Jotunheimen - Galdhøpiggen

August 12

We drove for about 1.5 hours from Gjendesheim to Juvasshytta where the start of the hike to Galdhøpiggen begins. We were first greeted by a nice toll payment and then hairpin bends up to the tourist hut. It was to be a 3 hour hike up and 2.5 hours down.

This was the sight that we were greeted by when we got to Juvasshytta. Looked way more amazing than my picture gave credit for.

And then here goes. We hiked through 400m of a plain of loose rocks.

Then started a slight uphill of ice.

After conquering the first little climb. This was about 30 min.

Another climb this time up loose rocks.

And then we took a break. The view from our breakpoint.

And this was what was in for us next. Walking along the glacier chained to each other on ropes.

After conquering the glacier.

The climb ahead to the tourist hut atop Galdøpiggen. 

The view from the peak. A range of snowcapped moutains. 

On our way down we saw reindeers. We just had some one month ago. These adorable little things are super yummy. *guilty grin* 

Almos there. Getting to the rocky bits again. 

And back. Had to show this side of the view as it is just as breathtaking.

Final Remarks

Endurance: *

Difficulty: **

Scenery: **

Interesting to go across glaciers. (in a safe manner)

Jotunheimen Nature Park - Bessegen

Date: 10 August 2012 - 12 August 2012

Most people started the 7hr hike from Memurubu to Gjendesheim but we decided to start our hike from Gjendesheim. We started at 6am in the morning.

This view was taken at the start of our hike probably 15 minutes away from Gjendeshytta.

This was the first scramble. There were chains provided at certain parts and it was a complete vertical climb. Small footholds and slightly slippery as there were small streams of water running down the rocks. But still manageable.

Halfway there to Bessegen.

Huge Cairne atop Veslefjell.

Almost there. 

We had to scramble up and down this.

                                  

Finally, the postcard view of the Bessegen Ridge which lies between Gjende and Bessvanet which are 390m apart in elevation. This view (probably from the other direction) inspired the poem by Peer Gynt who went down the ridge on a reindeer buck.

Bessvatnet. Said to be the cleanest lake in Norway with a visibility to a depth of 30m.

After a short hike to the bottom by the bank of Bessvatnet, we had quick lunch and took the chance to take in the view of the beautiful sight.

On our way again. Came by a permafrost and people coming from the other side were gliding down the ice.

Bjørnbøl. A little pond. On our way towards Memurubu. 

Bjørnbøl is a great filling point. From this point onwards the hike to Memurubu is about 2 hours. 

Finally, the end in sight! 

View of the Gjende from Memurubu. We waited here for the ferry which was not very frequent and occasionally changes. 

Final Remarks

Endurance: ***

Difficulty: ***

Sights: ****

Barcelona: Free Exhibitions

It is my third time in Barca and this time was a real short trip. I had some time and wanted to see a really dear friend of mine and so I bought a ticket and made my way to this bustling Spanish city. Barcelona, unlike Madrid, seems way more cosmopolitan. Everyone and I mean everyone speaks good English and they initiate conversations in English without being prompted and that deserves an applause since in other parts of the country, you would have to beg for it.

So I had no plans and decided to take random walks along the streets leading Estacion Lesseps to the main street of Passeig de Gracia. I tried to take the smaller lanes to see the neighbourhood and walked along Carrer de Verdi. Many little intricate indie shops selling all different things, no big names and I just love discovering the different fashion, lifestyle products and crafts that this beautiful gothic city has to offer. Contemclassion: So this is the word I came up with to describe this observation I made of the creative scene of Spain in particular what I saw in Barca. A mix of contemporary, decorated by intricacies, backed by classical art, and topped up with passion. It's so eclectic and distinct that I can't and do not observe the same anywhere else. They seem somewhat so advanced in their conceptualising of all things creative.

So the amble amongst indie slowly brought me to mainstream where I hit Passeig de Gracia and passed by Palau Robert the Information Centre for Catalonia. It brought me to a free exhibit of ...

Having been a 2-month involuntary housewife, this exhibit couldn't have been more apt. I was blown over by how well presented it is and all that is 'gratis', favourite word for a traveller on a dime. It talked about the history of El Bulli, the world-acclaimed restaurant overlooking Cala Montjoy, the love story behind it, the paraphernalia, the menus over the years and some dated pictures and the success of Ferran Adria.

I was overwhelmed by the different techniques they experimented with for making food and took culinary to a whole new level. I have heard of applications of food science and through this exhibit I see even more than that. I see art behind the creation of something so possibly mundane as cooking. 

I always love it when people could marry Art and Science together so seamlessly and here I see it so clearly. 

So then they came up with this Creativity Framework, that made me go "Oh no frameworks again" (studied this in business school and seeing it in an exhibit about food just made me cringe). Nonetheless, interesting to see how they try to conceptualise the art of making food and the revolutionising of the eating experience.

They showed exciting videos of the different techniques of Sferificación, Gelificación, Emulsificación...

Spherification causes the formation of a membrane and when you cut through the membrane the insides oozes out in a fluid texture.

Pina colada served like a candy floss.

Cosmopolitan in a marshmallow form.

Caiprinha not in a glass.

Have you ever been served soup that was solid. So I thought cold soup was the most extreme I could go...

This is interesting. Two textures on the same prawn. So simple yet so clever...

They also had this table where they projected two people having a meal where a waiter would introduce the dishes served and you could somewhat "feel" what they were eating, downside, you can't taste it...

They had this three-panel screen showing you glimpses of what goes on in the kitchen of El Bulli all summarised into five minutes.

Amazing Amazing Amazing.

I always knew cooking was more than just making food to keep one from being hungry. But this exhibit allowed me to appreciate the Art of Culinary even more than before.

I would definitely want to make a visit there after it's two year hiatus in 2014. El Bulli here I come...

Tallie Land - Day Four

Ambled along the little streets of Kongsberg. There is this unornamented but pleasant sparseness to the norwegian architecture. Those of the past were mostly made from really sturdy wood and typically painted in single colour tones and unembellished. Stark contrast to the Spanish houses I was used to, that were splashes of colour and all things rich and screaming of passion. Here, its like back to the basics again where simplicity is the key to beauty.

The little town of Kongsberg, none of those big brands, mostly indie shops. Nothing opens from Saturday 4pm till Monday 10am. 

Kongsberg river Lågen. From the first silver was taken out here, to the coins was pressed and still today it generate alot of clean power to Kongsberg homes. It is also a beautiful sight of it self, and there are millions of photoplases to find along it. this is one of them.

Kongberg is a town in Buskerud and was founded in 1624, after silver was discovered in the hills. The danish-norwegian king recruited german miners to the mines. As a result, Kongsberg in the 17th century was a "german" town. Which was the second largest in Norway, only rivaled by Bergen. The mining ceased in 1957. Kongsberg today is a centre for high-tech industry. Kongsberg also host the norwegian mint, and all norwegian coins since 1686 is produced in Kongsberg. (thank you wikipedia)

Royal Mining College

Old Esso Station