Norway – Fjords – Journey to Trolltunga - Part 2

The trip was high on my husband’s bucket list. The man who could care less about travelling, expressed interest in doing some Norwegian hiking. We were only in Norway for 3 full days, so making the most of it was essential. Flying into Haugesund would have truly maximized the trip. It would have cut out about an hour of driving and using the ferry, but we would have missed some incredible views going this route.

We started in Stavanger, arriving around midnight on Friday night. SIXT rental car staff will stay out of hours if you provide your flight information when booking. We stayed overnight near the airport in order to get a good night’s rest for the rest of the trip. Saturday morning we set off to Kyrping Camping. I chose this location as it was centrally located along the area we wanted to see. They offer a variety of accommodations to stay in, we chose one of the log cabins along the lake. The drive took about 3 hours with the ferry and winding roads from Sola Airport. There were so many lakes and gorgeous photo stops along the route. We were able to check in early, drop bags and headed towards Røldal. Røldal is known for having one of the oldest stave churches in Norway, dating back to 1200. https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/r%C3%B8ldal-stave-church/1267/

Breath-taking scenery

On the way to Røldal you will see numerous waterfalls, including Langfoss, also known as the 5th largest waterfall in Norway. It was voted in 2006, as the World’s Most Beautiful Waterfall. There is a hiking trail at the base to the top, which could be done in about 3 hours. We chose the photos from the bottom option due to the heavy off and on rain most of the day. There is a small parking lot next to the falls which offered a bathroom, snacks and souvenirs. https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/langfoss-waterfall/2135/

Upon arrival to Røldal there is signs for the church along the road. We arrived after they had closed for the afternoon, so a few photos of the exterior and we set off to Skjeggedal.

Along the road you will approach another large waterfall. The famous Låtefoss, also known as the twin waterfalls. It was quite the site to see. There is a waterfall a few hundred yards before Låtefoss that is likely to drench your car enroute. The waterfalls were definitely a highlight of our trip. https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/l%C3%A5tefoss-waterfall/1268/

As we approached Skjeggedal we started to see signs for Trolltunga. We stopped in to assess where to park and where the start of the hike was. I had read numerous blogs leading up to the hike and wanted to know what to expect myself. We wanted no surprises at 6am for the start of the hike. We found that there is a large car park at the bottom of the hill which is 100NOK a day at the time of writing.

It is another 6km to the top from here. Many people were parked here, because in high season if you arrive late to the top carpark, you will have to park here and hike up the road to the top. The 6km road to the top was an adventure in itself. It is a single lane road along the cliff side.  Watching for cars and people that afternoon was quite the task. Once at the top you will find another carpark at the base of the hike. This one is hourly parking. We read some of the information on the signs and then headed back to the lodge for dinner and a good night’s rest.

https://goo.gl/maps/ZCeBDgkYgQt

Time to hike

Now here is where the adventure truly starts!!! Remember this was a family holiday and we have decided that it is a great idea to take our 11 year old on an expert level hike in Norway. When I say expert level, I mean grown men were turning back in the beginning realizing how under prepared they were. But, we were committed to making it up and down, and in one piece.

We woke up at 5am in order to make the 1 hour drive to the base of the mountain. We packed everything that was mandatory to hike in Norway. All listed here for your reference. https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/trolltunga/8625/

I had read the day before that the car park payment machine was broken. Many people waited until 8am when they opened to start their hike. We decided we were not waiting around 2 hours and paid once we came back. We paid 400NOK for the 12 hours we were gone. The area gets quite a bit of rain so expect a bit of mud. I do mean the thick pull off your shoes kind of mud. Everything I read about the hike stated that the 1st kilometer was the worst. They have closed the funicular to which offered stairs to the top. So the only way up was through a wooded path in the forest or a tour company using the sky ladder.

The 1st kilometer offered a variety of terrain and somewhat stairs along the way up made of rocks. The route up you will use ropes in numerous areas to pull yourself to the top.  I might have been a bit ambitious to get to the top and I rushed to the top. DO NOT do this! As much fun as this part of the route was, my 30 something body paid me back at the back end of the hike.

With the 1km done, I remember roughly the sign said 21km total for the hike. We proceeded up numerous mountains, across waterfalls, wood planks, rivers, mud, lots more mud, more water, cliff side drop offs, and sheer rock face. We took 10 minute breaks a few times, but overall snacked in route. 3-4 kilometers into the hike gets interesting again with lots of terrain changes. This was up there with the 1st kilometer in my book. Worn out and sore, but at 7.5 miles later, yes that 12 kilometers, we reached Trolltunga. We arrived just before 12 meaning it took just over 4 hours to get to the top. The view was incredible to say the least. The line was about 20 people back when we arrived. We agreed to swap out with others in line to take photos. If not we would not have been able to take a photo together. We spent just at an hour here with photos, lunch and a pee stop.

Thrilled with our achievement we headed back with our heads held high. At this point the overnight hikers and many others were all heading back at the same time. There was far more overtaking from experienced hikers. This made the way down much slower as many points it’s a small path along the mountain side. My knees two weeks later still remember the down portion like it was yesterday. At this point even changing out of wet socks and bandaging blisters was not doing the trick. I was tired and we had unusually great weather. That meant that all those layers we packed were wearing us down. The temperature peaked midday to about 85 degrees. We packed two water bottles and filled at each waterfall we encountered, which was quite often. So do not feel you have to pack tons as you can refill about every 2km along the route.

We reached 3-4 kilometers again and the mud was even worse than the way up. Over the hills, through the woods, waterfalls, rivers and mud for another 7.5 miles. We reached the last kilometer and this was my final breaking point. My knees were screaming from the down, down, down and more down. A marathon runner I am, a hiker I am not. The mud, people, terrain and ropes made the last kilometer one of those moments that you wished you got better trip insurance. But WE MADE IT!! We kissed each other, happy that not only that we completed the 25 kilometer trek, but that we FREAKING survived to tell about it. I lived up to my word and my kid got a Fanta and 2 kinder eggs for not complaining the whole time!!

My suck it up, you will survive maternal instinct was clearly on point with this trip.

I am a big goal setter and I used my Garmin Fenix to track the hike. You can find it here: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1344917714

We paid our parking and headed back to the camp ground. We were exhausted and starving, but totally excited for the opportunity to take on this amazing hike.

The next morning we headed into Stavanger for the day. The journey back to the airport was just as gorgeous as the way up. We parked next to the cruise port in the city following the “Old Town” signs. We visited the cathedral and the oldest part of the town. The old town area is filled with 100 white houses and cobblestoned streets. Perfect for an afternoon stroll to stretch out our legs. Enroute to the airport we stopped over to the Swords in the Rock for a photo op. https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/swords-in-rock/1852/

All in and all it was a good 3 day trip for the family. It offered a bit of everything for everyone. Fun, adventure, sites and relaxation.

 

Happy Traveling,

 

Katrina 

Dubai on a dime

Going to Dubai was at the top of my bucket list, but the pretty penny it costs to stay totally deterred me. I was afraid I could not do it within a reasonable budget. I was so wrong and let me share some tips I learned to save money vacationing in Dubai with my family.

Madinat Souk entrance

I followed numerous sites that offered discounts on Dubai through facebook. This was everything from hotels to bus tours. I signed up for a free Emirates card which also helped save 15-20% on food. We were going for sites, but the biggest thing we wanted to do was water parks. These are high ticket items in Dubai so being thrifty was key. 

While it was unplanned at first, going during Ramadan was the best decision we made. During Easter some Dubai hotels offered BOGO nights and flash sales for a few nights stay. One of the offers was on Atlantis which included unlimited waterpark access daily and unlimited Lost Adventures aquarium for everyone in the family. Jumping on this offer saved us nearly 50% because we no longer had to pay for waterpark access. The thing about Ramadan is during the day the city is quiet. I mean this was an introverts paradise and my husband who does not like crowds was in his element. My friend Hannah who lives there swears by the Entertainer app as you can get discounts on waterparks and meals all over the city. In which she cashed in on the Dubai Aquarium while we were there. 

Dubai Aquarium in Mall of Dubai

Due to our flights arriving late we decided to stay closer to the Mall of Emirates. The Akas Inn Apartments fit the bill at about $100 for two nights stay which fit 4-5 people. This was self catering with a roof top pool. Which is perfect during Ramadan as unless you are at a resort or food court you will not find many places open during the day.  

Now that I have shared some tips to save. Here was how we planned our 5 days in Dubai. The first full day we headed over to the Madinat Souk, which most shops were closed during Ramadan there were a few open just after lunch. We headed down to the Jumeriah beach area as one of the hotels had a large place where sea turtles are kept during recovery from injuries. 

Sea Turtle Rehab

There was surprisely a Costa open so we stepped inside to grab a quick lunch and headed over to the Mall of Dubai. Taxis are cheap in Dubai and you can also use the Metro for about a $1 a ride.  The Mall of Dubai houses the Dubai Aquarium and anything for sale you could imagine. To my shock there was a Texas Road House in the mall. 

Texas Roadhouse

As it was Ramadan and food was not served until 7:15pm the lines start to form around 6pm. We went to a restaurant that had inside and outside seating near the famous fountains. While they had fans it was still 100 degrees out while we waited for them to break the fast. Be Social did not disappoint with service, food or the view. It was perfect as the fountains started at 7:30pm so we were in place for the first show. They continue to play every 30 minutes. After a exhausting day we headed back to hotel to get a good nights rest. 

View from Be Social

We got up early to catch the first Hop On Hop Off bus leaving from the Mall of Emirates. We went with Big Bus Tours as they offered free water and we were able to eat on board. Seats were free all over the buses for each time we got on. The ticket included three water cruises as part of the ticket. This was great as the Abra in the Madiant was 100 AED a person and this was free now with your ticket. It also included the Marina cruise which has a great view of the Palm Jumeriah. The last cruise is the river cruise in the old town which we were unable to see due to timing. We rode the Blue and Green lines most of the day as it was the best way to stay in the AC and see most of the sites.

We could check in at 3pm into Atlantis this day so it was perfect that on the last round of stops we went and grabbed our luggage from the hotel to finish the scenic tour right into the Palm. This was genious was it drops you off right at the hotel entrance. Saving us again money on transport. Upon check in we were told that due to Ramadan upgrading to a full food package was the best bet. We jumped on the offer for the Imperial Club which included breakfast, afternoon tea, and happy hour cocktails and snacks.

Go to the club in the West Wing as its larger and food for afternoon tea and happy hour was enough to not grab a full lunch or dinner. We had breakfast in the Kaleidoscope and it was the largest buffet I have ever seen. This options saves us nearly $200 a day in meals alone. So if its offered jump on it because it also gave us jump the line at Aquarium and Aqua Adventure waterpark. At the waterpark towels were included as well due to the upgrade which renting them each was 40 AED. Remember the Emirates card I talked about early? That will save you all over Atlantis so put it with your room key for safe keeping. 

Atlantis from Beach

The waterpark was great and as it does not open till 10am you can spend the morning in the many pools or explore the property. You will get a new color armband daily to enter the park. We did this on floor 12 each morning as it saved us lining up at the park. The waterpark was empty!! I mean we rode every ride a dozen times, pop over for afternoon tea and came back till it closed. 

Empty corridor midday

There are so many places to eat on site and I highly recommend booking on arrival if you truly want to get a seat. We found it quiet this time of year, but I am sure it is not always this way.   

Hope this helps enjoy your time in Dubai on a time crunch and budget.  

Happy Traveling,  

Katrina

Israel and Jordan - A New Year to remember

Road tripping through Israel

With the end of the year nearing it was hard to decide where I want to spend the upcoming New Years celebrations. I usually allow Ryan Air or Easy Jet's sales determine where the next adventure awaits and the place we chose surely surprised everyone we spoke to. Israel known for its conflict in the Middle East and Petra known for its Pink City was high on my bucket list, but I did not think it would be something I would do without a tour. 

We decided the most effective way to travel through the country was by car. So the hardest decision came we had to decide if we should rent a guide or do it on our own? Looking at costs and efficiency it looked as though the Budget rental car was going to be the way to go. So we boarded our flight from London to Tel Aviv and the adventure began. 

Eilat and Jordan

On arrival we collected the rental car, opened the Waze app and on we went for the 5 hour drive down to Eilat. We stayed at a local hotel called Motel Aviv as it was close to the bus station and just a short walk from downtown. Remember I talked about how Israel was portrayed in the news? Well on arrival to Eilat we found a thriving city right on the banks of the Rea Sea. Jokingly we did say its appearance was more Miami than what we thought Israel would look like. Bright city lights, night clubs and restaurants full of people. We caught a quick nights sleep before we made our onward journey to Jordan at 6am the next day. 

We arrived at the border for one of many checks before we were able to cross. We decided to go with Desert Eco Tours as they had high reviews and were efficient in responding to my many questions about Israel and Jordan. Petra was one of the highlights of our trip and we knew on arrival we made the right decision not to skip this easy day trip from Eilat. We left all the planning to the tour group and enjoyed the journey with not a fuss in the world. On the way back into Israel we came into issues crossing as we had asked for our passport to not be stamped leaving, but a form fixed the issue and we were on our way to celebrate New Years. 

As we came to Israel we did not pack our best clothes as we honestly didn't know what to expect. Threw on a maxi dress and a cardigan and headed out for the "Sylvestor" as they call it in Israel. We booked in advance through our hotel a South American restaurant called El Gaucho's. We were not disappointed. Welcomed with warm sangria shots to warm the pallet this place effectively kicked all my cravings for some southern cuisine.  After an eventful dinner we headed to popular hot spot called the "Three Monkeys". Be warned cocktails in Israel are expensive, I am talking $14-20 for a beer. So drink in moderation, or until your pocketbook empties. From here we got an amazing glimpse of the fireworks show and embraced the New Year with some lovely locals. 

Dead Sea and Jerusalem

The next day we made our way to the Dead Sea through the Arava valley area. We descended on the 'Snake Path' driving from there to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve near the Dead Sea.  By the looks from the pictures and information we have seen we figured it was a great day for a dip. Well a polar plunge is the best way to describe the experience, but it was done and I guess another bucket list item was ticked. I could not believe you could actually float. A quick shower and back on the road to Jerusalem for the night. We were pressed for time due to a late start (you know those cocktails I discussed earlier). We had to get to the city before Sabbath started and the car was to be parked as the city shut down. We arrived into the city about 5pm and set off to the Agripas Boutique Hotel for the night. After the eventful day we had we ordered in a Dominoes pizza and called it a night. 

After a bit of research we decided to take on the "Free City Tour" as it covered the majority of the highlights and we really wanted to take in a lot of the city on our own. The tour was great and our guide was very informative about all the history. Link to tour:  http://www.newjerusalemtours.com/daily-tours/new-jerusalem-free-tour.html

Here is what was covered: 

ON THIS 2 HOUR WALKING TOUR WE COVER:

All four Old City quarters: Jewish, Muslim, Christian & Armenian

View of the Western (Wailing) Wall

Visit the hidden rooftops of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Excavations of Ancient Jerusalem

Incredible rooftop views: Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Dome of the

Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Mount of Olives

Jaffa Gate

David’s Citadel

Roman Cardo Maximus

Hurva (Ruined) Synagogue

Suq - Covered markets

Leave in evening head to Tel Aviv for the evening.

 

Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa

After our tour we headed to Tel Aviv. We used this day as a relaxig day just covering areas of Old Jaffa and the coast. Old Jaffa offered some great shopping and boutiques within the walls. We visited the shop of the famous http://www.frank-meisler.com/ which you must stop in to see some of the masterpieces. 

All in all, the trip was a trip of a lifetime. A little courage and you could do this trip on your own too. This book was a lifesaver for everything we needed to know. http://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Sue-Bryant/Israel-Travel-Pack/16581764?gclid=CKDw4bCkkMoCFRcYGwodG7cFNQ

Happy Traveling, 

Katrina

India- The Golden Triangle and Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal and beyond

With less than a month before we left Asia I knew I had to tick off a big bucket list item, a trip to India to see the Taj Mahal.  I decided the best time to go would be in May as it is low season. While the temps peaked at 117 degrees there, but the cold water and A/C made it worth it. I went with three other women and it was an amazing time. 

Things you should know before adding India to your bucket list:

• 3-star in India is far lower than 3-star in the states, meaning it is like a road side motel. However, the price is right.

• Hotels do not have hot water, and most hotels have the shower, toilet and sink in one area.

• Pack toilet paper (lots of it); TP is hard to come by in many places in India as people there tend to spray their underparts clean.

• The season to get sick in India is monsoon season which runs June to September. This time of the year it rains a lot and food is harder to transport, so many things get ruined and are still served. I avoided the “Delhi Belly,” as they call it, by taking a Pepto daily for precautionary measures, eating lots of bread and NO dairy. Just do not go crazy and eat off the street vendors and you will survive.

• India is cheap in a sense, but the places you will eat will be 5-star standards, so you are fine. Do not drink the water, but ensure you stay hydrated for the tours.

• Pickpocketing is the worst in Agra and Jaipur, so keep your belongings close. As far as clothes, you can see in the picture(above) we dressed modestly and covered our shoulders and knees at all times. Many times I thought it was still not enough in most temples.

This was our itinerary:

This did not include tips for guides or driver. The standard is $5 per person per day. The driver is with you the whole time and for 5 days a $100- $150 tip is the norm. Also extras such as elephant rides, temple fees and camera fees are right at $70 a person.

Day 1: Arrival-Delhi – Arrival at Delhi airport and pickup by representative, then proceed to hotel. Later city tour of New Delhi & Old Delhi covering Birla Temple, India Gate, PM House, Lotus Temple, Humayuns Tomb, Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Gandhi Memorial, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk (by walk or Cycle Riksha), one of the main oldest markets of the Delhi. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 2: Delhi-Sikandra-Agra- 205 km – After breakfast proceed to Agra. On the way visit Sikandra, the mausoleum of Great Mughal Emperor Akbar. On arrival at Agra check into hotel. Later city tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal, the symbol of love,Agra Fort and Tomb of It-Mad-Ud-Daulah. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 3: Agra –Fatehpursikri-Jaipur- 235 km – After breakfast proceed to Jaipur. On the way visit Fatehpur Sikri – Akbar old capital city. Visit Shrine of Sheikh Salim Chisti, Palace of Jodha Bai, Panch Mahal and various attractions, then continue drive to Jaipur. On arrival at Jaipur check into hotel. Evening visit to Chokhi-Dhani (an ethnic resort) to enjoy rajasthani food, cultural program, and folk dance. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 4: Jaipur-Delhi- Tour Completed – After breakfast proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the outskirts of Jaipur. Elephant ride ascent to the Fort. Amber Fort is the classic romantic rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in1592. Later visit Water Palace, Royal Palace Museum, Observatory, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall and Birla Temple. Return to Delhi. On arrival  at Delhi, dinner and then transfer to airport for return flight.

Accommodations:

Delhi – Nandkartar Suites

Agra – Taj Galaxy

Jaipur – Residence 66

We booked all the local stuff through the agency below. They have solid reviews on Trip Advisor and our experience was enough to know we made the right choice. My biggest recommendation is to get the flight from Jaipur to Delhi the last day. The roads are non-existent on that route home and two of the girls were feeling car sick from the bumpy adventure.

A-1 Tours & Travels
Shop No- 51, First Floor, Arcade International Complex, Civil Line, Ajmer Road, Jaipur- 302006
Phone No : +91-141-4108278 / 2224870
Mobile :.+91-9829014553, 9829214575
E-mail:. a1toursindia@yahoo.com or a1toursindia@gmail.com
Website: www.rajasthantraveltrip.com or www.a1toursindia.com

All in all it was an amazing trip and a MUST do. The food, people and the culture was something that will last a lifetime in memories.

Tips to stay safe: The theory is to not smile or make eye contact with men and you will be safe. I would advise DO NOT take public transit if you are a woman traveler in India.

Happy Traveling, 

Katrina