Christmas at Olso

@ Vigeland park

As planned I went to Olso for Christmas. Many people told me at Christmas time the city would be empty because it was the main holiday here in North Europe. However I believe that there must be some activities within that big city and at least I can walk the city to know it. So I went there.

Friday night 23th Dec I took the night bus from Malmo. It took 7 hours to get Oslo arrived around 6 AM at Olso center satation. After got a map I tried to figured out the way to hostel and I reached hostel around 8 AM. Luckily I could check in right away (nomal should be 3 PM). I got room, took a bath and rested abit after a long cold night on bus.

I headed out for the city around 10:30 and it was quite crowded on the day as 24th is not holiday yet. And I had got a very nice that day, a sunny day. I walked around the main streets to know the city. Afterthat I planned to see the City Hall however I was attracted by Akershus Fortress. There I could see a very beautiful Oslo. I met several people there and joined a Mass at the castle inside the Fortress which hold by military. When I came back to the City Hall it was closed so I missed it this time then.

Oslo coast from Ankerhus Fortress

I came back to city center. Checked with schedule I knew that there would be a Mass at the city Cathedral midnight so I went back to hostel for a rest prepared to the the late activities. It was almost dark. On the way back I just saw many people who immigrated. I really dont have any negative thoughts toward immigrants however I just felt unsafe. It was different with things in Amsterdam where also has many immigrants. In general I still think that Oslo is less safe in compared with all the cities I have been. There were polices or securities at stations, at main streets. There was warning even at hostel lobby where I were (suprised!!!). In fact we all people on the bus were checked by polices at the border. They checked our luggage and even interviewed all people.

So I decided to go back to the Cathedral earlier than planned. I was there around 8:30. And I noticed there was a Christmas dinner for people who were not family at the time. I joined people. There were many tourists like I was. Some of them are students who didnt come back home and there also were homeless people. I sang along some Chrismtmas songs with the others included a Philipino girl with hustband, a Russian girl and a girl came from Guatemala. It was very cosy dinner. We had food, we had traditional drinks, tea... It just likes home. we also had Christmas tree, candles and flowers everywhere and we had ... gifts. Yes all of us had gifts! I enjoyed the astmostphere. In fact it was my first Christmas dinner. After that I joined people singing at the Mass eventhough I'm not Catholic and I dont know Noric :D. I think I experienced the traditional Christmas already!

Quarter past 12 I went back to hostel. And on the way I heard Vietnamese from a girl with a man. I started talking with her and we together went back. We had a very good conversation at the hostel and she left me around 2 AM. Lucklily this time I shared room with 2 other girls even I bookd the mix room :D.

25th was holiday and it was really empty. I left my suitcase at station for the city visit. Most of people on the street was tourists like I was. I went to the Opera house. There I felt that I was on top of the city. Just wanted to fly haha. Then I went to Vigeland which was recommended by many people. And it was worth! It was the most impressive thing this time for me in Oslo. I was amazing with many sculptures. I didnt understand much the arts however I felt the family within every sculpture overthere. And the park was amazing. We had snow at that time. I think it must be great during summer even some people told me it is very crowded at that time :D. After having very nice coffee at Vigeland cafe I came back to city center. And I was on the bus back to Malmo at 11 PM.

Wanna fly at Opera House ´

Again my suitcase was at station. Malmo on 26th for shopping haha. As there was sales everywhere. It was quite tired but I did bougth something for me.

Before shops open around 12AM I walked aroudn the city and went to the East part of the city where we had the longest brigde connect Sweden and Denmark. There I saw the coast. I saw the morden part of the city. There were many building under construction. If I come back after several years Malmo must be different from now. I went to the Malmo museum but it was not open so I went back the city for a nice coffee before the shopping.

Got my room at 5 PM :D.



Me at Vigeland park

Done

Malmo

Done. I've finished booking my trip for the next 4 months.
- Christmas in Olo
- New Year in Copenhagen
- London + Manchester: 6th Jan to 13th Jan '12
- Geneva + Barcelona + Milan: 2nd Apr to 10 Apr

It's quite tight schedule but it shows backpacker spirit. hehe

Finally (if I stop here :D) I'll travel 10 countires within 1 year. WOW

:)

Time for parties! :)

Xmas Party @ IoS

Today when know that I will be here during Xmas and New Year one colleague asked me to come over his home for Christmas dinner. I refused as I may go out with others. And the other reason is I dont feel comfortable to be at his home on the day for family like Christmas.

I still dont know why it takes me long time to be a friend of one person. Seems that there are something in my mindset. Anyway it's the thing for me to discover then :D.

Yesterday I danced. Could not believe but the music was too good. It was first time I listen to that great music. I couldnt stop dancing. Even I dont know how to dance :D. Anyway I did enjoy it. It marked one point in my self-esteem improvement. I dared to express myself :).

Some people called me today. Happily recognised that there are peole care about me :X.

Tomorrow I will go to Malmo and come back for cocktail party with other BPs (Or backpacker Xmas party?)

Nice weekend!

Wish

:D

Still havent got snow yet. Ah yes 1 day several weeks before. Dont know if we can have a true white Xmas or not. However it's really great to be here in Sweden in Dec. Party atmostphere is everywhere :D.

More than 1 month in Sweden. This time is not that strange anymore. However I still got some same feelings which is not very comfortable. Yesterday I had the first review with host. Time flies too fast. Seems that we just sat together several days before. It is always good when we open up the dialog. All of us feel much better after yesterday's meeting. She feels better khowing that I understand the situation and try to do thing myself. I feel better as I know she does care, just because she could not do things differently. Team mates feel better as after all they somehow understand my situation.

1 month. still on track :D. Not that big confused. Knowing that there are many things within this nowhere I have to get before going back. Less than 5 months left. Run? :D

Wishing

Skansen - Something Swedish

Open museum of Skansen

I planned to go to Royal Place today but I had to change it as with some security reason Roytal Place was closed today. It'll open tomorrow. So I went to Skansen instead.

Early morning (8AM but yes it's early then, not sunrise yet) I headed out as I knew the day here was very short. So I wandered around the Stockholm center. The center of Stockholm is not vey big. Means you can walk around the city. But there are many interesting things within the city can keep people busy all day long. Especially this time of the year. Shopping streets are crowded. Xmas market. Skating places ...

After that I went to Gamla stan, the old town, where Royal Place was in. It's very nice town. I love it. I like those things more than modern sftuff. The small streets. the small shops. Unique styles. cafe, restaurants, bas, shops, nice streets, nice people. After got notice that the Royal Place was closed I went to Skansen.

In order to go to Skansen I had to take metro, ferry. On the way back I took tram. Public transportation in Stockholm is very convenience. even it's not that easy to understand as in Paris (well I need sometimes) however it's much better than Rome and Amsterdam. It is easy to travel the city by public transportation. Eventhough walk through the city is nicer. But I dont have much time though.

I like the metro stations here in Stockholm. It is clean. and I can buy almost of things I need at station at every T metro station. Pressbyrån is a popular convenience stores chain brand here, similar as Kiosk in the Netherlands. And Stockholm is really a paradise for shopping fans. However I prefer Amsterdam 'cause I like the styles overthere than here. But foods here seems more divert. People are totally wrong when told me that Swedish food is the worst in the world.

Skansen is the open museum. There we can find many things of Sweden in the past. I was very excited seeing things called Swedish. And supprised that there are many things of Sweden in the past similar with us in Vietnam! And there I attended Lucia concert in a very old church. Very traditional I can say. And I tried several Swedish foods at Xmas market. Lovely I have to say.

I took the very short railway down hill (as Skansen is up hill of Stockholm) at 3PM when it was almost dark everywhere. I came back to center Stockholm. After several calls I met other BPs at Ice Bar. God, it's amazing. It's not big but I can experience the ice hotel. We drank coctail in ice glass (glass? :D) and listen music played by ice instruments :D. It was very COOL. The others continued hop to other bars or pubs but I had to say sorry to them. I could not go more :D.

Tomorrow is the my last day this time. I really want to see IKEA stockholm. However maybe I have to save for next time. As I have to leave at 6 PM and there are several things I want to see here.

So sleep then :).

Stockholm Dec 2011

Stockholm

I'm writing from a hostel in Stockholm. Another year is going to end. One year ago I could not believe that I can be myself travel around EU like this. Everything is possible! :)

Here at Stockholm I feel Xmas. Very much. Everywhere. It is amazing. Tomorrow the others will come and join me so it must be alot of funs. Exciting!

Start think about how to summarize my year. :)

Sharing

White Almhult :)

Just noticed that recently I talked alot with BPs around. It's so busy here for me in Almhult. No time left to feel boring :D. Hope it last long.

Sharing. Lily told me that she was happy to have us here and thanks for my sharings. I told her sharing is the best way for learning. I'm learning from you.

Sharing. It's the method we use for many training within IKEA. I joined IKEA WAY training today and we shared shared and shared. By this simple method we created a big knowledge among us from many different organisations.

Sharing. How to let others share me more?