Iceland Adventure / Ken & Ya-Yu

Pre-Wedding Adventure in Iceland

The trip with Ken & Ya-Yu was short planned. We started planning only a month before we hit the road. It was the time when Iceland opened up again for the tourists from US. Almost after two years Iceland had time to recover from hordes of tourists before we were able to head back to Iceland. It is not unusual to re-schedule everything due to the weather but this time the weather held nicely and three days later, over 1000 miles after, we got the most epic Iceland adventure ever. We avoided some very busy touristic spots, we stopped where we ever wanted, we enjoyed everything that this beautiful land can offer us.

Planning your adventure in Iceland is easy. I'll pick you up and drop you where needed after two days or three. Or four. Or? This is a relaxed (and sometimes a real challenge due to the weather) and adventurous trip to the edge of the world.

Ken and Ya-Yu, a love story not from the first sight

They met at the worst moment possible. 

Love at the first sight is not for Dory and Ken. Right before Christmas of 2015, they were both invited to a Nutcracker show and sat right next to each other. Eloquent and arrogant was the first impression of Dory to Ken. Ken didn’t even notice Dory. Not the best way to start, obviously. And they moved on with their life. It wasn’t until the next Spring that destiny made them the teammates of an engineering competition. Along with all the tears and sweat, the friendship between the two sprouted. Since then, they saw each other from time to time, and little by little, started to enjoy each other’s company. By the end of that year, they decided to hop on a roadtrip to Quebec together. That was a very dark and long winter, and hours and hours of drives. But somehow, despite not understanding a single french word and with the tongue sticking on a maple-sugar lollipop under -13℃ in front of Chute Montmorency, the humor of Dory and calmness of Ken have made them see each other more than just friends. 

After coming back to Michigan, the world started to spin. In just three weeks, they went to boxing classes, pole-dance classes, Moana movie (of course they missed some tropical weather), and just basically any excuses to meet each other. As if it was not enough, they were also on the phone for hours and hours before bed. Things became very obvious, but just lacked the last kick. On an evening of making disastrous paella and finishing up dizzying Inniskillin icewine, Dory and Ken picked up their courage and committed to each other in a relationship. Finally, the story could start.

They are both foodies and adventurers who are determined to taste the world. Yelp is the compass of their tour. You can find their footprints in cities within a few hours of drive and across the continent (Pittsburgh, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Seattle, Vancouver, Whistler, Atlanta, St Lucia), and countries on the other side of the globe (Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Japan, Taiwan). However, the pandemic hit them hard. Nature became their shelter. Cooking in a cabin after a long walk on trials is their new way of travel. They tried their hands in Bar harbor and Hudson Valley, and they were tempted to seek something greater after the trips. Obviously, Iceland is second to none when it comes to adventure. So, here they are.

Summer 2021, Dory and Ken stepped on the island full of ancient legends and breathtaking landscapes as the first big trip after their engagement and the upcoming wedding. Stunned by the photos of Mait, they decided he is the one to perfectly freeze the precious moments during the trip. After greeting Mait on a chilly rainy Summer morning, Dory and Ken started the fast-paced trip around the island, where Mait called it his second home. Unlike the gloomy weather, the trip was pretty upbeat - not just because of the speed Mait drove (lol) but also the vibe he created, which absolutely eased Dory and Ken’s nerves. They had conversations from music to movies, and from culture to passion about life. 

Three days around Iceland was ambitious, and thus they didn’t waste any single second. Shortly after they hit the road, an abrupt right sharp turn brought them into the foggy mossy lava field. Holding hands and walking on squishy and bouncy lux moss carpet against the wind was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience for Dory and Ken. While they were still taking in the magical moment, they found themselves showering under the Skógafoss. Soaked in water not knowing if it’s rain or fall, all their hair and makeup seemed useless, not to mention Ken lost his fitness bracelet to nowhere. With a smile on his face, Mait let them know that the harsh environment and the truthful reaction were the secret recipes to his phenomenal photos.

Gradually getting familiar with each other, the chemistry between the couple and Mait brought them to the surreal Diamond beach. Dancing and playing in their summer clothes, Dory and Ken did not let the frozen air from Breiðamerkurjökull put out their energy. Just as they thought they got the rhythm of the trip, Mait made a twist and got off from Route 1 toward Klifbrekkufossar, which was only accessible in summertime. Without moving a step from the car, Mait took an epic photo of Dory and Ken waltzing with a backdrop of Mjóifjörður. Sounds easy-peasy, right? Not so much for Dory and Ken since they had to run hundreds of feet toward the edge of the cliff, while the photo still made the couple’s favorite. Finally, the Hvitserkur highlighted the last day. The humpback whale greeted them with a blow out of surprise. The tranquility when the sea melted into the sky and the squawking when the seagulls flew through the arch gave them the sense of Kakuriyo. 

The trip has ended, while the love between the two will evolve. The photos were the capsule that sealed all the memories. They will continue to tell the story for years to come.