22 Sep 2016 – Literally Translated – ‘The King’s No’
The reason why most people are single today is, they understand that they just can’t invite anyone to be a part of their life. Most single people understand the importance of protecting their good energy. Most single people understand the last thing that they need, is someone coming into their life and being a distraction instead of being a blessing. Most single people don’t fear being in a relationship, they just fear being with someone who doesn’t value a relationship like they do. Life is hard. And the last thing a person with a good heart needs, is for someone else to come into their life and make it even more harder – Michelle Obama

Mon: coming from someone like the present USA first lady says much about how in-tune she is with life.

SIN with 4 national languages and one national linguistic tension – pix credit to Alamy.

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160919-the-language-the-government-tried-to-suppress

Tue: this is one of the funniest and yeah to the little old lady. If only I can be clever like her, I have made it in life. Needed some humour and that made my day 🙂 hahaha.Pix downloaded and photoshop for the fun of it!

http://likes.com/g/22956817?utm_campaign=ml&v=r8wTDT0ZdoRd5wDnZNL8yQY41BMpEQ0g45K27x&utm_medium

3yrs ago Linn&Jeff’s house burnt down and up to today I am still weary to have real candles. My sleeping bag and one of the bag-packs are constant reminder to feel thankful that we all made it out safely – except Gator, the 12+yrs old family pet whose time was up and as it was she was having problems hearing, etc. May she RIP in dog-heaven.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/10/06/lost-for-words/

Wed: tkx to Kris and Mette for taking time to say bye for this time round. The omelette at Egon@Ullevaal Stadion looks good, will have it the next trip! Had the all you can eat pizza&salad+drink NOK110 S$18. Needed greens!

Kongens nei, The King’s Choice****docudrama film directed by Erik Poppe. It is a co-production between Norway and Ireland (had to watch – Norway&Ireland where I have lived for 2decades!) was selected as the Norwegian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.

On the 9. of April 1940, German soldiers arrive in the city of OSL. The king of Norway faces a choice that will change his country forever.

In a crowd of thousands, I braved the crowds in the outdoor grey and drizzly sky@Slottsparken to watch this movie with the the Royal Family. Wanted to have this experience and actually quite enjoyed the ambience – people were courteous and considerate. The lady sitting next to me saw that I was alone and even offered me coffee. Found a tree perfect as a back and head-rest, but was there 2hrs before the show started. This furry well-disciplined pet was sitting by my feet and kept them warm! By the time the show started, there was not an empty space to be found.

https://translate.google.no/translate?hl=en&sl=no&u=http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2016/09/21/195243874/kongeparet-inviterer-til-utekino-viser-kongens-nei-pa-slottsveggen&prev=search

Thu: another grey day, perfect for staying indoors to mend and darn O clothes, and to update this post.

19 Sep 2016 – And A Bottle Of ‘Lawless’ Cider!

Fri: TGIF – O has a slight cough and sniffy nose and did not sleep well. Decided to keep him out of daycare and took him to Finding Dory@Saga***(dubbed to Norwegian). Lunched at the park@Karl Johan gt and a pix of him by the statue that I also posted with nearly 50yrs ago! Fresh apple juice at BICKS for me and an ice-cream for him before delivering him home.

Headed back into town for Oslo Kulturnatt 2016****events. So much to see and one night is far too little time – picked just 2 events out of the 80 pp booklet of events!

Started at OSL domkirke/Cathedral – previously named Our Saviour’s Church and was first consecrated in 1697; in 1950 it was restored back to its impressive original baroque interior.

The pulpit, altar piece and organ front with acanthus carvings are all originals.The large ceiling murals were painted by Hugo Lous Mohr between 1936 and 1950, and the stained glass windows are by Emanuel Vigeland. The male choir directed by David Maiwald gave an enjoyable performance with pieces from Grieg, Elgar and Gritton.

Continued to the historic square in Rådhusgata, the old city centre known as Kvadraturen. Surprised to bump into OleK, will catch up with him on Sun. Some of OSL oldest buildings are found around this square, including Christiana’s first town hall from 1641; today Gamle Raadhus Restaurant on the ground floor.

The square is known for its fountain, with a sculpture of a hand pointing to the ground. After the big town fire in 1624, the Danish-Norwegian king Christian IV decided to rebuild the town in this area and supposedly pointed to this spot and said: The new town will lie here!

Today the 2nd floor is the Musikk & Scenehuset where one can enjoy a glass of wine with the music. 2 interior pix downloaded.

Tonight the Opera for the People was FOC and packed – a light performance by various voices from various operas was delightful and entertaining. A fantastic night of charming ambience of the 1600s.

http://www.operatilfolket.no

Sat: May wanted to check out this 90% off warehouse sale from Habitat@Fornebu and believe me the crowd, etc put us both off. Most of the items were sold and we were there not long after it opened!

2above pix downloaded, the interior of Fornebu, where the old airport was – there I was first introduced to the paintings of Kai Fjell. In the main hall of the terminal were 2murals, both which have been preserved. The largest was the 310sq m (3,300sq ft) Arrival and Departure which was completed in 1968 and covered 3stories high. Would really like to see these murals again.

Nice relaxing evening listening to The Leif, Magnus & his guitar partner jamming at BICKS with O rocking to the music with his cup of warm milk will be a memorable sight.

Tired this Norwegian cider Lovløs = Lawless!! and it is quite decent, ie dry and not too sweet.

Sun: this incredible weather has been a bonus to my stay, tkx to Mother Nature. The neighbour’s plums are looking good over the fence (remembering the old fable by Aesop, those plums must be sour 🙂 ), the sweetheart roses showing their last blooms for the season and a little jump on the trampoline with his neighbour before O heads out in the woods to try their new fishing rods in some ponds.

On the way to dinner, passed by Bakkehaugen Church. Popped my head in to take an interior pix and was surprised by a service going on in English. Thank you to Ingrid & HansK for a delicious Norwegian National dishes dinner – fårikål and eplekake. Ingrid is such a fantastic cook and gracious hostess.

Good to catch up with OleK & kids. Too busy chatting that I forgot to take pix – Jenny (13) taller than me, Martin (10) will be taller than me when I see him again! The blood birch has gone way pass taller than any of us 🙂

They’re probably sour anyway, and proceeded to walk away. Moral: It’s easy to despise what you cannot have – The Fox and the Grapes by Aesop

16 Sep 2016 – Gråtass

Mon: Ekebergparken Sculpture Park, 25.5 acres park located SE OSL and a national heritage park with a panoramic view of OSL.

Many interesting sculptures and nice walk in the woods.

One of the cleanest public park I have been and the playgrounds look good enough even for me to want to try. Hope to bring O here before I leave.

An indoor museum (open every day 11-1600hrs), located in LundsHus, which presents the Ekeberg area’s history and nature. There is also an art and design shop that has books and design items. LundsHus is a white villa from 1891.

Tue: a walk to Bogstadveien Moods of Norway to return the dress. Tkx Ingrid for a spontaneous meeting for coffee@Starbucks.

SIN: 30m-tall heritage tree in Outram crashes into 6 Pearl Bank Apartments (pix downloaded from AsiaOne), hope that cousin David’s apt is not one of them!

Wed: nice catching up for lunch@Bicks with Norwegian exchange students from SIN, Magnus (2012) & Christian (2014). Interesting to learn that Christian’s grandfather was then the owner of one of the shops in this old pix at John Colletts plass – Fisk Vilt OLAV LIE, with a cool vintage car. All the best to these 2handsome young men for their lives ahead of them.

Thu: another wonderful day at the movies and down town with O. Gråtass***a farm comedy about friendship with the world’s most famous tractor! We were the only 2people in the whole cinema and that was a luxury; both O & I have that in common that we like our space 🙂

Literally window-shopping@RiktigeLeker (Correct Toys), my favourtie toy shop in Norway. Today OSL City Hall was opened and managed a pix of O with the statue of his paternal great-great-grandfather.

Happy Mid-Autumn or Happy Moon/Lantern Festival/中秋節快樂 and enjoy your mooncakes – not a fan of mooncakes. Fond childhood memories from this festival. Showed O the different colourful lantern pix of this festival and he liked them.

https://amylamsg.com/2009/10/03/mid-autumn/

We are all like the bright moon, we still have our darker side ― Kahlil Gibran

12 Sep 2016 – Hegdehaugsveien og Bogstadveien

Fri: TGIF, grey and drizzly day – good for staying indoors with a pot of warm tea and a few movies. So far have watched 4movies since my arrival to Norway and all 4 are quite decent and entertaining.

Genius (2016)***the complex relationship between the world-renowned book editor Maxwell Perkins (who discovered F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway) and the larger-than-life literary giant Thomas Wolfe. Perkins played by Colin Firth, Jude Law as Wolfe, Nicole Kidman. Am a ColinF fan, so will watch most of his movies. Great story and an intriguing study of the personalities.

I don’t exist anymore. I’ve been edited…

Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)****pleasant but also pathetic comical biopic on the delusional American heiress opera singer and philanthropist Florence Foster Jenkins. Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg did well with their cast. HughG did a good job in his role as the loving husband!

People may say I couldn’t sing, but no one can ever say I didn’t sing…

Love and Friendship (2016)***attempt at bringing Jane Austen’s novella Lady Susan to the big screen. An entertaining comic romp that fans of the classic English author will like.

I had a feeling that the great word ‘respectable’ would some day divide us…

Hologram For The King (2016)***cultures collide when an American businessman (Tom Hanks) is sent to Saudi Arabia to close what he hopes will be the deal of a lifetime. A mid-life crisis drama, but it is really a crisis of purpose and identity for an old-school middle-aged businessman trying to remain relevant in the modern world.

Baffled by local customs and bureaucracy, he eventually finds his footing with the help of a wise-cracking taxi driver and a Saudi doctor.

Sat: Hegdehaugsveien og Bogstadveien Markedsdag – bi-annual sales and spent more than I intended! Somebody did not move their cars and were being tolled away at 08.30hrs! Was there bright and early to avoid the crowds. David Anderson, the silversmith always has tasteful window displays, but nothing on sale there!

Moods of Norway had 20% off in the whole shop and there went NOK2,181 S$360. A dress (NOK960 S$158 after discount) that I do not need, but like the colour, cutting and workmanship. A shirt, bow-tie and underwear for O, tractor-shaped waffle iron (NOK960 S$158) Christmas gift for the family, completely unnecessary! but O would like it 🙂

Honey for NOK200 S$33, other small gifts, food for the day, including bus-trip back. Total damage done app NOK3,500 S$577

New sculptures at the junction of Josefines gt

No ‘Farmers’ Market’ this year, missed getting the fresh apple juice and kransekake. By the time I left at app 12n, it was getting crowded, not where I wanted to be any longer.

Why would anyone name a road Problemveien Problem Way??? Took a stroll with O so that he could ride his bike and what a pleasant surprise to bump into Magnus. Will arrange to meet with him and Christian next week.  Strange with life when you are meant to catch up, like with TorilA’s grandson’s bike.

Coincidence vs destiny vs fate…

The world is so unpredictable. Things happen suddenly, unexpectedly. We want to feel we are in control of our own existence. In some ways we are, in some ways we’re not. We are ruled by the forces of chance and coincidence – Paul Auster

Sun: Happy Bdays bro Steven and May Yung-Lam.

15yrs ago, the attack that changed our world, we remember the valor of those we lost—those who innocently went to work that day and the brave souls who went in after them. Hopefully we are mindful of those who grieve for them and the light that still lives in their hearts.

Yummy foods by May – brochette with home-grown tomatoes.

Apple tart with apples from the garden. How to lose weight with such a good cook and such fresh produce?? Second-born who has learnt to make such yummy foods – good that she is named after my mother who also was an excellent cook and cousin Lock’s wife who is another May, and another wonderful cook.

8 Sep 2016 – A Speech Going Viral For The Right Reasons…

3above pix downloaded. Strange to think back how some of the Norwegians reacted back in the 1960s when their then Prince Harald married a commoner Sonja (1968)! If my memory serves me correct, the comment was – at least she is a Norwegian. As royal families are concerned, the Norwegian one has not made much headlines or gossips…

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/king-of-norway-delivers-emotionally-charged-speech-in-favour-of-lgbt-rights-and-refugees-a7226216.html

Home is where the heart is. That cannot always be placed within country borders – King Harald V of Norway.

Tue: a day to clear and clean after the long-weekend of celebrations. The sky kept threatening with the grey clouds, on the windy side but no rains. Lovely breeze to take a slow stroll.

2above pix credits to Alex. Great job for Linn and Katy, both back on track with their runnings. Linn@Labor Day 5miler 2016.

2above pix credits to Elizabeth. Katy@2016 Palmetto State Cross Country where the boys took 1st place for both Varsity and JV and Varsity girls placed 1st and JV 2nd. Way to go Irmo High and good job, coaches!

Wed: was totally surprised by this little bird that landed in the middle of the floor from out of nowhere. All the windows and doors were still closed early this morning?? The poor little thing was as shocked as I was and trying to get it out on the balcony was not as easy as I thought, but managed to catch it carefully with a piece of tissue and it happily flew away to the nearest apple-tree. All’s well that ends well.

A long walk on this perfect walking day, first to Eivind@Pilestredet Park to get the medical paper-works on the roll.

Continued into town and do like OSL on such evenings when the weather is perfect and watching like goes by is such a pleasure. Wonder why this feeling occurs when mainly in Europe?? Maybe the weather has much to do with it…

Culture Shock And Cultural Differences In Norway. An evening with Alfhild Tveråmo, hosted by Professional Women’s Network Norway@Thon Hotel Opera. NOK150 S$25

Interesting but not interesting enough to make me stay for the whole talk. Still a long way for many there to really understand and reflect on what they were voicing.

Modern lamps and sculptures at the hotel, did not like what I saw spray-painted on the windows at the Opera House across the road.

Lovely evening stroll passing by the Oslo Sentralstasjon with Oslo domkirke/Cathedral in the background.

Commercials for male underwear, I presume 🙂

Thu: wonder why it took me such a long time to wander up this path to Vestre Aker Kirke (1854)? And it is only 5mins walk from where I am…

This morning after delivering O to daycare, took a short walk up the path by the bus-stop and it was indeed a peaceful sight. Must return to view the interior stained-glass.

Happy 69Bday, Alfred in CA,USA- amazing, his last year in his 60s and seems like we are all getting on in age 🙂

Edited 15Sep – pix of the interior of church

6 Sep 2016 – The Labour Day Weekend

Sat: busy getting a Pirate Garden Treasure Hunt for the youngest grandchild #6 Olai. So much to organize when planning for 10kids aged 5, especially when both parents work full-time. M being a good mother wants to bake the cakes, cupcakes and the fruit-bowl with a pirate theme. To get a longish water melon, B had to go down town to the Asian shops.

Sun: Happy Labour Day & Happy 38th Bday M. A short visit to Tromsø end of this month will revive some memories where she was born. Like me she does not want breakfast or food in bed, so a fancy smoked salmon open-faced sandwich hits the spot. B bought skolebrød/bolle=schoolbread/bun which is a type of sweet roll that consists of regular dough of yeast, custard and icing with grated coconut. It was usually put in school lunches as a dessert or sold at bake sales, hence the name.

Being a Sun, the parents decided to have O Bday party today and that he can open the gifts from his friends today. Adorable amazing grandson decided to dress himself in a vest and tie to have breakfast with us and then off to jump on the trampoline with anticipated excitement for his party.

A perfect day with gifts, home-made cakes and fruit-bowl all in a pirate theme (my contribution is the treasure-chest) as requested by the O who did not bother with his pirate outfit but was in his tie all day!

O was satisfied with his gifts and his guests. After the treasure-hunt, pin the donkey, and serving of bday goodies, time to bid the guests goodbye; the 3generations of guys (paternal grandfather, father and son) continued their fun with a remote-controlled car from Rich.  The grown-ups (including B dad, John who was on transit from Moss to Trondheim), relaxed with a well-deserved bottle of bubbles and some finger food before calling it the day!

Mon: Happy 5th Bday O. Today is the actual bday and more presents from the family to be opened.

Planning day at the daycare, thus no daycare and parents had to worked. A most wonderful day with him in town – Mummitrollet og det usynlige barnet@Trikkestallen Torshov, Moomin Troll & the Invisible Child, a well and tasteful presented puppet show. I would like to be able to be invisible on demand 🙂

Trikkestallen was built in 1899 as a workshop and depot for Kristiania Sporveisselskab@Torshov. Today it works as a cultural center which was opened in 2003. Besides Ungmedia, Oslo Nye Puppet, it also houses Norway’s only Tap Dance School – That Tickle Toes.

OSL City Hall to show him the sculpture of his great-great-grandfather Magnus Poulsson, but unfortunately the building was closed for some private function. Another time. Pix of the sculpture taken in 2008. Ice-cream treat as a consolation and perhaps he might be too young to appreciate it now!

As we were walking to our tram, he saw this sight-seeing tourist train and told me that he has never been on it and have always wanted to go on it and so of course his wish was granted without a second thought – we were the only 2passengers.

Did not expect a 5yrs old would have enjoyed this 4omins ride thru’ the main tourist attractions in the OSL center, but he seemed to like it. Must have been a long tiring day as he fell asleep in my arms the last 10mins.

Happiness is spending time with people you love and creating memories that last a lifetime…

3 Sep 2016 – The Henie Onstad Kunstsenter

Thu: was just looking back at postings of Henie Onstad. Unless you are an ice-skating fan or a Norwegian, many would have not known about Sonja Henie (1912-1969). I am neither, but my father was a big fan of Sonja Henie. This art museum is located at Høvikodden in Bærum municipality. It is situated on a headland jutting into the Oslofjord, app 10k south of OSL.

This is the 4th posting at the same location but different exhibitions.

https://amylamsg.com/2008/10/11/henie-onstad/

https://amylamsg.com/2011/07/10/imagine-being-here

https://amylamsg.com/2015/10/09/art-movie/

Family back from the hunt and everything is good and well. Now to get ready for 2b-day celebrations for the weekend and we are into Sep!

Fri: TGIF, some pix from early Aug walking thru’ Slottsparken, The Royal Palace Park. Here in Norway where most places are closed on Sun, Sat is the only day for the working folks to run their errands. Do sometimes accompany May so as to have some time with her inspite of the crowds –  as compared to SIN and other major cities, the crowds here are really nothing to write about.

Tkx Mette for taking time to catch up at Egon@Ullevaal stadion.

Neat place with lots of antiques. Had only a cup of coffee there, so no idea about how the food is, but according to May it is a bad version of TGI Fridays!

4 Sep – Happy Bdays MayH & Vince

5 Sep – Happy 5th Bday Olai

8 Sep – Happy 69th Alfred Tay

11 Sep – Happy Bdays Steven & MayY

15 Sep – Happy Bday Ting Ting

16 Sep – Happy Bdays Ivy & Edith

20 Sep – Happy Bday AmyR

21 Sep – Happy Bday Greg

23 Sep – Happy Bdays Joyce & Klaus

24 Sep – Happy Bday Yun

25 Sep – HappyBday Kat

30 Sep Happy Bday Mabel & DaisyL

31 Aug 2016 – Møsvann, Telemark

Sat: sooo sad reading about the reindeer and as it is, am not feeling my usual self, am working hard to get out of this mood. Some concerns as May&fam are around that area now. Used to spent most summers there when living in Norway. Even my first summer job (1969) in Norway@Skinnarbu hoyfjellshotell was here. 3above pix downloaded. Many coloured slides from this area over the years are stored in SIN, and again that was another lifetime ago, afterall even a cat has 9lifes 🙂

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/29/freak-lighting-bolts-kill-300-reindeer-in-norway/

2above pix credits to May. According to Cathrine, L&M paternal auntie – completely sickening,  it’s in our neighbour’s terrian. We can see them with the binoculars.

Somehow was thinking about this area lately and probably because the bus-ride and Trolltunga is in the Hardanger region. When the bus drove thru’ Åmot, we also drove by a man-made Vinje kyrkje in Telemark. Managed to capture a quick shot as thoughts drifted to the natural Vinje kyrkje in Møsvann (2010), pix credit to Linn

Today the weather is perfect to get the hiking gears cleaned and dried before putting them away. The sunrise is absolutely stunning by the bedroom window and the herbs are growing well by the kitchen window.

Sun: thank you for that perfect day yesterday and today a perfect grey day for stuff to get re-organized and put away. Trying to read but keep dosing off, so must really need that rest.

Mon: how delightful it is to be able to just go to the garden and pick a cup of sweet yummy blueberries for breakfast and then a couple of fresh tomatoes for the omelet. Ah, the sweet simple things in life are the best! And if you want a beautiful rose on your breakfast tray, no problems, but I think the rose should stay and wait for Olai.

From CAE, SC, USA – good job to Linn for ranking #10 in SC state for masters women! Now starts the XC season for Linn, the coach & Katy, the high-school runner. Looking forward to a promising season. Way to go to #1 and team captain.

http://fearthestingihs.org/2016/08/29/xc-to-begin-season-at-ciu/

Tue: Henie Onstad Kunstsenter featuring Nikolai Astrup (1880-1928), tkx Kirsten for being her guest here.

Have known of his mid-summer fires and the tree-stump subjects, but his collection here today is impressive and have become an admirer.

Although well-known in Norway, Astrup is little-known in the rest of the world. The first exhibition of his work outside of Norway took place earlier this year@Duwich Picture Gallery, London.

Displayed 90+ oil paintings and prints, including works from private collections never exhibited before. Coincidentally, today would have been his birthday.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jan/24/norwegian-painter-nikolai-astrup-emerges-obscurity-dulwich-gallery

Nice to catch up with Geir too. Fun exchanging summer fishing tales over another fish dinner! Seems like a good ‘fungus’ year up in the mountains too.

This new horrible eeky brown snail (new to me as they did not exist when I lived here) has been and still is a real menace and pest in the area the past few years.

Kolsås is the end station of the Kolsås Line on the Oslo Metro, this station closed for many years under construction and has gone thru’ great changes since my Kolsås days in the early 1980s.

Wed: goodbye Aug and one can nearly feel in the air that fall is just around the corner.

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest ― Confucius

27 Aug 2016 – Tyssedal Hotel

Tue & Wed: Tyssedal, 0.62sqK (150-acre), pop  692, a village in Odda municipality in Hordaland county. Typical monotown, depending upon the energy received from the hydropower station. Norsk Vasskraft- og Industristadmuseum – Norwegian Museum of Hydropower and Industry drawn by the architect Thorvald Astrup (1876–1940) and constructed between 1906 and 1918. Above 3pix downloaded.

Tyssedal kyrkje was built in 1965 by the architect Axel Fronth. Above 3pix downloaded.

Tyssedal Hotel (1913)***This historical hotel is home to a spectacular collection of art. The state of my room after unloading things off the pack. 1 night NOK1,437 S$235 breakfast included is NOT worth it. Service OK but What! NO Herrings for Breakfast!! Much prefer the room at Byrkjenes/Odda the first night which I highly recommend – stay there and drive or take the bus to see the art here.

Nils Bergslien, Christian Krogh, Askvold, Adelsten Normann, Morten Müller, Ludvig Shramstad and Hans Dahl are among the artists represented here. The work of Geir Grung, one of Norway’s best known modernist architects is exhibited. Chose to stay here to admire some of these works but hardly any info on these paintings. The art collection***** here is worth more than the hotel. Link below is in Norwegian.

http://www.h-avis.no/puls/siste-puls/odda/kunsten-mer-verd-enn-hotellet/s/2-2.921-1.7719340

Glad that the paintings are still there but disappointed in the loss of heritage in the running of the hotel. Sad for Norway – a group of Polish bought over this location in May 2016 and the complete Polish staff has little knowledge of Norway or Norwegian and the art collection here. Even the guests are from Poland and did not seem too interested.

Above 2pix paintings by Krohg and Bergslien are downloaded – not possible for my idiot-proof camera to shoot decent pix with the kind of interior lighting there. Pix with the former hotel director Kolbrún Baldursdottir explaining why this Bergslien is her favourite.

Waiting for the midnight bus back to OSL on a wet evening in a cold-looking and pathetic waiting room which has signs stating – but no one dares approach an elderly white-hair senior to ask her to leave because doors will be locked. Alas, the Norway (not Mother Nature) I once knew and fell in love with has to make way for progress! The irony is that it was places similar in this area – Balastrand and Voss that I was so awed by 50yrs ago during my first visit in Norway with father.

Thu: arriving in time to wish the family safe journeys as they head out to Hardangervidda for their annual reindeer hunt. Slept most of the day in the comforting rhythm of the falling rain .

Fri: TGIF – slowly but surely regaining back some energy. Tkx Kirsten for the visit and for keeping me company. Great to catch up. Appreciations to Kari for the invitation to Filtvet for the weekend. The heart is saying yes yes yes thank you and the body is saying are you crazy? Have a wonderful weekend and the weather has been forecast to be a fantastic one. Looking forward to catching up next week.

A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life – Muhammad Ali

25 Aug 2016 – Troll Tongue

Tue: great to catch up with Leng and even managed to squeeze in some time for an exhibition at the Oslo Rådhuset

Wed: lunched with Mette@Ullevål Stadion in Baker Hansen****one my favourite bakeries. Bought a soft light-weight water bottle NOK190 S$32, preparing for 6+hrs on the bus from OSL to get to the beginning of the trail to hike up Trolltunga over the weekend. Bringing tent, etc. Hoping and praying for dry weather. NO will NOT be anywhere near that edge.

Thu: tkx for the visit TorilA and nice to catch up, yes it is a small world that my grandson is now the proud owner of her grandson’s bike 🙂

Fri: 0945hrs bus and after 6+hrs bus-ride in mixed-weather conditions with

one change of bus@Seljestad vekstasjon and one overnight at Odda was just the beginning of this adventure. Round-trip of 676km fare on the bus for senior NOK768 S$127.

Was helped by a gracious and lovely young lady also named Amy! at the Tourist Info who even drove me to my accommodations and tried to pick me back into town to catch the bus – but I started with an early walk.

Odda where life centers around a tongue! Pop 5,022, largest urban area in Hardanger. Norway’s hydro power sites and pioneer for the chemicals for cyanamide & carbide.

Amy found a room sharing bathroom and a tiny cooking area, clean and nicely located for NOK400 S$66, well-worth the price, considering what I had to pay for my hotel room later!! Owned by a couple who has this as their supplement income and 2km from Odda.

Sat: took an early walk 2km back to Odda to catch the 0915bus NOK18 S$3 for seniors to Tyssedal, 7k from Odda. Will be staying in TyssedalHotel after the hike NOK1,400 S$232. Having second thoughts about it, but too late, already paid for.  Dropped off my city-stuff at the hotel and caught the hotel shuttle to the trail-head NOK100 S$16, daylight robbery, but that was the only way by 1030hrs, unless walk 7k with a full-pack on heavy traffic narrow curvy  mountain roads – not my choice to start this hike.

By the time I hit the trail, it was nearly 1100hrs and looking at what was ahead of me was rather intimidating. Had these words from Bjørn – there is nothing to it, just put one foot ahead. Easier said than done with a full pack and these steps seem like a never-ending 4.5k climb from 500m to 1,250m.

Managed less than 4k by 1600hrs and decided to pitched camp. Glad I did so as the rains and winds picked up after everything were in place.

Sun: nice view to wake up to, packed up by 0700hrs to continue. Better to hike in daylight as the trolls all turn into rocks when daylight hits 🙂

Spectacular views of the area, Folgefonna Glacier, Ringedalsvatner made all the hard work worth the while.

Managed to find an angle to avoid the crowds, and while no one was trying to pose on that poor tongue. Sadly some people have little or no respect for Mother Nature. See the people in the pix, I consider this crowded and it is no wonder that crowds takes its toll on the mental being.

Arr at the tongue area about 1400hrs, 8k in 7hrs with many many rest-stops. Blessed with lovely weather. Stayed an hour to admire the views and had lunch. Being there in person and experiencing the real place is not quite the same as just looking at the pix.

Headed back to pitch camp for another night as the downhill will kill me if I do not take it SLOW! Had an eye on a site earlier and it turned out good, in-spite of more rains and winds, found some moss-bed – AT buddies will remember how I feel with moss-bed 🙂

Mon: started 0700hrs and did not get to the trail-head until 1500hrs. The downhill on those stone-steps were quite a killer and nearly fell, fortunately it was a rope-sectioned and I felt a friend in a rope! Glad to have had the chance to experience this very unforgettable adventure in good weather! Have certainly passed the stage for this kind of challenging-demanding hikes. This number in the bucket-list nearly put me in the bucket…

Have only been away for a few days and sad news about the earthquakes in Italy and Myanmar in addition to the death of Sellapan Ramanathan/S R Nathan (91) Ex-President of Singapore. May he RIP. Condolences, prayers and thoughts to all family and friends effected.

Edited – 31Aug 2016

Yesterday’s Aftenposten Nyheter pp9 – to translate and summarize as best as I can: on Sunday people waited for over an hour to get on the tongue… Tourist traffic starts seriously to take its toll on the energy with the Red Cross volunteers in Odda

In this article Rune wrote about how unknowledgeable and unprepared many of these tourists are about the trail and conditions to Trolltunga. Still wondering if the 3guys from India who left with me in the hotel shuttle after 1030hrs Sat 20Aug made it there and back to the hotel the same day as they intended?? By the time my tent was pitched, app 1800hrs, there was still no sign of them.

I personally saw a tourist with city attire and no day pack or any signs of any pack, people who were wandering away from the red-T (marking for the trail), etc etc. Unable to understand anyone who tempt and play games with Mother Nature and the elements.

Stayed away from the tongue, not because of the long line, but I do not want to be a part eroding away this piece of natural beauty. Saw the new hair-pin-bend road under construction on my way up and down the beginning of this trail, thus more accessible to get to and on the tongue in future – the consequences.