Grimsey, Iceland- Stepping into the Arctic Circle

 

There is a sense of spiritual awakening while watching birds wander freely in their natural habitat. This is not something I love doing but later on discovered the magic of bird watching. And while spending some time in Akureyri, the second largest city of  Iceland, we’ve decided to take a day off and fly to Grimsey island.  Maybe it would be fun since part of the idea was to set foot on the arctic circle.

Since the idea came up, I couldn’t be more restless as I was at that time. I started flipping some magazines and preparing myself for any eventuality. Like what apparel to wear and whether I should do three or four layers of clothes. Nearly but not quite blindfolded, I immersed myself on reading about Grimsey on the web. Some were saying how many birds the island has and how human beings are treated as the silent minority. If there were 100 fishermen, over a million birds are present on the island. That alone is something out of this world or rather, out of my world! Grimsey could be like the size of my native town in Eastern Samar and the arctic circle keeps on cutting across the island and moving away every year.

 

 

I’m no expert to explain this movement but as of press time, the Arctic Circle, 66 degrees,33”17’ runs across the island near the airstrip. And a greater part of the island lies at the south of the Arctic Circle. Too much information sometimes could ruin a trip so I decided to stop all these readings. All I remember is that it’s an island and almost 40 kilometers away from the main island of Iceland and I don’t think sleeping on the plane will be an option on a 30minute ride. Did I say ride? Forgive me, I meant flight and no ferry boat as I’ve heard how rough the waters were at that time. I love flights anyway. That would be fine.

The first thing one will notice upon stepping into the island of Grimsey is how unbelievably quiet the place is. We just landed on what I could deduce as the shortest runway I’ve seen in my life. It was surrounded with a typical metal fence just like a simple garage at the back of one’s house. I hugged myself so tight and mentally prepared my body for what could be a struggle for the next 4 hours hours or so. My lips already started breaking off and my body couldn’t even move as cold air kept on hammering us.

 

 

We were greeted by our guide who comes to the island once a week to teach some young girls and boys. I looked around and counted roughly 15 houses along the cliff. A beautiful colored lighthouse was visible on the other end and a small church too. It was a small community built along the sides of the island. Grimsey seemed to have been elevated from a ground thus forming a perfectly carved cliffs along its jagged borders. These cliffs made it possible for arctic terns and puffins to cultivate and thrive. As the island stretches further down south, the more flatter it becomes making it possible to harbor boats and small fishing vessels.

I was given a metal stick by my guide to protect myself from sudden onslaughts of arctic terns. They hated the idea that humans looked so tall from the ground and keep on testing whether it’s something they can bully around. Thus, humans need to dock every so often and this became a habit of every islanders. And just like any territory; the puffins and terns control the major part of the island and indeed birds in general control the air, land and water of Grimsey.

 

 

While standing on the cliff and taking countless of pictures of puffins, I paused for a while and looked at the distant horizon. The clouds were moving so fast and the cold mass was added to a rather uninviting horizon. I felt alone and sad. And no matter how colorful the puffins were, I wasn’t sure if I could live here even for a month. Maybe because I was alone and part of my personality is to share and am not sure if the puffins could reciprocate that tender emotion. And out of nowhere, a sudden admiration grew from my heart for all the locals here in Grimsey. For the tenacity to endure the cold weather and making a living from fishing out there on the wild, cold sea- that to me was a feat or even a life not for the faint of heart.

The island of Grimsey has taught me that life in its simplest form is indeed a touch of paradise.  It’s not surprising indeed that some people go out and travel to far flung areas to find themselves. For our soul need to be aligned again with nature to find its inner voice. With all the seemingly unwelcoming traits the island has, one should really find a way to find true happiness in the most desolate of places and only then it will feel invigorated  and reborn.

 

 

I can only surmise that bird watching is an activity for the soul. The human mind will not understand this placid hobby but the soul does. And bird watching couldn’t be more fitting in an island like Grimsey. For not only it’s  birds’ piece of heaven but for humans too. Welcome to Grimsey! Welcome to Iceland!

 

 

 

 

Photo: Seafood Platter on my Birthday

What I had for my Birthday? A seafood extravaganza! Yes, I was alone in one of the most romantic places on earth- Dubrovnik. Can’t complain though; in fact there are so many things to be thankful for.  The Gods of Travel have showered me with so many unforgettable adventures and still have so many projects in store for me.

“We do not remember days,

                                         we remember moments. ”           — Cesare Pavese

 

 

Tiago’s World# 7 Reasons Why People Travel

Tiago’s World#            7 Reasons Why People Travel

 

 

I originally wrote this post on my blogger account and deleted it subsequently. I was just bored with my blog, very unhappy about it and decided not to blog anymore. I guess, it was the quarter crisis as others define it that hit me.  But travel has a way of keeping you invigorated, and I decided to blog again, this time on WordPress and chose a different title.

Indeed, travel brings back your sanity. It helps you see things differently. For so many years of working in the travel industry, I often meet unhappy and grumpy people, old and young, honeymooners and solo travelers, each of them has reasons on their own.

Through the years of wandering, working with different tour companies, meeting unique and interesting people, I somehow had a compilation of reasons why people travel. Aside of course from the usual of seeing the world, being bored with their lives, each of us has deeper reasons why we want to go out there and perhaps escape from all the mundane routines of our world.

Below are some of the reasons why we travel. Why we couldn’t resist and book in advance the dream vacation we were longing for. I chose 7 because it was easy to round them up to seven but most importantly, I chose 7 because of my fascination with the 7 Lucky Gods of Japan.

So here are my 7 Lucky Reasons why people simply pack, drift, wander, get lost and ultimately enjoy the world they have been longing for!

 

 

7. Reliving the Past

A loving couple of 80 years of age were wandering through the streets of Granada, Spain. They used to visit the Royal Chapel (formerly before it got transferred to Madrid) as this was the place where they first proclaimed their love to each other. The husband was saying how beautiful she was at that time, carrying her huge sort of duffel bag with a big fan and when she turned around, there he was smiling at her and the rest was a beautiful story of love. But more than the love and partnership, they remember Granada to be a place set in time and so far away from civilization. They keep on returning to Granada not to profess their love to each other but simply to remember how it feels to be young again, carefree and wild.

 

 

*Reliving the past can be tricky at times. We all know that a rural place back then could be a thriving metropolis in the present. The waiter you adore is no longer affiliated with the restaurant or the bar you had fun that night. It is really good to look back and travel again to distant places even though you knew that things may not be the same anymore.

 

 

6. Escaping Reality

A surgeon from New York was lining up at the funicular station in Bergen, Norway. He has been told to go up Mt. Floien to have that beautiful view overlooking the fjords, the city and simply watching the scenery. As the line was ridiculously long, he turned to me and mentioned that traveling for all its intent and purposes lets you escape the life you hate, the people you abhor and the person you become.

But his case was different. He loves his life and his profession. But sometimes, he can’t get away from it all. All he ever wanted was at least for a week, to feel unwanted, unloved and unrecognizable. All he ever wanted is to be like anybody else, unperturbed with what’s happening with the world.

 

 

*Escaping reality to some could mean starting a new life or simply a way to forget the pain. And of course we think that travel is the best solution. In a way, travel gives you a blank page to write things all over again, or simply a new perspective.

And the best thing about escaping reality is you knew that this is only temporary.

 

 

5. Feeling the Love

Santorini is definitely one of the most romantic places on earth. It is no wonder that people would travel to this side of the world, just to be on this small island in the Aegean Sea. Two beautiful South Korean ladies were having a hard time pulling their luggage at some of the narrowest streets in Oia. And suddenly they stopped, ran towards to the other side and took their cameras away. Perplexed with the absurdity of it all, I traced their footsteps and followed them.

There were taking pictures of a lovely newly-wed couple in rubber shoes, walking up and down the narrow-cobbled streets of Santorini. They were just literally trigger-happy! Such a lovely sight! Later I discovered that Santorini is a favorite wedding destination among Koreans. And what made me smile was the dedication of these two ladies in capturing those loving moments, of newly-wed couples walking around Santorini! And this was the only reason why they were there!!!

 

 

*Feeling the love could be  a top reason for people to travel. Perhaps they thought they would find  love in a very romantic place on earth? Or they travel just so things will be better and love could be just around the corner? I realized that people travel not really to find love, but deep inside, are just simply wishing to feel the love. We all chase that feeling. And it’s different when you found it.

 

 

4. Doing a pilgrimage.

I must confess that the best gorgonzola (blue cheese) I had ever tasted in my life was in Volterra. I am not particularly fond of cheeses and how much more of those weird-smelling ones. But the moment I tasted this ugly looking gorgonzola was simply one of the most unforgettable times of my life. And because of this, I keep on coming to Volterra, one of the small, perhaps not so popular towns in the Tuscan countryside as opposed to Florence, Siena and Lucca.

One day, when the world was just simply doing its mundane turn, I saw a group of youngsters waiting in front of the Tourism Office. Curious as to why they’re waiting for the opening times when they could simply wander and enjoy the town on their own, I tiptoed to their direction. I eavesdropped and pretended to be lost. They were simply discussing the exact street where Edward and Bella took, running away from the powerful Volturi Clan. And light bulbs (not only one but two) simply appeared on my thought! They simply were tracing the adventures of Bella and Edward Cullen of the Twilight series. It was just the ultimate European trip for them! The popularity of the Twilight series has just taken this sleepy town by storm! People from all over the world are visiting and staying in the Tuscan Countryside to enjoy Florence, Siena and yes to find the powerful vampire clan- Volturi hiding in Volterra!!

 

* Sometimes we are not aware but we are all reluctant pilgrims. We travel to see the film location of your favorite movie. You may want to go on top of the Empire State Building as shown in Sleepless in Seattle or perhaps be like Darth Vader. Or we follow a band and go wherever they perform. Others would even go to cemeteries and pay their respects. And lastly we travel because of our faith just like the many Crusades of the past. It is after all and other pilgrimages of any religions of the world, the very core of what traveling is all about- an act of adventure to distant lands.

 

 

3. Ticking off a bucket list

Every traveler has a bucket list. Some are simple and some are just totally out of this world. But regardless of what drives us in life, we all want to do something before we die.

My parents upon the invitation of my sister, stayed in Japan for one awesome month. They literally had the best time of their lives. I was so envious listening to all their stories of adventures. They’ve been to all the beautiful sites in Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Himeji, even tasted the famous Kobe beef. But they never thought they could travel and simply leave the country. It was just beyond their means.

When I asked my mom what is the one thing that she enjoyed the most. Without batting an eyelash, “it was the feeling of being in the plane. I love Japan- the food- how respectful the people are and the country is simply gorgeous. But it has always been my dream of riding the plane way back as a child”

 

*After your first awesome adventure, you somehow plan already your next travel plan. This time, your tend to be choosy and carefully plan your next destination. You listen to other people or read some travel books. You start creating your path. You know what you want to see regardless of what others are saying. You become stubborn, relentless on your pursuit and try to be different. A bucket list is simply a bucket list. What makes one different is not on the approach of doing it but simply on the honesty and sincere desire of being there-simply to check off your bucket list.

 

 

2. Filling the Void

The one thing that changed my life and gave me a better perspective of how beautiful living is when I went to Italy for a short scholarship program. It was simply my first for everything. Lining up to get a passport and visa, packing a suitcase, riding a plane, being away from the country, staying in a 4-star hotel, speaking a different language-officially, running like an idiot in Sicily and catching the train in Rome and so many beautiful things. And I never closed my eyes, not for a second. And did I tell you that I was praised for my performance in one of the plays I participated in the university, and yes, speaking my lines in Italian. That was awesome, lolz!

As soon as the fairy-tale was over, I returned home feeling different. I went back and resumed my work as one of the analysts in one if not the leading financial services provider in the world. The minute I sat on my desk and checked my daily task- that was running the events that transpired In Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, things were no longer the same. I just couldn’t feel the vibe anymore. It was my dream job where my love for languages complements with reading all those financial documents. A job that could be the envy of other people.

While others around me were talking of their day-to-day activities, I felt like an outcast and couldn’t relate anymore. It was one of those moments of impact that I decided to quit my job, went into photography, and went to check the employment board overseas and asked my friends. I needed a change so badly. All I ever wanted was to be whole again. I want to be out there again and to feel human.

And the rest is history!

 

* Filling the void is simply different from escaping reality or feeling the love.  It is simply that feeling of restlessness that what you are doing is no longer a source of inspiration. You change career and place is a huge travel in itself. The moment you decided to have a change of scenery simply because you were not happy anymore is perhaps the greatest adventure you will ever do in your life.

 

 

1. Searching for Never-Ending Happiness

I must say that Bangkok, Thailand is entirely a world of its own. From the floating market to gigantic Buddhas, to tasty Thai cuisine and eclectic bars, the city is definitely one place where being happy is synonymous to being free!

It was almost 3 o’clock in the morning when we decided, my friends and I, to return home. But I got caught up to a conversation between two Eastern European guys. The tall blonde one was pressuring the dark-haired guy to divulge what transpired inside. I looked up at the signage above the door.

Best Thai Massage- Massage Only!

“So what did the lady ask you?”

“Well, she asked me whether I’d like to have a happy ending or never-ending. And….I chose the never-ending!”

“And how different it is with the happy ending?”

” A lot! ”

“Come On…Tell Me…”

“I can’t…it’s a secret!!!”

 

 

*Traveling is simply as the title of my number one reason why people travel. We all love happy thoughts. And the more we travel, the more happy thoughts we would have collected. And the more happy thoughts we have, then I guess, we would be invincible!!