My first visit to Chicago was back in 2000, exactly 15 years ago! My dad went for a business trip and he decided to extend it and make a family vacation out of it. So the first couple days when he was at work, my mom took my brother and I around downtown to explore and shop. I remember feeling very small and insignificant as I looked up at the massive skyscrapers that encompassed the city...
Read MoreDespite the numerous visits to Baejarins Betzu Pylsur for their scrumptious hot dogs, we did have some time (and room in our stomachs) to visit other restaurants for delicious bites. Below are a few of my favorite dining explorations in Reykjavik and of course it's accompanied with pictures that will surely make you hungry...
Read MoreIcelandic horses are beautiful and unique creatures. When I first started my research on Iceland, Icelandic horses came up multiple times and were often described in the highest light. We had a quick interaction with them during The Golden Circle tour and they were the friendliest horses I’ve ever interacted with. After playing with the huskies the day before, I could easily compare the horses to giant dogs because they were gentle and friendly, and just wanted our attention and praise...
Read MoreOne of my absolute musts when traveling is trying out the local cuisine. In fact the first thing I do after I’ve chosen a new travel location is look up what that place is known for, food-wise. Usually a quick google search will give me a “Top 10 must try foods in ___”. After looking at multiple lists, I’ll comb through them to look for the foods that consistently stand out in each list. In the case with Iceland, local “must-trys” included...
Read MoreBeing a Siberian Husky owner, it’s crossed my mind multiple times to hook on a wagon to my dog’s harness and teach him to mush! Of course it wouldn’t work as well because as strong as he is, he’s still just one husky pup. To my delight, there’s one company in Reykjavík who does offer dog sledding with a pack of huskies...
Read MoreHunting for the Aurora Borealis, who doesn’t have that on their bucket list? Lucky for us, we get to cross that off ours because our hunting was a complete success! Weeks prior to the hunt, I scoured the internet for clues and tips on finding the lights. Days prior to the trip, I studied the Aurora Forecast to check for predictability of activity. Things didn’t look too great for us. It was supposed to be overcast and cloudy, it would be a full moon which would hinder visibility, and the overall grade from 0 - 9 was a 2, pretty low shot...
Read MoreWhile researching for popular local cuisines in Iceland, I definitely did not expect hot dogs to be on the top of that list. Hot dogs are pretty much sold and eaten everywhere in Iceland, and they’re cheap too! They’re different from American hot dogs in that they're made from Icelandic lamb, beef, and pork. Toppings often times includes raw onions, crispy fried onions, ketchup, a sweet brown mustard sauce, and another mayo type of sauce with relish...
Read MoreNorth Iceland is already the backdrop to many Beyond the Wall scenes from Game of Thrones but this park is also the setting for some scenes of Westeros. It just goes to show how incredible the landscape is in Iceland that it is used for so many out-of-this-world scenes like in Game of Thrones, Prometheus, and Interstellar. These surreal looking worlds are real, accessible, and right here in Iceland...
Read MoreIf anyone else is really nervous about snorkeling for the first time, it may sound crazy, but I highly recommend doing it in (almost!) freezing water. I did it, and now I can proudly say that I have snorkeled, and I did it in the Icelandic winter between 2 tectonic plates...
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