As I jumped onto Bergen-bound train departing from Oslo S, my mind rambled to my childhood dream of fjord. Then, I often slumped in the corner of bed flipping around my grandaunt's pre- world war II World Atlas. Frequently my eyes were glued to the beauty of twist and turn of the fjords around the Scandinavian and bits and pieces around North Pole. Even sometimes, not uncommon I found myself drawing my own fjord, with my own little house and my little boat.

The train that I took that morning of Friday 13th October (indeed my lucky day) would take me to one of the best fjord in the world (at least according to National Geographic). Not exactly, actually, I have to change train at Myrdal half way to Bergen and change Flåmsbana train to Flåm (read almost like flom).

The time I travel was not good, but I have no choice since this travel is just additional tag to my conference trip to Oslo. October is the start of off-peak season. Most transport companies reduced or stopped their routes just two weeks ago. End of summer, everyone seems wanting to hide under the tundra. That's quite unfortunate for me since I initially wanted to take ferry ride along Sognefjord from Bergen to Flåm, but this route cease to exist on September 30th. So, I opted for second best, or last, or actually the only option for satisying my fjord crave: take the only available fjord tour by ferry trip from Flåm to Gudvangen.

In the hindsight, the timing was perfect. I didn't have to tusle and jostle with flock of tourist, I don't have to worry to too much with getting my accomodation and it was changing season; i've gotten the richness of yellowing dying autumn leaves and the glooming of forthcoming winter.

All of these can be seen within my window during Oslo - Myrdal route. Make sure you sit on the left side of the train, since the morning sun light came from the right. Most of the nicest view are on the left side as well. The early part of the route presented scenic Norwegian township perching along the railtrack, which was not that exciting during misty and cloudy morning. But for later part of the journey, this gray and grim elements set nice ambience for vast and barren landscape, especially after Voss. There the train stop for five minutes allowing us to to take a snap of slice of a snow peeking between rows of mountain behind the station and the dreary dark sky. The same background continued serving as a backdrop for dry plain, in which small rivulet running in and out some cold-looking pool of grey water. The view was even more Gothic after Finse.

Although this breathtaking view just succeeded in jolting my senses and set a nice intro for my excursion, it made me a bit wary since I expected more uplifting weather around Flåm and the around to allow me to take nice pictures. The weather prediction I'd seen the day before had been promising, but the sky didn't tell me so. The worst thing that could happen was I would be exploring my dream fjord like a rat roaming around dark alley.

Things changed for better when I finally stop at Myrdal. The sky was still overcast, but it still provide enough lights. I had few minutes to take few snaps around the station. I thought this could be a nice place for longer stop (which I did later). I board the Flåmsbana train accross the platform. Suddenly, I saw many tourist all over the train. Many Asians: Thais, Japanese and Chinese with their latest digital SLR cameras.

The train then moved slowly on the edge of the cliff through several tunnels before receding into the narrow cut of the of the earth, that later on transformed itself into a fjord. Along the way, the train slowed down occasionally to let the passengers have a glimpse of some majestic postcard scenes on the left side of the train. We also made several stops, such as one in a small not so exciting waterfall which wowed some tourist anyway. At some point, between Dalsbotn and Håreina station, the train came to a critical photographical moment when it made a sharp turn such that you could, within a window of thirty seconds, take a picturesque shot of the Flåm village. After leaning downward all along the journey, the train finally leveled up and slowed down along the river, before finally stopped at the train water just before the water where the Aurlandsfjord start.