Glorious puffins

Oh my goodness, where do I start!  This for me was the undoubted highlight of the whole Iceland adventure: The chance on Grimsey Island to get close to puffins and get good photos of them, including photos of them in flight.  I was in absolute ecstasy. This was the realisation of one of my most longstanding life goals.

Puffins are known by many as the "comedians of the ocean".  They have so much personality and you can't help but fall in love with them. They are incredibly photogenic with their quizzical expressions, tuxedo overcoats and their brightly coloured bills. They also interact beautifully with each other. This explains why I have wanted to get close to them for so long. 

I got to photograph a couple of individuals in The Arctic in 2022 but Iceland took this to a whole new level. Grimsey Island has tens of thousands of Puffins. It was a veritable Puffin fest !!  

I hope you enjoy viewing the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. Nature is just so wondrous!

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Day 3 of Everest Hike: Acclimatisation day at Namche Bazaar

Our acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar was a well-deserved quieter day after the major climb from the day before. It was a strategic pause in our journey to allow our bodies to adjust to the increasing altitude and decreasing oxygen levels.

After a leisurely breakfast, we set out for our acclimatisation hike. After a relatively short but steep climb out of the town into the surrounding hills, and a walk along an enormous valley, we reached a vantage point that provided breathtaking panoramic views of snow capped Himalayan peaks. Ama Dablam's distinct pyramid-shaped summit, Lhotse's icy slopes, and the formidable Nuptse were all there, standing tall in their snowy glory. It was a mesmerising sight.

But the real star of the show was Everest, bathed in the light of the morning sun. It was an indescribable feeling to stand there, with the world's highest mountain right in front of us. The sense of accomplishment and the sheer beauty of the moment made it all worth it.

After taking in the views and snapping photos to capture the memory, we made our way onto a tea house called "Hotel Everest View" at 3880 metres for a refreshing drink which meant we had ascended a total of 430 metres that day. 

We then descended to a nearby village called Khumjung (3,790 metres). Russell discovered there was a geocache in the village so took us all on a treasure hunt. We also stopped by a school, funded by the Hillary foundation that does a great deal of good in Nepal, and gave the kids high fives.

The rest of the day was spent exploring Namche Bazaar and relaxing. The highlight was apple pie and real coffee at a local bakery.

Ascending out of Namche Bazaar on our acclimatisation hike

An ascent of 430 metres up the surrounding hill

Stunning views into the valley

Beautiful flowers along the path

The ubiquitous Himalayan crow

We reached a vantage point that provided breathtaking panoramic views of Himalayan peaks...

... including views of Mount Everest !

Me pointing at Mount Everest

We head onto the a tea house for more views and a refreshing drink

Stopping off at Khumjung on the way back (3,790 metres)

Meeting local school kids

Views of Namche Bazaar as we descended back to the town