| Merilyn is Indonesian Chinese and lives in Singapore, but | | | | during winter it rains more than it snows, and the |
| prefers life in the Northern hemisphere, namely in | | | | annual rainfall often reaches a staggering 2250 mm. |
| Bergen city on the west coast of Norway. When I met | | | | Merilyn however, has no complaints about the |
| Merilyn to hear about her Nordic adventures, she | | | | weather. She thinks the rain helps keep the city |
| spoke about Bergen and Norway with such passion | | | | sparkling clean and as long as you have proper |
| and excitement that I understood this place is very | | | | clothing, you can still keep dry while being outside. She |
| special to her. So why is an Asian girl so fascinated by | | | | fondly recalls watching small children dressed in their |
| this cold city in the far reaches of Northern Europe? I | | | | cute rain coats, playing with the puddles on the streets. |
| would soon find out. | | | | She thinks Norwegians have found a way to live with |
| How did you first decide to visit Norway? | | | | this climate and weather that can be rather extreme |
| 'During my design studies in San Francisco, I got to | | | | at times. 'They know how to dress to cope with the |
| know a Norwegian graphic designer who invited me to | | | | wet conditions and sometimes freezing temperatures'. |
| visit him and his family in Bergen and celebrate | | | | 'I also think that Norwegians know how to appreciate |
| Christmas there in 2005. I have always been attracted | | | | nature and maintain the unique scenery around them. |
| to the colder weather and was really looking forward | | | | They work with nature instead of against it, and make |
| to visiting a Nordic Country. I was also very excited | | | | sure that buildings and houses blend in with the |
| about having a white Christmas for the first time in my | | | | surroundings. |
| life'. | | | | Work hard and party hard |
| Merilyn has many fond memories from her first visit in | | | | Merilyn explains that the working hours in Norway are |
| Bergen and explains how she participated in all the | | | | much shorter than in Singapore, which results in a |
| traditional Christmas activities; from cutting down their | | | | more balanced life between work and family. Standard |
| own Christmas tree to eating dried mutton ribs and | | | | office hours are usually from 8am to 4pm which |
| mashed turnip. Since she stayed with a local family, | | | | means that people have more time to spend with their |
| she got to experience the real Norwegian culture and | | | | families. However, she also thinks they work very hard |
| customs. 'People in Bergen are so friendly and I also | | | | as they are more efficient and productive while at |
| love the Norwegian language. The first times I heard | | | | work. She adds that the Norwegians like to party hard |
| people speaking, I thought it sounded like they were | | | | as well; 'It was fun to watch all the lively people during |
| singing!' She has been able to learn the basics of the | | | | weekend nights as they were drinking and enjoying |
| language quite well and impressed me with some very | | | | themselves in the bars. The nightlife is certainly busy in |
| well pronounced sentences. | | | | Bergen, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when |
| Small city, many colors | | | | people are celebrating the weekend. There is a good |
| Even though Bergen is the second biggest city in | | | | range of places to choose from such as casual cafes, |
| Norway, it is still quite small on the world scale. (The | | | | wine bars, clubs and places with live music (see |
| population is only 250,000) Everything is within walking | | | | Merilyn's recommendations for more details) |
| distance and not spread out like in other cities. There | | | | My secret paradise |
| are no high rises and most buildings are of the | | | | Merilyn likes to think of Bergen as her own secret |
| charming old wooden style. Merilyn points out how | | | | paradise, since not many people she knows have |
| colorful the houses are and how this helps brighten up | | | | been there and it is not a common travel destination |
| the dark winter months. 'What I found quite unusual | | | | from Singapore. However, she does not hesitate to |
| was to be able to walk between houses and see | | | | recommend others to visit this beautiful city on the |
| through windows which were often displayed with | | | | west coast of Norway as it presents an amazing and |
| interesting rustic ornaments. The windows can be | | | | unique holiday experience. 'If you like mountain hiking |
| seen as framed pictures or paintings'. | | | | and appreciate fresh air and cooler weather, you will |
| Spring - The best time of year | | | | definitely enjoy Bergen and its breathtaking natural |
| Since her first stay in Bergen, Merilyn has been back | | | | scenery'. |
| several times and experienced the extremely diverse | | | | Visitor's website: |
| seasons in Norway. Her favorite time of the year is | | | | Popular attractions: |
| definitely spring. 'During spring, the city comes alive | | | | Fløybanen, 'the Funicular'. This tram takes you to |
| after the dark winter months. It is so beautiful to see | | | | the top of the highest mountain 'Ulriken', where you'll |
| the lake lined with pink cherry blossoms and to smell | | | | get a great view of the city. |
| fresh flowers that grow everywhere. | | | | Troldhaugen, Edvard Grieg museum. This was the |
| She recommends May as the best time to visit | | | | home of the famous composer Grieg which is now |
| Bergen, because of the many festivals and outdoor | | | | made into a museum |
| activities taking place during that month. Bergen | | | | The Fish Market and Bryggen in Bergen. |
| International Festival is one of the events, which | | | | Merilyn's recommendations: |
| consists of music, dance and theatre performances | | | | Best places to buy fish cakes: |
| happening all over the city, and also in unexpected | | | | Søstrene Hagelin. |
| places. She explains how one time, a violin player | | | | Street address Olav Kyrres gate 33 |
| suddenly appeared from a hole in the ground in the | | | | Havfruens Hemmelighet. |
| middle of the city, while performing a classical piece of | | | | Street address Nygårdsgaten 53 |
| music. | | | | Strandkaien Fisk |
| Spring is also a great time for hiking in Bergen and | | | | Street address Strandkaien 18 |
| exploring the seven mountains that surround the city. | | | | Casual eating places |
| You can also join the 'Seven Mountain Hike' which | | | | Zupperia: Soup place serving reindeer soup and also |
| takes place in May every year. This event has | | | | Asian food |
| become a popular attraction and involves a 35 km trek | | | | Street address: Nordahl Bruns gate 9 |
| with a total ascent of 2,300 meters. Merilyn is | | | | Capello Café - fantastic pancakes and retro |
| impressed with how fit the hikers are and describes | | | | interior including a juke box. |
| how even older ladies can climb the mountains with | | | | Street address: Skostredet 12 |
| such ease. | | | | Godt Brød- bakery serving fresh, delicious |
| Another popular hiking activity is climbing the 801 steps | | | | sandwiches with whole meal bread |
| of Stoltzekleiven, which is a path up one of the | | | | Skostredet 12 and Vestre Torggaten 2, |
| mountains called Sandviken. There is also a | | | | Kjøttbasaren - new café with wonderful |
| competition held annually where young and old | | | | sandwiches and cakes |
| attempts to climb the stairs as quickly as possible. The | | | | Street address Vetrlidsallmenningen 2 |
| current record is 8 minutes and 13 seconds! | | | | Upscale restaurants: |
| Never-ending summer days | | | | Bølgen og Moi Lysverket - located at Bergen |
| The main tourist season in Bergen is during the | | | | Art Museum |
| summer months of June, July and August, when the | | | | Street address: Rasmus Meyers allé 9 |
| city can become quite crowded by travelers. Many | | | | Kafe Krystall - only by appointment |
| visitors are amazed by the long hours of daylight in the | | | | Street address Kong Oscars gate 16 |
| summer, as the sun sets after 11pm and rises again at | | | | Søt+Salt - you're basically sitting in the kitchen |
| 4.30am. Merilyn also enjoyed the lengthy summer days | | | | while the chef makes food for you |
| and explains how people seem more energetic and | | | | Street address Villa Skjoldnes, Skostredet |
| happy during the warmer season and like to spend a | | | | To Kokker - located at Bryggen in truly old |
| lot of time outdoors. | | | | surroundings |
| Amazing seafood and exotic meats | | | | Street address Bryggen 29 |
| One of Merilyn's best memories from summer in | | | | Places for drinking: |
| Norway was staying at a friend's cabin on a small | | | | Landmark - a cafe by day and bar by night. Often |
| island near Bergen called Upsøy. They went | | | | they have concerts there in the evening. |
| fishing during the day and ate the fresh catch for | | | | Street address Rasmus Meyers Allé 3 and 7 |
| dinner at night. 'It was so fresh and tasty', I've never | | | | (In the Bergen Art Museum) |
| had fish that tasted so good' she says. She also loves | | | | Kafe Kippers - Great place to have drinks and watch |
| the famous Norwegian salmon, but one of her most | | | | the sunset in the summer. |
| favorite foods is the fish cakes ('Fiskekaker'). | | | | Street Address: Georgernes verft at USF (used to be |
| They are very different from the Asian variety as | | | | a united Sardine Factory) |
| they have a stronger fish flavor and are therefore | | | | Altona Vinbar - Underground wine bar with a wide |
| tastier. They are usually served with potatoes and | | | | selection of wines and intimate atmosphere. |
| gravy, but you can also eat them on their own as a | | | | Street address: Strandgaten 81, |
| small meal or snack. Other Norwegian dishes that | | | | Hulen - an old bunker in the mountain which is now |
| Merilyn has tried include elk and reindeer. She | | | | used for concerts. |
| considers these types of meat to be very exotic as it | | | | Street address: Olaf Ryes vei 48 |
| comes from wild animals and not from the farms and | | | | Museums: |
| have a strong, distinct flavor, very different from any | | | | Bergen Museum (Includes the Natural History |
| other type of meat. There is also the brown cheese | | | | Collections and Cultural History Collection) |
| ('Brunost') which has such rich flavor that you can | | | | Old Bergen Museum (open air museum, displaying |
| simply eat it on its own or on plain bread. Most | | | | houses from the 18th and 19th centuries) |
| Norwegians living overseas crave for this cheese. | | | | Bergen Art Museum (one of the largest art museums |
| The rain Bergen is the place where it rains most in | | | | in the Nordic countries. |
| Norway, which is a nuisance to many people. Even | | | | |