Day 5: Oslo: Peaceful, Relaxing and Enjoying Life

In the last day of her trip to Norway, Yan Yinan will take us to the capital city of Oslo. Oslo is a skiing city, as well as a city for Nobel Peace laureates. What was she doing there and what has she discovered? Here is our very own Yan Yinan collecting her thoughts on the last day of her trip in Norway.

As I was about to finish my trip in Norway, I began to collect my thoughts. During the trip, questions have been answered and new questions rose everyday. What do Norwegians care about in their daily life? Do they, like Chinese people worry about unemployment as well? During my last day in Oslo, the capital city of Norway, my questions were partly resolved.

Two days after I left Oslo, the annual Nobel peace prize ceremony was held in a place only a block away from the grand hotel where we stayed. Peace therefore becomes the main theme for the city as well as all Norwegians.

Strolling the Vigeland Sculpture Park, northwest of Oslo, is like a journey through life and death. Series of sculptures featuring naked human figures symbolize the different phases of human development, from infancy to the end of life. The famous monolith, a massive column which is completely covered by human figures in relief, singly or in groups marks the transcendence of everyday life and cyclic repetition.

It brings visitors in the park, from all over the world, all walks of life, different colors, different languages, yet we all share something in common, the respect for life. This is illustrated by the massive art works created by mid 19th century Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. He was a man with strength and a life story to share.

Nothing is more relaxing than sitting outside a coffee bar, having a cup of hot coffee with a newspaper in hand, simply enjoying life itself.

This as I discovered is common in most of the Norwegian cities and towns, where people simply enjoy life itself. They like outdoor activities like skiing. It is the most popular sport in the country, and a walk in the Norwegian wood is also a common routine.

Back to downtown Oslo where the bus was waiting, it's time to leave the city as well as the beautiful Nordic country, but all of a sudden my heart was captured by the sound of music.

Norway is still an enigma, like the trolls in the fairy tales half hidden in the mist of a mountain trail, not quite known to the outside world. For thousands of years, despite the somewhat cruel and isolated living environment, Norwegians have developed their imagination and love for nature. Art and artists had contributed a great deal to promote Norway to the world.
My biggest question throughout the journey has not been answered. What shall be done to preserve man's last myth on earth? Nature is already fighting back; the terrible hurricanes and last year's tsunami damaged thousands of lives and cultures human beings created. But how much will we persist before nature wages its worst revenge? Norway, one of the world's most nature-loving lands will unfairly suffer the consequences. The issue of maintaining a balance between man's fast development and natural ecosystem is crucial, and it is still not too late to think about. We are all in the same boat.

I would like to end my journey by sharing with you some music I heard while voyaging the hurtigruten coastline. The music was played by a touring Norwegian band, whose name translates to English as "Drying fish," actually a very common activity for Norwegians.