Visiting cousins in Dalarna

The Dalahorse that I'm looking up at is a famous symbol for this part of the country. The Harley chopper motor cycle is built by Tobias. Nice to sit at, haven't ridden it though.

Route 66

Driving on the Swedish route 66 to visit Royne in Dalarna.

More swedish food!

Plank steak with bernaise sause. Delicious. The veggies and steak are fried separately and then put on the plank fitted with decorated mashed potatoes then put in the oven to get a bit crust.  Haven't seen this in other countries but its popular here. I'm eating in a restaurant named Sarajevo.

Swedish Chinese Food during Swedish Govt Election Season - no flavor

Oh, I wow not to eat Chinese food in Sweden again. I mean, yes, it was not worse than typical "foreign" chinese food. I.e., it was a stir-fry pork file with some veggies. Most veggies felt like they came from cans. Maybe nothing is in season now. It also had the typical unidentifiable sauce that one gets with chinese food. Not much taste. Also, I got a bowl of rice and a plate, no chop-sticks. Asked for them and got them. Started taking some rice from the small bowl, put it on the flat plate. Stopped. Thought, what am I doing? Eating with chop-sticks is done from bowl, took some stir-fry and put it in the small bowl on top of the rice instead and chomped down with chop-sticks holding the bowl in my hand.

It made me totally miss my typical chinese meal, with many small dishes of delicious fresh vegetables, cha ye dan, much flavor, steaming warm, simple but so good! Well, soon enough I should be back east!

I was reading aftonbladet. No I didn't pay for it. It's currently full of election propaganda. The gist of this is that the "moderates" (right) are trying to convince people that they are a "workers party", and the social democrats trying to convince people that the moderates are worse than them. Really. The social democrats also typically have red big, huge font, picking on other parties, instead of saying what they stand for. They really just seem to want to be a "un-happiness-party" (yes, we have a word for that!).

A very interesting feature of the election is that public squares, one in each city typically, has "valstugor" ("election-cottages") on it "friggebod"-style. One for each major party, and then then stand there handing out information, giving speaches, etc. See pic from Linkoping.

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När det blir för kallt då pyser jag!

At some point when it gets cold enough then I'll split. Still got some stuff to do on the house, but without proper heating, it's a bit cold at times. Outside the sun is only seen for shorter moments, but at least no rain this week.

Yesterday I went to a meditation locally. It was in a basement, with a group of people called spiritualisterna. Was new to me, but felt very swedish in some strange way. Haha.

Tonite at 22:40 it was 4C (39F). Not far from freezing. Daytime is still around 14C or so.

My next hop could be any combination of these Nottingham, Brussel, Amsterdam, Bucarest, Sofia, Greece the only thing for sure is that I intend to go to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Wuyishan, maybe Taipei.

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.sigh

I don't eat fish!

But I like Kalles kaviar. Its a swedish thing...

Friends in uppsala

Visited Erica and Chris this weekend. Was wonderfull! I know them from the Bay Area. They moved to Sweden!

Its very interesting to meet and hear peoples views on being in Sweden. Could I my self live in Sweden I ask!

Well today is sun and warm...

Big boat + bushes

Near the summer house these boh boats pass by. They're loaded.

Here is a pic of the trees I've been cutting. I even got to sweat some. Some have a stem of like 45mm or so.

internet in the woods

1Mbit down, 128Kbit up, 120ms ping to my laptop, using the Nexus One in USB-tethering in the woods in Sweden. 69SEK/month unlimited data (that's about 9USD). So with borrowed electricity from a friendly neighbour, it's getting more comfortable here. I may soon need a small heating element, and maybe a fridge. On the other hand, if it's getting colder I don't need the fridge...

Now, since there is no water and sewage, that poses some interesting things. Water you can get anywhere, neigbhours, gasstations, etc. But, well outhouse works for some things, but shower, well. I minimize it so to say, by occasional visits to the few people I know. Not many around here. I'd like to have/build a Japanse style "bathhouse". Who knows, maybe one could build a small "Friggebod" (15 sqm no permit needed).

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.sigh

Swedish moments

In Sweden

Having my first meal in the summer house. Lot of growth since we were last here. Tomorrow I'll find the tools. But for now fried falukorv with potato salad. And of course swedish slotts senap. Since there is no electricity I'll go to bed early. Its raining outside, hope it'll not rain all day tomorrow.

Yesterday was gay pride

It was raining do we skipped it, but on the way to Thian and Roberts we passed it by. Its the only parade where the "floats" actually floats! since the parade takes place on the canal...

The past in the present

I went to visit Martita who runs a gallery, or maybe the gallery runs her? when I first arrived in Amsterdam in 1996 cwi rented av studio from her for me. I stayed there for 6 months. It was a load of fun! Often when I'd come home she'd be on the gallery with some body drinking and talking. On my way home I'd have to walk through the gallery and she'd shout. A vodka for the Viking! luckily it was mostly Rioja wine. But I got fond memories.

Last impression of NYC

Not sure I'd enjoy going to nyc again. Its overcrowded, quite dirty and old missing the charm, at least for me. They got some archaic rules still enforced locally. Toronto was somehow more comfortable. But overall over the 6 ish weeks I stayed on USA only in mt Shasta did I not have allergy coughing issue.

Nice thing with train...

... Is that nature is more accessible. Most train go where cars can't. I think the baggage track reflection adds an interesting element to some of the pics.

Arrival is delayed. Of course. And not much food on the train, as in two hit dogs for 14 hours. Maybe even mcdonalds will taste good?

Lisp is faster than Java!

Thanks to nexus one I can read this on the train.

Vitamine Falls

Got thirsty.

By the way, the addictive vitamin water is now proven by some researchers to contain sugars. Cheers!