Back-posting record

Hello all,

I have resumed back-posting since 1o Dec, in which I've backposted from 09 June post onwards. Hopefully I can finish backposting by the end of this holidays. I'll update this post whenever I backpost so that you can keep track.

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Last update: 16 Dec
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16 Dec 09: Backposted 13 June, Day 157
12 Dec 09: Backposted 12 June, Day 156

Day 157 - Skali Skåla

We arrived at Stryn at about 7.40 am. The rain didn't go away. Took another bus to our campsite.

Keng Rui's 2 man tent (green colour) vs the three men tent + porch we shared (blue colour)

It was the first time camping for Evelyn and I. Keng Rui and I somehow manage to figure out how to pitch the 3-men tent in the drizzle. "I can make it through the rain....."

A little short rapid near our campsite. It's quite scenic: one side faces the lake, and it is bordered by this river. Downside: we're in the trough of the valley. Which means super strong winds and cold air descending at night. It's already near 10°C in the day. Not quite used to it from London's mid 20°C weather.

Got any water descending in a vertical manner, must take photo with it. Bo Bian lah, we have a waterfall chaser.

Looks manmade, but it's still pretty aren' it? At the entrance of the campsite.

We treked to the base of Mount Skåla, which has a descend of about 1km and a peak of 1.8km. It's the highest peak in don't know where. Traditionally believed that the air up there is good for your lungs and cures TB. Then again, like one of the signs said, if you have the lungs to climb this, chances are, you don't have TB in the first place.

First waterfall we chance upon during our ascend.

2nd water fall. I'm kinda numbed to it?

But it is still a vertical descent of water...must take photo....

Our dare-devil approach a slippery edge.

hoping for better weather.

Snow melt tributaries. Future lessson material.

What is the point where 2 tributaries joined together called?

a) Convergence

b) Connection

c) Convergence

d) Who cares. Take group photo first (it's convergence by the way)

more rapids. Future lesson material.

Glory of snow melt tributaries. Geogasm alert.

We took a break halfway. "You see that mountain? you must put it in this square....."

Yup, that's the lake our campsite faces. Approaching the snow zone.

As we track the slipperly melting hardened snow......

Freeze-Thaw action

Another break.

We went on and on, and realise that we're tracking on hardened snow, which is quite dangerous given how we don't have proper equipmen. Besides, rough rocks and cleavages lies beneath the snow, and we've sunk our feets into some of these spots a few times. Doesn't help that the path is being obscured also. We no longer know if the route we're taking is safe.

The peak. Evelyn and I decided it's too dangerous to continue. Our Daredevil went up to recce.

While we enjoy the scenary......

Paranomic view.

Our resident daredevil returned. Conclusion: Too dangerous to go to the peak. Can't see path. That's where we turn back.

One last look at the gorgeous view. At least the clouds cleared and the sun came out for this scenary.

Aren't no joke going down the slipperly slope on snow. But it was kinda fun sliding.

Finally we've reached the bottom. It was like 7pm already. That's Skäla on the right.

The suspiciously man-made waterfall in much better lighting condition.

I last opened this bottle at the highest point we stopped. Notice the pressure difference?

And so, we ate our biscuits. Correction, I ate my biscuits, they ate their Green Giant corn (I still can't appreciate it). Hot Shower cost NKR10 for 3 minutes. That's like £1-2? We gave it a missed and just washed face. After all, the temperature is seriously dropping to sub 10ºC that we couldn't really take the cold anymore.

Day 156 - End of exchange trip - Oslo

Technically, the academic aspect of my exchange has ended since my last paper. Yesterday, since I've moved out of my hostel marks the end of my stay in London. Today marks the start of a trip that ends my exchange. Who better to do it then with my good friend Keng Rui, who's also using this trip to mark an end to his time in Cambridge.

The plan is this, we will spend 2 weeks in different parts of Norway. First part will consist of Keng Rui and I, plus a friend of his, Evelyn. After the first week, Evelyn would have to return in preparation for a mission trip to Ukraine, and our good ol' Macha, Nardev, and another friend of theirs will join us for the rest of the trip. All planning done by Keng Rui. Thankfully I didn't need to leave a finger! And we'll camp for most of the trip, as we've shared the cost of a tent.

Met Evelyn at Luton airpot early in the morning for our Ryan Air flight. Keng Rui kindly inducted both of us to how the multiple straps on our backpack can be used to strap different parts of the tents. Keng Rui was almost scolded for printing multiple boarding passes double sided. But the lady was kind enough to print us new boarding pass at no extra change, given how Ryan Air charge ridiculous amount of money for every single little small thing. Yes, they even had the idea to charge £1 per toilet use on the plane, which drew them a lot of flak.

Spotted this when we were boarding the plane.

A few hours later, we've landed in Oslo. Keng Rui and Evelyn aren't stranger to Oslo, as this is the 2nd time they've been to Norway. We're suppose to catch an overnight bus to Stryn to get to our first hiking destination at 23 30h. Since we've quite a bit of time. Keng Rui and Evelyn decided to show me around Oslo, and buy some hiking maps that we couldn't get in London as well.

Gloomy Oslo central.

Oslo Cathedral

1 red man aren't enough. Need 2 red man. None of us has any idea why there are 2 red men.

Oslo Parliment House. I think this is my most favourite building in tiny Oslo.

Nobel Peace Prize Centre, the only Nobel prize that is administered outside Sweden

The palace of the Norwegian royalty. The architecture is......

Streets of shopping Oslo. I think they are Sri Lankan Tamils protesting.

Dinner at a Vietnamese restuarant. For NKR750 (about £8), this is one of the most value for money hot meal in Norway. I'm not joking.

We proceed to stock up on biscuits and camping stuff at a nearby supermarket. In London, I'll compare prices with Singapore. In Norway, I'll compare prices with London. That's how expensive things are here.

On the bus to Stryn

Day 155 - Goodbye Langton Close. Goodbye London.

A sunny day. My room seemed especially empty, with everything packed in. After a few adjustments, I bid Yu Ming and Yifan, my remaining flatmates, farewell.

I'm so gonna miss this 39p cookie. A cheap and good snack from Waitrose.

Quiet Wren Street, where I stayed.

When it was winter, the trees were bare and I could see my Hall from the entrance of Wren Street. Now it is full of life for summer.

I've always wondered why the hostel is called Langton Close when the address says Wren Street.

Turns out this small little carpark-ish street IS Langton Close.

The first time I came here, I thought it means I should use the other entrance instead of this entrance. So at 7.30 am in the morning, I went from this entrance to the other entrance and back, wondering which entrance to use, since both had this sign. It was only when one of the administrative officers pop their heads out did I realise that they are referring to the left side of the door, rather than the whole entrance itself.

And so, I returned my key, dragged my barangs and took the 2pm train to Cambridge. And while I was dragging my stuff to Keng Rui's place, I bumped into Liling, who came to visit Ivan! To think that we couldn't meet up in London, we had to bump into each other in Cambridge.

Farewell London. I didn't fall in love with you, but I enjoyed my 6 months stay here. I will miss you, cause a part of my life happened here.

Ditto to room 4G2 and Langton Close. The heating may suck, the laundry may be expensive, the lighting may be too dim, the closet may be too tiny, the corridor may smell like pee, but still, I had great times while staying in you. Thank you and I'll miss the times I had.

Day 154 - A last look at UCL and Russell Square

This is my last full day in London.

The other day, Ming Li and I realised that we didn't take any photos with UCL. So we met up and took photos of places which we have "a sense of place" (Tuan, whatever year lah).

The preserved body of Jeremy Bentham, whose ideals UCL base themselves upon.

Me and my favourite corner in UCL. UCL didn't have much place to hang out, so this is where i usually sit to use the plug, update this blog and have my self-packed lunch. This is also where I would bump into friends as well.

Cool building that Ming Li frequent for her sociology lesson.

I spent a lot of time researching in this building for my "Ancient Egypt in London" course.

This back alley looking entrance is the entrance to the History Department. I'm not joking!

Ming Li pointed out this cool bicycle stand.

aku and the portico - the most beautiful part of UCL.

Ming Li and UCL Portico.

All we need is Heather!

Who can forget this high-security geography department!

I never agreed that they are a "Global Univesity" and always think that they are super hao lian to put that everywhere!

I went on to the British Museum to finish up what I have yet to see.

I remembered Jan Picton, my lecturer for the Ancient Egypt course, suggesting that this was used by Ramases III as a form of propaganda against the Nubians.

Replica from Persia. I just love Persian and Asyrian styles.

The Rosetta stone that broke the mystery of hieolgraphys

Elgin marbles - 2/3 of the carvings from the Panthenoen in Athens are here.

China display. I wonder which are the ones looted from the Summer Palace.

Arabic calligraphy in expression of Islam religiosity.

yeh lah yeh lah. Justifying why you're not returning what was looted in your collection right?

I realised I walked through a lot of exhibits. Perhaps after visiting the Lourve and the countries that some of the exhibits were from (like Greece, Italy etc.), the British Museum doesn't seems so impressive after all.

Russell Square. The only park I know in London that aren't locked up after sunset.

The centre piece fountain.

Russell Square station. This was where I first step out to begin my journey.

Brunswick, where I do my grocery shopping.

The Aisles of Waitrose. Can you believe this whole aisle is dedicated to pre-cooked meals? Says a lot about the country's (lack of) food culture.

My shelf. Dividers improvised from cereal boxes.

It's time to pack.