Aladdin's wildlife adventure in Europe

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.

Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.

So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

Aladdin's adventure flying to Europe from Singapore during the Corona Pandemic

Tuesday 3 ^rd of February and it is time to take off to thick off 2 other item on my list of things to do before I'm too old . This items is added to the list a few years ago and as I am forced to fly to Sweden during the winter I will take the opportunity to try to thick off a few items on my list of things to do before I'm too old .

I want to see the Aurora Borealis and I will drive to Abisko. And I have wanted to go for birding at the Danube Delta for many years now. Actually since I added the Carpathian Mountains to my list of things to do before I'm too old

• To experience a hangover
• African safari
• To see Polar bears and icebergs
• Whale sharks “Failed”
• Tiger safari
• Whale sharks(second try)
• Koala and Kangaroo adventure in Australia
• Antarctica
• The Amazon in Brazil
• Swimming with Humpback whales
• Kiel - Brunsbüttel - Bicycling along the Kiel Canal
• Wildlife tour in Sweden and the Carpathian Mountains (Poland and Romania)
Carpathian Mountains and they recommend me to go in March and then it is very cold.
So changed to a summer trip in Finland and Sweden where I can see all the animals in the summer
• Aurora Borealis
• Bird watching at Danube Delta, Romania

We left South Marina Park and we were soon at Changi Airport and our 3/O and I was dropped at the same terminal. Our 3/O is flying with Turkish and I fly with Qatar Airways. Qatar Airway, the only option to get to Sweden during the Covid pandemic, otherwise I avoid these airlines.

I had to wait for about 2 hours before I could check in to my flight. The airport was pretty much empty. There were 3 places for snack and I bought two bottles of juice and a bag of potato chips that I enjoyed while waiting for the check-in desk to open.

Changi Airport is almost empty

Changi Airport is almost empty

Changi Airport and “flight side” is also empty

Changi Airport and “flight side” is also empty

Changi Airport and “flight side” is also empty

Changi Airport and “flight side” is also empty

The check-in opened at 23 thirty and there was maybe around 6 people waiting to check-in. Suddenly we had a group of Italian sailors coming to check in. Sailors are the only travellers it seems as they are allowed to have crew change in Singapore.

Otherwise not many people on the airport, so it is great to travel during pandemics. I was alone at the Immigration and I was through in a jiff. No open restaurants and all the shops were closed. But never mind the shops, but I would not have minded a bottle of water.

No water to be found and I was very tired on top of this. I almost fell asleep outside the gate and I really wanted to get on board to get to bed.

Changi Airport is like a ghost town

Changi Airport is like a ghost town

They opened the gate about 1 hour before departure and I went inside to wait for the boarding. I was the first to board and I was soon finding my seat. I asked for a tooth brush and I went tobrush my teeth. I was impressed by the bath room, ample space and it was fresh so it was a pleasure to brush my teeth.

I took my seat and I was ready to fall asleep but I had to wait until after take-off. I asked for a can of diet Pepsi to have if I woke up in the middle of the night. I have not been drinking Pepsi for many months now, almost a year. I have not missed it, but can come in handy if I wake up in the middle of the night with a “sweet tooth”

Boarding flight QR 945

I found my “room”

Enjoying brushing the teeth

I am ready to get off the ground

Stand-by to sleep

Breakfast

I get my diet Pepsi and we are soon taking off and I fall asleep. I wake up 2 times during the night and the third time I wake up we have one hour ++ remaining of the flight. I have an excellent breakfast and I feel quite well after a few hours of sleep.

I opened the diet Pepsi and, well, it was not as good as it used to be and I never finished the can. And it will be a long time before I try a diet Pepsi next time.

Arriving to Doha and it is yet another empty airport. It is really a good time for traveling.

Doha International Airport is empty

Doha International Airport is empty

I found the departure gate for flight QR 167 to Stockholm. About two hours until departure and I waited at the gate and the time passed quite quickly. The gate opened around one hour before departure and I took a seat in the front row.

There were plenty people on this flight as it looked at the gate. Not many people looking to be from Sweden though. But I am sure the Swedish tax payers had paid for many of the tickets.

Again, I was first to board the flight to Stockholm. I took my seat and we started to prepare for departure and it looks like I will get to Stockholm in time to reach my train to Helsingborg from Arlanda Airport. We had the message “boarding completed” and then nothing.

Clock turned 8, our departure time, but nothing. Then a PA message that we were waiting for medics, someone wasn't feeling well

So medics was on the way to decide if they had to take the passenger off the flight, or if the passenger could continue towards Stockholm. I just saw the time passing very quickly and I was soon realizing that I would miss the train.

Boarding flight QR 167

Waiting for departure

Waiting for departure

Finally, one hour late and we taxi to the runway

Taking off

Leaving Qatar behind

Second breakfast today

We had internet on board so I changed my train ticket to the next departure at 15:05 from Arlanda. So now I will not reach the hotel until almost 10 o'clock in the evening. Otherwise it was a nice flight and I had a steady stream of Earl Grey tea coming to my seat.

Flying over north of Iraq/ Turkey and we could see that the mountains were covered in snow. And it will be the same when we reach Europe as it is very cold. And I will go to Nisses's Herrmode in Helsingborg tomorrow to look for a winter jacket/ parkas.

Snowy mountains. In Turkey/ Iran?

Flying over Turkey

Flying over Turkey

I had a steady stream of tea coming my way

Flying north over Poland and Balticum and we were soon reaching the Baltic Sea and it was time to prepare for landing. I took my lounge pants from my back pack and I went back to change.

I put my jeans shorts over the lounge pants and I had a pair of PANTA LONGAS in a jiff. I have no jeans or warm trousers with me as I have not been able to get home.

And it was very comfortable with the lounge pants and jeans shorts and I will not buy any long legged pants again. If I by chance need any long legged pants again I will do like this again.

Descending to Stockholm Arlanda International

Gloom and grey for long as I can see

Landing at Arlanda International

Landing at Arlanda Airport around 13:35 and my original train was leaving as I walked towards the luggage claim. Bags arrived to the belt at 13:45 and I left through the custom and first stop wasPressbyrån. I bought snus and alcohol hand wash and a face mask.

One face mask and I had to pay 6 US dollar. Day light robbery! I also bought a SIM card and some sandwiches that I will have tonight and tomorrow morning and evening. No need to go expose myself for the Wuhan virus at any restaurant.

I went to Arlanda Express train station and I had to wait for about 10 minutes before the train arrived. I stepped on board together with a couple from Skåne and we looked to be the only passengers on board. Perfect, I have a whole car for myself.

Escalators down to Arlanda Express

Escalators down to Arlanda Express

On the train to Stockholm train station

Arrival to train station and I had an hour to kill at Stockholm train station. My train to Hässleholm, where I will change train to Helsingborg will leave from track 12a. I was hungry and I went in to a coffee shop for a sandwich and a cup of tea.

It tasted very good and I felt good when I left the coffee shop going to look for track 12a. I found the track and the train arrived 2 minutes later. I took my seat on the train and we were soon on our way towards Skåne.

Afternoon snacks

Train arriving to track 12a

Train arriving to track 12a

Plunging towards south through a winter landscape

21:35 and arriving to Helsingborg

Changing train in Hässleholm and I arrived to Helsingborg at 21:35 and I had checked in at Marina Plaza at 10 o'clock and I went to bed with the alarm set to go of early morning. I will go to look for belts and the jacket/ parka at Nisse's Herrmode tomorrow morning.

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 4 ^th of January 2021 and I had breakfast and I had really missed the breakfast here at Marina Plaza. I was disappointed taking the elevator down to the breakfast as I could not see the breakfast from the elevator. There was still breakfast but it was moved in to the restaurant and it was smaller due to the Wuhan virus.

But there was everything I needed, all my favourites and I was full when I returned to my room.

Breakfast

Breakfast

I was looking for a car rental, to find a car with studded tyres was not so easy here in Skåne, but I managed to find a Volvo V90 with studded tyres at Hertz. So I was very happy to have found the car as without the studded tyres it would have been impossible to drive north.

I left the hotel to have a walk to Nisse's Herrmode. I had been walked 20 meters when I got into a taxi. It was way too cold to be outside, but I look forward to be walking back to the hotel with my new winter parkas.

I found 7 or 8 belts that I bought, 50% off on all items. And the parkas was 500++ US Dollars so I saved 250 US with the 50% off deal.

I found belts long enough

eBird Report

Mäster Palms Plats, Helsingborg, Skåne län [SE-12], SE Feb 4, 2021 12:49
Protocol: Incidental
4 species

Herring Gull (European) 1
Common Magpie 2 Foraging at the square
Eurasian Jackdaw 3 Foraging at the square
Hooded Crow 2 Foraging at the square

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S80400364

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

I discovered birds outside the shop and I sat down to have a look and to fill up a checklist in my eBird app. I was happy with my new parkas and I walked back to the hotel. Big mistake, I walked by Österns Pärla and I stopped for a few spring rolls. It is actually against the law to visit Helsingborg without a stop at Österns Pärla to have a couple of the best spring rolls in the world.

I ordered two and I topped up with two more and I was full when i walked back to my hotel.

Spring rolls

My new parkas

+++++++++++++++
Friday 5 ^th of January 2021 and I went outside the hotel around 10 o'clock to have a look at the seagulls on the jetty. There was a lot of Herring Gulls and I got pictures of all the different life stages. There was also Black-headed Gulls and mallards.

I took pictures and I went back to my room as it is very cold and I will have to buy winter gloves as it is freezing cold on my fingers while taking pictures.

Western Jackdaw

Western Jackdaw

Black-headed Gull / Skrattmås

Black-headed Gull / Skrattmås

Black-headed Gull / Skrattmås

1st winter Black-headed Gull / Skrattmås

1st winter Black-headed Gull / Skrattmås

1st Winter and Adult in breeding plumage

1st Winter and Adult in breeding plumage

Mallard / Gräsand molting in to breeding plumage

Male

Mallard / Gräsand molting in to breeding plumage

Male

Mallard / Gräsand molting in to breeding plumage

Male

Mallard / Gräsand molting in to breeding plumage

Female

Mallard / Gräsand molting in to breeding plumage

Female

Mallard / Gräsand molting in to breeding plumage

Female

Mallard / Gräsand molting in to breeding plumage

Female

Mallard / Gräsand wih domestic genes
5 January 2021 - Marina Plaza Hotel, Helsingborg

Male

Mallard / Gräsand wih domestic genes
5 January 2021 - Marina Plaza Hotel, Helsingborg

Male

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

Adult

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

Adult

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

Adult

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

Adult

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

4th Calendar Year

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

4th Calendar Year

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

4th Calendar Year

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

3rd Calendar Year

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

3rd Calendar Year

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

2nd Calendar Year

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

2nd Calendar Year

European Herring Gull / Gråtrut

2nd Calendar Year

eBird Report

Marina Plaza Hotel, Helsingborg, Skåne län [SE-12], SE Feb 5, 2021 10:37 - 11:05 Protocol: Traveling
0.56 kilometer(s)
4 species

Mallard 7
Black-headed Gull 6 1st winter and one adult
Herring Gull 40
Eurasian Jackdaw 2 Feeding on sea mussel dropped by the Herring Gulls

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S80446653

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

I went to pick up some shirts that I ordered at Nisse's yesterday. I passed a bakery and I went in to see if they had semlor . They had semlor and I bought a box and I will be back to pick them up coming back from having picked up my shirts at Nisse's.

Coming back from Nisse's and I heard a bird twitting in the tree outside the bakery. I spotted a Blue Tit and I was surprised that the bird was twitting in the middle of the winter.

I brought my semlor to my room and I enjoyed them with a cup of tea, and they tasted very good.

Box with goodies

And a cup of tea with this

Ready to digg in

I booked a room at Abisko for four nights and my time in Helsingborg have come to an end. I will pick up my car tomorrow morning and I will take off towards north and what I hope many birds and the Aurora Borealis. Click HERE to find out if I make it through the Swedish winter landscape.

So, well, why changing a winning concept? We're already used to clicking the links in the “adventure itineraries” so just click any date below:

February
3: Arriving Helsingborg - Overnight at Marina Plaza Hotel
6: Driving to Bergslagen to look for Swedish birds of prey with Bird Safari Sweden
8: Bergslagen: Look for Northern hawk-owl and Spotted nutcracker with Bird Safari Sweden
9: Bergslagen: Raptor hide to look for the White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle with Bird Safari Sweden
10: Bergslagen: Raptor hide to look for the Northern Goshawk with Bird Safari Sweden
11: Kittan, Rönnbacken: Look for the Siberian jay with Bird Safari Sweden
12: Bergslagen: Raptor hide to look for the Rough-legged Buzzard with Bird Safari Sweden
13 + 14: Bergslagen: Bird watchin by myself
15: Bergslagen: Second try for the Rough-legged Buzzard with Bird Safari Sweden
16 + 17: Bergslagen: Bird watchin by myself
18: Road trip: Bergslagen to Abisko
19 - 22: STF ABISKO TURISTSTATION: Looking for Aurora Borealis
23: Road trip: Driving back to Skåne

March
6: In the air again: Flying to Cyprus
7: Birding on Cyprus: Birding in the Paphos District
8: Birding on Cyprus: Birding in the Paphos District
9: Birding on Cyprus: Birding in the Limassol District
10: Birding on Cyprus: Birding on Paphos Headland
11: Birding on Cyprus: Birding at Cape Greco
12: Birding on Cyprus: Birding in Troodos
13: Birding on Cyprus: Birding in Larnaca
14: Birding on Cyprus: Birding at the Paphos Lighthouse Area
15: Birding on Cyprus: Birding in the Paphos District
16: Birding on Cyprus: Birding at the Limassol District
17: Birding on Cyprus: Birding at Cape Greco
18: Birding on Cyprus: Birding at the Paphos Lighthouse Area
19: Birding on Cyprus: Birding in the Paphos District
20: Birding on Cyprus: Birding in the Paphos District
21: Birding on Cyprus: Birding in the way to the airporta
21: Flying to Malta
23: Birding on Malta North part of Malta
24: Birding on Malta South part of Malta
25: Birding on Malta Valletta
26: Birding on Malta - Stayed around the hotel
27: Birding on Malta Central Malta
28: Birding on Malta Northern part of Malta
29: Birding on Malta Birding with a bird guide
30: Birding on Malta South part of Malta
31: Birding on Malta Last day
31: Flying to Sweden

April
2-4 Common Cranes at Hornborgasjön, Trandansen
5-8 Birding in Skåne
9: Driving to Bergslagen
9-13: Bird watching in Bergslagen
14: Bird watching in Bergslagen - Black Grouse Lek
15-16: Bird watching in Bergslagen - Capercaillie Lek / Capercaillie Display
16: Driving back to Helsingborg
24: Driving to Öland
25-30: Birding on Öland

May
1-2: Birding on Öland
2: Driving back to Helsingborg
22: Getting back home to Bangkok

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