Picking wild fall berries in Norwegian Woods

posted on 30th September 2009 under Fall, Food, Habits, Nature

Gathering wild berries in Norway is a traditional fall family activity. Nothing is like fresh berries – most of them naturally sweet and requires little effort to prepare; just rinse them under water and serve for a nutritious snack or dessert. In the Norwegian woods and mountains you’ll find wild cranberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries and even cloudberries. My favourites are blueberries and lingonberries, probably because they are easy to find where I grew up (South East of Norway) and our family trips out in the nature to pick and this brings up the greatest memory. From a very young age, my parents would take my sister and I out for a hiking trip in the fall on Sunday afternoons and we used to crawl around the forest floor and eat the berries right from the bush. I still get that feeling when out in the woods:

_{Left: RennyBA picking lingonberries – Right: DianeCA picking blueberries.}

Berries are of course full of vitamins, calcium, magnesium, foliate, potassium and even photochemical as well as flavonoids that may help to prevent some forms of cancer and prevent bladder infections. The pigments that give berries their beautiful blue and red hues are also good for your health and gathering them out in the nature is definitely good for your soul. My gratitude goes to my parents who taught me how to enjoy being outdoors and appreciate these recreational moments. Other than enjoying the fauna, getting close to the animals is a way of “charging your batteries” as well I think:


Another good childhood memory is how we prepared the berries when we came home after our hikes on Sunday afternoons in the fall. It might have been a bit chilly, outside for the whole day, and my mom always served a special for dessert with the days harvest. My favourite was and still is Troll Cream:

It’s made from lingonberries, sugar and whipped egg whites and my Mom’s always added a dash of vanilla to the recipe. For those who are not familiar with Norwegian Trolls, member the race of fearsome creatures from Norse mythology: Read my post “Norwegian Troll as Oddly Ghost”

Before I end my post on why I love being out in the nature, enjoying the fauna, the animals and gathering fresh berries, let me give you another idea of how to serve them in the Norwegian way:

_{Waffles with goat cheese, raspberry jam and fresh blueberries on cream fresh.}

Nothing tastes as delicious as freshly picked berries eaten the same day as you have been out in the woods and gathered them. They are full of sweetness and a vitamin bomb for the body too. Do you remember doing something similar when you were a child, or even today? What are your good fall memories? Share them with us and get the discussion going! It’s amazing how much we all have in common.

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Adventures of a globetrotter in Oslo Norway

posted on 26th September 2009 under Culture, History, Nature, Travel Norway

Historical, cultural, architectural and even culinary adventures are easy to find in Oslo, the capital of Norway. It’s small and compact; perfect for a short visit and easy to combine both urban and natural experiences. Located at the head of the Oslo Fjord, surrounded by forested hills most everything is available within a distance of 30 minutes with public transportation.
I had a chance to prove that this week when I had a globetrotter visiting from Singapore. He had found my post: Catch of the day – Fish Market in Oslo and commented:

“Thanks for your informative post (I realise I’m replying 2 years later) – I’ll be visiting Oslo next week, flying in from sunny Singapore, and I’m keen to see the ‘daily catch’ coming into shore. I have always wanted to visit and I hope it is not too cold, but pleasant. I’m really looking forward to visiting your lovely country with its fresh seafood!” You may also read his planning from the trip by clicking here!

I took his word for it and asked him to contact me to give me a chance to a guided tour. He came by the express train from the airport (25 minute trip) and I met him at the central station where we walked through the heart of Oslo: Karl Johan – the Pedestrian Street. Here is a glance at our adventures:

The New Oslo Opera House:

Opened in 2008, it’s the largest single cultural-political initiative in contemporary Norway and the only Opera House in the world where you can walk on the roof. Those who haven’t, read my earlier posts for further details: Recreational Culture for the People and New Oslo Opera House in Norway.

Karl Johan in a nut shell:
Walking from the central station and the opera house, it takes you 30 minutes to reach the Royal Palace on the opposite end of Karl Johan. Among other things you’ll pass Oslo Cathedral, The parliament, Grand Hotel, The National Theatre and the Old University – houses and architectures from the 16th, 17th and 18th century – all with significant impact on the Norwegian history:

_{The National Theatre – opened in 1899.}

Knowing Karl Johan by heart, it’s always easy to navigate in Oslo. Most everything else in the central city is reachable by foot in 30 minutes. So if you get lost: Just ask for Karl Johan (most Norwegian speaks English and even German or French) and you’re back on track again.
We ended the evening with a culinary feast, trying some Norwegian cuisine at Oslo Old City Hall (build in 1641):

<sub>Notice the old interior in The Old City Hall.

Left, starter: smoked trout – Right: main course: roasted reindeer.</sub>

The Singaporean globetrotter on his own:
The day after, he walked to the harbour (5 min. from Karl Johan) and bought shrimp at the fish market. Peeling and eating the newly caught, fresh boiled shrimp was the best breakfast he had ever had, he told me
From the harbour he took the ferry on the Oslo Fjord to Bygdøy Island and explored the Maritime as well as the Viking Ships and the Folk Museum.

Vigeland Sculpture Park:
In the afternoon I took him to Vigeland Park (15 min. by tram from Karl Johan). The unique sculpture park – the largest made by one single artist in the world – is Gustav Vigeland‘s lifework with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron:

<sub>At the sculpture of The Angry Boy (see my blogs header!)

Left: overview from the Monolith – Right: my favourite sculpture.</sub>

Holmenkollen – At the top of Oslo:
40 min. by metro and tram – about 500 meters above sea level. There up in the mountain and into the forest, you’ll find the famous ski jump and a nice restaurant with a panoramic view of Oslo City and the Fjord:

_{Holmenkollen Restaurant}
Passing by a stand, Mr. Singaporian the Globetrotter even got the chance to try the most Norwegian: “Pølse i lompe” (sausage of boiled all-pork wiener in potato tortilla):


Norway’s modest center – Aker Brygge
You’ll find this former shipyard area in Oslo harbour, right next to the City Hall and across from Akerhus Fortress (5 min. walk from Karl Johan). Today it’s Norway’s financial center, with lots of shops, restaurants, bars and pubs available. We ended up at D/S Louise:

<sub>My wife DianeCA joined us for dinner in the evening.

Left, starter: Wine steamed blue mussels, julienne vegetables and cream – Right: main course: Roasted monk-fish.</sub>

The third day, he walked around all by himself as he now is well acquainted with Oslo. One of the highlights he reported was at a fish delicatessen where he saw newly caught cod, mackerel, salmon, catfish, monk-fish etc. – and even got a taste of herrings. He brought home some smoked Norwegian Salmon.

Like I’ve said before: Who is next for a round trip in Oslo with me? As a network evangelist: I’m always up for more. If I manage to organize a Blog Gathering in August next year: Would you like to come?

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A guided tour in Oslo with Dion Hinchcliffe

posted on 21st September 2009 under Culture, Food, History, Nature, Travel Norway

Since Dion Hinchcliffe, an Enterprise & Web 2.0 and a blog Guru is in Oslo, we gave him a guided tour. Dion is invited by The Norwegian Computer Society (NCS) and Bouvet (Consultant Company) as a key note speaker on our conference about “Collaboration and Innovation; the Wiki Way). It was Åsmund Mæhle (a EUCIP Professional Business Analyst) at Bouvet – a colleague in NCS and the conference’s program comity – who suggested this tour since he is a regular reader of my blog and red a lot of my Oslo posts. I was thrilled about the idea of course, as I love to show highlights from the capital of Norway to new visitors and I gladly share the trip with you:

The New Oslo Opera House:

First stop was the opera house; The construction – designed by the acknowledged Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta – is the largest single cultural-political initiative in contemporary Norway. It took five years to build and the cost was about 500 million Euros. The result is an extraordinary building that rises directly from beneath the fjord. Founded by the government, the idea was to bring opera and ballet to the people and it’s the only opera house where you can walk on the roof.

You’re welcome to read my earlier posts for further details: Recreational Culture for the People and New Oslo Opera House in Norway.

When we was there a fitness centre had an open invitation program on the roof:

_{Left: Dione – Right: Åsmund}

Vigeland Sculpture Park:
As a part of The Frogner Park it covers 80 acres (320,000 m2) and features 212 bronze and granite sculptures created by Gustav Vigeland. He personally sculpted every figure out of clay and individual craftsmen were contracted to fabricate the pieces into what they are today. He describes peoples natural feelings in every detail as they coddles together in varies life time situations. So alive, yet in bronze, they are expressively inspiring the soul of mankind:

_{Dion, Renny and Åsmund at the Angry Boy statue.}
This statue is the most photographed object by tourists in Norway – also check out the header of my blog It says you can have stimulating conversations on a golf curse. I would say Vigeland Parks invites in the same kind of atmosphere and we all had a jolly good time – getting to know Dion – while walking around.

Your welcome to read my earlier post from this park for further details: Vigeland Park – not quite as erotic as you might think.

Frogneseteren Restaurant:
On top of Holmenkollen (Oslo’s Beverly Hills) 435 meter (1427 feet) above sea level and 20 min from the city center, you find this wonderful viewpoint of the city and Oslo Fjord. It’s a timber building (log cabin) from 1891 with a romantic touch and bond with a fireplace in several of the rooms. I’m sorry the weather wasn’t cooperating – rain and fog – but here you get a glance of us and the building:

At that time we where accompanied by some more from the program comity and colleagues of Åsmund from Bouvet. The menu in the restaurant is based on traditional Norwegian cuisine and we had a jolly good time – discussing Social Media, Web 2.0 and next-gen business at the table:


Dion was eager to try Norwegian food, so here is what we had (sorry I forgot to take a pic of the main course before I had a bite or too ):

_{Left – main course: Roasted Moose – Right – dessert: Cloud berries.}

You’re welcome to see more from Oslo’s hills and the famous ski jump on my earlier post: Holmenkollen, a cultural high point in Oslo.

So who is next for a round trip in Oslo with me? As a network evangelist: I’m always up for more. If I manage to organize a Blog Gathering in August next year: Would you like to come?

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Outdoor recreation on Oslo Fjord islands

posted on 19th September 2009 under Food, Habits, Summer

From the harbour of the capital of Norway, The Oslo Fjord, you find the most popular recreation area. The fjord is a long gem, 100 km between Færder lighthouse to Oslo, and it is encircled by the country’s most densely populated area. In the summer the fjord comes to life and my wife DianeCA and I often go to our favourite little island for a swim, some tanning and sometimes a little picnic. With my Nokia N82 at hand, I captured one of this quality times with my wife this summer and you’re welcome to join our BBQ feast:

_{Grilled chicken with salad and dressing.}

This island, Kalvøya (Calf Island) is just 20 minutes from Oslo center by public transportation. Even in this densely populated area in Norway (Oslo: 0.5 mil.), you can find your own, quiet little spot along the fjord to enjoy the tranquillity and fresh air. You’ll also find beaches – sometimes a bit overcrowded to my taste – or less crowded like the nude beach . Her we found our own little bathing spot and after a relaxing swim, my wife packed out the food for a BBQ and I was the chef:


Norwegians have a close relationship with boating, and this is evident in the Oslo fjord. In the summer there are boats of all sizes on the fjord, and it is possible to go kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and sailing if you wish to enjoy the outdoors! This is the view from our cook out that day – to me this is by all means; recreational:


There is a flourishing animal life on this island with a lot of birds, some more intrusive than others. Here are some seagulls enjoying some of our leftovers:


I just love to be out in the nature, not only in the summer time, but in all four seasons. It’s a way to charge your batteries, to find inspiration and get away from the stressful, urban life. In Oslo, it’s just outside your doorstep you know. As I’ve reported before, this island is recreational in all seasons – have a look:
-> From frozen Paradise to hot summer beaches in Oslo Norway
-> Frozen Paradise

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RennyBAs Terella listed on Top Norway Blogs

posted on 17th September 2009 under Habits

Writing mostly about Norway; our Culture, Traditions and Habits, it’s an honour to be listed on The Daily Reviewer’s Top 100 Blog category Norway. Here is the official Award:

RennyBA’s Terella

Top norway blogs

It was Angelina Mizaki, Selection Committee President at The Daily Reviewer who announced this in a comment on my blog:
“Congratulations! Your readers have submitted and voted for your blog at The Daily Reviewer. We compiled an exclusive list of the Top 100 Norway Blogs, and we are glad to let you know that your blog was included!”

Some might call a post about this bragging. To me an Award like this is an inspiration and encouragement to keep on sharing about my daily life in Norway and the Nordic countries as well as my travels around the world.

Blogging Connecting People:
My regular readers have read this saying of mine many times – and further; Brake down cultural, religious and other barriers. Sharing and visiting others in the Blogsphere from all around the world, builds friendships and develops knowledge about others people and their way of living.

Meeting other bloggers:
Further more; Blogging and other Social Media, makes people want to meet their friends made in Blogsphere in person. This summer my wife and I had the privilege of visiting our blog friend Claudie in Provence, France. Next week, I’m going to meet a gentleman from Singapore who travels a lot and became interested in Norway while finding my blog post ‘Fish market in Oslo” through a Google search. This inspires me by showing that blogging is a new channel for tourism. This is part of the reason I’m working on creating a Blog Gathering in Oslo in August next year. So that many of you will have an opportunity to come and experience some of the places you’ve seen in my posts!

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