This was what I did for most of my trip including this trip.
Everyday, I scout for cheap air ticket to decide where I wanted to go for my holiday. This time round, Finland signed a new trade agreement with Singapore and Finnair decided to fly direct. The promotional air ticket is too good to refuse.
Once decided, I get into itinerary planning.
From the guidebook as well as my imagination, this is what I draw up:
1. Landed in Helsinki, immediately fly to Bergen (Eastern coastal town in Norway "yes, Norway")
2. Stay in Bergen for 2 nights and then rent a car. My plan is to drive to Oslo thru the magnificent fjord and also tall mountain peak of Norway country side.
3. From Bergen, I drive to Gudvangen and took my car across the Fjord thru a car ferries. As I look back, waterfalls, blue skies, clear water, cool weather, crisp air still makes me smile.
After driving off the Ferry, I saw a supermarket on my left and stop there to pick up some groceries.
After one hour of browsing, I continue my drive to Solvorn. I'll be staying in Eplet Bed & apple hostel for two nights. I found Eplet as it's most recommended hostel from Tripadvisor and I agreed.
4. Next morning, I took a bicycle from Eplet and then took a ferry to Ornes which is across the fjord. I remind myself to took the return ferry at 16:50 otherwise, the next and last ferry will be 19:20. And, if I missed this ferry, then I'll have to stay in Ornes.
Temperate is 12 degree and it's perfect for cycling. 15mins later, I'm on top of a hill, joining a tour on Norway's Stave church. This Stave church has a very good Feng Shui. Thou it's small, it's the oldest of its kind. Ok, what's a Stave church? You know Norway? You heard about Viking? Yes, they are from Norway. They took boat and goes everywhere to trade (err sometime take). So, this church built around 1130 has the architect of Viking's decoration as well as the christian church design.
I'm fully aware of the existence of other Stave church and I purposely pick this one because it's the most original aka untouched. Can you imagine that in Bergen, there is also a Stave church, but it was migrated/reconstructed from somewhere else? Anyway, a lot of organised tour will bring you to many churches and at the end of the day, you can not remember anyone of them as they did not create anything that's memorable. Moral of the story: Be selective.
Cut the cycling story shorts, it's a good work-out because I had to force myself to cycle fast fast to meet the Ferry timing at 4:50pm. When I reached the jetty at 4:45pm, it was such a good relieved! I brought a Norway branded cone ice cream... Best treat!
Back in Eplet, I bake my own salmon and toasted bread. A french mother cooking bake bean etc with her daughter. Ah ha, that's a chopping board hiding below the tabletop...
Relaxed and watch the kids playing garden golf... tomorrow, my legs will ache...
5. It's going to be a long drive today. Tonight, I'm staying in Elveseter Hotel (2 nights). It's all beautiful drive up the hill. Even a normal toilet stops take my breath away. A simple climb up a small knoll besides the public toilet; brighten my day. I drove all the way up and stop at a Glacier lake, so smooth and vast. I'm so tiny... how did I deserve this?
Somewhere near the top (plateau) , as I drove on at 80km/h and guess what? My road has 10 meter tall snows on both sides. Basically, there were heavy snow fall and somehow, all the snow on the road are melted but not the road sides. They formed 10 m tall snow WALL along the road that I'm driving. You can only see the snow wall and the road ahead of you. Strange experience. Got time I'll google some photo in my next post.
Elveseter hotel is a charming old style hotel in the middle of nowhere. I choose this place as a transition stop but also its in the mountain.
6. I woke up early in the morning. When I was eating my breakfast, I observed some wild deer at the fringe of the forest. Born free.
Based on the advise of the hotel receptionist, I will cross the road and hiking/glacier trekking on Galdhøpiggen Peak. She says that Norway has many forest and hiking/trekking is a national favorite activities. Well, when in Rome, do what the Rome did.
Surprisingly, my legs does not hurt despite the heavy cycling in Ornes. And more surprise, even after the few hours up and down climbing, no pain. Must be the air... I tell myself.
7. Today, I'm going to Lillehammer which is my last transit stop before OSLO. I check tripadvisor yesterday and decided to book a room in "Clarion Collection Hotel Hammer" which is a Norway hotel chain. It's weekend so the easy street side parking is free. Receptionist told me that there is a free wafer tea break at 3pm (luckily, I checked in at 2pm)
When I came down at 3pm, there was already few people there. I observed how they make the wafer (yes, you make your own) and did it myself. Got a cup of coffee and laze around. This is life, I told myself.
Times-up, it's time to do some exploration - the largest open-air museum Maihaugen.
After about 30 mins walk from my hotel, I reached Maihaugen. I walked pass the shopping streets, parks and lovely cottages. Nice.
Ok, the good news is Maihaugen is free entrance and the bad news is although the park is open, the buildings are closed. No problem, I'll follow what the local do, stroll in the park. The exterior of the buildings are anything but common to Singapore/Asia. They are typical norwegian building. Now, this particular one looks exactly like what "Little house in the prairie". I observed the way the log/timbers stack up on top of one another to form the wall. Ah, upon detail inspection, there is a difference. The chimney is outside the house instead of inside. I think it's more logical and practical to have the chimney outside. What do you think?
8. Today, I'm a bit tense as I'm driving into Oslo to return my car. You know... traffic. When I reached Oslo, I'm suppose to be very close to Avis but I'm lost. As usual, the best way is to park somewhere and locate by foot. I stopped at a restaurant and asked for directions from passer-by. Then, I walked around to double confirm. Wait a minute, wasn't that the place that they gave Noble price? Take note, come back later. Let me return my car first.
I drag my luggage for 200m and I'm at the wharf. It has a carnival going on. Tents, stages, songs filled the place. I smile, this is the right place, right atmosphere, another lucky day.
After check in, I walk to train station and pay special attention to the route and take my timing. Tomorrow morning, I will take the first train out to Stockholm. I had pre-booked the train from internet few months ago and you can trust that I choose and gotten the cheapest train ticket available.
Next, I took a tram to Oslo #1 attraction Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park. I am impressed by two entrance pillar of the strange creature embracing a woman, a angry boy whose facial expression and posture looks so real and of course the favorite human pillar as the center art piece. In total, there are 212 Bronze and granite sculpture all design by
one man: Gustav Vigeland. Amazing, talented and lucky chap.
Thank you for reading.
Oslo:
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Elveseter Hotel:
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Snow wall, Road to Elveseter:
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Cycling (free if you stay in Eplet). One warning, the time stated in the video is for professional biker. For normal people, you'll take at least 4 hours of cycling (return) from the waterfall. It's called Romantic road for a good reason. Enjoy:
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