Chin Ching’s First Taste of Scandinavia
Overview
Her Experience of Scandinavia
From mistaken ferry rides in Copenhagen to trying the Princess Cake in Sweden, Chin Ching’s journey through Scandinavia was a delightful blend of discovery and serendipity. Below, she shares her reflections—insights, surprises, and the small, heartwarming details that made her trip one to remember.
Q: What made you choose a group tour?
A: Knowing that all logistics have been arranged, I can be more relaxed and focus primarily on enjoying the experience.
Q: The trip you booked was a guided tour. How did it feel to travel with a guide on this tour? Would you travel with a guide again? Why or why not?
A: I felt I was taken care of by our guide, given I was travelling solo to places I’ve never been before. I was also looking forward to learning more about the culture, customs and history from our guide and other local guides during various activities. I would travel with a guide again, especially to places where transportation may be a challenge, if there's a language barrier or to less developed countries.
Q: How was it joining a trip to Norway, Sweden and Denmark as a solo traveler?
A: Although it was a brief stay in each country, I could get some feel of the locals and different cultures as we interacted with local guides during various activities.
Q: How is it to travel Scandinavia as a senior (60+ age range) traveler? Would you recommend Scandinavia to other senior travelers, and why?
A: As a physical rating was assigned to the tour and a detailed itinerary was provided, I found this to be a non-issue. Everyone from different ages was moving well together as a cohesive group.
Q: Were there any parts of the trip that surprised you in terms of quality or value?
A: In Copenhagen and Oslo, Day Passes for transportation gave us flexibility for our own free activities. In Alingsas, we ended the Fika tour at the hotel with Princess cake and tea/coffee. We were also treated to song and music by a local guide!
Q: Which destinations, cities, or highlights did you cover on your trip, and which stood out the most?
A: Copenhagen, Malmo, Gothenburg, Alingsås, Vrango Island. They all have their unique characteristics, but I found Vrango quite special. Given the small population and immaculately kept houses & buildings, I felt I’d stepped into a movie set and we were the actors!
Q: What was a memorable moment or story from your journey that you’d like to highlight?
A: Amazed that the act of getting together with friends or colleagues over coffee and cake has been elevated and institutionalised as Fika in Sweden.
Q: What were your favorite activities or excursions, and why?
A: All excursions were well planned and thought off. My personal favourite was Alingsas , as I love Cafe hopping.
Q: Did you try any local food or cultural experiences that you would recommend?
A: Cinnamon bun in all 3 countries and the Princess Cake (Sweden).
Q: Did you have any unique interactions with locals, guides, or fellow travelers that made your trip special?
A: I really enjoyed— & an enriching experience— interacting with local guides during excursions (our Tour Guide included, who’s Latvian), an ex-wrestling National champion, an Alingsas local who said her town is the best place to live in, a dual Danish-Swedish citizen in Malmo. I think I wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet them if I had been traveling on my own.
Q: Did this trip change your perspective on the destination, travel, or life in any way?
A: I tended to lump all Scandinavian countries into one indistinguishable area; this trip has highlighted the different national identities, customs and cultures.
Q: What was the biggest surprise you encountered during your trip to Scandinavia (positive or unexpected)?
A: I know now this is common in Europe, but coming from Asia, having safe drinking water from taps is a pleasant surprise and a cultural experience for me; our tour guide considered this a basic human right but it’s certainly not common nor basic in Asia!
Q: Looking back, what was the best part of your entire journey?
A: There were numerous enjoyable moments, but one of the funnier ones was when I took the wrong Copenhagen Harbour Bus. Instead of travelling North to see the Little Mermaid, I hopped on the first ferry I saw, which turned out to be going in the opposite direction. After a few moments of panic, I decided to ride to the final stop i.e. Teglholmen, an interesting residential area on water.
Q: If you could relive one day of your trip, which day would it be and why?
A: It’s hard to choose one day, but if I have to narrow it down, it would be walking the streets of Copenhagen taking in the sights of Nyhavn, palaces, museums etc; given it was my first impression of a Scandinavian country.
Q: What would you say to someone considering this tour or destination?
A: My answer would be similar to the response above re my feeling about travelling to these countries as a solo traveller.
Q: Any funny or unexpected stories from your trip you’d like to share?
A: I opted for room sharing, though a bit apprehensive. Not only did it turn out fine, but quite comical at times. Eg. we bonded over gossip news of Meghan Markle at Paris Fashion Week, watching Swedish television; it seemed we had the same sense of humour!
Q: Any tips or things you wish you’d known before going on a trip to Scandinavia?
A: There is no hot water / kettle in the hotel rooms; water is safe to drink from taps.
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Written by
For Akriti, writing found her long before her love for travel did; she blames her acute motion sickness for the delayed onset of the latter. But when the two interests did meet, it resulted in many memorable (and sometimes revolting) travel stories. As a traveler, she enjoys challenging treks as much as lazy walks on the beach. She hates road trips unless it is on the back of a truck or a motorbike. She loves good food; even more so when paired with a local drink. Readers will find her writing to be much like her hometown of Kathmandu—rich, soulful and quirky.
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