After staying just for a night in the very beautiful city, Flam, we'll continue the journey to another city using train. After breakfast we went to the station that's closed to the hotel. While walking we enjoyed the weather and beautiful scenery surrounding by lake and mountains decorating with snow. The building near to the train was painted yellow made of wood looked beautiful, contrast with the mountains as the background.
Our tour leader had bought the ticket, while waiting for the train's departure, we took some pictures with other tour's participants. A monument in front of the station was built to honor the workers who had built the magnificent Flamsbana railway which was going through mountains with very difficult position and environment. They built the railway without any helps of modern equipments. It took years to finish the railway to enjoy Norwegian fjord landscape.
When the train was ready to depart, we rushed to get in to the lorry. Surprising, only our tour group was in the wagon as if our private carriage. Although the train was old (open in 1940), but the condition was very excellent, comfortable and clean. We started to enjoy the journey by seeing through the big windows at the right and left side. Taking pictures would not be good if we took from behind the window's glass, lucky that we could open top part of the window which was near to the door.
The train took us from Sognefjord at ocean level to the top of the mountain. During the journey, the scenery was very magnificent, we could see the steep mountain, fjord, and also the unbreathable waterfalls, sometimes we went through tunnels. Flamsbana did not run fast, only 30-40 kms/hours to give the passengers a chance enjoying the fantastic nature. Its track was quite steep, around 5.5% gradient for almost 80% of the journey using a normal railway.
We stopped by at the biggest waterfall, Kjosfossen, unfortunately it's still frozen at that time, so we could not see the enormity water splash of the fall. Snow was still everywhere although it's already May, maybe it's because of the global warming, so the climate was rather changed :-) We had to be careful walking on the slippery snow. Kjosfossen, an hourglass-shaped waterfall, with total falls around 225 metres (738 ft), is used to power the Flåm Line railway. If it's not frozen we would be able to see as if a woman dancing in the middle of the falls. In the summer some ballerina often dance and sing, dressed as a legendary Huldra, seductive forest creature in Scandinavian folklore.
After a few minutes stop, we continued the journey to Myrdal, more and more snow on the panoramic view. Near to the station we went through a tunnel with railing which was enable us to see the scenery through it. Arriving at Myrdal mountain station on Hardangervidda, 863 meters over the ocean, where we could take a break, to go to the toilet, having a cup of coffee or snack, or buying souvenirs. A pile of clean snow was piling on the edge of the station's building. I asked my sister's to take my picture playing with snow as I could not have it in Indonesia :-) Although my trousers were getting wet, I didn't care, I kept enjoying playing with the snow until my hands got numb. To warm my body, I went inside the station's building, then going out again to take pictures after I could feel my hands again:-)
We continue the journey to Voss with another train, while our bus would pick up us there. The houses look like "lego" toys, so cute. I could not imagine how people could stay there in the middle of the snow, while the road could not be seen as it's covered by snow. The Flamsbana journey was very unforgettable experience to enjoy picturesque nature, it's the most beautiful train journeys in the world and the leading tourist attraction in Norway, you should not miss it.
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