Stockholm: Gamle Stan

The day's plan was to cover the Old Town (Gamle Stan) where our hostel was situated. Started our trail at The Royal Palace after checking out. A while was spent at Storkyrkan, the church next to the Royal Palace, phototaking as usual. Came out to find a ceremony that resembled the Changing of Guards. The guards at the Swedish Royal Palace had to one of the slackest, shifting foot to foot and talking to tourists. Just when I thought the Czech guards were slack. Haha. Walked to the other side of the Old Town "island" to get a glimpse of a supposedly famous church, Riddarholmskyrkan. Due to the lack of time, it was Aker Brygge take 2 when we walked to the water edge, down the road from Riddarholmskyrkan, to get a view of the City Hall, Stadshuset.

Got to town for last minute shopping and for b to get the dress for her mom before speed walking to Coop in the Old Town for me to get my Baked Alaska B&J. If the speed walk on cobblestones wasn't bad enough, it was a mad lactic-acid-built-up dash to the Central Station to catch our bus to Arlanda airport. I finished almost an entire pint of B&J on the 40 minute journey to the airport. Sinful, sinful, sinful... >.<

An hour of flying brought us back to CPH followed by an uncomfortable 3+ hour train ride back to Aarhus.

Stockholm: Södermalm, M and Meatballs

Ventured down north of Stockholm to check out Katarina Kyrka and the second hand/vintage shops at Södermalm. They were a tad disappointing being either too expensive or unappealing. We ended up spending more time at Lidl, a supermarket.

Had lunch before going to Drottningatan where the rest did their shopping and I was off to Gallerian to meet m. Found m at the crossroads and we made a big round to Stadsteatern only to find that the cafe he had intended to go at the top floor was closed. We ended up walking back to the cafe next to Klara Kyrka where I got a treat. Ate, talked and scrolled through my entire collection of camera pictures. There was only about an hour as I had to get back to the rest and he had to get back to his school work. It was an unexpectedly good time. Talking about school and family, taxes and free education, dorm living and travelling, H&M and meatballs, Boost and Laksa, Chokladbiskvi and the future.

Met the rest back at H&M and went around hunting for a dress for b's mom before the stores starting shutting. Back at the hostel it was the free penne provided by the hostel and meatballs plus Half Baked and Mango Berry Swirl B&J! Flavours not found in Singapore!! YUMSS!!!

Stockholm: Town and B's birthday at Pong

Checked out of our room on the top floor right to the basement of the hostel. The supposed family room. Stuffed myself with digestive biscuits and tea to ensure I wouldn't go hungry halfway through the day in town. If there was a brand synonymous with Sweden, it was either IKEA or H&M. We were to find out just how big the latter was. Every street had multiple H&Ms. A single corner could have 2 H&Ms facing each other. They all generally sold the same clothes, varying only slightly for each store to focus on different target groups. However, the prices were way different from the H&Ms of Oslo. They had similar numerical prices but in different currencies! Despite the scores of H&Ms we went to, I was a little disappointed that nothing caught my eye.

After photographs at Klara Kyrka and Adolf Frederiks Kyrka, we were famished and settled for Thai and dim sum buffet at Pong to celebrate b's official birthday. Dinner lasted a solid 4+ hours, round after round, course after course. Haha.

On the way back to the hostel after dinner, a and I sneaked off to buy a slice of cake, claiming a had left her camera pouch back in the restaurant. It also served for me to steal a candle from the Thai restaurant. After this episode, I summise I suck at acting innocent. The waitress with attitude problem from before asked what I was up to when a went to the toilet to buy time. After going through all the hassle, secretly blowing out the candles on the table hoping the wax would solidify quickly and trying to pretend to be seaerching for something at our table, I gave up and asked the nice waiter at the cashier for a candle. I was easily given a new one. -_- After that and even after leaving the restaurant, I couldn't get it out of my head that the AP waitress would eventually find out I had intended to steal a candle. Grrrr. -_- Anyway, we bought a cake and caught up with the rest to return to the hostel.

Surprised b after her bath and the candle ended up not serving its purpose as there wasn't a lighter to be found in the hostel. That experience also taught me that I would never be able to start a fire by leaving coffee filters on an induction stove. -_-" Thus it was a candle-less slice of Mille Feuille. It ended up being a late night for the other 4 of us once more, talking and chatting up till 3+am.

Oslo: Vigelandsparken

Motivated by the breakfast to be provided by the hostel and fuelled by hunger, we woke up bright and early. Relatively anyway. Haha. It had a good variety with all sorts of jam and drinks. After a filling breakfast, it was off to Vigelandsparken, reputed for its 112 sculptures and statues. Spent hours going trigger happy before having to make our way to the Central Station in search of free left baggage which was nowhere to be found. Did last minute shopping at Karls Johan before our bus to Moss Airport, Rygge. En route was my first time seeing such a huge moon hung so low in the sky and I was in for more.

Rygge was in a much better shape than expected. Fast forward the embarrassing moment at the security check, we met the Korean (then, unknown) girl from our hostel in Oslo. The flight was fast and we landed even before I could finish reading the Ryanair in-flight magazine. Shared airport transfer tickets with the Korean girl because of the 2 for 1 discount. The sky was so clear that night, the bus ride became my first experience star gazing until I fell asleep.

An hour later we were at the Central Train Station. Bought dinner before venturing into the cold again to find our hostel in the Old Town. A "trail of love letters" was left for a as the reception was closed by time we reached. Found ourselves in a attic room with a waterfront view and it was late by the time we bathed and slept.

Oslo: Opera House

Sat around CPH for about 2 hours before checking in and boarding. One of the best airports I've seen in recent months. A 1 hour flight with a beautiful sunrise later, we reached Gardermoen, Oslo's internation airport. Drew NOK, took an airport transfer to Greften Station, a very misleading name as it turned out to be even smaller than the bus stops in Singapore. With no further instructions of how to get to out hostel, we could only ask around. It took us quite a bit of time, weathering the wind and rain before we arrived.

The routine of circling the places of interest we researched took us about an hour plus before we set off for town, grabbing lunch at Rema 1000 along the way. Took a tram to town, walked to Folks Theatre (a place with posters of semi-nude/nude women and a model inspired by Kate Moss). Next up was the Opera House. A sleek architectural creation with slopping walls and roofs. With the wind whipping a mess of our hair, we spent quite some time snapping shots.

Too tired after not getting proper sleep for the past 29 hours, we gave Akershus Fortress and Castle a miss and decided to just take photos from Aker Brygge where we could also see the Oslo City Hall. While walking there, yj and I actually fell asleep walking! Only woke up after a near collision with a cyclist and subsequently stepping into an icy cold puddle.

Karl Johan Gate, the main shopping street of Oslo was the last destination of the day. Searched for Omega 3, as recommended by b's mom. Another near incident of stand sleeping while browsing through the shops made us throw in the towel and head back to the hostel for dinner and much needed rest.

Dalgas Ave gathering 2; B's Surprise Birthday Celebration

Woke up late in the morning and suffered the consquences of procrastinating the packing of my bag for the Scandinavia trip. Had a hard time hiding from b so we could surprise her at her dorm with Mr. Friendly's aid.

Reached at 4+pm, just 15 minutes after she came to the kitchen. Phew. That evening was the quickest dinner we ever cooked but unfortunately, b still came to the kitchen and found us before we could surprise her. Haha. Credits of being exposed a few seconds prematurely go to wl's totally wl suitcase which was left smack in the middle of the common room. Mr. F, who seemed to be jaga-ing outside the kitchen, said he was "powerless" to stop her from going into the kitchen. Oh well. His help didn't go unappreciated. Still one of the nicer SMU guys around. Finished up cooking and eating yj's super spicy bah kut teh, a's tomato garlic fish slices, wl's noodles, my stir fried broccoli and tofu. Explored b's clubroom before the last bit of surprise. A strawberry swirl cheesecake for b and a "DBSK" brownie for yj that a and wl had made at 3am the previous night.

Napped a little before our 3+ hour train journey to Kastrup, Copenhagen's international airport.