Helpful Faroese Phrases For First Time Visitors

Posted on May 22, 2019May 22, 2019 by dev

The Faroese language isn’t widely spoken and not even Google Translate can help you in Faroe Islands.

It’s tradition that my dad, me and my uncle play a bit of football when we’re all together in Faroe Islands

Why Learn Some Faroese?

In general knowing a few words of the language of the country you’re visiting can really go a long way!

You’ll impress Faroese people if you know a bit of the rarely spoken language, eventhough most people can communicate in English or Danish most places here. Here are some of the key Faroese phrases that can help you in your travel to Faroe Islands, which I know will be soon of course!

The Iconic Kalsoy Lighthouse, Faroe Islands

Sometimes it can be a bit embarrassing to go to a café or something and realize that you don’t even know how to say “thank you” once you’ve purchased your lunch! So here are the basics!

Faroese Key Phrases

// Hi – Hey (pronunciation same as in English)

//Goodbye – Bei (pronunciation same as in English)

//Thank You – Takk “Tahk”

//How Are You? – Hvussu Hevur Tú Tað? “Kvossu Havur Tu Tehr”

//I’m Fine – Eg Havi Tað Gott “Eh Havur Tehr Gott”

//What’s Your Name? Hvussu Eitur Tú? “Kvossu Eiter Tu?”

//My Name Is Gustav – Eg Eiti Gustav “Eh Eide Gustav”

In Funningur, Faroe Islands. Faroe Islands Is The Last Paradise On Earth

//Excuse Me – Orsaka “Orsh-akha”

//Do You Speak English? – Tosar Tú Enskt? “Toah-sar Too Enskt”

//I Don’t Speak Faroese – Eg Tosi Ikki Føroyskt “Eah Toah-seh ich-eh Fuhr-iskt”

//Have A Nice Day – Hav Ein Góðan Dag “Hav Ein Godan Dakh”

Finally, maybe the most important phrase to learn in any language:

//One Beer – Eina Øl “Eye-nah Uhl”

Having most of my family on Faroe Islands, I know a bit more than this, but what about you? Do you have any other Faroese phrases that would be helpful for travelers? Leave them in the comments!

By clicking here you can find out why you should book your flight tickets to Faroe Islands immediately!

– Gustav

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5 Reasons Why You NEED To Go To Faroe Islands

Posted on May 21, 2019May 22, 2019 by dev

I have spent a big part of my childhood on Faroe Islands. I’ve been there 14 times in total and been to most of the major 18 Faroese islands, but there’s always a new adventure waiting in ‘Europe’s best kept secret.’

Even after having been to 100+ countries, Faroe Islands is still a very special place to me. Having Faroese roots, the nature and the fact that a big part of my family is living on the Faroe Islands, makes the country like a second home to me. I’m still fascinated every time I arrive in Vágar Airport and drive through the country’s incredible landscape, when I come back to visit my grandfather.

What is Faroe Islands?

The Faroe Islands is a self-governing archipelago with 50,000 people, part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but with its own flag, laws, government and passport.

It comprises 18 rocky, volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, connected by road tunnels, ferries, causeways and bridges. The islands’ mountains are characterised by steep cliffs, tall mountains, narrow fjords and grassy heathland with thousands of sheeps and seabirds.

The Faroe Islands are synonymous with fishing. With my father and big Faroese cousin in Torshavn, Faroe Islands

The Faroese language derives from Old Norse, which was spoken by the Norsemen who settled the islands 1200 years ago and is very different to the Danish language in Denmark.

There’s absolutely no chance of confusing the Faroe Islands with Denmark – or any other Scandinavian country, for that matter. It truly is a place that stands out all on its own.

1. The scenery

There are no arguments anyone can make that will convince me that the Faroe Islands don’t have some of the most stunning scenery in the world. It’s just a visually striking place, with green mountains and shaggy sheep; crashing waterfalls and colorful little villages.

My dad and I walking around in Gjógv, Eysturoy, Faroe Islands

View from the small village Bøur, Vágar, Faroe Islands

2. Ease of travel

Yes, the Faroes are in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, but you can get easy flight connections these days from places like Copenhagen, Bergen, Reykjavik, and more. (I fly from Copenhagen every time and prefer flying Atlantic Airways.)

The weather can be dramatic here on Faroe Islands. Clear skies and then strong wind and heavy rain right after

When I was a kid, you couldn’t drive to most places, but you had to take ferries or cross mountains on foot, but now it’s incredibly easy to get around with a rental car. Signs are easy to read, tunnels and bridges connect the main islands and make travel times short, and roads are all paved and well-maintained. (Some roads are admittedly very narrow and winding, but the quality of them is still very good.)

Faroe Islands means “Sheep Islands.” There are more sheep in the country than people!

3. Incredibly welcoming people

In which other country in the world do people not lock their doors when they leave their home? And in which other country do you just walk in without knocking on the door when visiting family?

The last one is a bit too much for me, but it’s the truth of Faroe Islands. One of the safest countries on the planet and Faroese people are very welcoming and relaxed, and enjoy getting together and talk for hours. The Faroese people are hardy (you have to be when you live in a place with such changeable weather!) and hard-working, but also love good food and drink. They are also very passionate about their home.

Enjoying fish soup with my Faroese family in Runavik, Faroe Islands

Faroese people have an extremely strong family bond and they live very close to each other.

4. Puffins

The island of Mykines is only a 45-minute ferry ride from the island of Vagar, and in the summer the entire island is covered in birds – including thousands of puffins!

The Atlantic puffin is my favourite seabird. So awesome!

(And really, do you need any other reason to visit?)

5. Social Media Hasn’t Ruined It

I’ve been to Iceland and they’re struggling to figure out what to do with more tourists than they can handle.

The Faroe Islands don’t currently have that problem. Even though the landscapes are incredible, the fact that the country remain relatively obscure means that there aren’t really a ton of tourists there. I visited Faroe Islands in each of the last 4 years, and no matter where I go, I only share the views with a couple of other people. (Keep in mind that I usually go in May, and not in July/August where it is tourist season)

The small village of 64 people, Tjørnuvik, Faroe Islands

My Faroese grandfather always told me May is the best month to visit Faroe Islands (weather, tourists, beauty) and he knows better than anyone!

With my ‘abbi’ (grandfather) in Faroese. He spoke 7 languages fluently, but is now 86 years old!

There is nothing like a fresh sunny morning in the Faroe Islands during spring time.

If you want to visit a place that social media attention hasn’t ruined, head to the Faroe Islands. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

– Gustav

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The 7 New Wonders Of The World

Posted on May 21, 2019May 23, 2019 by dev

It’s easy to get confused by the many ‘7 Wonders of the World-lists’ out there. There are the 7 Ancient Wonders, 7 Natural Wonders, etc — but for my own personal record, I am only keeping track of the 7 New Wonders of the World.

I’ve been to 6 of 7 of the New Wonders of the World. Read on to hear about my experiences!

1. Taj Mahal, India

It’s very hard to choose a personal favourite, but Taj Mahal is for sure in my Top 2!

I loved it so much that I went to see the sunrise in the morning and then spent all day to see the sunset. The most impressive thing about the Taj is the absolute perfect symmetry that around 20,000 people built in the 17th century. You can notice the perfection and small details, when the sun is low in the sky, and the shadows are perfectly cast on the marble stone. It surely is the one of the most perfect buildings in the World and it deserves its name as the “Monument of Love.”

2. Great Wall of China, China

I visited the Great Wall of China on a two weeks visit to China in April/May 2019 and it didn’t disappoint!

I have technically visited China 4 times, two times Hong Kong and one time on a 24 hour transit, but this was my first visit to ‘The Great Wall of China’ and walking around here for hours was worth every second!
I went to one of the best preserved parts, called Mutianyu, and it was surprisingly quiet. I couldn’t imagine a better day at the wall with sunshine and almost zero people. One of the greatest sights in the World!

3. Colosseum, Italy

I’ve been to Rome 3 times and at my first 2 times here (2011 and 2013,) I didn’t take any pictures at the Colosseum! Pretty weird nowadays!?

I love Italy! I’ve been to Italy 8 times and 3 times in Rome, and every time I’ve been to Rome, I went to the Colosseum. My father is a big fan of the movie ‘Gladiator’, and we have watched the movie countless times and to be fair I always had a fascination of the gladiatorial universe. The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater (meaning “theatre in the round”) in the World and I can only imagine the bloody battles and heads that were taken off over the years inside this mecca venue.

4. The Lost City of Petra, Jordan

I visited the Lost City of Petra in 2016 and it blew my mind. My personal favourite!

My friend and I arrived super early in the morning to Petra and were the first two persons to enter the lost city, which is 2,400 year old. We walked through the huge, narrow canyons with carved sandstone cliffs and out of a sudden we were standing in front of the 45m-high Al Khazneh temple (called “The Treasury,“) carved into the red mountain rock. Incredible! The whole area was just fascinating and we enjoyed the walk out to the legendary Monastery temple, hidden high in the hill as well. The Lost City of Petra is my favourite of the New Seven Wonders of the World. No visit to Jordan is complete without visiting Petra!

5. Christ The Redeemer, Brazil

I went to Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, in April 2016 in the end of an epic 3 weeks trip through Brazil.

I have mixed feelings about Rio De Janeiro, but Christ Redeemer was incredible to experience!

The massive Christ statue stands tall on the peak of the Corcovado mountains, overlooking the entire city of Rio. The open arms of Christ symbolize Christianity all over the world and the welcoming culture of Rio. It has become an icon of Brazil since it was constructed in the 1920s.

6. Chitzen Itza, Mexico

I went to Chitzen Itza, Mexico in February 2019 in an amazing 2 weeks trip to Mexico.

Unfortunately you aren’t allowed to climb up the top of the pyramid anymore, but I did put my hand on the Chitzen Itza anyway. Breathtaking city that the Mayans built for more than 1,000 years ago and the views all around this place are tremendous.

7. Machu Picchu, Peru

I haven’t been to Machu Picchu yet, but I can’t wait to go in the beginning of 2020, where I will do a South America trip again! Will you be around?

Not on the list. Why?

Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

I went to the Great Pyramid of Giza in 2013 and this photo doesn’t justify the beauty of this place!

NOT on the list, but Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt should definitely be. Its ancient engineering feats are so impressive that even today scientists can’t be sure how the pyramids were built. Another amazing treasure.

That’s all from me….

How many of the ‘7 New Wonders of The World’ have you been to? 1. Taj Mahal, 2. Great Wall of China, 3. Colosseum, 4. Petra, 5. Christ Redeemer, 6. Chitzen Itza, 7. Machu Picchu..

Let me know!

Gustav

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5 Awesome Things To Do In Rome, Italy

Posted on May 15, 2019May 16, 2019 by dev

I’ve been to Rome 3 times and these are my Favourite Things to do in the Italian capital!

1: Hang Out in the Pantheon

Pantheon looks today – inside and out – much the way it has looked for nearly 2,000 years. These marble floors you’re walking on? Yeah, people have been walking on them for two thousand years.
The Pantheon in Rome is, hands down, my favorite building in the city. The Pantheon still manages to stand out in a city that is simply replete with important historic buildings and monuments.

2: Eat Something Typically Roman

I love trying out different pizzas and Rome is the place to do it!

Rome is THE place to eat a lot of pizza!

Shops, pizzerias, takeaways, and restaurants all serve you some of the tastiest pizzas in the World and if you search well you can easily find pizza to low price with high quality.

One of my favourite places for pizza is ‘Pizza E Mozzarella,’ close to Trevi Fountain. The restaurant doesn’t look as much from outside, but the pizzas are absolutely incredible. Authentic Italian style, very tasty and fresh and the location is right in the centre of Rome. The bruschetta is good too.
Very affordable prices with a generous and nice owner! Check it out when in Rome!

Other common Roman dishes, which you may be familiar with from restaurants outside Italy, but you should try in the original place where they come from, are bucatini all’amatriciana (a tomato sauce cooked with onion and a fatty pork called guanciale) and spaghetti alla carbonara (the sauce is made from egg yolks, pecorino romano, and pancetta). Yummy!

3: Get a Tour of Vatican City

While Vatican City is its own independent city-state (and country), no one only visits Vatican City without visiting Rome as well. For most travelers, touring the Vatican is a one day trip from Rome, and that’s exactly what I suggest when people ask me how much time they should spend in Vatican City.

I go to The Vatican every time I go to Rome, because it’s such a cool place with breathtaking sights and spectacular artworks. And how cool is it to have a country inside of a city?!

Furthermore is St. Peter’s Basilic the most beautiful church I’ve ever seen from inside and it basically makes all other churches look average compared to it.

If you want to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, you can do it for free, but you’ll usually have to wait a lot of hours, because the queues are long and slow. The second option is you can pay for the fast track access with a guide for around $30, which my friend and I did back in 2013 and it was certainly worth it.

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica in 2013 in The Vatican

If you are in Rome for a short time, you might consider skipping the line, so you can hit up some of the other main attractions!

PS. The dress code is strictly enforced at St Peter’s Basilica. Men must wear long trousers (no shorts) and cover their shoulders, women must not have either bare shoulders or skirts shorter than knee length.

4. Do Some People-Watching at the Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and also the most famous one.

Trevi Fountain is the most beautiful and most spectacular fountain in Rome. @gustavrosted

I admit that the Trevi Fountain is seriously touristy, and can be kind of a pain in the height of the tourist season because of the crowds. You can go early morning or in low-season to avoid most tourists.

After throwing your coin in the water (right hand over left shoulder, remember!), it can be a lot of fun watching other people taking pictures and making silly videos. Just relax, hang out, and watch the throngs of people repeating the same ritual over and over again. It gets pretty amusing, actually – especially when the designated photographer or videographer goofs up and the whole process has to be repeated (there goes another euro!).

Remember Trevi Fountain has garnered its worldwide fame because of its beauty and it is a must see site in every tourist’s route once in Rome. Beautiful place!

5. Visit Colosseum

One of the seven Wonders of the World. This mighty structure is one of the most renowned and iconic landmarks in the world and a trip to Rome would not be complete without visiting the Colosseum.

Great Colosseum, Rome, Italy. Love taking the Gladiator’s Entrance, pretending I’m Russell Crowe!

The Colosseum was constructed between 70-80 AD and at its peak was estimated to hold 80,000 spectators. I’ve watched ‘Gladiator’ countless times with my dad and admit I have a soft spot for this place.

Located to the south west of the main terminus train station, the Colosseum is easily accessible and has a metro station in close proximity, called Colosseo.

Check this famous structure from all angles, and ensure that you brave the queues and step inside to truly appreciate the enormity of this ancient place of celebration. Just like a Gladiator!

Unstoppable trio.. Rome, one of the best cities in Europe

That’s all from me.. Enjoy Rome!

Gustav

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8 Things You Should NEVER Do In North Korea

Posted on May 3, 2019May 15, 2019 by dev

Not following these rules may well get you or your guide arrested or killed in North Korea, so pay close attention.

1: Don’t call the country North Korea

Referring to the nation as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Korea or DPRK, will help to keep you out of trouble, while you’re on the inside of the country.

2: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.”

Don’t speak negatively about the country, its people, or its leaders. This is an major offence and has landed tourists in hot water, such as being sentenced to hard labor.

Don’t zoom in on pictures of ex-leaders or Kim Jong Un. He is the Supreme Leader and is literally like a God in North Korea. You have to respect him at all times, so absolutely no memes or jokes about him.

Even if you’re throwing a newspaper in the trash bin with him on the front page, it can be seen as a big offence! Forget all about folding a newspaper in two with Kim Jong Un getting folded.. In that case you have to fold it in 3, so that the Leader isn’t folded! I’m not joking, this is actually very useful knowledge.

You could get in big trouble by not doing this.

The Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Un and his father Kim Jong-il who was the second leader of North Korea

3: Prohibited items

The following items are prohibited in North Korea:

– Religious material
– Pornographic material
– Political material
– Travel guides

You can bring in your laptop, tablet, camera and cell phone. Even though telecommunications are tightly controlled in North Korea and internet is close to non-existing!

Don’t pack a lot of stuff for your trip, because all electronics – not to mention your browsing history – may be inspected by customs officials. A good advice is to play with open cards and take out all electronics from your bag before the screening, it shows the military you have nothing to hide!

4: Photography

North Korean government authorities may view taking unauthorized pictures as espionage, and could confiscate cameras, film and/or detain the photographer. This includes photographs of airports, government buildings, construction sites, military infrastructure, transport hubs or anything which isn’t considered a tourism location.

I took a lot of pictures/video clips, but respected the above mentioned rules, so didn’t have any problems.
Make sure you’re not filming scenes of poverty or other situations that may cause a negative impression of the DPRK. To be fair you won’t see a lot of extreme poverty in DPRK, because they have no taxes and free housing.

Socialist fairyland. Officially, there are no taxes in North Korea and free housing. Far from perfect though!

Judge the situation before taking photographs in the DPRK, including of officials, soldiers or other people.

Drones are definitely a no-go. You won’t be allowed to bring a drone on the inside.

5: LGBTQ

While same sex relationships aren’t illegal in North Korea, authorities generally don’t accept them. It’s important for LGBTQ travelers to remain discreet at all times.

6: Don’t discuss or practice your religious beliefs.

North Korea is an atheist state that restricts public religion. Participating in unsanctioned religious activities such as publicly praying or toting around a Bible is a sure-fire way to get arrested, detained, or expelled from the state.

No cars in Kaesong in the south of North Korea. Like going 50 years back in time

7: Don’t break the rules.

Breaking a rule of the tour will not only put your life in danger, but will also put your guide at risk. He or she will face imprisonment and even torture for assisting your attempts at alleged espionage. Follow my 7 rules and do not take the rules lightly. If you want to break the rules, North Korea is probably not the right travel destination for you.

8: Vacations abroad

North Koreans are not allowed to go for vacations abroad. This is a violation of human rights, but the people of North Korea are probably unaware of this fact. So know this before you’re trying to get your North Korean citizenship!

About to go play volleyball with locals in North Korea

If you happen to be in North Korea during a national day or festival event like me, locals tend to be more at ease. Like in any culture, celebration, good food and beverages always help break the ice.

I was super lucky attending the May Day celebrations, where I could walk totally freely around myself, get in contact with many locals through sports and even joined a local picnic with karaoke out in the woods!

Absolutely special, but extremely rare you’ll have time on your own in North Korea!

Walking around freely in Pyongyang, North Korea during the May Day Celebrations

Please remember to follow these rules, this is not just any country.. But it surely is a special one.

See you next time, North Korea 👋

Gustav

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