant set from the Game of Thrones. This is Westeros for you, the holy land of the GoT maniacs.

Reykjavik is a very beautiful city. Neat and clean, well maintained, culturally sound, artistically inclined and admirably modern. Walking around the city and exploring its wonders is a tour in itself.

Strongly recommend to try the Icelandic lamb stew which is a native speciality and their yoghurt "skyr" is absolutely awesome. And do try carrot cake if you can!

Whale watching is a must do in these freezing waters. This is a very different kind of safari and totally worth a shot. Citing of dolphins, variety of whales and different kinds of sea birds are the rewards for braving the bone numbing sea breezes. Don't forget your cameras for the perfect shots. Whale sightings are very likely unless there are some major faults in your stars. Do get your horoscopes checked before you travel. 😉

Icelandic horses are a spectacle. They have to be on the must see list. Don't let their small size fool you. They may be stout in appearance but are all muscle and stamina. We can't help but marvel at these gentle creatures who are unparalleled in strength and endurance and totally adapted to the mysterious Icelandic terrains. They are endemic to the region and there is absolutely no mixing of genes.

"Shared Stories" is a wonderful concept. There are these dairies or scrapbooks put in the nooks and corners of the city of Reykjavik where tourists are free to put down their thoughts and experiences about the city and their travel. These are wonderful reads for the next traveller and sort of connects you better with the place and the people. Take a moment to pen down your own adventures when in the city and appreciate this brilliant idea.

When it comes to Iceland, all I can say to everyone is - Take the road less travelled , you won't be disappointed, I promise.