The Land of Fire and Ice
The Planning
Why Iceland?
Iceland was our dream destination. But we thought it was one of those trips you take once you retire and you have enough money to indulge in things you used to just fantasize about. But then a seat sale came along and we started learning more options. We realized it was possible to turn this dream into a reality much sooner than we expected.
Our road trip around Iceland felt like we were driving around the world. In the span of 10 days, we experienced different seasons just by following the Ring Road. One day, we drove into autumn and then experienced winter a day after. That’s how Iceland is, ever-changing, unpredictable but spectacular. We left Iceland with a vow to return and we hope that with this guide, we could help you create your own life-changing adventure.
The Ring Road
There’s no better way to explore the Land of Fire and Ice than renting your own vehicle and going around the Ring Road. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive mode of transport. There are more affordable options such as joining a bus tour but we prefer setting our own pace. The Ring Road wraps around the island in a circular fashion and is often the recommended route for travelers who are getting to know Iceland for the first time.
According to Lonely Planet, if you were to drive the Ring Road without stopping, it will take you around 16 hours during the warmer months. A week-long trip would mean an average of 2 1/2 hours of driving per day. It may seem like a stretch but the route is scenic. And when you have your own car, you don’t have to go to every landmark. You can take your time, take detours on secondary roads, and allow yourself to get to know the place much deeper. (You can do the same when you’re in a bus, it’s just a matter of perspective really.)
Experts say you should choose at least 5 mini-bases to break up your journey. You can choose one stop in each of the regions in which the Ring Road passes through: west, north, east, southeast, and southwest. Having at least 8-10 days will help you cover enough ground. We’re all for surprises but it’s important to plan each day before you leave and then revise it each night depending on the weather conditions, the time you have left and the overall energy of your travel companions.
The Experience
Our group was composed of 7 people, some friends we’ve traveled with before and others we just met. Having more companions meant being able to distribute costs to more people. If you decide to rent your own set of wheels, 5-7 people would be an ideal number.
Each person had a role to play. Our friend Vee was our main navigator. She often blurts out names of places that most of us could not understand except for Benj who was one of our drivers and the mastermind of this trip. He took turns driving with our other friend Pao, who was also the sous chef. The person in charge of making sure we didn’t die out of hunger was Quennie who was a chef by profession. Raniel was our sneaky photographer. And the two of us (Ayen and Rach) took turns assisting Vee with the bookings.
Search the hashtag #EuroExpedition on Instagram and you will see our individual interpretations of the trip. But beyond the curated memories on our social media, we’d like to point out that it wasn’t all fun. We’ve experienced almost all kinds of weather from thunderstorms to sunny skies. Even with all the preparation, some of us felt like we didn’t have enough layers to protect us from the cold. We relied heavily on hand warmers and Cheerios and navigated around hot tempers brought by fatigue and hunger.
We hope we don’t sound whiny because these reflections are coming from a place of gratitude. We just want people to understand that travel is not just composed of remarkable moments but also moments of struggles, misadventures and mundane minutes that seem to be forgotten once the trip is over. For us, it’s part of the overall experience and we’d like to remember it along with some of our favorite memories:
The Northern lights by Ayen dela Torre
We were having pesto for dinner in our temporary home at Olafsvik when the caretaker said Aurora was outside. And suddenly everyone started running. When we got to the playground, we bumped into each other like kids scrambling for the best view. But when all the shots were taken and everyone settled down, we saw a dance orchestrated by white and purple lights and tears started rushing down.
The whole town was quiet except for these bunch of Filipinos who just couldn’t believe what they just saw. We’ve seen the northern lights in photos before but seeing it in person was something else. Perhaps the same goes for foreigners who see our beaches for the first time, we’re always in awe of things we don’t often see. Peak sighting of the northern lights happen in the depths of winter. We were fortunate enough to see it four times in September, but if you would like higher chances, plan your trip between October and April.
Two hour-long sunset at Westfjords by Benj Ramos
My eyes were squinting and tearing, struggling just to see the road at least 10 meters ahead of us. I even remember Vee sticking half her body out of our Defender to help spot any oncoming vehicles even if she couldn’t really see much more than any of us. So many cusses were thrown at the sun. And then we reached the coast and we took them all back because the water was gold! and so was everything else! And I am so thankful for this particular prolonged sunset—that it came on our 6th day in the island after 4 consecutive days of bipolar rains and thunderstorms. Just at the right moment. Just at the right spot.
Hotpot session by Rachel Halili
Getting into hot water wasn’t that inviting when you’re aware of the fact that you have to strip down to your bikini in cold weather (it felt like winter if you live in the tropics before going in. But most of the locals said it was a must experience. Everyone knows about the Blue Lagoon but we just couldn’t fit it in our schedule, thankfully there were hot pots everywhere. We found this isolated geothermal pool by the sea. And the best thing about it is that it was absolutely free! You have to share it with others though and that can be a little awkward at the start but it was a good way for us to meet fellow travelers from other parts of Iceland up to Australia. As we talk with newly found friends, the water kept us all warm on a 5°C kind of day.
Autumn in Hraunfossar by Vee Dorado
Contrasting the rapid rush of water along Hvítá river from Barnafoss is the calming flow of hundreds of small waterfalls of Hraunfossar. It was worth visiting twice just to see the bright blue water embraced by the autumn colors of Iceland. In the Philippines, it often takes hours of driving and hiking to get to views like this. But this one was close to the main road. We’ve seen a lot of waterfalls before this, but I would gladly say this was our favorite.
Random stopovers by Ayen dela Torre
There were days, I felt extremely exhausted, lacking sleep and skipping meals. Every time I wake up, my whole body aches as if I just came from a climb. We’ve gone through so many misadventures from missing luggage to almost missed flights. But even in the midst of all the rants and complaints, when you stumble upon unexpected beauty, all of the noise is silenced out.
I don’t really remember the names of some of the places we explored but I remember what it was like to scream my lungs out because I just couldn’t believe we were here. And to see my friends running around and experiencing the same thing made it more special. Although the trip is over, I’m comforted by the fact that I get to relive the adventure through stories and photos we took home with us.
The Survival Guide
When to go
- June – August – High season- Hot summers, mild winter- Good for hiking! Bad for your wallet! (Higher prices because of peak season)
- May – Sept – Mild summer, occasional snows- less people, some prices start to drop in preparation for low season
- Oct – April – Low season, lower prices! – Peak time for northern lights!- Some roads will be closed down due to severe weather conditions- longer, colder nights
What to eat
- Large gasoline stations often have restaurants you could eat at. They offer meals such as meat soup, fish of the day or plates of lamb. But for Filipino standards, they’re really expensive! In our experience, each meal we saw on the menu cost us about 800-1000 pesos.
- It’s much cheaper to cook your own food. Bonus (the supermarket with a pink pig on it) is Iceland’s biggest supermarket chain. Opening hours in small towns are much shorter than the capital. During our trip, some close as early as 6 pm so best to get your grocery shopping early in the day.
- Most private cabins have their own kitchen. And hostels have communal kitchens. Just remember to clean as you go. Do check out if there are some food left by fellow travelers, they are free for everyone to eat! And anything you can boil is guaranteed clean!
Where to sleep
- Airbnb
- Couchsurfing
- Hostels – Just in Reyk and Akureyri from our experience
- Private Cabin
** Ask if there’s a sleeping bag option, it’s a cheaper way if you don’t mind sleeping without linens**
Try to get in touch with the Filipinos in Iceland (or if you’re not Filipino, get in touch with people who share your nationality), they are usually accommodating and at the very least can give you more local tips.
Photos by Paolo Cuarteron, Raniel Hernandez, Ayen dela Torre, Rachel Halili
Art by Rachel Halili
Lonely Planet for providing facts about Iceland
the cbd store full spectrum cbd oil charlottes web cbd cannabis oil
https://stripster.nl/blogs/site.php?link=https://thomasfietsen.nl
http://www.shakergolf.com/golf/ecom_v2/send_to_friend.php?url=https://tripleyoujobs.site
http://www.geralforum.com/redireccionar.php?url=https://studio-emcee.nl
http://www.chapelhillgc.com/golf/ecom_v2/send_to_friend.php?url=https://bellybabybalance.nl
http://shiitman.net/goto/wapenbroeders-limburg.online
http://rajan-sharma.com/media/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=activiteiten-leiden.online
http://msboxing.com/media/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=houtkachelsplus.nl
http://obedy.com/media/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=winmails.nl
http://www.yoyomuseum.com/redirect.php?url=https://vhonline.corrieglencottages.com
http://www.kadinpangandaran.or.id/librari/share/index.php?url=https://questionzone.nl
http://www.antipont.ru/?url=https://rock-lac.eu
http://www.bepresentglobal.com/redirect.php?url=https://echoesonline.nl
http://fce.iuh.edu.vn/wp-content/plugins/app3s-pdfviewer/templates/public/pdfviewer/web/pdfviewer.php?link=https://bravestrongangels.nl
http://www.95shine.com/media/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=meetingplazamaarssen.nl
http://weddingdazzle.com/wedding-decorations/social.php?link=https://sportschoolvandeberg.nl
http://www.edinburghusa.com/golf/ecom_v2/send_to_friend.php?url=https://cliniquedustress.site
http://www.deverdediger-assenede.be/loadlink.php?link=https://sintjozefmoerzeke.site
https://www.lgzghw.casa/video.php?url=https://kckpills.solidworksheard.com
http://supportmid.com/media/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=dejasmijnhoeve.online
http://freedom.nowonline.nl/global/default.aspx?siteID=https://jojos-thuiszorg.nl
http://www.reluxnet.com/it/external/?reluxnet.relux.com_app=https://brilcenterwetteren.site
http://aomss.org.sg/popup.php?url=https://tommievisser.nl
http://www.omgtu.com/bitrix/rk.php?goto=https://michaelkors-shop.nl
http://26design.com/redirect.php?url=https://nakamichi-schenk.nl
http://foundation.hawthornfc.com.au/analytics/outbound?url=https://zzp-koks.nl
Because of the controversial nature of intercourse reassignment surgery, this sort of evaluation has been crucial. Palpation of a characteristic olive in a vomiting infant is sufficient to make the prognosis. Liver transplantation should be thought-about in those that don’t respond to medical therapy, however it is important to permit supportive therapy sufficient time to be efficient coronary artery 90 blockage [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/purchase-online-propranolol-cheap-no-rx/]generic 80 mg propranolol otc[/url]. Fit for Duty Subject to Review may be decided, bearing in mind data provided by the treating specialist and based mostly on a consideration of the character of the work. Anthelminthic medication, together with albendazole and mebendazole, are of questionable value, and these medicine are considered investigational.
Preimplantation diagnosis by blastocyst or blastomere biopsy (see Chapter 17) avoids the issues of pregnancy termination but requires in vitro fertilization. For hen pox (adults and children over forty kg): 800 mg qid for 5 days decreases severity of varicella if initiated inside 24 hours of the rash. Manson discovered the microfilariae in a blood smear taken from an African affected person, and Daniels described the grownup worm collected from a South American Indian alternative medicine [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/order-selegiline-no-rx/]buy selegiline 5mg lowest price[/url]. Rate Reaction With Measured Times Chosen to Reflect Target Analyte type red-orange merchandise. Gross motor expertise are sometimes best late in the rst decade and a baby who was simply walking might stop to: recognizing this prevents unwarranted hunts for neurodegenerative disease. Astrocytoma Presentation similarto glioblastoma multiforme but course extra Prognosis is variable. This known as of tumors can get entry to the bloodstream, and uncommon rouleaux formation and refiects abnormal serum protein epithelial malignant cells may be identified. What is the epidemiology for Squamous cell Smoking and alcohol abuse common carcinoma cholesterol scores [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/buy-caduet-online-in-usa/]best 5mg caduet[/url]. Biochim Biophys genomics, and well being care supply patterns collide to create a racial Acta. In the group, those affected person who develop mattress sore because of continual illness, can be nicely managed by health worker through a) Frequent changing place b) Providing bed bath and back care c) Not permit to eat that much vitamin and protein till the wound is healed d) All besides C e) None of the 6. Where such friendships had been established, there was varying expertise of discussing fertility matters. As the malignant cells progressively substitute the cyst lining, the smooth, properly-outlined, and corticated cyst border is misplaced or turns into poorly outlined. This is, in any case, the period of Siri and Google Now, smartphone apps that commu nicate by recognizing vocal commands and responding with data or specific actions antibiotic resistance in hospitals [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/purchase-omnicef-no-rx/]buy omnicef mastercard[/url]. Induction of lung and exocrine pancreas 33 tumors in F344 rats by tobacco-specific and Areca-derived N-nitrosamines. Medical College of Georgia Biosafety Guide-June 2008 eight-5 Sharp items which must be positioned in these containers embody anything which is able to puncturing the biohazard waste baggage, together with hypodermic needles, syringes (with or without the attached needles), pasteur pipettes, disposable plastic pipettes, scalpel blades, razor blades, blood vials, check tubes, needles with attached tubing, damaged plastic culture dishes, unbroken glass tradition dishes, and different forms of damaged and unbroken glassware, together with microscope slides and coverslips, that was in touch with biological materials. In 2-year studies in rats, there have been no statistically vital drug-associated increases in tumor incidences. In a affected person with Crohn’s or celiac illness, linear progress failure may even be the presenting complaint. Lo H J, Kohler J R, DiDomenico B, Loebenberg D, Cacciapuoti A, Kurtz M B, Rex J H 94 medications that can cause glaucoma [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/purchase-online-lotensin/]purchase lotensin 5 mg with amex[/url]. Acquired skewing of X-chromosome inactivation patterns in myeloid cells of the elderly suggests stochastic clonal loss with age. Distribution the belladonna alkaloids are distributed extra widely all through the physique than the quaternary ammonium derivatives or dicyclomine.
And let�s not neglect that drinking-water supplies are dwindling all around the world, water tables are sinking, and water consumption is on the rise ad infinitum. Risk assssment categorization of low, average, or high is based on preponderance of factors for the individual. Increased neoangiogenesis in ovarian malignancy causes central the ovary enlarges progressively past eight cm neovascularity gastritis diet book [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/buy-misoprostol-online-in-usa/]purchase misoprostol 100 mcg without a prescription[/url]. A detailed description must be made from the rigidity and duration of each sexually-stimulated and morning erections and of problems with sexual need, arousal, ejaculation, and orgasm [39, forty one]. As you grow familiar with the healing state and the ways to get there, the boldness and power you gain might allow you to go further with the formal exercises. Research printed in 1990, however, discovered that animal (bovine or porcine) insulin does cross the human placenta as an insulin– antibody complex, and that the quantity of transfer directly correlated with the amount of anti-insulin antibody within the mom (1). It then considers the companies and models of care supply which might be necessary to meet these wants in opposition to the background of central authorities coverage, and makes specific recommendations. The challenge for researchers is tofill the present gaps of knowledge in order that critical info is out there to the contemporary-minimize business gastritis symptoms diarrhea [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/buy-online-sevelamer/]purchase sevelamer with paypal[/url]. Central Nervous System Drugs Opioid analgesics the opioid analgesics may be usefully categorised as low-efficacy opioids (e. From such piecemeal information, the proof suggests, our brains put together the items forty eight of odor molecules and olfactory mixtures into distinct perceptual smells. Possibly this will have something to do with the milk composition of the sow which will have affected the expansion and improvement of the bones. Zij concludeert vervolgens dat de waarde van 5 mg/m3 het hoogste blootstel lingsniveau is waarbij dit kritische effect nog niet is waargenomen in verschil lende diersoorten. Visually examine situation of Sweat Inducer (energy pack), connections and electrodes high cholesterol foods and drinks [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/order-cheap-zocor/]order 40 mg zocor overnight delivery[/url]. A sixty five-year-old lady with type 2 diabetes is on hemodialysis for persistent kidney disease. It isthe results of damage by autoantibodies to the basement membranes of the lungs and kidneys and is characterized clinicallyby pulmonary hemorrhage and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (Ritter Disease) This clinically resembles poisonous epidermal necrolysis. If the defect is giant, the cells kind dense connective tissue to repair the harm. Except for the one report below, no mention of its use in human pregnancy has been positioned conventional medicine [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/buy-antivert-online/]buy antivert 25 mg mastercard[/url]. However, when three-months old iodine depleted Wistar rats were administered fluoride in ingesting water (60 and 200 mg fluoride/L) throughout a six-day repletion period with 125I-labelled iodine, no antithyroid impact of fluoride was noticed. Unfortunately,nomenclature has not been standardized,which hampers the event of strategies for prevention and treatment.
As many as 30 p.c of oral cancers have cervical metastases, either palpable 1. As the number of different particular remedy cases increases, evaluations of exposures to these therapies might be conducted. To stop becoming re-infested, all clothing, towels, and bed linen must be machinewashed (at 50 levels Celsius or above) as the primary therapy is applied erectile dysfunction and smoking [url=http://www.uodc.fr/scientific/directory-68/order-online-silagra-cheap/]purchase silagra 100mg line[/url]. Side effects: anaphylaxis, transient neutropenia, bradycardia, flushing, systemic hypotension and pulmonary hypertension. In bacterial infections toms by a mixture of compression and cultures are normally constructive; in viral infections destruction.
займ на карту
займы онлайн zaim online zaim
займы онлайн ru
cbd oil buy cbd oil [url=https://cbdoilforsalejmm.com/ ]your cbd store [/url] cbd american shaman cbd benefits cbd for sleep
Leave a comment