SUNSHINE STATE

One would think the weird circadian rhythms would play havoc with ones health,but one look at Norwegians dispels the thought. Families can be seen bicycling for miles,rowing,trekking,walking up and down hills,jogging and gardening. Age is never a deterrent and everyone seems very fit. Boats crowd the fjord like little busy wasps and the sun that we Indians take so much for granted is soaked up hungrily by the locals.
It feels like they want to soak up enough sunlight to warm them through the endless winter which will follow in a few months. However,the delightful discovery I made during my stay there was that the coldness of the weather is not reflected in the demeanour of the people. The stereotype of the cold Scandiavian was completely overturned after meeting the friendly Norwegians. Courteous,law-abiding,easy-goingthey are gentle giants. Most Norwegians are low-profile and quiet. The country was never a colonial power unlike the neighbouring Denmark and the arrogance of the former colonial countries is missing from the attitude of its people.

Norway hit oil in the 1970s and has witnessed an economic boom. The former ship-building,fishery-oriented,agricultural country developed in leaps and bounds and now it is one of the countries with the highest GDP,a very low proportion of which is spent on defence. Coming from the Indian sub-continent,which is perpetually on the boil,this factoid got me worried about Norways security. One of our Norwegian friends joked that they have an excellent solution in case of an attack. Their defence minister only has to utter two words to put a stop to all warWe surrender!

This peace-loving,easy-going trait of the people is reflected in their Parliament building in Oslo. Standing outside this open,unfenced structure,we thought how very emblematic it was of this egalitarian society. Infact,Norwegian law forbids landowners from fencing their property and people are free to jog across their verdant land or ski unhindered across the tracts.
Oslo city is far more multicultural than Grimstad. The trams are a popular,cheap and convenient mode of transport. Language is not a problem as most Norwegians speak English well. More importantly,they are also helpful with the directions.

Norway is an expensive country and shopping will not be a pleasure if you mentally do the Kroner versus Rupee math all the time 1 NOK equals Rs 8 approx. So the smart traveller should buy wine,breads,cheese,salad and cold cuts from the local supermarket and feast in the room.
Back home in Grimstad after the Oslo visit,there was just enough time to do some last-minute shopping before our return flight to India. As the plane rose up from Kristiansand,we looked down at the pristine land and thought of the photos tucked in our album and the memories inside our heads. The stewardess read our thoughts and brought us Norwegian bread and cheeseone last time.

Getting there:
Oslo is a major international airport which is well connected to all major Asian and European cities. From Oslo,flights connect you to smaller airports in Norway like Kristiansand. Or you can fly Mumbai/Delhi-Amsterdam-Kristiansand.
Best time to visit:
May,June and July are the summer months.If you are a skiing enthusiast,Norway offers world-class ski slopes.  Cities in the north of Norway like Tromso,Hammerfest or the Lofoten Islands are best visited in winter when the magical Northern Lights can be seen on a clear night.
Accommodation:
Rica Oslo near the Oslo Central Station is very well-located and reasonably priced. Oslo is well connected by a network of trams,buses and trains.
Places to see:
In Oslo,visit the National Gallery,Viking Museum,Museum of Science and Technology, Vigeland Park and Aker Brygge harbour.
In Grimstad,boating during the summer months is a must-do. The Ibsen Museum,the Nautical Museum and the quaint Grimstad village are the other attractions.