Hike from Rösa to Ledinge 20km

29 February 2020

Today's hike is in Norrtälje where we started at Rösa bus stop and ended in Ledinge bus stop. We took bus 676 from Tekniska Högskolan arriving 10:03am in Rösa trafikplats. The bus ride took about 1 hour. We did a bit of off-trail where we went off the trail and I got slapped twice by the branches. We had to cross a few swamps, careful with the thin ice, praying that we don't fall into any cold waters. We saw even an outdoor thermometer that showed 1 degrees! There were 2 participants that took a dip in the cold water! Brave people.

Altogether, it was 20km and we caught the 4.10pm bus back to Tekniska Högskolan.

Blood donation

28 February 2020

Blood donation in Stockholm is so different from my experience in Malaysia. It is so thorough and structured.

The first step is to register myself in the Blood Donation Centre. A nurse will take a blood sample (a prick on my finger) and have the sample tested if I have any diseases such as HIV. Thee are a list of diseases that they test for. In addition to that, I have to fill up a questionnaire with very thorough questions on my health condition. Since I am from Malaysia, they were very cautious about it as Malaysia is a malaria-risk country. They asked if I have been to Taman Negara (Malaysia's National Park) or when was the last time I visited my home country. These were done in November 2019. In mid-February 2020, I got an email that I am able to give blood. Yay! 

In Malaysia, the nurses take a blood sample to identify your blood type and you can give blood on the spot. There are of course, certain rules to adhere prior to giving blood for e.g. if you are aware that you have any disease that prohibits from giving blood, then you cannot give blood, need to have sufficient sleep, weigh a certain weight, not in a same-sex relationship and some others which I cannot remember. The last time I gave blood was during my college years. 

Today, I made my way towards a Blood Donation Centre located in Odenplan. There are 3 centers in Stockholm, and they are all located strategically close or in the train station. I took the lift towards the 6th floor. The sticker on the 6 button says - Thank you for giving blood.

As soon as you step in, you need to sign in by filling in your ID number and a health declaration (the same questions I answered when I registered in November 2019). One needs to fill this each time before they give blood. Then, you sign electronically on the touch pad.

The centre is spacious. I like their cushions. I was informed to take a small packet of juice from the mini refrigerator to hydrate myself. Soon, my name was called. 

Tastebud : Agrikultur (Michelin)

28 February 2020

Dinner at Agrikultur, a Michelin Star restaurant. My first experience with a Michelin Star restaurant was Smak. Since then, I have been curious to taste food that is awarded a Michelin Star. This is the menu for the day and I was extremely stuffed by the time we reached dessert! The menu changes often and it is not stated on the website. It costs SEK1245 per person. I love how they presented the food with mother nature (for e.g stones, dried moss, dried mushroom) as the background. This resonates definitely with the restaurant's name - Agrikultur which is agriculture in English.

First, the starters which is known as introductory or snack. 3 of them.

Introductory meal - cabbage dumpling filled with root mash, buckwheat and vinegar-cooked mustard seed. The dumpling was really soft to the fingers as it is made from cabbage. 

Next introductory meal - cucumber cooked with dill, served with smetana (sour cream) and roe from Kalix. Apparently, roe from Kalix are served during the Nobel award's dinner.

Last introductory meal - deep-fried sugar tongs topped with salted citron and grilled parsley. 

Main course - seafood or fish.

Beer-boiled king's crab in a shortcrust pastry form with hay and quail egg's cream and roe. The dishes are very small.

Tastebud : Falafelbaren

27 February 2020

Falafelbaren serves pretty good falafel. In general, I think nothing can go wrong with a falafel wrap. So far, the falafel that I have tried tasted good. I got a falafel roll for SEK105. This place, however, does not have a toilet.

Theatre - Coraline

27 February 2020

Volunteer duties with Kompis Sverige today. 

We watched Coraline at Folkopera Theatre. It is about a 11-year old girl who has to save her parents from a wicked-button-sewing-to-replace-eyes woman. The family moved into a new house that has a small door. The girl was bored as her parents did not let her play in the rain, so she went through that small door and found the exact room with an exact version of her parents with buttons as eyes. She befriended 3 kids (from different times i.e. from the 7th century, from the 17th century and from the 70s, who have grown up but were still kids (mentally) that have button as eyes. They were victims of the wicked-button-sewing-to-replace-eyes woman. They helped her to distract the wicked woman and she managed to save her parents.