Cape Reinga and my grandmother´s tree

Some of you might not know it but at the moment I´m on holiday in New Zealand. I´m having an absolutely marvelous time. This must be one of the most beautiful countries in the world and I´m very lucky to have my friend Ingerid and her boyfriend Isaac as local tour guides.

On the day I was leaving, I received a message from home that my grand mother had passed away. She died 5 days before her 91st birthday. We knew she was weak and ill because of age but didn´t know how long she would stay with us. I was just about to board the plane from Schipol to Beijing when my mother wrote me the sad news. She said that my grand mother would have wanted me to go and my stomach feeling told me that I should travel despite feeling really sad. 

All settled and rested in Auckland I found out what great travel plans Ingerid had made for us. We were supposed to head north to the Bay of Islands and from there make it up to the New Zealand "North Cape" called Cape Reinga. The original plan was to leave today Sunday the 26th but we ended up leaving Thursday the 23th in stead. After one night at a backpacker place in the Bay of Islands, we got up with the sun and boarded the "Awesome NZ bus" that we would spend the next 11 hours on. 

Our tour guide and bus driver Barry made the trip and unforgettable one. He told us great stories along the route. Among them was the spiritual importance of Cape Reinga. The Maori believe that the spirit of the dead travel to the afterlife from Cape Reinga. They actually leave the land through an 800 year old tree. Barry told us that when visiting the cape, we should think of our loved ones. He also shared a very personal and sad story of loosing his son at the age of 5. He explained how important the cape is to him and how he tries to visit the tree he has planted there in remembrance of his son. 

Since this was the day of my grand mother´s funeral, I decided that I would plant a tree for her as well. It felt wonderful being able to mark the day even though I was on the opposite side of the world. 

Grand mother Asbjørg´s tree

The whole atmosphere on the cape was magical. It´s truly one of the most amazing places I have ever been. It might have had something to do with me being quite emotional that day but the color of the sea and land, the sound of crushing waves and cicadas "singing" all around us, the great company in Ingerid and the sun and warm temperature in addition to the wind keeping us from melting away, really made the day perfect. 

Kirkenes Snow hotel

Now that I´m again working as the Hurtigruten potato, one of the most important jobs that I do is selling our excursions. Obviously to be good at selling something, you have to know your product. I have been on a few of our summer excursions but not that many of the winter events. Therefore when we got to Kirkenes Sunday, I got to go to see the Snow hotel or "Gabba" as it is also known. (Gabba means white reindeer)

As we sailed into the fjord towards Kirkenes, the sun was rising and from the ocean we could see the mist rise. It was quite magical.

I hopped on the right bus after sending most of the guest in the right direction together with my boss Ina.(we have another 2 excursions offered in Kirkenes and two additional busses taking the passengers to the airport or the city centre) The ride was short but I´m really happy we didn´t have to walk because the temperature was -15. That is not uncommon for Kirkenes but still something we don´t experience too often.

Here are some of the pictures from the ice hotel:

 The hall way. Rooms both to the right and left

 The Nansen Suite

 My favourite room!

Outside of the hotel I spotted a bunch of exclusive and expensive vehicles. These things are very very Norwegian and called "Spark". Works perfect in places that stay cold and white through most of the winter. 

 Spark

Rudolph showed up as well and he was very curious and hungry. I want to add super cute too but he didn´t really like it when I tried to cuddle him behind his ear so I´m not sure I would have him as a pet.

"feed me or leave me alone"

I liked the tour a lot. It might have had something to do with the weather. Just look at the pictures below. However the snow hotel is a very interesting concept. What struck me the most was the silence in the rooms. I think I would have slept really well there. Right next to it they had a big and wonderful sauna and what better way to start your morning after a night in a snow cave than sitting in a wonderfully warm sauna? Maybe I´ll book a room next year. Anybody who would join me?? :)

 At last I leave you with a picture of the boat docked in red January light. What a wonderful day!