Aalesund
This trip was made back on 8th October 2017. This is a really long overdued post.
SGP --> Helsinki --> Tromso --> Aalesund. That's a REALLY long trip to get to our 1st destination. All in a day..
At the airport, we picked up a car from SIXT, the staff was very helpful. (Don't know why the reviews are bad online). We got a brand new car (Honda HRV). There was a very cute white cat at the carpark that charmed Shannon :)
The cat was so manja (tenderly looking for affection); it came running towards Shannon, wagging its tail like a dog! It rubbed itself all over Shannon's and my legs, and our luggage. The cat seems to be a stray cat, and we have no idea but to leave it there. Till this day, i wonder how it is :(
We drove straight towards Trollstigen as planned. The GPS and Google Map gave different directions, and we decided to follow Google Maps. I think the way provided by Google is faster, but has toll charges (quite expensive it seems).
When we reached Trollstigen, a helicopter landed at the parking area. The pilot is super skilled. The rotors were almost clipping some of the trees there.
Flew my drone and nearly lost it as my iphone blacked out probably due to the cold! Luckily I already flew it back and was going to land it. But I couldn't see it, luckily Shannon spotted it so I couldn't visually guide it back and recover the drone. SCARY.
There's a nice lookout point, to admire the many road curves up the mountain. The lookout point is modern, very nice architecture, and very clean. There was almost no one there. Our plan was to go to the non-touristy attractions and more out-of-the-way places since we rented a car.
...................
By the time we reached the 'hotel', which turned out to be some kind of airbnb house. Our house is separated from the owner, so we have our own toilet, kitchen and living room. The location is very strategic, it's outside of Aalesund, but in the middle where we can easily reach many places (e.g. Trollstigen, Atlantic Ocean Road, etc.). The host recommended us to go buy a portable BBQ from the nearby convenience store and some fish to have a picnic at a fjord!
However we decided to stick to our own plan and that is to visit the Atlantic Ocean Road. We've seen videos of massive stormy waves crashed over and we thought it was pretty cool. We soon found the drive there was more exciting than the attraction itself.
We followed the GPS on google, and suddenly Shannon realised that we have to cross water. So we thought there's some underground tunnel that the expressway is leading us to.
But when we reached this place, it turns out that our car has to drive its way up a ramp into a ferry boat! And the guy just hurried us in as the boat was leaving! We didn't even have time to check if it's the right route or right place or boat.
We didn't know to stay in the car to wait for the guy to come collect the toll fees or to head in, so we observed people for awhile. Most of them just parked and left the cars there and they went into the cafe/canteen.
No worries if you still can't find the guy to pay. Before your car leaves the ferry, they'll check and you can make payment then too.
We reached the Great Atlantic Ocean Road. It was a very clear and sunny day. No epic stormy waves. It's hard to get the correct angle to show that the road seems to be driving into heaven. Like a stairway to Heaven.
In the evening, we drove up to the Aksla Viewpoint. I flew my drone and the evening blue hour was calming and peaceful. It was filled with people, but not that crowded. Shannon wanted to climb up, but we were worried parking would be a problem. So we decided to drive up anyway.
On our way to the airport on the last morning, it was all quiet with no traffic. And at a quiet corner, we saw a huge moose, it looked taller than the car and it was running across the road, into the lane of some suburban houses. SO MAJESTIC. We couldn't capture any image of it though, but it's definitely memorable.
SGP --> Helsinki --> Tromso --> Aalesund. That's a REALLY long trip to get to our 1st destination. All in a day..
At the airport, we picked up a car from SIXT, the staff was very helpful. (Don't know why the reviews are bad online). We got a brand new car (Honda HRV). There was a very cute white cat at the carpark that charmed Shannon :)
The cat was so manja (tenderly looking for affection); it came running towards Shannon, wagging its tail like a dog! It rubbed itself all over Shannon's and my legs, and our luggage. The cat seems to be a stray cat, and we have no idea but to leave it there. Till this day, i wonder how it is :(
We drove straight towards Trollstigen as planned. The GPS and Google Map gave different directions, and we decided to follow Google Maps. I think the way provided by Google is faster, but has toll charges (quite expensive it seems).
When we reached Trollstigen, a helicopter landed at the parking area. The pilot is super skilled. The rotors were almost clipping some of the trees there.
Flew my drone and nearly lost it as my iphone blacked out probably due to the cold! Luckily I already flew it back and was going to land it. But I couldn't see it, luckily Shannon spotted it so I couldn't visually guide it back and recover the drone. SCARY.
There's a nice lookout point, to admire the many road curves up the mountain. The lookout point is modern, very nice architecture, and very clean. There was almost no one there. Our plan was to go to the non-touristy attractions and more out-of-the-way places since we rented a car.
The whole place, even the WC was closed. We guess it's closed during late autumn or just maybe it's just that day.
I can imagine chilling inside. Isn't it as dream?
Huge space, fresh air, cool wind, no crowd.
...................
By the time we reached the 'hotel', which turned out to be some kind of airbnb house. Our house is separated from the owner, so we have our own toilet, kitchen and living room. The location is very strategic, it's outside of Aalesund, but in the middle where we can easily reach many places (e.g. Trollstigen, Atlantic Ocean Road, etc.). The host recommended us to go buy a portable BBQ from the nearby convenience store and some fish to have a picnic at a fjord!
Still lake by the petrol kiosk near our homestay.
However we decided to stick to our own plan and that is to visit the Atlantic Ocean Road. We've seen videos of massive stormy waves crashed over and we thought it was pretty cool. We soon found the drive there was more exciting than the attraction itself.
We followed the GPS on google, and suddenly Shannon realised that we have to cross water. So we thought there's some underground tunnel that the expressway is leading us to.
But when we reached this place, it turns out that our car has to drive its way up a ramp into a ferry boat! And the guy just hurried us in as the boat was leaving! We didn't even have time to check if it's the right route or right place or boat.
Looks just like any ordinary parking.
This key photo explains it better!
We didn't know to stay in the car to wait for the guy to come collect the toll fees or to head in, so we observed people for awhile. Most of them just parked and left the cars there and they went into the cafe/canteen.
No worries if you still can't find the guy to pay. Before your car leaves the ferry, they'll check and you can make payment then too.
It was a very smooth ferry ride, you can hardly feel anything. The view was gorgeous.
We reached the Great Atlantic Ocean Road. It was a very clear and sunny day. No epic stormy waves. It's hard to get the correct angle to show that the road seems to be driving into heaven. Like a stairway to Heaven.
There's a very nice new made path for people to walk around and enjoy the views. There're very clean seats on the sides as well.
In the evening, we drove up to the Aksla Viewpoint. I flew my drone and the evening blue hour was calming and peaceful. It was filled with people, but not that crowded. Shannon wanted to climb up, but we were worried parking would be a problem. So we decided to drive up anyway.
On our way to the airport on the last morning, it was all quiet with no traffic. And at a quiet corner, we saw a huge moose, it looked taller than the car and it was running across the road, into the lane of some suburban houses. SO MAJESTIC. We couldn't capture any image of it though, but it's definitely memorable.
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