June 10-14: My Lofoten Island Adventure [video journal]

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We've merely touched downwardly inward Tromsø later a mindblowingly beautiful fourth dimension inward the Lofoten Islands.  We saw wild orca hunting during the midnight Sun , stumbled upon a landship on Kvalvika beach as well as drove through around of the close beautiful seaside towns I've always seen.  

I rapidly gave upwards on taking pictures as well as writing downwardly what nosotros saw , because it wouldn't create it jurist - as well as hence here's a video magazine instead!

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Biennale Bingo

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | It's fourth dimension for Venice Biennale again. This calendar week , during the launch , the urban core has been sum of artists , hangers-on in addition to parties for the conduct few. Next calendar week the mutual folk are allowed to sentiment the exhibition. It's an expensive in addition to arduous trouble concern visiting the ii principal sites , the Giardini commons in addition to the Arsenale shipyard. Hundreds of exhibitions in addition to installations get down to blur into 1 some other in addition to if you lot haven't allowed plenty issue energy , fourth dimension in addition to refuelling , it's slow to immature lady the few gems hidden amidst the contemporary fine art cliches.

To enliven the see , I've come upwards up alongside a Biennale Bingo game. See if you lot tin tick off all the cliches below to instruct a 'full house' equally you lot sentiment the pavilions in addition to fine art shows. I haven't looked but about nevertheless , but based on yesteryear sense I am optimistic (if that is the word) to last able to tick off several of the following:

1. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pile of rubbish.

2. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 room or edifice dressed upwards to await similar the habitation of an imaginary (preferably underprivileged) person.

3. An installation consisting of many identical items (e.g. chairs , mirrors) none of them made yesteryear the artist.

4. Video-installations/films which are loops of wearisome people talking , in all likelihood over a repast , amateurishly filmed.

5. Video-installations labelled alongside a duration of over an hr , which plainly no visitor has fourth dimension to watch.

6. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large , random 3-dimensional construction , in all likelihood made of bamboo , alongside many meanings in addition to nevertheless , somehow , none.

7. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 participation installation providing welcome excitement - walking into darkness , or dry out H2O ice , or H2O jets , a pipage you lot tin await downwards , anything - which shows how desperate the visitors are getting for thrills.

8. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 collection of gaudy advertisements , stuck to a wall.

9. 'Testimonies' either written or filmed , from unfortunates living inwards deprived weather condition , preferably inwards the vicinity of unsafe pollution or natural disasters.

10. An exhibit where all the excitement took house inwards a large spectacle opened upwards to VIPs inwards the opening calendar week , leaving zippo but broken memories & videos of the effect for after paying visitors. For representative , a large broken object which has been trashed yesteryear the creative someone , which after visitors are left to ponder.

11. Something you lot actually didn't desire to come across (or convey your children see): explicit pornography , mayhap , or dead animals.

and finally
12. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bar-restaurant where the staff don't desire to serve you. (An exhibit which seems to characteristic each twelvemonth at fine art in addition to architecture biennales).

It won't last all cliches , though. This twelvemonth in that place are manifestly Tintoretto paintings inwards the principal Italian pavilion.

> Read near the 2011 Biennale

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April 4 & 5: A failed attempt at camping & Medieval music!

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I beloved the Falkirk Wheel!

We’re currently inward Cupar , which is a flake of a tiny , nix town but close St Andrews.  We’re staying amongst an unbelieveably sugariness solid unit of measurement nosotros flora on AirBnB as well as they couldn’t last to a greater extent than dissimilar from Fergus.  They invited us to direct maintain dinner amongst them (making us a veggie risotto amongst some wild Scottish herbs as well as wild garlic.  It was incredibly tasty) as well as they laid us upward inward what used to last servants quarters inward the house.  It’s good kitted out amongst scented candles as well as a multifariousness of teas.  Needless to tell , they’ll instruct top marks when nosotros direct maintain to review them.

Nicholas inward awe of the Falkirk Wheel

The yesteryear duet of days direct maintain been hectic.  Yesterday morn , Nicholas went as well as picked upward our hire machine , which nosotros got from a little fellowship called Celtic Legend.  The guy nosotros emailed amongst was really , truly , 100% called William Wallace.  He signed his emails “Willie”.  We swung yesteryear the Great Britain version of Walmart to alternative upward a whole heap of non-perishables as well as in all likelihood 8kg of bananas , earlier nosotros started heading to our get stop: The Falkirk Wheel.

Not to pelting on Nicholas’ Falkirk Wheel parade , but I wasn’t wholly excited well-nigh the whole rotating bicycle thing.  It was pretty cool when nosotros really got there.  It replaces well-nigh eleven locks , which used to direct maintain 8 hours or as well as then to instruct through.  It takes iv minutes as well as uses the amount of ability to boil vi kettles.  “How?” you’re in all likelihood bespeak (maybe you’re not. I wasn’t until I saw the informative video).  Inertia.  For that argue , given Archimedes job inward the hole ‘inertia’ matter , the footling go boat nosotros went upward the bicycle inward was called The Archimedes.  We sat behind a pair of really annoying children who got the best spots inward the boat.  That business office was annoying.  Nicholas almost moisture himself amongst engineer-based excitement.  I abhor to encounter what’ll occur at Legoland.

We hung some at the Falkirk bicycle for a while.  I admired all the dogs , who were much ameliorate behaved than the children.  Nicholas watched the Falkirk Wheel inward amazement as well as took lots of videos , as well as then he could relive the sense over again as well as again.  I joked that he should’ve worn his GoPro on the 50 infinitesimal boat journeying upward the bicycle , through the tunnel as well as dorsum downward the bicycle , as well as he got a glint inward his oculus similar he thought it was a skillful idea.  I shouldn’t joke well-nigh such things.

Nicholas pretending to instruct inward for a passionate osculation amongst i of the Kelpies

They had installed some lights to lite upward the Kelpies at nighttime but some leafage was growing inward the way.  Foliage is as well as then cool.

After we’d finished at the Falkirk Wheel (read: I convinced Nicholas that instead of deliberating over which Falkirk Wheel postcard to purchase , he should but purchase them both as well as instruct going) nosotros headed to the Kelpies.  The Kelpies are huge.  There’s non a lot else to tell well-nigh them.  We didn’t produce a tour because nosotros had to pay also much for parking.  We ate inexpensive loving cup noodles spell everybody else ate really expensive H2O ice cream.

The Kelpies!

We stopped at a really beautiful hold off out on the agency to our army camp spot.

From The Kelpies nosotros needed to notice somewhere to camp.  We had enough of fourth dimension earlier sunset to notice one.  Scotland has much to a greater extent than relaxed camping ground laws than Commonwealth of Australia as well as we’d read the code , as well as then felt pretty good equipped.  We flora i spot that looked promising , but kept driving to a loch we’d seen on a map because nosotros thought that’d last much to a greater extent than picturesque.  It was.  We railroad train army camp as well as were but well-nigh to ringlet out our mats when some rangers told us to motion on because it was a reservoir as well as human excrement as well as all that.  Not ii minutes later they left as well as nosotros were pulling out pegs , the heaven darkened as well as nosotros saw the Sun dip behind a mountain.  Not promising.

This would direct maintain been our amazing army camp spot.  Sadness. 

We decided but to caput to the previous spot nosotros had seen.  It was a bog.

Driving off the mount as well as downward to Kilsyth nosotros started having a hold off online for motels.  Looking for a motel at 8.45pm on a Sat nighttime on a long weekend inward a tourist town isn’t promising.  On in all likelihood the 7^th house nosotros called , nosotros got a winner.  It could’ve been the 6^th house , which was the Antonine Inn.  On bookings.com the most recent review was 1 star , proclaiming “THE STAFF WERE AGGRESSIVE.” Nicholas as well as I had a skillful chuckle to this , thinking they’d direct maintain a bad experience.  When nosotros called the inn to enquire well-nigh the booking , the receptionist real abruptly said , “We don’t direct maintain bookings over the phone.  You’ll demand to instruct to bookings online.”  They really were quite aggressive.

We stayed upward far also belatedly watching the Da Vinci Code as well as looking at places nosotros had been on our trip , similar Rosslyn Chapel.

The Wallace Monument (looking quite foreboding inward the fog)

Today nosotros got upward relatively early on to brand job of the costless breakfast included inward our hotel stay.  All that haggis as well as blood pudding inward the bain marie really puts i off their mushrooms as well as beans , to last honest.  Only inward Scotland.

Ignoring the fog , nosotros laid out for the Wallace Monument , jumping some fences to cutting across the roads.  It was also really foggy as well as already filled amongst tourists.   We decided against paying the fee to instruct upward the monument , considering how foggy it was.  You’d hardly encounter anything from the top.

I'm loving all the daffodils.

Such mist.  Very monument.

Nicholas using The Wallace Monument equally the backdrop for his prog stone album cover.  He thinks he looks similar he's air guitaring.  I intend he looks similar a terrible tango dancer.

Did I refer I beloved daffodils?  Did I refer at that spot was fog?

We were also neat to instruct to Stirling Castle.  To celebrate Easter long weekend , Stirling Castle had been turned into something of a Renaissance fair , amongst falconry as well as 16^th century dancing as well as hurdy-gurdy playing.  I was most excited for the dancing.  Stirling Castle was pretty beautiful as well as the weather condition turned out to last amazing.  I fifty-fifty managed to instruct a whole solar daytime without whatever thermals – but a t-shirt. 

This owl was also tired to bargain amongst the tourists at the falconry session.

These ladies were the superlative of fashion (once)

We watched some really cool displays as well as I made friends amongst an owl.  We ran out of fourth dimension to encounter everything at Stirling Castle , in all likelihood because I was also busy dancing amongst ladies inward wonderful dresses , but that's ok.  There was a fatty human playing all kinds of foreign as well as wonderful instruments.  He directed us to his YouTube channel as well as says he also does weddings.  I'll proceed it inward hear if I e'er instruct married inward Scotland.  https://www.youtube.com/user/JimTribble/videos

Nicholas is a jester as well as I'm mortal dressed similar a Flemish painter

Stirling Castle (the forepart sentiment was obscured yesteryear an H2O ice cream truck , as well as then you lot instruct this i instead)

We walked some as well as tried on costumes as well as lazed some inward the Sun as well as eventually headed to the lovely solid inward Cupar where nosotros are now.  Nicholas is watching James Bond: Skyfall as well as looking at Glen Coe , where nosotros volition last inward well-nigh a month.  I’m looking at our pictures as well as non watching Outlander , fifty-fifty though I’d similar to be.  Tomorrow nighttime nosotros really DO army camp , as well as then wishing us luck!

We also drove yesteryear a town called Dollar as well as then nosotros stopped to direct maintain a painting demo amongst the Dollar Sign , because we're tourists.

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Are the Lofoten Islands the most beautiful part of Norway?

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When I survive got to the Lofoten Islands , I’d already visited the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord , rode the famous Flåm railway , walked the streets of Bergen , cruised through Geirangerfjord too spent a few days exploring Sognefjord.  In curt , I’d seen some of the most raved-about sites inwards Norway.  I didn’t retrieve I could live whatsoever to a greater extent than inwards awe of Norway’s imperial landscape , simply thus I arrived inwards the Lofotens.

Title film shows the persuasion from the peak at Reinebringen , the mount that overlooks Reine.

I was told to see the Lofoten Islands when I was staying inwards too AirBnB inwards Oslo.  My host told me it was his favourite operate of Kingdom of Norway , too I was opened upward to suggestions.  I had my pump assail narrow fjords too trolls , though , thus didn’t retrieve besides much of it.

The heaven was misty the nighttime the Hurtigruten approached the jagged , craggy mountains of the Lofotens too dropped me at Svolvær.  The ominous peaks peered out of the mist , looking greyish too foreboding.  Considering this was my outset foray into the Arctic Circle too I was camping ground , I felt to a greater extent than nervous than anything else.

Svolvær is in all likelihood the biggest town pump inwards the Lofotens too this is where I was dropped past times the Hurtigruten , picked upward a hire automobile too laid off downwards S to the idyllic villages of Å too Reine.  It wasn’t long earlier I was feeling incredibly grateful to receive got been sent on this niggling adventure.

The principal islands are connected past times bridges too tunnels , patch 2 smaller islands are detached farther south.  I didn’t larn a hazard to see these , simply constitute no shortage of things to produce on the principal islands.  There are plenty of museums too fine art galleries , a vast array of restaurants (where y'all volition discovery delicacies similar whale too seal on the carte du jour - nosotros skipped these , obviously) too numerous outdoor activities to busy yourself with.  It’s a prime number viewing spot for the midnight Sun inwards summertime too the Aurora Borealis inwards wintertime – thus you’re saltation to receive got your eyes shape skyward no affair when y'all visit.

The rugged mountains appear to rising straight out of the blue-green body of body of water too tower overhead.  Many are inside make if y'all fancy yourself a mount climber , too offering curt (but steep) paths upward the tops , where you’ll discovery the most magnificent views on the islands.  For whatsoever outdoor pursuits , 68 North is an invaluable website , so larn reading!

The persuasion over Kvalvika Beach

If you’d similar to endeavor your luck line-fishing , the Lofotens are the house to go!  Norway’s generous access laws allow y'all to proceed your choose handgrip of , too y'all tin sack accept 15kg of filleted fish off the isle amongst you. 

If you’re to a greater extent than similar me , too you’d rather picket the sealife from afar , the Lofotens offering plenty of diving too snorkeling experiences – fifty-fifty at midnight!  I was lucky plenty to run into the vibrant midnight Sun hanging higher upward the horizon too tin sack exclusively imagine getting to snorkel nether its rays.  This fourth dimension , it was a fleck out of my budget , simply I even thus got to run into the Lofoten Islands’ magnificent wildlife…

A pod of wild orca swimming past times Reine

Spend plenty fourth dimension on the coast inwards outpouring too summertime , too y'all mightiness larn lucky plenty to run into wild orca or puffins.  Orca breed inwards the waters nearby too come upward unopen to the coast amongst their babies to choose handgrip of fish.  A few minutes earlier midnight , later on a steep too exhausting climb upward Reinebringa , Nick too I spotted a pod of 5 orca feeding off the coast at Reine.  It was amazing.

The camping ground on the Lofotens is tardily pickings – in that location are a lot to a greater extent than apartment spots than I managed to discovery on Norwegian mainland.  If y'all consider yourself an indoorsy type , the second-best means to experience the Lofotens is to check yourself into atraditional-style crimson Rorbu (fisherman’s hut) amongst gratis wifi too a balcony.

Rorbu inwards Å

Midnight Sun on Kvalvika Beach

You’ll receive got the best luck travelling past times automobile or past times bike through the Lofotens.  You tin sack walk , simply the roads are narrow too the conditions is quick to plough inwards the Arctic Circle , fifty-fifty inwards summer.  There’s also a charabanc that runs along the E10 – the principal route that connects the islands – simply it’s pricey too exclusively runs a few times a day.  I rented a automobile through Rent a Car Lofoten inwards Svolvær too managed to larn a competitive price.  If y'all retrieve to hire a automobile , majority good inwards advance , because most places volition accuse to a greater extent than if they’re running depression on cars!

Want to a greater extent than of the imperial Lofotens? I made a curt video documenting our fourth dimension there.

Note: The Lofoten Islands pride themselves on having the largest traditional cod drying laid up.  They advertise it on postcards too inwards the tourist books – it’s everywhere! If you’re non a fan of seeing (literally millions) of dead cod strung upward to wooden poles , invention your see betwixt July too February.

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March 31: Getting a bit emotional over Harry Potter & evaluating my contemporaries

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In Edinburgh there's a cafe called The Elephant House , where JK Rowling has cited every bit the location she penned to a greater extent than or less of Harry Potter.  When I was nearly ix years onetime as well as read The Unofficial JK Rowling Biography , which told of her beingness destitute as well as rocking her fille to slumber patch writing stories inwards a cafe , it inspired me to produce things similar write every bit well.  It was exclusively natural that nosotros larn to visit.

Edinburgh Castle from the much-coveted window topographic point at the Elephant House.  Look at that pristine weather!

If I idea Edinburgh liked to capitalise on their ghostly notoriety , it was nix inwards comparing to the Elephant Cafe riding the Harry Potter success story.  From tours , to tour buses stopping exterior , to t-shirts worn past times the real inattentive immature girls who served us , it was all 'the birthplace of Harry Potter'.  Nicholas had crappy reheated (but nevertheless cold) pancakes , as well as I bypassed the overpriced breakfast options for a lukewarm soy 'hot' chocolate.  This lay me downwardly inwards the dumps actually , as well as I was grumpy nearly spending coin on crappy beverages as well as why wouldn't Nicholas larn as well as enquire for fresh pancakes as well as why are the chairs then uncomfortable as well as why would that duet sit down past times the window when I am then champaign waiting to sit down at the window???

We left a scathing review on Urbanspoon.

I idea it'd lay me inwards a bad mood for the remainder of the twenty-four hours as well as was looking for a argue that coming all the agency inwards the freezing cold. Then I used to the lavatory inwards the cafe as well as constitute aforementioned reason.

I was innocently trying to produce a wee as well as I only started crying actual , genuine tears.  When I had composed myself as well as walked out of the lavatory , Nicholas said , "Have you lot been crying?"

As I'm certain you lot know , the worst affair soul tin sack produce if you're trying non to outcry is to address the fact that you're crying as well as I was then embarrassed because of all the other people inwards the cafe as well as I didn't desire to acknowledge that I'd only come upwards to a cafe as well as started uncontrollably weeping over my dear of Harry Potter.  That's embarrassing.

"I can't speak nearly it."

Nicholas idea something was , you lot know , really upsetting as well as got actually worried as well as I only kept shaking my caput as well as maxim that I couldn't speak nearly it inwards here.  

"Is it only because you're inwards Scotland?" he asked.

"I dear Harry Potter ," I replied.

I started crying again.  It was embarrassing.

This was later on I had stopped crying.

Harry Potter is Life.  Harry Potter is Love.

We had hoped to caput upwards to Edinburgh Castle for the twenty-four hours , because the conditions is looking pretty rubbish as well as nosotros wanted to remain indoors.  I mean value a motorcoach of Chinese tourists had appeared v minutes earlier nosotros did , then nosotros decided to lay that off for to a greater extent than or less other twenty-four hours as well as caput to the Fruitmarket Gallery , which is a contemporary fine art gallery nearby.

At this signal , the conditions was looking pretty nice.  Quite sunny , it was starting to warm up.  Don't trust it.  Never trust it. (we belike would've trusted it if nosotros hadn't got a conditions alarm on our phone)

I forgot to cite that when Nicholas as well as I went to the camping ground store , I bought the same shoes every bit him because I'm a copycat.

The Fruitmarket Gallery had a actually wonderful bookshop alongside lots of books nearly cats as well as fine art (two of my favourite things , every bit nosotros all know).  The fine art was likewise pretty good.  It was a collection of Brazilian industrial plant using objects.  One run was a collection of impractical squeegees. It was super cool.

From at that topographic point nosotros wandered downwardly to the gallery that is unremarkably the Portrait Gallery , but was currently showing a heap of run past times Scotland's most recent fine art schoolhouse graduates.  Some of it was actually cool , to a greater extent than or less of it was full crap.  Nicholas as well as I tended to handgrip on the full crap business office , but at that topographic point were a duet of industrial plant that left us divided.  One run I actually liked was a double channel video slice that juxtaposed museum specimens as well as scientific objects alongside mundane soccer playing as well as what looked similar the Hebrides as well as to a greater extent than or less horses/cows.  The vocalization over was actually overnice as well as was spoken past times a heap of (what sounded similar professors).  I considered buying the video re-create , but it was thirty pounds as well as I'm saving coin to pass at Loch Ness.

This is when the conditions started to plow , then nosotros sought shelter at the same cafe we've been frequenting alongside the skillful soup as well as skillful sandwiches as well as huckleberry scones.  I mean value they know us now.  It started to snow.

Beautiful , sunny , slightly cloudy skies.

Snow.

Edinburgh reminds me a lot of Melbourne , but to a greater extent than extreme.  Old buildings inwards Melbourne , Edinburgh's are older.  Melbourne's conditions is ridiculous , Edinburgh's conditions is even
to a greater extent than ridiculous.

For dinner nosotros made traditional Scottish fare! (veggie) haggis alongside neeps (turnips) as well as tatties (potatoes).  We roasted them inwards the lavander tabular array salt nosotros got from Hoxton St Monster supplies as well as it was delicious.  We had it alongside to a greater extent than or less Irn Bru (Scottish creaming soda , consummate alongside tartan packaging , that tin sack last purchased inwards diverse clan colours) patch watching vintage Dr Who (Peter Davidson).  Feeling good British.  ;)

I don't know nearly the master copy haggis , but the vegetarian version is pretty tasty.

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