Guide for tropical people to survive 10 to 20 degrees Scandinavian summer. It was around 15 during the first week of June.
Summer in a Stockholm is not the same as summer all year round Singapore.
Contrary to beliefs, it is not air condition temperature. Imagine setting it to the lowest temperature at 18, minus a few more degree Celsius and then add strong wind in different directions.
Our FBT shorts, dry fit fast perspiration absorption top and flip flops would not work for us in another continent.
Make it a habit to check the temperature before going out everyday to be dressed appropriately!
Do not be fooled by locals in denim and t-shirts! They are built for the weather. No matter how light they are dressed in, they have a warm jacket hidden somewhere.
Some days, I see people in long dresses but pants underneath and jacket over. Am observation was, women have nicely done hair tied up and waxed and gel for men.
I also saw white people in down jackets. Ah… Hello fellow tourists.
If you want to blend in like a local;
Top: Wear a cotton t-shirt with thick jacket (leather or denim) as outer layer.
Bottom: Wear denim jeans and add a layer of thermal heat tech underneath, warm socks and sports shoes.
I have not seen so much denim outfits on the street since the 90s and it was interesting to me. I brought my hiking jacket which I had no use for. The other outer layers I had with me was my fleece jacket, a sweater and a cardigan only suitable to be worn in office.
On sunny days, wear a cotton t-shirt but bring along a warm jacket. In my case, a fleece jacket.
On cloudy and windy days, a normal thermal underneath a sweater or cardigan is sufficient. Fleece or leather or wind breaker should do the job if you are feeling really cold.
I had a couple of colourful sports pants which made me look thick and dressed for bed and the colour were too much of a contrast compared to people on the street, so I ditched them and wore my dark coloured autumn pants which looked a bit more normal.
For my child, it was thermal top and bottom but with a fleece jacket on windy days or sweater on sunny days. I brought another thick jacket for kiddo which I carried everywhere just in case it turns colder.
As long as you stick to basic colours, nothing will go wrong . You may not be the most fashionable person but bear in mind, nobody cares plus you don’t want to fall sick on a holiday.
It was my fourth visit to Stockholm and I was not on a quest to cover as many European cities as I could this time since I did London and Paris on my first, Copenhagen and Helsinki on my last visit.
There are no direct flights to Stockholm from Singapore so there will definitely be a transit in this journey.
The question was which airline and location to transit? I took Thai Airways (Bangkok) and Finnair (Helsinki) previously but I was open to other options. Air China (Beijing), Turkish Air (Istanbul) and Singapore Airlines (London/Paris/Zurich/Copenhagen) were the contenders.
Selection
Bearing in mind I would be traveling with a child alone and I was waiting to be accepted into my course earlier in the year, I decided to only book my return flights first since I found too hard to miss Business Class tickets on Singapore Airlines.
I justified this purchase since I will be looking after kiddo alone during this trip and I am allowed to pamper myself. Plus, I travelled with them for work trips and had good experience previously.
Air China and Turkish Air has long transit, free accommodation, free city tour options and it would be perfect if my husband is traveling together so we can explore an addition city.
I decided to go with Thai Airways for outbound this time since their timing was more suitable, tickets were cheaper and I had a better experience with them previously.
Transit
I did not factor in how far away the distance from disembarkation to the next flight was. No distance was too far when travelling alone and traveling with a child hits differently.
Outbound on Thai Airways required a long walk and a train ride to another terminal in Bangkok.
Return leg was on Scandinavian Airlines transiting in Copenhagen before hopping on to Singapore Airlines. This required long queue for custom clearance after disembarking.
I had three hours for transit but my ticket indicated only 50 minutes of transit time. I cannot imagine having to queue so long for custom clearance during peak travel season.
Finnair transit in Helsinki would be a much better choice from experience if traveling with children and elderly.
Trolleys in most airports are not readily available. Luckily I prepared a luggage with attached child seat which eased my journey.
Flight Experience
Thai Airways was smooth as silk despite the long walk during transit. No hiccups and fuss free.
I did not understand why food was served soon after take off (00:30, GMT +7). Maybe it was to help passengers get used to meal time since it would be dinner time in Sweden. Needless to say we could not eat much and wasted good food.
Return trip on Scandinavian Airlines — Check in was not smooth as I was made to go to a machine to check in even though I informed the staff I am flying on a partner airline after the first leg and the machine would be unable to issue tickets. I had to show a screenshot as proof before I was allowed into the queue to the counter.
Going to and fro with three luggages, three hand carry and a five year old child is NOT FUN.
Also, the boarding gate changed and the new gate was far…
However, their redemption was their delicious lactose free breakfast. Pleasantly surprised because I did not even request for this! I also don’t remember Scandinavian Airlines serving food and drinks during short flights when I flew with them previously.
It must be because they do not have Business Class seats but they made it up by providing business class service onboard. Love the crew.
Now, Singapore Airlines. I decided not to visit the lounge since I was exhausted from waking up at 4am, custom clearance, long walk to boarding gate and negotiating with a five year old on why he cannot be buying a new toy every time we walk past a shop.
Much needed champagne served after boarding
Everything that could go wrong went wrong with this airline.
We were brought to the wrong row and had to put up with glares from the rightful passengers. Did not occur to me to check since we were ushered in and shown to the seats by the crew.
Then, while trying to select a suitable movie for my child after takeoff, I found a metal tray lying beside my child which I handed it back to the crew at the galley politely.
Food was okay but I expected better service. I don’t remember a full three course meal being served. Either that, someone must have missed serving me while I was attending to my child at his seat. No. Chocolate pieces and coffee do not count as dessert. Plus, not everyone enjoys chocolate.
Throughout the flight, no snacks were offered. I had never been so hungry on a business class or on any flight ever. I saw snacks being placed at the galley and I was waiting but it never made it to my row. I know I need to lose weight but that was not the point. Luckily I had hand carried some snacks and bread so my child and I had something to munch on and still enjoy the flight.
I know they are trying to cut cost and save the environment but I really don’t see the need to have to ask for an amenities kit multiple times before being handed one.
The point is, I should not have to ask for stuff, let alone multiple times. It spoils the experience.
I also understand that lactose free or plant based milk is a little bit more pricey and you don’t carry it onboard but you really have to step up since SAS could provide lactose free options without asking and I don’t see why a leading airline could not.
When I chose not to have milk with my coffee because I am lactose intolerant, it does not mean I don’t want sugar. Not offered sugar as well. Seriously… At this point, I don’t even want to talk to the crew anymore.
Last straw was I asked for food to be served later for my sleeping child but no food was served after he woke up. True he had no appetite but at least show some initiative to check in and buffer in time to ask before landing?
On the positive side, at least we arrived safe. The only person that provided good service was a young male steward took the initiative to help my child with the screen during the flight and also help rinse my child’s bottle without me having to ask.
When someone told me SIA only provide good service to selected group of people, I told them off by saying they are too sensitive. How can you say such things about our national carrier?!
I find it hard to believe but I had to agree on this now.
Business Class was fairly empty and I was really disappointed this time. Maybe I should have flown first class to get better service. My money was probably not good enough and I should bring it elsewhere instead.
I am currently on holiday and somehow I felt like I am reaping what I sowed.
Can eldest nephew help take care of my car while I am away?
Ok.
The ask because my husband is away in camp and has his own car. I don’t want my car to be idle for so long.
Can he come pick me up at the airport when I am back?
Ok.
Great. I have someone to help me with luggage save some cab fare too.
Over here in Stockholm, my niece and nephew are 8 and 9 years older than my child and they have been entertaining my child everyday after they are back from school. Be it running around at the park, colouring activity or hide and seek at home.
In the few days I’ve been here, my ears, left shoulder, right ankle, knee and wrist hurts from the dry atmosphere, walking and heavy lifting.
Having them baby sitting my child felt so much of a relief and soooo good when I am physically in pain. Clinics don’t work like Singapore here so it is only making do with ear spray and paracetamol until I go back home.
I am reminded about the amount of diapers changed and time spent chasing after them at playground, feeding and sending them to school them when they were younger…
Although I am only a mother for five years, but I have been the extra pair of hands in the family since 2002 for my six nephews and nieces.
This payback feels good and I will not hesitate to collect it back again.
Memoirs of a Singapore Auntie 新阿姨传记 