Black Sand, Big Waves and Waterfalls

Thursday 5th January 2017  I sifted the black sand at Reynisfjara Beach through my fingers and looked onto the crashing waves, thinking of the endless swell of the Atlantic Ocean, how it surged without the interruption of land all the way to Antarctica. "Don't turn your back on the sea, not even for a moment" our guide …

As Above is Not as it is Below

Friday 6th January 2017 It was with some trepidation that I had booked the ‘Black and Blue' tour with Arctic Adventures, safe and warm in the comfort of my parents’ house in England. When the day rolled around however, waiting for my pick-up outside my hostel on the outskirts of Reykjavik, 9:00am, still in the …

Land of Fire and Ice: Viking Horses and The Golden Circle

Wednesday 4th January 2017 It was a Gray Line Iceland tour that promised a morning of riding Icelandic horses through the valleys at Laxnes Horse Farm (i.e. me living in a viking fantasy) and an afternoon of exploring Iceland's famous 'Golden Circle': Þingvellir National Park The Gullfoss waterfall Hot springs at Geyser geothermal area The day …

First Flight to Lukla

As we trudged into Gorakshep (5,164 m / 16,942ft), literal meaning 'Dead Crow', sucking in mouthfuls of air with only around 54% the oxygen at sea level, already weary and only 12 o'clock, we knew it would be a long day. It was Everest Base Camp (EBC) day, the day that promised to make the …