Another new toy

I have for years been desiring a digital USB microscope. Today I happened to join my sister, her husband and their children in a visit to Norsk Teknisk Museum. In the museum shop I found this little thingie. I admit to being very tempted, and when temptation is allowed to run amok for an hour or so, it might also happen to result in a new purchase. At least that was what happened to me today. The first two pictures I tried to create are not that amazing, but let us see what else I might publish in the future.

Digital Microscope - a hair

Digital microscope - a hair

Digital microscope - hair root

Digital microscope - a hair and its root



Posted from Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Pyramid overload

View of Giza from the plane

View of Giza from the plane

Early this month my girlfriend and I visited Egypt. For years we have wanted to see the traces of what was once one of the greatest civilizations of the world. In order to see as much as possible of the best sights of Egypt we joined a packaged trip from Escape Travel. It might not be a back packer tour, but we had a great time.

We started our trip in Cairo and by visiting the pyramids of Sakkara and Giza. It was about time though. The chief archeologist of Egypt has decided that in order to protect the Sphinx and some of the pyramids they are going to encapsulate them in stone. More or less restore them. I am sorry to say, that is not all great in my eyes. I would like the preserved in their original state, not a restored version of them.

After the noise and bustle of the capital of Egypt we traveled to Alexandria for a visit to the library of Alexandria. After returning to Cairo we headed for Luxor and among else the Karnak temple and the Valley of the Kings. From Luxor we went by river boat to Aswan. On the way we stopped in Edfu and Esna. The nature around Aswan was fantastic, and when we went to see the temple of Ramses II in Abu Simbel we got to see the real desert. Finally we returned to Aswan, Egypt and then to Norway. All in all we stayed in Egypt for 10 days. A bit short to see all the fantastic sights of the country, but we did manage to visit some of the biggest ones. Pictures from this part of the journey will be available later.

The old pyramids in Sakkara

The old pyramids in Sakkara

The great pyramids of Giza

The great pyramids of Giza

Pyramids in silhouette

Pyramids in silhouette

Early morning pyramids

Early morning pyramids

Pyramid close-up from below

Pyramid close-up from below

Pyramid and sphinx

Pyramid and sphinx

Another pyramid silhouette

Another pyramid silhouette



Posted from Bærum, Akershus, Norway.

Snowing in Oslo

I often bring along my little Canon G9 when I am out and about. Today there was -12 degrees Celsius and a few snowflakes were falling slowly down from the skies. Except that the building where my company has their office is built in such a way that there is a small draft coming from below. Thus the snowflakes were equally falling down and blowing up again. Some of these flakes even got stuck to the windows.

Snowflake on the window

Snowflake on the window

Snowflakes on the window

Snowflakes on the window

Snowflakes on the window

Snowflakes on the window




Posted from Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Birds in Norway during the winter

Anybody that have experienced a Norwegian winter knows that they are dark and cold, but compared to other countries at the same latitude we have fairly mild winters. Thus there are several birds that stay in Norway during the cold season, but when the temperatures drop below -20 degrees celcius they feel the pressure. Luckily some people feed them during their time of need. This weekend we witnessed a “few” mallards fighting for their bread in one of the few ice free areas near Oslo.

Their numbers were astonishing, and so were their ferocity. Another picture