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Day 29 – 31 (Monday to Wednesday)

Well being awake since 2am was not a good start to the day. Starting to see what jet lag is all about. After breakfast we finished our blog and then headed to the pool for a few hours. I think we picked the wrong spot. Way to much sun. Will pick a different spot next time. Lovely area. We headed to a near by shopping centre for some lunch and a stretch. Back to the room to relax until later and then we went out about 4.30pm. We walked not far from the hotel and over this amazing curly designed bridge called the Helix and under the freeway to the Gardens by the Bay. Slowly walked a bit through it and went up the these man made super trees with plants on the outside to look like a rainforest. They had a skyway walk way up the top of the 2 biggest one. Great view and one of them is set up as revolving restaurant. Came down and walked to the dragonfly lake. To big statues of Dragonflies sitting in the lake. 

 Over the road was a new hotel Marina Bay Sands with a big garden up the top..we can see this quite well from our room. Underneath is this very huge shopping mall filled with every expensive brand you could come up with. Down lower there is a lake that you can have gondola rides around on. As they come around to turn around there is a funnel above them which is clear and comes out through a spout. You can see that is a whirlpool. You look at it for ages. Had dinner in the food court. Right in the middle is an ice skating rink. Walked around a bit more while trying to find out how to get back out to the road or water front. Finally got out but on the wrong side to where we wanted to be!! Only a 10 min walk back to the hotel. Time for a shower since we both look like puddles. Tried to watch a program on our computer but we fell asleep.

Tuesday

I (Sharon) woke up at 4.20am. Read for prob about 2 hours and then fell back asleep. Evan snoring the whole time. I feel worse today than I did Yesterday. Not sure we will be doing much until later. After breakfast went on the computer to check messages and then back to the room. Watched a bit more of Eureka. Evan went out and got some drinks and lunch and we watched a bit more of the show. I went to sleep for a few hours and then we went out to walk to Orchid road. We pretty much followed the river most of the way. Went into a lot of shopping centre's. But I think the best one is the Marina Bay one near our Hotel with the boat ride in it and the skating rink.

We had dinner at a french crepe place and then for dessert had Italian Ice cream. Time to walk back to the hotel. Stopped at a Londonish pub for Evan to refresh himself with a beer.

Stopped to have a look at the Merlion and to take some pictures of the surrounding area. Bought some drinks and headed back to the hotel. We walked about 5 hours. It wasn’t the distance or the time that got me but the humidity. I was done in!!

Mind you we didn’t go to sleep until after 2am. I still cant get into a routine with my sleeping...not sure what time I woke up but read for awhile and then back to sleep to wake up around 8.30am.

Wednesday.

Oh its going to be a hard day today!! Must stay awake. It will be a pool day and then to finish packing before being picked up at 4.20pm to go to the airport.

We leave Singapore at 6.20pm. Arrive in Perth at 12.30am tomorrow ( Thursday) morning.

We have loved every minute of this amazing holiday. After nearly 5 weeks of seeing, hearing and absorbing the most amazing wildlife, tundra, Icebergs, scenery and memories its time to come home and start saving for the next one!!

Thank you to all of you who have followed our journey. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Evan and Sharon

Day 26 - 28

Day 26 – 28 ( Thursday – Saturday)

After a lovely lie in until 9am and breakfast we got ready to head out on another unplanned wander around London. We decided to go to the Physic Gardens in Chelsea. It has been going for 330 years and only opened to the public since the 1980's.

It was established for the study and the preservation of plants from around the world. For the uses that they could be used for health and medicinal purposes. Very pretty and a lovely spot they now use for Weddings and functions.

We decided afterwards that instead of catching the train back to Jason's work that we would walk. 2 ½ hours later we arrived at the pub near Jason's work. We walked along the Thames. It was very quiet being away from the main touristy part of London. Weather was great so that made it even better. We eventually got back into the city and walked passed Westminster abbey and Parliament. Being peak time and everyone coming out of work plus hordes of tourist's and children it was sometimes hard to get anywhere.

We arrived at Jason's work a bit early so got a drink and sat upstairs and waited....Not as good as the other day ...no fire going!! An hour later Jason arrived and not long after Natalie (cousin) joined us . We had another drink and then started on our way to the Theatre to see The Lion King. Jason went in and got the tickets and we went over the road for a quick snack thinking we may have dinner after the show.

Got in and found our seats. Great seats and a great view. It was a fantastic show and I can see why its at the top of everyone's list. Its just visually spectacular and different to anything I have seen. Mind you the company was exceptional which I think helps.

After we decided that we weren’t hungry and headed off to the train station. And said goodbye to all and we all went our own way for the night.

Friday

Slept in and made our way to breakfast and then back to the room to get ready to walk through a bit more of Hyde Park. Plus I had taken some Hazelnuts from the dining room to tempt the Squirrels so we could get some better pictures!!

Its a wonderful place to walk through. Dogs everywhere with their owners. Mums, grandparents and Nanny;s pushing young children around in prams, People running, cycling and others just sitting reading or enjoying the day. We walked for about 1.45 min and then needed to head back to the hotel so I could change and get ready to meet My Scrabble friends for the first time. We spent about 5 hours laughing talking and being very loud. Totally had a blast. If you had of seen us you wouldnt have thought we had only just met for the 1^st time. I met these lovely ladies playing scrabble online on facebook about 2-3 years ago and they have all become my friends. It was sad that two of them couldnt make it but I know that they were there in spirit!! And there is always next year when we go and have our white xmas with Jason.

Duncan, Jason and I left the hotel just after 6pm, to make our way to Little Venice to have dinner. A lovely restaurant called Waterway. Food was wonderful. Evan and Nat joined us there. Evan had met Natalie and her friend Jen at the Captain Kid Pub in Wapping.

I arrived 1.45pm after changing from the Central line to the DLR line to Shagwell ( Shegwell ) what a different world this one was lots of strange looking people definitely not in central London anymore. Changed lines to the London overground and disembarked at Wapping Station. Waited outside the station and started to get the feeling I didn't belong here. There was a group of lads coming out of the station with different punk style hair dos lots of metal on their bodies and full facial tattoos. They started heading in the direction of the Captain Kidd pub and I had visions of it being full of punks. When Nat and her friend arrived and neither of them had been here before I was getting a bit concerned. Google maps said it was only 300 yards SW of the station so off we went. Directions was spot on to this very faded Captain Kidd sign hanging from the wall still had no confidence in the venue I had asked Nat to come and have a few beers with me while Sharon met her scrabble friends. So the 3 of us turned into the ally and it was truly a magnificent entrance into the old Captain Kidd Pub. It was a arched flowered entrance leading into the old pub where Captain Kidd had been hung in 1701 for piracy apparently it was a very popular hanging and lots of entertainment for adults and children. We sat down near a window that overlooked the Thames and spent a great afternoon relaxing having lunch and 4 pints each. A meal and 3 pints cost me about the same as a pub meal in Perth. Nats friend Jen has spent 6 years in London Nat spent about 3 ½ years and both thought it was one of the best pubs either had been to and your not short of choices in England.

Natalie had to leave by 8pm to get her train to Norwich. So we sat and had dessert and then wandered back to the hotel. Duncan was staying the night in our hotel. We made plans with Jason to meet at 10am the next morning for our last morning together.

Saturday

We met Duncan for breakfast and then finished packing to then check out and stow our bags with concierge. We walked through Hyde park to Harrods so I could get my tea towels. We took Jason and Duncan to Whole foods for lunch. Jason now knows why I like it!! After we walked back to Hyde park and sat and talked in the sun.....

Time to get back to the hotel and collect our bags to be ready for our pick up. Jason and Duncan went to the train station to meet us at Terminal 3.

After being dropped of we self checked in and dropped the bags off. Waited for Jason and Duncan to arrive and then went upstairs for a drink. We said good-bye about 4.30 as we still needed to go through Security. We asked them to wait just in case Evan's mono pod wasn't allowed. All went good. My handbag was checked again but otherwise no problems.

We have to admit this was a harder goodbye than in May when Jason left. We were both teary on our take off knowing it would be another 14months until we saw him again. Thank goodness for skype, email and facebook.

We were both stuffed by the time arrived in Singapore. Not only losing 7 hours but having no sleep or very little in 15 hours. Thank goodness we were being picked up and taken to our hotel.

Arrived at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia. Checked in and made our way to our room on the 15^th floor.

This is the biggest room I have ever stayed in. We got a very good upgrade from our lovely lady at flight centre. The view from not only our bedroom but bathroom is amazing. The bed is sooooo comfortable. I unpacked and Evan went for a walk to get some drinks. Decided to try our the bath and get comfortable. Not really hungry but very tired so we called it a night around 8.30pm.    

Day 23 - 25

Day23-25 (Monday to Wednesday)

Monday

Woke up and headed off to Paul and Tracey's to see everyone and say good bye before everyone left for work and school.....Lovely to see them again after 4 years and only communication either by Facebook or texting!!

Back to the Inn for breakfast and then getting ready to drive the car back to Heathrow. Left at 10.30am and it took about an hour to do this. It was raining a bit heavy and traffic was quite good ...it only slowed right down twice for a few seconds. I'm so glad our roads are so simple....but I do have to say they are definitely more courteous over here!!

Dropped the car off and headed to Terminal one via shuttle bus and then to the Train station.....we took this to a point ( Earls court) and then had to change to the district line to get to the station (Bayswater) not far from the hotel. I was stuffed by the time we got to the hotel....As I needed to pull my suitcase twice and then lug it too the hotel) up two flights of stairs!! Not easy to do with every one moving around you. But we survived.

Booked in and settled in. Decided to walk through Hyde park and go to Whole foods for lunch....My favourite store for food.

Evan wanted to have a beer at Goat tavern next so in we went. It was for medicinal purposes as he had pulled a muscle in his back.

Walked back through Hyde park pass Kensington palace and waited for Jason to arrive at our Hotel.

We went to Regent St and walked through all the wonderful shops.....love it!! Our 1^st stop was the M&M shop. 4 floors or M&M's and memorabilia....Who would of thought you could get that much M&M”S!! Next we found a pub for dinner....Evan and I weren’t very hungry as lunch was about 3pm. But of course Jason was starving!! We walked down to the Thames and walked along the board walk near the London eye and to a point where Jason took our photo of us with Big Ben in the background. Walked over the bridge and went 

the closest we have ever been to Big Ben....Back to the hotel and good nights to Jason. Asked him to text me when he got home....I have a week to be a mother and told him so!!

Tuesday

Woke to a clear day and breakfast downstairs at the Brasserie. Our plan for the day was to spend all day at the British Museum something I missed out on last time. Walked down to the Tube at Queensway on the central line just a couple of minutes from our hotel. This station does not use escalators but at large corel type elevator, You heard yourself in one door with about another 50 people and out the other once you reach the bottom. I now know how stock animals feel. Next stop Tottenham Court Road and on to the Museum. Arrived after a 15min walk and to my great map boy directions walked through the entrance with 100's of other people from overseas school groups and tourists buses. Once inside and people started heading off in different directions you realise how vast this museum is it just swallows up literally thousands of people and you don't realise there all in the same building. Our first stop was at the exhibit of 5000 years of horses from Arabia to Ascot.

Then on to the one of the Egyptian sections. We were amazed in Paris at the Louve four years ago how much Egyptian antiquities they had it is nothing compared to the British Museum I guess with Englands reign over the world they plundered a lot but at least it has been preserved for the world to see and not destroyed but countless wars through the times. Time for coffee and to meet Jason for lunch at his work. We have been looking for 2 hours and have seen about 5% of this place. Had lunch with Jason in Sloans Square and back to the Museum. Spent another 3 1/2 hours just looking around and trying to decipher artefacts going back 12000 years. In the end to much input so decided to go to the pub opposite Jason’s work and have a few great English ales. We went upstairs to the lounge section sat in a couple of old antique chairs drank my pints and watched the gas fire waiting for Jason to finish work at 6.00pm. Once Jason met us I had downed my third pint (3 pints = same cost as 1 pint in WA) and off to see our gorgeous Niece Jade and her boyfriend Leon of exactly 2 years at some Turkish restaurant in Angel.

Had a lovely meal with them and Leon is just lovely. Have missed Jade and her piggy snort when she laughs its just too cute!! We shouted them all dinner and left together after 2 ½ hours. Jason was proud of me for eating the food as I am not a very adventurous eater!!

Made our way back to the train station and loads of hugs and goodbyes. Blew kisses when off the train as Jade and Leon stayed on. Jason wanted to walk us back to the hotel.....what a wonderful son we have. Making sure Mummy and Daddy arrive safe :)

Said good night's and made arrangements for seeing him tomorrow.

Wednesday

Its a girlie day today....( No Pubs )

We got up and headed off to breakfast. Wandered to the train station and went in search of Chockywockydoodah. It is a chocolate shop, Cafe and somewhere you can go to for wonderful Wedding cakes, birthday cakes and many more. The decorations are so me and Mum you would love it also. The owner makes all the lamp shades and they are so pretty. We had a hot drink upstairs and I had a chocolate sundae which had chocolate ice-cream, brownie, cream, choccy drops a chocolate straw and a shortbread biscuit. That's me for lunch!!

Thank goodness we were walking for a couple of km's!!

We walked through some more of the lovely little roads and made our way back onto Regents street. Headed down to St James Park and saw some more of those gorgeous little squirrels. We also saw a rather large Pelican sitting on bench chair. They are a little bigger than ours and slightly fluffy. Walked to Buckingham palace and took it all in. This was a better vantage point than last time as we could look at it front on instead of from the side.

Wondered towards the Apollo Theatre to see Wicked. So many school groups going to the Matinee. But they were good during the performance. It was a great show and I loved the stage and the costumes. I have to admit as much as I was enjoying it I nearly fell asleep twice!! I think Evan was the same.

It was about 5.30pm when we got out and headed back to the hotel for a quick shower before Jason arrived to take us shopping for his Xmas present and a few other things. Had dinner at a hamburger place in the centre....was very nice!! A lovely night and we left Jason at the station about 9.45pm.

Day 20 - 22

Day 20 – 22 (Friday to Sunday)

We spent a very relaxing morning just getting our blogs up to date, before being picked up for the airport. It was a 44km drive to the international airport. It took 1hr 20mins to get there and we both snoozed some of the way there!!

Once there we had to self check in...we tried 4 machines and couldn’t seem to get my passport swiped in...no one around to help us and both getting a bit annoyed! Finally on the fourth machine it went through and we could proceed...I was starting to think that I was on a wanted list. Checked the bags in and went upstairs to get some of our spending money back. Something is better than nothing when you buy half of the countries shops!! lol

We had 3 hours to kill and it didn’t help that the plane was delayed by 15 min. We saw Carol and Ralph from our Arctic cruise, they were on their way back home to sunny England. Chatted with them until our flight was called and we could board. It was only a 3 hour flight. We were about to land on the runway when all of sudden we were rushing back up in the air again. Apparently a plane was still on the runway so we had to do a loop around and try again!! Never had that before. Got in about 8.30 but by the time we had to walk through the terminal (which never seemed to end) got our bags and then proceeded to customs. We found out where to go to pick up our hire car. Got on the shuttle bus and went to the pick up area. It took awhile to work out the car....blinkers on the other side and so were the wipers....this is going to be fun. Finally found the dial for turning on the lights. And about 10 mins later found the switch for turning off the back wiper that someone had left on!! So we head off with me the driver ( god help us) and Evan being map boy!! But he didn’t like the directions I had printed off from Google maps as it wasn’t a map....he needs visual not printed. Noted for next time:)

We finally got to the Premier Inn in Tring about 10.30, so not really that long to travel. Booked in and boy are we ready for some sleep.

Saturday

After breakfast we headed off to the train station to pick up Jason. Big hugs all around.

Next stop was food for Jason as he hadn’t had breakfast. Coffee shop in Tring and Jason's shout for a hot drink also we had some time to wait for the information shop to open so we could get a map for Evan. We arrived at Paul and Tracey's house about 10.30 and interrupting his Ironing.

The girls were showering after having been to swimming training.. what seemed like forever of listening to the hair-dryer and giggling we saw them!! Still a bit shy but two very beautiful and tall girls. Chatted for an hour or so, helped Paul get the washing off the line and then we walked into Tring for some lunch at a Italian restaurant. Very yummy. Paul and Tracey shouted us and used some vouchers they get from shopping at their local supermarket. Great idea!!

A bit of a walk through Tring and then back to their house. Aliesha and Tracey had left before us so that Aliesha could get on the internet to purchase some concert tickets for One Direction....she just about needed hospitalisation after doing this as she was so over whelmed...hate to think what she will be like on the night!!! lol

Next off to Harry Potter Studio Tour!!!! Yeah. So excited. This was where some of the scenes were filmed and we saw so many of the props and costumes. There was everything from Production, design, make up, hair, models...you name it it was here. It took us over 3 hours but you could spend more time than that walking around and trying to take it all in!! This was a fantastic tour and since it had been a big thing for our family for over 12 years it was like ending an era. But a very magical one. My favourite was riding a Quidditch broom, walking through Diagon alley and seeing Hogwarts castle. It was just so amazing. Trying butter beer was very yummy, we think it was ginger ale with ice-cream on top. A bit like a spider. A lot of the scenes in the movies I thought were digitally done like the moving lock at Gringots and the snake head lock on Chamber of Secrets had all had been created out of resin with servos to run all the movements the detail is just amazing. I always wondered how they had done Hagrid being a half cast giant now I know. They used an ex rugby player that was 6' 10” and made an animatronics Robbie Coltrane head that he put over his head to give the illusion of Hagrid being so large. When Hagrid was on his side-car they produced a scale down version of the motor bike.

We wandered through to the gift shop and you could really go mad in there. Tempting to buy so much and have the container shipped back to Perth!! But I restrained myself and bought a Gryfindor scarf to add to our movie memorabilia for our TV room.

We said goodnight to Tracey and Paul here. Made plans to see them on Sunday and then headed back to the Premier Inn with Jason for some dinner. Afterwards we drove Jason to the train station so he could head back home. We will see him every night next week while we are in London.

Night night!!

Sunday

After breakfast we headed off to the local supermarket (Tesco) to get some things and then headed off to Paul and Tracey's. Chatted while Tracey did things around the house and Aliesha did homework. We went off about 1pm for lunch at a lovely pub outside of Tring the food was wonderful. Evan had a vegetarian roly poly with veg , yorkshire pudding and gravy. I had the biggest chicken ham and leek pie I have ever seen ( not that I could eat much of it!!) with chips and peas. Managed to scrape in dessert.....Brownie with chocolate sauce and ice-cream!! Evan ate the last quarter:)

Drove back to Pauls so they could all get ready to go to Brianna's Swimming gala. We left about 4pm. It took about an hour to get there. I so don’t have any sense of direction here. Thank god for the nat sav in the car and Paul's directions!! I think if I lived here I would have to use one for the local area for about 6months!!!! lol

Paul was the official starter. Brianna was in 5 races. 50M freestyle (time 35.53) a Personal best. 50m Breaststroke ( time 50.05) Personal best, 100 meter all strokes (time 136.35) a personal best and 50m backstroke ( time 44.26) Brianna was very tired by this stage and missed out on another PB. We left with Aliesha after this race as I was getting tired and so was Aliesha. Dropped her off at home and made sure she was alright before heading back to the Inn. Going to drop in and see them all before they go to work/school. It was lovely catching up with them after 4 years.

Good bye Tring until next time.

Day 17 - 19

Day 15 – Day 19 (Mon to Thursday)

We had an early Breakfast before heading off the ship to start our Reykjavik adventure. We were waiting at the dock for a taxi but after waiting about 15 min and getting slightly cold we headed into the city to a hotel to find one there. Not long and we had been booked into the Hilton. We decided to grab the Hop on Hop off bus to give us the layout of the city and give us an idea what to do for our first day. We went around once and then got off at a gorgeous church and had a look inside ( nice and warm) and then took the elevator up to the 8^th level of the spire to look at the city from every side. Next we walked into the main shopping area!!! After two weeks without shops I was ready.....Evan groaned!! lol

We had lunch at a cafe that was the oldest one established 1956ish. Nice burgers, but they love everything half cooked......

We then continued strolling through the streets and to the old harbour and then got the Hop on Hop off bus to the shopping centre near our hotel to pick up some nibble things for dinner as none of us was really hungry after our big lunch.

Walked back to the hotel and met at Terri and Greg's room for eats and then an early night as we all had to be up at 5am for our next adventure.

Tuesday

Alarm goes off at 5am.....Got ready for our day trip to Akureyri. We got a taxi to the Domestic Airport at 6am. Our flight was 7.15am. The flight was only 40 min. So we arrived about 8am. We were met by our guide. Travelled a bit further and picked up to girls from Paris who were joining us for the day.

We headed up to the Gooafoss falls which was used in the film Prometheous at the beginning of the film. Amazing falls and the amount of water coming down is astonishing!! These falls were named after the pagan idols thrown into them a 1000 years ago. Quite picturesque as well. We had a walk to the Cafe and had a really hot and wonderful Cappuccino and Hot chocolate.

Next on our list was Lake Myvatn, where there is the largest Bird sanctuary. These many species breed amongst the mystical blend of lush vegetation and lava spires. Then we went to Dimmuborgir, our guide took us through this amazing walk. Showing us the Trolls ( lava formations) we were told that if we ventured off the tracks we would be eaten....amongst the snow this was a fantastic fantasy place....so magical.

We came across two of the Santa Claus being interviewed for a children show. There are 13 Santa Clause’s and they all represent something different and come out 13 days over Christmas. Its a very different and unique festive tradition.

We had a fantastic lunch at a local cafe. Evan Terri and Greg had soup and I had chips, surprise surprise......Followed by the most amazing Chocolate cake with caramel through it...Terri and Evan helped to eat it as it was a very large serving.

Back on the bus and we headed to a cave that was used for privacy for couples to make babies....inside this cave was a thermal pool and the temperature was approx 42 degrees...a faint sulphur smell. Onwards to Hverarond, Sulphur mud pots. We went passed these to see the Volcano but there was too much snow and the driver didn’t want to get stuck so we turned around and went back to the mud pots. They we very smelly but standing behind them was extremely warm. Our boots got very dirty from the mud so everyone was cleaning them in the snow before we got back on the bus. Our next stop was Myvatn Nature Baths. Thermal pool that was outside and it was fantastic. The only down side was having to shower and then stepping outside to walk to the pool with very cool air blowing on you. But after doing the Arctic dip this was nothing!!

We spent quite awhile in here and then came along a huge Asian bus load and we decided to vacate and have showers before they took over the change rooms.

Enjoyed a drink before getting back on the bus to make our way back to town to get our flight back to Reykjavik. We were a bit early, so the driver went to see if we could get an earlier flight instead of having to wait around for 1 ½ hours. We could which was fantastic. A beautiful day and loads of wonderful memories in the mind that is already overloading. We had dinner at a local restaurant nearby to the hotel and then bed. We were all knackered!!

Wednesday

Breakfast at 7am. Afterwards Evan Terri and I went for a walk to the Botanical gardens not far from the hotel. It was a balmy 0.5 degree. When we got there Terri was very excited to see frost on the grass. She hasn’t seen it this thick before. She even did a frost angel!! So nice to be excited by the simple things in life. We wrote our names on a table in the frost.....At least this graffiti will disappear!

We walked back to the hotel and we came across a sculpture park....so very nice ones in there.

We got the hotel bus to the city centre to start our day of just wondering and shopping.....:)

Greg and Evan went and did their thing and Terri and I shopped. Its so relaxed here and no one pressures you or is in your face. Love it. I think I bought half of Iceland. And only 1 thing for me.

We had lunch at an English pub. Then we walked to the Volcano shop and watched a 40 min video of two Volcano incidents. One was 1973 on a Island south of Reykjavik. It buried whole homes. The second bit was on Eyjafjallajokull the one that erupted in 2010 stopping all of Europe. They have a saying here “We don't have much cash but we do have lots of ash”. Amazing and frightening to watch. Apparently if the volcano erupts they all go and watch it instead of staying away....go figure!! Greg was getting a bit itchy and didn’t want to shop...so we compromised and Evan and Greg went off to the Micro bar and Terri and I went to a Museum that was very different. It was a museum about Animal Penis's. It was very well done and not seedy but how someone can wake up one day and say “ I think I will collect animal Penis's” is beyond me!! And there is a Vagina museum in Rotadam apparently...

We walked back to meet the boys at the bar enjoying the 3 hour happy hour with beer for about $4.50 a half litre and bumped into one of the ladies from our Gap adventure and talked with her before going all together for dinner at a Fish place at the old wharf. They served Lobster soup and also on the menu was Whale and other fish and seafood. I wasn’t hungry which was a good thing as there was nothing for me to eat apart from bread. Terri and Evan tried a bit of the whale but neither was that keen.....even though they said it was ok. We got a taxi back to the hotel as we had another big day for us all.

Thursday

We had breakfast and were ready in the lobby just before 8.30am as we were going our separate ways. Terri and Greg were off to do some Arctic truck 4x4 driving and sightseeing and Evan and I were off to see the Golden Circle and Snowmobile driving.

Got dropped off to the office, received our tickets and then waited for the driver. He was a bit late and when I saw the truck I thought how the heck was I going to get into it!! I said as much to the driver and he said like this and dropped to his knee and said here you go!! I said what a gentleman.....by this stage he lowered a step! Phew....

We picked up a couple more passengers and we were off. 1^st stop was Pingvallavatn. This is the best spot to see the two tectonic plates of Iceland. One is the American and the other Euroasian. It separates at a rate of 2cm a year unless they have an earthquake and then its 4cm. It was a very pretty spot and so picturesque. And it was such a lovely day weather wise. We spent about 35 min here.

Off to the next item which was the Geysir's. Truly something you could watch all day. We were given the safety talk about staying on the path and not going over the ropes as the water is 80-100 degrees. So what do we see as we walk up to the 1^st one? 2 Asian's climbing over the rope and standing right next to one of the Geysirs to have photo's when at any moment it could go up and burn them horrifically!! I tell you some people have no brains. We didn’t have long to wait for our first explosion. Totally awesome...it goes down and then forms a bubble upwards and then you can see the water through the middle coming up and then WOOOOOOOSHHHHH!!! There she blows sky high 30 metres.

After 25 minutes back to the truck and onto Gullfoss for the most amazing waterfall. The amount of water coming down this is mind boggling. And the mist was everywhere. Iceland is really not short of fresh water. The water from here joins another and just heads out to the ocean. We had lunch here for about 30 mins. We then got back on the truck to make our way to where we needed to get suited up for our snowmobile riding. We where joined by another group of about 8. So we needed to get onto a bigger bus. The drive on was very rough and the area leading up to the glacier was like from another planet. So rocky and baron. I can see why Iceland is starting to be used for so many movie's and TV Shows....its a very versatile country. When we arrived , our guide/driver explained more safety and how to drive the mobile. Evan was 1^st to drive. I sat behind him. We were to follow our guide on the same path he took. As this time of the year the glacier is very dangerous with water holes and crevasses under the snow. It was very bumpy as a passenger. We had to keep a fair distance behind the person in front of us. The girl in front was bunny hopping and all over the place. She stopped a bit further up and two of us over took her at 35km/h. We stopped not far from here for about 5 min and then it was my go!! Its hard to steer when it wants to go and follow the tracks made by others. And it slides quite a bit so I think I would like to try this more snow and less ice. I had a smile on my face the whole way. Evan only got scarred once by me as he thought I was going to tip us off. Maybe I got a bit carried away with the speed....:)

½ hour later back on the bus and back to un-suit and then on our way back to Reykjavik. We only had one stop back and that was to see a small crater, there were three there but we only had time to see the one. We got back to the hotel about 7pm and feeling very tired. But we decided that Iceland would definitely be somewhere to come back again to. Had our last dinner with Terri and Greg as they head back home tomorrow (Friday). Said good bye and started doing our blogs....we have fallen behind.

Next is the UK experience and seeing our son Jason, Brother Paul and Family, Jade and meeting her boyfriend, Cousin Natalie ( once she finishes sunning herself in Barcelona), Duncan and my lovely Scrabble Ladies.

Day 15 & 16

Day 13 & 14 (Saturday & Sunday)

Woke up just before the announcement to see the Cliffs of East Greenland for the last time before we head to the open water. The time was about 5.30am. The sunrise as usual up here took about 1 ½ hours and the seas were quite calm. The Captain found another huge iceberg so he took us on a 360 degree view of it. Later on one of the many bird watches on the expedition wanted to see my photos unbeknown to me there was a very rare bird on the iceberg no one noticed at the time when I zoomed into the photo there was this little grainy bird on the photo they got overly excited about. We have 2 full days at sea and then berth at Reykjavik on Monday morning. So our days are filled with Documentaries and lectures all about the North Pole & Arctic circle interesting but we are all quite tired now so lots of nodding heads. Bob Headland one of the lectures the very English type of lecturer you would expect at Cambridge or Oxford university threatened us with putting the microphone up to anyone found snoring so most people left before going into noddy land just in case he wasn’t joking.

Sunday woke to quite calm seas and the coast of Iceland through our Port side window. Another day full of lectures and docos and the Captain once again placing the ship unexpectedly up near the longest cliffs in Europe on the Iceland coast. Back to the cabin with an invitation left to us for diner with the Captain tonight. This is the first time the Captain has dined with guests on the expedition. Told Terri we had an invitation and they received one also so thought they might be setting up a large table for many guests. We were wrong there was only 6 guests the expedition leader Phil & the Captain Thomas. So we felt special the only 6 chosen out of 124 passengers. Non of us no why we were chosen over others but we think it might be the joke the Captain played on everyone which embarrassed Terri seems she was unexpectedly the recipient of the Captain humour. ( Never known a German to be so hilarious before )

Going back a few days we were cruising along a fjord amongst icebergs and viewing magnificent mountains and glaciers when the Captain made an announcement that he had just spotted a polar bear on the starboard side just behind the wheelhouse. I was on the starboard bow at the time with my camera and a couple of others so I quickly look back behind the bridge to the shore looking for this polar bear when nearly everyone decided to run across the starboard side of the ship to see this polar bear. Everyone is asking if anyone could spot the polar bear no one could. In the mean time Terri was up behind the bridge on the starboard side talking to people and didn’t here the announcement about a polar bear when people started appearing everywhere trying to spot something. This went on for a few minutes when there was another announcement by Phil the expedition leader saying it was a false alarm that the Captain spotted one of the guests with a polar bear hat on. I turned to everyone near me and exclaimed it was my sister wearing her polar bear beanie. Terri still hadn’t heard anything when all of a sudden people started looking at her pointing and laughing when she realised what was going on she quickly took off her beanie and went downstairs when Sharon spotted Terri she started to clapping and the whole ship started laughing and clapping at Terri. Terri was embarrassed but Greg milk this attention for everything he could get from it. That night the four of us went to dinner with our Aussies in the Arctic shirts on and Terri with her polar bear beanie. Lots of people wanted a picture with Terri. So most people enjoyed the Captains good humour others where most upset.

So this may be the reason we were chosen for the Captain table or not. Dinner was very enjoyable with the Captain it was a bit strained with all the noise in the dining room but as the people starting leaving the Captain seemed to relax and enjoy our company once it became quieter. We were the very last to leave dinner that night it was a very special night for the four of us. Went to the polar bear lounge to recap the voyage and sing along with the music. We also got to see the Northern lights while we were sitting in the bar....they were very early unlike the other times. These started just after 10.30 but when we saw them it was about 11.15pm. They were spread right across the night sky and very mystic as they were woven through some of the cloud. So another late night and early morning to get ready for debarkation.

Day 14

Day 12 (Friday)
Our last chance to go out on the Zodiacs .  The island had an old settlement ruins going back 500 years and last used in mid 1800's.  We could see the shelters built into the ground with rocks and dirt.  We could also see where they would store their meat from the animals and weather.  There were a few bones lying around, some where animals and others were human.  it was very hard to be careful were you walked as not to ruin anything.  There was a more modern hut that had been used by Greenlanders in the 2nd world war as a listening post.
We continued on our trek upwards.  A good walk and the views were awesome.  we could hear sounds of the ice cracking... As we came over a hill we saw a small bit coming away.  Terri and Greg saw one iceberg split into two...wish we had seen it!
On our way down we came across an icecap....so I went and played on it and slid down it!!  Thank goodness for water proof pants...lol

We were supposed  to go out again in the afternoon but there was too much ice for the Zodiacs to be able to manage to go around.  So a relaxing day was had.

We went into the end of the Fjord to an amazing view of ice everywhere looking like lily pads. It was just amazing.  During this time they announced that they were serving soup at the bow of the ship.  They also had a group photo here as we were backed up to the glacier.  I happened to be in the shower when this was happening and didn't here the announcement so Evan is the only one representing us!!