Looking for Northern Light and more

Sunrise plus sunset

Lapland is a place for northern light, tones of snow, Santa Claus, reindeer. It made me smile when I knew I could go and look for Santa Claus and northern ligh. It was like dreaming. Altough this time I didn't see any northern light but I definitely enjoyed my stay in the summer cottage, the real Finnish way of living. Two nights closed to nature was really great. We had to take care of the fire coz it gave us light and warm and we relied on candles.

Rovaniemi, Sodankylä and the wild reindeer

Sodankylä, Tanhua, Rovaniemi, Lappi-Suomi
No northern light but lots of stars. It was amazing to see so many stars in the completely dark sky.( The sunset was at around 15:30pm.) Frankly, it was the most tranquil place I  had ever been. The entire area was so quiet and dark. It was like only us stayed in that area.

Lapland

Summer cottage

During the stay in the cottage, I spent most of my time reading book next to the candles. A book and a candle, they are very good combination and allow you to spend a whole afternoon, relaxing and inspiring.

Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Main Post Office and Arctic circle

In deed, I love the Main Post Office and I spent quite lots of time there. It was interesting to realise that it’s a real place for receiving hopes and dreams from children from all over the world.There are letters sent from different parts of the world. They carried the dreams and hopes of the children who believe there is a man called SantaClaus. And people from all over the world come and post cards to their friends, the warmest christmas blessing.

Visited Poland

Finally visited Poland

Old town of Warsaw, Poland

Once was totally destoryed

Poland is a country that I want to have a look for years. And the driving force behind is the Movie called "The Pianist". I considered Poland had a sad history, much the same as China, suffering from wars and unneccessary lost of human life.

I was deeply moved by the movie "The Pianist" which is about a Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive under the World War II, invasion of the SS. On one hand, I felt sad for the Jews and Polish people. On the other hand, I admired the spirt of the main character(Władysław Szpilman). He was so strong that he stayed a live while all his family members were killed. Imagine what it will be if only you being left on the World.

Main gate of Auschwitz I

'The Pianist' Chopin Ballade No.1
Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23

My favourite part of the movie is when Szpilman is confronted by Hosenfeld. Szpilman played the piano piece:Chopin Ballade No.1. as asked. After a long long suffuring, Szpilman just had to hang on for a while because the war would soon end. Unfortunately, he was found by a German officer. The Chopin Ballade No.1. played totally reflected what the emotion was deep inside Szpilman heart, representing lots of sufferers.

High votage - I didn't touch them coz I was afriad.

Auschwitz I 

Block 11 and the execution wall in Auschwitz I

Interior of old barrack in Auschwitz-Birkenau

The Death Gate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8lU8viRGYo

Made it to the top of Preikestolen!

Sitting on the Pulpit Rock, 600 metres vertical cliff, Stavanger, Norway

I never thought of climbing up to Pulpit Rock, especially in winter time. However, everything like weather, time, my physical state and so on were just so good and well prepared by God. So, the only thing I had to do was to try my best and left the rest to God.

Sorry for the late updat(coz some problem with google adense made me sucked)

Along the way, I walked alone, followed the red "T" marked on the rocks. It seemed pretty easy. Yes, it was ture on the first half of the journey, but later on it was a bit different. Sometimes, "T" were covered by snow and the road up hill got more and more slippy.

Beautiful creation

Only way to the destination: Preikestolen!

There were times I doubted to continue alone. However, the steps left kept reminding me it was possible to continue even in this season. And most importantly, I promised myself I only will start to return on the time I set: 14:30. So, I tried to keep going, as far as possible.

Started to view the Fjord

It was really encouraging when I saw the direction signs. Perhaps it was becaues they gave me hope and reminded me I was on the right track. About more than 1 hour, I walked alone. Then I met two guys( from New York) at some point which I won't forget the conversation between us.

It was delighted and excited when I saw somebody who had the same goal to reach Preikestolen. I asked some basic quesions but never thought of receiving such kind of respones.

Dangerous spot 1

The two guys actually were giving up continue to Preikestolen. Because there was a section which is really risky. In fact, there were no parts that you can relax. " We are crazy person but it is not worth continuing coz it is a matter of life and death" I wasn't surprised by that kind of description. I tried to persuade them to go in another way and hope someone will continue the journey with me. However, they said they already tried but decided not to continue. They also remined me to be extremely careful coz I was alone.

Continued for 15 more mins, I encountered that dangerous spot. Um... It was really dangerous but I immediately asked myself " Is there any other way that looks more safe" And if I did followed that way, was it possible to go back on the same way. Finally, I sticked to my plan. Return only it was14:30. I choosed to climb a bit and avoided that track.

Another way

Closer look on the freezing pond

Life sometimes faces some unexpected discouragement. But am I going to give up because of them. No way! Coz I clearly know what I want to acheive and I know God is with me. So, it was no point to give up.

There were some sections that I couldn't risk to take photos coz I must have to concentrate. Focus, focus and focus... I kept telling myself throughout the second half of the path. I remembered there was a notice on the bridge later on the track. I didn't pay much attention coz I knew it was about some people missing at there.

It was really a very memoriable experience and most importantly, God is with me! He let me have a look on a beautiful picture.

All the way up to Preikestolen, Stavanger, Norway

Oslo for a rest
Visited Oslo, Norway on 8th Nov for a whole day. Walked around the city and took a look in the Viking Ship Museum. I was really impressed by the Norwegian's boat/ ship manufacturing skills. They were born to live near the sea or the water.


The Oseberg ship

The weather was, beyond my expectation, so good that made my trip to Oslo even more great. After a whole day resting in the city, enjoying the sunset, It was time to prepare myself to Stavanger, Norway. The fourth city in West-coast of Norway. I checked serveral web pages and realised that the public transportation to the must-visit attraction in Stavanger ceased because of low season. However, I decided to give it a try and hope to make it.

Sunset in Oslo 1

Sunset in Oslo 2

Stavanger for a great journey
Everyone coming to Stavanger, hope to have a glance at the Lysefjorden. And the famous attractions are Kjerag and Preikestolen. It is impossible to do two hiking trips in just one day so I chosed to give a visit to Preikestolen if I still could.

Preikestolen, also known as Pulpit Rock, is actually a flat rock 604m above the Lysefjorden. Make it simple, it is a cliff. However, it is cool in the sense that it offers a breath-taking view when one try to view the Lysefjorden from 604m vertically downward!

City center of Stavanger

Again, the weather was so good that I never thought of. This encouraged me to strive my utmost to visit Preikestolen otherwise I wasted the weather prepared by God.

Shopped some food and water. Waited untill 9:00 am so as to ask questions in the tourist information center. The staff told me in fact I could still visit there however it was not recommanded to go in this time as it was extremely slippy due to the melting ice. Also, the staff warned me it was my own responsiblity for my safety and I was went at my own risk. On the one hand, I was excited to know that I can still take the chance to start my hiking to Preikestolen. However, It made sense that it will be or it really was dangerous. I doubted for a while and decided to try to go as far as possible. I calculated the time and set the target time to be back regaredless whether I could make it to the end or not.

It generally took 4 hours for a return trip for the only 7.6km track. I catched the 9:15 am ferry and was on the bus at 10:15am. So I was in Jørpeland at around 10:30am. As I won' t took a taxi by myself I had have to walk from Jørpeland to Preikestolhytta which is approx. 7 km.This distance normally takes me 1.5 hours. So as the earliest, I will be at the starting point around noon.

However, after getting to Jørpeland, I further took the same bus to Jøssang(kr.25) because the driver agreeed to give me a ride. Then I started my hiking from Jøssang to Preikestolhytta(5km uphill) and Preikestolhytta to Preikestolen(3.6km).

Ferry to Tau

Bus to Jørpeland and to Jøssang

Route availabe in winter time/off season are as follow:
Ferry from Stavanger to Tau( kr. 42), Changed bus to Jørpeland(kr.30) and should take a taxi to Preikestolhytta.

Peaceful feeling in Jørpeland

Harbour of Jørpeland

The bus stopped at the harbour of Jørpeland for10 minutes and I grabbed the time enjoying the calm atmosphere as later on it will be several hours exhausted trip which required mentally 100% focus.

On the way to the Preikestolhytta

4km left

Started to see the snow along the way to Preikestolhytta

It was not so easy to walk uphill for just 5km and finally it took me 1.5 hours to get to Preikestolhytta from Jøssang. But anyway, the time was exactly noon when I arrived the Preikestolen Fjellstue (mountain lodge). Quite close to what I expected. Asked a few questions, took a few photos and had a 15 minutes lunch break and started the tough trip!

the Preikestolen Fjellstue

Veiw from the front door of the Preikestolen Fjellstue

Information board

Kobe and the starting point

Useful map

For more detail, here are some websites:
http://wsmiin.blogkaki.net/viewblog-78590
http://gardkarlsen.com/preikestolen.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prekestolen
http://wikitravel.org/en/Stavanger

The whole World turns to white

Last day in Bergen
After a great day spent in Flåm with most of the time enjoying the Aurlandsfjord and a good sleep in hostel, the World turned to white sliently during the night and only when I waked up, I noticed that.

Bergen covered with snow

Frankly speaking, this was my first time to experience so much snow! Amazing and awesome! I believe that there are white trees in the earth.

White trees behind me and the Ulriken with the TV tower on top



I used to sit inside the common room and listened to the rain. But this time I watched the snow

Snowing is definitely new to me, a youth from Hong Kong. It was common to see typhoon but such snowing is my first time. I realized that it was beautiful to see a white city, purely white.

7th Nov was my last night in Bergen(one of my favourite cities). My friend Thomas(from Poland), met in the hostel, and I decided to walk up hill to the Fløyen instead of taking the Fløibanen. This offered us another great view of the Bergen city which was a wonderful ending to this lovely place.

The charming Bergen in night time

Kobe and the Bergen city

Feel exceptional good with Fjord in Norway!

Lovely Bergen

Stayed in Bergen for 5 days from 3rd to 7th Nov 2010.  In fact, Bergen itself is not a big town to be visited for 5 days. However, one need to wait for a good day with rather good weather in order to enjoy the Fjord . In the town, one can visit Bryggen, wooden houses were built in 1702.

Bryggen in rain



Inside Bryggen



Bryggen in night time

 The gateway to Fjord

When it comes to Norway, Fjord is by no means an uncommon word. Fjord is simply a gorgeous creation by God. The second last day in Bergen, I decided to visit the renowned Fjord: The Sognefjord, which is the longest and the deepest.

I took the railway from Bergen to Myrdal and changed the Flåmsbana to Flåm( 2m of the sea level), one of the branches of the Sognefjord. The two hours journey from Bergen to Myrdal offered an incredible view and the train indeed climbed up to 866m.



Window view from the Bregen-Oslo railway



Myrdal train station

Flåmsbana, a 20.2 km route shows how powerful the mankind is, is a railway with 20 tunnels and is one of the steepest railway in the World. A ride from the mountain of 866 meters to the innermost corner of the Aurlandfjord(Flåm) which is only 2 meters of the sea level. In winter time, I still can enjoy the magnificent scenery, not to mention in summer time.

Flåmsbana

The Kjosfoss waterfall 1

The Kjosfoss waterfall 2 



The Flåm village with the Flåm church in the middle, dated back to 1667

The calm Fjord

The Flåm Harbour

 the Aurlandfjord

Kobe and  the Aurlandfjord

On the way to Aurland

My will was to climb up to the Prest(Aurland) which offers a view of 1363 meters over the beautiful Aurlandsfjorden.Even though I know I could not climb to the top, I still hope to go as high as I can. It was because I believe the highest you are, the more you can see.

Aurland

Looking at the Prest

Due to the time constrain and the weather, I abandoned to climb the mountain which surely offer me a breath-taking view. I didn't feel very upset as I know plan always changes and I know that the most valuable part is indeed not the result but the process. And at least I learnt that if I want to explore the Aurlandfjord from the top of the Prest, I have to spend a few more days. So, let's wait till next time!

Time to go!

The Kjosfoss waterfall in night time

For more detailed information, here are some useful links:

http://www.fjordnorway.com/en/
http://www.flaamsbana.no/eng/Index.html
http://wikitravel.org/en/Bergen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fjord