Woot! Heisann!
Been in Norway for three weeks already? Wow! 🙂 I have seen quite a lot of the town where I’m currently based. I ‘ve been walking and sightseeing by myself, and sooner or later, I’d know the streets, shortcuts and roundabouts there are here in Bekkestua.. in Bærum.. in Akershus.. 😉
Last weekend, someone invited me for an over-night girl bonding. She’s a Filipina, and I met her on facebook. haha Ate L is one of the most welcoming and accommodating people in the world! Because of her, I got to enjoy the weekend without worrying whether I have been overspending or not. She lives in Blommenholm, a little town by the sea 4.6 kms away from Bekkestua, and about 3 kms from Sandvika, the administrative center of the municipality of Bærum.
Transportation in Norway is good, but it is undeniably and unbelievably very expensive (for a poor girl like me). They use a zoning system, just like Denmark. Transferring between zones costs you more than traveling within 1 zone, no matter how far or how near the two points are. If I travel to Oslo from Bekkestua, it costs 30 NOK one-way because they are both in Zone 1, even if they are about 14 kms away from each other. If I travel from Bekkestua to Blommenholm, it costs 50 NOK one-way because the latter is in Zone 2v.
To make a long story short, I walked from home to Ate L’s place. It was a very nice walk, I enjoyed the paths — paved roads, along highways, across fields, in the forest, up a big hill, across railways, by the coasts. It was tiring, but very fulfilling!
The distance on Google map was tricky though. My mobile GPS stopped running while passing by Bauneveien, an uphill road. I figured it was because I was walking up, and that the distance was measured by displacement. Terrains excluded. 😉 It was exciting to meet Ate L in person, as it has always been thrilling to meet people in person for the first time.
After resting a bit and watching some Filipino shows, we head off towards Blommenholm Båtforening or harbour. There you will find boats of all sizes docked in a nice marina, with swans and ducks scattered all over the place. Mountains and hills surround the area, and the Henie-Onstad Art Centre is also not very far.
The harbour was first bought by Christian Homan in 1903. It has been in the hands of a few people after that, and it has undergone many changes in the past. You can read about the history of the harbour here (in Norwegian).
I already dubbed Norway as a Land of Statues, right? Well, you will see many statues, monuments, and other work of arts in Blommenholm, including the Solskulptur (Sun Sculpture) by Arnold Haukeland:
An art museum is noticeable from below the harbour, so my companion and I walked a little bit further towards it. It is the Henie-Onstad Art Center, founded in 1968 by Sonia Henie, wife of shipping magnate and art collector, Niels Onstad.
Designed by Norwegian architects, Jon Eikvar and Sven Erik Engebretsen, the art center has been a favorite venue for exhibitions and performances. The surrounding park is an excellent picnic ground which offers a picturesque scenery, a bathing and boating coast, and a little amphitheater. There is also a nice restaurant facing the water. There were many people eating when we visited, so I guess it serves exemplary dishes.
There is no doubt that Norway is one of the best countries in the world! It’s a paradise. It is picturesque, at any angle!
We didn’t manage to enter the art center, but the things to see outside were enough to satisfy the art enthusiasts in us! 😉 I hope the kinds of ate L will multiply. The world needs more generous people like her. 🙂
Our adventure continues..
PinayOdyssey 