March 25 Oslo to Iceland

Today has been very interesting, despite the fact that I really only traveled from Norway to Iceland.  Best to begin at the very beginning (according to the Sound of Music that is a very good place to start - yes I think I have gone insane).

This morning as I was packing my bag I happened to glance out of my window and saw that it was SNOWING!  I was so frickin' excited.  I have not seen snow since I lived in Korea and even then it was only once.  It was still snowing slightly as I walked to the train station.  I walked in snowfall for the first time ever!!  Yes I was as excited as a little child.  This photo is a view out my window.

The trains in Oslo are very well kept.  At least the airport one is.  It has a TV so you can watch the news.  Of course all I see is images of a bus going into a sinkhole in the road, going under the road and then out into the river.  No people on board and I have no idea where it was.  The next thing I see is information about the plane crash in the Alps.  Comforting footage when you are on your way to the airport.

Oslo buildings are so colourful.  I tried to get a decent photo out the window of the speeding train.  It really does not do the buildings justice though.

At one stage the train had to stop due to a delay further up the line.  I managed to get this photo of the snow.  Not a very interesting photo but its SNOW!!! :)

I am still not convinced that I am impressed with Oslo airport yet.  There is no early check in for those who are there early so I had to sit for 90 minutes waiting in the check in area.  That was after I asked three people where to check in as there were so many.  Finally the third guy told me about an information board.  When it did finally open there were only 2 operators checking us in.  There were about 10 people in front of me, and I do not lie when I say it took over an hour for them to be checked in.  Seriously I really have no idea what was going on.  I find it ironic that the VIP club is called the Saga club.  No one was going through that line so the called us over.  It really was a saga for some people.

Also I found out that I pretty much take the same amount of weight on board the Icelandic Flight as I could the Qatar.  Qatar allows up to 30kg of checked in luggage and 7kg on board.  Icelandic air only allows 23kg checked in but get this, you can take 10kgs on board!!!  I really had nothing to worry about.

After the check in line there was the line for checking tickets and checking take on luggage.  There were 17 stations and they kept closing them.  I could see this from the check in line and when I finally got to the ticket/x-ray line there were only 8 left open (one was for families only) and there were hundreds of people lined up.  I stood for another hour waiting to go through.  I was grateful that on the side they had mini trolleys for the hand luggage.  Mine weighed over 7kg and was on my back.

I saw this little guy on the way to my gate. Let me just say that by the time I finally got to my gate I had spent 4 hours at the airport and I pretty much sat for 5 minutes before they opened the gate.  Normally you sit and wait forever.

Once again I had to hop on a bus to get to the plane.  While I was waiting for the bus to head off I saw a customs dog.  He was still a puppy and was obviously in training.  I think he was a black Lab.  His handler was with him letting him go to the toilet and have a sniff around. When they went to go back inside, the dog kept jumping up trying to get the guys hand.  Finally the guy handed the pup the hand loop of his leash.  The pup was satisfied then and they walked inside with the leash, attached to the collar, folded in half where the man held onto it and then lead back down to where the pup had the hand loop in its mouth looking so proud of itself, walking itself.  It was sooooo cute.  I wish I had time to get a photo of that.

The flight to Iceland was just under 3 hours.  Here are some aerial views that I took. The airport itself is situated on a lava field so that was a first for me as well.  Going through the airport here was a breeze.  I found my bus and we drove for another 50 minutes before we arrived at the bus port in Reykjavik.  Here I hopped on a smaller bus that took me to my hotel. 

I think the hotel is 2 buildings joined together and it is a bit of a maze.  I am on Level 3.  To get to my room I had to up in the elevator to Level 3, walk down the hallway, turn left and go downhill slightly.  Suddenly you get the feeling that you are on Level 2 even though the slant down was only slight. There is a sign that then tells you to go up the stairs to where Level 3 continues.  In summary it appears that Level 3 in one building is in fact Level 2 in the other, hence the reason why I had to go up another Level.  What gets me is that the buildings are on the same flat ground.

My room is tiny but nice.  I have to be careful because the ceiling is slanted right down to a meter off the floor on one side of the room.  I nearly hit my head a couple of times in the bathroom.  The tap water is divine to drink.  I could drink it all day, and for those who know me, I hate tap water.  Australia has a lot to learn about tasty tap water. 

Well I have an early start tomorrow so I will sign off.  Tomorrow I am doing the golden circle.  Can't wait.

March 24 Oslo

It was 2 degrees this morning and I loved it.  Breakfast was yum.  It was a full on banquet.  They have a muesli cluster called honey crunch which is divine. 

I had to go back to the Central Train Station area to get my Oslo card (24 hours free travel and admission to certain areas).  I just had to take a photo of this guy.  He is huge.  I would have taken one yesterday but someone was sitting on the curve of his tail, not for a photograph, just sitting.  :)

Oslo's transport is fairly easy if you have the tourist map.  It helps explain the different buses etc.  Don't rely on the bus drivers speaking English though.  I took bus #30 out to the Norsk Folk Museum.  I was there early, which was great because the bus loads arrived about 2 hours after me so I managed to get lots of photos with no people in the way.  Below is a photo of one of the buildings.  I love how the grass grows on the roof, very green.

I got really excited when I saw ice on the ground.  I just had to crack it with my foot.  I was thinking of jumping on it but remembered that ice is slippery and I don't want to break a leg at this early stage in my trip (if ever).

It is recommended that you go to the old church at the Folk Museum.  It is on a hill but hidden by trees.  As you come up the hill you are greeted with this formidable sight.

One kind lady took my photo for me.  She had been waiting there for over an hour for someone to come and open up the church so that you could go in.  Only certain buildings are able to be entered.  They open them at 11am.  I was there at 11:30.  I couldn't be bothered waiting.  There is an out enclosed walk way that allowed you to see most of it and the door was open to the main sanctuary but there was a locked gate, so you could see in but not go in.

I sat went to the cafe for a hot chocolate and nearly died of heat stroke in there.  It was so hot.  Food wise they didn't have much on offer, and what they did have, I couldn't read as it wasn't in English so I just got a drink and a nice danish.  The hot chocolate was luke warm but considering I was warm anyway it was ok.

Let me tell you about the birds in this place.  They are teasers.  They come up close to you and pose so nicely and then when you finally have your camera ready, zoom and they are off.  Little Devils.  I nearly had a gorgeous shot of a yellow brown one that was hanging upside down from one of the old wooden buildings, drinking water that ran off the bark.

From here I went just down the road to the Viking Museum.  I didn't realise how low in the water a Viking ship sat.  I would have hated to be in one in a storm.  I had to get a souvenir so I found a key-ring with a 3D Viking woman in what looks like battle armor. 

Tonight for dinner I am heading down the road to try some Norwegian food.  If nothing appeals I will be headed in the opposite direction to a steak house.  :)

March 22 & 23 The Airports

My flight from Perth to Doha was 11 hours long.  I left at 10:40pm Perth time and was lucky enough to get a window seat.  Off all the Airlines I have flown with this was my first time with Qatar and I must say that I am impressed.  Unlike most others, Qatar has room to move.  I could stretch out my legs (yes I am short so most probably could not) but there was enough arm room for someone of my cuddliness to sit net to someone else and not feel like you were trying to feed them when you ate. 

My only fault with the airline is that the seats go back too far.  It becomes a domino effect.  If the person in front of you decides to lower the seat to its maximum horizontal angle you can either lower your own or risk getting banged in the face by your TV screen on the back of their chair, each time they move. 

This is what I had.  Sleeping on the angle is not something I can do as I seem to end up with a substantial gap between my lower back and the chair.  I either need to lie flat or on a slight angle.  When it came to meal times (there were three), the stewards had to keep asking the guy in front of me to put his chair up and to wait until they removed the trays before he lowered it again.  I nearly wore my first meal because he scoffed his down and then lowered his chair.  Just so you know, there was no one in front of him.

Despite the nearly permanent mark of a TV screen on my face I did managed to get a fair amount of sleep.  I had two lovely old British Gentlemen sitting next to me as well and we swapped stories of where we had been and where we were going.  In the entire 11 hours I only turned the TV on to look at the map and how far we had gone.

I landed in Doha early in the morning.  Outside was nice and warm but inside was getting me into practice for the cold weather.  The airport itself is very large and the boards showing departures are many and confusing.  Thankfully there was someone there who could help you find your gate. There had to be a secret way as to how to read the boards because he found my flight in seconds of me asking.

By the time I went through the transfer check I was looking for two things: free internet and the toilet (I hate the loos on planes, they are not cuddly person friendly).  I found the internet first.  On the third computer not working I nearly gave up, but another kind gentleman was almost finished with his so he kept it going for me. I just hopped on quickly to let everyone know I had got there safe.  As soon as I had finished I turned around and miracle of miracles, there was a toilet.  The cubicles were so large my whole bathroom at home would have fitted into it.

I didn't go look at any of the shops as I am already over weight for my flight in a couple of days.  I need to shed two kilo's somehow.  What did fascinate me was the play area for kids.  They had some amazing and huge play areas, however this early in the morning it seemed to be an adult sleep area.

I sat for at least two hours waiting at my gate for my flight to Oslo.  The seats are set out between two doorways to the tarmac and they were permanently open. The whole area inside was misty due to the mist outside. This was one of those ones where you have to hop on a bus and travel half a kilometer to the plane.  As luck would have it I had 3 seats to myself.  For the next 6 hours of flying to Oslo I could stretch out and I actually watched some movies.

What I did find really cool was how the window shutters (or lack thereof) worked.  There was a button that darkened the windows.  Below are two photos.  The first one is shows one that is only half darkened and the other is open.  The second photo is my window.  It is actually light compared to what it really was.  I had it fully dark because the sun was on my side of the plane and reflecting off the TV screen.  At one stage the flight crew must have darkened everyone's so that people could get some sleep.  It really was amazingly dark in there. 

 

Flying over Norway was amazing.  You could see all the Fjords from the window and most were still covered in ice.  There is still snow about in places as well.



 

Didn't see much of the airport other than the luggage claim area.  I stood there for one hour waiting and waiting for my suitcase to arrive.  For some reason they only put two on then wait for 3 minutes then put another 2.  It's not like it was a tiny conveyor belt.  I started to get worried because another flights luggage started to show up.  Finally mine came out.

 

I bought my ticket for the airport express train and headed into central station.  From there I walked to the hotel (about 2 blocks away).  I was thoroughly enjoying the 7 degrees outside.  I didn't even have my jacket on.

 

Apart from a frantic "OMG" 10 minutes where I literally threw everything out of my suitcase to locate my power adaptors I finally realized (after an almost tearful prayer) that I had packed them inside a bag with other stuff.  Crisis diverted, onto the free internet, and here I am about to sign off because I am exhausted.  Tomorrow I plan on doing some sightseeing of Oslo.  I have already fallen in love with the buildings here.



Sculptures by the Sea

Every year Cottesloe Beach hosts Sculptures by the sea.  I have gone a couple of times now but this years has been the best so far.  Below are some photos that I took.  I have played around with some of  them a little.  I am self taught so I need get the practice in so that I told look like a total idiot when I get to Iceland.  I use Smart Photo Editor so some of the settings are pre-set but there is a lot that you can manipulate within those settings.

 

This big guy was right near the crosswalk.  I seriously wanted to take him home.  I have the perfect spot for him in my garden.



Not quite sure what these things were meant to be, but, and by that I mean butt, my mother thought their rears were rather cute.

This piece really got to me.  It was a burnt out tree trunk with faces that appear to have been formed in the burning.  I don't know why but it makes me think of ghosts of the original Australians. 

Just another view.  The second image is more true to the real colouring.  I just liked the way the first one looked when I clicked on this pre-set.

  This dude pops up every time I have gone to this event.  The last time I saw him, he was huge and standing.  This time he was half the size if not a little smaller and laying down.  He is always red, always has a gorgeous smile, and is always displaying his full naked glory.

It looks like there was no one at the beach when I took these but trust me there were thousands. Swimmers, sunbathers, bus loads of pensioners and bus loads of school kids.  The later weren't even there for the sculptures but for a geography class (seriously wrong day to plan an excursion).

Fit balls buried in the sand.  They had to be roped off apparently because kids kept jumping all over them.  I bet a few adults did as well.  I like the original but I like the second image as well.

 

 

Nearly missed this one.  It was a small Perspex box buried in the sand with all sorts of nautical looking things inside.  Sand had then been either scattered or blown over it.  I am glad I saw it because it comes up great in the photo.

This one cast a great shadow but the photo I have of the full structure has two large old men in their budgie smugglers (speedo's for those non Aussies) and it just doesn't look good.

The birds, everyone was getting photos of the birds.  They looked great against the white sand and I am shocked that I got a photo with no people.

 OMG the pink bunny.  I love him.

 

Well I can honestly say the clouds are real, the stars aren't.  They just gave the image more character.

 

This guy was in a circle with 8 friends all in different poses and all standing on a ball.

Most countries will have a rusty old car somewhere out in the bush/forest.  This is a rust old car with Grass Trees growing out of it.  I think it was called "Revenge or Re-birth."  I would have taken a picture of the full car but to be honest I think the organisers of the even could have put it in a better spot.  It was right by the main road and a carpark.  It really didn't matter which angle, there was always something distracting.  This was taken from the boot of the car looking forward.

I am very happy with this photo.  Not only is it three sculptures in one but I also managed to successfully remove two swimmers and a lady walking.

This one took me ages to manipulate so I am showing you the before and after shots because I am so proud of myself right now.  I would pat myself on the back but I am typing.  LOL.  Ok not funny.

Well I had better get to bed and get some sleep.  It is almost 2:30am here and I am flying out tonight on my trip.  Still have to pack.  Hope I don't forget anything.

Back Again Catchup

Between Facebook, computer game addiction , a boring life, family crisis, and work there really has been nothing worth mentioning on a blog.  I have barely even created anything.  It is like my mojo has completely vanished. 

I did go to the Stampin Up Convention last year.  I had a great time with my friends, especially on a day trip with three of us overly cuddly ladies in the back seat.  We laughed so much we cried.  I fell in love with the new Blendabilities pens but apparently they are no longer available due to a fault and won't be made again.  Sob sob sob.

The main crafting I have done has been for people leaving work or those who have had an important birthday (40th and 50th).  The boss gets me to do up the work area for them.  One that I did was Gangster Style.  I found bullet hole stickers that we put everywhere, fake cigars, black and white streamers from the ceiling.  Another desk we did up as The Lord of the Rings.  We had the map of middle earth, the one ring hanging from the ceiling

Another desk we did up as The Lord of the Rings.  We had the map of middle earth, the one ring hanging from the ceiling.  Apparently the eye freaked him out a little so it was the first to go.

My mother turned 70 so I made her a special cake and got her a special surprise.  The surprise was my daughter Denytza (not my real daughter but she calls me mum, and my mum is Granny) came over for mums birthday weekend.  Mum had no idea so the look on her face when Denytza walked in the door was priceless. 

Mum is also mad about frogs so I made a special cake for her.  I have been having fun decorating cakes.  Just wish I could eat them without putting on 10 kgs with each mouthful.  Anyway she had a lovely day with family and friends and all the kids wanted to eat the frog.

 

 

More recently we have had to put down our special little Pomeranian Bo.  She was 1 month short of turning 14 years.  Unfortunately she got chronic Pancreatitis and kidney failure at the same time.  That was a very hard day.  My dogs are my babies.  She was Mum's dog really but we live together so we shared.  :) 

 

Today though we managed to save another dog from possibly going to the pound.  Her owner could no longer look after her so we now have Miss Lilly.  She is a 6 year 3/4 Chihuahua and 1/4 Bichon but the way her tail curls and how she wiggles her butt reminds me of a pug.  I will put photos up when I get some good ones.

 

In a few short days I will be flying out to Iceland.  This is one of the main reason I have started blogging again as it is easier for family and friends to keep up with what I am doing.  I have a couple of nights in Oslo before I head to Reykjavik.  Once there I really have two full days before I start a photography tour.  I am finally getting excited.  On those two days there I hope to do the following day tours: The Golden Circle & The Blue Lagoon. Got to find my swimmers for the last one.

 

Tomorrow is my last day at work.  Yippee.  Signing off now.  Have a great day/night.