5 Jan - Took the train from Stockholm to Oslo. After 4 hours, finally arrived at Olso around 8pm. It was so much colder compared to Stockholm. Check in and went to the bar to have a drink and went home afterwards.
6 Jan - After breakfast, went to Akershus fortress. Subsequently, went to city hall and understand the history of the town hall and the art pieces. The building has been decorated by Norwegian arts with motifs from Norwegian history, culture and working life.
After that, struggle in the cold and went to royal palace in Oslo. I was ecstatic to see so much man-made snow and even saw a snow man in front of the palace. There is a change of guard at around 1.30pm and I was waiting in the cold for almost 1 hour. I was disappointed with the change of guard! Literally just exchange position of the guards at the post! I ran straight into a cafe after that as I was so cold and freezing. I think it was -15 degree! After warning myself up, went to The Vigeland Park. The park is the life work of the sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and cast iron. It's a very cool park where all the sculptures were naked man, woman, children. The Frogner park is within the Vigeland and i highly recommend this park!
Went up to Oslo opera house. There are stairs where I can climb up and have a full view of the city. The opera house has a unique architecture. I think all city wants to have a spectacular opera house (like Singapore esplanade). The night ended up having Vietnamese dinner and beer! Cheapest meal in Norway!
The view from opera house
7 Jan - After Macdonald's breakfast, went to Viking ship museum. The museum showcase 3 Viking ships which has been excavated and found by an archaeologist. The ships were actually buried and the identity of the bodies found were unknown to the museum and why the bodies were buried together with the Viking ship. Very interesting!
After the Viking ship museum, took the bus to Fram museum. The main exhibition in the Fram building has explanatory texts in ten languages and describes the three great Fram expeditions. You can enjoy a northern lights show every 20 minutes from the main deck of the Fram. In the activity centre behind the ship you can test your strength and accuracy. Not only that, I got to know that Norwegian was the first to reach Antarctica aka South Pole. Not only that, I also learnt about the Artic circle and 0.02% of the population live there..includes Alaska, Norway, Sweden, Russia and Canada. I learnt so much things there and i highly recommend the museum to be visited in Oslo. There is also contiki (Kon-tiki) museum which I didn't manage to visit. It's very easy to visit all these museum by just taking bus 30. The bus goes to all the attractions.
The highlight of the day is Oslo city suddenly started to snow! Heavy snowing in the city and we soaked ourselves in the snow and a beer witness the snowing!
The city quickly covered itself with snow and heading out for dinner was a pain. It was snowing so much and walking in the snow having dinner takes so much time and been frozen at the same time! Pizza for dinner and went back to pack my luggage for my next destination!
8 Jan - woke up around 7am and head straight to the train station for my next destination, Bergen!
It's about 7 hours train ride and the sky was still dark (sun rise around 9am). My friend told me that the train ride is the excursion by itself! I don't believe it until I witness the view! The view was astonishing and breathtaking. Grab a cup of coffee and donut and began my 7 hours journey. The whole journey was fun. There is even wifi on board which allows me to connect with friends instantly. Had the most expensive on board meal in my life. S$30 for a stewed lamb for lunch! Lol
After 7 hours, the view doesn't just stop there! Bergen was amazingly beautiful, incredibly pretty. Bergen is the most northern part of the world I have been so far! Exotic and excited for me! Different colours of the houses tucked themselves neatly along the sidewalk. I was speechless. I got the whole house by ourselves. 2 level house whereby the room is on level 1 whereby kitchen and living hall is on the level 2. The city is colourful and vibrant. Had reindeer neck for dinner. It was delicious. The daylight was short in Bergen as well but less cold as compared to Oslo. Comfortable weather and can't wait to explore the city.
9 Jan - I was excited to explore the beautiful city. Went to tourist information counter and got the 24hrs Bergen card. This card allows free access to transportation and some of the museums and also discounts and offers! Not forgetting, go to tourist counter to buy the airport bus transfer if you are going to the airport. It's cheaper to buy there than on the airport bus itself (tips!). So, went to the fish market first since most of the attractions were not open yet.
Then, headed to Fløibanen. Fløibanen is a funicular in Bergen, Norway which runs up the mountain of Fløyen. It is one of Bergen's major
The museum was built on the site of a fire that occurred in Bryggens museum in 1955. Very interesting to know there were actually a sign drawings to communicate in the past and also how the people in the past just stacked the sands and dirt on the fire site and start to build the houses again. Visit the museum to know more.
Lastly, went to Bergen aquarium! I was excited to see penguins in the closure. Normally, I will only see them through a panel of glass since Singapore is too hot and they always contained them in an air con closure. Anyway, the Penguins were cute as they were actually fighting with each other! There are also seals, reptile house, butterfly gardens and underwater world. It's free with Bergen card too (only in winter). Went home again and packing for uk bound flight!
View from Fløibanen
Handsome and the view
10 Jan - woke up early again and catch the flight to London, U.K. With Norwegian air shuttle! There is free wifi on board. Not too bad for a budget flight!
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