Ski Lifts

If skiing is an experience, I would say first time on different ski lifts are nothing less. There are several types of them which could surprise in many different ways sometimes pleasant and sometimes not so. However, they are wonderful experiences which could be cherished and brings back a smile when reflected upon.

You will experience a wide range of physical and mental phenomenon ranging from being relaxed, panting heavily, high pulse rates, stiff and painful arms and feet, blissful viewing the snow clad pine trees, entertained by a adventurous skier, etc. If you think that tumbling down the slope is more embarrassing than to ski down in a ugly and clumsy way. I would say there is nothing to be embarrassed about tumbling down the lift as its equally difficult for the first few times. :)

My experiences with ski lifts mentioned here don’t necessary order the lifts in the order of difficulty, as it is very relative and differ from person to person.

T-lifts: These are very tricky ones, as a first timer its quiet tempting to sit on the T-bar, soon to realize that you are tangled and immobilized and the lift is stopped for a while to clear the debris :) (Skiis, Poles, Hat etc). One positive thing about sitting on them is, you do it right at the beginning and the lift man is there is to help you. Now that you learnt your first lesson, you manage to go up holding the bar so tight as if it decides life and death. The stress is even more if there is another person on the same T bar (Its designed for 2 people), as you have to have more control on those veering skis, not to come in line of the person next to you.

Button-lifts with rope: These are definitely in view are the friendliest lifts. There is a sort of equilibrium and you are the master of things, well most of the times. As long as the button is exerting a force on your bums you are happy, suddenly there could be flat surface, and when you feel that the button is off your body, while actually it is not and you panic and the inevitable will happen. After a few times on these lifts they are your best friends. These are the best ones when the lift stops (probably some one tried sitting on the button and tripped off) half way at a steep point on the slope, as you can hang at an angle to the slope and stare at blue skies happily.

Button-lifts with spring: By now you might have concluded that button lifts are cool and don’t have to expect the unexpected. But there is another variant of this; they look pretty much the same and even friendlier as the bars are waiting patiently for you, unlike the button-lift with a rope which is always on the move. So you tend to be little casual in getting them between you legs, and there comes Spanking on the bums!!! It starts off with a sudden force and shoots up. Yes, for the first timer that’s a shock, but if you survive, the rest of the ride is smooth.

Chair-lifts: These lifts are all about getting on and off, leave the closing and opening of the safety bar to the others. You have to wait for your turn patiently and if you don’t and miscalculate the radius of curvature of the oncoming lift or mistimed, you will get run over by it. While sitting on lift occupy only one seat if you land up in between two seats, pray that handle of the safety bar does not hit the thighs. Though there is an advantage that you get a longer rod to rest your skis its not worth it. Once you are up in the lift sit back and enjoy the view of the hills and the skiers criss-crossing the slope. Getting off is same technique, right timing and moving quickly out from the chair. This is no place for an elevator pitch.

Conveyer-lift: These are found on the bunny-slopes and have to just stand them and rest is taken care-off. Very rarely if there is a lot of snow on the belt you slide a bit backwards, but no damage done just make you little nervous.

Bunny-Slope lift: Don’t know the official name of this lift, but they are for tiny-tots, which means its low lying and a plastic stick to hold on to, pretty much safe, but very tiring to hold on to the plastic stick.

In all these lifts, there is one common problem which is your poles. Half the problem is resolved if you are not clumsy with them. Happy Skiing !!!!!!!! J

Ski Lifts

Stockholm Syndrome

The New Year had just arrived and not even a week had passed by, and my phones, wallet, and jacket stolen from the gym locker. What a wonderful start. But what’s important is, when the police read through the usual questionnaire to me, while lodging the complaint, one of which read ‘Do you wish the person who stole your articles punished?’ I answered ‘No’. That answer came without a second thought in mind. For person who always wanted the guilty to be punished (Though I am always against capital punishment) to bring order in the society, it’s a sure change in the way of thinking.

May be I thought these petty thefts are no big deal, while looking at the bigger crimes that happen around the world? Am I disillusioned with the fact that punishments can be deterrent for potential wrong doers? Am I influenced by the media and human rights groups who oppose the death sentences of drug trafficker and woman accused of adultery in certain countries? Yeah, but a combination of many such things might have had an effect. It’s obvious that in some societies punishments are seen as a deterrent and in some it’s to rehab the convict. Both of them has its pros and cons and debatable.

Whatever it is ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ has certainly struck me. J This was not the first time, but there was a genuine case when I felt sorry for the thief, who stole my 5 year old shoes in a pathetic state, at the skating rink, which I am sure is shear misjudgment by the thief. Probably he would have given up stealing after looking at this catch. J

However, I am recovering quiet well from the loses, which helped in thinning down my wallet by getting rid off those unused bank cards, those old business cards, few receipts that got stuffed in to the wallet for several years and a telephone with a blank phonebook, which will help me get in touch with friends out of touch and new jacket. J

Stockholm Syndrome

Waiting....

Undoubtedly the most mind numbing thing to do is to wait for few hours at an airport before the flight. There are a few ways to get away with this agony. ‘Grab a Beer’ is the most common one! I could understand why a beer is priced so high in the airports because that’s an easier and old fashioned way to kill time but not the best way. Have you arrived early at the Airport, to start with leave some liquids in the hand baggage to be detected by the X-ray machine, which will give the airport security to get on to his job while he/she ransacks your hand baggage. You can stand there with a dumb face till the whole thing ends. If one don’t mind getting frisked leave your apartment key in your pocket, this could help with couple of minutes. Then its the duty free section! Go around till you get dizzy due to a cocktail of fragrances in the air from the test perfume bottles and tipsy gazing at the liquors. Hmm!! Another few more of minutes lost. Now it is time to look for your gate. You don’t have to be selfish by looking for only your flight. But can look for other flights and destinations, airlines flying to destinations, check if they are on time, if not sympathize for others. More importantly this improves ones geography knowledge. Long automatic walkways are another good way to kill time. Just stand on them which moves at snails pace. Don't be bothered about that brisk old lady who walks past you, thinking what a lazy bum you are? All this is not enough, when you have found the gate and reached there before an hour. There will be few people conducting surveys, smile at them to get their attention, answer a few silly questions. (They can have some interesting ones every time, I answered the same one twice). Now select a random person and start hating him/her for whatever reason, believe me it’s so easy to hate random person. If you have recently watched a crime/thriller flick image yourself to be a sleuth, secretly observing a terror suspect, while your mind voice asking “What has he got in his bag? Why is he moving around suspiciously” “Why is he going to the wash room quite often!!!”

Now if nothing is enough, ‘Grab a Beer’ J

Waiting....

Walrus

Far in the middle of the sea, from the captain’s deck we saw dark brown dirt like thing on a sheet ice which is about the size of table tennis board. As we got closer and viewed through the binoculars, found that it was a big fat Walrus. The captain of the boat slowed down and moved the boat towards him to have a good look. By now he understood and might be telling to himself, “Oh! These touristy fools will start coming in these boats from now on, as the summer time has started”. He quietly watched the boat coming towards him with no curiosity and no panic. He was enjoying the cold day and just landed on the sheet of the ice to get a breather and relax. Of course enjoying all the attention from the tourists. I think the sea ice to the Walrus is what sauna to the humans. He posed for the people on the boat with the binoculars, cameras till the boat was at a safe distance. And then he realized that boat is infringing his personal space, he rolled himself over his belly, moving his huge fatty body and splashed in to the cold water. It was one of the coolest things I have seen and many who were on the boat.

Location: On board Langøysund, on the way to Esmark glacier heading to Barentsburg-Russian settlement, Svalbard.

Walrus

Preikestolen

I woke up at 7:00 on a Saturday morning, which was early by any standards. The weather forecast was fantastic and I peeped outside pulling apart the window blinds to see the sun shining and blue sky. I told myself, today is the right day to go hiking to Preikestolen. I knew that I had to take ferry to Tau and then a bus to the Preikestolen parking, I was not aware of the timings and also if the buses were operated between Tau and Preskeistolen Base, as its not the peak season yet.

I reached Fiskepirterminalen to try my luck and was informed that there was a ferry at 9:30 which had the connecting bus to the base. I had got 90 minutes to take that ferry, it was only 8:00 then. To while away time, I just went around the port and finished a chocolate muffin that I carried. It was a sunny day I was sure there will be quite few like me who would be heading to Preikestolen. There were a couple of Asian guys who were typically in hiking attire, sun glasses, outdoor wear, and huge SLRs, where else can they go other than Preikestolen? Then came a tall guy with an one and half inch length beard and looked like a hiker as well. I was not looking so much like a hiker, as I was in jeans, t-shirt and a laptop bag. At about 8:30 a ferry arrived at the dock to Tau. I saw the Asian guys rushing to the ferry, I decided I will take the ferry to Tau and wait at Tau for an hour to take the bus. I started a conversation with the beard guy and he confirmed that the ferry goes to Tau and I told him I was heading to Preikestolen. Meanwhile a girl came in who also looked like a preikestolener. J She looked caught up in a decision to make, who to ask for directions, a group consisting a South Asian and thick bearded shabby guy or couple of guys who looked more touristy. She decided with the Asian guys. J. Not being a racist here, just stereotyping. :) We boarded the ferry and I was still wanted to check if there was any bus other than the connecting bus at 11:30.

I asked a middle aged couple, if they knew of any bus to Preikestolen Base from Tau, they had a little discussion in a feeble voice which I decided to ignore considering their privacy. After the conversation, they said they can give me a ride to till Preikestolen and gleefully accepted the offer and they saw me with the beard guy and I reserved a place for the beard guy as well. The ferry is already in the move, and me and beard guy started a conversation. I came to know that he is a student in the Stavanger University and passionate hiker from Romania. On the way to Tau, he showed me most of the Islands and said he has been on them. When we reached Tau, I told him the couple offered us a ride to Preikestolen, He said he is not going to Preikestolen but going to explore some other parts of Tau. He said he has been there few times and does not like the marked trails.

So it was me and the couple, we headed to Preikestolen in their Volkswagen. The journey was about 25Km from Tau. And at around 9:45 we reached the Parking place at the base. They said I can join them while hiking and I can join them on the way back. At around 10:00 we started to hike and they both were pretty fast and disappeared in few minutes. The information board at the parking place showed that the hike is about 3.8Km and terrain varied across the whole trail. The total displacement in altitude is about 600meters. Initial part of the hike was over a long stretch of big boulders and then through a short valley. It was demanding at short stretches and easy over some parts. Overall it was easily doable. On the way I refilled my half liter bottle with water from a small stream. This is something I learnt from the Kjerag hike where I carried a 1.5liter water bottle and made my backpack pretty heavy. I realised that I don't need a lot of water, like in the tropical climate. The trees in the woods haven’t got their leaves completely as it just early May. That was a really good as it was really bright and warm due to the sun rays.

It was only 10:30 and I saw a lot of people already coming down after hiking, while hiking you were never alone and will receive a warm smile and a ‘Hi’ from most of the people as we knew that we are there for the same purpose. And the easiest word that one can say while panting heavily through their mouth is ‘Hi’. J

At about half way to the pulpit rock there are a couple of small water bodies, it could also be called as lakes. Needless to say it looked really beautiful. Close to the rock, there were some wooden bridges and barricades looking over the cliff. It gives a scary feeling when you realize that next piece of rock under the wooden log is few hundred meters below. A small almost flat path leads to the Pulpit rock and you can see the steep edge and I already started feeling funny in my tummy. The view of the Lysefjord was terrific from here, with dark blue still water.

I met the couple there said hello they took 1 hours to reach here and then I looked at my mobile phone, I took almost 1 hour fifteen minutes. The guy helped me take couple of pictures of mine. I slowly crept in to the edge of the cliff to see the water down and the few birds flying below me. It looked fantastic. After a few minutes the couple decided to start hike down, they were kind and nice and once again reminded me about the ride back. I gratefully accepted the offer and told them if I catch up with them I will join them. There is a trail from the pulpit rock which takes you to the hill on the right hand side. I just climbed a few meters to have good view of the pulpit rock. I then ate the bananas I had and started the decent. The decent was quite fast and made use of the gravity quite well. J Half way down I saw the girl who I saw at Stavanger port, she was with a group and recognized me as well. Further way down I met a colleague of mine and stopped by, to have little chat and further way down almost got bitten by a dog, before the master pulled him away from me. J

It took little less than 1 hour on the way down, and as I was strolling close to the parking place I saw the lady smiling at me from the VW and they stopped by me. I felt I was so lucky on that moment and we reached the Tau port right in time to take the ferry back to Stavanger. On the top deck we had some discussions about work, Norway, Australia, Cricket and reached Stavanger at around 14:15. I said good bye and thanks to them and started walking back to the apartment, fully satisfied about the trip visiting the landmark of Stavanger or even Norway itself.

Preikestolen

Greece- My impressions

My impressions about Greece during my week long trip is mostly based on the perception about Europe after living for almost 2 years in the Nordics, it was a truly amazing country. The buildings in cities Thessaloniki, Athens looks very different from the cities of Europe, they do lack the character, but I understand it’s designed for the Greek climate. Old parts of the Athens city is truly charming. Churches in Greece look very different and beautiful ( I don’t understand much of architecture but they are not gothic, Romanesque or Renaissance J ) and not massive. Every residential building has a long balcony running all around the building. Traffic is chaotic when compared to Nordics and drivers are really skilled. As a pedestrian you need to take care of yourself. Public transport is effective. Every second person in the city seems to smoke and smoke everywhere, only place where people were not allowed to smoke in my whole trip was in the flights and Athens Metro. Small traders holding meat shops and general stores are common, unlike big super markets in other parts of Europe. Bakeries and Takeaways have some interesting and affordable things to munch. Pirated DVDs are sold and bought everywhere. Food and drinks are amazingly tasty stuff, Greeks eat some tasty food no doubt about it. Country has a history of over 2500 years and everything you see has an interesting story from the past. People are full of energy and dynamic and at the same time laid back. Most of the youngsters speak English and most of the middle aged and old people don’t. Whoever it is they are more than willing to help you. People in the tourism industry (shops, restaurants, guides etc) are well matured; they try to sell things without being pushy. I loved this as it will be really boring to walk across a touristy place, without having a feeling of tourist. Santorini islands are beautiful due its unique landscape and cube houses and clear waters of the Mediterranean. The blue dome churches and white washed houses with doors and windows in blue make Santorini look like a fairly tale down.

Fell in love with Greece...

Greece- My impressions

Dalsnuten

Dalsnuten is hill close to Sandnes, at an altitude of around 350 meters MSI. It’s a great place for an unplanned getaway from Stavanger or Sandnes for hiking, which is suitable for all age groups and fitness levels. To get there from Stavanger, take a bus or train to Sandnes, then take a bus route 18 to Gramstad. Bus timings could be found at www.kolumbus.no. From Gramstad take Fjogstadveien and walk along the asphalt road, till you reach a big parking area, this will take about 15-20 minutes from Gramstad bus stop. The hiking trail starts from the Parking area. The trail is marked with symbol ‘T’ painted in red. Initial part is through some swamp areas and fields and there is climb on to the rocky hill. It is not required for any special clothing except a spring jacket as it gets a bit windy at the top. The climb will take around 30-45 minutes. At the top there is a cairn which marks the summit and a binocular, to view the towns Sandnes and Stavanger. There are 2 different views that one can enjoy from the heights of Dalsnuten, one in the direction of the town with sea and the boats which leave a trail behind them like the comets. The another view is the direction in which you climbed, looking over the patches of pine trees, small water bodies and hills in the surroundings. On the way back you can take a different path, with leads to the other side of the lake on the foot hills of Dalnuten. It is worth spending some time by the side of the lake and grabs a little snack before heading to the parking area or to Gramstad to take the bus back to Sandnes.

Dalsnuten