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.