posted on 11th December 2011 under History, Tradition
The Peace prize 2011 awarded by the Nobel Committee in Norway was to be divided in three equal parts between Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman. This important yearly event is of course to be mentioned here since my blog is about Norway: our history, culture and traditions and also since I often talk about how Social Media empowering people. This time we’re talking about empowering women – to get a better world – and I gladly support that. This year I really liked the Nobel Committee’s reason: “For their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work. We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society”. Let’s hope it will help to bring an end to the suppression of women that still occurs in many countries, and to realize the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent.
Karman of Yemen, Leymah Gbowee and Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (Photo: John McConnico/AP)
To recognize women rights activistsa:
Karman – at 32, the first Arab woman and the youngest peace laureate ever – is a journalist and member of the Islamic party Islah. She also heads the human rights group Women Journalists without Chains. The prize is also recognized the Arab Spring movement championed by often anonymous activists from Tunisia to Syria.
Sirleaf is widely credited with helping her country emerge from an especially brutal civil war. She was elected president of Liberia in 2005 and won re-election in October this year.
Gbowee challenging Liberia’s warlords, long campaigned for the rights of women and against rape. In 2003, she led hundreds of female protesters through Monrovia to demand swift disarmament of fighters, who continued to prey on women, despite a peace deal that should have ended the 14-year civil war.
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posted on 4th December 2011 under Fall, Habits, Nature
In addition to museums, Bygdøy peninsula on the Oslo Fjord in Norway is a residential, but also a popular recreational area on the western side of Oslo. It’s one of Norway’s oldest cultural landscapes with a rich history and has many beautiful parks and forests as well as some of Oslo’s most popular beaches – including the Huk ordinary and nudist beach.
Surprising for the beauty of its nature and tranquility, Bygdøy is also home to major museums, including the Norwegian Folk Museum, Viking Ship Museum, Fram Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum and many others. Bygdøy offers various beaches, a beach volleyball court and a restaurant at beach Huk and there are several beautiful trails for cycling and walking – with a breath taking view of the Oslo Fjord:
The Golden Beauty of Fall:
Some weeks ago, still recovering from my knee operation, my wife and I shared another quality time here – photo hunting for the golden beauty of fall. Well, the hunting wasn’t that intense, but the scenery, the nature, the smell off sea and the fresh, crisp fall air with the sound of silence was divine. So while experiencing these magic moments with my wife, I was thinking: offer me to the most spectacular shopping center, or a famous amusement park, not to mention a front seat at Super Bowl -> I would not exchange it for this recreational adventure!
Although it’s difficult to convey this experience in photos, we both had our Nokia N8 mobile phones at hand and here are some of my shots:
The Golden Beauty of Fall
Outdoor Recreation in all four Seasons:
When talking about beaches, seas and swimming, most people imagine sun and summer heat. In Norway, with significant change in seasons when it comes to weather and temperature, we have always loved to be out in the nature – all year through. Especially on weekends, the whole family is hiking in the woods or up in the mountains. That’s where my saying comes from: there is no such as bad weather, only bad clothes. So if you have the chance to visit Huk beach, no matter summer, fall, winter or spring: you will always find lots of people – in all from winter dress with hat, gloves and scarf to literary nothing at all (in reserved areas!) – enjoying the beauty of nature away from the stressful urban life. Remember Bygdøy is just 20 minutes away by bus or boat to give you this kind of scenery:
While looking through my photos for this post, I found some from the same area from last summer and winter. So since pictures say more than a thousand word, let me show you how we in Norway love to be outdoors in fall as well as in the snowy winter time:
There is no bad weather: from bikini ……….
……… to winter dress at the beaches!
My wife’s temptations:
Before I end this post about enjoying the nature and outdoor recreation, let me get back to this weekend we had on Bygdøy by fall. I still have some photos to show you – there is always things that catch your eye on a beach you know ; -)
And remember, I am reporting from a quality time with my beloved wife. She always packs our little backpack with surprises, including coffee in a thermos and e.g. sandwiches. This time, when I was fooling around with my mobile phone – trying to catch the golden beauty of fall – she found a way to sneak into a open cafe without me noticing and after a while she found a bench and asked if she could tempt me – with this:
Waffles with raspberry jam & coffee – impossible to resist!
So now you know how I recharge my batteries, recover from my knee operation and keep the Parkinson’s at bay. Yes and how Norwegians spend their weekends and spare time, in all four seasons – outdoors, properly dressed (even the naturists *LoL*) – knowing there is no bad weather, only bad clothes – is there a better way?
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posted on 29th November 2011 under Fall, Habits, History
Discovery of the Ekofisk reservoir in 1969 was when the Norwegian oil adventure really began. Production from the field started on the 15th of June 1971 (same year as the first man walked on the Moon).
You might ask what this has to do with colourful autumn, but for sure it is important to understand the Norwegian society; our history, culture and habits (the theme of my blog), not to forget why Norway is so well off (e.g. less than 3% unemployment) when the rest of Europe is in financial crises.
Well, it is because I had another quality time with my wife some weeks ago. You know we love outdoors recreation and also photo hunting and since I wanted to show you the result, I was thinking I could combine it with something to learn from this post too. You see, this was what caught my eye (a huge cone):
This roller-cone bit (petrol) is an oil drill bit type that consists of a head with three conical rollers with tags. When the drill string is rotated, rolling wheels on the bottom of the hole and break the rocks. The drilling mud flows at high speed out between the wheels and removes the cut material. This example is on display outside the Maritime Museum on Bygdøy Island since it is used for off shore drilling of course.
So while I fill you in with our Oil Adventure; enjoy our quality time story and of course the pics:
Foreign companies dominated exploration off Norway in the initial phase, and were responsible for developing the country’s first oil and gas fields. However, Statoil (The Norwegian State’s Company) was founded in 1972, and the principle of 50 percent state participation in each production license was established.
The Social Democratic Model:
The billions that came from the oil in the North Sea should be used to give the people a better life. In 1974, the government decided for a Qualitatively Better Society; Those who live in rural areas should be prioritized, and culture should receive funding as well. Oil money would simply be used for all, in such a way that everyone had benefited from them. The easiest way to do this is by spending a large part through the State Budget.
Today, much of this is done and Norway has more money than ever before. You see, The Government Petroleum Fund was created in 1990, and receives revenues from our oil and gas business. The Fund is the Norwegian people’s money and today it means that every Norwegian has about $ 80,000 or € 60,000 “in the bank”. What many people wonder about is why don’t we just take the money and get rich together. Of course it’s not that simple – we want to ensure the future generations too. Once you get a recession and when it is wise to have money in reserve so that we can ensure good welfare for all, that is to say that we still have public health care, free education e.g.
Bygdøy Maritime Museum and Royal Estate:
In spite of more than 40 years of production, only around 40 percent of the total expected resources have been produced. Norwegian oil production has remained at plateau level of about 3 million barrels per day since 1995.
But let’s go back to our quality time, the photos and fall: The pics are taken at the Bygdøy Island close to The Maritime Museum. It’s situated near several other museums, including the Fram Museum; the Kon-Tiki Museum; the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History and the Viking Ship Museum. Norwegians have a long history as sailors you know (the oldest boat found in Norway is 7 000 years old). I let this photo with the old anchor stand as an evidence : -)
Bygdøy Island is only 20 min by boat or buss from down town Oslo and is a popular place for outdoor recreation – no wonder when you get from the urban stressful life to this rural natural beauty in a few minutes. The Royal family was thinking the same (long time ago):
At the end of the thirteenth century, Bygdøy was purchased by King Haakon V of Norway as a gift for his wife, Queen Euphemia of Rügen. Their daughter, Ingeborg of Norway, later returned the island to the monastery. It was acquired by the king during the Protestant Reformation to supply Akershus Fortress and garrison. The King would also use the estate for hunting and a hunting lodge. A zoological garden was set up by King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway.
The current main building was erected in 1733 as a summer residence for Danish official and Governor of Norway, Christian Rantzau (1684-1771). King Christian Frederick lived on the estate in 1814 after he was forced to give up the throne before he left for Denmark. Kings Haakon VII and Olav V also used the estate as a summer residence.
A comprehensive restoration of the main building and gardens began in 2004. The buildings and gardens have undergone extensive refurbishments and the estate is again set to be the regular summer residence of Harald V and Queen Sonja.
We passed this Royal Residence on our way to the Museums and since photo hunting for fall colors, I took some here too. I hope you like them as well as the stories about Norway and our history as well. You see, that’s actually the aim of my blog and I love to combine it reporting from quality times with my beloved wife!
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posted on 21st November 2011 under Fall, Habits
Swan Lake worked its magic on a fall color photo hunt on the Oslo Fjord. At our favourite beach the history of Tchaikovsky’s symphony steeped in myth as the story itself when a herd of swans showed up on shore. The ballet’s scenario was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. The ballet was premièred by the Bolshoi Ballet in 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, billed as The Lake of the Swans. This is the scenery we got when approaching the beach on a Saturday a few weeks ago when we wanted some outdoor recreation adventures:
I don’t think I’ve seen so many swans at once before and of course I was happy I had my Nokia N8 at hand, to start shooting photos – I mean the hunting was done and it was just to click and click and click ….. I believe I took more than 50 pics and at least some came out well. I think they are a bit fuzzy though – maybe because the white swans are in contrast with the water.
This beautiful scenery attracted others too of course and sometimes it was more interesting to see others watching and feeding then the swans themselves. People all ages were fascinated, but the youngest was the cutest I think : -)
My Nokia mobile phone can make panoramic photos too you know. This might explain to some extent at least, why I associated the scenery with Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” – or what do you think:
The Golden Beauty of Fall:
I told you this happened when my wife and I was out photo hunting. To me, nothing is more recreational than hiking in nature – besides; I need this kind of exercise stimulus to keep my Parkinsonism under control too. Adding to that; I love being outdoors in all four seasons and fall is the most colourful – don’t you think? – That’s why I call it “The golden beauty of fall”:
Outdoor Recreation:
My wife and I had what I often call a magic moment this wonderful Saturday. Being out in the nature, seeing how it changes through the seasons. Noticing the scenery, the smell and the beautiful colors is what I call recreational! And my regular readers know that I also have a wonderful wife to share those magic moment with and she makes them even more enjoyable and magic with her special treat; always something good in the backpack – I just love those sandwiches & the coffee, and it tasted heavenly eating outdoors like this:
If you want to charge your batteries, and like me, to keep my Parkinson’s in check; there is nothing more inspiring and recreational then the nature which is all around us. November is more than half over now and our darkest period is upon us – hope you have enjoyed the fall as much as we have!
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posted on 16th November 2011 under Food, Habits
Restaurant Cru Wine & Kitchen in Oslo reflects a French wine term: Traditionally translated as “growth” it’s often used to indicate a specifically named and legally defined vineyard or ensemble of vineyards and the vines “which grow on a reputed territory; by extension of good quality”. Growth, quality and wine for that matter, gives a perfect frame for the reason of the visit:
As an active member of The Norwegian Computer Society, I am involved in several workshops, for example “IT Strategy and Management”. At the end of each season of intense teamwork to provide our members with a variety of cutting edge sciences, we believe that we deserve a social gathering. What’s better than a culinary feast and trying a new restaurant in Oslo? You’re welcome to join us while I tell you about this place and our 7 course gourmet feast:
Let’s start with the wine; Cru is a place where the waiter carefully describes the wine and the food before serving.
The guests swirl the wine in the glass, as in wine tasting, and you smell the bouquet of the wine before drinking it. However, With Kari Innerå, Nordic Chef of the Year 2007, in the kitchen, there is all reason to have great expectations for the food too. The griffin menu shows the way: three appetizers (12 € each), two main dishes (28 €), cheese and dessert for around 10 €. One can eat quite reasonable, but if the occasion calls for something special, it is possible to put together menus of three, five or seven dishes. We went all the way on the gourmet adventures road – here is our seven dish feast along with our waiter’s wine recommendation for each of them:
Left: Caviar of Lavaret, blintz, sour cream, dill & radish – Wine: Sancerre Domaine de la Rossignol 2010
Right: Artichoke, caramelized puree, glazed macadamia, soup & artichoke chips & black truffle – Wine: Alto Adige – Südtirol Manincor “Réserve della Contessa” 2009
Left: Skin fried cod, open lasagna with fennel & ricotta, seafood sauce, crab croquet, avocado cream & peas
Right: Red wine braised beef shoulder, homemade sausage, Confit of plum, spicy broth, potato gnocchi & pumpkin – Wine: Côtes du Marmandais, Domaine Elian da Ros – Le Vin est une Fête 2008
Moose from Gudbrandsdalen, celery puree, Brussels sprouts & cranberry vinaigrette
Wine: Rossignol Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2008
Left: Cheese soufflés – Wine: Mosel. Jos. Christoffel Jr. Wehlener Sonnenuhr ** 1994
Right: Carrot cake Cru – Philadelphia cream, salt caramel ice cream, oatmeal crumble with cinnamon & carrot jelly.
Is there a better way of enjoying good colleagues company and discussing the future of the Computer Society and our work group’s activities for the coming season? We fully agreed we are the best work group team with eagerness and enthusiasm to start a new and successful season – and of course looking forward to the next culinary feast in mid June.
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