Winter Norway (and a little bit of Sweden)

[nuts]

Made a backpacking trip to Norway in March this year, both to make my 2nd attempt at the Northern Lights, as well as to just travel the Arctic region again. My first attempt was in 2010, to the Finnish Lapland, as part of my extended long trip, and the previous thread is here http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/land-city-scapes-travel/796272-winter-300km-above-arctic-circle-finland-lapland.html

Here's sharing some pics!

First stop, for most flying from SG, is Oslo. Though jetlagged, but still managed to walk around the city, and I have to say, it's a great city to walk in. Lots of arty installations and museums scattered around.

Just outside the Oslo Sentral station.

Pretty wall murals at a residential district.

It's a bird! It's a man! It's... just some art installation....

 

[nuts]

If you like these kind of stuff, you'll love Oslo as there's lots of it around!

Some unconventionally placed....

Some a little more quirky and perky... ;p

 

[nuts]

And of course, when you talk about art in Oslo, inevitably, 'The Scream' would come up. And a visit to see Edvard Munch's works would be in order.

 

[nuts]

Luckily the weather next day was alot better than before, which kinda made my mood better.... cos I will be flying up to the Arctic soon!

The Oslo waterfront

and the promenade really make for a nice walkabout

The winter sun and its shadows

Evening at Karl Johans gate, the main street of Oslo

Oslo @ Night

Next up.... Into the Arctic!

 

[nuts]

My flight up to Narvik, above the Arctic Circle, was a morning one. My journey into the Arctic has begun!

And perhaps, as a sign of the wonders to come, midway through the flight, I caught a phenomenon known as a Glory, or commonly known in Chinese as 'Buddha's Light'.

Soon after, as the plane broke through the clouds, the Arctic landscape showed itself!

 

[nuts]

A surreal white landscape...

 

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And then I caught a glimpse of my destination : the Lofoten Islands!

 

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As the plane begin to descend below the clouds, I then realized it was actually a grey cloudy day again.... and worse, when I reached Narvik, a snowstorm greeted me

 

[nuts]

Well, the reintroduction to Arctic weather didn't dampen my mood though. I love winterscapes, and before making my way to the Lofoten Islands, I decided to take the Arctic Circle Train to Abisko National Park in Sweden for a few days. The scenery along the train journey is supposedly stupendous, and I can't wait.

And it didn't disappoint! I was glued to the window most of the time......

 

[nuts]

 

[nuts]

I arrived in Abisko in the afternoon, and that very night, I went straight out to the nearby Torneträsk Lake. As mentioned before, this was my 2nd attempt and trip to catch the lights, and so there was sort of a particular pressure to see it. So I was really overjoyed when the Aurora showed itself! Although it was not the brightest or spectacular type, the fact that it was visually visible was a huge relief... and that prompted me to post this :

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/land-city-scapes-travel/1244734-my-first-sighting-aurora.html

And I have to say, lying on the frozen lake and looking at the display can be quite a joy!

So, I stood and waited on the lake for more than 3hrs, and made the best of what I could, but well, the heavens decided this teaser is enough for me

 

[kookaaq]

great thread. more please!

 

[nuts]

great thread. more please!

Thanks kookaaq!
Was on a short trip, so didn't post.... will continue to share some more pics...

 

[nuts]

The next day displayed some wonderful light, and even though with a lack of sleep, it's great walking about on a mountain on a good day

The frozen lake

Super long icicles in the sun

 

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Dusk came, and there was beautiful magic hour light.

But this was not what I came for, and so I waited...


and waited....


and waited....


and the clouds won over my patience and I collapse back to bed at 2+am

 

[nuts]

My final day, and night, and the forecasts doesn't look so good. Most of the day was spent resting, and the weather wasn't great anyway.

Even as night descended, the clouds were still hovering. Well, strangely, I was somewhat "relax". I *had* seen the lights on the first day after all, and there is still Norway to go! So I'm sure I'll have more chances! With this positive thought in mind, I went out for a walk.

It was 10+pm before something appeared in the sky. A big smile swept across my face. I was just at the edge of a small ravine and even manage a little light painting.

But the weather is really grouchy with the clouds quickly sweeping over. It's frustrating know that the Aurora are hiding behind those clouds and there I was, freezing and hoping. It was almost 12midnight as I walk back towards the resort. And in the middle of my walk, the clouds cleared and lo and behold, a wonderful display is showing!

I was thrilled. This time, it was higher in the sky and more widespread.

 

[nuts]

I was back at the hotel area, but reluctant to retire. I was quite happy that I managed to see something stronger than the first day. But it's so addictive! But it's so cold! Having being out in the open for 3+hrs continuously, the cold is seeping into my bones. And when you least expect it, it came on.

The Aurora weaved across the sky like a snake, twisting and twirling. It spanned and moved from one end of the horizon to the other. It glowed with such beautiful intensity. It was like watching a timelapse movie, and I felt like I'm in a timelapse reality. It was absolutely surreal.

I was at a loss at how to capture it. In the army, I would be termed 'kanang kapo', as in a bewildered dunno-what-to-do state. In the end, I just stood to enjoy the view and the feeling. Well, it was really a dream come true.

 

[Will03]

niceee

 

[nuts]

Thanks William!

niceee

 

[nuts]

So I left Abisko Sweden with a load off my back, and in a way, look forward to rest of my trip in Arctic Norway with less "pressure"! And finally, to one of my main destinations of my trip - the Lofoten Islands.

It was another day of winter wonderland sights. I had the same wonderful dose of the Arctic Circle train back to Narvik and from there, I took a bus to Svolvaer, the capital of the Lofoten islands. And boy, it's another crazy wonderful bus journey where one would stick to the window again.