Category: City

  • Can I blame everything on the Strait of Hormuz?

    It didn’t quite go as I had planned. I never got that cozy feeling of reading and preparing for the trip to Nepal and India in peace. I am so used to reading up on different subjects that I hesitated for a second, but then I realized that I can read while travelling. Life doesn’t always turn out the way you want it to. There are no government guarantees – like in so many other life situations. The Strait of Hormuz, I thought, I blame the Strait of Hormuz. It already felt a little better.

    It is a bit absurd to set off on a trip and think about how you can travel without crossing the war. Ukraine is very close to me. Sometimes I travel by bus and meet refugees from Ukraine who travel for free. A distributional policy issue was brought up by a friend who believes that all refugees should be allowed to travel for free. Without thinking, I replied that Sweden is very close to Ukraine and that it might as well have been Sweden that was invaded. It is a very unique situation.

    I am starting to look forward to my voyage, and I have a lot to prepare. There is no train from Kathmandu, so I am traveling by bus or plane to India. What should I do for Professor Thapa? I got this nice gift below a little over 20 years ago. Dala horses are nice, but I have rarely been to Dalarna. I still have a few weeks to look.

    I hope I will find the plant that contains Reserpine. How come it grows in India? It is nowadays sold in health food stores. It is fascinating that plants can have such powerful pharmacological effects. However, there are much better pharmacological alternatives today than Reserpine to lower blood pressure and also for various anxiety conditions.

    Stay safe 🐾

    Gift from Professor Thapa.
  • To visit Gothenburg for a day

    To visit Gothenburg for a day

    It is in the middle of summer in Sweden. Tropical sunny days mixed with rain. The ground is so hot that the rain evaporates immediately when it hits the lawn, which makes the humidity close to 100%.

    Summer is perfect for short trips. I traveled by train to Gothenburg during the day to meet some friends. They prefer cliffs to sandy beaches and wanted to visit the Swedish west coast. Like me, they like to travel. There were direct flights from Barcelona, Spain, to Gothenburg. I travelled by train from Stockholm.

    Interestingly, when I booked my train ticket, I automatically took into account that traveling would mean delays. Later, it turned out to be true. The weather was perfect with sun and blue sky. It was soothing to see green meadows and fields pass my train window on the train to Gothenburg. On the way back, deer grazed in the meadows at dusk.

    It had been a long time since we had seen each other, and it was a lovely reunion. The funny thing is that we got to know each other when I was in France – not Spain. 30 years ago. I understand a little Spanish, but we speak French. My friend at that time was her little sister. She could not join due to her family in Spain.

    HAGA – and the photographer is Pepe

    We walked through Gothenburg and ended up in Haga. Life is often depicted in pictures, and I also wanted to photograph the gigantic cinnamon buns that were made for Instagram.

    Giant cinnamon buns!

    At the café, we tried to catch up after our last meeting in Barcelona. We laughed, and as usual, we understood each other despite some language barriers. They wanted me to show them my best secret spot in Gothenburg. Since we didn’t have much time, we took a taxi to Saltholmen-Långedrag. They laughed at me as I tried to stop a black Tesla that later turned out not to be our car – kind of universal humor where words are not needed.

    Coffee time

    The sea was the same, and the boats were where they should be. Here, too, there was a ready-made motif for social media. A perfectly polished boat that was moored right next to the restaurant. It was hot, and we cooled off with cold drinks. In the background, the song ‘Macarena’ by the Spanish pop duo Los del Río was playing. It seemed to be the end of a sailing course, and all the participants danced the Macarena to the greatest delight of my friends.

    Dinghy sailing

    The week before, I had seen on the news that a luxury yacht belonging to Putin had passed Gothenburg. It felt better to see dinghies sailing. We started to get hungry, and we found our way back to the city center again. The market hall was tempting, but we ended up with a pasta dinner right by the equestrian statue of Karl IX (kopparmärra).

    Pasta.

    My Zaragoza friends continued north along the west coast. I went by train to Stockholm – a truly wonderful little summer memory – Le temps est bon. Let’s go, Spain! ⚽️ 🇪🇸 ⚽️ 🇪🇸 ⚽️

  • What is Panda diplomacy?

    Now I have landed after the trip to the USA. As usual, I look for interesting impressions along the way. There were a few hours of waiting at Heathrow on the way back. I really looked for something to buy, but couldn’t find anything. I had a good lunch instead of shopping. I like nutritious meals, for example, with a little chicken and some mix of salad. The food is presented differently from that in Stockholm. Also, a greater variety of vegetables. Yummy. I also had the opportunity to read news I didn’t have time to read in the USA, which you can see below.

    USA – a country from slavery to freedom. Easy to forget.

    On one of the flights before Heathrow, a passenger began moving strangely and violently just before landing. It became uneasy among all the passengers. He had no cramps, but he had uncontrolled movements. Other passengers and I tried to make eye contact with the man sitting in front of me. We also tried to speak with him. Strangely, it was as if he were fully conscious but had completely lost control of his body. As if his body were dancing like Michael Jackson. He didn’t say a word. The plane landed, and the seatbelt sign went out – the pilot was unaware of what was happening in the cabin. People were scared and started to quickly get up. Instinctively, without thinking, I stood up and told the flight attendant to announce over the loudspeaker that everyone should sit down. The plane became quiet, and I also sat down. We waited about 10 minutes for medical personnel to pick up the man. After that, we were able to leave the plane at Miami airport.

    Once at Heathrow, after sleeping across the Atlantic, I had my salad and then took the opportunity to browse through all the shops. I really don’t have room to buy any new things. I love books, but they also take up space. The digital world has taken over my life.

    Now I read in the news that President Trump has received a Presidential plane gift from Qatar. The Americans have just had a test flight. Maybe the Middle East is inspired by China’s soft diplomacy? They are so cute, the pandas below. Tomorrow there will be an intensive trip during the day, but within the country’s borders. Twelve hours on the train.

  • Back and forth to the USA

    Miami airport

    I have had a few intense days again, and I would have liked to write, but it takes a little extra focus to formulate reasonable sentences. I have spent hours in airports, and there is also always an extra hour of waiting time because I like to be on time.

    It is good for me. I cannot do anything but wait. Maybe think about how to travel from the next airport. Or make plans next week. Maybe listen to foreign languages ​​that I do not recognize. Possibly, I can at least guess.

    The best feeling is when I have not spoken or listened to Swedish for several days. Like when I traveled back to Sweden from Miami a few days ago. That special feeling when I suddenly hear someone speak Swedish that feels so foreign – yet is so familiar.

    I remember the time when I flew from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur, and I was the only passenger from Europe. In addition, almost no other women on the flight. As if I do not exist because no one recognizes me or can speak Swedish to me. Can there be more Jean-Paul Sartre?

    Now I’m thinking about how I can handle the trip this fall from Nepal to India. If that is possible in this world of trouble. Do I really have to bring antibiotics with me if I get a bad infection? Well, well.

    In the USA, I finally got to meet my American family. I really did have breakfast with Tiffany! A few intense American days. Wonderful with fresh exotic fruit for breakfast. The trip back went well, and it is actually an advantage to be petite sometimes. The man next to me was so tall that he almost doubled in the seat. We switched seats, and I got the window seat.

  • A night at Heathrow

    I have been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to write anything here. Last night I slept at Heathrow – the home of British Airways. It is so amazingly warm, almost 30 °C. I would have loved to travel in a dress, but unfortunately, it’s more practical to wear trousers. Heathrow is an intense, wonderful, international airport. The whole world meets here.

    I was a little nervous before I got on the plane, but that was mostly because I needed both an ETA and an ESTA to get into the USA. There are tensions in the world due to a lack of jet fuel and, above all, the general Trump chaos. Putin chaos, too, for that matter. Just because they cannot get along doesn’t mean I don’t like the USA. You have to distinguish between things—the land of freedom in the 19th century for many Swedes.

    There is a weight loss revolution in the world, and that must be the reason there was a needle box in the ladies’ room. Now I have a few minutes left before I’m on the plane to Miami.

    Stay safe 🐾

  • Hi webhotel!

    This is so refreshing. I have been writing this diary for 13 years. Nice to change. I remember lots of travelling that I have tried to catch by photos and writing – so happy for this change, and also for the opportunity to learn.

    This autumn I will go to Nepal and Kathmandu. I am staying in touch with Professor Trilok Pati Thapa. I just learnt that Kathmandu was very popular in the 1960´s as the Hippie trail. Well, I must admit that I also search for some answers. I have so much to read, and my Professor sends me literature.

    I am now concidering of traveling from East Asia to reach Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. The world is fragile, as Sting points out.

  • First spring sun and contemporary Nirvana KBU

    Now I see that it is summertime tomorrow, and I hurry to write to tie in with the previous ending. Time and consciousness belong together. That feeling that it feels like there are a hundred seconds until summer. Or when the Concorde plane flew from London to New York so fast that the passengers landed earlier than when they took off from Heathrow.

    There is something special every spring when the first sun peeks out. The light is in a very special way. A feeling of hope is ignited within me. Plus, Easter is almost here, so here is a cute little chicken to get in the mood.

    Eastern 2026

    Pollen season has been going on for a few weeks now. Molly has had her first tick tablet. I have had a little break from my diary because I have been with family and friends. Singing and music are common interests – thank you for the perfect song! They offered a song, and I offered lunch. When I count, I have sung in the school choir for about 15 years.

    Music is always with me, even though I only listen and don’t sing. I needed to be in my training bubble before I could write today. It’s wonderful with music combined with heart-pumping training. Same trainer and same music for many years. A little rockier than what I listen to myself. I searched for several hours for a song that could capture the current state of the world. It ended up acoustically with Nirvana MTV—fantastic voice, empathy, and lyrics. Perfect after Ramadan.

    I got the chance to cook a new pasta dish. So new that I tested it beforehand. I found two recipes and combined them, interpreting them in my own way. Garlic, shallots, cooking wine, a little cream, cocktail tomatoes, vegetable broth, lemon zest, squeezed lemon, and scampi. Some chili flakes were added with salt and pepper. It was difficult to balance everyone’s tastes. This was mixed with pasta and fresh parsley. What a symphony!

    Finally, here is a classical musical symphony that interprets Nirvana’s ”Smells Like Teen Spirit” 🎶. I love the contrast.