Yellowstone 170926 Going to the airport

Yellowstone 170927-171005

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The sun sets as my train arrives

I love the globes hanging between the Cental Station and the Arlanda Bus terminal in Stockholm.

Decorations in one of the hallways at Arlanda Airport

The same hallways as above

I brought my laptop and pad to kill some time while waiting for departure.

© NF Photos 170906

As my first flight was leaving very early I spent the night at the airport.

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Reflection at Kagoshima airport

Japan 160122-160204
Bird Photography trip

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© NF Photos 160126, Kagoshima airport, Kyushu,

Some reflections at the Kagoshima airport on our way back to Tokyo. Tried to get a selfie in the mirror below the clock. Only half of me is visible ☺

I had some fun with this clock, Like to see it then o HERE

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Japan 160122-23 Arlanda to Tokyo

Japan 160122-160204
Bird Photography trip

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© NF Photos 160122-23

As I arrived at Arlanda in good time I had some time to check the airport out. Mostly when I get there it is very late so stores are closed. This time I spotted this artwork in glass reflected in the mirror on which it was placed. 

I met our group at the gate and we boarded at normal time. I had a window seat.  On our trip south we flew over the Öresunds bridge that goes from Malmö in Sweden to Kopehagen in Denmark. I did notice there are a large windmill park as well. 

Then we landed in Frankfurt as scheduled at 15,40 and met with our tourguide and the second last member of the group. The last one will meet us in Tokyo. He is from the states.

We left Frankfurt at 18,00 h for an 11h long trip to Tokyo. 

Below, leaving Frankfurt. 

Long flights is not fun. It is a large plane and with a window seat I had to climb over two persons when I needed to go where I needed. 

We were served dinner and after that they shut out the light pretending it was midnight. But we were heading towards the light. We landed in Tokyo at one a´clock. Found the guide and she took us, by bus, to the national part of the airport where we should stay the night. At this point a shower was a heavenly thing. 

In the afternoon we had the first information meeting in the lobby. And after that it was dinner. And a first serve of Japanese cooking. First time ever I tasted an octopus.

After dinner I went down to the Domestic hall where they also had shops and I bought myself some Coke to drink as I was very thirsty. It was my first purchase using yen. The people did not speak English so we used hands and feet to do it. :) It worked well and everybody seemed it was fun. 

Then time to sleep, on the floor, Japanese style.

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22/1: Resdag. Flyg från Stockholm/Köpenhamn via Frankfurt

23/1: Ankomst Tokyo, natt där

22-23 januari

Idag väntar en lång resdag, som tar oss via Frankfurt där gruppen sammanstrålar och sedan vidare över många tidszoner österut, innan vi landar i Tokyo på lördag lunchtid lokal tid (tidig morgon svensk tid). I Tokyo tar vi in på hotell i väntan på vidare flyg söderut till ön Kyushu på söndag, då fotograferingen äntligen kan påbörjas.

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Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred 150714

Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred. 150714
© NF Photos 150714

Two days ago we took the car and went to Gripsholms Castle. It is located in Mariefred at the lake Mälaren. It takes about an hour and a half to go there by car. It is an old royal castle. The first parts was built in 1370:s.

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The first view of Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred when we arrived.

A little bridge leading to the  greenhouse with a nice fence and sky reflections in the water.

 One side of the castle and a part of the park surrounding it.

The same area as above looking from the castle. You find another, smaller one, on the other shore. It is named Gripsnäs. It is a private mansion.

One of the rooms in the castle. Seem to be one of the bedrooms.

On the third floor the Castle have a theater. On a rare occasion's they still use it. I would love to go behind it and see how it works. 

 Three mirrors between decor pillars reflects the opposite side of the wall above the spectator grand stand

And outside the Castle area is another interesting thing. You can go with a steam engine train on a narrow track. It is a working museum. :)  Steam train

The trip back home was not all that fun. Started to rain as soon as we left Mariefred. And sometimes really hard showers. I had to stop twice as I did not see the road.  :(

Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred Sweden
© NF Photos 150714

This is just a brief note of what there are to see. The castle host a large collection of paintings of royalties from all over Europe. So the walls are all covered with more then 4000 paintings. All portraits of kings and queens and other noble people.


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150311 Varanger , Oslo to Katrineholm

Varanger, Norway 150305-150311 

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© NF Photos 150311

Slept a bit on a sofa on second floor where there are no drought. But it is not really comfortable. I was awake to catch the first morning bus to Oslo train station. It departed at 5.30. Not much traffic at that time so I was in Oslo around 6.15.

Following the light from buses to trains. Image to the right.








I knew there would not be any trains for a while so I had time to look around a bit. It was nice to see the sun rising from different places in the station and from the platform. 

I was lucky this time. They opened the ticket office at 7.00 and there was a train departing at 7.32.










A view at an old Station seen from inside train at a stop.


 Had a nap on the train and was in Katrineholm at 12,09. Took a long time but I did not have to change trains. And I had a row of seats for myself.  Then I only had to catch a bus to get home. 

What I did in the afternoon? Guess! Slept of course. 

I was not the only one taking a nap on the train.

Catching light

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150306 Varanger, Norway. Gardermoen to Båtsfjord

Varanger, Norway 150305-150311 
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© NF Photos 150306
For maps see blogpost Varanger

I did sleep on a couch but woke up because of cold drafts from a corridor so I had to move. But I got some sleep anyway. In the morning, after checking in, I met with my travel guide and fellow travellers. Lots of planes was cancelled due to the Norwegian pilots strike. see image of scedule reflected in airport,  but we was airborne according to schedule. It took two hours to get to Kirkenes. But in a way the trip was a disappointment. I had expected to see the mountain range but we travelled over Sweden and low country. I did not see mountains until we
got very close to Kirkenes. 

Image to the left, Varanger from above a few min before landing. 

After we picked up the rented cars we took off to Båtsfjord.

To start with it was a beautiful road,  now and then close to rivers and the arctic sea.

The sun came out occasionally and we made a stop at a frozen river with some water still flowing down a small fall.  First stop was at Skoltefossen.

When arriving at Varangerbotn we took a lunch break. And then continued inland due north west. We made a few photo stops and once we did see moose. A cow and half grown calf. 

31 km from Båtsfjord the road was closed due to snowy condition. There was a road barrier over the road. No passing permitted until they cleared the road of snow.  It was very windy and slippery and traffic had to wait to go in a caravan behind a truck with a snow blower the rest of the way. So we had to wait 1.5h before we could continue and then it was already dark. There was some piles of snow outside the house with the waiting room. The light from the room lit it up and I took some shots. People wondering why I shot them. But what I saw was not piles of  snow, I saw this: Watching. 


When the truck arrived it did not take long before we reached Båtsfjord. We arrived at the hotel around 18.00h. Got our rooms and took a quick shower before dinner was served at 19.00h.

After dinner we had an info meeting and was given our warm overalls to use in the hide. Well, that was kind of fun. You really feel clumsy in that suit. But it turned out to be great.  Then we were all very tired and forgot we was about to check for aurora.

I got to bed rather early as we were to meet again at 05.00h to go to the first session in hide. 

Winter in Varanger

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150305 Varanger Norway, Katrineholm to Gardermoen. Oslo

Varanger, Norway 150305-150311 

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© NF Photos 150305

I woke up at 6 and started to get everything ready for departure.  My daughter wrote me that there were trouble with SJ, the trains, now. I´m going nuts L I don´t really want any more trouble after the plane got grounded. (Norwegian pilots on strike)  But it turned out ok and I could go with the bus and train as scheduled.  I had window seat but dirty windows. Sun shining.

In the seat in front of me 2 young women was travelling. Both with computers and rarely spoke. Unless they talked about something on the screens.  In fact almost everybody on the train was sitting with computers and, or, phones. 

I had prepared my meal for today and ate  a little before I arrived at Oslo S around 14,15h.

 I walked around for a bit to investigate how to behave when I shall return. Toilet cost money of  course. I did not want to exchange money for the few days of this trip. But I could buy something for the EURO I brought with me and that way get some coins.  I found the place where to buy tickets for the return ride. But the timetable was not great. Either an early bird or a night owl.

I had planned to stay 2h in Oslo but it seemed so boring, overcast weather and large streets in the nearby area,  so I took the bus to the airport. Did not really matter if I was bored in Oslo or the Gardermoen airport. 

On the bus to Gardermoen Airport I spotted some cool buildings. They would have been worth exploring I think.  Image taken from inside the bus. The driver called them "Bar Code buildings" or something like that. 

I was quite amazed by this set of indoor clouds. Looked cool. 

Now I´m writing and I found out a while ago I can check in the bag so I don´t have to worry about it during the night.

I always sleep on a bench at airports, it became a habit as planes always go early in the morning. But the chairs meant for resting in Gardermoen was located at the tunnels where to exit the airport and it was cold . Later on I found another place to stay until morning and the time to go through security.  Everything went well and I met with the group. 

Thirsty or hungry? You can always get a drink and something to eat in Gardermoen :)

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140916 Queensland Lotus bird Lodge to Cairns

Queensland, Australia 2014-09-05--09-25
140916 day 12 Tuesday
© NF Photos 140916
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We had an early cup of coffee at 6.00h.  Then we had a walk the path around the Lagoon while the sun was rising. A very nice walk indeed. Wandering Whistling-Duck in the Lagoon, to the right.

After breakfast, at 8.00, we started our trip back to Cairns. A, roughly, 450 km trip. What was significant today was all roadworks and dust. When we went up north it was weekend and no roadwork. So, a huge difference. Our first stop was in Musgrave to fuel the cars.

And, what is it about litter and rubbish bins???? Really!
 
We continued south and made a few stops to streach our legs.

This fence and gate makes me wonder how often this gate is used. The tree is growing right throw it.

Seem to be popular to be out walking

This image kind of have it all for todays trip. Roadwork , dust, sunshine . And take a look at the tractors front wheels. I´m not sure I would trust it much. We actually past this place almost driving in the forest to the left. (See explanation in Micks comment below in the comment forms. )

It is hard work today. Lunch in the van is needed. Provided of our hostess in Lotus Bird Lodge.

Later in the afternoon we took a break at a bar. Roadside bar? Was easier to get a drink then having a cup of coffee. And no icecream :(
And, well, can´t help but wonder what happened to this guy.

 Back in Cairns I took a quick walk on the Esplanade before dinner and bed.
Night in Acacia Court Hotel, Cairns.

 Lotus Bird Lodge Lagoon in morning backlight

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