I guess it must be hard to be a relatively small country that nobody knows too much about, apart from the image that it’s always cold there. Not the best beginnings to plan tourism campaigns, but I’m constantly surprised at how persuasive Iceland is about getting tourists there.

Now, I haven’t (yet) been to Iceland, and I don’t like to fall for marketing hype, but both the tourist board and tourism operators like the airline Iceland Express have such a pleasant way of encouraging me that it’s got right near the top of my must-visit list. And nobody’s paying me to say that.

I often read the blog that belongs to Iceland Express, because it’s actually really entertaining, and the airline has some great marketing campaigns - recently they started a site called Iceland Socks where you can make your own talking-sock video, set against various sightseeing backdrops of Iceland.

The tourist board has a website that sounds so friendly (it even has a category of tourist attractions called “Bits and Pieces”) that I’m even more intrigued. I only know a couple of people who’ve visited Iceland, and while their travel tales were all positive, they were definitely the more adventurous type.

Can I believe what the marketers say?

I’d love to hear from anyone who’s already made the trip up to Iceland - does it match up to the hype? And in general - should you ever believe the tourism marketing or do you want your info from a more independent source?

Every Saturday, for the next 4 weeks I will be publishing a selection of my favourite travel photographs and I would love it if readers participated. On the 3 May, I’ll choose 4 photos submitted that I like the most and let readers choose their favourite.

The winner will win a £25 (or your currencies equivalent) Amazon e-voucher to spend as they wish. The theme of the challenge is “Spring time at home” so dust the cobwebs off your camera and go out and take a photograph and email it to darren @ travel-rants.com

The competition is open to everyone and of course if you have any questions just ask.

Tribewanted is unique fusion of ideas and cultures. It’s a mixture of a real world tribe and it’s customs allied with the virtual community and it’s online democracy. The aim is to build a simple sustainable village on Vorovoro Island, Fiji and a buzzing online community.

Vorovoro is not a resort. It’s a challenge: three years to turn the island into a community that is as sustainable as possible. Tribe member’s debate and vote on island issues online with the guidance of the on island team and elected chief.

Here is my story.

I was unsure how I would cope on a practically deserted island without my hairdryer but decided to embrace the frizzy hair and get on with it! I wanted to experience the 1st anniversary celebrations so arrived on Vorovoro on 29th August and stayed for three weeks.

I found the first few days totally overwhelming. I arrived on Vorovoro, and within three hours I’d learnt (or rather, attempted to learn,) two mekes (traditional Fijian dance). We then went to the neighbouring island of Mali to perform the mekes at a Methodist convention!!

We spent the next couple of days preparing for the 1st September celebrations. Everyone was busy tidying up the camp and preparing things for the guests who were coming over to Vorovoro to help us celebrate.

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Well on Sunday I’ll be 35 years old, and I remember an ex-work colleague tell me when I was 18 that my life would speed past my eyes, and being 18 I laughed, and thought, sure, whatever! She was right though, it’s flown by.

I’m not off out on a boozy weekend, instead I’m taking my 11-year old nephew to a beautiful spot in Yorkshire called Ingleton falls, on a 4 mile trail, taking in such sights as the Thornton gorge, and reaching heights of 554 ft, which should take us around three hours.

I was wondering where you have travelled that you have been in awe of the scenery?

According to Cheapflights, Tenerife is this Winter’s most popular holiday destination for us Brits, which doesn’t surprise me. Flight prices to Tenerife even with the low cost carriers always used to be expensive, but recently the likes of Jet2 have drastically reduced their prices.

Other destinations featured in the winter sun hot spots list include Lanzarote, Dubai, Cape town, Bangkok and Sharm el Sheikh and it’s obvious consumers are adventurous with most of the popular destinations being long haul.

Where is your favourite holiday destination?

Whilst sat in the pub last night I mentioned to friends that I’d love to visit South Africa in 2010, to watch the football World Cup – even if England do not qualify. I was told by one friend that I was mad to think about visiting South Africa because of the crime.

I personally don’t see South Africa as a dangerous place, and I have never visited anywhere that I would classify as dangerous. Cities like Brazil’s, Rio de Janeiro seem to have a bad reputation for crime, but on the other hand it seems a shame not to visit. I’d take the risk.

Where’s the most dangerous place you have visited, and what was your experience?

I don’t understand anyone who visits the local McDonalds or KFC when they are on their travels. I love to get involved in the culture, eat the local food, and try and speak some of the local language, even if it’s just to say hello, bye and thank you.

I like my food and remember trips to Kuala Lumpur where I tried the Devil’s curry, my trip to Prague where I tried the local delicacy of stew type meat with dumplings or my visit to North Queensland where I tucked into an alligator steak with an ice cold beer.

Whilst I am adventurous with food abroad, I’ve never gone too far, and couldn’t eat the likes of snails in Paris or Kanagroo’s testicles in Australia. I was wondering though what’s the weirdest food you’ve eaten on your travels, or admit it do you head for the likes of McDonalds?

Phew at last wonderful weather! The lack of a blog post yesterday was because I spent all day outside walking in Grassington, which is just an amazing place for walking and has some great scenery.

If you’re ever in this part of the country, you have to spend a few days in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire Moors or the Lake District. After our 10 mile walk, we found a local pub that had organised a BBQ, so we sat outside drinking cold beer [yep we do have cold beer up here!] and eating beef burgers and chicken which probably wasn’t healthy after a long walk.

I can understand though why so many of us go on holidays abroad as the prices of holiday homes in England is just incredible. We passed a cottage, okay, it had spectacular views, but the owners were renting it out at £1,000 a week, during the peak season, which is probably out of budget for a lot of families.