No matter where I travel there are a few things I always pack….my camera, phone, tripod for both, spare lens, spare battery and my trusty little lensballs.
I love taking photos and I’m always on the hunt for the “perfect” shot but sometimes it’s cool just to have a little fun with it too. Which for me, is where the lensball comes in.
Using a lensball is an example of refraction photography. Refraction is somewhat of a magical phenomenon which occurs when a wave such as sound, water or in this case light, is deflected through a denser mass such as water or glass.
As the light hits the lensball, light is bent which causes a distortion and due to the lensball being a transparent spherical object, this causes the image in the ball to appear inverted. It feels like somewhat of a magic trick and on more than one occasion I have had people watching me use this gadget and asking about it.
Therefore, I thought I would share a few tips on using the lensball.
Before you begin make sure the lensball is clean, they are prone to picking up finger prints and specks of dust so give it a good wipe each time before you start.
Wind and sand will always make for a dirty lensball!
Make sure the lensball is inline with your subject. This will help to minimise distortion. There are a few exceptions to this such as placing the ball in a puddle or like the image below to capture the dessert sand.
Here you can see the focal point is the centre with distortion growing the further you look out to the edges.
Make sure your subject fills the ball. This will sometimes mean having to get closer to whatever it is you’re taking a photo of.
Abu Dhabi Business District
Take a few different photos of the same image, some getting close to the ball and some where you capture more of the background. Stepping back a little to get more of the background creates a greater depth of field and can add a little extra to the photo.
Myself, I prefer this image to the one above. What about you?
Play around with angles, sometimes having the lensball off centre will yield better results.
This is my favourite lensball image. Capturing the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Play around with the aperture of your camera to get the image that best suits you. Do you want to image on the lensball to be focused or a focused background with a blurry lensball image?
This time I went for a solid background with a blurry lensball image.
Pick a camera lens that will work for you. Using a macro lens will work well as it will allow you to get very close to the lensball. Mobile phones are excellent for this, infact, all the images on this article were taken with a mobile phone. You can also use a wider angled lens should the scene (such as landscape) allow.
Although this was still taken on a mobile phone, a wide angled lens would have worked well here.
Get to grips with editing. Your image will always appear inverted in the lensball and sometimes you’re going to want to flip it just like in the images below. A quick and easy phone app to do this in is Snapseed.
The Treasury, PetraSunset over Warsaw
Sometimes, if you keep the background image in shot you might just want to keep the lensball image inverted. Always have a play around to see what works best for you and your image.
Eiffel Tower, Paris
Many lensballs will come with a mount to stand it on, however, sometimes you might want to try embedding the lensball more into the natural environment to make the image flow with its surroundings.
Having the lensball stood on a glass plinth here would have taken away from the ambience of the natural surroundings.
Safety
When finding your ideal location to place the lensball, please do keep an eye on it especially if you’re at a height. The balls are solid glass and therefore quite heavy. You don’t want to risk it rolling off and landing on someone’s head!
When storing your lensball, do not leave it in direct sunlight. They act as a magnifier and will cause fires.š„
The above also goes for when taking photos, if someone holds the lensball for you in direct sunlight, it can cause them to burn. As can placing your ball on an object to take a photo. Dry leaves and magnified sunlight = fire š„ so please PLEASE always choose your location wisely and keep an eye on the sunlight and your lensball. See the image above of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, you can see the sun shining straight through.
Pack your lensball carefully, speaking from experience, just chucking the lensball into your bag can result in chips and scratches with can ruin the photo.
What to Buy
Lensball come in a variety of sizes and can all vary greatly in price. Remember that although the bigger the ball the bigger the image, the bigger the ball the greater the weight. Here are a few that I would recommend.
This is the one I currently have, it’s 80mm, so a decent size and it comes in a gift box with a cleaning cloth and pouch.
The below three options are slightly pricier but well worth it as they come with a storage bag. They come in 60mm, 90mm and 110mm (and probably a few more sizes in between) and have a microfiber cloth. This will be something I look for on my next purchase as the bag alone will stop me having to buy new lensballs when I damage mine!
Now this is one I have never seen before but looks very cool and I have just added it on my list to buy! It’s used to create a rainbow effect amongst many others and also comes with a cleaning cloth.
So there you have it, the photographic lensball in a nutshell. Remember although we all strive for that perfect photo, have fun with it and get sharing those images!
A couple of friends in Petra
As always, any questions please do leave a comment on here or message me directly.
When out on my travels and meeting new people, I often get asked where I am from to which I normally reply with, āthe UKā. The most common response I seem to get to this is, āOh! So youāre from London?ā OR,āSo you live in London?ā
WRONG FOLKS!!!
I am from Godās own country- Yorkshire.
Yorkshire is in the north of the UK and is the largest county in England. I am here to tell you that not only is the UK far, FAR more than London but to give you an idea of what the fabulous north has to offer and why you should visit.
Firstly, I am from a fantastic city called Sheffield, AKA Steel City. It is no secret that I love my city, I love its sense of community spirit and its traditional Yorkshire values plus all of the things the city has to offer and that is why it is number 1 on my list of places you should visit.
Sheffield is found in South Yorkshire and is built on 7 hills. It has more than 250 woods, parks and gardens and has an estimated 4.5 million trees. This means Sheffield has more trees per person than any other European city, making it the greenest city on the continent.
Sheffield made its fortune in the steel industry and is famous for its stainless steel cutlery, however, the city now has much more to offer than making steel. We now have galleries, theatres, museums and not to mention a fantastic night life and music scene (I genuinely believe the best music scene in the UK).
Sheffield is the real ale capital of the world; we have breweries dotted about all over the city which specialise in craft beers, literally brewing thousands of different ales each year. If this is what youāre into, do a little research before you come as you could plan to come during one of our many beer festivals.
**Top Tip**
If you arrive into the city by train, you can even start your beer tour straight away on Platform 1B, at the Sheffield Tap before continuing onto Kelham Island where youāll find many more establishments to quench your thirst.
Now for the foodies out there, you will not be disappointed. People up north sure do know how to cook and we have thousands of eateries around the city from traditional pub lunches to things a little more adventurous. If you like to sample foods from around the world, London Road is the place to be. From Turkey to China to Japan, Thailand and then all the way back to Greece.
One thing that should be on your menu during your stay is a homemade pie which you have to lather in Henderson’s Relish, AKA Hendos- a little like Worcestershire Sauce but far, FAR superior and it’s even vegan!! It is classed as a relish rather than a condiment. I would recommend going to The Broadfield for this- they also have an excellent beer portfolio.
Pie, mushy peas, chips, gravy & Hendos at the Broadfield, sooo gooood.
Here in Sheffield we are also big on food markets and often have a European food market throughout the city centre. As well, we have two permanent street food markets, Cutlery Works, the largest food court in the North, and Kommune, a Scandi inspired food court, both boasting culinary delights from around the area and the world!
The Amazons playing a cheeky lunch time gig at Bear Tree Records
The Goat Roper Rodeo Band live at Cafe #9
Each year thousands of people flock to Sheffield for Tramlines Festival, an urban festival which started in 2009 with just 35,000 fans in attendance populating the 70 venues and 4 main stages. The festival has grown from strength to strength and last year (2019) it sold out of the main stage which holds 30,000 people each day not to mention all the other venues that participate. Previous line ups have seen the likes of Noel Gallagher, The Courteeners, Jake Bugg, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Happy Mondays and not to mention Sheffieldās own Milburn and Everly Pregnant Brothers.
Stereophonics playing at Tramlines Festival
We also have the Crucible Theatre, home to the Snooker World Championships as well as the Lyceum Theatre so thereās always a show on the go. To see what’s on offer from Sheffield’s theatres, please click here.
There are cinemas old and new scattered throughout the city as well as museums such as the recently opened National Videogame Museum complete with arcade- the countryās only playable museum. The museum is handily situated right next door to Kommune so you can grab a bite to eat whilst you’re there.
One of the old steel works has also been turned into a museum, Magna which is well worth a visit. Magna also opens its doors from time to time for warehouse raves!
90’s rave in Magna
If countryside if your thing, then take a 5 to 10 minute drive out of Sheffield city centre and youāll find yourselves in the heart of the Peak District which leads me nicely onto the next place you should definitely visit.
One of my favourite places to go hiking is the Peak District National Park. Covering an area of 555 square miles in 6 counties (2 of which belong to Yorkshire) it attracts millions of visitors per year. Itās the perfect place for a nice stroll or more strenuous hikes, as well as visiting country pubs, checking out local wildlife, hilly walks, flat walks and all the green you can imagine. You can check out a list of available hikes at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Burbage
One of my favourite villages to visit in the Peak District is Castleton situated in Hope Valley. You can approach Castleton through the dramatic Winnats Pass or from the Hope Valley, both boasting spectacular views.
The bottom of Winnats Pass
You can absorb the scenery by taking a walk around the village or by hiking up the surrounding hills. One to definitely walk up is Mam Tor (mother hill), known locally as the shivering mountain- so called because its shale and gritstone layers are prone to landslips. Once at the top, either, take in the spectacular views for miles and miles, or continue hiking the Great Ridge Walk, either way, you will not be disappointed.
Once back in the village, I would highly recommend taking a stroll around the quaint little shops as well as stopping to grab some food. There is anything from traditional pubs, cafes, a wonderful chippy (fish and chip shop) and for dessert, a fantastic home made ice cream shop. Castleton is also the only place on the planet where the rare, semi precious mineral, Blue John, is mined so be sure to stop by one of the local jewellers to see what Blue John one of kind piece they have to tempt you with.
One of the villages shop, so cute.
There are four show caverns in Castleton, two of these are the caverns which contain Blue John. Blue John Cavern lies just below the face of Mam Tor and is approached via Winnats Pass. As well as Blue John you’ll also see some fossils.
Inside Blue John Cavern
Treak Cliff Cavern is situated on Mam Tor Road and although it was previously a lead mine it now solely mined for Blue John. As well as containing Blue John, it also contains a beautiful collection of stalagmites and stalactites.
Speedwell Cavern, which sits at the bottom of Winnats Pass is generally the most popular of the four as you get to explore underground canals by boat.
A very spooky yet enticing entrance to the canals of Speedwell Cavern
Peak Cavern (my favourite) known to locals as Devil’s Arse has a stunning views on the walk up to the cavern and sitting on top is Peveril Castle. Now the reason this is my favourite of the four is because of the fantastic acoustics meaning it is host to gigs and cult cinema nights.
Entrance to Peak Cavern AKA Devil’s Arse
**Top Tip**
Due to the stunning surroundings and the fact you could have a very rare experience of seeing a gig/concert or film in a cavern I would 100% recommend seeing if there is anything on during your visit. I went to see my favourite film, Jurassic Park in the cavern and it was a truly unforgettable experience; the whole village got involved with decorating the whole village. I also had the absolute pleasure of seeing Jarvis Cocker play here. For event listings and a truly unforgettable experience, click here.
One of the many signs around the villageJarvis Cocker playing live in Devil’s Arse
Now, if you are on a hike, you could include all four caverns on your route, however, if you are not a hiker the caverns also have parking. You can find more info on the caverns and how to book tickets here.
The entrance to Speedwell Cavern with adjacent car park
**Top Tip**
If you are coming from afar, I would recommend you book into a B&B, hotel, caravan park or even campsite for a couple of nights so you can go off and explore and take in all the wonderful charms and beauty of Castleton.
Now, if like me you’re partial to a stunning sunset or sunrise, I have just the spot for you, again just a ten minute drive out of the city. Stanage Edge is also in the Peak District and from parking up, it’s only about a ten minute walk to the top, if that and the views from the top are something else. This makes it perfect for a stunning quick win sunset or sunrise. I like to make a flask of tea and go to the top with my camera to just catch my breath on a hectic life and just watch the sun setting on the day or rising on a new one. Bonus, there’s never really any people there to it’s so so peaceful so shhhhhh, keep this little gem to yourselves.
As Stanage Edge is in the Peak District it can be a ten minute walk to the top or you can extend the hike to hours/days/weeks.
Sunrise at Stanage EdgeSunset at Stanage Edge
**Top Tip**
You are very exposed to the elements on top of Stanage Edge so I recommend you take a windproof/waterproof jacket, you just never know when you might need it.
Exhibit A
Now, if the seaside is your thing, I have one more of my favourite places in Yorkshire to share with you. This time I am taking you to the North East coast of Yorkshire, (AKA the Dinosaur Coast) all the way to Whitby.
Whitby is not your average seaside town, it is split by the River Esk and either side of the town you have the East Cliff and the West Cliff, make sure you do both.
Whitby has much more to offer than a quick paddle in the sea, a trip to the seafront arcade to play on the 2p machines before heading to the local confectioneries to buy fudge and rock- all of which should still be done but try to fit in some of the below as well.
Sitting high up on the East Cliff and overlooking the North Sea is the gothic ruin, Whitby Abbey which gave Bram Stolker his inspiration to write Dracula which in turn gave Whitby the title of Goth capital of the UK. Twice yearly Whitby is host to goth weekend bringing in tourists from far and wide.
Whitby Abbey
**Top Tips**
If you’re feeling a little parched after your walk around the Abbey and beautiful, gothic graveyard, Whitby Brewery is just outside the grounds.
Take the time to have a look around the unique graveyard of St Marys, not only do some of the graves date back to Saxon times but local folk tales say that the pirates that used to frequent the harbour are buried here; look for the graves engraved with a skull and crossbones.
St Mary’s Grave Yard
After you’ve visited the Abbey on the East Cliff, descend the 199 stairs (you have to count them) and head over to the Dracula Experience museum back down in the bay.
Don’t forget to count the stairs and Google the reason why!
Once down in the bay make sure you look around all the unique little shops whether it’s for a gift for you or somewhere else. Just like in Castleton you can stop by a local jewellers to pick up some Whitby Jet, a gem local to the area. I’m sure you’ve all heard of the term jet black – well this is where the adjective comes from!
You also HAVE TO have fish and chips whilst in the bay, they are the best in the country and you’ll never taste fish so fresh. Rumour has it that the best in town is at the Magpie Cafe and I can vouch that it’s so so good.
**Top Tips**
Most of the chippies offer eat in a takeaway. If you choose takeaway, be aware of the seagulls! They too enjoy the local delicacies!
If you decide to eat in, queues to the restaurants always look long and overwhelming but they do move along pretty quickly so stick with it.
Breathe in!
The West Cliff has the Captain James Cook statue and giant whale bone arch at the top. You’ll also find the old Gun Battery on the West Cliff.
The West Cliff boasts spectacular views over the harbour as well as Whitby Abbey and St. Mary’s church on the East Cliff.
If you want to follow in the footsteps of Captain James Cook, why not set sail on a replica of HMS Endeavour around Whitby Harbour and along the coast to Sandsend.
Sit back and relax on the somewhat looking pirate boat (featured in the photo above) and take in sites of Yorkshire’s Dinosaur Coastline. You’ll also be on the lookout for local wildlife including many different types of sea bird, seals and occasionally porpoise, dolphins and whales.
This amazing excursion will only set you back Ā£3 for an adult ticket and Ā£2 for a child! Bargain Oooo Arrrrrgh!
Something I didn’t know that’s available in Whitby or even the UK is whale watching tours. Each summer whales arrive to feast on the migrating Herring. In the last two years alone, numerous Minke Whales, Sei, Fin and Humpback Whales, White Beaked and Bottlenose Dolphins and Porpoise along with Seals and many species of birds have been spotted of the East Yorkshire Coast.
The best time to spot the whales is late September to early October as they start their migration south. I’ve definitely added this on my list of things to do next time I go back to Whitby, maybe I’ll see you there?
View from the top of the lighthouse, another thing to do! Spot any wildlife?
There is one last thing I would recommend doing whilst in Whitby, another thing which I have yet to do but it’s high up on the list.
Take a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Hop on a romantic Steam Train through the North York Moors National Park into Whitby or just take a return trip from Whitby itself. For information on packages, routes and timetables click here.
Whether you take the train or drive through the North York Moors, you’ll see beautiful rolling green hills and if you go through in August to early September, you’ll see nothing but purple for miles and miles as all the Heather is in bloom. I only wish I had a photo to show you but you can Google it.
As you can probably tell, I love my city, Yorkshire and The North. The above is a very comprehensive but not exhaustive list of things Yorkshire and The North has to offer. If you have any more questions on the above or need a tour guide just drop me a line.
THE NORTH, the best motorway sign, EVER!
The one thing I do ask, is next time you think of the UK or take a trip here, remember, England is far more than just London!
Hopefully see you all in my neck of the woods.
Cat x
P.S. Keep reading to see a list of things to pack and to view a small gallery of Yorkshire images.
Things to Pack
Waterproof/Windproof Jacket
Waterbottle/Thermas
For the keen hikers, don’t forget your walking boots and stick.
For the photographers, as well as your camera, don’t forget your gadgets…
And of course to carry everything… your trusty rucksack.
Gallery
View over Sheffield from the back of the train station
When I found out that I’d be moving to Nigeria, I thought I would be saying goodbye to the beautiful greenery, rolling hills and wildlife of Yorkshire and hello to the smoggy heat and grey bustling city life of Lagos.
How wrong could I be?
I never expected to find conservation centres home to Gorillas, Elephants, Monkeys, Crocodiles, Antelope and least of all Pangolins.
I didn’t even know Pangolins were native to Nigeria and I certainly wasn’t expecting to see any in the flesh in my life.
Pangolins are ant eating mammals covered in protective keratin scales and the only mammal known to have this feature. They are nocturnal creatures who spend most of their days curled up in tiny little balls sleeping; something they also do when feeling threatened, curling into a ball to expose their scales whilst using the sharp scales on their tails to lash out.
There are 8 different types of Pangolin, 4 listed as critically endangered and 4 listed as vulnerable and unfortunately, Pangolins are one of the most smuggled mammals in the world due to their meat being seen as a delicacy in China as well as their scales being used for medicinal purposes there.
For all the bad that happens to Pangolins, this is a story of 2 very lucky Pangolins, whom I like to call Mr & Mrs Pangolin.
Two friends and I were exploring a local market here in Nigeria. We had just come out of a Chinese market and my friend spotted what he thought was an Armadillo and some Turtles. After closer inspection I realised that we werenāt dealing with an Armadillo, the animal was a Pangolin.
As they were outside a Chinese market and given what we knew, the fate of the Pangolin was not going to be a good one.
My friend stealthily took a quick photo of the animals and we got out of there.
As soon as we got into the car, I got on the phone to start calling around organisations who could possibly go and rescue Mr Pangolin and the Turtles. My friend was on Google lining up the numbers whilst I kept hitting dead ends.
I remembered reading a BBC article before I came to Nigeria about a man who rescued animals. I knew he was the guy to call but for the life of me I couldn’t remember his name (this bit becomes relevant further on in the story.)
Eventually the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) enquiries team picked up the phone. I explained the situation and they were ready to help. Shortly afterwards, I was able to speak with Joseph Onoja, the Director of Technical Programmes of the NCF who assembled a rescue team straight away.
An hour and a half later a full rescue had been completed. And even better than we thought, there was a Mrs Pangolin as well as a Mr and a total of 8 Turtles. š
The rate this team were able to assist was incredible to say the least. I wanted to know more about the team and what their capabilities were so I requested to meet up with them and watch the Pangolins and Turtles be set free- a moment I will never forget.
After a weekend of recuperation with the vet, Dr Mark Ofua, it was time for the animals to be released.
Dr Mark Ofua Pangolin (as he is now known) arrived at the conservation centre with the animals and what a happy sight it was to see them.
I swear I recognised Dr Ofua but just couldn’t place him (again, this will become relevant later.)
Back Centre Joseph Onoja and far right Dr Mark Ofua. Myself holding Mrs Pangolin and my friend Marie to my right.
As soon as Mr Pangolin woke up and saw the forest around him, I think he knew what was going on. He seemed to get so excited like he knew he was going to be released.
A freshly awoken Mr Pangolin, I swear he’s smiling.
Mrs Pangolin having a quick bath and drink before her release.
After introductions, it was time for the release; we headed for a quiet spot in the bush and first up was Mr Pangolin.
The first smell of freedom.
What an incredible moment, seeing this little guy climb his way to freedom. It took all I had not to cry! But that wasn’t the end of it, next up was Mrs Pangolin.
Dr Mark Ofua ready to release Mrs Pangolin.Look at that face š
Mrs Pangolin was a little more shy than her other half so we decided to give her some space, release the Turtles and come back to check on her. So next up… the Turtles!
Dr Mark Ofua putting the Turtles into the lake.
It was decided that 4 would be released at Lekki Conservation Centre and the other 4 at a nearby lake. This way the Turtle population could grow in 2 separate locations.
On the way back over to check on Mrs Pangolin, I had the chance to speak properly with Dr Mark Ofua. It turned out this wasn’t his first Pangolin rescue. He had returned around 20 back into the wild not to mention numerous snakes and other animals local to Nigeria.
Fairly recently he had even rescued a little black cat which was going to be used for ritual purposes. This is one of his few rescues that I think will end up permanently living with him.
I asked Dr Mark Ofua if he checked up on the animals he had released and whether he could track them. After a release, Dr Ofua goes back to site to check on the animals however, unfortunately the funding isn’t there in order for him to attach trackers to the animals.
Tracking is not only important for research into these animals but it also aids their protection. This is where you and I can help. I have set up a justgiving page to raise money for this crucial equipment.
If you can help, no matter how big or small please do so to help Dr Ofua in the amazing work that he does and to help the protection of these animals.
Not only is Dr Ofua a vetenarian who helps to save animals in his spare time, he also tries to educate local kids about animal rights šš»šš». What a guy. You can check him out on Instagram by clicking on this link.
Right… back to Mrs Pangolin. We headed back over to the bush to make sure she was ok and to our delight, we got back to where she was released just in time to see her clambering up a tree š.
Shortly after the seeing Mrs Pangolin make her break for freedom, Dr Ofua had a call about another animal in need of his assistance. This time it was a Python.
We swiftly made our way to the entrance of the Conservation Centre where the snake was waiting for him. The poor little guy was tangled up in a fishing line.
Dr Ofua quickly set to work, he made a secure bag to place the snake in (just out of what he could find) and slowly cut the snake free.
After the snake was securely in the bag I jokingly said, “you’ve done that before” to which Dr Ofua replied, ” I’m the snake man of Lagos, you can Google me!”
The penny suddenly dropped! This was the guy I had previously read about and been searching for on the internet when I was scrambling around to find someone to save the Pangolins! You can check out the BBC article about the Lagos Snake Man, here.
This truly was a humbling day. Seeing the work Dr Ofua and the NCF do is incredible and being witness to these endangered, beautiful animals being released back into the wild into a safe place was out of this world.
If you too enjoy seeing wildlife in it’s natural habitat and have a genuine interest in conservation then you should check out Lekki Conservation Centre, either for a visit or as a volunteer.
Please also check out their website. Here you can enquire on how to become a volunteer or even donate to aid the good work they do.
One of the stunning views in the centre.
The NCF who run Lekki Conservation Centre, was founded in 1980 by the late Chief S. L. Edu and it 1982 it was registered as a charitable trust.
The foundation has a vision of “a Nigeria where people prosper while living in harmony with nature.” After speaking with Adedamola Ogunsesan, a conservationist at the centre, it became apparent that this vision is as alive now as it was back in 1980.
For more photographs of the centre and some its inhabitants, please see the bottom of the article.
**Top Tips for visiting Lekki Conservation Centre**
Please be respectful. This is a conservation centre so please put all your litter in the bins provided.
Use reusable plastic bottle and straws. Not only will this help reduce rubbish at the centre but it will help reduce plastic in the Lagos area and on a wider scale.
Keep noise to a minimum. This area is home to many animals, it is not your home. Besides, the quieter you are, the better chance you have of spotting something in the wild.
I would advise going earlier in the day to beat the crowds…. and the traffic.
Please do all you can to help this precious planet and its inhabitants. We only get one shot! For those of you that have donated or given up your time to volunteer with the NCF, from the bottom of my heart, thank you ā¤.
See you there.
Cat x
P.S. Please leave your comments at the bottom of the post or contact me directly for more details. Please help to share this article using the buttons at the bottom of this post, this will help to raise awareness and much needed cash for the trackers! Xx
After visiting Jordan earlier in the year and falling in love with the country, I decided I wanted to visit more countries in the Middle East.
With the holiday blues setting in, I don’t think I lasted more than a few days before my friend threw a newspaper onto my desk with an amazing deal to Abu Dhabi, UAE. That was it, I booked my next Middle Eastern adventure.
As always, I had a few reservations… what should I wear to be respectful? Are there extra rules in place of what I can/cant do given I was travelling during Ramadan?
A little research before you travel anywhere is always advised and hopefully this blog will answer the questions above, as well as some of your own whilst giving you an insight of what Abu Dhabi has to offer with some tips along the way.
So 72 hours doesn’t seem like a long enough time to visit Abu Dhabi I hear you say.
WRONG!!
Although I always want a little extra time anywhere I visit, I actually got to see everything I wanted to plus more on this holiday. Below is a breakdown of what 72 hours in Abu Dhabi can get you.
A Trip to Yas Island
On Yas Island you’ll find the Grand Prix track, Yas Mall as well as not one, not two, but THREE theme parks!
Unfortunately, I didn’t visit the Grand Prix track on this occasion but you are allowed to cycle around the course as well as take a supercar for a spin. The supercar will set you back a pretty penny but for true car fanatics I’m sure it’s a once in a lifetime experience so well worth it.
I was lucky enough to do two out of the three theme parks, the first being Ferarri World. This is another must for car fanatics and roller coaster lovers alike. The park offers the history about Ferarri, white knuckle roller coasters as well as a display of Ferrari’s finest from over the years.
Theme park two that I visited was Warner Brothers World. This is the worlds largest indoor theme park and is a fantastic visit. It has white knuckle rides as well as smaller rides and simulators. So whether you’re an adrenaline junky like me, or fancy flying around Gotham with Batman, this theme park has something for everyone.
The park is split into sections so you can spend your morning visiting Metropolis or Gotham, have your lunch with the Looney Tunes, dessert in Bedrock and finish the day with a trip around Tom and Jerry’s & Scooby Doo’s House.
One of my favourite/scariest things about the theme parks, is that you can’t actually see most of the roller coasters so you’re basically blind as to what you’re getting on to, until you’re strapped into the seat and being flung around. š±š±š±
The third theme park which I didn’t visit (as I had a free buffet to get back to š) was the water park. I did, however, drive and walk past it. The slides and roller coasters (that’s right, coasters in a water park!) looked insane and I would make sure I visited this on my next trip to Abu Dhabi.
Yas Mall is also worth a visit, it has LOTS of shops for the shopaholics out there as well as lots of places to eat/drink, including a rather delicious Cheesecake Factory – not exactly local cuisine but pretty damn tasty none the less.
**Top Tips**
Wear comfy shoes, many people went in flip flops but the theme parks are large and take some walking!
You can buy tickets for multiple parks which will make it cheaper and during Ramadan, you can buy a ticket for all three parks for the price of one so make sure you look for this offer online before you book.
Take suncream, the parks are indoors but some of the rides take you outside. You can also walk between the parks.
During Ramadan, food and water cannot be consumed in public. You can still eat and drink in all of the restaurants as they cover up the restaurant fronts so you cannot see inside them. No need to worry about not being able to eat and drink. There are also drinking fountains in the toilets.
Take a cardigan or jacket. Yes it might be 40Ā°C outside but no matter where you go inside the aircon is pumping hard!
Visit Skeikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Whether you are religious or not, you MUST MUST visit this mosque not only for the peace and serenity but also to see how truly stunning this building is.
I would have happily paid an entry fee to see this magnificent building but very lucky for us, it’s free entry! Bonus! š
The mosque was completed on 20th December 2007 and cost a whopping 2 billion Dirhams ($545 million USD) to complete!
The mosque has 82 domes in total of 7 different sizes. The carpet in the main prayer room is considered to be the biggest in the world weighing in at a back breaking 35 tonnes, taking around 2 years to complete.
The floor is absolutely stunning. It was made from white marble tiles and the floral inlays are made from mosaic, carved and sand blasted glass.
The mosque can hold 41,000 worshipers at one time and during Ramadan, 20,000 Muslims come here each evening to share Iftar together.
**Top Tips**
Visiting this mosque during sunrise or sunset is highly recommended, the low sun hits the perfectly white marble giving it an orange glow. Unfortunately, as I went during Ramadan, the mosque was shut to the public at these times.
As above, check on the website before you go to find out the opening times. These may vary due to times of worship.
Check the website for what clothing is appropriate. Long sleeves, both legs and arms is required. Ladies must also where a head scarf. Do not worry if you aren’t dressed appropriately, you will be given a hooded gown to wear before you enter the mosque.
Be respectful, keep noise levels down and only walk and take pictures in the designated areas.
Etihad Towers
Etihad Towers again offers shops and restaurants however, I went here specifically to go up to the 74th floor to the Observation Deck. No matter where I go on holiday, I’m always in search for a good spot for sunset and the Observation Deck offered a 360Ā° panoramic view over the city. Just beautiful.
The deck does cost 85AED ($23 USD) to go up and you can pre book this online. The views are well worth the price.
**Top Tips**
The Observation Deck has a restaurant at the top which does really good food (without breaking the bank) including afternoon tea. As this restaurant is pretty much on top of the world, it doesnt have to be covered up during Ramadan.
The Observation Deck closes at 7pm so find out what time sunset is at (if that’s why you’re going up) and I’d advise to go up an hour before that so you can watch it go down over the ocean.
Pick your perfect seat, the sun goes down in the west which falls just to the left of the Emirate Palace and just to the right of the UAE Presidential Palace.
Don’t expect to be able to take the best photographs of your life. Being so high I imagine the window cleaner doesn’t visit all that often so there is a lot of glare from the dirt on the windows.
Emirate Palace
Although the Emirate Palace is a hotel, non guests can enter the building for a little snoop around until early evening.
The hotel is generally used by the rich and famous so no pictures are allowed inside the building although I managed to take a couple.
Inside is very grand as you might expect so definitely worth a look around. Even the wall clocks are Rolex!
For me, it was worth it just for this view of the Abu Dhabi skyline when you step out of the building.
The Emirate Palace also has a pretty garden outside with many large fountains making for good picture opportunities.
**Top Tips**
The Emirate Palace is opposite Etihad Tower so you can incorporate this into your tower visit. I went here first so that I could capture the skyscrapers glistening in the sun.
Emirate Palace can be visited by non guests until late evening but you must adhere to their dress code. Smart casual, no shorts or flip flops. You should be covered to a respectable level- please check their website for further details.
Kayaking in the Mangroves
To say Abu Dhabi is in the desert partly sat on man made islands, I didn’t expect it to have luscious green mangroves with a whole host of wildlife to see.
Here you can take a boat, kayak and even paddle board.My friend and I hired a kayak for a few hours to get out of the heat of the city.
A guided two hour kayak tour with only set you back about Ā£30 and I would highly recommend doing it.
Unfortunately our taxi got lost trying to find our marina so we missed our tour however, the company gave us kayaks anyway and showed us on a map where to go.
There are lovely beaches to moor the boat at so that you can take in the nature. It felt very odd to me because it seemed like we were in the middle of nowhere yet you could still see the Abu Dhabi skyline looming in the distance.
Whilst paddling around and sitting on the beach you’ll probably see a fair bit of wildlife such as Mottled Crabs, Western Reef Heron, Greater Flamingos and Eagles. If you’re very lucky you might spot Turtles, Dolphins or even a Manatee!
**Top Tips**
Although it may feel cooler, you’re still in Abu Dhabi… look after yourselves, take water, snacks and plenty of suncream. If you book through a company they will often supply you with water so check that out before you go.
If you use your phone for photography, take a waterproof cover so if you go for a swim or while youre paddling it won’t get splashed. You can see these below in my section of what I recommend you to take.
I’ve been informed that the best time to go to the Mangroves is Jan/Feb time. The temperature is lower and the water is higher so you can paddle down some if the smaller channels.
It was a windy day when my friend and I went out so make sure you have the stamina to keep going. If you share a kayak make sure your friend pulls their weight otherwise you’re in for a hard slog!
Take a Desert Safari
This was my favourite part of the trip. There are many trips like this but I chose mine as it seemed to incorporate all of the elements of the others. My trip included:
Sand dune bashing- this is where your guide hurtles you up/down into the sand dunes in your jeep. It’s so much fun!
Sand boarding – I thought this would be like snow boarding but I was wrong! You basically lie on your stomach on a board, face down, hanging over the edge of a sand dune…. and then you get pushed down! This was brilliant, although the walk back up the dune was pretty tough!
Visiting a camel farm- here we got to feed and pet the camels who were lovely.
A camel trek in the desert- this was short but sweet.
Traditional dinner in a Bedouin Camp- so very tasty. There are meat dishes, veggie, salads, dips, breads. Delicious!
Henna painting- this is included in the tour price and available once into the Bedouin Camp.
Once in the camp you can change into traditional dress should you wish for a photo opportunity.
At this particular camp there was a hawk living there who you could have your photo with.
Live entertainment- this could change from dancing to belly dancers.
Sunset over the desert- I do love a good sunset!
Stargazing- always a favourite of mine.
Open fire and sheesha pipes.
Optional quad biking (at an additional cost).
There are two tours a day but I chose the evening tour so that I could see sunset and the stars…. it didn’t quite turn out that way…We had a huge rain and thunderstorm!!
At first I was a little disappointed however, after thinking about it for all of a few seconds, I realised how lucky I was. Not many people get to witness a storm like this in May…. in the desert in Abu Dhabi. My tour guide said he’d been here for 13 years and never known it rain in May before.
I decided to embrace it and not hide with the others in the shelter but to sit outside with my dinner in the rain, it was really quite refreshing.
I can recommend the tour I took, our tour guide Imran Khan (not the cricketer) was a fantastic. He was very knowledgeable and made our experience really fun. You can find the tour I went on here.
**Top Tips**
You will be advised not to eat two to three hours before you go on the tour. The sand dune bashing is rough and trust me, your dinner will repeat on you if you don’t follow that instruction!
The dune bashing and sand boarding aren’t for the faint hearted so pick a tour that’s more appropriate for you.
If you’re going into the desert on a hot day, I’d wear long but thin sleeves to keep the sun off you. No amount of factor 50 will stop you burning.
Take an extra layer for the evening. Although the desert is scorching hot in the day, the temperature can plummet at night time.
There are many other trips you can take in the city. A day trip to Dubai perhaps or a Big Red Bus tour of the city. The bus tour, I didn’t find worth the money as I was always going to see all if the sights myself but see what you think!
Overall Top Tip and Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
Alcohol– you are able to drink in Abu Dhabi, the hotel is serve alcohol and many have a happy hour in the evening. The happy hour is a little different to how I’m used to it as the alcohol is free and self served! Don’t go crazy, this isn’t the place for you to be caught drunk and disorderly.
What to Wear- Abu Dhabi is a pretty westernised place so you can wear what you like. Please note, wear what you will be comfortable in, whether this being due to the heat or due to the amount of attention you might attract. Remember to cover up if you’re going to a religious building.
Visiting During Ramadan- food and drink isn’t to be consumed in public, this includes in your vehicle. Restaurants are still open so you can still be fed and watered. The restaurants just have their fronts covered up with sheets so that you can’t see inside and the food smell doesn’t come out. I don’t know if it was due to Ramadan (my tour guide said not, as Abu Dhabi is always quiet compared to Dubai) but everywhere I went was so quiet, even the theme parks. We didnt need to queue for entry or to get on any of the rides! This meant we covered two theme parks in one day! The shopping malls were also deserted which for me, was great!!
Getting around- I found the best way to get around was by taxi. They are everywhere, all of the time and cheap. A lot of the taxi drivers and Christian and Hindu so there won’t be a shortage even if you do go during Ramadan. A taxi from the airport will set you back around 90AED and a taxi back to the airport round 60AED.
Is Abu Dhabi Safe? I felt very safe in Abu Dhabi. Normally walking around a city at night is not something I would recommend but here, I really did feel safe. Crime is low due to the severity of the punishment.
Things To Pack
Clothing for slightly cooler weather and aircon buildings. You’ll need long sleeves to keep out of the sun and a warm layer for the desert.
Sensible walking boots
Camera and equipment. I always carry mine on me as you just never know when the perfect picture opportunity will arise. Don’t forget to include a waterproof case for your phone in case you decide to go kayaking/swimming. These cases can allow you to take underwater photos without damaging your phone.
Beach wear with suitable shoes for the kayaking. I would recommend wet shoes with a rubber sole and NOT flip flops.
A sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, it will also get very hot. The sunglasses will also help keep the sand out of your eyes in the desert.
A power bank to charge your phone. If you have a similar itinerary to mine and use your phone to take photos, then youāll probably need a recharge at some point. I use the one below which gives me about 5 charges.
A sturdy rucksack to put your water bottle/flask in plus all over the above! I use the one below as it comes with a detachable day bag. I always take my stainless steel cutlery set as shown below, you never know when youāll need them. The set does come with a set of straws but again it cant hurt to take some extra with you in case you canāt wash them. These ones are stainless steel so reusable and more environmentally friendly. When youāre off the beaten track and buy a drink, itās more hygienic to drink from one of your own straws rather than the can/bottle.
If you have any others questions that I may not have answered above then please do drop me a message. you can find more imagines from my trip on Instagram @resfeberandI.
I cant wait to explore this vibrant city again in the future and who knows, next time I might have saved up enough to take a lap around the Grand Prix track!
Nestled inbetween counties torn apart by war and political unrest, Jordan truly is a jewel within a crown of thorns with its rich history, culture, dramatic yet beautiful landscapes and some of the friendliest and welcoming people you’ll ever meet.
If you enjoy a fast paced holiday, want to see ancient ruins whilst learning the history of the land, eat amazing food until you’re fit to burst, then hike wonders of the world and stunning landscapes, then Jordan is the place for you.
Now, before I go on, I want to share my number 1 tip for Jordan… get the Jordan pass before you go. It costs 70JD which is around Ā£77 and gives you access to most of Jordan’s top attractions including entry into Petra which alone is 50JD. The pass also covers your visa fee when entering the country. You can pay a little extra for the pass which gives you a 2 day pass to Petra. Petra is such a huge site so if you have the time I would advise doing this. I’m a keen hiker so can get around pretty quick but 1 day for me wasn’t enough. There are also options to add on entry to Bethany which I would advise doing if you’re planning a trip there. You can find the Jordan pass on the link below.
Aqaba in the south of Jordan is perfect for those of you that want to relax and catch a few sun rays. The beautiful beaches overlook the Red Sea with views of Egypt and Israel. As well as relaxing on the beach, many of the resorts offer water sports including scuba diving around the coral reef. I didn’t have time to dive but managed to take a glass bottom boat tour, where I really enjoyed seeing the coral but it made me feel sad at the amount of litter thrown in there.
**Top Tip** if you want to sunbathe, I would advise doing so in one of the resorts. Although Jordan is pretty westernised, you should still be respectful of the local community if you want to lay around in swimwear.
Markets
For the shopaholics out there, you’ll be pleased to know there will be ample opportunities to shop with quirky bustling markets and boutiques dotted around the place. I explored a market in Aqaba and particularly enjoyed the spice stalls where I picked up some lemon salt and Jordanian tea (a must try). There are plenty of places to pick up souvenirs from your trip but animal lovers be warned.., you will see animals waiting to be slaughtered as well as slaughtered animals. I know not everyone wants to read that but I personally found that quite hard to see so thought it only right to share my full experience.
**Top Tip** Try the spices in the market before you buy, they are so delicious! Also go in there prepared to haggle and you’ll grab yourself a bargain.
History
For the wannabe historian/archaeologists or for those interested in seeing/learning about ancient history you have the Greek and Roman remains of Pella, Umm Qais and Jerash. Not to mention the Nabataean Kingdom of Petra, one of the wonders of the world and an absolute must see whilst in Jordan.
Whether you are religious or not, it’s very interesting learning about Biblical times and seeing some of the places referred to in the bible as well as seeing views over the Holy Land. You can also visit Bethany which is the claimed baptism site of Jesus.
**Top Tips** take appropriate clothing. Walking boots or at a minimum trainers are required as there will be a lot of walking in gravely and sandy areas. I’d also recommend taking a backpack and layers. I visited in February and had beautiful sunshine, rain and even snow so its good to be prepared.
The Desert
Visiting Wadi Rum (Valley of the Moon) for me, was the best part of my tour around Jordan. If you want to follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia, enjoy being outdoors and taking a jeep safari through the sand dunes, or simply just be, and watch the beautiful sunset behind the dramatic landscapes or taking a camel trek to watch the sunrise, then Wadi Rum is the place for you.
For the more adventurous or people wanting to connect with the nature around them, you can even stay overnight in a Bedouin Camp at Wadi Rum. Enjoy a traditional evening meal and dancing followed by camp fire stories and gazing at the infinite, beautiful stars. Just unreal š
**Top Tip** the desert gets cold at night so take layers. I shared my hand warmers when sat around the camp fire to other members of the group, it really does get cold! See the link at the bottom of this page for my preferred choice.
I would also have your sunglasses to hand regardless of the sun. When the wind picks up it blows the sand around and you want to avoid getting it in your eyes.
Relaxing
After a few days of exploring, why not take yourself off to the Dead Sea for a mud treatment and let the tranquility take over you by floating weightlessly on the water. This is a truly unique experience and another must do when in Jordan.
**Top Tip** Take some beach shoes that you can wear in the sea. The sea bed is made of very hard and scratchy salt so if you don’t want to cut your feet up, wear the shoes!
Another way to relax after walking all day is to visit one of the Turkish spas. There is one on the same road as the entrance to Petra so after walking for miles I took myself off here with a couple of gal pals.
**Top Tip** The massages can be pretty handsy so if you don’t like bein nude in front of other people and being massaged pretty much all over then this is probably not for you.
Dining
Now for the foodies out there, trust me, you’ll be in heaven in Jordan as the food is just amazing. You can find the usual takeaways, even a KFC here and there but dining out in Jordan is very much a social event and sampling a local Jordanian restaurant is a must. There is food to cater for meat eaters and vegetarians and no matter what you order, you’ll always seem to get a traditional starter of pitta breads, hummus, multiple salads and dips. The fresh fruit drinks are also to die for. I found the food here very reasonably priced considering you always get a Mezze starter (which always filled me up.) The most I paid was 13JD which equates to about Ā£13. For lunch I had falafel wraps with a drink and fruit and that was around 5JD.
Alcohol is also served in Jordan. It isn’t served in every restaurant BUT there are liquor stores wherever you go.
**Top Tip** seriously get stuck into some traditional food, it’s some of the best I’ve ever eaten. With things like Mansaf, Maqluba, fresh fish of the day and a sharing Mezze to name just a few, trust me, there’s bound to be something on the menu that you’ll love.
I’ll be honest, I’m not really one for a package holiday, however, as much as I wanted to explore Jordan, I did have my reservations given its geographical location but how wrong could I be?! I always felt safe here, even when alone or getting taxis. The below is the itinerary I covered, I will cover each thing in more details in future posts.
Day 1: Fly to Aqaba followed by a traditional evening meal.
Day 2: Exploring the coastline of the Red Sea before driving up the Wadi Arabia road to Amman.
Day 3: A day of ruins with a morning visit to Pella, one of the most ancient towns in the world followed by an afternoon visit to Umm Qais, a member of the Decapolis and the centre of Greek culture in the region.
Day 4: A morning visit to Jerash, The Jewel of the North and one of the most preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside if Italy. In the afternoon we headed over to Bethany followed by the Dead Sea.
Day 5: A beautiful drive along the 2000 year old Kings Highway took us firstly to Madaba,’The City of Mosaics’ before proceeding to Mount Nebu known as the burial place of the Prophet Moses. We then stopped at Kerak to explore the spectacular Crusader Castle built in the 12th century AD and situated 1000 meters above sea level.
Day 6: The one we were all waiting for, a full day in The Rose Red City of Petra. The ancient Nabatean city is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and an absolute must see whilst in Jordan.
Day 7: Enroute to Wadi Rum we took a stop at Little Petra, which was the entry and exit point for the trade routes followed by a stop at the Seven Pillars of Arabia which is where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. Last stop was Wadi Rum which is home to several Bedouin tribes and was a perfect last night under the stars in Jordan.
Day 8: A sunrise camel trek in the desert before heading back to Aqaba to take a glass bottom boat tour to see the Coral Reef followed by some last minute shopping in the markets.
I felt very lucky actually as my tour guide for the week, Eddie, had an in depth knowledge about the history of Jordan as well as where to go for food/shopping. He gave us all some very useful tips. Here are just a couple:
Don’t talk about religion or politics
Do talk about the water shortage, the deficit and Azuz (a small child that is the butt of many jokes.)
I took the below picture of Eddie in Wadi Rum. He loved it so much I traded my lens ball with him for a beer!
Things To Pack
Clothing for every type of weather. It’s better to pack layers so you can add or remove as necessary.
Sensible walking boots as you’ll probably cover every terrain imaginable.
Camera and equipment. I always carry mine on me as you just never know when the perfect picture opportunity will arise.
Hand/foot warmers. TRUST ME, these are a godsend as the desert gets freezing at night. These particular ones are tried and tested by myself and literally last all night.
Beach wear with suitable shoes for the Dead Sea. I would recommend wet shoes with a rubber sole and NOT flip flops.
A sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. As well as the cold, it will also get very hot. The sunglasses will also help keep the sand out of your eyes in the desert.
A power bank to charge your phone. If you have a similar itinerary to mine and use your phone to take photos, then you’ll probably need a recharge at some point. I use the one below which gives me about 5 charges.
A sturdy rucksack to put your water bottle/flask in plus all over the above! I use the one below as it comes with a detachable day bag. I always take my stainless steel cutlery set as shown below, you never know when you’ll need them. The set does come with a set of straws but again it cant hurt to take some extra with you in case you can’t wash them. These ones are stainless steel so reusable and more environmentally friendly. When you’re off the beaten track and buy a drink, it’s more hygienic to drink from one of your own straws rather than the can/bottle.
I truly loved this country and the time I spent there. I really hope to go back to explore further but until then, Jordan, keep shining.
Cat x
P.S. Sign up to my blog for more in depth details about all the excursions I went on and please drop me a message for any questions about this amazing place!
One of the reasons I love living in my home town of Sheffield, UK, is because it has a bustling city centre full of trendy bars, pubs and restaurants as well as some beautiful architecture. If you take a 10 minute drive out of the city you are out in the Peak District where you can hike, climb and cave to your hearts content.
I think this is one of the reasons I feel so at home in Iceland. Staying in its capital, Reykjavik, you have all the shops, bars and restaurants you could possibly need and with only a small population in the city of 123,000, it is a very peaceful place.
To take in the stunning views of Reykjavik, all you have to do is take a step out of your front door.
Iceland, to me, is a home away from home. I feel so at peace there. There always seems to be a mysterious magic in the air which I find enchanting and this is before you start to read and listen to the local Icelandic folktales, such as the story of the terrifying Christmas Cat or Yule Cat.
At Christmas time in Iceland, families give warm clothing to each member of their household.
According to legend, there is a frightening Christmas Cat who stalks the snowy countryside and gobbles up anyone not equipped for the cold and wintery weather.
Families in Iceland work together to ensure nobody will āgo to the Christmas Cat”.
Anyway, then you have the absolute beauty of the country, the stunning scenery carved out by the volcanic activity (something I’ve always been obsessed with) and moving tectonic plates. Not to mention waterfalls in abundance and the breathtaking glaciers and glacier lagoons.
Now, you can hire a car in Iceland. The roads are pretty quiet, especially after you’ve left the city and there is one main road that circuits the whole island. Many of the roads have underground geothermal heating which helps the ice and snow melt so driving conditions aren’t too bad. Myself, I took tour buses so that I could relax and meet people along the way.
So far, I’ve only managed to scratch the surface of the Southwest coast but these are some of my favourite things to do and recommendations.
1. Explore!
Take a walk around the city, it is small enough to see everything by foot. The Cathedral, HallgrĆmskirkja costs 1000ISK to go up the tower but it offers panoramic views over the city.
I particularly enjoy walking along the marina to take in the panoramic views over the mountains. At the end of the marina is Harpa, a relatively new concert hall which has some beautiful architecture, just make sure you look up when you go inside.
After a bit of walking you might want to check out one of the many coffee shops dotted about the city, where there isn’t a Starbucks or Costa in sight! Te og Kaffi is Iceland’s biggest coffee shop chain but it’s always good to check out the independent stores as well. Most stores have free samples of teas or coffees!
**Top tips** try out the local cuisine. I had it on good authority from a local Icelander to try Icelandic lamb as apparently it’s like no lamb you’ve ever tasted before. I’m not a big meat eater but when I’m away I do try and sample local delicacies.
Having done so, I can confirm the lamb is truly delicious and as promised, like no other lamb I had tried before. Whilst over there you must also try the local hot dogs (also made of lamb.)
My most favourite meal I ate whilst in Reykjavik, was the home made soup. There is normally a meat or a veggie option, all made freshly and served inside a giant bread bowl. It’s honestly the best soup I’ve ever eaten and the cute little cafe, Svarta Kaffid serving it did say it was the best soup in Reykjavik! I can’t say how welcome the cosy little cafe was whilst the wind howled and snow fell outside with the beautiful soup warming our souls.
The final thing to try whilst you’re out and about is the local ice cream. Come rain, shine or blizzard, Icelanders love their Ice cream. I’ll be honest, I thought people were bonkers eating ice cream in the winter even if you do eat it indoors (advised) but on my last day I thought, when in Romeā¦. I tried the smoked lava salted chocolate ice creamā¦ heaven!
2. Perlan
Another fantastic thing to go to in Reykjavik is Perlan. Perlan is a bunch of large hot water tanks and sitting on top of them on the forth floor is a large observation deck which offers panoramic views over the city.
Admission to the observation deck is 490ISK however, one of the hot water tanks has been converted into a museum called Wonders of Iceland. The museum has exhibitions about volcanoes, glaciers and geothermal marvels not to mention the museum’s very own ice cave and Planetarium! The cost for the museum is 3,900ISk which also includes admission to the observation deck.
One of my favourite things to do on holiday, is find a good observation deck and go up the tower just before sunset. That way, I get the view in the day time, during a (hopefully) stunning sunset and of the city all lit up at night.
**Top tip** there is a free shuttle bus to and from Perlan which leaves from Harpa. The shuttle bus runs every half an hour.
3. The Golden Circle Tour
A good way to see a lot of the more popular tourist attractions is to go on the Golden Circle Tour. The tour guides offer a history and geology of each spectacular site. On the tour you will get to walk in the footsteps of Jon Snow and the Wildlings by walking between the tectonic rift at Thingvellir National Park. Here, the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet or rather move away from each other and you can walk in between them. For the very brave, you can throw on a wet suit and swim between the plates!
The tour also offers a trip to the awe inspiring Gullfoss waterfall. If you go in the winter, the waterfall will be perfectly frozen and glistening in the sun.
**Please take heed!!!** It can be incredibly windy here! I’ve seen many people blow over so be sure to wrap up warm and hold on for your life!!! This is a video of my best friend and I trying to stay on our feetā¦
I think my favourite part of the tour (also very windy and cold) is the Stokkur hot springs and Geysers. Stokkur is the most reliable geyser on site launching scolding hot water up to 40 metres into the air every 6 to 10 minutes!
**top tips** (literally) try not to stand down wind. The water is very hot and you will get soaked!!!
I would advise you to take snacks and water (or a nice flask of hot tea) with you on the trip. There is a cafe at Stokkur where the bus will stop for lunch.
I promised waterfalls in abundance and here are 2 more! Whilst making our way to Black Sand Beach we stopped at 2 waterfall sites, the first one being Seljalandsfoss.
This is the waterfall that you are able to walk behind to see the waterfall’s force up close and personal. Unfortunately, due to freezing conditions, this was closed off when we visited. Still though, how beautiful is this?!
Just to the left of this waterfall is a viewing tower which gives you a beautiful side view of the falls. This can also be closed in winter as the spray from the falls often freezes making it too dangerous to go up.. not that that stopped some people.
This is generally a nice area to hike so we took a stroll just to the left of the falls to stretch our legs and take in some of that fresh Icelandic air.
About a 15 minute drive from Seljalandsfoss you are greeted by the almighty SkĆ³gafoss.
Cascading from a height of 60 metres and at 25 metres wide, SkĆ³gafoss is one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls.
Trying to take these pictures on a cold, wintry day was pretty difficult. The spray from the falls had frozen on the ground so I was like Bambi on ice trying to get up close. Everyone was waddling round like penguins trying not to slip.
Icelandic folktale says there is a chest of treasure at the bottom of these falls, put there by Ćrasi ĆĆ³rĆ³lfsson, the first settler of SkĆ³gar. He was said to be a great warrior, well informed and with supernatural skills.
Ćrasi was a wealthy man and in his later years, he decided that upon death, he did not want to share his wealth so locked away gold and treasures into a chest and dropped it into the darkest depths of the SkĆ³gafoss plunge pool.
Over many years, people have tried to find the chest with only one group of men coming close. They managed to get their rope through a ring on the chest however, after they started to raise the chest, the ring broke off allowing the chest to fall back into the depths. The men were left with only the ring.
SkĆ³gar used to have a church where the ring was fitted to the church door. In 1890 the church was demolished so the ring found its way to EyvindarhĆ³lar and was fitted to the church door there.
In 1960 the church was demolished and the ring can now be seen in the SkĆ³gar Folk Museum.
**top tip** tread carefully, the spray from the waterfalls freezes on the ground and it really is treacherous to walk on. Also dress appropriately, it can be freezing and the falls kick out a lot of spray.
5. Black Sand Beach
Although one of the most exotic and famous beaches in the world, this is also one of the most dangerous. It has crazy undercurrents and HUGE waves as there is no land mass between Antarctica and here so the waves have thousands of kilometres to build. Even on a calm day sneaker waves can appear when least expected and if any of the waves knocks you off your feet you’ve had it.
Beautiful scenery though with the huge rocky sea stacks just off the coast. According to local Icelandic folklore, these large basalt columns (in the above picture) were once trolls trying to pull ships from the ocean to shore. However, these trolls were dim and went out too late in the night; dawn broke on the horizon, turning the trolls into solid stone. – everyone knows trolls turn to stone in daylight!
**top tip** and one definitely not to be ignored. These waves truly are ferocious and absolutely massive. If you think you are far enough back from the waves…. you are not, take a few more steps back. Also… NEVER turn your back on the waves. It takes just a second for the waves to hurtle onto the shore and knock you off your feet. If this happens… you’re a goner. I heard a local say the only way people escape this situation is by digging their hands into the sand. A lady on the beach at the same time as us didn’t listen to the warnings and went into a cave… A huge wave then filled the cave and swept her and her friend out. They really are lucky to be alive.
6. Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is a strip of black sand belonging to the greater BreiĆ°amerkursandur glacial plain. As the beach is located next to the JƶkulsĆ”rlĆ³n glacier lagoon, the icebergs which fill the lagoon wash up on the shore which against the dark contrast of the black sand, look like huge sparkling diamonds.
**top tip** calling all you nature and wildlife lovers!! Not only is this beach stunning, it is also called home by many seals. It is also the best place on the Island to see the orcas from the shore!
7. JƶkulsĆ”rlĆ³n Glacier Lagoon
This is the first place in Iceland that blew my mind! The still water in the lagoon is situated within the Vatnajƶkull National Park and is truly stunning. The perfectly blue icebergs bob around in the water, some flowing down a short waterway into the Atlantic Ocean, hence the chunks of ice on Diamond Beach.
Chunks of ice also flowed up the waterway into glacier lagoon at such a speed it sounded like thunder as the icebergs collided.
During the winter, the lagoon is full of fish so hundreds of seals live here.
Honestly, I could have spent hours here, listening to the glacier collide as well as the ice crackling and popping in the icy water.
This brings me on to my next **top tip**. Take your time here. Take a seat on the rocks, enjoy the peacefulness and completely stunning scenery. It’s not often you get to witness mother nature at its best so take a deep breath and just let it all in.
8. Skaftafell National Park Glacier Hike
I honestly, don’t have the words to describe the beauty of the Icelandic glaciers. 11% of Iceland is covered in the stunning glaciers and whilst visiting, I cannot recommend enough that you take a hike on a glacier (with an expert glacier guide of course.)
This by far, was my favourite excursion (the glacier lagoon a close second.) Not only do you get to hike on the blue ice, you get to explore inside the glacier in one of its many ice caves.
After getting off the bus, we got all our safety gear on and then took about a 30 minute walk over what I can only describe as moonscape. You’re carefully walking and all of a sudden there it is, Skaftafellsjƶkull Glacier, looking like a giant frozen river over the moonscape.
You know when you’ve played a repetitive computer game like Tetris or Candy Crush and everytime you blink all you can see are the little screen shots of colour in your head? Well, after seeing the scenery in the below picture, that’s all I could see for days whenever I blinked or shut my eyes. I’ve never had that happen before but it clearly had an impact on me.
I was actually stopped in my tracks by the sheer beauty, I very nearly cried. No time for tears though, it was time to put my nerves and excitement to one side and get to the glacier.
Once arriving at the glacier, the group took 10 minutes to get acquainted with our crampons and take a few more pictures.
It was time to hit the ice and go in search of an ice cave. It was almost difficult to keep an eye on my footing because with every step the scenery changed and I just wanted to take it all in!
After hiking over the meandering, jolty ice for a while (successfully without falling down a crevasse) we came across the entrance to our ice cave.
Carved out by the underground glacial rivers, I can only describe the cave as the most perfect, bluest, frozen wave you’ve ever seen.
The tour group that followed us into the cave had a young gentleman that proposed to his now fiance! Who could say no in such a romantic setting?!
After heading out of the cave, the tour guide had another surprise for us, a crevasse which the tour company had made safe for us to enter.
I actually didn’t think the day could get any better but thenā¦
It’s hard to see from the pictures but this is probably the most perfectly carved blue ice tunnel anyone could see. Although slightly scary as it led to an abyss, it was even more beautiful.
Sadly, it was time to hike back to the bus but the views back were equally as stunning.
**top tips** always listen to your glacier guide and trust in your crampons! They will stop you from slipping and be your best friend on the ice if you listen to the advice of the guide. Also… Once again, take in every second of this once in a lifetime excursion.
Everything from SkĆ³gafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Black Sand Beach, Diamond Beach, JƶkulsĆ”rlĆ³n Glacier Lagoon, ice hiking and caving on Skaftafellsjƶkull, was a 2 day excursion out of Reyjavik with a company called Troll Expeditions. This included an overnight stay with breakfast. The tour guide also keeps you up to date as to your chances of seeing the Northern Lights and where best to stand.
9. Northern Light Tour
No trip to Iceland would be complete without an expedition out into the dark night on a quest to find the illusive Northern Lights.
On my first trip to Iceland, we could see every star in the sky but alas, the sky was just not dancing for us. This time, however….
The sky danced the night away! This was truly the perfect ending to one of the best days of my life. Glacier hiking topped off with Northen Lights. šš
I was supposed to go hunting for the Northern Lights with my best friend, Lauren. Unfortunately, she was taken ill that evening so couldn’t make it.
In the queue for the bus, I met another solo female traveller and we got chatting. It turned out her friend was also supposed to come on the trip with her and coincidentally, her friend was also called Lauren! I took this as a sign that we were going to see the lights.
**top tips** If you take a tour bus to see the lights, try and go at the start of your holiday. If you don’t see the lights, the tour company will take you out each night until you (hopefully) see them, therefore you’ll maximise your chance of seeing them. This is the same with other tours such as Whale watching. When taking photos of the lights, remember to turn off your flash, have your ISO setting high and shutter speed on slow to take the best pictures (the tour guide can help with this) sometimes you can only see the lights through your photos and this gives you the best shot of doing so.
10. Blue Lagoon
To me, there was no better way of finishing off this holiday than to visit the Blue Lagoon on our last day.
Here you get to bask in the geothermal water whilst indulging in a complimentary face mask and drink at the poolside bar. You are given a handy wristband that calculates your bar tab meaning you don’t have to get out of the steaming hot water every time you want a drink! What’s not to love?!
It was a very odd sensation being in 40Ā°C water whilst having ours heads sticking out in a blizzard!
Blizzard or no blizzard, this was the most chilled out I’d been all holiday and soaked my aching legs from the days of hiking.
**tip tips** you can hire a bathrobe for a little extra however, there really isn’t any point as you can enter the lagoon from inside the centre. Once you leave the lagoon there are plenty of towels to grab. Also.. for all you photographers out there, you can take a waterproof case for your phone/camera or even buy one for your phone at the bar there.šš»
One last tip, it can be pricey here. My friends and I hired a very reasonable and beautiful apartment in the heart of the city and our host had all the charms of Iceland. This way, we were able to do our shopping at a supermarket to save on cash. If you chose to do this, use the Bonus Supermarkets as they are by far the cheapest. Just bear in mind they close quite early so check the timings online before you leave. The water here is also some of the freshest in the world so do not waste your money on buying bottled water. You can drink the tap water and water from most lakes, rivers and springs as long as it runs clear!
Sadly, this was the end of the trip. I wish I could have stayed forever and I cannot wait to return to explore more of this beautiful country.
Iceland, I love you!
Cat x
P.s. Take a look below for a list of recommended items to take with you!
Essential Items to Pack
A sturdy rucksack. You’ll want to take snacks, water, cameras, first aid kit etc with you so this is a must have.
Photography gear. You cannot visit this beautiful country without taking any pictures.Ā
Thermal underlayers. I’d advise getting some merino layers to help keep the wind out!
Waterproof outer layers. You don’t want your trips ruined by being wet and cold especially as some of the trips last all day.
Waterproof, thermal coat. Don’t spend your holiday shivering!
Thermal hat and gloves. My gloves were waterproof and I was very grateful for them!
Sensible hiking boots. I’d recommend boots that at least cover your ankle to help keep the snow and cold out!
Insulated hiking socks to go with the above .
A water bottle. It’s expensive to buy bottled water in Iceland even though all they do is fill it from a regular tap as all the water is fresh glacier water. Same some money by filling up your own bottle!
Flask. I enjoyed making myself a brew every morning to take out with me for the cold day ahead.
Hand and foot warmers. For those of you that are especially nesh like me, these were a godsend
First aid kit. I always take this with me- you just never know when you might need it.
