Day 3

                                                                             
Our last full day in Kiruna was spent walking down to the local oldest church in Sweden, about 20 minutes from the Ice Hotel. It was beautiful, made of wood, set in the snowy landscape at the end of a wonderful but extremely cool walk along the snow covered road. On route back we stopped of at the local Co Op that is the only shop in the area to purchase some Swedish liquorice.

We had organised a day time snow mobile excursion for the afternoon that lasted four hours. It took us through the local forest, woods and over the frozen lakes and rivers. Taking it in turns to be the driver, the only piece of skin showing was that of our eyes. As the cold wind, when you are travelling at 40kph bites into any part of you showing. So its recommended to wear as many layers as possible that still allows you to move and to ensure no more than necessary is exposed. A stop part way through the tour occurred that allowed us to sample more Swedish coffee and eat danish pastries. Our outdoor survival guide lit a fire within 1 minute and set reindeer skins over logs to keep us warm while sitting around the fire. Its quite impressive being able to comfortably sit out in the open in -15 drinking coffee and eating cake.

On returning to the Hotel, as it was our night to sleep in the Ice Hotel, we had checked out of the warm room. So we checked into the Ice Hotel and the system is that you utilise the lobby to store your luggage, get warm drinks and sit in a warm and comfortable environment until you are ready to go to your ice bed. Natalie attended the ice room briefing, providing information on how to sleep in a ice room and where to collect your thermal sleeping bag and liner.

We had booked to eat at the Homestead Restaurant this night, that served basic food, such as burgers, pasta and reindeer steaks. It was a short walk from the hotel and we elected to have burgers, Natalie a regular one and me a reindeer one. Both come with unlimited soup and salad and at a cost of £20 each they needed too. Sweden is so expensive but you have to try these things, though I would not eat reindeer again, it is a very strong, game taste that is an acquired taste.

We were now ready to go too bed, so collected our thermal bags plus liners. Striped down to our thermal long johns and top, wrapped the bag around our shoulders, after putting all our belongings in our allocated locker and headed into the Ice Hotel. The walk to our room was quite slow as the temperature strangely of -5 was comfortable dressed like this . Pictures of course were taken as proof we had done it prior jumping into our bags and settling down for the night. Once again only our eyes were visible as we snuggled down for the night, in the silence of an ice room.

Before I knew it, we were being woken at 0730hrs by a girl serving hot lingonberry juice from a backpack. Our certificate of the event stating it was -5 in the room and -18 outside for that night. I slept extremely well in these conditions and felt no cold through the reindeer skin base at all.

Hot showers were available in the lobby area, along with under floor heating to ensure anyone suffering with the cold from the night were warmed throughout.

We were due to fly out this morning, so spent our last few hours taking fun photos around the hotel, before jumping on the coach transfer back to the airport.

Coffee and cake

Snow mobile

Leaving Sweden

Our night in the Ice Hotel

Northern Lights

For the evening of our second day we had pre booked a Northern Lights photography course which we both were looking forward too. It was an expensive excursion though hopefully it was to be money well spent. However, the time arrived for us to go to the meeting point at 1900hrs and meet with our guide, at this point the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights was zero on the KP index. The skies were cloudy with no breaks to be seen, our guide was late and we had to make a detour to pick up more guests so things did not get of to a good start. Our mood was low as we travelled into Kiruna town centre to a hotel to pick up the additional guests and be given our camera lesson on photographing the Northern Lights. We had opted to use the camera's supplied by the guide as the low temperatures were draining all our equipment batteries too quickly. Once all sorted we were informed we would be heading about 50km out of town to a location that would be clear and provide us the best opportunity of seeing the Northern Lights. We were still unconvinced at this point as we settled into the journey.

On arriving we parked up, the guide loaded his sledge up with reindeer skins, camera equipment and additional kit. Off we set into the wildness with the light of a full moon highlighting our way, it was quite surreal walking silently through the thick snow. No artificial light pollution or any one else to be seen or heard as we ended up on a frozen lake. Tripods were set up in the snow, cameras pointing north in the anticipation of viewing the Northern Lights. Suddenly the skies cleared in front of us, our excitment raised and the show began in front and above us. It was magical as the sky became full of the colour green and momentarily the colour red, as we quickly pointed our camera's towards the show, taking picture after picture to catch the moment. I was pleased and amazed to be able to take photographs that actually came out.

We stayed out as long as we were able, to ensure the show was not missed, so from starting from a point of thinking not a chance to seeing this amazing show, we were extremely lucky. Our guide set up a fire and boiled pots of tea, that went undrunk due to not wanting to miss a moment of this amazing wonder of the world, that not everyone gets the chance to see, specially first time out.

We finally had to pack our camera's away and return to the hotel, arriving back at 0100hrs in the morning. Could not fault our guide and the tour as a whole at the end.

Ice Hotel Day 2

We wake to the silence and stillness of the snowy winter wonderland in our warm accommodation. As it's still minus temperatures outside we put on our several layers of clothing, though afford ourselves the luxury of not putting on the full outer suit provided by the hotel. As we are only walking over the road to the restaurant where breakfast is served. It was a lovely blue sky start to the day as we took the 3 minute walk over the road, though still the cold got into your throat and froze the hairs in your nostrils as you breathed.

Breakfast was wonderful, catering for all tastes and very plentiful. We ate well and filled our pockets with hot chocolate sachets and fresh fruit to take away.

Today was all about exploring the Ice Hotel and Hotel 365 rooms and ice cravings and the surrounding area. The rooms were amazing, each having its own theme and craved by different
artists, it is a constant -5.  The Ice bar was located in Hotel 365 though we felt this was a bit of let down in relation to owns we have been to and taking into account it location here. A hot chocolate cost £10 and a shot £11 so although we did spend some time here, we did not purchase a drink !!

My particular favourite ice room was that of King Kong which was amazing to see and the attention to detail outstanding as his eyes blinked as well. At the far end of the Ice Hotel the chapel is located and two wedding were held there over our stay, each lasting only a few minutes as the brides were so cold in thin of the shoulder wedding dresses, in -5 temperatures.

We also went for a walk along the frozen Torne river  which is where the ice is harvested each year to build the Ice Hotel, this being number 28 in the line of yearly builds. Each block of ice is 2 tons in weight and 3 metres wide, being stored in a huge fridge for next years build. As the Ice Hotel melts it returns to the river from where it came. Whilst on the river we saw some reindeer walking across it.

Ice Hotel Arrival

27 January 2018 and we are heading to Kiruna Airport Sweden for a once in a lifetime adventure and experience, that of the Ice Hotel and a nights sleep in a ice room.

Early start as the flight is at 1030hrs so at 0430hrs we were up and out walking Strawberry prior the drive to Heathrow. It’s always hard leaving her behind but know she is always extremely well looked after by my parents.

The drive to Heathrow went smoothly no problems and the transfer from the car park to Terminal 2 just as smooth. Flew with Scandinavian Airlines and as you would expected all the air stewards were blonde and beautiful. Served a cold meal with complimentary drinks and listened to the information about our stay from the Discover the World guide.

Sally on runway

After three hours we touch down at Kiruna into a winter wonderland of ice and snow, the temperature reads -21 and quickly it takes our breath away. Coughing hard as it causes us to cough as the air is so cold and dry. Quickly into the airport through Customs and baggage collection and onto the waiting coach transfer to the Ice Hotel. Twenty minutes later along snow covered roads we arrive and the setting is amazing. Snow drifts of twenty feet in height, snow covered log cabins, huge ice blocks indicating your arrival at the Ice Hotel.

After checking in we enter log cabin number five to the heat of a constant 25 degrees and a very pleasure surprise of what is provided. The cabin has two bedrooms, a sauna for a bathroom, plenty of space to store all the outdoor clothes you require and a spacious kitchen lounge area.

We settle in, unpack and head out to gather our additional outdoor clothing provided by the Ice Hotel. That of boots, mittens, balaclava’s and a complete all in one suit and we needed it all that night when out on the snowmobiles. The cold hit me like a sledge hammer in the face when you take in the wind chill factor. My forehead felt as if it was frozen even when a balaclava, neck scarf and helmet on.

Was pleased to stop in the forest at a lovely log hut for a rustic local meal of reindeer stew, hot lingonberry juice followed by blueberry pie though that was a little bland. Afterwards headed out again on the snowmobiles and luckily saw the Northern Lights, though only for 10minutes and only after the guide pointed them out to us !! Pleased it happened but not quite the impressive sighting we were hoping for, by now we were freezing as several of the group have gotten stuck in the snow and it took time rescuing them. On the move again through the snowy forest it felt warmer and this part was fun, even stopped to do snow angels in the amazing deep snow on route. Contined back to our start point arriving back around 2330hrs too a final temperature of -28. A great first day that did end with a mad dash back to our cabin and an impossible attempt to get through five layers of clothing plus a full body suit as desperate for the toilet now.

Local church

Warm cabins

Approach road to hotel

Kids sledge

Local shop

Sightseeing in Udaipur

Bridge over the lake

Taj Lake Palace

Diwali

Monsoon Palace

Jagdish Temple

Cultural Show

Taj lake Palace

Sunset over Pichola Lake

Roof top view

Found an old friend

Feeling at Home

After the initial shock that hits you over the animal welfare in India, I settled down to a routine in the shelter. I would wander around all area of the shelter but I mainly concentrated my time in B run. This is where the dogs with skin complaints are housed, mainly mange. There were all sorts of dogs here from young and old, to mums with there puppies all with mange.
Feeding time was always the hardest as at the end of the day these are street dogs and where the strongest survive. Some of the dogs were having special food which the other dogs wanted so it was a constant battle to make sure the weaker dogs all got fed.
Dogs with mange have to have regular baths to help heal the skin which was great fun when it was the puppies turn, as everyone loves a puppy, but also very sad that these pups should have such a bad start in life.
Some days the shelter got no visitors so we would go and help feed the calves and donkeys which I loved and was great fun. This is where I would go if I needed to smile as some days were hard and very upsetting. A donkey came in that I sat with all afternoon with his head on my lap and when I left him that afternoon I was hopeful that he would make it through the night but unfortunately he didn't.
A three day old goat came into the shelter after falling from a roof and we nursed it for 2 days then the vet decided the damage was too much and put the baby to sleep. These two incidents will always stick in my mind as I cared for these animals as if they were my own pets.
Our last day was very emotional as we were very sad to leave the new friends we had made and having to leave our special animals to other volunteers to care for them.

Our last day at Animal Aid

Day to Day

Morning feed for the donkeys

A 3 day old goat that fell from a roof but sadly died

This donkey had been worked so hard all its feet were damaged so badly that it later died

Exercising the disabled dogs

Cows waiting to die

A cow had been caught in a fire where her calf died

A pup that had terrible mange