What I've been up to...

It's day 48 of my big trip! I can't believe how much time has passed! I've been getting a little bit home sick lately- especially when I think about how much longer I am going to be away! I miss everyone at home very much! But of course, I am still having an awesome time!

My time here in Oslo has been good because I have been living with Malin- a very nice change from hostels, plus it has been nice to stay in one place for a little while!I have been keeping myself busy by going for lots of walks and runs around Oslo (and getting lost a few times, but I guess that is the best way to get to know a city!) I am starting to know my way around, despite not being able to read any of the Norwegian street signs! Yesterday I decided to go for a run to the Art Gallery. It was only a 10 or 15 minute run so I took a longer route through a park (a nice photo of this pictured above).  When I got to the Gallery I was so excited to see that the Edvard Munch exhibition was on, and that it was only 50NOK (about $10AUD) to see it!

The National Gallery is a beautiful old red-brick building, with heaps of room for large exhibitions. I was excited to see Edvard Munch's work because I didn't know too many of his pieces, besides 'The Scream,' which he is most famous for. I wasn't allowed to take photos, but I wrote down a couple of my favourite pieces so I could get some images off the internet later- and here they are...

'Madonna'

'The Kiss'

'The Scream' (obviously a very famous painting- so surreal to see it in real life!)

After spending a couple of hours at the gallery, I ran home to make some lunch. But before I got home I stopped at a coffee shop and had the biggest coffee I have ever drank! The photo does not do it justice!

When I got home I made a really yummy lunch, as you can see below! I have not been eating out much in Oslo, because it is sooooo expensive here! Lots of people move here to work and make money because the wages are quite high, but so are the living expenses! For example, a cup of coffee is about $10AUD, a beer is roughly $13AUD, and if you go out for dinner you are looking at around $40AUD for a meal.... Needless to say I have had to transfer some of the money I did not want to use until I got to the UK, but oh well! I will have to get a little job when I get there, which I think sounds cool anyway!

As I said, while Malin has been at work, I have been trying to keep myself busy by doing lots of exploring. Sometimes I go and visit Malin- she works in the prettiest little cafe!

Most of the days that Malin has had off work, we have both been hung over. But we have still been doing things! A couple of days ago we caught a train to the East Side, where we looked at a few shops and then had a coffee and some Thai food in the park!

This is a second-hand store we went to- it was really cool and had lots of stuff. I haven't been op-shopping much here though, because like everything else- it's too expensive!!

Apart from all this I have actually been enjoying having a couch to relax on! I don't mind when I am on my own because I can relax and take time out. It's funny what you learn about yourself when you travel on your own. I think the realisation I have had about myself is that I am not the free-spirited travelling gypsy that I wish I was...I MISS STRUCTURE AND ROUTINE!!! So strange...but I know the second I get back into routine at Uni I will wish I could go back to travelling around with no agenda besides flight times and hostel bookings! I guess I am a bit homesick... It's hard sometimes, and I feel a bit lonely. But for those times at least there has been HERMAN! Herman is Malin's brother's girlfriend's dog. He is a little fluff ball and is very cute. Obviously I have taken 10000's of photos of him....

He is cute...but I still miss my Milly so much! Mum has been sending me photos, which makes my day every time!

I miss her so much! Especially when I am hung over...like right now! I swear when I get to the UK I am not drinking for a month! People will just have to deal with that! I have been drinking for almost 2 months now and am pretty sick of it! But last night was probably the last time Malin and I could party here, because she has work every day until I leave now...It was a good night, well worth it...but right now I am pretty tired and hung over. But I slithered down to a smoothie shop across the road and bought this smoothie- It is acai berry and coconut with granola on top...AMAZING! 

My saviour right now!

Anyway...the smoothie is my only plan for today, and what a fine plan it is! I'm not sure what I am doing for my remaining week here. Malin and I were planning on going to Sweden for a couple of days, but I don't think it is going to work out. It is fine though because I am planning on coming back to see Malin in October, because a band we both love is playing. Maybe we will go to Sweden then!

Kräftskiva!!!!!

All week, since I got to Oslo, everyone I met with Malin would 

ask 'Are you coming on Sunday!?' When I first got here, Malin told me that we were going to something called Kräftskiva on Sunday, and that EVERYONE was going to be there. Throughout the week, I kind of pieced together what exactly it was that I was attending. Malin and I couldn't figure out the translation for the type of seafood we were going to eat, and at first I thought the tradition surrounded crayfish, but when I got to Kräftskiva, I saw that they were much smaller- more like Yabbies! Anyway, Kräftskiva is a Swedish tradition, but since there are so many Swedish people living in Oslo, it is also a big deal here. We went to an outside bar that Malin and I had visited a couple of times before, but this time it was decorated with lots of streamers and paper cut-outs of the 'Yabbies.' There were long tables set up and made to look really pretty, as well as a long food table covered with bread, crackers, cheese and sauces. We got there quite early, but before long the place was packed and everyone was drinking while waiting for the seafood to come out.

I didn't quite know how to peel the Yabbies...so I stuck to something I did know how to do- DRINK...a decision I would regret the next day!

Emelie, Malin and Me!

Yabbies? Mini crayfish? I am still not sure...

Well... this is how I looked when I was sober! Then came the Champagne!

I thought this fishermans hat went well with my lipstick!

Look at that GIANT bottle! No wonder I was drunk!

It was such a fun day! I had an awesome time... I drank too much, I ate too much... but it was definitely worth it! I am so happy I got to experience Kräftskiva!!!!! 

Oslo: Out and about

Admittedly, in the past few days while Emelie was here, we did not do a whole lot during the day time because we were hung over most days... and those who know me also know that I am a big sook when I am hung over and don't want to do anything! Luckily, Malin and Emelie didn't want to do much either...so it was good to enjoy some girly time watching movies and eating too much!

However, on one of the days we did do a bit of exploring. Emelie had never been to Oslo either, so Malin showed us around a bit. We walked around the city and saw some beautiful parks, the Royal Palace and the Oslo waterfront. It was all really beautiful- one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited, and by far the most unique. All the buildings are so old-fashioned, yet very trendy. The parks are gorgeous and everyone goes there to lay in the sun in their bikinis, because there is no beach nearby. I think I am going to do this while Malin is at work- because it looks so relaxing and is free! Haha!

Malin, being cute in the park

This statue is cute- but not as cute as the little boy climbing the stairs on the left!

Malin, with the palace guard in the palm of her hand!

Malin and I, enjoying some food because we are hung over :)

Emelie and I. So glad I got to meet and spend time with this girl! She is a very lovely person and it was good to have someone with me who also didn't really know anyone or anything about Oslo!

Me, being a tourist!

I have seen my fair share of street performers- especially after visiting Venice Beach in LA, but this guy was impressive! I almost couldn't watch him ride that thing!

A sneaky but good shot of Malin!

The parks...so beautiful!

I still have another 2 weeks here, and I am really looking forward to seeing as much as possible! Malin has work over the weekend, so we probably wont be drinking as much from now on- which is a good thing! I am all partied out! I want to go for more runs so that I feel better, but also because it is a good way to explore! So my plan for the next 2 weeks is to go for as many walks/explorations as possible- much easier on the liver and the wallet!

Oslo!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while- as I said in my last update, I had a very big weekend to attend to! Malin's cousin, Emelie, came to stay from Sweden- so Malin's apartment has been a little bit crowded and a bit of a party/hang-over house for the last few days! Emelie left this morning, which is sad because I really liked hanging out with her! But we definitely did a lot while she was here...partying, mainly! Which is why I am glad I got a few long walks and runs in before she got here and the partying began! 

One of the runs I went on led me to Vigeland Sculpture park. The park is the worlds largest sculpture park made by the same artist (which I later learnt from googling it- I couldn't read any of the signs or information in the actual park!) This is the best thing about going for big walks/runs- I never know what I will find!

I thought it was funny that this little bird was just sitting up there, enjoying the morning sun!

Later that day, when Malin had finished work, we went shopping! I did feel a little bit guilty about this because I need to save money (Oslo is MEGA expensive and is drying up my funds quickly) but I needed to buy some warmer clothes! It is still warm here but the nights are a little bit chilly, plus I will need some clothes for when it really starts getting cold! The shops here are really cool, and I promise that everything I bought was on sale...well, almost everything.

My last couple of days in the US, and my first couple of days in Oslo!

My last few days in America were a bit random! The original plan was to first meet up with Tom, and then we were going to go and meet Gabby and her boyfriend somewhere to go camping. But because it was the busy summer period, we struggled to find anywhere to go camping. I should have foreseen this because I was finding it difficult to even find hostel rooms to stay in- which is why I moved around so much in the last few days before meeting up with Tom. So in the end, it didn't work out with the camping plans, and I never got to meet up with Gabby again, which is a bit sad! But I am sure I will see her again soon, on either one of our travel adventures!

Instead of going camping, Tom and I drove to San Diego, where he grew up. I got to meet his Mum, which was really awesome, and I also go to meet Shakey, his little dog! I loved Shakey of course, and cuddling him reminded me of my beloved Millsumberg back at home (I miss her so much!).

I really liked San Diego, it has the best weather and is a really beautiful place- I can't wait to get back there. I am really happy I got to see where Tom grew up and it was nice to meet his Mum who was a very warm and welcoming person.

On the first day in San Diego, Tom and I went to the San Diego Zoo, which was a really cool experience! The Zoo was huge and had heaps of animals to see. It was open late, which was cool because we got to see the animals at night. It was also nice to ride the gondola when it was dark because we could see San Diego city all lit up in the distance. 

I think it is funny that I walked through the entire Zoo without taking any photos- except for the one of Tom in a 'plank' position on the escalator (as seen in the above photo)...way more interesting than any photos of monkeys or elephants I could have taken...?

The Zoo also sold alcohol, and after a few large beers, we were ready to go out! We met up with a couple of Tom's friends and went to a few pubs. I drank too much, as I usually do when I am with Tom, and can't remember too much of the night, besides the fact that I had fun!

The next morning, Tom and I were really hung over. After having breakfast with Tom's friends we went back to his Mum's house and had a huge sleep. We slept for too long though, and had to drive back to Hollywood really late. Tom was so tired and hung over that I made him stay at the hostel in Hollywood for the night. The next morning I had to say goodbye to Tom for the last time of the trip. It was hard to do, because this time I didn't know when I would see him again...but hopefully it won't be too long!!! I miss that boy already!

After he left, I had some time to kill before I got picked up to go to the airport...So I went to my favourite diner and had a big American-style vanilla milkshake with cream and a cherry on top! It was the most delicious thing I have ever had! Worth every calorie! ;)

I went to the airport with Daniel- the shuttle bus driver I had made friends with a couple of days before. Once again, we had some free time so we went and had lunch together, which was really nice.

Afterwards, Daniel dropped me to the airport... and the worst 24 hours of travelling of my life began!!! I have never liked planes or airports, but have never really been one to complain and usually just chill out and see it all as something that has to be done when travelling. But my trip from the US to Oslo was AWFUL! First I had to sit on a 10 hour flight to London, Heathrow. This was ok, besides the fact that I was seated next to three screaming toddlers, meaning that I had to watch movies the entire flight just so I wouldn't have to listen to them. This was annoying, but it didn't bother me too much. What DID bother me was my 7 hour stop-over in Heathrow airport. I was exhausted from not being able to sleep on the plane, there was nowhere comfortable for me to sleep, the airport was packed and it was hard to find a seat, and WORST OF ALL...no free wifi provided. WHAT THE HELL!??!? It's Heathrow airport! One of the biggest airports in the world! I just couldn't believe that there was no wifi! After about 4 hours I gave in and ended up paying for some, just because I was so bored.

The only good thing about Heathrow Airport- a giant phone advertisement displaying Yoda 

When I finally arrived in Oslo, I was delirious! I can hardly remember what I did when I got to the airport, but somehow I caught a train to somewhere and finally met up with Malin! I remember seeing her and feeling so relieved! I have not seen her in 3 years- since the Bali trip where I first met her! After quickly going to get some food, we went back to her apartment. I must have got a little bit of adrenaline in the excitement of seeing Malin, because I managed to stay up talking with her for a couple of hours. After that I slept all night, woke up at 10:00am to go to the shops with Malin before she went to work, and then decided I would have a little nap to make myself feel better. 7 hours later I woke up! I spent my entire first day of Oslo in bed! This made me feel a bit guilty, but I obviously needed the sleep! Plus, I have 3 weeks here, so plenty of time to make up for it! When I did finally leave the house, I went to find Malin at her work. She works at the most amazing cafe, which is also a florist so it looks really pretty. I cant pronounce what the cafe is called- but here is the business card!

The next day, I was able to get up at a reasonable time. I went for a long run, did some exploring, bought some groceries and made a salad. It is verrrrryyy expensive here- I bought salad ingredients, 6 eggs, some green tea, some oats and a half-loaf of bread and it cost me $65 Australian...EEEK! Looks like I will definitely need to get a little job by the time I get to the UK! I didn't mind spending money on groceries though, it felt good to make some food in a kitchen and not have to eat out. It also felt amazing to go for a run- something I hadn't done for a week or so.

Malin's neighbourhood- Frognerveiem- SO PRETTY!

A little school-outing of kids- every single one of them had blonde hair! I'm going to blend right in here in Oslo!

I am so excited to be here- and even more excited to spend time with Malin! We have a big weekend planned so I'm sure I will have a lot to post by Monday! :) Bye for now!