When was the LAST time you did something for the FIRST time

I went skiing and rode snow mobile over the weekend. The company sponsored our accomodation, transportion (chartered a 14-carriage train for this trip), food and drinks. We decide what activities to take part in and pay for it ourselves. It was a 3-hour journey by train on Friday from Stockholm to a town called Ånge, up north. Followed by a 1-hour bus ride to the ski resort in Vemdalen. The whole journey takes around 5 hours, incuding transit and waiting time. I was sick, sorry, ill for the past one week and so had prepared myself mentally to miss this trip. My wife couldn't join me since it is a company trip. But she did encouraged and pushed me to go and see what is it like. So I changed my mind the night before the trip and went ahead after feeling much better. Poor lady has to stay home all alone while I go enjoy myself.

Turned out to be a very enjoyable trip. To think I almost missed it because of my illness, I wanted to kick myself. The management tried to squeeze in some conference and team-building activities but since most materials are in Swedish, I was not able to participate, unfortunately. While others had to discuss Accenture Delivery Methods, I had to walk the whole length of the train (14-carriages in all) to kill time. While my colleagues were deliberating on how to make our company a better place to work in, I had to sit in the food wagon with their nice big windows and enjoy the scenery. While others were scrambling to collect their papers to be submitted, I had to pretend that I've submitted mine.

Apart from the inconvenience of having instructions and information in Swedish, everything else was well-organized. When it comes to finding out what fun activities I can indulge in, all I had to do was ask my colleagues or the friendly and helpful resort staff. Arrrghh, why didn't I think of this earlier during the conference or team-building activities? I could've just asked and participate actively instead of having to waste my time doing something else. Stupid me.

Anyway…once we arrived at Vemdalen, the place looks like it's been booked entirely for us. Company flags on the poles, banners on raillings, and on specially erected tents.

And everybody got properly attired and went for their drinks at the ice bar.

After that, wasted no time and started skiing. I didn't know how to ski yet and I don't intend to break my legs or arms trying it without proper instructions, so I stayed out and walked around the ski resort for the rest of the Friday afternoon.

At night, dinner and party with hip-hop theme where they invited a famous Swedish rapper to give a live performance. I didn't know who he is, but the moment he appeared, everybody started screaming excitedly. So, I asked my colleagues and they explained to me that they're surprised by the appearance of this famous rapper. His stage name isn't very glamorous though, Doggy Doggy Liten.

On Saturday, everybody woke up early to go skiing. Again, I didn't ski because my ski class is on Sunday.

But I did sign up for snow mobile safari after lunch. It was great fun because they let us ride/drive the snowmobile ourselves instead of riding pillion. We were led up snowy mountains and woods. There were lots of snow everywhere. When I step off my snowmobile, my feet sank into the snow and I can see smaller trees almost completely buried. And we also rode over a frozen lake. Then we stop at a cabin in the middle of nowhere for coffee break. After about 30mins, we made our way back.

Tried to help driver dig his lorry out of his misery

On Saturday night, it was the gala dinner. I don't understand why would they make everyone bring their suit on such an outing. I didn't, but almost everyone else did. I just didn't want to stuff more clothes into my wife's small luggage. The others, they made the effort to look good.

People who cares to look good

People who cares about the food

The food

After dinner, more drinking and partying. Feeling out of place since I don't drink and dance, I sneaked out into the cold snowy winter night and took pictures instead.

On Sunday, I finally get to ski! Well, not after I get a 2-hour personal coaching first, of course. Initially, when I saw the five ski instructors waiting at the rendezvous point, I thought there were many others who's going to learn how to ski for the first time. Turns out there were only 2 students that morning. Me, who's doing it for the first time. And another older guy who already knows how to ski, but he wanted to learn some new fancy technique.

So, off I went with the very helpful young lady instructor, Camilla. Throughout the 2-hour lesson, I'm sure she tried very hard not to laugh when I slip and fall. She had been very patient with me as well, repeating her instructions to me again and again when I keep on going downhill in a straight line when I'm supposed to ski to the left or right instead. But it's already very scary for a big lump of mass to ski down a hill. To attempt any other maneuver is almost as good as asking me to commit suicide. In the end, I survived the lesson with very little bruises or lacerations. I was even able to make 2 big turns before I reach the foot of the hill. Expert skiers may have been able to make 10-20 turns before they reach the end. Imagine a big container ship wanting to change direction, the captain would've to start turning his ship like 5km away. Someting like that. I may have been Camilla's most difficult student. The sight of her vomitting blood onto white snow ain't pretty, but she was still pretty nice to take a photo of me before I ski down the slope for one last time under her guidance. I'm sure she told her friends about me and they all had a good laughs afterwards.

I was told that most people in Sweden started skiing when they were 4 or 5 years old. Indeed, I noticed a lot of parents skiiing with their toddlers that day.

It's amazing to see these small kids maintaining their balance and ski so well on their own while their parents follow closely behind. It's also a bit embarrassing when these small kids turn to look at me as they zoom past. I keep having the urge to ask them to look ahead at where they're going instead. Their parents who're closely behind, almost always have a smug look when they see their children ski closer to inspect this asian guy with a perpetual terrified face. The ultimate humiliation is when a kid came so close and stared at me while I tried very hard not to collide with him/her. This little fella......is still sucking on a pacifier.

3 days home alone, wife has had the chance to perfect her culinary skills. So, I came back to these... Radish cake