Golden circle

Those are the first words that come to my mind when I think of Iceland. This little country packs a punch in terms of having mountains, volcanoes, lava fields, erupting geysers, glaciers, glacial lagoons, fjords, basalt cliffs and gigantic waterfalls.

May 4th, 2018

Our stay for the next couple of days was in south region, in the Sólheimar Eco village. My research said most of the tourist spots of the famous Golden circle was either on our way or a short drive away, which made it the perfect spot to sleep and refresh. We drove through the beautiful countryside with scenery we have never ever seen before – and I’m truly not exaggerating. To add to the aura, the weather seemed to change every few minutes – one minute there would be torrential snow & hail stones coming at us from all sides, the next it would be bright and sunny with clear blue sky.

We made a quick stop for food and refreshments, and Icelandic prices are pretty dear, before hitting the road for our first scenic stop. On our way we spotted a cosy looking wooden picnic table, right by a snow clad mountain overlooking a gorgeous view of the valley. It was deceptively windy, strong enough to blow a person away if not careful. In fact car doors are often blown away & damaged if not opened carefully & against the wind. It is freakishly strong and chilly, & hence all our plans of having a roadside impromptu picnic had to be abandoned.

We made our way through the 10 minute mini-climates and drove to our first stop at the Kerid Crater lake.

This crater lake is rather striking and has all the makes of beautiful picture – blue-green water with red soil slopes. We had all the intentions of walking around the crater and descending to see the lake up close & personal. The wind though was creating havoc with the baby’s head and eyes, & so we decided to skip the hike & the lake and warm her up. Good thing we decided so, coz within seconds of us getting back inside the car, and while still in the car park, it started snowing extremely heavily with the wind driving the snow again form all sides.

May 5th, 2018

On our second day in Iceland, we decided to drive around the golden circle and see all that it has to offer – and sure we were not disappointed.

To our surprise and delight, it had snowed pretty heavy the evening before. We woke up to a beautiful white scenery, perfect and calm in the eco village.

Our stay the Solheimar Eco Village, which is a nonprofit environment-friendly village.

Woke up to a white morning!

After a quick breakfast of toast, cold cuts, farm fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, we said our goodbyes and made our way to our first stop – Geysir. Due to the lack of trees and vegetation, I could see clouds of steam up in the air from quite a distance.

The mid-Atlantic ridge cuts Iceland into two parts, drifting away from each other at a rate from 2cm per year. Geysir is area in Iceland which has high geothermal activity, with a base temp of 250 deg C.

The Strokkur geyser erupts every 8-10 mins, several cm up to tens of metres

We were treated to two large and one medium sized eruptions in the 30 minutes we spent there. Along with a snowstorm & icy wind, followed by sudden clear sky & sunshine. Told you, 10 minute mini-climate.

After a quick cup of hot steaming latte, we drove to our next stop – the Gullfoss waterfall. The pictures don’t do justice to the giant waterfall and the enchanting beauty of this giant waterfall. Despite snowstorms, gusty icy winds, we found this waterfall to be quite busy with tourists & rightly so.

All this walking around, hiking up and down the mountain slopes, whilst carrying the baby like a backpack, wrapped up 10 layers – well baby had 5 layers & we were wearing 5, had made us totally famished. Instead of spending a fortune on a bowl of soup – tourist info cafe sell a bowl of soup for about 1500-1800 Icelandic krónas, we decided to head over to a tomato farm and give them all our monies instead!

The tomato farm at Frideimar grow their own tomatoes round the year, and use the hot water from nearby springs as a source of energy and heating to maintain ideal temperature in the restaurant and green house.

Their menu is tomato based – tomato soup, tomato pasta, Bloody Mary, tomato ice cream, tomato cake !

After a belly full of tomato soup, we hit the road one more time and this time we came across *drumroll* Icelandic horses.

Lovely chaps they were, calm and gentle and ate the horse candies right out of my hands. What a perfect end to a lovely day!

May 6th

Out last stop on the golden circle was the Þingvellir Nationa Park. Þingvellir anglicised as Thingvellir has a lot of historical and geological importance.

We were treated to lots of gorgeous views and sceneries. The rift between the two tectonic plates can be seen very clearly too. Along with beautiful views, we were also treated to strong chilly winds, followed by snowstorm. By now we had also strategised to wait out the snowstorm in the car park itself. With about 4 layers of warm clothes, I was just about warm. There is a fair bit of climb to reach to the top of the cliff,

Iceland Road Trip

May 4th, 2018

We started our day with an early BA flight from Heathrow, and reached Keflavík Airport by 10am. When we landed we greeted by a snow storm which was passing by, & while it looked ferocious it was done in about 10 mins and the sun came out. Our car rental was a 5 min shuttle ride away, and after completing the necessary paperwork, we were given keys to our rental car. Given the terrain & weather conditions in Iceland, we chose to go for a 4WD & on many a times during the trip we realised what an appropriate decision it was.

The first thing you’d notice when driving from the airport inwards and into the country is the the complete change in scenery. For as far as my eyes could see, it was a land filled with lava rocks covered in moss, very surreal.

Our stay for the next couple of days was in south region, in the Sólheimar Eco village. My research said most of the tourist spots of the famous Golden circle was either on our way or a short drive away, which made it the perfect spot to sleep and refresh. We drove through the beautiful countryside with scenery we have never ever seen before – and I’m truly not exaggerating. To add to the aura, the weather seemed to change every few minutes – one minute there would be torrential snow & hail stones coming at us from all sides, the next it would be bright and sunny with clear blue sky.

We made a quick stop for food and refreshments, and Icelandic prices are pretty dear, before hitting the road for our first scenic stop. On our way we spotted a cosy looking wooden picnic table, right by a snow clad mountain overlooking a gorgeous view of the valley. It was deceptively windy, strong enough to blow a person away if not careful. In fact car doors are often blown away & damaged if not opened carefully & against the wind. It is freakishly strong and chilly, & hence all our plans of having a roadside impromptu picnic had to be abandoned.

We made our way through the 10 minute mini-climates and drove to our first stop at the Kerid Crater lake.

This crater lake is rather striking and has all the makes of beautiful picture – blue-green water with red soil slopes. We had all the intentions of walking around the crater and descending to see the lake up close & personal. The wind though was creating havoc with the baby’s head and eyes, & so we decided to skip the hike & the lake and warm her up. Good thing we decided so, coz within seconds of us getting back inside the car, and while still in the car park, it started snowing extremely heavily with the wind driving the snow again form all sides.

Snow, for us is magical and mysterious. We are used to some sleet & lots of rain or heat or even bone chilling cold, but pure white snow globules being hurled into the air had us fascinated like seeing unicorns.

Not to be forgotten, our little human was perfectly behaved , no tantrums whatsoever about the car seat. She ate, slept, sang songs and slept some more. I can’t ask for more.

After our short stop at the crater, we head d straight to our stay at the Eco village. The Sólheimar eco village, as we learnt fro our lovely host Margarita, is a little village of about 100 people who are from various walks of life. They work together sustain on natural sources of energy, grow their own vegetables, chickens for eggs, & try to produce sufficient renewable energy to support the village.We could see various hand crafted items displayed in he various buildings in the village as well as in the village shop.

To see such a cool ideology being followed by a people from varied backgrounds & nationality not only living harmoniously with nature, but also adding value and contributing to society, was truly impressive.

Climbing the Big Bad Ben Nevis

My recent trip to Scotland was part of a group that wanted to do the three peaks challenge, a challenge where you try and climb the three highest peaks in the United Kingdom. One of these three peaks being Ben Nevis, the tallest in the country at 1,344 metres or 4,409 feet, and I try and write here about what we did, how we did and what you can see at the top. Should you visit the UK and have time on your hands, explore this option as something to do, it’s fun, challenging, and very satisfying and you will have a story to tell in times to come by…Continue reading here …

On the way to Ben Nevis

Norway in a Nutshell

Tired of going repeatedly to tourist traps. Looking for something that’s off the beaten path and where nature talks to you. Would you like unending mountains with a thousand waterfalls flowing into crystal clear lakes, with the freshest of mountain air bucking you up like carrot-ginger juice? Norway is a land of spectacular natural beauty still unspoiled, where there is perfect harmony and understanding between mother earth and progress and where people are friendly and highest quality of life in all aspects is minimum expectation of people living there. Read more about our five day trip to this magical land…Continue reading here …

Friendly Norwegian Trolls

With love from Athens

Greek gods, enchanting myths, exciting stories told through centuries, about the wonders of the ancient world. Greece has so much to offer, that a short 6 day trip is no where close to doing justice to it. Nevertheless it would be a shame if these stories were left untold, so here goes… Greece has always been the dream destination for me and my mate, and when he suggested we go to Athens for my birthday I was over the moon. Here’s a glimpse of our lovely trip to Athens a while back and hope it inspires you to make a travel plan soon! Continue reading here …

Places we have been to

We have been lucky so far, the below is a list that we hope to keep updating for some years to come. feel free to ask about any of the below places if you plan to visit

Places Stayed In
Hyderabad and Kolkata, India
Berlin, Germany
Sydney, Australia
London, United Kingdom
Gurgaon and Coimbatore, India

Places Travelled
Germany – Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt
England – London, Oxford, Cambridge, Dover, Bath, Bradford Upon Avon, Lake District, Derby, Coventry
Wales – Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons
Scotland – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ben Nevis
Italy – Rome, Milan, La Aquila
Holland – Amsterdam, Rotterdam
France – Paris
Belgium – Brussels
Greece – Athens, Hydra, Aegina, Poros
Spain – Alicante, Barcelona
Norway – Bergen, Voss, Gundvangen, Flam
Denmark – Copenhagen
Sweden – Stockholm
Poland – Szczecin
Nepal – Kathmandu
Australia – Sydney, Melbourne
Singapore – Singapore

My name is a Traveller, and I am not a Tourist!

My name is a Traveller, and I am not a Tourist!

I am a travel addict, and need to travel to be happy. Put me in one place for too long, I would start tearing my hair out, and put on my grumpy hat. But that does not mean I am a tourist. I feel deeply insulted if anyone would look at me as a tourist, and therefore try to fit into wherever I am, as best as I can. I have listed down some of the things that I try and consciously do each and every time I travel, works for me, and makes my travel more fun

1. Try not to do the touristic stuff – So no open bus rides or Madame Tussads and no trying to click 5000 pictures in a day. Remember the purpose of your trip is not to collect pictures for your Facebook photo album.
2. Walk till our shoes wear out – Walk in the old streets, go into narrow lanes, walk along the river, stop for an ice cream, sit on the grass and drink a beer, walk like 20 miles in a day.
3. Take a local bus, tram and subway ride – Sit in a bus, and let it take you till the end of the city, and ride in the same bus back. See the people going to work, the way they dress and how they smile, and if they are happy for you to be amongst them.
4. Try not to eat at places with an English menu –English menus displayed outside restaurants and waiters trying to be friendly with you an alarm bell that the place must be avoided at all costs. Try a Souvlaki in Athens, Kjøttkaker in Oslo or seafood pasta in Rome, rather than being happy with a Pizza or worse going repeatedly to the McDonalds or Starbucks.
5. Try and smile at people – Not knowing the local language doesn’t matter. Learn a few simple words such as Thank You, Hello, Good Morning and Excuse Me, and leave the rest to your smile to connect with the pretty people of where you go.
6. Go to the fruit, vegetable and fish market – Get up early and head to the local market, trade starts early, locals come to buy fresh produce, listen to people haggling in a foreign language, and have your breakfast right there.
7. Go to the local supermarket – You can get fish caviar in tubes, try different types of chocolate, compare prices by converting into your currency, try auto checkout in a machine that does not speak English, and try sampling things that are being sold
8. Stay in a suburb and not city centre. If not CouchSurfing, at least stay via AirBnB – Try not staying in a hotel, and do not for sure stay at the City Centre. Spend some time trying to find out what the nice areas are, the characteristics about the neighbourhoods and try out alternative ways of lodging, that could make your whole experience something else altogether.
9. Listen to street musicians and street art – Always stop to listen to music that is being played on the streets, music by young people trying to find their place, an old man playing the violin, or a juggling act or a magic show. You can also see some amazing street art, which for me always beats lining up to see old artefacts in a museum.
10. Dress comfortably always – Wear something that will allow you to get wet in the rain, something that is ok to sit on the steps or on the floor, and which feels comfortable when you have to walk all right. Avoid tight shoes, heels, short skirts and buttoned shirts, which you can reserve when you have to go to office or attend a wedding.
11. See if you can meet with someone – Try to see if you can arrange for someone local to meet you for a drink or coffee or to show you around. You can do the same when they come visiting. Tag along with other travellers who would also like to travel together. You can do this via a lot of online platforms for travellers, makes it fun discovering a new city with someone else to share your experience with.
12. Try to discover small little special places – There are hidden gems in every place, which can be your secrets. It can be an old English bookshop with a transvestite owner, a bookshop that doubles as a hostel for travellers in the night, a 50 year old ice cream shop that Starbucks has managed to not replace, or the loveliest little bakery making brioche buns.
13. Try flea market hopping – This is a lot of fun, especially in Europe, in Cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam and others where you can find the loveliest of treasures, preloved things, upcycled items, very creatively made greeting cards and original pieces from young artists while listening to a buskers playing the loveliest of local tunes.
14. Don’t plan to shop a lot – You are not a traveller if you shop a lot, especially buying things such as Levis jeans or Hugo Boss perfume when in Paris. Travel light, with only a toothbrush and a change of clothes, and am sure your home city also has shops where you can buy clothes, saves you trouble of carrying them all the way back.
15. Importantly, Do not carry your mobile with you – Try to avoid this if possible, yes seems difficult, try it out, and you will see the difference. For the time you are travelling, you will enjoy it more if you don’t feel connected to attachments you have left behind, as your mind would be free to completely enjoy what the new place has to offer you!

I hate making lists, but I hate it a lot lesser than being a tourist. So yeah, that is just me, and for me travel is to make memories that will make you smile whenever you think of the things you did. So yeah, say no to being a tourist and start being a traveller.

Who are we and What is this site about?

We are a young couple living in London. We have travelled a lot, all over Europe, India and Australia, and have had many pretty experiences, saw interesting things and met a lot of lovely people. We want this site to capture some of the best of what we saw, and share it with others. We do hope you enjoy reading it, feel free to share it elsewhere and we will love you if you can write to us. Btw, this is how we looked in Berlin on the night Germany won the world cup in 2014.