Where to?

"Do you have a student price?"


"No, we don't have that."


"Well, you mean 150Kr. to Bodo, right? "


"No, exactly it will cost 153Kr."


"OK. Here, you can see a box which has 150Kr. out of half, 1 and 5 Kr, which I was given from the people on the street. Is it OK, if I pay for you of this small momey?"

"OK."

"You can count on it one by one, if you want. But I am sure that there are 153 Kr. exactly! "

"No, it's OK."



When I paid it on the ferry, the crew didn't even count on that small money if it is 153 exactly or not. I have been thinking about the flight which I booked on my birthday to London, if I really want to take. The next day when I booked flight I have started to think about the possibility to get to all the way by bicycle. Almost everybody when I meet on the road from Tromsø to Bodø they said that you should either take a buss or ferry to south so that you can possible by bicycle.


Since I might waste of those money which I paid for the flight, I thought that I have to correct those money which I have paid to manage it somehow. The thing which I figured out was that to make a charity out of the people in society. To tell the truth, I did three times trying to be given some money from the people on the street, actually I was standing in front of the super market. As a result of my charity activity, I took about 900Kr. tortally. It was amazed for me because I didn't thought that I can get quite a lot of momey from the people.


What I felt from the experience what I have done in this week was that making a money from the people as a charity was not bad thing, especially if people really want to support me to be able to help going all the way up to Edinburgh. But in my opinion, most of the people who gave some money to me was they thought I don't have enough money to live. It doesn't matter if I am thought from the people either I am begger or traveler. But, I felt as a begger when I make that activity. That was not good thing and I couldn't find out the way that I am doing charity activity to show to the people that I am the person who want to go bicycle all the way to Edinburgh. In a short term, I am not going to make an activity which I have done before I can do it as a traveler.



Before I took on the ferry I have been thinking about the possibility of the ferry to south. But, after 10 minutes later since I took a ferry I thought that I don't want to take a ferry again. Yesterday, the weather was being bad and ferry is all the time up and down and actually I did several times to thrown up to be empty of my stomach. Teh ferry took for four hours and I didn't do anything except for just lying on the sheet.

In the ferry, what I find out that I booked a flight from Bodø to London but that was not only one flight. The flight starts 10am from Bodø to Oslo and then from Oslo to London in the afternoon. As soon as I get to Bodø I went to check my flight it I can take a flight only from Bodø to Oslo. And a woman at the counter she told me that I can take a part of flight to Oslo without extra fee to take.



I have several reason to do, firstly I don't want to waste of money which I have already paid. Secondly, I might cannot find out the cost performance if I buy a two new tires for winter, which cost about 600Kr. The third reason is about the weather. I got a few sunney days in Lofoten but was not good to travel especially going by bike. In addition to the weather condition the tempreture is very low and it is almost frozen when I try to sleep in a tent, which is not nice! Of course, it is pity that I moght not go all the way by bike but i believe this is one of the best choice what I can do at this moment.

Both ferry and train which I didn't pay but it is not hard to get a ticket from the station. But I have already paid for the flight which I have a reason to take.

When only we see in economic terms it as follows.

Flight which I booked: 1230Kr.(paid)

Winter tire(for two): 1200Kr.

Ferry to Trondheim: 700Kr.

Charity activity supported by people in Norway: 900Kr.

Thinking about of economic is important but it should be a part of the reason of traveling as long as I am traveler.

Yuji @ Bodø, Nordland, Norway



PS. I have to find a place to stay till 20 of Oct, which must be hard!!

Value of This Journey

My new Norwegian Phone Number: (+47)90658542 (send me a message if you need! Normally, I haven't turn it on to save electricity)

I have been thinking about the value of this journey since I booked a flight from Bodo to London on 20th of October. People have different opinion and value.

To tell the truth, I am still wondering if I go by bike all the way to Edinburgh even though I booked a flight.

The option which I have at the moment either take a flight from Bodo or all the way by bicycle.

My first plan of this journey was only three month from Istanbul to UK through Eastern, Middle and Western Europe which is the different route that I have been taken. After I got to UK I was supposed to find a job to live and for the next travel to Africa as well as going back to Japan.

However, though I have been traveling about six month, I am still in Northern Norway. If I go by bike all the way to UK I have to spend another 2 month at least, which means the day when I get to UK will be just before Christmas!

Though my journey has been quite long but I don't want to cut it short the rest of Norway as well as Western Europe. I don't mind if I cannot go Africa of this year even though that is the continent where I want to work in near future. But I feel like regret when I thought back to this journey 10-20 years later.

When I think about of this journey as a project, the value of this journey is that "all the way by bike" isn't it? People has different opinion but I know one person that definetely say when I back to Japan "You are gave up of your journey in Norther Norway! You cannot continue one thing more than 6 month aren't you? " some people say the value of traveling means "Enjoy!" Of course, I have quite a lot of nice experiences what I haven't done in my life. But sometimes it was hard, which I noticed this is either travel or journey but it is much more close to Life.

I have enough reason all the way by bike to UK.

A lot of friend living in southern Norway are waiting for me.

I have a friend in Denmark, Germany as well as Holland.

In addition to those motivation, I have to learn French before going home.

One thing which I care at this moment is that the ticket of the flight, which cannot refund. The price of the ticket cost 123 GBP (123oNOK), which can live for about 3 weeks for my journey.

What I felt from this experience that I have still not found out how money is important.

Of course, I have still some money to keep traveling on the way but I have to get it back that money if I didn't take a flight, which I have been thinking and actually a little bit acting. But, I am going to write about it in detail in next time.

However, it has been snowy since few days ago and I cannot ride on my bike at the monent. If the weather won't be fine I will take a ferry from here to Bodø, which I have nothing to see in Lofoten but I probably have another chance to come to here even if it is not near future.

Making a Life as a Traveler.

Yuji @ Svolvær, Lofoten, Norway

Lofoten

Fine, Fine, Fine, Rain, Snow, Snow, this is the weather for the past six days.

Yesterday, I arrived at Lofoten islands which is very beautiful place in northern Norway as I heard. However, the weather in this region for past three days has been bad that I got some snows on the road.

Cycling on the snow is not easy and not safe especially when cars and trucks come from the behind. I heard from somebody about the tire which is used for winter cycling like cars but I am still can possible to go with normal tires. And actually the price of that tire is 3-5 times more expensive than the normal one.

The thing which I really noticed during these 6 days were that almost all peformance of the travel has decided by the weather. I said the same thimg before! Especially the weather in here means either very good or very bad.

At night, when I try to sleep in a tent which feels like very cold. Fortunately, I got a place to stay inside of the house in yesterday which I asked at a house near the road. Otherwise I have to sleep on the snow.

Funny thing which I experienced few days ago was that night I slept at a resting place for passengers to wait for a ferry(on the way to Harstad). The foor of the place was heeting all the night long, which was too warm to sleep! I couldn't sleep well at that night.

The next night, I had to sleep on the snow because I cannot find any place to stay at that night. When I was riding on my bike in the evening, the road has started to fleeze and slipy and I thought it was dangerous to keep riding on and I stopped and started to find a place to put up my tent. But there was no place uncovered by snow. That's why I had to sleep on the snow. I couldn't sleep well neither.

Yesterday I was really lucky to find a place to sleep at Hans's place who I asked if I stay or not. His family was very kind and I got a bed to sleep which was the third time to succeeded to stay at someones place on the spot. They gave some cloth and new shoes for winter and I really happy to stay with them.

But before that in the afternoon I also got a place to take some rest from a kind woman who I met on the busstop when I was resting. She offered me to stay for a while and even I got a shower and flesh foods!

People say that you are late for a month or two to travel in this part of the region but I don't think so. Even I couldn't see any beautiful place at Lofoten, I really feels like happy to meet those nice people.

From here to Bodø, I have several options to get there which take a ferry from Svalver, Stamsund, and Moskenes. I will decide depends on the weather and condition. Whichever, it took about 130 km from here to Moskenes which is not too far at the end of the Lofoten.

The flight ticket which I booked from Bodø to London is 20th of Oct. that means that I haev still have enough time to wait for a sun in Lofoten. But if the weather going to bad I will take a ferry from here.

I have to find a confortable place to sleep!

Yuji @ Svolver, Lofoten, Norway

The Day - 3rd of October-

Three days have passed since I truned to be 22. I made a short history for three days. Time is always flowting. Just like an ice on a fjord.

Snow has come and the sun is also comes for past three days even though today is a lottle bit rainny.

The day of my birthday, I left from Tromsø which the last three day I stayed with a Polish girl and have a small Polish community at her doom building. One of a person who I met there, he is traveling around all over the world that I haven't met that kind of person in Japan. Not only just him, I met a quite a lot of people who is traveling from one country to another without any plan to do next. The students from Poland and those people who I met there, they normally doesn't have any plan to do next for which are different type of students who I have known in Japn. I didn't ask them why? But I felt that haveing a dream or the thing that I want to do next is the best way to live from my experience not only just in Europe but also in Japan. My dream at the moment to get to Edinburgh!!

The weather on 3rd of Oct. was very vert fine. I left their place about 2 o'clock and kept riding on my bike as far as I could. About 30km from the city, I took a small ferry. After I got to the other side of the land, there was a shop and I thought I should buy a beer to celebrate for my birthday! Beer in Norway is very expensive compared to other countries, actually that was the second time to buy a beer from a shop. When I buy a beer at the shop, I said to the shopkeeper that "Today is my birthday! That is why I buy a beer! " and the woman surprised and sung to me "Happy birthday to you! (The song, you know!)" And she asked me if I want to drink a cup of coffee inside her place and I took a rest in there with some biscket and sausage!, which I feels like really fine! When I left there with appreciation, she gave me some foods and post card in Tromsø which I wanted to buy!

After there when I tried to find a place to sleep, I saw a smog from a grass to make a fire and then I decided that I would ask them if I join in there. They are two couples from Norway and one is from Tromsø to visit his brother who is living there with his wife. They are very kind and I said today is my birthday I am very happy to meet you. Then, a man who can speak English fluently gave a glass of wine and they celebrated to my birth. Since the sky was getting dark, I asked them if I stay there with my tent and they said "OK! you can use with my tent!" To prepare for a dinner, they made a grill of meat of reindeer and sheep to bake it in the land with hot stones, which is traditional way! I haven't seen the way that they did. I don't know how many hours they put that meat in the ground but it was very hot and tasty! Even before I saw the meat on the table, I couldn't believe it if it edible one or not. The meat of reindeer was a second time of this journey and even I got a beer from them instead of my food bank(the name of my food box).

At night, there was a full moon. So beautiful and peaceful.

One thing that I want to mention about me is that I don't know why but somebody in Norway who I don't know told to the radio station about me and some people know about me. One of the person was that the sister of a woman who I met there. When she talked on the phone to her sister, she knows about me! It was really amazed! According to her, sister's information, "one guy who is from Japan traveling by bike without a lot of cloth, when you saw a guy take his warm" or something like that. That's why I got a wool sweather as a birthday present from them. They also asked me if I need a very warm suits which seems like an astronaut to use for cold winter but I refused to take it. It was worm one but it was heavy.

The day was really nice and unforgattable birthday in my life.

One the way to Harstad, there was a lot of snows on both side of the road especially when I cross over a hill and sometimes it is frosen and I have to keep my eyes on the road. Otherwise it may fall in down to the ground.


One thing what I noticed at Tromsø was that people in Japan is rich and actually I met a girl who is from Japan studying at University in Tromsø. I also noticed staying with Polish people.
Rich, what? I am sure that Japan is one of a rich country in the world. And I am pretty sure that Norway is also one of a rich country in the world.
When I meet somebody and they normally asled me "Where are you from? " And I said "I am from Japan!" And most probably they thought that this guy is from rich counry.

Nobody can choose a place where they were born.

I know Japan is a rich country and my journey is also rich for me (not for Japanese people) but I am not coming to here to be able to tell the people how Japan is rich neither I am rich. (I am not rich, actually, but depends on the person who feel like. I will say I am not rich as a Japanese.) I am coming to here to buy a new experience which I haven't done in Japan, an island the other side of the Earth.

Yuji @ Harstad, Norway

The First Decision on 22 years old

I have just booked a flight from Bodø to London.

Time is limited.
I have to go back to Japan on next April.

Money is limited.
I have to work to continue on my travel.

Heart is limited.
When I meet a nice people, as Ula in here, my heart would close to full of gratitude which I cannot explain neither tell them.

Power is limited.
I am not assure that if my right leg starts to pain again.

Planning has been bad, but I have enjoyed traveling on this new continent!!

I have satisfied with my journey for 6 months.

One thing that I want to mention about those people who has expected me to visit your place.

I am sorry!!! I will be back in next few years. Let me know when you come to Tokyo!

The last part of my journey is in Lofoten for which must be suitable as the end of the story.

Last two weeks in Norway would be good weather, hopefully!!

Yuji @ with Ula in Tromsø, Norway

The First City in Norway-Tromsø

On the way to came to the city centre after I crossed the bridge on the main road, I noticed this is the city and I came to Tromsø!

In general, people say that northern most city is the world is Hammerfest. And I noticed when I was in there, Hammerfest is a kind of city, where about 9,000 inhabitants are living in. Even before get to the city, there was only rocks and hills. The first impression when I got to Hammerfest was that a city which is islated from the world. It is officially city but for me town is much more suitable word to describe about Hammerfest.

But in here in Tromsø, as I told you above the road to city centre after when I cross a bridge (here is rial isolation because it's island) smells in a city. There was a lot of buss, anyway a lot of people!, student, shops which feels like shining that are enough reason to think about here is the city regardless of the function of it. Even inhabitants are about 65,000, which has enough reason to call as a city even though it is small.

Compared to Tokyo (How big is in Tokyo!), here is much more confortable to live because it is not so complicated. For example, in Tromsø, there is a university called University of Tromsø, which of course is the only university in the whole city. On the way to get to here, I asked somebody that "Where is the university?" And everybody understand that he wants to know about the place of university of Tromsø. And they said the direction to get there without any question about the university which I wanted to know. If I have asked same question in Tokyo, most probably people ask me "Which university that you want to go?". I don't know exactly but we have quite a lot of university in central area. It might be 50-100, especially in some university they don't have one campus at one place of the city.

However, if I would say some complaint about Tromsø to call to a city is that there is no train connection from here, even though ferry is the similar function to train but it is not popular to use as we do in Japan. In order to meet somebody in Eastern Europe, I promised to the person that we will meet the station. I felt the same feeling as I wrote about the university because normally in a city there is only one rail station. If I call my friend to meet in Tokyo and I said only that "Will we meet the station?" And my friend probably replied a little bit angry "A what? which station?"

The first night with my host in Tromsø, we talked about the flight to London, which is directly from here to London cost only 500Kr. with bike fee. The day was on 3rd of October and which is good plan to get to London on my birthday!! But I didn't buy it. One reason, even though the tempreture in outside is only 5 degrees more or less but I want to go to Loforten islands, which everybody say "You should go there! It is really beautiful." Seeing is believing. I have no reason to skip it and I got a lot of people who are supposed to meet me in southern part of Norway, that's why I want to continue of my journey. Well if I drop out of this journey to continue to Edniburgh I will take a train or ferry, which seems much more interesting to get there, won't it?

The first day in Tromsø was fine which is only one time in a 2 week according to my host but it is true! Both yesterday and today were cloudy and rain & snow. I feel sometimes like winter comes. I have been to late to travel in this country. Everybody knows.

Warm people is everywhere I really enjoyed to stay with a family from Slovakia, they are living in Tromsø to study and work. My value about student has been little bit changed since I met a lot of people going to school after they got married. How family is warm!

Yuji @ University of Tromsø, Norway

PS. I saw some polar light the day before to came Tromsø which was not the same light that I thought so. Even so, I kept outside for half an hour to see the dance in the sky!!

Possibility

Since my right leg has started to hurt I have to take some rest to stretch to keep up to the top! It sounds like tough, in some part it is but it is possible.
I threw a lot of things that I have kept on the way to have light bike at Alta, that is why I can still possible to keep ride on my bike.

At Alta, one of the biggest city in Northern Norway, I met an old couple who hosted me for two nights when I rest on a bus stop in the town. As the same thing that I have experienced before left their home they told me that "Do you want to take a ferry from here to Tromsø? I will pay." Interestingly, the former host at Hammerfest, he also told me that "Do you want to take a ferry from here to Alta instead of going by bike in the rainny day!" To tell the truth, I couldn't make an conclusion by myself because I wanted to go by bike wherever I can especially in northern Norway the view is so nice and a lot of place to worth visiting. At the last part of my host at Alta she tried to give some money to keep continue of my journey. I have no reason to refuse but I hesitate to take it because I can use money either which I have or from my parents if I really need it. But at the same time I am tired to make a reason to refuse of it with some problem of English. Finally I took the money which she gave me, it will work for nearly one week of my journey. People are kind in Norway I felt or I would say in country side as far as I know(I haven't visited so called big city yet.)

Even I refused there offer my leg has been still hurted and I am very slow. At this moment I am keep more or less 50km per day, that is the sustainable distance for my journey. Few days ago when I was on the very fine autum day in Norway. I visited a husky farm to see how it looks like. They are used for husky race in winter season and I told two tips from the farm. One is about northern light. The sun is going down to horizen at 7-8 o'clock in here. I heard from somebody that in northern Norway the sun going one hours faster in every week. I am not sure if it is true but I am sure that the sun going down very very earlier than before. According to an information from the girl at husky farm that she told me she watched some northern light in two days before the day! Most probably I was sleeping in the tent!! And the another good tip was about greciar called Øksfjordjøkelen which can see from the road about 8 km from the main road. So I thought when I was there I can see northern light above the greciar! That would be so nice! So I finally decided to visit greciar how it looks like. Surely, I could see that greciar which is only greciar connected to fjord in Europe as I heard before and was really nice! To be able to get to the closest point of greciar I had to walk for three hours from the parking place. The day was so fine and I left my rain proof for my tent with my bike. After 1 hour have passed since I started from the parking place I put my tent hopeing that I can see northern light at evening. Unfortunately, rain has started in the middle of the night and everything that I had at that time has started to wet. The rain kept continue to the early morning I couldn' sleep well at that night because I felt cold. Even though rain has continued to in the morning, the weather seemed be fine especially above the greciar and I finally decided to approach it. Two hours later from the place where I put up my tent, I could get to the greciar! It was the first greciar of my life and was really beautiful!! The pass was a little bit slippy but it managed to get! After taking some pictures I left there with very fine heart.

That's why I haven't seen any northern light in my life at the moment. Even last night there were several stars in the sky and I tried to watch in the sky from my tent, which means I was our from my tent of my half body and at the same time the rest of half inside to get warm. I woak up two-three times at night but I couldn't see at all. That why I need a time to sleep in this afternoon actually. Anyway, today is very fine day and hopefully that I can see some northern light in this night.

The thing that I want to say something about for my journey is that I am still keep continue on my way to Tromsø and Lofoten and then to take a ferry to Bodø. I am pretty not sure if this is the last part of my bike or not. But before watching northern light somewhere in northern norway I have enough reason to stay here even though it will take a long time, that is the thing what I am really looking forward to watching.

The weather decided the performance of my journey which I thought I had already known but especially in Norway, having a lot of rain I feel like really that true!!

My journey will continue to Edinburgh.

Yuji @Storslett

PS. Happy Birthday to my father on 26th of Sept. !!