Ready set go

I have recommended two books. "The road less traveled" by M. Scott Peck. "Happier" by Tal Ben-Shahar. Here is the third book I recommend - "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind " by T Harv Eker. It is important to read these three books in the right order. :-)

One of the things I learnt from Peck - I strive for higher level. How high can human being strive to? Closer to God.

One of the things I learnt from Tal - I do often and more often things that make me feel good, and I have enough time for that. 

One of the things I learnt from Harv - Why I should be willing to promote? "Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door" is only true if you add "if they know about it." 

Tal says: 
- Focus on what works. Learn from the masters.
- Coping. Coping means getting out of our comfort zone. Coping means taking risks, means daring, means having high expections and going for them. 
- Cultivate self-esteem. 

Harv says:
- Reprogram your thoughts after the rich people's.
- Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.
- Grow yourself to level 10. 

All true. All good. All my friends. Thanks! :-)

Askersund first visit

Askersund is a small city with about 4000 residents in the heart of Sweden, by Lake Alsen which forms the northernmost part of Vättern, the second largest lake in Sweden. 

I visited Askersund yesterday, during Askersund Outdoor Festival. At arrival I said to Johanna "What a beautiful place! What a sunny day!" - The bus stop has lake view. Without looking at the map, I just followed the coastline and the nice wooden bridge to "Borgmästarholmen", and there was the festival Basecamp located. There I saw my friend Kersti. "How are you?" "Very well, thanks. I enjoy the freedom." 

Yes. I enjoy the freedom to go and see. Nice to see the tents in the air, the big ore block, the churches, the town hall, the new and the old school, the libraries, streets and houses, the lakeside path and the beaches. Nice to talk to many glad people. Thanks Kersti for your outdoor inspirations. Thanks Bertil and David for a wonderful kayak trip in Alsen. Thanks Viktor, Anders and Johanna for nice company. Thanks to the young guys who helped/offered me to try rollerskis and hoverboard. 

On the way home I had one hour in Hallsberg between the bus and the train. Bad or good? I enjoyed a quick walk through Ekoparken. Thanks google maps. :-)

Just do it

This afternoon I was hiking on the west side of Drevviken. Nice to see where I went one week ago, just on the opposite of the lake.

I always have my travelcard with me, need not to worry about how to come home. Today's lakeside hike began from Hökarängsbadet and ended at Sjöviksvägen in Skogås. With this 12 km my Drevviken circuit has been done/gone two third. Not bad. :-)

Recent times when I looked at the map, I felt something new - that I moved a longer distance than expected. Has the map's scale become smaller, or my scale become bigger? I have become stronger.

A local adventure

One week ago I was exploring Amsterdam's parks. Yesterday I enjoyed a walk along Drevviken's north coast.

Drevviken is a lake in south of Stockholm. There is a bus-stop called "Strandkyrkogården (the beach cemetery)" on bus line 807. I have been curious about this area and would like to take a walk along the beach. My friend Erik met me at the bus-stop, the weather was the warmest this year with shining sun. Not really beach but a cool coast line up and down the rocks, typically Swedish lakeside. After 2 km Erik needed to return. I did not want to return. The sun was still shining, my phone battery had enough power. As long as there was a path by the lake, I could go go go. 

When I began I did not know where I would stop the walk. It was so nice to walk in this beautiful place in such a perfect time/weather, I should not set a limit on me. I surprised myself at the end. A nice coast walking (or a hike?) of 11 km. From Strandkyrkogården to Hökarängsbadet. I did something I am proud of. We can raise ourselves. :-)

I had walked little by Drevviken a couple of times before at other places. So before the end of this year I could make Drevviken around by summing up my segments. We can set interesting goals for ourselves. :-)

Amsterdam first visit

I have wanted to bicycle along Amsterdam's canals, and I did it last weekend.

I took a morning flight out and evening flight home, as usual. So I payed for two hotel nights for three whole days of experience.

Because Keukenhof, the most beautiful spring garden in the world, opens only 8 weeks yearly; because my visit to Amsterdam is in April; because Airport Schiphol is located between Keukenhof and Amsterdam; I took Keukenhof's direct bus from the airport and spent my first day in Keukenhof area. https://keukenhof.nl/en/

It was very easy to rent a bike outside the main entrance of Keukenhof. After the garden I took a bike tour through the flower fields then along a lake and beside the dunes to the sea. A beautiful and lovely trip. I love the sea. https://www.rentabikevandam.nl/en/

Wonderful to wake up with view over Prinsengracht canal. Very convenient to rent a bike from Prinsengracht Hotel and just out to bicycle over Amsterdam's bridges. Nice and calm along the canals, then an extensive reading of Vonderlpark and through Sarphatipark, later a evening walk in Amsterdams unique tourist attractions - the red light district. Interesting.

One-hour canal cruise made my view of Amsterdams canals and bridges complete. Very good. As I missed the ticket to the Van Gogh Museum, as I would like to explore more parks by bike, I zoomed out google maps to find my destinations. Along river Amstel I passed by Martin Luther Kingpark to Amstelpark. Before De Riekermolen (Windmill) the God gave me a hand - a map of 10 km hardlooproute through the green area - I followed the red signs on the road from Amstelpark via Gijsbrecht van Aemstelpark and Tennispark to Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Forest). Cool. I stopped my bike in the rain and checked the time, it was 16:50 and I was in the forest in the direction from the city. It's time to return to the hotel for bus to the airport. 20 minuts on the nice bike-way on Amstelveenseweg took me long back. The rain had stopped, and Rembrandtpark's near where I stood, so I had enough time again. Through Rembrandtpark, along Jan Eversenstraat and along my Prinsengracht canal, my last 45 minutes on bike drew a beautiful U. 

The weather prognos had said it would came rain all the three days, and it was right. I had Gore-Tex shoes. I had windpants, gloves, beanie, scarf, umbrella and rain poncho with me, also sunglasses. All of them had come to use during my adventure in Amsterdam. A good outdoor experience. There is no bad weather.

I did what I wanted and what I felt like to do. No need just to dream of life, began to live dreams. Everybody may begin. :-)

Thanks Mohammed at Prinsengracht Hotel. Thanks God. Thanks the young student who guided me to Rembrandtpark.

Airport-bus 197 or airport train? Both go frequently and costs about 5€. The bus can be more convenient if your hotel is near one of the airport-bus stops.

If you really want to visit the Van Gogh Museum, please buy a ticket in advance. 

Singing in the snow

We see (small) snow falling (for a while) in Stockholm in the middle of April. The 14th April, grey and snow; 15th, snow in the sunshine; 16th, snowstorm for a short while; 17th, little snow between sunshine; 18th, beautiful snow flakes. 

I have walked everyday. It was almost empty in the popular walking path the first day, but it felt really nice. An acquaintance I met on the way said "I do not understand why others do not come out". 

Most people who choose not to go out when it is raining or snowing probably think that they will get cold, wet and uncomfortable. 

A Swedish proverb says "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing" (Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder). 

If you have right clothing you will not get cold nor wet. I have gloves, beanie, scarf with me, and unbrella the first day. I can take some of them off when I get warm. If you cloth yourself so you keep dry, varm then you will be outdoor comfortblely. Make sure you will not be hungry during your stay outdoor, you will be happy to enjoy a different calm with fresh air. :-)

Prolong life

- "I am willing to pay for a nice seaview. Gunter is willing to pay for good food. What are you willing to pay?" asked I a colleague.

- "I am willing to pay for my time." He thought a short while and answered.

- "Then you should travel more. When you work a week, the time flies and you do not feel so much. When you travel a weekend, you experience a lot and the time feels extended. Right?"

Many have heard "Travel prolong life". A travel agency has a slogan "Days to remember". So true. More or less all who travel extend their quality days in life.

- "I would like to travel the world around, but I do not have money nor time."

- "You may have money and time to travel Italy around or a place you like."

- "You may enjoy weekends abroad or explore your country."
- "You may be a local-tourist, rediscover your neighborhood, or just take a new way home."

What is the best I can do for my mother? To travel with her as long as she is able to walk. 

What can I do for myself? To extend my healthy days, to travel and to experience; and to read the best books for even better understanding.