Iceland: The First Impression!
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The long flight from Kuala Lumpur to Keflavik, Iceland was very tiring. It took me 13 hours of journey from KL to London. Stucked for 9 hours in London Airport because the flight to Iceland was delayed. I was starving, weak and tired, I had no other choice but to exchange 12 pounds (around 60 ringgit) for a burger in a restaurant inside London Airport!
view of the Icelandic sky, it was around 2.45am!
Finally after 3 hours of flight from London to Keflavik, Iceland, I arrived my final destination at 3 am. Suprising, it was as bright as a day. My eyes fixed at the window during the touchdown, watching in detail every single object my eyes could catch. It is a small airport with not many people, making it easier for me during checkout process. I was extremely tired when I reached Keflavik Airport. When I got all my stuff, I quickly went out of the building and start assembling my bicycle. It was my first hour in Iceland and I already experiencing the Midnight Sun. It is a phenomena where the sun never sets for the whole of summer. This happens in countries that touch the Arctic Circle and beyond, and also the Antartic Circle and beyond. I really took my own sweet time assembling my bicycle. I already made an arrangement via couchsurfing to a local Icelander who stays near the airport to stay in his house. But it was in the middle of the night so I decided to cycle to a nearby guesthouse and take a rest.
chilling outside my guesthouse near the airport
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Iceland is among the most expensive country in Europe, and probably the world. The cheapest room I got was 6900 Icelandic kronos (around 180 ringgit) and the food and drinks here are double the price compared to us in Malaysia. As for now I have no other choice but to pay for it. I really need to get all the stuff I need in Reykjavik and quickly get into the wild so that I can save my money. At around noon, I finally contacted my friend here in Iceland, and cycle straight to his house. It was a very short ride of 15 kilometers and I already witness the beautiful landscape of the land of fire and ice! Its mostly black rocks here with black sands, I can see smoke here and there from the volcano craters, making me feel like I’m riding on the moon.
slept here for a night, in Gumie’s house
Gumie’s workplace
When I arrived at my friend’s house, he was already waiting for me outside. His name is Gudmundur Jonas Haraldsson, but I just call him Gumie. Very nice guy, he really gave me a good first impression of Icelandic hospitality. Surprising, we are working in the same field. He’s a film-maker as well, focusing in directing/acting. We had a long conversation and even wished that we can work on a project together one day since my specialty is in post production/vfx and animation and him in acting. Just like me, he also worked mainly from his house. A small and old house but very peaceful, reminded me of my studying days in New Zealand. Only about 20 meters behind his house, the majestic North Atlantic Sea. The environment in his house is very quiet, safe and peaceful. I had some trouble sleeping here though. The sun never sets, its very bright even during midnight. I need to get used to this. I slept for a while, around 2 hours and woke up just a few minutes before midnight. When I realized it was almost midnight, I quickly went outside with my camera to capture the Midnight Sun!
The magical light during midnight, its the Midnight Sun! This was taken at 12 am sharp!!
Diary Of A Traveller 
Wah, dah start dah adventure kat Iceland. I admire you man and I hope that one day I could do what you do (not riding bicycle per say, but more adventures avenue with my wife & son). Be safe and count me in as a fan.
Dear Zahariz,
hope you are allright over there and hope everything is ok.please keep an update! all the very best
Alhamdulillah dah selamat sampai. Be safe and sound, tuan! I will follow your journey from here.
Hey Buddy!! have an awesome journey
look like capt jack separoh je bro hihihi
Iceland is not the most expensive country in Scandinavia. Wait until you go to Norway;)
omg! 60 ringgit for a burger?! it was toooooooo expensive! but I like the midnight sun! so beauty!!
You are great sir. have a wonderful journey.
Thinesh
Assalamualaikum,
After a year waiting now finally you’re back on track. I truly adore the spirit that u have and i wish you all the best & safe journey. Goodluck!
Wahh tabik pada ko bro.. take care mudah2 an semua nya berjalan lancar.
Syabas Tuan…semoga ianya berjalan lancar….Thanks
Cayala bro…semoga selamat diperjalanan dn dipermudahkan segala olehNYA.
All the best bro!!! We follow all your updates
salam bro… smoga lancar prjalann anda,,,
Salam,
Have a smooth ride all the way to your destination Zahariz..
Oppss!!… but you don’t have one particular destination right….. what the heck!!!
Really looking forward to your next update with sexy and beautiful shots along the way… Staring at the scenic pictures, feel like we are riding along with you. Thank you for sharing..
Subhanallah..pertama kali melihat midnight sun..indahnya ciptaan Allah..
Salam Zahariz, just saw you on TV – The Breakfast show. You are simply an amazing person to go through all the hardships of travelling alone like that! I salute you Sir! Not many Malaysians are as adventurous and brave as you are. When I was younger I had always dreamt of doing something like that but Allah doesn’t permit me to do so. (But if I’m given the chance to do so now, I would! but not on a bicycle though). Thus I’ve always admired someone who could. I envy you, really.. for witnessing aurora borealis and the beauty of the the clear northern skies and capturing the amazing galaxy with your own eyes! I love the beauty of nature that Allah has bestowed upon us. It gives me that raging inner feeling and the excitement of wanting to know the ‘Creator’ (ALLAH) better. May you succeed in your next expedition. May Allah Showers you with His Blessings and Glad Tidings. Ameen.
Lovelyy blog you have here