A Trip to Sweden - Day 4(29th Nov 2014, Saturday)

This was the last day in Stockholm. Zainal was kind enough to fetch us to the airport. 

Checking out from the hotel was super easy. All we needed to do was to place our keycards into a box on the bar. That's all. 

Box for checking out

On the way, he took us to the highest point in Stockholm where we could see the whole Stockholm. 

Some views from the top - scenery was superb. The wind was chilling. Wonderful! 

We also went around Kista then Electrolux, where Zainal is working. 

Zainal with my hubby walking in Electrolux. 

Zainal then took us to Arlanda Airport to take a flight to Umea. It was really kind of him. Zainal said he was very happy to see us and to have us visiting him in Stockholm. He said he was initially 'merajuk' whenever he knows that his relatives came to Europe but didn't come to Stockholm. But he understands that Sweden is really out of the way and it is really at the north. That's why. 

So when we arrived at the airport, we had to check in by ourselves. Not only that, we'll have to check in our baggages ourselves too. Something I had never seen in Malaysia up to date. 

Self checking in 

Self checking in the baggage

While waiting for the flight, we ate the fried koay teow prepared by Zainal's wife.

I was in fact touched by the hospitality shown by Zainal and his wife. 

The flight arrived on time and off we flew to Umea. 

Inside Umea Airport

Outside of the airport , on the way to our hotel in town, Comfort Winn Hotel. 

Hotel room. It's a queen sized bed. The metress wasn't solid (hard) enough and the bed was like sinking in the middle. We changed the room the next day but the bed seemed to be the same. Sigh! 

The toilet was ordinary. 

The wall paper was horrible I think. It gives me an unsettled feeling. I don't like that at all. 

Since Umea was slightly at the North, the night in winter was even longer than in Stockholm. About 2pm is already dark. By 3pm it's already in total darkness if not for the lightings from the shops. 

Picture taken at about 3pm. It's already dark. 

We didn't do anything much. Just walked around the square and enjoying the wind and cool air. Well I really have to enjoy this as much as I can because once I get back to Malaysia, it's almost impossible to have this kind of weather and the clean air.

As we walked around, we checked out a church in town. Never to forget about church or worshipping God even during holidays. 🙏

 

A Trip to Sweden- Day 8/Day 9 (3-4 Dec 2014)

We called a taxi to take us to Skelleftea Airport at 7:30 am. That 15 minutes taxi ride cost 455 SEK (RM 206). That was awfully expensive.

While waiting for the flight, I didn't know why was I so tired. I slept. I really slept.

The SAS flight was very punctual so I really had to say goodbye to Skelleftea. Looking at Skelleftea from above, I really felt one kind. 

Anyway, after not long, we arrived at Arlanda Airport, Stockholm. Oh ! We had to check out and recheck in our baggages, as we needed to change flight. 

Our next flight was five hours away. Don't like the idea of waiting for so long. Initially I wanted to eat at MAX (Swedish fast food chain) and Kevin said we could eat that later but once we got the baggages, we had already gone way pass MAX. Kevin took me to an Italian restaurant. Here are the food we ordered.

Kevin's meal- Chicken and rice - 120SEK

Mine- Kids Meal -89 SEK

Well the taste is not too bad after all. Only edible, I would say. 

Our KLM flight from Stockholm to Amsterdam departed slightly late because the flight was fully booked and too many people are lining up to board the plane. The plane was so packed that, to be honest, I was depressed because of the limited space. The two children sitting behind me were talking loudly and that made it worse. However I did keep my calm. 

Upon arrival at Amsterdam, Kevin asked me to choose something to buy. I quickly got myself a crystal ball to add to my collection. Kevin bought two mugs. It was only an hour transit so we continued our journey. 

The KLM flight to KLIA was quite empty. I got four seats to myself in a row, two rows away from Kevin's . Kevin also got four seats by the way. That's why we managed to lie down and slept for good few hours. It was superb. I was telling God to give me this type of seats so God actually granted my wish. Thank You God! 

The food provided by KLM was to my liking. We both chosed Briayani Chicken Rice for dinner. 

The chicken and rice tasted warm and nice, just as I had anticipated. Unlike food by AirFrance which I didnt even bother to touch🙊.

Took the photo of apple juice, just for fun. 

Anyway, we touched ground at KLIA after 11 hours. Fooh... At last.

So all together, in order to come back from Skelleftea, we spent more than a day's time. 

It was great coming back to Malaysia. I actually told myself 'Welcome Home, Grace'.