Thai Thai: All Day Buffet Restaurant

We’ve been here in Norway for almost three months already and one of the things that I really miss is Filipino food. I can cook Filipino dishes but the taste is not the same, maybe because I’m using different ingredients since not all are available. There is no longer Asian Market here and the nearest one is in Trondheim City. 

Several weeks ago, my aunt invited us to go with her to Orkanger and we gladly accepted the invitation because the last time that we went there, we only visited the hospital. At least, this time we visited one of the malls in Orkanger which is COOP Mega so iba na ang ambiance. 

We had early lunch at Thai Thai restaurant, which is an all-day buffet restaurant that serves hot dishes, salad, appetizers, sushi, and desserts. Thai food mostly used chili, ginger, galanga, coriander, lemongrass, lime leaves, garlic, fish sauce, mussel sauce, and sweet hot chili sauce. There are rice, noodles, fresh vegetables, and fruits. 

Even though this is not Filipino cuisine, I’m still happy because it is still Asian cuisine #riceislife. We’ve been to Bangkok, Thailand before so I know that they have a lot of spicy dishes so even though there were several dishes on the buffet spread, I have to skip the spicy food. Available drinks are coffee, tea, and water. 

Thai Thai restaurant has different branches in Norway, you can find their restaurant in City Barn, Trondheim Torg, Ålesund, Kristiansand, Orkanger, Namsos, and Steinkjer. All Day Buffet Price may vary depending on the branch and time. 

All Day Dining from 10:00 to 14:00 

City Barn, Trondheim Torg, Ålesund & Kristiansand 229NOK 

Orkanger, Namsos & Steinkjer 209NOK 

All Day Dining from 14:00 to 19:00 (17:00) 

City Barn, Trondheim Torg, Ålesund & Kristiansand 249NOK 

Orkanger, Namsos & Steinkjer 229NOK 

Thai Box

If you are not a fan of buffets, you can order Ala carte dishes or Thai Box, for the Thai box, you can pick and mix your own cup from the buffet spread and you pay for your food per hectogram (100g). 

Dine In: 32NOK per 100 g 

Take Out: 29NOK per 100g 

But since we want to try different dishes, we always avail the buffet meals. For Trondheim branches, they offer catering dishes too. 

Thai Thai Orkanger 

We had early lunch so the buffet spread is not yet complete so we just ate whatever is available. And we will just go back again to check if there are new dishes already, at least bagong luto pa. Hehehe! The only downside of the Orkanger branch is they don’t serve soup so maybe that is the reason why they have different rates too. Anyway, my son and I still enjoy our first Thai Thai buffet experience. The rate is reasonable already because it is an unlimited meal for two hours. 

Thai Thai Trondheim Torg 

Last week, we had a Walking Tour in Trondheim City so we had a chance to eat at Thai Thai restaurant in Trondheim Torg. Some food dishes are quite similar in Orkanger branch but this time, we have soup. It is just a plain soup where you can put your own ingredients like noodles, chicken, shrimp, vegetables and etc. 

The restaurant has a “Clean as you go” policy so don’t forget to clear your table before leaving. Anyway, if ever you are craving Asian meals in Norway, visit Thai Thai restaurant. 

Watch the video here

Walking Tour in Trondheim Norway

We’ve been to Trondheim several times already because this is the second nearest airport to my mom’s place. Unfortunately, we usually just passed by so we haven’t really explored the city. Though there are already a few times when we visited some tourist attractions in Trondheim. 

The first one is when I was still in High School, my mom’s cousin lives in Trondheim so she invited us to stay in their house and she toured us around Trondheim pero sa sobrang tagal, the only thing that I can remember is Royal Residence and Tyholttårnet. Tyholt Tower is a 126-meter tall radio tower and it is currently the tallest building in Norway that was built in 1985. It has an observation deck and a revolving restaurant at an altitude of 81 meters. A complete revolution is every hour. 

The second one is when my husband is flying back to the Philippines so before he rode the bus to the airport, we had a quick tour of Trondheim city. You can check my Day Trip in Trondheim blog post to see the different tourist attractions that we have visited even for a limited time. 

For the past several weeks, I’ve been contemplating revisiting Kristiansund, Oslo, or Trondheim but the weather is not cooperating because, since the last week of April, the weather is either cloudy with flurries or rainy so even we wanted to travel to different places we can’t go out. I was already losing hope so I gave up on planning but God is good because out of the blue, my mom received a message that she has a doctor’s appointment in Trondheim so we had reason to go to Trondheim. Yey!

Walking Tour in Trondheim Norway 

We left the house around 7AM to catch the 7:30AM Ferry Boat Trip from Brekstad Hurtigbåtterminal to Trondheim Hurtigbåtterminal (Ferry Boat Terminal). Travel time is more than an hour because of the two stopovers at Hasselvika and Lensvik. The ticket price is Adult NOK277 and Student 129NOK. 

We started our walking tour at Trondheim Ferry Boat Terminal and we went straight to Nidaros Cathedral. Five years ago, we visited this cathedral but we were not able to enter because it was already closed, check the opening hours below so you can plan your trip. 

Monday to Friday - 9:00 to 14:00 

Saturday - 9:00 to 13:00 

Sunday - 13:00 to 16:00 

Nidaros Cathedral 

You can purchase the ticket at the Visitor Center, which is also a gift shop and cafe. There are three attractions that you can visit within the area, Nidaros Cathedral, The Crown Regalia,  and The Archbishop’s Palace Museum. You can purchase a single ticket or a combined ticket. It was past 9AM so we only purchased the Nidaros Cathedral because the two attractions are still closed, and the opening time is 11:00AM. The staff informed us that if we go back and plan to visit the two other attractions, she will just upgrade our ticket to a combined ticket. 

Ticket Prices 

Single Ticket 

Adult 120NOK 

Child/Student 60NOK 

Family 300NOK 

Combined Ticket 

Adult 240NOK 

Child/Student 120NOK 

Family 600NOK 

Note: Family Ticket is good for 2 adults and 3 children under the age of 16. 

The staff gave us a map with tasks that we can solve to find the place where St. Olav was buried in 1030. Guided tours are available from June to August, you can choose from 4 languages; Norwegian, English, German or French. Since it was an impromptu visit, I have no idea that we need to book a guided tour in advance since our trip is outside the main season. Also, we were not able to climb the tower because it is not summer season yet. 

Anyway, we are still happy to be able to visit Nidaros Cathedral. It is the biggest church in Norway and the world’s northernmost gothic cathedral. This is an important pilgrimage site too. Do you know that this cathedral started as a wooden chapel that was built on the tomb of St. Olav, the Viking King who became the patron saint of Norway? 

Note: You can get a Trondheim City Map at the Visitor Center. 

NTNU Vitenskapmuseet or Trondheim Museum of Natural History 

Our next stop is NTNU Vitenskapmuseet or Trondheim Museum of Natural History, this museum exhibits archaeology, natural history, and cultural history. It is located in the Gunnerushuset building.

Ticket Price 

Adult 120NOK 

Children 6-16/Students/Seniors (67+) 70NOK 

Family (a group with children and adults (max of 5 people) 325NOK 

Groups (10 people or more) when purchased together 110/60NOK 

Children under 6, students with teachers, individuals assisting people with disabilities, and ICOM, ECSITE, Norges Museumforbund - FREE 

Opening Hours 

Monday: Closed 

Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 to 16:00 

Saturday to Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00 

The staff gave us a paper to give us an idea of what we can see inside the museum. They have exhibits for Mid-Norway’s Prehistory, Science on the edge of the word, Nature and Environment, The Man in the Well, The Amazing Forest, Wolf, The Ark, and Comb Jellies. 

Middelalder i Trondheim or Trondheim Medieval Museum 

The staff also informed us that we can visit the Trondheim Medieval Museum located in Suhmhuset, a few minutes walk from the Trondheim Museum of Natural History. We just showed our receipt when we entered the building. 

This museum will give you an idea of how Norwegians lived in Trondheim way back 800 years ago. You can see their house, buildings, vessels, shopping street, archeological objects, and Viking age objects.

Trondheim Torg 

It was time for lunch so we went to Trondheim Torg, the largest shopping center in Trondheim. We are Asians so we had lunch at Thai Thai restaurant. It is an all-day buffet restaurant that offers Asian meals. They have different branches in Norway and so far we ate at Orkanger and Trondheim branches, I will blog about this in a separate post. 

Read: Thai Thai All Day Buffet Restaurant

Olav Tryggvason Statue 

After lunch, we continue our walking tour, and just outside the Trondheim Torg, at the center of the city square, you will see the 18meter statue of Olav Tryggvason, it was a sculpture to honor him as the king and founder of the city. It also serves as a gigantic sundial which is calibrated to UTC +1. It is so high that it is hard to take a picture. 

Stiftsgården or Royal Residence 

From the statue, you can already see the Stiftsgården or Royal Residence in Trondheim. It was built in 1774 and has 140 rooms that houses royalty and their guests since 1800. This is considered the largest wooden building in Scandinavia. 

Ranvnkloa 

From the Royal Residence, you can walk until you reach the end of Munkegata. It is where you can find Ravnkloa, this is Trondheim’s center for trading fish and shellfish. At the square, you can find an amphitheater, Nils Aas sculpture “The Last Viking” and a copy of the old Ravnklo clock. This is also the port if you want to visit Munkholmen. 

Munkholmen 

Munkholmen is a historic island in the Trondheimsfjord which is popular for excursions in summer. This has been used as a courthouse, fortress, defense facility, monastery, and prison. Unfortunately, it was still closed during our visit so hanggang tingin na lang ako. Hehehe! 

Bryggerekke 

This is a spot where you can see the Bakke Bridge, Gamle Bybro, and the colorful wharves, warehouses, and boathouses lined on both sides of the Nidelva River. The most photogenic area in Trondheim.

Vitensenteret or Trondheim Science Center 

Within the area, you can find Vitensenteret or Trondheim Science Center. It is the place for learning Science and Technology. You can experiment with many exciting models and visit Norway’s first and only 3D planetarium. We did not enter this museum anymore and just went to Byhaven Mall. 

Byhaven Mall 

Another shopping center in Trondheim, this is where we kill our time while waiting for our next boat trip. Actually, we can explore Trondheim City until evening because the last boat trip is at 21:00 but my son has online classes at midnight so we need to go home before 6PM. We need to rest and sleep. 

Despite the limited time again, we're thankful for blessing us with good weather during our trip. 

Read: Glimpse of Trondheim Airport  

Radisson Blu Hotel in Trondheim Norway 

17th of May Celebration in Norway During COVID19

It’s been more than two years of dealing with COVID19 but I’m glad that we are starting to go back to normal. We’re still in Norway so we were able to experience the 17th of May and I was so happy because we were part of it again. For the last two years, Norway was not able to celebrate or follow its old traditions because of corona restrictions. Fortunately, last May 17, 2022 they were back to their regular program, they have events from morning until evening. 

Since the last week of April, the weather is not good so we rarely go out of the house. Seeing Mr. Sun again makes me happy and I’m thankful for the good weather. And because of that, we were able to watch the children’s parade at the Sentrum, though the parade lasted only 10 minutes compared to our previous experiences. 

It is nice to see their National Costumes; the clothes, shoes, and accessories are not cheap, para na ko bumili ng second-hand car sa Pilipinas sa sobrang mahal. You can check my old posts about Norway National Day, here and here.

We always celebrate the 17th of May at home but two days ago, my aunt invited us to have lunch at her home. We did not cook any meal and my mom just brought pavlova dessert. May 17th is not complete without Pavlova, this is one of my favorite desserts here in Norway. We enjoyed our food trip at my aunt’s place, though nabitin lang because we need to go home early kasi may pasok pa kami ng midnight, need to sleep early.

Puerto Princesa: Paradise Regained

The Royal Treatment at Puerto Princesa 

With safety protocols firmly enforced, Puerto Princesa is poised to again welcome tourists with open arms. In recent years, the highly urbanized city and tourist haven has been paralyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic, then pummeled by Typhoon Odette. But it is now on the road to recovery---as spectacularly as its scenic, romantic and gastronomic attractions. 

“The tourism industry is the lifeblood of Puerto Princesa, along with agriculture. Almost 15,000 people directly or indirectly benefit from tourism. In varying degrees, most of the recent construction and development projects are related to tourism: hotel-building, parks, cruise-ship ports, street lights, roads, and many more. Unfortunately, some of these have been on hold since the onset of the pandemic,” discloses Demetrio “Toto” Alvior Jr., the city tourism officer. 

The Royal Connection 

Puerto Princesa, the capital of postcard-perfect Palawan, sprawls across 253,982 hectares of captivating coastlines stretched over 106 kilometers. Due to its strategic geographical location, it has sufficient depth to allow ships of all sizes to anchor, earning a reputation as a “Princess of Ports,” or in Spanish, “Puerto Princesa.” 

There’s no contention that Puerto Princesa is one of the country’s greatest pleasures. A holiday destination universally beloved by travelers, beach-combers, and trekkers; a bustling business center with a rural allure; a provincial vibe with modern amenities; and a clean and green city recognized for its lush forests, fresh air, and frontier character. 

Rising Above Covid-19 

The city of Puerto Princesa has been struggling to get to its feet since the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020. The lack of tourists, which is the main industry, has forced hundreds of tourism-related businesses to close, leaving thousands of tourism workers unemployed. 

“The public-health crisis forced them to find alternative sources of income, which was made more difficult because of the restrictions of movement due to several lockdowns,” Mr. Alvior reveals. “One factor of low tourist arrivals is the fluctuating number of Covid cases, which in turn affects the determination of quarantine requirements and national government intervention policies.” 

Today, Puerto Princesa is experiencing record lows in terms of economic losses, losing around P5 billion a year for the past two years from potential tourist receipts. 

“The City Tourism Department has been strengthening its social media campaigns to encourage local tourists to visit local attractions, in a bid to boost much-needed revenues to the ailing tourism sector,” a cautiously optimistic Mr. Alvior says. “We have one important wish in the City Tourism Department, and that is to prioritize the aids for the Typhoon Odette-affected tourism industry here.” 

The goal is to regain the city’s glory as an eco-tourism capital. “Our 2022 goals are full restoration of all the tourist attractions affected by Typhoon Odette such as the completion of the construction of the cruise-ship port and other man-made tourist attractions. There will be wide, extensive, and aggressive promotions of Puerto Princesa to the local and international market.” 

The Last Frontier 

Puerto Princesa has a plethora of tourist spots. But many tourists who visit the city put the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, one of the New7Wonders of Nature, on top of their list. As the jump-off point for exploring the world-famous Tubbataha Reef, the city also hosts a fair share of adventurers.

“Since the Covid-19 outbreak, we have never ceased to hope that the future will be better. This year 2022 is no different. And while what we want is a full recovery, we cannot afford to be careless when taking big steps. As we begin to truly understand the gravity of the situation, we also come to realize that our moves must be consistent with the bigger picture such as the national situation,” Mr. Alvior says. 

Since February 10, the city has been happily welcoming more visitors once again, hoping that the arrival numbers will soon be back to pre-pandemic levels. In this initiative, the tourism department shares the privilege with the private sector. 

“While the government is the administrator of the State, the private sector is the bloodline. The government and the private sector are two inseparable factors for Puerto Princesa to prosper, and more importantly, to recover,” Mr. Alvior says. “The key to recovery is to enable and support the private sector to keep or resume their business operations. When it comes to the city’s biggest partners, apart from government agencies, it is the collective impact of small-business operations.” 

Puerto Princesa maybe “The Last Frontier,” but the City Tourism Department is confident that it will always be the first choice of every traveler.

Read: 3 Days in Puerto Princesa with Kids

Cricut Project: Angel Wings Memorial

It’s been two years already since my sister passed away and the pain is still there. As the quote says, “Normal is having tears waiting behind every smile when you realize someone important is missing from all the important events in your family’s life.” Sometimes it is hard celebrating family events because I know someone is missing and it is hard to accept that this is now the new reality. 

Anyway, before I left the Philippines, I made this Angel Wings Memorial project for my late sister’s second death anniversary. I know that I won’t be able to do this during my vacation so I try to finish it but because of my limited time, I was not able to finish the project. Despite that, I still packed my unfinished project so I can continue it here in Norway.

I purchased the 3D Angel Wings Memorial SVG File and this includes a tutorial video. You need 6 layers of cardstock and I just used whatever colors I have. I cut everything before I left and I assembled everything here in Norway and that is the only time I realized that I forgot to cut the words after “In Memory of My”. So my mom just printed the word daughter and paste it into the space. She also bought a frame for it. 

When I go back to the Philippines, I will redo this project so I will have my own Angel Wings Memorial for my late sister, father, and grandmother. Last year I’ve made a pillowcase for her which I also brought here, so at least she was able to travel to Norway. 

“If we love, we grieve, that’s the deal. That’s the pact. Grief is a terrible reminder of the depths of our love and like love, grief is non-negotiable. - Nick Cave

Update: November 2022

As promised, I will redo this Angel Wings Memorial project, this time I’ve made a new version of this for my father so he has a photo on his columbarium. I only used one color which is Rainbow White Smooth Coated Glitter Cardstock that I bought from The Happy Station.