My Trip to Iceland!

Good afternoon, everyone! Today I thought that I'd do something a little new and different, and talk about one of the many adventures that I went on this summer. I've always thought Iceland was a gorgeous place, and when my family decided to go, I was pumped! We flew through Toronto, on a surprisingly fast five hour flight, and arrived early in the morning. Here are the highlights of my trip:

Hallgrímskirkja

Pictured above, Hallgrimskirkja is a Lutheran church in the center of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik. It's the tallest building in the city, and you can take an elevator and then a flight of stairs to the top, where you can get an incredible panoramic view! It's a really good way to get the lay of the land, and it's a gorgeous church inside and out.

Gullfoss + Other Waterfalls

Gullfoss is a huge, highly popular waterfall in Iceland--absolutely gorgeous! As well as Gullfoss, there are dozens of other waterfalls that are equally gorgeous, and unlike waterfalls in America, you can get crazy close to all of them. In the picture below are my sister and dad walking behind one.

Vik

Vik is a small town in southern Iceland that hosts a gorgeous black sand beach. When we went, we brought our swimsuits just in case, but it was so cold and windy that we found this to be a total joke! However, it's still an incredibly pretty, and fun to walk along--it looks like something out of a movie.

Blue Lagoon + Public City Pools

Our trip to Iceland would not have been complete without the iconic trip to Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. While it can be said that Blue Lagoon is incredibly touristy, it is completely worth it to go. The water is sooo warm, and Blue Lagoon completely has its customer service down, and I swear we spent about 3 or 4 hours lounging in the huge pool. While we didn't opt in, they also provide massages. MASSAGES IN THE WATER.

If you don't want to pay the price for Blue Lagoon but still want the geothermal experience, not only is your shower powered by geothermal, but there are public pools in nearly every town, and nearly each one is geothermally heated. Much cheaper, and nearly as fun! Plus, less tourists and more locals!

Eyjafjallajokull and the Eyjafjallajokull Erupts Museum

On our way to Vik, we stopped to take a look at the incredible volcano Eyjafjallajokull, and a small museum created by a nearby self-sustaining farm. The museum talks about this family's personal experience with Eyjafjallajokull's recent eruption. This is a quick, easy stop that teaches you a little about local life and the volcano it lives under.

Visiting Local Grocery Stores and Shops

While this may seem kind of silly, I think that you can learn a lot about a place by going to the local grocery store. We went to go pick up snacks for our little southern road trip, and we had fun looking at what the store provided--we each got a new snack that we had never had in America. We also had a fun interaction with an Icelander who helped us find regular, non-carbonated water.

Pingvellir

Pingvellir is a park where the North American and European plate boundaries converge. Coincidentally, it was also a meeting place for original Icelandic peoples to sort out disputes. This marshy area is absolutely gorgeous. We were there when it rained, and it still was!

There you go, folks! I had an absolutely splendid time in Iceland--it's such an interesting and laidback place, I can't wait to go back. If you liked hearing me talk a little bit about travel, please let me know and I'd be happy to do more travel posts!

Safe travels,
Kekai

How to Be Productive on Long Plane Rides

Hey everyone! Kekai here, sorry about the long time between postings. Anyways, I'm here today to talk about something that's difficult even for the best of us: being productive on long plane rides--or any plane ride, for that matter. I've definitely been in situations where I've said, "Oh, I'll get that done on the plane ride there/back/in between!" and nothing's gotten done. Whether you're completing some homework, writing a novel, or whatever it is you need to complete, hopefully these tips will help you.

Be sure to be well-rested before your plane ride.

When I'm on a plane, the first thing I want to do is sleep--the whoooole time. When I went to Iceland and England last summer, I was planning on getting some writing done. I just slept instead! If you make sure you get plenty of sleep before the plane ride, and fuel yourself with food or caffeine once you're on the plane, it will be a lot easier for you to feel ready to get some work done once you've boarded.

Start as soon as you're in the air.

Seriously! The longer you wait to start your work, the more likely you are to drift off to sleep or do something else that's off-task. The sooner you get started, the sooner your work will be done; that's true in every instance, not just on plane rides.

Play some inspiring music (in your headphones).

Be sure to make a study/work/productivity playlist of some songs that motivate you before you get on the plane, or ensure that you have access to one that someone else has made. I've found that listening to music on a plane can feel kind of surreal, in a sense that you feel above it all and inspired. Whether it's New World Symphony or Anaconda, plug in to something that pumps you up!

Keep the window open.

That is, if your neighbors don't mind! Having the natural light filtering into your space can often help you feel more awake. On top of that, being able to see the clouds or sweeping landscapes below you can be a huge motivator. (I highly suggest just closing your window and sleeping on a red-eye...those are always the most difficult to work on--if you can do it, I applaud you!)

If you know them, ask your seatmate to hold you accountable. 

Having someone else who's aware of all the work you have to do can really help you get it done. They can reward you with snacks if you complete your task(s), and they can equally punish you by withholding your phone, coffee, or neck pillow until you accomplish your goal!

Well, there they are! I highly suggest trying to get some things done while you're on a plane--it's a fixed place with no internet, so you really don't have much else to do but the things you really need to complete! I hope you all find these tips helpful. :)

Happy travels,
Kekai