All-Fjord-Nobel-Norway
This was also a perfect occasion to meet a
long time friend (in fact my brother's friend) Dinesh Mathur, after maybe 12 years!!!
Travelling is such fun; you make new
friends on the way. On the way to the 'Vigeland Park' themed on the 'Circle of
Life' we met another Marathi family from Mumbai, an elderly couple and their
Daughter. Even a short hint of familiar language in a foreign land brings
together unknown people. So much so that the elderly lady we met, whom we
affectionately called kaku, as all our elders do, forced us (Alas! we do not
have a better and more affectionate word in English) to share their home made
food with us. What more do you want in Oslo, homemade meethi Paratha and Loncha
(Pickle) and little snacks. The Vigeland Park is absolutely stunning, designed
by the sculptor 'Gustav Vigeland' has beautiful granite Sculptures depicting
life in all forms and stages, from childhood, to adolescence, to love to
procreation to old age to death and again birth. One has to see it to
appreciate it. It is so beautiful that even the bloody Nazis could not dare to
interfere in the work of the sculptor.
Shashank was very interested in the Ski
Jump and the 'Vikings museum' (ships and all) whereas Sneha was interested in
the beautiful paintings in the Nobel institute and the City hall where the
'Nobel Prize' is given away. Sneha remembered Malala Yousufzai'. Now that is something which every parent looks
forward to. A word of caution to you
all. Utter the name 'Malala' in front of Sneha at your own risk. She will not
leave you until you know everything about the girl!
The train journey from Oslo to Flåm is very
scenic. Completely hilly terrain with snow covered mountains, even entire
villages. In bright sunlight the frozen streams/ Ponds shining a pale blue with
a thin layer of ice on the surface and water beneath. Lovely waterfall on the
way. The most beautiful part is on the Flåm railway. It is very rightly called 'one
of the most beautiful train journeys in the world'. It is just Flåm-tastic!
It reminded me of Hallstadt. a small idyllic village nestled between mountains
and a river (in this case a Fjord). A picture post card village. Shashank and
Sneha made new friends and the four of them even tried out their own short
trekking by themselves. I am really amazed that they could actually climb a
small hill all by themselves prodded on by each other. Way to go Kids!!!
We had just heard of 'Fjord', never seen them.
The five hour Cruise through the most beautiful Fjords which have been declared
UNESCO heritage sites was the highlight of the tour. Kids are more innovative
than adults. As we were enjoying the 'never-seen-before' sights, Shashank,
Sneha and their new friend were playing their own game. They were counting the
number of waterfalls on the way, who sights more waterfalls and who sights the
steepest waterfalls. The beautiful play of the landscape and natural colours in
the Fjords just fills your heart with joy.
The journey from Gudvangen to Voss, on the
way to Bergen is one of its kind. It is a bus journey on a hilly terrain which
has more than 18 hairpin bends on a downhill road with huge waterfall on one
side. Scary for some and adventurous for others. Now I know why the journey is
named as 'Norway in a ‘NUT’shell’!
Just in contrast to this journey from Flåm
to Bergen was the serene and calm cruise from Bergen to Rosendal. A lovely
garden island. I was surprised to see that Rosendal has a statue/Memorial of a
Horse ! A Rosendal horse which was once considered the 'Best Horse' in the
world. It has won many awards and competitions.
Sahi
hai hamara olympic medalist panipoori bechta hai, aapke Ghode ka bhi memorial!
Why not? beta....'PETA' bhi koi chez hai!
A happy co-incidence when we were in Bergen!
It was the National day in Norway (like our
republic day, the day the constitution was adopted). It was amazing to see
almost everybody in Bergen dressed up in the traditional Norwegian dress. We
even got a chance to see the traditional 'National day parade'.
Despite the ups and down, there is great
beauty to be appreciated.
Norway! Maybe we will be back!
-Sandeep Kulkarni
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