I'm back again for another post for this trip and this time, a day or should I say a night in Kirkenes, Norway for King Crab Safari. So in the morning at Helsinki Airport, we waited for a flight to Ivalo, the northern part of Finland for a 3 hours non-stop drive to Kirkenes. That's kind of exhausting but worth it when all these crabs are gonna be in your tummy.
At Ivalo Airport, no apron, no boarding bridge and we just disembarked and walked on the tarmac into the airport. The airport is so small and full of passengers at the gate, waiting for their flight out. And there is only 1 baggage carousel or conveyor belt. Everyone just standing by the belt waiting for their luggage and it was so squeezy.
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| Arrived at Ivalo Airport |
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| No passenger boarding bridge at Ivalo Airport |
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| Awesome morning lights |
After all 35 of us assembled, we headed off for lunch. It was some random place for a limited variety of buffet spread that cost us about 20 Euros per pax (I can't remember already). The food was mediocre but then kept thinking about the crab feast at night, this is nothing to be whiny about, right? Before we set off for a 3-hours non-stop drive to Kirkenes, shop at the supermarket beside it.
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| Reception area of Snow Hotel Kirkenes |
Finally arrived at our destination, Snow Hotel Kirkenes. It was this dark already by 5-6pm Norway time. Haiz... just accept the fact that you are not gonna see daylight for more than 6 hours during Winter time. Everyone headed straight for the toilet. Haha... oh I saw reindeers outside the reception. They ain't cute in real life than in cartoons. And poop in front of us too. Watch my Short
here to see it for yourself.
KING CRAB SAFARI
So we changed into the jump suit before plopping in the snow mobile wooden sledge. Into a deep forest till we reach the frozen fjord where we got to see them pulling up the cages of King Crabs from the digged hole. Then the story telling time on how to differentiate male and female crabs, the baits they throw in, cutting them up on the spot after photo taking with the King Crabs and so on. You thought you can at least experience catching your own crab but nope. We are the Observer and they are the Executor. The most is hold them up live and take photos. Watch my Short
here. And no Northern Lights that day because the moon was so bright though dark.
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| This is our Winter Fashion thru out the activities this trip |
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| Snow Mobile Pulled Sled |
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| Open up the hole, pull up the cage and done |
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| Pulled out around 4-6 King Crabs |
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| A photo before it gets into the tummy |
KING CRAB FEAST
After changing, we proceeded to the restaurant for our real late dinner. I swear from now on when having such sumptuous seafood meal,
NEVER WILL I TAKE ANY BREAD AGAIN! If not, I would have eaten 4 of them based on my capacity. Don't know why I follow the rest to dip a slice of bread into the salty soup. NEVER!
These crab legs were so umami and fresh from steaming. Really have to eat it hot because after it gets cold, taste kind of jelak. But it was good. Watch our feast
here.
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| Cosy, fuzzy restaurant to dine in |
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| 35 pax but too much to handle |
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| My share of steamed crab legs |
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| Snow Hotel Kirkenes 365 |
Snow Hotel Kirkenes 365 was built in 2005 and rebuilt every year when it melted every spring. Until 2019 when they decided to try something new to keep the hotel frozen thru the summer. This hotel has
13 rooms of 2 to 4 bedded rooms to choose from. This is actually for you to experience sleeping in the cold room with nothing in it, except mattress and pillow. The so-called door to each room is just a draw of curtain. You know as Asians, it feels like sleeping in a mortuary so not very auspicious. Anyway it is expensive per night (roughly SGD861 via Booking.com) which includes breakfast and dinner. And you will be using a shared bathroom too. Why does it feels like a hostel style of living? Anyway, we are not staying here (for god's sake), if not how to catch Northern Lights? And I wonder if we will get backache the next day. Haha... And was told to be quiet as there maybe customers staying. And don't go peeking when the curtain is drawn up. It means occupied. Bring you on an excursion
here.
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| Like walking in the snow cave |
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| Ice Carving Reception with a bear behind it |
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| What you see here is what you get - 2 bedded room |
They have another option which is staying in the Gamme Northern Light cabins. Look so nice from here. And that is perfect for catching Northern Lights. Pay a little more for a comfortable stay. It appears on Booking.com as Cottage so do note on that.
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| I would rather stay in their Gamme Northern Light Cabins |
So after all the activities, we arrived at our hotel for the night. Guess what? I finally saw snowing the next morning when we were about to depart for our next destination. Finally! And not just stepping on the thick, fluffy snow everyday without knowing when it actually snows. Thank you Norway! Thank you Kirkenes!
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| Bye Bye Kirkenes, Norway! |
ICYMI, here are the previous post of my Winter trip to Finland:
Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post. All the above were paid by the writer.