`In search of the perfect photo...`

BERGEN (NORWAY)

After leaving balmy Arendal, I took a fairly arduous train journey towards Bergen, further north and on the west coast of Norway. Originally I intended to travel all the way through to Bergen, but whilst on the train, decided to jump off a little earlier at a place called Myrdal, which had nothing really apart from a connecting train to another small town, Flåm. The trip down the valley towards Flåm was very beautiful, however the train seemed strategically designed to prevent any photos from being taken. As such, upon arriving, I walked about 3/4 of the way back up the valley, happily taking photos. Unfortunately, as is often the case in this part of Norway, it was drizzling and very foggy and so many of my photos didn't turn out so well.

I camped in Flåm that night (it was bloody cold !) and then the next morning took a fjord cruise along one arm of the Sognefjord, called the nærøfjord - which basically means 'narrow fjord' (it is the narrowest fjord in norway). The scenery was quite nice but once again the weather managed to spoil the occassion and it was difficult to get a half decent photo. After getting into Gudvagen, I took a short bus ride to Voss, a nice town on the route to Bergen. I stayed here a night and then took off to Bergen the next morning.

Bergen was pretty cool and the weather improved enough for it to be enjoyable. As the second largest city in Norway, it was still very relaxed, although it was absolutely swarming with tourists... Got some nice photos from the top of Mount Fløyen and walking around the harbour area (Bryggen) and most of my other time was spent just chilling out and working out what the hell I was going to do next.

Eventually I decided to join a group of girls from Spain, who were taking the coastal ferry from Bergen, back into the Sognefjord and getting off in Balestrand. The weather for this trip was absolutely superb and it was great to just sit on the deck of the boat and soak up the sun and magnificent scenery. In Balestrand we jumped on another ferry and cruised along a different arm of the Sognefjord to a small town called Fjærland. The town was at the foot of a number of glaciers and was probably one of the most chilled out places I have every visited. The average age of the local population must have been about 70 and after tourism, selling and reading books seemed to be the most important 'industry/pastime'... I later realised that this small town was the same place my Dad had spent his 21st birthday whilst on a field trip from the UK. Anyway, enough words, check out the pictures because they certainly speak for themselves...

Photos 1-4: Scenery along the valley from Myrdal - Flåm
Photo 5: View from the train from Arendal - Bergen (highest point)
Photo 6: Spectacular waterfall viewed from the Flåmbanna
Photos 7-10: More photos from various points in the valley above Flåm
Photos 11-15: Views of Flåm and the surrounding fjordlands