Voicy does Norway

Voicy

Voicy

Honorary Master
Joined
Sep 19, 2007
Messages
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Location
Norway
Hi friends,

In lieu of all the depressing news Ponder and a few others asked me to post a few tidbits of Viking country. I neither guarantee these posts to be interesting, nor entertaining, but I hope some of you might like some of it. Here goes:

Voicy does Norway...why the crap Norway?

I'll leave the boring details out of a public forum, but essentially I was headhunted to come and work for an engineering company via a contact as they needed guys in a niche field. 2 months later I was on a plane.

Ok so where in Norway?

We work pretty much ALL over Norway, even to the most obscure corners, but I'm based in Vesterålen. It's an island above the arctic circle which is unique in that it receives warm climate from the gulf stream that passes through it...so although we're far north, the climate is actually quite pleasant...the only of its kind along this latitude in the world. An hour's drive below us is an island range called Lofoten. I've never heard of it before coming here, but apparently it's world famous...and after visiting it, I can see why. Just do a google image search on it...I'll wait here.

This is what the little town I live in looks during autumn. Around 10DegC, but even in -10 I walk around outside in a T shirt as long as it's not windy...and for someone who normally gets manflu twice a year, every year, I haven't been sick ONCE since I've been here.
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Due to attachment limits I'll make random posts in this thread. Please let me know what's boring and what you'd want to see more of. Text vs pics etc. (or even if the attachments are too large)
 
Just rub it in our faces why don't you?

I told you in another thread that I'm coming over to visit. You'd better keep them blondes on standby!!!

Very beautiful place. Just stunning.
 
Looks awful.

How do you cope?

Don't you miss the ANC?
 
Gosh, that really is very beautiful. I have always wanted to see Scandinavia and Alaska. For some reason those areas just hold a fascination value for me.
 
Voicy said:
Hi friends,

In lieu of all the depressing news Ponder and a few others asked me to post a few tidbits of Viking country. I neither guarantee these posts to be interesting, nor entertaining, but I hope some of you might like some of it. Here goes:

Voicy does Norway...why the crap Norway?

I'll leave the boring details out of a public forum, but essentially I was headhunted to come and work for an engineering company via a contact as they needed guys in a niche field. 2 months later I was on a plane.

Ok so where in Norway?

We work pretty much ALL over Norway, even to the most obscure corners, but I'm based in Vesterålen. It's an island above the arctic circle which is unique in that it receives warm climate from the gulf stream that passes through it...so although we're far north, the climate is actually quite pleasant...the only of its kind along this latitude in the world. An hour's drive below us is an island range called Lofoten. I've never heard of it before coming here, but apparently it's world famous...and after visiting it, I can see why. Just do a google image search on it...I'll wait here.

This is what the little town I live in looks during autumn. Around 10DegC, but even in -10 I walk around outside in a T shirt as long as it's not windy...and for someone who normally gets manflu twice a year, every year, I haven't been sick ONCE since I've been here.
View attachment 232750

View attachment 232752

View attachment 232754

Due to attachment limits I'll make random posts in this thread. Please let me know what's boring and what you'd want to see more of. Text vs pics etc. (or even if the attachments are too large)
Click to expand...

Wow, beautiful. still have to go to Lofoten.

My wife and I are moving to Norway at the end of the month. I have a job in Stavanger (not in the oil industry). Really looking forward to not needing to think about things like alarms when leaving the house, being able to walk anywhere without really thinking about it etc.
 
So this is the place I call home...

View from the office:
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Our local bridge connecting Vesterålen with the next island.
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The town's local christmas tree.
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Snapped this pic from inside my bedroom.
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We have a small ski slope in our town. This is what it looks like from the top.
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There's a ferry route called the Hurtigruten. About 10 or so cruise ships travelling all along Norway. They pass through town twice a day and it's pretty cool. Check out hurtigruten.no , you can even track the ships.

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Northern lights.

The aurora borealis is extremely strong here during winter and although you could see more of it further north, over here it's portrayed pretty great with the stabby mountain range and fjords around it. Going out and filming it at night is one of my favourite things to do. These didn't come out great since I was using my compact digital (Canon Powershot S120) to shoot it with. Got a new 60D but I have NO idea how to use it. :/

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It looks really cold but so awesome.
I have always wanted to live in a small town far away from busy cities. Maybe one day.
 
kim_bcs said:
Wow, beautiful. still have to go to Lofoten.

My wife and I are moving to Norway at the end of the month. I have a job in Stavanger (not in the oil industry). Really looking forward to not needing to think about things like alarms when leaving the house, being able to walk anywhere without really thinking about it etc.
Click to expand...

Ah fantastic, congrats! Shout if you need any help with anything. Stavanger is awesome. I spent a few weeks on mountains overlooking the city.

You're going to be right next to Pulpit Rock! Google "Preikestolen" It's an awwwwesome cliff plateau with a straight drop down almost 1km down to the fjord below.

Here's some pics of Stavanger:

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Ockie said:
Gosh, that really is very beautiful. I have always wanted to see Scandinavia and Alaska. For some reason those areas just hold a fascination value for me.
Click to expand...

I visited Denmark and Sweden in 2001 and promised myself that if I ever got a job offer in Scandanavia I'd move tomorrow....so when that offer knocked on the door I couldn't say no. It wasn't easy, but sure is worth it. IT's rather ironic that the part of the world known for it's vikings as being the most ruthless and barbaric society ever...is now at the forefront of civilized life.

Ockie said:
What is the language barrier like? Do most of them speak and understand English? Do they have signs and docs in English?
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People do speak English or so they like to think. Down south it's fine, but the further north you move the worse it gets...reminds me of the Freestate actually. You can be a tourist in Norway and get by just fine on English, but make no mistake, you HAVE to learn it if you want to live here. I only speak Norwegian at work, albeit broken, but you learn to pick it up rather quickly.

Getting settled is hard. Really hard. Paying 3 month's rent for rental deposit is normal...and as a South African you can use your drivers license for 3 months then you need to redo the entire thing in Norway, from your learners license through to your practical test...at the cheap cheap price of R40k. (It includes ice skid pad driving, 1st aid, night driving 20hrs normal driving, long distance driving and risk analysis...since it's illegal to pass a traffic accident without stopping to offer assistance. Kinda neat.)
 
kim_bcs said:
Really looking forward to not needing to think about things like alarms when leaving the house
Click to expand...

This took some getting used to here - felt strange just leaving the house and shutting the door...no alarms, extra security gates, leaving the outside light on at night.
 
Voicy said:
I visited Denmark and Sweden in 2001 and promised myself that if I ever got a job offer in Scandanavia I'd move tomorrow....so when that offer knocked on the door I couldn't say no. It wasn't easy, but sure is worth it. IT's rather ironic that the part of the world known for it's vikings as being the most ruthless and barbaric society ever...is now at the forefront of civilized life.



People do speak English or so they like to think. Down south it's fine, but the further north you move the worse it gets...reminds me of the Freestate actually. You can be a tourist in Norway and get by just fine on English, but make no mistake, you HAVE to learn it if you want to live here. I only speak Norwegian at work, albeit broken, but you learn to pick it up rather quickly.

Getting settled is hard. Really hard. Paying 3 month's rent for rental deposit is normal...and as a South African you can use your drivers license for 3 months then you need to redo the entire thing in Norway, from your learners license through to your practical test...at the cheap cheap price of R40k. (It includes ice skid pad driving, 1st aid, night driving 20hrs normal driving, long distance driving and risk analysis...since it's illegal to pass a traffic accident without stopping to offer assistance. Kinda neat.)
Click to expand...

Dear lord! That is hectic! I dont know if I would be able to learn another language.
 
Go home sun, you're drunk!

So being above the arctic circle means the sun doesn't play by the rules. In winter we don't see the sun from mid November until Mid January. It gets light...but you don't actually see the sun as it stays below the horison.

Right now with it being summer, it hasn't been dark since early June. Unless it's cloudy you see the sun 24/7.

Midday in winter:

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Midnight in summer:

VNa18jw.jpg
 
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