5 Sep 2012 – Happy First Bday Olai

Minimal internet access but really quite a peaceful life here where we have been exposed to all the elements, sun, rain, wind etc the past 4 days. Sat 1 Sep, met PP & KK at OSL airport to catch our SAS flight to Bodø (1hr+Nok 1,257 S$270), connecting with a commuter/Wideroe (20mins NOK715 S$155) arr Lekens/Vestvågøya 68°10′N 13°45′E / 68.167°N 13.75°E / 68.167; 13.75 and drove to Mortsund on the Lofoten Islands.

These islands have for more than 1,000yrs been the centre of great cod fisheries, especially in winter, when the cod migrates south from the Barents Sea and gathers in Lofoten to spawn. Now this area is also a big market for the salmon hatcheries exporting world-wide. 5 main islands with a pop of app 24,000 attracting 250,000 tourists annually!

Lofoten have long inspired travellers to their rocky shores. Picturesque fishing villages, pristine beaches and access to seas and mountains make it a popular destination. The ocean with its Gulf Stream brings milder climates and of course the abundance of cod. Staying in a traditional Rorbu/fisherman’s cabin overlooking the wild Atlantic coast is breathtaking and spectacular.

Sun: 4hrs of hiking at Eggum in the morning

Afternoon drive to Nusfjord

One evening, I was walking along a path, the city was on one side and the fjord below. I felt tired and ill. I stopped and looked out over the fjordthe sun was setting, and the clouds turning blood red. I sensed a scream passing through nature; it seemed to me that I heard the scream. I painted this picture, painted the cloudsas actual blood. The colour shrieked. This became The Scream – Edvard Munch

1 Sep 2012 – For All Kinds of Weather!

Wed: 1hr 30mins train from Mechelen to Charleroi/CRL and 15min bus to CRL airport/south of Brussels (EUR14.5 S$23) in time for  another 1hr 30mins on RyanAir to RYG (RYG-CRL-RYG/NOK354 S$77) and finally 1hr on the bus into OSL (OSL-RYG-OSL/NOK290 S$63). The best welcome is the big smile of recognition from Olai 🙂

Thu: happy times walking with Olai while May was at the dentist. The statue of Grete Waitz 1953-2011 (9 times NYC Marathon winner) is especially to Keith for referring to how he met her at the NYC marathons in his younger years! He did not have a clue as to who she was until after she won the race! Only an Irish like Keith with the gift of the gab can tell such unforgettable tales!

Fri: packing for the Lofoten Islands is no an easy task. Need all kinds of rain-gears and warm clothes as this part of Norway is exposed to all elements, Sep is no longer summer. In spite of all the travels taken in this life journey, the packing has always been the part most dreaded. Forecast calls for rains, ouch but hopefully Mother Nature will change her mind to look kindly on us with dry weathers!

One of the gladdest moments of human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the cloak of many cares and the slavery of home, man feels once more happy – Sir Richard Burton

 4 Sep – Happy Bdays May HALD & Vincent LAM

5 Sep – Happy 1st Bday Olai HALD-HERMANSEN

11 Sep – Happy Bdays Steven LAM & May YUNG-LAM

15 Sep – Happy Bday ENG Ting Ting

16 Sep – HappyBdays Ivy YAP-LAM & Edith LAM

20 Sep – Happy Bday Amy RASHAP

21 Sep – Happy Bday Greg TRIBBE

23 Sep – Happy Bdays Joyce LAM-AMEEN & Klaus LAM

24 Sep – Happy Bday LAM Kah Yun

25 Sep – HappyBday Kat LAM-TRIBBE

30 Sep Happy Bday Mabel ONG-LAM & Daisy LAM

Good bye to Aug and Sep is certainly a popular Bday month…