Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Scandinavia Trip Day 4: Voss, Gudvangen, Flam

 

After a carbolicious breakfast at Scandic Bergen City’s Restaurant Amalie, we board the bus for a 1.5-hour ride to Voss.

On the way, we see…

 

Lakes and tiny wooden houses (well, at least they look tiny from our bus)

 

Bridge and church

 

More wooden houses and bits of snow on top of the mountains

 

Real snow-capped mountains this time, and a frozen river, too! I suddenly dream of becoming a figure skater. I imagine myself gliding and twirling as light as a feather on thin ice and OOOPS! The ice suddenly cracks under my weight. I fall into the water and freeze to death. Feather and me, I don’t think it’s a match.

 

221679_10150170822574570_510889569_6573251_837435_nWe have a 5-minute stop at this site just quick enough for a group photo op (and lots and lots of solo pics. Ha!) That’s Vibson, Me, Frances, Felisse, Ernest, and Erwin.

 

Then we’re back on the road again to continue our journey to Gudvangen Fjordtell. This time we see…

 

More wooden houses and snow-capped mountains

 

Waterfalls

 

Gushing white water rivers. I so want to go rafting here!

 

Snow, snow, snow

 

Finally, we arrive Gudvangen Fjordtell where we board the ferry for the 2-hour cruise
that will take us to Flam

 

One of the soldiers that guard the entrance

 

But first, we make a quick run to the souvenir shop

 

Felisse and I luurrrve these boots

 

That’s our ferry on the left

 

Boarding time!

 

Auntie Anita, Auntie Jacky, Auntie Baby, Auntie Atis, Auntie Rosie, Uncle Harry,
Uncle Boon Tian, Auntie Nita, Florence, Frances, Felisse

 

We cruise along the scenic Nærøyfjord, one of the many fjordarms in the 204-km long Sognefjord, but the most scenic and dramatic of all. In fact, in 2005, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

 

225911_10150170833094570_510889569_6573452_2630851_nTo say that it is breathtaking is simply an understatement. The water is so serene you see in it a clear reflection of nature’s magnificence.

 

Pristine white seagulls soar above, and we take turns capturing the beauties in action.

 

Frances’s bird shots:

221864_10150165510032293_718632292_6920022_4984839_n

223593_10150165510097293_718632292_6920023_270720_n

 

Vibson’s bird shots:

223311_10150170827864570_510889569_6573312_5904252_n

224234_10150170827899570_510889569_6573313_7429792_n

226135_10150170838169570_510889569_6573574_445375_n

 

My bird shots:

Nyahaha! But they are flying too fast!!!

 

This one’s a little bit better, but I give up!

 

So I just take a photo of Auntie Babie and Frances.
They are not birds, I know, but they are chicks! Winking smile

 

Other people trying their luck with the seagulls

 

231142_10150170828529570_510889569_6573330_7247962_nStripey pair

 

Uncle William, Uncle Boon Tian and Uncle Frank

 

230199_10150170829079570_510889569_6573347_6299218_n8 Aunties and an Uncle

 

223521_10150170829009570_510889569_6573345_1473946_nErrr… Rose and Jack wannabes, this is NOT Titanic

 

If you’re lazy to drive, the ferry will take your car in, too

 

Calmness

 

Speeding up a bit

 

225160_10150170829144570_510889569_6573348_5554435_nAs we cruise closer to Flam, we see houses dotting the foot of the mountains

 

221993_10150170829589570_510889569_6573359_621108_nThere’s a lovely small community

 

226345_10150170831514570_510889569_6573412_73557_nAnd wooden houses built on stilts

 

226445_10150170828479570_510889569_6573328_4007423_nA long and skinny waterfall, too

 

222211_10150170838309570_510889569_6573577_600080_nFelisse so badly wants a photo of herself feeding the seagulls, but after standing and waiting with her arm stretched out for half a day, no seagull would go near her Skyflakes

 

230993_10150165509707293_718632292_6920019_3537942_nThat is until she finally gets lucky when one big and hungry seagull swoops down and snatches her cracker

 

227497_10150165509892293_718632292_6920021_1720335_nBig seagull is starving. Is it time for lunch yet???

 

222548_10150170832669570_510889569_6573438_2810592_nThis place looks like there’s food in it. Yey!

 

227293_10150165514712293_718632292_6920068_695186_nOur “Welcome to Flam” group picture

 

Bye bye, ride!

 

Lunch today is at Furukroa Restaurant

 

Buffet spread:

 
                                    Breads                                                              Salad and cold appetizers

 

 
           Salmon prepared different ways                                                     Desserts

 

My plates:

 
                        Cream of asparagus                                     Salmon, penne, beef, fish cake, etc.

 

 
                Smoked and baked salmon                                     Pudding, mousse, fruit cocktail

 

I especially love this area of the restaurant. So warm and cozy.

 

And this chandelier made from wooden branches is just brilliant and rustic

 

After eating we check in at Fretheim Hotel, settle in our rooms, tour the old (but so much prettier) wing of the hotel, and set out to stroll around Flam.

Turns out Flam is not a very big place. Tucked in the innermost corner of the Aurlandfjord, Flam is a small jewel of a town surrounded by steep mountainsides, waterfalls and deep valleys.  There’s not much to do, but really, you don’t come to Flam to do anything (except maybe fishing).

You come here to relax, recharge, breathe fresh air, and simply exist in the paradise that it is.

 

222381_10150170838049570_510889569_6573571_3905366_nFlam

 

Flamsbana, or the Flam Railway, is one of the world’s steepest railway lines.
And tomorrow we are gonna experience it.

 

IMG_3186Souvenirs!!!

 

229554_10150170831149570_510889569_6573400_546066_nSad but true Sad smile

 

IMG_3254Dinner is at The Conscious Kitchen at Fretheim Hotel

 

 
                           Breads and butter                                        Arugula salad in balsamic vinaigrette

 

 
             Giant deer meatball and potatoes                               Giant deer meatball innards

 

Fresh fruits with vanilla cream

 

Happy, full and ready to snooze (just look at Uncle William, hehehe!)

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