Honningsvag

Today is my last day at Honningsvag. It is a very small town, and the tourist mostly stopover for the night to visit the North Cape but don't usually linger for more than two days. There's also not much to see in the town, just a few tourist shop, an icebar, a museum and a gallery.

However, it has been an interesting three days for me in this little village. I've hiked to the Nordkapp (Europe Northernmost point), challenged myself on a 30km hike, experienced 24 hours daylight, but most importantly I've met some wonderful people.

To each of them Julia, Henri, and Ariane who I met at the North Cape guesthouse, I wish them all the best of luck in whatever path they choose that lies ahead for them.

71 degrees North!!

Aaah! I'm finally at the northernmost point of Europe. This almost 8 hour long journey is not easy. I'm not even sure why I did it at the beginning, but I must say that there were some amazing views along the way, and the end fulfillment of reaching the top is also one that is highly appreciated.

30km Journey to 71 degrees North

Making my way up north from Honningsvag. The distance between Honningsvag and Nordkapp is 30 kilometres. The hike is long, and the elevation changes, unpredictable weather and strong winds does not make it any easier. It is one if the toughest thing that I've ever done so far. 5 more kilometres to go!!

70 Degrees North

It is almost 1:00am here in Honningsvag and the sun is still visible beyond the cloudy sky. Honningsvag is the closest town to Nordkapp (labeled as Europe's northern most point. Tomorrow I'll make my way up to Nordkapp as well as Knivskjelodden, which is the continent's real northern most point.

Past the Arctic Circle

Off to the Arctic North

On my 10 hour bus journey to the North! (Nordkapp)

A few more degrees North

I've arrived at Rovaniemi after a long train ride from Helsinki. But what's there to see here?

Well, except for the Santa Claus village, 8km from the town center, and the fact that it is just a few degrees below the Arctic Circle, it has the world's northern-most McDonalds!

2:38 AM

Off to the Arctic Circle

Where to meet sketchy people?

Just hang around at a train station, and you'll soon be greeted by people of all sorts of personality.

From the picture, those two drunk guys (green shirt and blue/white stripe shirt) were trying to hit on two girls who were sitting next two me earlier. The whole scene was rather funny, as I could see that one of them wasn't really interested and was trying to find her way out of the situation. Whereas the other friend was and maybe I guess thought the situation was rather funny and decided to entertain the guy. The picture is when they were both trying to play with this thing they were kicking around and was disturbing some of the people around. The security asked them to keep it down low. From what I heard, they are from Estonia. I also heard his whole life story when the guy in stripe was talking to those two girls, which some content are not safe to mention in this blog.

Ah, the drama and entertainment you get from waiting at a train terminal.

Helsinki: A Second Take

Today is my second day in Helsinki and I have started to like the city better. Maybe it is the weather, or the fact that I've gotten to know my way around the city, or could it be that I've found the heart and soul of Helsinki from its citizens that have changed my mind on what Helsinki has to offer.

Helsinki made me realized that the utopia ideal of a city does not arrive from great planning alone, it needs its people and the role of an individual to inspire from.

1 Euro

What can 1 Euro buy you up here in the north?
1. One postcard.
2. A candy bar (with change back)
3. One cup of coffee or tea (Only in a kiosk in Helsinki).
4. Half hour of internet time in one of those sidewalk express station. (Found mostly in train station - its actually 2€ for 60 minutes)
5. One bathroom ticket! (Hold till you're back at your hotel or hostel, or buy something at a cafe to use its restroom, or you can go to Stockmann in Helsinki to use their restroom for free!)

Syok!

After many days of eating the same tasteless Nordic cuisine, I decided to give in and went for some good old South East Asian food at a food court in the basement floor of Kamppi Center. The menu they had at Singapore Hot Wok was rather ambitious. There were Mamak Mee Goreng, Beef Kway Teoy, Char Kway Teoy, Nasi Goreng and some other small items. I decided to go for the Char Kway Teoy instead, as that's one of the most difficult dish to achieve outside of SEA, in my opinion.

Surprisingly, the result was really good! And no, it is not a decision based on hunger or that my taste bud have taken the like of bland, salty food, but it was purely because the ingredient was right and the spices added was the perfect touch. They even make their own sambal belacan! Syok!

(I was even sweating at the end)

Not Just An Old Town

For those of you who are just as ignorant as me, there's more to Tallinn than its old medieval town center, in fact it is quite a modern city. There are a lot of construction going at the moment, but in a year or two, I think Tallinn will be another city to watch out for.

Of course if the opportunity arise, you should go now before it gets too expensive.

The Old City of Tallinn

This is Tallinn

Cruising to Estonia

On board a ferry shuttle to Tallinn for the day. Don't know much about Tallinn, except that it is the capital of Estonia and the old city is designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Will see what I find there.

Kennel found!

Interestingly, this was at the top of my ferry to Tallinn, Estonia. I guess they must love their dogs here in this region to have a kennel setup in a ferry.

Almost midnight

It's clear that I'm in the land of the midnight sun when it is still so bright out at 10pm.

A little bit of both: Helsinki

When one mentioned Finland, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the cold weather or maybe Nokia (manufacturer of mobile phones, etc.). I didn't do much research about Helsinki before arriving here, but I can feel the presence of its Russian past while walking down the streets in the city. The monumental city plan was laid out in 1812 under the ruled of the Russian Tsar, as Helsinki was declared the new capital of Finland during that period.

Helsinki is no Stockholm, or even tries to be like one of its neighboring Scandinavian capitals. It has its own distinct taste developed from its eastern Russian past and a forward looking future from its western neighbors of Scandinavia.

Maybe it is because of this setting between the east and the west that I have mixed feelings about Helsinki. It is a nice city, but one that does not need more than a day to explore. The center is compact enough to get the full attention its need from its many visitors.

The future of Helsinki seems to be bright with a new urban development in the area of Kamppi, less than a few blocks away from the center. Take a stroll down a broad avenue from the city center to Kamppi, it is well worth the visit as you can experience a definite change in time between the old Russian past and the new technology focus future of Finland.

Good luck, Hans!

The thought of sharing a 4 bed cabin on a 16 hour long ferry trip can be quite scary. You never know who's going to be sharing the room with you, how is he like, what are his sleeping method, is he one of those football hooligans traveling with a big group or could he be someone, like me, traveling alone in a foreign land?

Fortunately for me, in a 4 bed cabin, I only have the pleasure to share it with Hans. It was just the two of us, perfect for the tiny cabin. Hans is from Frankfurt-Germany. He has been cycling from Frankfurt to Sweden and is on his way to Helsinki for a few days before making his way back to Frankfurt. Hans is not a professional cyclist, but he is a bicycle enthusiast and is cycling just for the fun of it.

I admire the strong will of people like Hans. He has suffered from brain attacks (not sure what the correct medical term is, but it is like having a heart attack in the brain) and is lucky to had survived that, but he still has the strength to cycle. However, age has been creeping up to Hans and this will be his last big cycling trip. Hans is 62.

All aboard to Helsinki

That's my ferry up there. For 40 dollars, I can't really complain as I'm stuck in the lowest class possible. Well, at least I have a bed to sleep on and a shower in the room. The ferry leaves at 5pm and arrives Helsinki at 10am. Finland is an hour ahead of Sweden.

Lunch with the Chinese

This is the second time around this region that I came across a Chinese lady handling the food service in a restaurant. It's hard to tell who owns the place when the menu is all in a foreign language. But the experience wasn't that bad as I was able to communicate well with her in Chinese. From her recommendation, my set lunch is basically a mix between a meatloaf and a meatball shaped into a burger patty, topped with a slab of butter. Total cost for lunch: 80kr.

Goodnight, Stockholm

Sweden, you have provided me with design inspiration from IKEA, classic pieces from H&M, and have filled me up with your meatballs, but nothing can compare to your capital, Stockholm. Grand, majestic, stylish, classic, fun and perhaps more than anything, inspiring. What more can I say about Stockholm? From the narrow lanes in the old city of Gamla Stan that resembles old Renaissance cities, to the broad avenues in the area of Norrmalm that are comparable to the grand avenues in Paris, Stockholm has so much to offer. You will be missed.

*Picture taken around 10pm.

Quick Lunch Break - Stockholm

It seems like an interesting combination. Couscous with cold smoked salmon, yogurt with a side of salad. Yet the yogurt works though. Fascinating.

Silja Line: Stockholm - Helsinki

I finally got my overnight ferry ticket to Helsinki for Monday evening for 236kr with a Eurail pass. Part of this blog is not just a record of my trip but also a guide for those who are just as curious to how I find my way around places.

Getting the ticket on a Sunday wasn't that easy as the office in downtown Stockholm was closed. So I went to the tourist information center in Kunstragarden and found out I can take the No.1 bus to where the ferry is and get the ticket there instead. There are two companies Silja and Viking, that serves traveler back and forth between Stockholm-Helsinki or Talinn, but I had a Eurail pass with me, thus I was limited to the Silja Line ferry.

So I took the 1 bus from Kungsgatan and stopped at Sandhamnsplan. The bus final stop is Frihamnen, but when I stopped the bus driver at Sandhamnsplan, he told me I need to get off the last stop. After looking at the map and telling him where I need to go, he realized that I was right and can walk to the ferry from Sandhamsplan. And it is a quick walk, about 5 minutes (if you don't make any mistake of not looking at the map first). Once off the bus, make your way back, cross the street and there's a path through a park that will get you to the ferry line.

It was actually a good idea for me to make the trip out there because it will make my journey to the ferry a much easier one tomorrow.

Oh, when taking a bus in Stockholm, remember to get your ticket in advance at newspaper kiosk or the tourist center. A single ticket for 30kr is valid for an hour. So keep that with you!

*Picture above is the City Hall of Stockholm. Apart from where city council meetings are held, the hall inside is also where the annual Nobel prize is held. The city hall overlooks the water.

Stockholm: First Impression

I've only been in the city for 3 hours and I love it! Such a beautiful city. And the Swedes are much friendlier people compare to the Danish. So yeah, welcome to the home of IKEA, H&M and of course swedish meatballs!

What about Copenhagen?

Surprise but certainly not shocking. Copenhagen is a 1000 year old city, considered to be one of the most cosmopolitan city in the Scandinavian region, it holds true to that status. It is indeed international, yet for a city of that status, it is a relaxing one. To quote the Lonely Planet guidebook on Scandinavian Europe, "Just when you think you've got to know Copenhagen, you discover there are beautiful sandy beaches, wooded parks and elegant lakes just minutes away." How true is that!

Right in the heart of the city is Tivoli Gardens, a amusement park said to have inspired Walt Disney to build his own. Next to it is the train station, city hall square and one of the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe. In terms of scale, it's a fairly walkable city and all the entertainment you need is located right in the heart of the city. There are beautiful parks, and open squares all around the city in close proximity.

Of course there are areas of neighborhood surrounding this island/peninsula of the City, but I think a city can only be alive not because of its ideal location, but what it can offer the people who live and work in the city, as well as the amenities and entertainment that will attract people into the city during the weekends and holidays. I have the benefit of exploring the city during a bank holiday and a work week, and I must say that even with most of the shops closed, there is very little difference between those two days. In fact I didn't even know that I was in the city during a bank holiday, but I was certainly curious why most shops were closed.

I'm on my way to Stockholm right now. Both cities are about 5 hours apart by train and the travel between the two city is really easy and straight forward (just hopped on the train in Copenhagen, do a switch in Malmo and you're on your way to Stockholm) as there's no border control because of the Schengen agreement.

What's next for me in Stockholm? I do not know.

*The picture above is the famous Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen.

*Two interesting notes, I did not see any gas station inside the city limits and there are no street lights on the side of the streets because they are hung high up in the middle of the street.

Spotted in Copenhagen

For all you Boston sports fan, found in the Central Train Station-Copenhagen.

Marble Church

Malay or Danish?

Lunchtime for Cheap

I don't know much about Danish food, except for the cheese or lemon danish I get from Au Bon Pain occasionally. But I read that they have this specialty called smorrebrod, which is basically a spread of ingredient like salmon, chicken or beef with some greens, tomatoes and mayo on top of a thin slice of bread. It is considered a leisurely lunch where you have to sit down and eat it.

Anyway, while walking along a unknown street I stumbled upon this basement cafe which sells it and decided to check it out. When I walked in, there were chinese people handling the food service, and I was a bit skeptical at first but then I was really hungry at that point, so I decided to get the food there anyways. (There were some danish looking people in there having lunch which gave me some comfort on buying the food there)

Before I walked in, I actually heard them conversing in Cantonese, and I think the lady owner was surprised when I asked her what to recommend for lunch in Cantonese. She suggested the bun here (pictured above), which is somewhat similar to a smorrebrod (although she said its not), but it's more convenient to have it take away. So I went for that and with drinks from a neighboring convenience store, it all costs only 43kr. And I have my own leisurely lunch in a nearby park for less than 10 dollars.

Marble Church

This is the Marble Church. I thought it had an interesting setting because it sits in the middle of a square, surrounded by residential buildings and shops. Unlike old classical church design, it doesn't have a square in front of it.

Street Smart

Before I got sucked into 500kr for watching, I was able to get a shot of the guy from the back. You can probably guess what he's trying to do, 1...2...3... And where do you think the ball is hidden?

Along this 1km stretch of pedestrian way filled with shops, cafes and people, there are probably 5 people doing this trick at the same time. But I can't part with 500kr, that's like almost 100USD!!

Sunny Copenhagen

Just landed at Copenhagen. Flight was all right. Getting to the city and my hostel was a fairly easy journey. Apart from that, a general tip for users of card without a chip, even if you swipe it, you need to enter your pin number. So remember your pin or use your debit card.

On board easyjet

Tips: There's no seat assignment. So you can seat anywhere you'd like.

Don't expect any refreshments for free. You can get a variety of snacks from a cup of cappuccino (€2.50), kit kat bars (€1.50), sandwiches (€5.00), mineral water (€2.00), Carlsberg (€4.50) to a bottle of 75cl champagne (€32.50)

5 Minutes Late

Got my ticket to Stansted airport yesterday, and was very glad that my student card got me a 25% discount, which costs me £12.75
for a single standard journey.

The journey takes about 45 minutes, but the first train I took this morning was running 5 minutes late.

Overall, its a fairly quick and easy journey from Central London to Stansted Airport.

Once at the airport, the long lines and slow service reminds me why I hate flying sometimes, especially when I'm flying budget airlines like easyjet. But I can't really complain too much as the fare was really cheap at only 35 quid one way. So lesson learned, get to the airport as early as possible, and pack lightly. The 20kg per baggage is really annoying (not for me fortunately, mine was only short of 5kg).

The Scoop on London

Second day in London and I'm spinning around like a kid in a candy store. Every time I visit London, something new pops up. Like many great cities, London is a cosmopolitan city with many districts. This time, I'm in the South Bank, across the Thames from the London Tower.

The new London City Hall is located here, next to the Tower Bridge. Before arriving at London, I've heard criticisms and complains about the building and thought I should check it out. From an architectural point of view, the building itself is not bad and like the Gherkin, I think Londoners nicknamed it the Beehive. But aside from that, the complains were the high budget cost for the building and the prime location of it that could be developed for something else to generate revenue for the city; part of which I may agree upon, because it is afterall a public amenity and the cost do come out from the taxpayers' pockets at the end of the day. 

However, in comparison to Boston City Hall plaza, the programs here are very similar, mostly commercial and government offices, but it is a much better place in terms of its scale and the environment. There are water features, a green park, restaurants, and fantastic views to London Tower and Tower Bridge, which makes it a highly popular tourist spot. Because it is so new, (there are also other new construction close by), time will tell if the building and space will have any great effect to the city of London. But so far, I think it is a great add on to the surrounding neighborhood.

- Update: Apparently, the area that the London City Hall is sitting on is privately owned and managed. On that note, why is City Hall not sitting on a public lot? Why the need to buy a private lot? Also, we're living in a world where most daily tasks can be done online, is there a need to go visit City Hall? Who goes to a city hall and why? And probably the biggest question is, who does a better job in maintaining the public's comfort and security? Public or private? 

Technical Difficulties

There seemed to be some technical error with blogger earlier today. Hopefully it doesn't happen again.

All aboard to Cockfosters!

So I have just arrived at London. Took the tube from London Heathrow to Central London to meet up with my sis. The journey took about 55 minutes and costs you 4 pounds on a single ticket. It's fairly easy and you probably won't miss the signals to Cockfosters. It's the last station of the Piccadilly line. So tips on getting to Central London using the Tube: Follow the train to Cockfosters and please mind the gap!

It has been a long journey with very little sleep. I'll be checking in soon.

*Seriously, you have to admit that Cockfosters is such a funny name.*