One month travelled, eight to go.

My understanding of one month seems to have adjusted a little since starting this adventure on 1 January. Instead of one hour, one day or one month, I now seem to think in units of one country, one city, one tube station. Memories of one month ago seem like snippets from another world, where IContinue reading “One month travelled, eight to go.”

Wide angle: Exploring Oslo, Norway in winter

Norway’s capital, Oslo, is a city with understated appeal. Organised, clean and winter-quiet on first impression, Oslo’s small city centre offers a relaxed atmosphere and a humble blend of historic, retro and ultra modern buildings. Admittedly, before being invited to my friend’s wedding just outside of the city, I had not considered Oslo as oneContinue reading “Wide angle: Exploring Oslo, Norway in winter”

Norway in a nutshell: the delights of Norwegian trains, fjords & Bergen

The train bound for Bergen offers a picturesque glimpse at Norway’s natural delights. Frozen lakes wedged between icy peaks; ragged pine-lined gorges plunging to black-ribbon creeks; leafless trees like skeletons starved by winter; and colourful toy-like houses spotted across endless walls of white. We departed Oslo Sentral (Oslo S) right on 8.11am, excited for theContinue reading “Norway in a nutshell: the delights of Norwegian trains, fjords & Bergen”

Playing in a winter wonderland: Kleivstua, Norway

I could hardly believe my eyes as the bus pulled into Kleivstua Hotell to reveal pine trees dusted in white, branches with icy fingers and a blanket of fresh snow across the quiet, still wilderness. I had already been impressed by the picturesque 1 hour bus journey from Oslo, which took us along mountain edgesContinue reading “Playing in a winter wonderland: Kleivstua, Norway”

Judging threat in Norway: travel advice vs. public opinion

Australians take about 6 million trips overseas each year, during which about 30,000 Australians need the assistance of an Australian consular or overseas mission, says the Australian Government travel advisory, Smartraveller. When I hear stats like this, I wonder, ‘who are these people?’ Are they  mostly those who travel to extreme destinations; places of highContinue reading “Judging threat in Norway: travel advice vs. public opinion”