TRAVELLIVE 06-2016

In addition, there are speakers providing
related information about destinations
in 4 languages including Norwegian,
English, French, and German. Just admire
the captivating landscapes along the fjord
as you always have information updated
whenever the cruise stops at a new
destination.
FLOATING ON LYSEFJORD
Measuring at 42km long,
Lysefjord was created by
glaciers during the last
ice age. During that time
about 10,000 years ago,
glaciers covered Norway. The ice layer was
about 2,000m thick. When the large ice
masses melted and rubbed against the
mountainsides at extremely high speeds,
they eroded the stone into distinct U-shaped
valleys below sea level. These valleys filled
with seawater and became narrow, highwalled
fjords.
There are countless islands and islets in the
fjord. Some islets are quite small, just large
enough for a lighthouse. Some are large
enough for the locals to build houses and
farms. Hytte wood houses are occasionally
to be found on the islands. Locals often stay
in these houses to get away from the bustle
and the hot days of summer. The fjord’s
name - Lyse is derived from a Norwegian
word l˝sir which means light. It is believed
that the name refers to the bright colored
granite in the fjord.
The cruise travelled along the fjord and
brought us to Fantahålå, or vagabond's
cave. The cave is named after a group
of vagabonds who sought shelter while
running from the local police. Of course,
the escape finally came to an end, but since
that time people have called the cave by a
name that is not as poetic and beautiful as
the scenery.
Not too far from the “vagabond's cave”
is Preikestolen, one of the most visited
destinations in Norway. This 625 meter
squared plateau stands 604 meters above
the fjord. The top is quite flat, but it takes
over 2 hours to climb there. Stone stairs
lead to the peak, which is convenient for
visitors, especially amateur trekkers. It’s
regrettable that I didn’t have a chance to
climb to this cliff. Looking upward, I just
saw a tiny rock jutting out from the cliff. I
was humbled by its profound height and
felt like I was a dot standing before its
majesty.
My final stop was Hengjane waterfall.
Here, fresh mountain water plummets
400 meters into the fjord. When the cruise
was close enough to the waterfall, a staff
member used a bucket to catch the falling
water for visitors to drink. We were excited
to line up and taste it. It is fresh and cool
like 30 kroner (VND100,000) bottles of
mineral water at the supermarket.
The Troll Cruise headed back to Stavanger.
My excursion through Rogaland
county lasted another week, with other
destinations such as the white old town
Stavanger overlooking Sokndal port - a
small city renowned for its antique wood
houses, Helleren cliff with 2 wood houses,
and many other attractions that aren’t
mentioned in any English tour books.
And I owe this place a promise that one
day I’ll return to conquer the majestic
Preikestolen.
Itinerary:
ü From Oslo, you can fly
(50 minutes) or travel by
train (8 hours) to Stavanger.
Sola Airport is about a
20-minute drive from the
city center. You can book
cheap domestic air tickets
with Norwegian Air (www.
norwegian.com) or buy train
tickets of Norway State
Railways (www.nsb.no).
Currency:
ü krone, 1NOK ~
VND3,000. Norway doesn’t
Further information
use the Euro, so you need
to exchange your money
when visiting.
Cruise:
ü There are many agencies
operating cruises in
Lysefjord. Some tours allow
you to stop at Preikestolen
for trekking, some cruises
bring you to the famous
Kjeragbolten stone. RØdne
Fjord Cruise, with Troll
Cruise, is the best choice
for those who just don’t
want to climb the mountain
and take part in outdoor
activities. For detailed
information about cruises
and tickets, please visit
www.rodne.no.
Sightseeing:
ü If you like outdoor
activities, you can join
tours to visit Preikestolen
(250NOK/person) and
Kjeragbolten (490NOK/
person). More information
at www.tidereiser.com.
Cuisine:
ü Enjoy fish soup at any
restaurant in the city.
Seafood is a strong point
for western Norway. Fish
soup cooked in Northern
European style is a must-try
dish. The dish is made from
seafood and vegetable
broth with fresh cream, milk,
and vinegar. It costs about
200NOK/bowl. One of the
best restaurants is the one
located in Fisketorget market
in Stavanger, opposite to a
colorful cafe.
©Tatiana Popova