travel : the Church of St Michael at Cefnllys

This small Church of St Michael is so charming. I don’t know how I didn’t go back again there while I was living in Wales.

You all know that I lived in Wales for a while, and we “Spanish” boys (and whoever joined us) enjoyed walkings through beautiful hills and rivers. Someone had heard that there was a small church near Shaky Bridge, two miles away from Llandrindod Wells, so we tried to get there. We were desperate to see something near that small town. Desperate to find something else to see. And it was worthy indeed.

I’m ashamed that I didn’t know what Cefnllys was until today. OK, I still don’t know its pronunciation. Cefnllys was a town in Powys, county of Wales. And this church is there, in a remote corner of green landscape. Several peaceful graves with graceful tablets welcomed us as we entered to the place. The inside was very cozy. I only knew Catholic churches with those long chairs where ten people can sit together. But this church had some individual (and possibly artisanal) chairs. The church of St Michael is basically a medieval structure, some elements are believed to date to the 13^th Century, followed by substantial post-medieval restoration (drastic rebuilding at the end of the 19^th Century). -link for more information about this church-

There was also a notebook for visitors and you can get a gift of pretty painted stone. People from Llandrindod Wells/Powys were really kind.

Next to the chuch there were high hills and on the top we found some stones. I wondered what were those stones and rocks in the middle of the grass. Well, we walked above them, we sat there, we threw few stones… to find out, a year later, that those stones are likely rests of Cefnllys Castle. Please tell me that you (people who are or were in Llandrindod) neither knew it.

Anyway, all I want to say is that Wales is relaxing and has little trasures like this church.

travel : Mongol

The three main attractions of Mongolia, or Mongol as I like to call the country, is Genghis, wild nature and the nomadic lifestyle.

Ginghis made Mongol great and this reason is enough to visit there. The wild nature and the nomadism are also his background, so I guess everything is connected.

The most interesting thing in the Mongolian nature is that it is almost untouched. So every place in Mongol would be wonderful, it should be like feel the human emptiness in the never ending land. So inner, so deep, so private. This is one of the highest country, the temperature changes a lot during the year (so is summer the best?), but it seems like it rains a little, so blue sky is guarantied.

The population is about 2.7 million, half of them still chooses the nomadic life, using the famous ger as the house. I really would love to meet them and somehow feel that, although I'd like to see them untouched forever (what is already not). I heard that in the nomadic people, there is no real conception of ownership of land. I wonder how it is possible. A woman married with a Mongol said that the Mongols are the most civilized people in the world due to their respectful thoughts. Perhaps that makes sense. As simple like that.

Gobi desert

Historic Karakorum

travel : Wadi Rum

All right, now let's go somewhere hot! Ice is enough for now, it's time to visit (mentally) somewhere like a desert. How about Middle East?

But why Middle East?

To be honest, I haven't really ever been interested in all that zone. I don't know why but it's like I prefer a forest to a desert, London to Damask, the Buddhist arts to the Islam arts, and so on. I wouldn't even like to go to Egypt.

I was about saying this all my life, but someone has changed me a little bit. Well, a Spanish friend went to Middle East, mainly Syria, for two month. And you know, I was just worried about her because I thought that zone was quite dangerous and besides while she was there Israel started to invade Lebanon. However, fortunately she came back good and told me that it wasn't dangerous at all. She also told me her experiences an sent me few pictures. Have a look at this:


Damn! I want to be there! That's southern Jordan, a desert called Wadi Rum, and do you know what is the most enviable thing she told me? That she stayed a night outside there looking at all the stars and the milky way. That night sky is one of the things I've got to see before I die. I don't mind where but this picture shows me that Wadi Rum is good place to do it, for sure.

That's a great pictures and I was thinking in putting it to be part of a collection "one shot : xxx", but as we two are competing which of us is best photographer, I just can't help her to win the crown!!

travel : Iceland〜pt.5

Dooon't worry! This is (hopefully) the last one! And the shortest one.


Hot springs are famous in Iceland, that is one of the best attractions. There're a lot but the most popular geothermal spa is Blue Lagoon. There's also a website. Just watching pictures I can relax!! I don't know why is so blue, I guess it's because of mineral and that stuff but it's still weird. Is bathing here really healthy?!

Now I'm gonna put last two pictures I couldn't use before. Just recycling!!!

A eruption of geyser.

Eyjafjallajökull, one of the smaller glacier.

I know that there's thousand things to see but I guess five times are enough to show you how beautiful can be traveling to Iceland. Don't you want to join me? We can do also whale watching!! I'm sure you'd like to see an aurora show in the sky!! I just want to convince you to come with me!!

travel : Iceland〜pt.4

Let's talk about two of greatest waterfalls of Iceland: Gullfoss and Dettifos.

Gullfoss It is also called golden waterfall. The water, coming from the glacial river Hvitá, falls 32 meters in two stages at an average rate of 109 cubic meters per second.

The heaviest floods have recorded a flow of 2000 cubic metres per second. During the summer the flow is 130 cubic metres per second, which would take only 3 seconds to fill this building. People were eager to exploit the power potential of Gullfoss and many plans for hydroelectric developments on the river Hvítá have been proposed.

Dettifoss

It is known as the most powerful waterfall in whole Europe. The water, coming from the glacial river called Jökulsá á Fjöllum, falls 100 meters, at between 200 and 500 cubic meters per second! It is also amazing that Dettifoss has 100 meters wide. This waterfall is the southernmost part of the National Park Jökulsárgljúfur (more information in chapter 3). Oh yes, please Icelandic mates, tell us how the hell can we pronounce that National Park!


Those are must-seeing, don't you think?!

Well, of course visiting Iceland would damage our small wallet, but there's something we have to know. There is cheap flight company. (Relatively) cheap flights do exist! That's Iceland Express. It connects Reykjavik to eight different cities. I could go from Alicante (wow), there are two flights a week (wow)!

to be continued

travel : Iceland〜pt.3

Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and the world's most northern one. I heard that Reykjavik is famous for its nightlife, I guess nothing compares to Spanish nightlife but maybe we should give it a try.

I expect this city like a lovely northern town without pollution. And as it concentrates the half population (that's quite a lot) and has history of over ten centuries, well there must be many things to see.

This church is the tallest building.

I think Viking tradition is also interesting. I imagine them like pirates, but also like nomad in the sea, and it's pity that they couldn't keep their values and independent spirit as Mongols did. I would like to read some books of Viking adventures, does anybody know good one?

To end it for today, the food. I'm sure Icelandic cuisine can give us the pleasure of eating, since they use the fresh fish (and lamb) as the main ingredients. It's curious when sometimes we can find out the between two totally different cultures. In the case of Japan and Iceland, they two are island nations formed by volcanic activities, people eat fish a lot, hot springs, etc..

to be continued

travel : Iceland〜pt.2

And I don't know why you all don't want to join me in a future travel to Iceland. So today I'm going to make you want to, writing about the four national park of Iceland.

Jökulsárgljúfur National Park

This park is situated in the north of the country and it is formed by diverse canyon and volcanic mountains. 8000 years ago, a volcano erupted directly beneath the river causing powerful explosion with fire, gas and water.





Skaftafell National Park

This one is situated in the south of Iceland. It looks like Alps, but it is also made by fire and water. Here is the curious waterfall Svartifoss, look the difference between summer and winter:

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Snæfellsjökull National Park

This one is around the tall volcano with glacier called Snæfell, in the western Iceland. It resembles Fujiyama in Japan. Did you know that aliens land here when they come to the Earth? This volcano has special power inside, I heard it. It should be a kind of Mordor or something.

Þingvellir National Park

In the southwest of Iceland, Þingvellir is also UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place is famous because of its history (there were huge gatherings) and nature (you can find a lot of rifts in the ground). Reading things, for me it seems to be the concentration of the best Icelandic things (although it doesn't mean that we can miss another places!... maybe that sentence isn't fair at all!).


Fire and water, that's the point guys! OK, the lesson is finished because I must stop dropping the bombs of pictures! Oh yes, You can go home.


to be continued

travel : Iceland〜pt.1

As the Spanish football team played against Icelandic team yesterday, I'm gonna talk about Iceland. The football match finished at 22.00 and the sunset hadn't come yet, and the daylight was still very strong! I really would like to see the sun around the earth 24 hours in the Arctic... yeah I know that isn't Iceland. And Okay, the match was unworthy one, 0-0.

Visiting Iceland is one of my dreams, yes, I've got to go. I'd like to travel (and live! why not?!) there so much that I created a web page of that country (it's in Spanish). Actually it was a homework of a subject in the university, but I think I did it amazingly good! Nobody has ever sent me a message, but that's OK, because I had good qualification with that... Anyway, I don't know why but I always found that country very attractive, and you know, when I say "I want to go to Iceland" people tell me "you listen too much Björk" but she is not the main attraction, furthermore, it's obvious that I can't meet her in Iceland!! So what's the point to go to Iceland only for her? I love the Icelandic music scene, not only Björk but also Sigur Rós and Múm, their music are very warm and I love their way to use electronic elements. But that is not the only reason.

So what is the main reason? That's its landscapes and hot springs! Iceland is an island nation and the country has big volcanic activities, as my home Japan,. And Iceland is just south of Arctic Circle, so almost 10% of the land is covered by ice. These elements and others make stunningly beautiful landscapes, like fjords in the coastline, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and all that jazz. Oh, don't forget hot springs.

The history of Iceland started in 9th and 10th century, the island was uninhabited by humans before, and now it occupies the second place on the Human Development Index. Its territory is about 100,000 km² and population about 300,000. Good place to live for sure, if you don't mind how cold is there, don't you think?

to be continued