This trip to Scandinavia evolved and materialized over time. The first seed of travelling to that part of the world was planted when the idea of going to Peru with my Munich-based friend fell through. Another friend then suggested spending time together on a small island in Sweden. It sounded idyllic. That also fell through. The feeling of being in Scandinavia, however, continued to bloom within me.
I began to enquire about possible dog- and catsitters, putting feelers out there. I have two large senior dogs who require multiple walks and a kitten who needs company and playtime. With two separate sitters arranged, I was set to plan out the month-long trip.
Singapore is a busy hub for travelling and there were a few options. I’ve heard great reviews about Turkish Airlines and so I booked a return ticket to Copenhagen with a short stopover in Istanbul. The plan was first to meet up with my Munich friend for a few days in Copenhagen. We both researched hotels, with no luck. We had trouble finding a room for us and so we tried AirBNB, not knowing which Copenhagen neighbour would be the best for us. It was not flowing and so another major change – Copenhagen last, Sweden first.
Scandinavia Itinerary
Round trip on Turkish Airlines from Singapore to Copenhagen via Istanbul
Transit in Copenhagen and onward to Stockholm on Norwegian Air
Stockholm originally four nights, changed to 6, with one night in Vaxholm
I took a red-eye from Singapore to arrive early in Istanbul before flying to Copenhagen later that morning. And then to Stockholm in the afternoon. It was a very long day.
Having travelled during different parts of the day, my preference for long hauls is an overnight flight. It’s about 11 hours to Istanbul, giving me plenty of time to watch a movie or two and sleep. Many people I know struggle on such long flights and with sleeping. What works for me is keeping hydrated and holding my fingers before, during, and after my flights. This is a Jin Shin Jyutsu way of energy balancing. I would hold each finger for a few minutes, sometimes dozing off while doing it.
I also tend to shift a lot in my seat, oftentimes swatting on it, while watching movies with my Bose headphones, which I have found to be very helpful with motion-sickness. Sitting by the window also makes a difference for me.
The long layover was in Copenhagen, not Istanbul. By the time I landed, I was ready to plant myself somewhere comfortable and have some food and relax. Copenhagen airport has lots of options so it was easy. I watched a movie on my phone while having a bite to eat. As I sat there, it sank in that I was about to begin my month-long solo travel. It’s not my first time travelling by myself, though this is the first time for so long. I needed this time for myself, without a schedule.
The Wander in the North
This Wander in the North journey was profound. I only booked a few places to allow more free flow in between. I’d feel it out as I spent each day or I’d hear some interesting tidbits to explore. At one point, I played with the idea of hopping over to Greenland or taking the Hurtigruten far beyond Tromsø. Despite it being the summertime, I did not run into any issue finding hotel rooms or train seats last minute. It has been liberating.