Norway | FindPenguins

Newest first

Trip start
May 3, 2025
Norway Treading Through Gaia
Oslo
May 3, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
I arrived in Oslo, carrying the weight of the past. It seems like it was an echo of Stockholm and I felt that deeply. Knowing the time for redemption is slowly fading away. Still, I pushed on.

My hostel was a very good dorm. I really liked just how advanced yet rustic the Nordic countries were. I checked in and headed to the Norwegian Folk Museum, using the bus. It was quite similar to Denmark's Lejre in that it showed different eras and architecture of Norway's history. The Gol Stave Church was particularly interesting and honestly the main highlight. From there, I went to Akershus Castle. There were tulips in bloom as I walked by the bayside where the cold ocean wind blew along with the sea gulls.

There was a graduation ceremony and it was fascinating to see the people wear their traditional clothing. From there, I got to the Oslo Opera House. I found the architecture to be quite unique, and I liked the fact that people were encouraged to climb up to the top. There was also the scent of cannabis wafting through the air. By this time, I felt like I had done enough and didn't have it in me to keep going. I took the bus back to my neighborhood and went to the local supermarket to pack some food and grab dinner, both in the form of instant noodles. Courtesy of my good friend Avery's survival techniques that I learned from while in Abisko. The next day was going to be a long trip to the islands of Lofoten.Read more
0 likes
Norway Treading Through Gaia
Bodo
May 4, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C
Back to the airport for a morning flight to Bodo. I had planned to get some winter gear to bring over to Lofoten, but unfortunately, it seems like Sunday is a rest day even for the shops. I tried to do some exploring, going to the Bodo Cathedral to see some Lutheran architecture as well as being able to spot some more ladies in traditional clothing. Got to see some really cool street art as well featuring the Northern Lights, amongst other things. I ended up spending a bit more time in a cafe where I ate brunch. Went to the docks to catch my free ferry to Moskenes Port.Read more
0 likes
Norway Treading Through Gaia
Lofoten
May 4, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C
Lofoten was like another world. Like approaching some long lost Jurassic island, it was simply breathtaking. Just the views alone from the port of Moskenes was spellbinding. I met a French guy, Manu and turns out we were heading to the same hostel over at A, a tiny fishing hamlet at the most southern edge of Lofoten. There I met my other room mates at that time, Hugh and Manuel, from the Netherlands and perhaps UK was it?

The four of us went out exploring towards the coast of A. The views were just superb all around, yet a deeper part of me couldn't enjoy it. It's worthless without her, thought my old self. I walked around in silence and separated from the group, encountering Hugh again, and together we walked a bit more, towards Lake Agvatnet. The days here seemed to go on forever, even with the curtains, it was still so bright at 11 PM, but I was tired and still had a mission to do the next day.Read more
0 likes
Norway Treading Through Gaia
Lofoten II
May 5, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C
A dreamy and chilly rainy morning greeted me upon waking. Looks like no hiking today, but I wasn't really worried as the day was just so long. I lazed about for a long time until I picked myself up and finally got myself out of the house. I went to the nearby restaurant and tried the fresh trout they had, super expensive but was also probably the best meal I've had in Norway so far. I explored the village of A, going to all the museums and historical sites before heading back to the hostel.

I decided to pop another one of the gummies I had gotten from Prague before beginning a long walk towards Lake Sorvagen. A very peaceful, introspective, and reflective walk. I did the whole route and saw a lot of the pretty rorbuer and fishing traditions.

Perhaps not the brightest idea but I felt that Lake Agvatnet was also calling me so on the way back, I decided to do the whole loop as well, except this time it was a very long and strenous hike, almost 2-3 hours worth and frankly, on the gummy, it was a bit difficult but in the end I made it back to the hostel in one piece, except my shoes were hella dirty from the muddy marshes. I quickly ate my instant noodles before crashing out. It seems like Hugh and I were doing the famed Reinebringen the next day, or in this case the infamous one as plenty of hikers seemed to give up and turn back because the ice and snow had still not fully melted near the summit. My biggest fear, I know if I went, I can't turn back.Read more
0 likes
Norway Treading Through Gaia
Lofoten III
May 6, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C
Hugh and I had planned to catch the morning bus heading to the Reinebringen trailhead. I got my still-wet muddy hiking boots that I stuck in the bathroom heater, hoping for some semblance of dryness but looks like I was going to start the day with wet socks.

In the start of the trailhead, we were greeted by Tibetan prayer flags. Seems like the path going up to the summit was built by Sherpas. Hugh and I started our climb up taking a few breaks every now and then until came the dreaded portion. Looks like what the others were saying was true, ice and snow all around. There was an older couple who went up and since I saw they were going up, I went ahead and followed them with Hugh trailing behind me. It was a treacherous and slippery trail with not much room for error. One wrong slip and it would not be good. After awhile Hugh chickened out. "I think I shall head back down, I think I'll shit myself" he says. My shoes weren't exactly in the best shape as well, years of hiking had pretty much turned the whole sole flat so I didn't have much traction at all yet I perservered. It's too late to turn back now. I put my foot in the foot prints of the older couple before me and eventually, we made it to the top.

The views were well worth it, the expansive views of the islands, connected by the meandering bridges was exactly the views worth risking for. But I wasn't finished. This wasn't the real summit yet, the others were satisfied with the views here but the actual summit required just a bit more effort. From there, I could see the fjords and the lake, with this Reinebringen was conquered and completed. I had waited for a bit to see if anyone was planning to go down as I was also a bit afraid to go down, the same older couple started to head back down so I followed suit. The woman found me to be quite fast and insisted I go ahead, and I reluctantly did so. In the end, I got down pretty quickly and safely and started the hike back down. I ran into some other people who sat by the stairs, dejected and having given up the trek up. They asked me for some photos and I airdropped them what I had. Dunno why they would be satisfied with that even if they didn't actually put in the effort and seeing it themselves but at least it made them happy. I encountered a ranger as well who had warned me against climbing up butit was already done.

I then explored the village of Reine, having another scrumptious lunch inside while resting my legs. I began the long walk going to Sakrisoy which involved another hike up through marshy wetlands but the views were once again well-worth it. Instead of the red rorbuers, Sakrisoy had orange, and the waters here were turquoise, reminiscent of the tropical beaches, which made for an incredible contrast with the snow covered summits surrounding the village.

From Sakrisoy, I walked further to Hamnoy to capture the classic postcard shots. I sat here for a long time until the cold started to creep up on me. I stopped by a supermarket to grab a bit more instant noodles for dinner and took the bus back to A. It was great to see Hugh again and we caught up on things before I said my farewells to him as we were both going our separate ways the next day.Read more
0 likes
Norway Treading Through Gaia
Lofoten IV
May 7, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
My final day in Lofoten was one of extreme internal strife. I was quite debilitated by the emotions in my heart that I couldn't really bring myself out of bed or do anything despite having plans to do the Mannen hike. I listened to my body and felt everything, having my usual outbursts until I got my shit together.

I took a bus going to Leknes and then to Haukland beach. Being one of the only souls there, I was able to just feel everything a bit more, just the sheer angst and loneliness before catching the bu to Uttakleiv beach next, which was also another pretty and desolate arctic beach. I was not in a good place at all, but I had to push on. I got the bus back to Leknes and went to the airport to catch the plane back to Bodo. I had almost missed my flight back to Oslo even, but was able to catch it thanks to the kind attendant.Read more
0 likes
Norway Treading Through Gaia
Flam
May 8, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
I woke up with such a piercing sadness in my heart that I knew I couldn't carry this. I had to pay for a public bathroom in Oslo's train station just to cry it out. My heart felt lighter afterwards, just in time before I boarded my train to Flam. The Norway in a Nutshell tour they call it. A sort of DIY tour. I got my routes going to Flam via Myrdal. I saw a Chinese girl in the first leg of my journey, and in the train from Myrdal to Flam, I met a traveling aunt and her niece, Margot from Thailand and the US respectively, who both became my friends for that short ride. An added bonus was stopping by the waterfall and seeing the "Huldra" perform, folkloric women clad in red, a staple character of the region.

After arriving, I walked a long walk to my hostel which was self check-in. I left my things here and started a trek up to the nearby Berkfossen waterfalls. I laid down here for a long time while my heart remained calm, light and still. Perhaps I was even happy during this time. I saw the giant ship sail away from Flam's port from the waterfall's vantage point. Margot's ride it seems. I went back down and proceeded further towards Flam church. The main building was locked unfortunately, but I was much satisfied with the pleasant walk. I made the long journey back into Flam's center, through a hilly park where I saw some cool slugs and cows.

There, I got a dinner in a viking-themed restaurant. Again, very pricey but the food was top notch. I then went back to my hostel where I met some of my other room mates who were happily chatting away. I was tired though so after a quick shower, I went to bed.Read more
0 likes
Norway Treading Through Gaia
Gudvangen
May 9, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
A long walk back to Flam's port in the morning, I set down my things by the fjord again. The weather was very good today and there was still a lot of time before the boat's departure. I went to visit the Flam Railway Museum as well which was for free. With some bread for breakfast, I got on the ship taking us to Gudvangen via the Naeroyfjord. Doing this after Lofoten proved to be a bit underwhelming, whatever fjord views I had here was nothing compared to Lofoten's. Notwithstanding the fact that there was a huge crowd everywhere so it was difficult to get any sense of silent appreciation. I encountered the same Chinese lady from the train to Myrdal here as well, seems like we were doing the same route afterall.

The outside air was also very cold and windy, so I would often go out to snap some pics before going back in to warm myself up. I was also very caught up in my own mind's spirals and thus most of the journey went by quickly and I found myself in Gudvangen, from there it was a bus to Voss station and a train back to Oslo. I was carrying the weight of lost redemption and the slow understanding that in the end what I wanted was not possible, I felt betrayed once again and confused and lost about everything.

The moment I got down to Oslo, I was approached by a man asking for money to get back to his family, it was kinda sus so I opted out before heading back to the same hostel, tired and dejected. My heart felt tragically horrible.Read more
0 likes
Norway Treading Through Gaia
Oslo II
May 10, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Woke up with a heavy heart, once again accepting that I failed in all aspects just like Stockholm and yet a part of me still can't give up and I still choose to keep trying. Even if the impending fallout coming the next few weeks would be some of the worst in my life.

I got on the bus to the airport and once again saw the same Chinese lady, I said good bye one last time before heading on a flight back to Tokyo.Read more
0 likes

Trip end
May 10, 2025