Winter White Norway

My last trip to Norway was much shorter than before. I went there for a 3-day meeting. Before going, I was very worried as colleagues there were telling me of 5-6 inches of snow daily and weather of anywhere between 0 to minus 15 degrees. But I was also very excited as it will be my first time to experience snow. And not just snowflakes gently falling down, mind you.. :p

It felt kinda surreal seeing the amount of snow. Everything was covered with snow. Feels unreal.. And real at the same time.

Day 1 - A Walk in the Snow

On day 1, we went for a walk out in the snow. The snow was so soft, it felt like walking on a sandy beach - like how your feet push into the sand when you walk. And because the snow was so soft and so deep, my whole leg sank into the snow at almost every step! It was quite funny though. Because everytime it happens, I gasp out of surprise. And sometimes, I had to be pulled out! Hehe. And eventhough it was something below zero degrees, we were sweating! :p


Trond and I walking carefully on the tracks, hoping not to sink into the snow at every step.


Got one leg into the snow, all the way up to my knees!


Sank again.. But this time only up to my mid calves.


Me trying to get out of the snow.


Trond had to pull me out. Haha.

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Day 2 - Making My Snow Angel and Spending Time with Tye & Eko

On day 2, I decided to make a snow angel.


They had to help me get up on the snow as it was quite high up, and with all the bulky clothing, my movement was kinda restricted.


And as soon as I stepped onto the snow, I sank all the way in. It was really very funny.






I forgot to wear my gloves! After 3 second of waving around in the snow, I thought I would have to cut off my hands due to frostbite or something like that. It was very painfully cold!


My snow angel.. :)


Then later, we went to Lily's for dinner. And I get to spend time with Tye and Eko, the 2 little devils whom I adore to bits. Their dad is a colleague of mine, who is a British. And his wife is Chinese. Lily told me that since they told the kids I was coming 2 weeks ago, they have been asking everyday if today was the day. They're just too cute! :)

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Day 3 - Skiing

Then we went skiing on day 3. It was SO TOUGH! It looks so easy but really.. Looks can be deceiving. Especially in this case. Haha.



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Day 4 - Norwegian Home-Cooked Dinner

And on day 4, Trond invited us to have home-cooked Norwegian dinner at his home with his family. In the morning, on the way to the office, we stopped by the fish market to get some salmon for dinner.



I was really excited to see all the fresh salmon (I L-O-V-E salmon), and Jon HAD to take a picture of me with the salmon. Haha!


Me pointing to whale meat. The first time some colleagues and I tried whale meat, a colleague asked, how come it tastes like beef? So we asked her, what do you think a whale is? Then, she realized they are NOT FISH. Haha!


Me trying some bacalao. Bacalao actually originated from Spain and is dried salted cod. The cod processing method was introduced to Norway at around 1640. And now, it is used in a popular dish in Norway. The recipe uses olives, tomatoes, onions and peppers. And it is VERY YUMMY!


The salmon Trond bought for our dinner. Looks so yummy! Trond actually sliced a small bit so I can eat it raw like sashimi. Hehe.


The dish Trond and wife prepared. The gravy uses Norwegian butter (very popular). It's similar to Ikea style of salmon. My favourite!


This trip was really something. There were so many firsts for me:

First experience with snow

First experience with temperature below zero degrees

First experience making a snow angel

First experience skiing

First experience trying bacalao

First experience having dinner at a typical setting of Norwegian family house with typical Norwegian food

:)

I Don't Believe in Working on Birthdays

Even if it isn't my own! Haha.

It was the bf's birthday last week. That was the main reason why I took some days off. Apart from the reason that I really needed a break. (I applied for the leave one month in advance!)

Happy birthday, sayang! May all your dreams and wishes come true. Then we can get your Ferrari, my Lamboghirni, and my Bentley. Hehe. *muah*

Update #2

I have been ridiculously busy.. I cannot remember what I did beyond four weeks ago. Except for some CNY lion dances and open houses.

** Warning: Long post ahead! **

Approximately 5 weeks ago, I had an open house. It wasn't really a CNY open house. But just some makan-makan get-together we had since the stepmum is around. We catered food from Razi (contact provided by the bf's mama) and the food was soooooo good! I am salivating while typing this and thinking of the food. Haha! We had nasi dagang, and nasi kerabu and roti jala etc.

Some time ago, a few colleagues of mine were recommending a nasi dagang restaurant near the office and I was quite surprised that there is a (I assumed) Kelantanese restaurant near the office. And even more surprised when they told me that it is a Chinese restaurant. So I told them, wait 'til you try authentic nasi dagang and nasi kerabu prepared by a Kelantanese.

So I invited them to the openhouse. And they actually left da-pao-ing food! Hehe. Thanks, babes for coming all the way. I KNEW the trick was to tempt you with nasi dagang and nasi kerabu. Hehe.






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4 weeks ago, I was in Norway for a meeting. Before I went, I was told that it has been snowing 5-6 inches daily and the temperature is on an average, 15 below 0. I have never been to anywhere so cold. And I was really REALLY worried before going.

But all the worry was for nothing. Apparently, the week we were there, it was really good weather. And the Norwegians kept ending work at 2-3 PM to go skiing because the weather was really good.

Stories and photos from winter-white Norway in the next post. :)

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3 weeks ago, I was so busy preparing for the Norwegian Crown Prince Couple's visit to Malaysia and to the office. In one day, I had to go from a meeting, to the rehearsal, and then escape the rehearsal to go to another meeting, then go back to the rehearsal several times! That week was absolute craziness for me. But in the end, it was worth the effort. There is a very interesting article and photo in a Norwegian daily (it's in the office). Will scan a copy of it and post it here. :)

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2 weeks ago, I was in Bangkok. It was the first workshop for the implementation project in Thailand. And the first time testing out my new role as Assistant Project Manager. :)

The MD singing (with full expression) a song he made up with the go-Live date for the project. Yii zip song thula kom. Dai, dai dai! Which means 22nd of October. Can, can can! It was really sporting of him. :)


The project team - consisting of members from Dubai (an Indian who is based in Dubai), Norway, and Malaysia (an Indian who is based here, in Malaysia as well as local Malaysians).


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Last week, I finally took some days off. Didn't do anything much. But I got the opportunity to take photos of the bf's 9-month old niece, Atiqah. She is soooooo adorable! And as cute as a button!

She absolutely loves the camera. Everytime the camera clicked, she laughed. It was really funny!