Traveling Iceland: The Snæfellsnes peninsula

For four days I went out of the lab and on the road to explore Iceland's fabulous scenery.

The Snæfellsnes peninsula lies a 2 hours drive north of Reykjavík. Its popularity for tourists is growing. That is not surprising. It is close to the country's capitol and simply beautiful. Still, it is a quiet place and at most of the many beautiful places the number of tourists is still low. The country side is dominated by volcanic mountains and farm land.

Swamps and marsh lands along the coast and the numerous lakes are speckled with cotton grass this time of the year. While most of the birds have already left their breeding grounds by mid-August, the vegetation remains colorful for a while. However, the first trees start to change into red and yellow.

The weather was beautiful, the scenery colorful, often dramatic. Abandoned farms and barn ruins accentuate the roughness of Iceland's environment.

A special view on Snæfellsjökull - the glacier at the tip of the peninsula. It is a small and rather young glacier which can be seen from Reykjavík when the air is clear.

Parts of a wrecked trawler and naturally polished pebbles at the Djupalon beach (south-western tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula).

A lava field between Grundafjördur and Stykkisholmur (northern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula). Often the cover of moss and lichen appears like cushion. Protruding black rocks of bizarre shapes add a strong contrast. This kind of scenery can be found all over Iceland.

A small lighthouse on a small skerry called Klofningur, in the west of Flatey. The sea was full of puffins who have recently left their breeding cliffs.

Flatey, a small inhabited island between the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords.

On this ferry I went from Stykkisholmur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula to the Westfjords.

Iceland facts 01

Iceland is recognized as a fairly clean country. And it is true that you won't find much rubbish in the country side. On the other hand, there are only few waste-water treatment plants! Almost every drop is pumped in the ocean as it is..

On the streets with the queer.. for equal rights, against discrimination

Two weeks ago Reykjavík was celebrating the Gay Pride Festival 2011. Reykjavík is a place pretty liberal and open minded. The annual Gay Pride has become a fairly big event which is internationally recognized. It was fun to see all the colorful people at the parade and to feel the good mood.

The start of the parade at the bus terminal, Perlan, the hot water reservoir, in the background.

Yes, that is what everybody was looking for this day. Jesus, save me (before I become infected by the 'gay disease')!!!

...

The parade on its way through the city center.

Spending time in Reykjavík

Yes - I am still alive. Even though I am struggling.. The time since my arrival more than two weeks ago has been very productive. Besides the work, however, I try to suck in as much of this country's beauty as I can. Let me give show you some impressions..

Tjörnin - the city's lake at the town hall. In the background you can see Askja, the Biology Department of the University of Iceland.

This building at Aragata 9 is where I am working. It belongs to the University, too.

Reykjavík at night (with some color changes). But yes: It is not really getting dark at the moment. However, the days are quickly getting shorter already.

This Building is the Hússtjórnarskólinn of Reykjavík. Instead of a social or ecological year, in Iceland the women can learn cooking and knitting etc. in the year after finishing school. That is the place I was staying at for the first 2 weeks. Now the school has started again after the summer break and I had to move out. Until the second world war this has been the German embassy in Iceland.

See: I am getting perfectly adapted. In the background you see some of the drawings I am stuffing this lab full with.

Another week, another place: Reykjavík, Island

Only a week ago, I was in Sydney. My location changed dramatically in many ways. Now, I am in the small capitol Reykjavík of the tiny country of Iceland, or 'Island' in the local language. Not only is this place as far away from Sydney as it could be on this planet and somewhat different in its dimensions. Iceland is a strong contrast. For one thing, it is 7pm now and still day light (while in Sydney right it would be pitch black) and the traffic uses the right side of the road but that is not, what I mean by contrast. Everything seems so different here. Is it the colors? The colors are more pale. Everything seems to be somewhere between green and grey. There are so many shades I never realized before. Is it the shadows? Because of the low solar altitude there seems to be a very intense contrast. Is it because of the wide visual range? Only volcanoes in the distance limit your sight. Human buildings and plants alike are usually little in grows as if they are awaiting the next storm. Golden plovers sitting on elevated rocks, watching.

Well, I am stunned by this place!

At Daisy Hill Coservation Park

In the conservation park in Daisy Hill we did some bush walking and tried to see a Koala in the wild. We weren't successful but they had some in an outdoor enclosure. Wildlife was plenty, though, and we spotted Wallabies, Parrots and other birds.

Torben 'hunting' animals at Daisy Hill. Pic: (c) J.Ruch

The Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is one of the most common birds in the parks and backyards in the city. We also saw them at Daisy Hill.

A Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) mother with a baby in the pouch.

Somebody definetely wanted one of those Wallabies for herself..

A Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in the Daisy Hill Koala Center outdoor enclosure. Pretty active this one - for a Koala: Scratching itself while keeping the eyes shut.

Finally, youngster got out of the pouch.. Here we see it drinking..

Bananas

Just to show you that it is reality: Since the Queensland floods last summer the prize for a kilogram of Banana is ridiculously high. 13.98 $ is nothing uncommon at the moment. I haven't had a banana since more than 2 months.

Final impressions from Brissie

Our two weeks of holidays in Brisbane are over now. We had a really good time in and around Brisbane and with Harry (thank you so much, Harry!!!). Unfortunately, Sydney has really bad weather right now.. However, enjoy some nice impressions of Brisbane:

The skyline of Brisbane as seen from South Bank.

Sunset at Kurilpa Bridge

Australian job creation schemes

These signs are very common in Australia and for themselves they are no reason to get excited or to wonder.

Associated with these signs, however, are usually one or more people in bright orange safety dress holding signs that say ' STOP' or 'SLOW'. Those poor people seem to be replacements for the old fashioned stands on which signs are commonly attached in other parts of the world. A reason to wonder for me.. or maybe just a desperate job creation scheme?

Camping on Moreton Island (part 2)

Most of Moreton Island is National Park. Only one resort and a few villages are located on the island with altogether 45-50 people constantly living there. There is an old history of aboriginal culture on the island, too. And some aboriginal people are still living on the island as we got to know.

The north-eastern cape with the light house. A good spot for whale watching. The ca. 20 km long eastern beach seems inviting for surfers. It is crowded with sharks, though and people have died from shark attacks.

Our tour guide Helge.

A small crustacean on the beach: the soldier crab Mictryris platycheles (Thanks to Shane Ahyong for Identification!).

Native Grass Tree.

A flowering Banksia.

Scribbely Gum bark. In several eucalyptus tree species insect larvae living under the bark create beautiful artwork on the trunks and branches.

Our base camp at the Blue Lagoon. Here we had our meals, enjoyed a bonfire with the wonderful smell of the burning Australian bush and started our trips across the island.

The bush at Mt. Tempest, dominated by Native Grasstrees (Black Boys), Gum Trees (Eucalyptus) and Banksia.

Camping on Moreton Island (part 1)

18°C water temperature and clear blue water. Swimming and free diving with rays, box and many more fish was a nice experience - a little cold, though!

Two days on Moreton Island: A beautiful experience! With the 'MICAT' from Brisbane Port to the western beach. The second largest sand island in the world. No roads, only sand paths and beaches. Heath land and forests, ginormous dunes. Blue sea and red fresh-water lakes. Amazing wildlife. Whales, sharks, sea eagles and snakes..

Right after sunrise: A Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelii) of about 2 m length is looking for a shelter. In this picture, Jasmin has not yet realized that the snake is approaching her in order to grab a nice breakfast.

The Carpet Snake again. I risked my life to keep it away from Jasmin.

Dolphins (probably Bottlenose Dolphins) as seen from the coast. Plenty of Humpbacks were also around but not close enough to get a good shot with my small Nikon P7000.

Old wrecks off the beach. A nice place for snorkeling.

Tracks in the sand at the 'Blue Lagoon'. What was it? Maybe a small Wallaby?

Signs: A way of expression for humoristic Australian bureaucrats

The good sense of humor of Australian bureaucrats displayed in a loo door in South Bank, Brisbane (QLD). Pic: (c) J.Ruch

What does this sign tell us? 'Don't shoot the Wallabies in the face with a hand gun!'?

Your baby is not meeting your demands? Trade it here for another one - hopefully a better one! Pic: (c) J.Ruch

Possum emergency!

On our way to Harry's place Jasmin and I found a baby Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). It was lying on the grass between a super-market car park and a main road. It was shivering and calling his mother. Also, as can be seen on one of the pics, it was injured a bit on the left eye. Because the mother was nowhere to be seen and as the street and car park were pretty busy, we decided to take it with us.

The cute little thing was freezing in the wind chill. Its cuteness was stunning somehow..

Mother for an hour. The guy at the emergency hotline insisted we should give the possum to a woman, not to a man. She should put the possum on her bra to make it comfortable. Not only the warmth, also the heartbeat and maybe the smell help to calm the baby down. Jasmin was lucky to be the only women around. We all wanted to hold it!!!

Harry got hold of an emergency hotline for injured wildlife and we brought the possum to a carer. Poor little thing!

Moreton Bay Diving

Western beach of Moreton Island, Queensland.

No big sharks, relaxed and safe dives: Everything alright!

We had an awesome day diving in Moreton Bay off Moreton Island. We saw dolphins, various rays, wobbegong sharks, Groupers and green turtles besides many other things. Three dives in one day: 2 x drift at 'The Pines' + 'Curtain Artificial Reef'. Amazing!