Traveling again!! But this time it is within my own country’s borders. And the goal is Karlskoga, right smack in the middle of the country. It is very exotic, I promise.

But first I have to get to the bus. It feels pretty weird traveling with public transportation in Sweden again. Maybe I’ll write something about that later (both good and bad)

The central station entrance in Stockholm above and the bus terminal across the street below (woops, only the road outside and the interior, the picture of the exterior vanished)

But whatever, it’s pretty functional and easy to find what you need. And it is now even easier than ever, they spruced up the place with more information boards and a big information desk. Very good for tourists! Something I’ve been wanting for a long time in Stockholm in general.

You board through gates like this, it is to keep out the fumes. That’s nothing new though. I just wanted to show you it. People stand in line nicely and very quietly waiting for the gates to open.

Apparently you can now by priority boarding as well…. I guess it is a nice way for them to get people to pay more for something they actually don’t need. You kind of might need it boarding a plane, but not boarding a bus. One guy did though. I hope he felt it was worrh it. I got the seat I wanted anyway, in the front and I didn’t see the guy anywhere, maybe he picked the luggage compartment as his seat.

The weather is perfect, sunny and warm and with a clear horizon…

And I finally have my headphones! It is pretty much needed when sitting by grympy ladies looking angry and asocial. Which my seat buddy seemed to be. I talked with the women behind me though, I have become a bit less Swedish (I think it is a big city thing though and not applicable generally to all of Sweden), I really wanted to talk to someone 😀

The bus ride is more “comfortable” with less bumpier roads and more room than in Southeast Asia, but I actually like it less than the minibuses in Thailand. Because with a smaller vehicle it feels more personal and it is much easier to stop somewhere for a snack or a break.

Anyway, I arrived and later I found a new hat. And apparently low price underwear.

I was shopping with my mom and found my new hat, and thai food!

Apparently we have thai shelves in stores here. That means I can cook thai food for my mom! I mean, I want to use my two food classes I took in Thailand before I forget everything. It will be my my present for my lovely mom.

LOVLEY MOM!

LOVLEY HOUSE

LOVLEY STREET

LOVLEY FIKA

And extremely crappy TV shows… “Farmer wanting wife”

Exotic! Just as I promised!
Exclamation mark

…
It’s great to be here anyway. Even though we look at crap like this and listen to really bad music all the time.
…My mon never turns off the radio. And the local radio is really terrible playing fantasticly terrible christmas music… I actually despise Christmas music with all my heart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I live here.

This is how it looks now 😀
I kinda didn’t think about the loud music when I started to record, but hey it was a bit moody. So I continued :p

Also, Sweden is pretty dull right now.

Trees are dead.

The shops are dull always though.

And the mangoes are craaazy expensive! It is about 90 baht/3$. That sucks.

It is 0 degrees outside and this is how I walk.

Yep people in Sweden think I’m crazy.

The few dsys i stayed in Mae Hong Son were great. I found a place on TripAdvisor called Baan Mai Guesthouse with reviews saying that the staff was very friendly, and you know what, that is my number one criteria for staying at any place! The reviews said that they only had three rooms and that you would be lucky to get one of them. So I wanted to call them in advance, but I couldn’t find any contact information (as usual with all the great places it seems).

I googled around for a bit and finally I found a Facebook page with a number. Here you are by the way

So I called and since I am the luckiest traveler alive they had a room available! Read about the transfer fromnthe bus station here.

The place was only 350 baht (or something like that) and the rooms were cozy. You share a bathroom but since it is a tiny place that doesn’t really matter.

But most important. The owner, Jum and the two girls working there Ni and Kwam were very friendly, helpful and fun. Absolutely genuinely good human beings. I had a great time talking to them and the other guests and sharing experiences, pictures and stories.

The guest house and the people there certainly made my stay what it was. And I am more than grateful for that. I really wanna come back there some time!

Khap un krap! Sawadee krap!
I really wish you all the luck and happiness you deserve 🙂

So here is a random assortment of pictures from the guesthouse!

I am so fsr very happy with my airline choise. I even forgot that they have an airport lounge with free snacks and drinks. I am right now munching on chocolate croissants and I have tea and good WiFi. They have lots of outlets for charging your phone. And it was actually not that more expensive. I got it for 2200 and the others would have ended up around 1800-2000 because I have to pay for tax, a seat and baggage. In addition to that an even more expensive transfer from the airport (Bangkok Airways flies to Suvarnabhumi instead of Don Mueng which is further away). So all in all a great choise instead of Lion Air or Air Asia for me.

My hotel in Bangkok even has free transfer!

But I’m pretty sad to leave. It is all ending very soon.

WÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄH *sobing*

So my body has already given up. I slept for ten hours and I feel like crap. I wanted to get up earlier to get some nice thai breakfast, Dim Sum. But hey I didn’t :p

Maaaaybe tomorrow, we’ll see. Otherwise I’ll just have it next time 😀

But I’m still going to Phuket town (I’m at Karon Beach) to walk around, see some stuff and buy some good and pastries 😀

And then some desert.. thing O Aew

Mini adventure upcoming after this breakfast!

In oposite chronological order.

I’m eating yummy chocolate cookies.
I was sitting in the hammock doing that a few minutes ago. In the dark. Listening to music. I like the dark. But the mosquitos eventually won. I’m inside now.

I had some deep fried fresh fish with a garlic and chili sauce. Deelicious! Everything in Thailand is delicious! Especially at the local places. Our go to restaurant here has been top notch and cheap!

I waved goodbye to Matt. He’s going to Krabi. May all luck shine upon him. It was great hanging around with him here and in Phuket.

Lunch at the same place as always. With some extra chicken sticks from a street food stall. Yummy with chilli sauce.

This morning I watched the tide come in.

And early this morning I had some tea. As told earlier.

This has been a great day.
A slow one. But a good one. I booked all remaining trips and hotels so I can focus on maximizing the last days here. I will try to find some nice local food. There is still plenty to try for me. Like dim sum! But I’ve gotten a lot of hwlp from a local friend. She’s great 😀 she is like a local guide but without actually having time to meet. But that is ok! She is giving great advice.

And today I had maybe my biggest scooter challange. There is some rosd construction going on around the island. Today one truck actually took up all of the road…. I had to fit in a tiny narrow sliver of road between the truck and the ditch. I baaarely made through! But I did. I leveled up!

Good night peeps. Maybe tomorrow I will actually tell about my other shananigans from this island and Phuket!

Well.