Stockholm Trip: Arriving and Settling In

I was very excited for my first trip to Stockhholm to visit my friend Per.  We had a major consulting engagement in the Middle East, but instead of flying from London to Bahrain, I took a side flight to Stockholm, where Per and I hung out for a couple of days.  

This took a bit of planning on our part, because we were shifting from one climate to another.  Normally when I flew out of Chicago for the Middle East, in the winter, I didn't wear a coat to the taxi ride to O'Hare Airport.  On the return trip, my wife Karen would bring me my coat, and this freed me up from hauling winter clothing across continents.  

I obviously needed such clothing for Stockholm in February.  I brought one or two heavy sweaters, socks and boots.  But otherwise, Per lent me a coat, hat and gloves.  I had another trip planned to Stockholm in a couple of months, so I left my sweaters etc. at his flat, as we headed off to Bahrain.  

The following is my journal entry: 

February 22nd 2004, Sunday afternoon and evening.

Arrived at Stockholm Arlanda Airport about 2 PM.  Small airport, not many people, long wait for the luggage.

Took the Arlanda Express train to Central Station in Stockholm.  Very clean station, fast train ride (20 minutes).  About $25.

Dial 08 for local calls in Stockholm (no need to dial the country code).  For mobiles, dial just 0.

Arrived at Central Station a little after 3 PM.  Per met me there, and it was a short 10-minute walk back to his flat.  Small but very nice, elegant but simple, like the wood.  If I were single, I’d have an apartment like his.

Worked out at S.A.T.S., about a 10-minute walk away.  A lot of pretty Swedish girls!

Ate dinner at Helene’s Krog and Bar.  Had a large chicken club sandwich (kyckcling).

Believe we had an Amaretto nightcap.

Saw DVD “The Seventh Seal.”  A 1950s Ingmar Bergman film of strong religious tones during a plague-ridden Sweden in the mid-teens century.  Starring Max von Sydow.  It was a compelling film, Per translated some of the Swedish dialogue.

Stockholm Trip: Short Layover in London

I'd been to London Heathrow Airport several times, and often our wait for the next flight to the Middle East was a few hours long.  We had the privilege of business class, so relaxing in the British Airways lounge was far from an unpleasant indeed.  But this time it was a short transition for a flight to Stockholm.

The following in my journal entry:

February 22nd 2004, Sunday morning.

I am here en route to Stockholm, Sweden, to visit with my friend Per, a fellow PDIer and Saudi Aramco coach. The stresses of the past couple of weeks have muted somewhat my excitement about visiting with him and touring Stockholm. But now that I’m just hours away from being there, I’m starting to think more about what I want to do: above all, see the city, meet people, learn about its culture.

I want to know about Per’s world… the places he walks to, works out at, dines at, and of course works at, PDI Scandanavia.

I want to know what defines Sweden, its characteristics. At one point, he described it as an open society; we were in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to which he contrasted Sweden. What else?

I want to know the traits of a Swedish personality… informal, like Americans? Reserved or outgoing? Factual or intuitive? Planful or spontaneous?

I want to know about its industries and businesses… its politics and international relations… its people, culture, and customs… some “basics,” too, of everyday life: currency (krona, singular; kronor, plural), telecommunications, transportation, TV, food and drinks.

I want to know about its music, literature, and arts.

Borneo Challenge: Our Adventure's Finish

This was effectively the finish of our amazing adventure that was The Borneo Challenge.  

Some of us got so gnarled in those rocky rapids, that the red rubber raft had to come rescue them.  This was lightweight stuff, really, meaning that there was no great danger to speak of.  The most technical difficulty we faced was how to maneuver those bamboo rafts properly.  By the time we reached the finish, we more or less got the hang of it.

We headed off to a luxury Kota Kinabalu hotel to relax, where the staff provided us with a sumptuous meal.  Which was nice.  But what was nicer was a really warm shower in their well-outfitted locker rooms.  Then, it was off to the airport late that evening.  We had a short overnight stay in Kuala Lumpur, where we stayed at a modest hotel.  Then, we were headed back home to Dubai.

Borneo Challenge: Bamboo Rafting on the River

The river was not that deep, and the rapids were not that rapid.  Still bamboo rafting was not as easy as it looked.  It took quite a bit of doing to learn how to maneuver these makeshift rafts, and the rapids were rapid enough to take us off course with a wrong maneuver.

I fell off once or twice, and ended up bring dragged downstream by the currents.  I was in a awkward sitting position, facing backwards, and because the waters were shallow, my behind and lower back slammed on some rocks.  Nothing serious, thankfully, but enough to jar me and hinder me from getting back on the raft.

Navigating the rocky stretch above was more treacherous, yet.  We ran aground, as you see, and needed help from the guide wearing a red shirt.

Borneo Challenge: Building our Bamboo Rafts

After our day at Don Bosco Children's Home, we headed to a camp just up-river from Kota Kinabalu.  Our main task was to build bamboo rafts for our river run the next day.  It took some doing, and but it was all manageable.  In fact we had enough time to get settled with our tent and gear, rest and relax, and for some even play soccer.  Once again it rained that evening, but thankfully not heavy or long.

Borneo Challenge: Time to Say Goodbye

Alas it was time to say goodbye.  By this point, we had taken numerous photos and the children had grown quite comfortable with us.  They didn't want us to leave, and I felt tugs at my heart strings.

Borneo Challenge: The Girls of Don Bosco

As with the boys, there was one among the girls who didn't look happy.  See the middle girl in the trio at the top.  But I managed to coax a smile from her.  

Still as I think about it now, these children didn't arrive at Don Bosco in the best of circumstances.  Some were orphans, and others had parents who simply couldn't take care of them.  So I wonder what dread or horror they had already faced, which, just maybe, I captured on my little Samsung mobile camera.       

Borneo Challenge: The Boys of Don Bosco

We finished painting the interior rooms and hallways of the Don Bosco Children's Home, and were just hanging around when the children came back from school.  I walked over to a scattering of boys, just outside their home, and simply and earnestly worked at making them comfortable.  Mostly non-verbally I asked if I could photograph them.  I was thankful they agreed.

Such sweet expressions on their faces.  I mostly knelt or squatted down, so I could photograph their faces at eye level.

This last boy, though, didn't look happy in the least.  I saw him at the corner of my eye - I could feel his scowl, somehow, on my cheeks - and decided to leave him alone for the time being.  I spent a few minutes with the other boys first, then approached him.  I never knew what he was apparently upset about, but he, too, agreed for me to photograph him.

Borneo Challenge: Don Bosco Children Welcoming

I keyed in on the little girl on the far right...

And playfully invited her and her friend for a photograph...  

Until they both slid from flat-faced to smiling and laughing

I spied with my little eye another little girl...

Whom I also managed to tease out a smile

After a grueling Challenge, to date, we relished a physically dialed-down day.  We enjoyed painting the Don Bosco Children's Home, and hanging out with the children when they got home from school.