I joined a PhD course in Abisko, organized by Stay or Go Network (http://www.ntnu.edu/stay-or-go) from 2nd to 8th September. The course was designed for PhD students on the theme: The capacity for plants to persist, adapt or migrate in the face of environmental change. We were 4 people from my home institution, NTNU. The course was important for me as I am also working with behaviour of plant species in response to climate change also, one of my supervisor during my masters in Bergen, Prof. John Birks was also giving lectures on paleoecology which I did not take when I was in UIB, Bergne. To attend this course we fly from Trondheim to Bodø and from Bodø to Harstad-Narvik on 1st of September 2011.
We fly from Trondheim Værnes at 06:55AM and reached Bodø at 07:55 where we had nearly half an hour transit. From Bodø, we took jet stream plane to Harstad-Narvik which reminded me flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara. From Harstad-Narvik, we drive in a car to Abisko. This was my first time to high latitude. Abisko is situated at above 680N. Abisko Mountain Station is situated in the most northern part of Sweden Lapland, 250 Km north of Arctic Circle. Our residence was booked in a cortege of Abisko Mountain Station. Abisko is a small town of Sweden with nearly 120 inhabitants. Sigrid, a colleague from NTNU was busy in driving people from airport to the station. During summer, the station look very beautiful with yellow birches. I met Prof. Birks and Prof Hilary Birks before dinner. He was very happy with one of my publication on orchid where he is also one of the authors. After dinner, we went to see silverfall near Abisko and view of Lapland Mountain.
Next day from 8:30AM the course started and lasted till 8th September. Some days were full with loads of informations /lectures.
On 5th September, we went to a trip to Nuolja Mountain with a chair lift. From the top station, we saw a nice view of Abisko and we were very lucky with the climate. That was very memorable trip during the course. The chair lift was with out closed cabin which we had back in Nepal for a trip to Manakamana where they have closed chambers. On the last day, we had students’ presentation. We were given task to make some concept that can be used for future research. Our group members presented on need of research on microbial organisms which play major role in nutrient cycling in Mountain ecosystems. After finishing presentation by 10:00, I bought some gifts for Sharmila and we drive back to to Harstad-Narvik to catch flight to Trondheim. On the way back, we went see Narvik city, a historic city of Norway. We finally arrived Trondheim at 21:50. On the way back, when I get off at Østre Breg, I noticed that some one took my luggage bag and left there. I suspected it should be the ones who got off near by Moholt. They were over drunk. The driver of the bus told me to take this bag but I told him it will be better if he takes this. I gave him my contact details if the person contact to the bus office. I ran to the bus stop where the people got off but could not find. I reached home at nearly 11:30PM without luggage. Next day I contacted the bus office and luckly the person who left their luggage in the bus had their contact number in the bag which enabled us to find my bag and I got it in a fine condition.
