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Iceland, a stranger's comfort
Strange Comfort, Iceland
Description
Book Introduction
A volcanic island with floating glaciers, midnight sun and the Northern Lights, arctic foxes and puffins, a secret restaurant open only in summer…
Travel writer Kwon Ho-young discovered the mysteries and charms of Iceland after spending 40 days in the country during both summer and winter.


In Iceland, it is said that a huge glacier moves little by little every day, changing the shape of the land.
Always be aware of the dangers of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
They say you can see the aurora, but does that mean it's the Arctic Circle? They say the sun never sets during the summer, so how do people sleep? They say it's mostly dark in winter, so is it safe to travel in the cold? How do they cope with the vagaries of the weather like rain, snow, and wind? Naturally formed geothermal hot springs, puffins that can be seen in summer, sheep that outnumber people, and the fact that it's dangerous to hit a sheep while driving.
Are the roads actually okay to drive on? Speeding fines are outrageous. What's the food like? What's the language like? Are the people friendly? When is the best time to visit?
To answer these questions, travel writers Kwon Ho-young and his wife Jay traveled to Iceland for 40 days through summer and winter.
We've ticked off as many bucket list items as possible, including volcano tours, snorkeling in meltwater from glaciers, hiking on glacier mountains, northern lights tours, glacier snowmobile tours, and even puffin tours available only in summer, all of which can only be seen and experienced in Iceland.
The mystery and charm of Iceland, discovered amidst the vast nature resembling a planet in space, are captured in 『Unfamiliar Comfort, Iceland』.

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index
Prologue - Ice Cream Land Iceland

CHAPTER 1 SUMMER IN ICELAND

White nights and sleep
My shoelaces came undone.
What's so great about Icelandic hot dogs!
Cats are also Nordic style
Icelandic
Which house will win?
Snorkeling in Iceland?
Car accident shrouded in mystery
þetta reddast
Iceland's summer is covered in flowers
Glacier hiking over flowers
Glacier Hiking Preparation and Tips
A space planet with a pungent smell
Do you know langoustines?
Focus on the present
A village through the fog
Miss whale watching
Landmannalaugar, a beautiful inland plateau
Icelandic, you might fall in love with it
Come to Iceland
Lava Field, where lava has swept through
Small cabin accommodation in the Westfjords
A place I want to keep to myself, Ingolfshopdi
Happy memories of my childhood, in Dinyandi
In the quiet little fishing village of Dupavik
On the way to see a volcanic eruption
Explore the world's only volcano
Walter's imagination becomes reality
The meaning of the Accureyri Heart traffic lights
A secret restaurant that only opens in the summer
The tranquil and beautiful Bigur Island and Platy Island
Time flows in the art museum
Golden Circle
Diamond Circle
8 Powerful and Fascinating Waterfalls I've Encountered
Kirkjufell
Itri Tunga

CHAPTER 2 WINTER IN ICELAND

Icelandic winter weather
Christmas Village
Icelandic Christmas
Stars and Aurora
Aurora seen at Grotta Lighthouse
How long do I have to prove myself?
The comfort of familiar music
Discovering a new side of myself while riding a snowmobile
Sorry, Arctic Fox
Ice cave before death
Need to charge
Special New Year's Countdown
Time flows while traveling
film camera
The charm of Iceland, hot springs
Why do you travel?
Traveling together
Reminisce about your trip
A brief reflection after the trip
Small Iceland Travel Tips
Must-Try Icelandic Food
Iceland travel souvenirs
Aurora Photography Tips
What's missing in Iceland
Iceland Travel Preparation App


Epilogue - My Bucket List

Detailed image
Detailed Image 1

Into the book
Iceland will show you what it means to be sincere.
The things you want to see!
--- From the text

Most of those useless things didn't come to mind while I was traveling.
The time of travel, the time given each day, passed slowly and quickly.
From the moment you open your eyes in the morning and kick off the bed, your daily life becomes a journey.
Even though my body feels a little heavy and my head hurts a little, the moment I look out the window and realize that I am in an unfamiliar place, I know it's okay, because I am traveling now.
And I think.
I try to speak out loud.
“I am traveling.”
--- From the text

I needed some quiet time to organize my day.
I didn't want to go to sleep with my excitement level down and then continue my journey the next day with a slight hangover.
I took out a small notebook and wrote down my feelings that day, and I opened Google Maps to retrace my steps.
Sitting next to Jay, we observe people and listen to each other's thoughts.
--- From the text

If you go to Korea, you might miss this seemingly ordinary hot dog.
In preparation for that time, it is also a good idea to buy some Icelandic special hot dog sauce.
At Bonus Mart, you can buy hot dog mustard with the words 'pylsusinnep' written on it, Icelandic remoulade and ketchup, and even crispy onions.
One tip is to buy hot dog ingredients in advance on the first day of your trip and make them whenever you have time at your accommodation.
--- From the text

Iceland is a place where you can drive around the Ring Road and just enjoy the scenery outside the car window, but on the other hand, it is also a place where you can go through hardships to buy special experiences.
Let's fully experience the name "Land of Fire and Ice."
Let's climb a glacier for a day and look down on the world.
It was a day when I fully realized how small I am and how big and beautiful the world is that embraces my small and fragile self.
So Iceland embraced me, and I embraced Iceland, the land of fire and ice.
--- From the text

The hike went smoothly.
I just kept stopping in awe at the mysterious scenery that changed every few steps.
The sharp sunlight and the gentle breeze made it incredibly warm.
The more I travel, the more I feel like I need to cherish this small happiness that feels new and unfamiliar each time, rather than becoming familiar with it.

--- From the text

There was absolutely no need to worry about something that hadn't happened.
At the end of the vast plain was a cliff, and beneath it the deep blue sea lapped, and white Arctic terns squawked and marked their territory, and one of the small cottages dotted here and there was today's home.

--- From the text

Aside from the rustling of footsteps, the only sound was the gasps of joy and surprise from the silenced crowd.
I've seen countless photos of the aurora, but seeing it with my own eyes was truly moving.
It was ecstatic.
It was brilliant.
We hugged each other.
The cold Icelandic air smelled of birch.
--- From the text

I thought it would be nice to live in a rural village in Iceland.
I think it would be okay to be isolated for a month or so during the winter when there is a lot of snow.
If I ever get to wear my wool sweater and greet travelers from all over the world, it would be here in Djupavic, a small fishing village in the Westfjords.

--- From the text

For me, traveling isn't about relaxing at a resort or exploring for delicious food.
It's about living a new life in a new world to temporarily stop overthinking.

--- From the text

That's why they say Iceland is like space.
The vast land, spread out like a desert, was seething everywhere.
The sky is blue, and the barren land is grayish brown.
The sight of white smoke rising here and there resembles a giant Earth creature breathing.
--- From the text

One of the reasons I travel is the process of discovering myself as nothing in nature.
It will be a matter of strengthening one's humble heart and one's mind to return to nature whenever and wherever.

--- From the text

The reason why I, a person who worries a lot, like to travel is because I can forget my worries when I travel.
That doesn't mean I'm always happy 24 hours a day. I'm also a fool who worries about happiness when I'm happy.
But at the moment when I'm completely absorbed in something like this, I don't know what to worry about, what to be happy about, and I'm just shivering with the thought that the aurora will come out quickly. I wonder if this is the trip I've been hoping for, an adventure, or work, and then I smile for a moment, look up at the sky, shiver again, and then I discover the dazzlingly beautiful aurora!
--- From the text

When I see something beautiful, think about it later, and later feel a deep emotion that brings tears to my eyes, it feels like I am meeting myself through the scenes I encounter on my travels.
Learn about life.
I continue to live with the warmth that remains in my head and heart.
--- From the text

One of the things I brought to Iceland was a film camera.
I thought it looked a little like me.
Half of the pictures came out blurry, like they were taken with a broken camera, but it was okay.
I reminisced about that time while looking at the lukewarm results.
I was more inclined towards better pictures taken with a better camera.

--- From the text

I want to tell you that there is no need to be afraid of a winter trip to Iceland.
I regret not going on a winter trip until now because I was afraid of the cold.
Winter is so beautiful. If you ask me what my favorite season is, I would say it's winter for the time being.
After all, life is an adventure.
Let's leave for now.
Worries will turn into courage.
--- From the text

Publisher's Review
Beautiful and mysterious, quiet and empty, peaceful and noisy,
Iceland, a place where the sun shines brightly and the darkness falls quickly, is a place you can't help but fall in love with once you fall in love with it.


Snorkeling in meltwater from glaciers, feeling the difference between the Eurasian and North American continental plates, and even narrowly missing a cliff edge after a navigation error, all while meeting the friendly Icelanders.
On the way to a notorious inn, you encounter fields of purple flowers, flocks of fluffy sheep, and white clouds, only to discover that it is a beautiful house with a vast meadow and sea views.
This is how I realize once again that there is no need to worry about anything in advance.
As you follow the book, you will also learn why Iceland, a volcanic island with occasional eruptions and massive floating glaciers, has been the setting for so many movies.
I am happy to meet Arctic foxes and puffins, which are difficult to encounter, but I also have time to talk to myself while taking in the terribly lonely scenery.
The comfort we receive from the ever-changing unfamiliar landscape is greater than we think, and it can even give us the strength to go back to our daily lives.
I recall memories of my childhood, discover a new side of myself in unexpected places, strengthen my heart, learn humility, and resolve to never stop on my journey to find myself.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to leave their comfort zone and enjoy the mysterious and beautiful nature, anyone with a burning spirit of adventure to experience the great outdoors, anyone who wants to see the white nights and the aurora, anyone who wants to find movie backgrounds, and anyone who wants to discover themselves.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: July 5, 2024
- Page count, weight, size: 280 pages | 356g | 140*200*17mm
- ISBN13: 9788967822194
- ISBN10: 8967822197

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