In June 2012, I set out on to explore Scandinavia: 5 countries, 8 cities, and a countless numbers of boat rides and road trips. I ate strange foods, hiked mountains and glaciers, and met up with friends old and new. This post is from part of that trip. 

Bergen is a little city with a big, warm personality. In my three days here, I have met such friendly locals, from the front-desk staff at my hotel, to street vendors, to strangers on the street. People here also have an active and outdoor lifestyle that’s hard to miss. Walking around town, I encountered hikers and runners at every turn.

With mild coast weather, welcoming people, an active lifestyle, and an abundance of seafood, it’s hard to leave this comfortable town.

In June 2012, I set out on to explore Scandinavia: 5 countries, 8 cities, and a countless numbers of boat rides and road trips. I ate strange foods, hiked mountains and glaciers, and met up with friends old and new. 

After an afternoon of train rides through Norway’s fjords, I arrived in Bergen to find the sun glistening on the water. Bergen, a small town on the west coast of Norway, is a fish lover’s dream. Salmon, halibut, and king crabs are all local to this part of Norway. For my first meal in town, I splurged at a local restaurant where I had delicious sushi. In Scandinavia, there is a tradition of eating sweet sauces with the meat. Even with sushi, my halibut was paired with raspberries.

In June 2012, I set out on to explore Scandinavia: 5 countries, 8 cities, and a countless numbers of boat rides and road trips. I ate strange foods, hiked mountains and glaciers, and met up with friends old and new. You can read more of my trip through the Nordic here. 

There is a great Norway trip - Norway in a Nutshell - that is handy for visitors travelling between Oslo and Bergen. The trip combines Norway's scenic countryside with its largest fjords to provide visitors an authentic Norwegian experience. Recently, I found myself among those travellers and decided to join the Nutshell trip. My friends L and G, who live in Oslo did part of the trip with me, road tripping through 4 hours of scenic Norwegian inlands.

They say that you have not seen the real Norway until you have been to the fjords. The Norway Sognefjord, the second largest fjord in the world, is a beautiful sight. I spent two nights there, sleeping in little towns along the way. In these towns, I felt the warm hospitality of local Norwegians. After hearing that my friends and I have never had Smalahove, a traditional western Norwegian dish made from sheep's head, the lady working at our hotel actually made two sheep heads for us to try. Eating half a sheep's head myself, and washing it down with Norwegian beer and traditional spirits, is a meal I will never forget.

In June 2012, I set out on to explore Scandinavia: 5 countries, 8 cities, and a countless numbers of boat rides and road trips. I ate strange foods, hiked mountains and glaciers, and met up with friends old and new. 

My recent road trip in Norway was probably the most scenic road trip I have ever been on. Oslo and Bergen were both sleek and beautiful, but I can't say I felt anything for Norway until the drive through Norway's inlands. Every time I look at these photos, I can still hear the cool breeze of that summer day whispering my name.

In June 2012, I set out on to explore Scandinavia: 5 countries, 8 cities, and a countless numbers of boat rides and road trips. I ate strange foods, hiked mountains and glaciers, and met up with friends old and new. 

Someone once told me that a photographer is a professional people watcher. I think that a good people watcher also makes a good traveler.

In 2010, during my first 4 months of serious traveling, I spent a lot of time in museums, cathedrals, and art galleries. I toured in haste, like most other travelers on a set schedule. Those months tired me out. While I had been to a lot of places, I felt that I saw very little. When I decided combined my methods as a photographer with my ways as a traveler, I happily traded busy sightseeing for people watching. I finally realized that the best way to understand a place is to observe its people.

While in Oslo, I made sure to document little details as well as obvious tourist sights. Just when I thought I had seen enough of Norway’s capital, seeing Oslo as a photographer allowed me to uncover more of the city’s quarks and beauties.

In June 2012, I set out on to explore Scandinavia: 5 countries, 8 cities, and a countless numbers of boat rides and road trips. I ate strange foods, hiked mountains and glaciers, and met up with friends old and new. 

The first stop on my great Scandinavia trip is the Norwegian capital, Oslo. The city is, in one word, sleek. With its nice blend of modern and medieval architecture, Oslo felt very young and hip. I immediately eased into the laidback atmosphere of coffee breaks, welcoming smiles, and slow paces.

Despite this being my first time in Oslo, I knew my way around the city immediately. The entire capital felt unusually familiar to me. After a year away from Europe, it was as if the continent was saying “Welcome Back”.