One company that is thinking globally is Bundy. Look at my Bundy standing prouder than a Honeymooner’s 🍆 in a little village in Norway 🇳🇴. Straya! 🇦🇺
I’m moving down the Oslo fjord to Fjellstrand, which is a wooded little village, and it’s own beach for more Mokki (cottage life) - although Norwegians don’t appear to have saunas in their houses like Finns do. This is the best weather in the Nordic countries for over 25 years, and being Australian, I can’t not be living the beach life. It’s 30 degrees Celsius, and not a cloud in the sky! The West coast fjords might have to wait.
Bergen, on the Norwegian West coast (see map above), where I was headed, gets a lot of rain. For example it’s 17 degrees, overcast today, and raining tomorrow in Bergen, whilst it will be 30 degrees sunny here, protected by the mountains. The weather is highly variable as you would expect from the Atlantic coast. From Bergen, Norway’s second biggest city, you can get the famous cruises to the North, and see those amazing fjords that Norway is famous for. Plus, a lot of those Instagram worthy photographs are to be had near there. Norway tourism has it all covered, from well catered cruises to the fjords and Northern Lights for old people, adventure activities for younger people, and then in winter there are all the winter sports that Norwegians win all the medals in. They are very proud of this fact, being a small nation of only five million people. It’s kind of like the New Zealand’s All Blacks in rugby!
Link for the ferries to Scotland: http://www.ferryreservations.co.uk/ports/lerwick.htm
There is another way out from Bergen if you wish to take an old viking sea route to the UK. There are historically close ties between Scotland, and Norway. Well, literally, because genetically the Shetland Islanders, are Norwegian, descendants of vikings. Vikings used this as a base to raid further South in summer. As you can see from the map its closer to Norway, than continental Europe. Today, its only an 11 hour ferry to Lerwick, and 12 hours to Aberdeen. I've heard many businesses in Scotland, particularly some Scottish distilleries, wanted to break off from the UK (especially, because of Brexit), as most of their products are exported to Norway, and the rest of the EU. Long term that would of been a great financial option, as you would imagine how many businesses, including financial services jobs, would have headed to Scotland from the UK. In the end, I guess old people ( young people are leaving Scotland) thought of their pensions from England.
William Wallace (see above) and Robert the Bruce, would be turning in their graves! I guess its the case of, "We will keep our lives, but they will never take our pensions!"
Next time I come this way, I will strongly consider taking the ferry to Scotland, as I would love to go there too.
Fjellstrand is about 9km south of where I was staying at Flakebekk on the 750 bus route. There are a little over a thousand people, but its growing in popularity - the school has been re-opened, and the kindergartens are full. The view of the Oslo fjyord is actually better here, and they get the full western sunsets. There is a grocery store and a cafe/bar.
Obviously when I saw this great Australian brand, Bundaberg ginger beer, I had to have a taste of Australia - tasted so good!
This cafe here is sought of a gathering point for the community. When I came back after the beach I noticed that locals were all drinking beer at this long table. When somebody walked past they were greeted, and often sat down for a drink. So, the town is very friendly, and inclusive. Inclusivity, is a big part of Norwegian culture - its important that everybody feels part of society. For instance kids are learning sign language at an early age. Also nearly everybody kid goes to public school, however there are selective schools too.
A big difference between Australia and Norway is the Female Workforce Participation Ratio - in other words about 80% of women work compared to 57% in Australia. Note Norwegian women are working full time, not part time. So, kids are in child care at a very early age - even at one years of age (as women get one year maternity year). Feminism is very strong here, and promoted by the State.
The sunset from my AirBnB porch is really nice. However, Norwegian houses, are built to keep heat in, not out, so they are quite hot in summer.
