Stockholm

After Oslo, we took a 30pound bus ride to Stockholm.

Sweden, the home of H&M.

Sorry, told you I am a shopaholic.

The whole problem is, this trip happened so long ago, I cannot in my life remember what are the places I went to even after looking at the pictures.

That is why one should really write about their trips AS SOON AS THEY RETURN but for someone as important and busy as me, that is always not really possible.

Which leads me to the fact that yes, I have still not finished my Madrid trip yet. And that trip was way back in October 2008.

But oh well, Stockholm it is.

Much, much prettier than Oslo, we arrived in Stockholm's bus station on the fair day of December 22 2008 at 6am.

As our hostel only allow check in at 9am, we sat and shared one cup of coffee between 7 people at the cafe in the station.
Yes, Malaysians are cheap.

The first day was spent exploring the Old Town, where, quoting Mr Darren Ting directly : "First time in my life I do not know what I am looking at. Passed by important landmarks also dono that that is the significant building."

Why?

Because, we had NO GUIDEBOOK!

You see the importance of a guidebook?


We spent the whole day exploring the cobblestoned streets of the city, entertaining each other with silly antics.


Yes, kissing a statue starts to be fun after awhile.


The next day was spent looking for the famed Vasa Museum that houses the world's only surviving 17th century ship. The pictures in books and websites spoke of wonder beyond imagination, the fine carpentry, magnificent oak chosen, the sail poles that still stand proud...

Our mind was filled with wondrous images as we made our way there on the 23rd of Dec only to find upon arrival that the museum is shut and reopens on Boxing Day.

Right.

Open on Boxing day but shut on the 23rd which is a....
er... not significant day at all in this Christmas period!?!?!

Our only consolation outside the museum

The next day saw us doing something more useful - going to Drottningholm Palace, famed for its beautiful lawns and resplendent gardens which...

we did not see.

Because...

Don't want to pay to go in.

-_-"'

Never mind, still can take pictures from outside.

Skipping through the days and other non significant events (mostly ambling down different streets and generally getting lost), the highlight of Stockholm is ------







*****DRUMROLL******







The ICE BAR.



180kroners to enter (18pounds), we get a blue-silvery cape that made us look extremely futuristic and includes an Absolut Vodka drink served in a cup carved out of ice.
Or moulded out of ice.


Everything in the ice bar is made out of ice,

the bar:

the chandelier:

the throne:


the tables:

You can stay there as long as you want, the only downside is that the place is uber small. Small. It can probably hold at most 20 obese humans and that is about it.

Absolut Vodka Ice Bars are also found in a lot of other cities, so maybe you don't have to go into it when you come to Stockholm, but hey, where's a better place to visit than the country of its origin?

I rest my case.