THIS BLOG IS CLOSED. No further posts will be pubslished.

I have finished my semester abroad in Gjøvik and my bachelors in February 2008. The thesis' topic is: "Personalizing the SCORM environment" and deals with e-learning standards and programming languages and their learner-centric customization in e-learning applications such as LMS (learning management systems) and other.

In case you are interested in more Norway, pictures, travel, climbing and beautiful landscapes don't miss my new blog: Naturreise

Even more pictures are avaliable on flickr.

2007-12-07

James came visiting me in Gjøvik for a weekend.
Since his grandfather is half norwegian (and his last name - Aslaksen - still gives evidence) he was lookin' forward to get an impression of that cold country up in the north.

Saturday a trip to Oslo was scheduled. So far, James hadn't been that far north. However, we left early on Saturday. After two hours of norwegian landscape Oslo received us - and it wasn't dark yet! In general, daylight won't last longer than 5 to 6 hours a day in winter. So you better take the chances you get.

Anyway, after having investingated the christmas market and resisting awful music of worst taste there we went up a hill of the Oslo castle close to the port and sea. Taking pics was essential and we both spent quite a while.

Sunset then was pretty awesome, beautiful and atmospheric.

See pictures here!

Twilight didn't last too long therefore we decided to walk around downtown. James wanted to bring some souvenirs for his father.

Oslo center around the main station is being reconstructed. Somehow we ended up at the Radisson SAS hotel. It has a nice elevator with a glass-covered front outside of the building. At level 34 (or 43?) there was supposed to be a bar - and a nice view over the entire city.

We didn't hesitate too long trying to get up there though I'd describe our dress rather as 'urban city style' than matching the locations expectations..Unlike the required style for the bar. Once up there, no real entry control, people were throwing very strange glances at us. Maybe coz' we didn't order drinks for 30 bucks and looked like, ehm, students? We left.

What counts is the view. And that one was great.

Later on that evening we went to the quarter 'Grønland' which obviously provided rather cheap housings/apartments (btw: what is cheap in Norway?) and seemed to be populated mostly by students and foreign nationalities or immigrants. Not the best place to be but atmospheric. And looooooooooots of 7-11 everywhere...

Oslo is definitely a place to visit again - not just because of the girls who were suiting James..

2007-10-20

On a warm Saturday we decided to go on a two-day hiking trip.
Our first destination: the 'Slettefjell'. With its brown autumnal surfaces on top of a hill it offered wide-ranged landscapes, fields. A rather easy way to start hiking.

Day 2 meant to be more challenging. At almost 0° Celsius we faced the Besseggen tour squarely. But as we went up that hill (which turned out to be more a mountain chain) we had to realize that we won't make it up. Another aspect was the threat of upcoming early darkness and the uncalled-for rain.

In the end we couldn't complete the entire 16 hours trip along the Besseggen chain
( including the way back to our 'base camp'). However, the view was great and we had made almost 1000 meters of altitude difference..The pictures taken are fine and definitely worth having a look at.

See the album here!

2007-10-05/06/07

Finally I made it again to Bergen.
Located at the western coastline of Norway it usually offers its visitors very reliably
one thing: RAIN.
Ready to go on Friday morning 5 am – my spirit was willing but the flesh was weak –
I took an ‘after-night nap’ in the car. Linda (Oli’s girlfriend) was the first to drive.
Interrupted by sunrise and several sightseeing photo stops my physical state
didn’t improve at all. But I couldn’t care less since I’m finally re-visiting nice Bergen…

After a total drive of 9 (?) hours Bergen was on the ball and gave us a sunny welcome.
We made it up to the Fløydalen with a nice vantage point on top of the hill providing
a great view over Bergen.
Saturday and Sunday were packed with sightseeing, enjoying nature, buying
salmon at the fisketorget (Bergens famous fishmarket) and wondering why it
fuckin’ started to rain lately.

On our trip back to Gjøvik we took another route and were anxoius for more
fantastic landscapes. Norway didn't let us down.
Conclusion: my camera was constantly activated or in sleep mode and I came
back with some 200+ pics.

Have a look at the pick of the bunch here: Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiics here!