The Norwegian Mining Museum

" The Museum of the Royal Mint"
Sharing the same building complex, there are three other museums grouped under the collective title, The Norwegian Mining Museum: The Museum of the Royal Mint, Kongsberg Arms and Industry Museum and Kongsberg Ski Museum. The Royal Mint, one of Norway’s oldest companies still in operation, was founded in 1686 by King Christian V as part of the Kongsberg Silver Mines. It remained thus for long time, producing coins in silver from the mines. The museum collection includes one of the most coins from King Christian IV silver coins, which indeed originate from the Mint in Akershus Fort, to the present day nickel coins. The Traditional motif with a hammer crossed with a miner’s shank chisel is still used on all Norwegian coins, which together with a vast array of medals are still cut in Kongsberg.



"The Kongsberg Arms and Industry Museum"

The Norwegian Mining Museum’s Industry Department researches, documents and publishes industrial history and of course special emphasis is given to the history of the Kongsberg Arms Factory which was founded in 1814, the same year as Norway’s Constitution. The arms factory was originally started as an emergency measure to relieve unemployment in the town, following the silver mines period of depression.
From the end of the 1950’s, the company became the Norwegian government’s technological flagship with recent decades having seen the development of new products such as gas turbines, airplane engines, missiles and car parts.




"The Kongsberg Ski Museum"

During a period before and after the Second World War it was almost easier to become world champion in ski jumping than club champion in Kongsberg Athletics Association. The Association days of glory, lasting from the middle of the 1920’s to the beginning of the 1950’s, were headed by the ski jumping Ruud brothers ho together with other Kongsberg ski jumpers brought home II gold medals, 8 silver medals and 4 bronze medals from the Olympic Games and other World Champion-ships.

The Various department f the Kongsberg Ski Museum exhibit the historical development of skis and bindings, an original ski maker’s workshop and the previous methods used to produce ski waxes. In addition there is a separate department devoted to the decisive part that skis played in the execution of the heavy water sabotage in 1942-1943, as well as a department covering skiing in the Polar Regions.

Nybruafoss Waterfall in Kongsberg

In the spring, Nybrufoss Waterfall’s churning waters are a beautiful sight right in the middle of the middle of the town centre. Although the Nybrufoss Power Station was first established in 1911.

A tree made of Glass stands on the riverbank on one side of the Nybrua Bridge. Inaugurated by the Mayor on 2006, the glass tree was a gift of thanks from Kongsberg’s twin town, Gouda in Holland, marking the 50 years that Kongsberg has sent Gouda a Christmas tree, a sign of friendship from a mining town in Norway’s Buskerud Country to the home of Dutch Gouda cheese.

As a part of the road from Kongsberg to Vestfossen, the first bridge over the river was built in 1641. However, this Nybrua Bridge was swept away in a flood in 1860 and ne bridge was completed in 1862. The present Nybrua Bridge was opened in 1950 and formally taken over in 1953. A through overhauling was carried out in 2006 including new railings and beautiful coin and medal decorations as well as illumination of both bridge and waterfall.

.." Typical Norwegian Day"...

20 Young with the Leaders arrived Kongsberg Congregation house on Fridy Evening, relaxed, played games and heard music..and have ended this night by nice devotaion from one of the leaders...

Nice Saturday Sunny Morning which the adventures has started where everybody was exciting for Sport day..for Skiing..for Sliding..looking forward to the Down Hell!! As for me To the SCARY Down Hell!

We arrived Ski Center in Kongesberg..everybody was here and there, many buses, cars, tourists and locals.. carrying their ski staff! When I looked at the down hell skiing I was really shocked, scary but wonderful..ski lefts in differents kinds..Unbelievable Place!!

Everybody went to somewhere, some skiing the down hell, some sliding..I like it when was looking at the families with their small kids sliding and skiing, brave kids..ready for any risk..falling down and never mind..continue their adventures!! Happy kids..Lucky Kids..I like that all the norwegian or moslty are learning skiing since they are kids, so it gives them the ability to be more strong and brave in any case they might fight in skiing and other skiing in their life!


Now my turn to be like the norwegian, but of course never reach their ability to do the same, but at least trying to enjoy with them, so sliding at the snow was really funny..interesting,,but to be honest I was really afraid to slide from the top..but it was FUN FUN

Ohh yesss...Fire Time..the kind leaders Gunnar and Gier started to dig the snow and collect woods to make Fire..Finally the Fire is ready..we sat around it, gathering and having fun, while some make some hot dogs, cheese sandwiches at the fire.. and not to forget to mention the camera’s flashing here and there..taking more photos every minute from different camera..

It started to be cold..the sun started to hide.. interesting activities is not stopping! It’s Ski Left time which I always dream to try so now finally here is my chance! But when I was about to pick it up it stopped working, some technique problems has happened so when they informed me that I felt so disappointment .. really! But finally it started to work again..so..yess come on let’s go! Let’s try it! Me and Geir were standing in the long line for long time while many people were waiting for their turn, finally here we are..I think I felt scary in the beginning and maybe all our way  but looking at Kongsberg from the top..how the view was great..amazing..Most of Kongsberg is Forests.... can’t describe the views! Unbelievable ! Liked it! Liked it!

Ready to come back to the congregation house, to relax and warm again..it was so cold at the end of the great day...



And at the evening was different activities..songs, games, drama and funny shows from the participants..and sure the day has to concluded by nice and small devotion with songs and candles that has lighted by everyone with prayer...

We attended Sunday Service at Kongsberg Church..the huge, wonderful and ancient church which was inaugurated in 1761and It has an austere red brick exterior, but a richly decorated baroque interior, as well as it remains one of the largest in Norway with a seating capacity of 2,400.

Eventually I think that I have spent one of typical Norwegian day with the snow, skiing and fire place…Great SportY Weekend!! And felt how the youth and the kids are lucky..even the elderly people..enjoying their time! Nothing to worry about! So here now I’m lucky just like them and thankful for the kind friends who were with me… THANKS GOD ALWAYS!

Vinterfestivalen.." Winter Festival "

Come on Come on Come on …Vinterfestivalen ..

Vi Ser..Vinterfestivalen 2010 …

Count down has started ..The 10th Great Winter Festival started at
20.00 Friday 05.02.10 at Voss in the east of Bergen..It begun with
the Festival Song 2010 by two of Great Youth with Youth Players.
Around 700 Ten Singers and Leaders from Bjørkvin region were screaming
with power and energy when the opening show begun..Amazing Concert
with Active Youth Players and Singers…Wonderful songs one by
one..without ending..while the participants continue screaming and
screaming…


We started the program the next day by songs and followed by talking
about YGlobal and Madagascar by Ingebjørg Lien and I.We introduced
ourselves as representing KFUK-KFUM Global ..and presented about
Madagascar as a promotion for participating more in Global Market for
Madagascar and they were interested to hear that!



In the Middle of the day..the participants were divided for many
different Seminars..Drama, Choir, Skiing, Dance and others. Ingebjørg
had a seminar about Peace and Conflict because the youth there had to
be aware of peace and what’s going on in the world. My Seminar was
Palestinian Food and my group had about 25 youth and we all made a
Palestinian dish called “Musakhan “ and another kind of Salad called “
Tabola “ and they were enjoying and having fun together. I also shared
with them a short movie from Palestine…

Interesting Programs continued and it was soon Global Market time, all
the participants were waiting for the doors to open to start the
GLOBAL MARKET!! It’s opened Evening ..Ready to play..Ready to enjoy
more and more..The Global Market contained many different
activities..The Participants were involved in all the activities.. see
them here and there..There were Massage Activity, Climb the Rope, see
your future by reading your hand, Bag Air Games, Hug from Banglus as
this great activity was done by Ingebjørg, Write your name in Arabic
on your arms and sure this activity was from me and it was a success
..So eventually the Global Market had collected a good amount of money
for Supporting Madagascar!




Late Shows started at around 20:30 where everybody had to wear nice
suits and dresses- It was a Formal Concert and this late concert
included all the Ten Sing Groups ..one by one, Short Film about all
the Seminars and every group was better than the other..As well as the
Dance and Song Festival many times…Various Amazing Songs…Interesting
Magical Show and Beautiful Rap Songs.. Different Dancers..Some Games
.. Celebrating the 10th Anniversary for the Festival with Songs and
Balloons Flying and Exploding everywhere in the whole Big Hall… Fun
Fun … Atmosphere of Joy and Love ..Among all the Participants and
Leaders..How Lucky the Norwegian Youth!! God Bless Them all..

And followed by Lighting a candles as train and walking around Voss at
around 00:30am ..It was so Nice…and Finally the evening ended with
some songs, and devotion by a priest..

Nice Weekend..

Ready for our weekend..for the White Mountain..up in the mountain..at Buskerud KFUK-KFUM Place, called Blestølen..

Me, Husam, Turid and another friend Sara..As Husam came from Trondheim for the weekend for partners meeting, as we have had useful and good meeting with the partners, all of them came from different countries..Palestine, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Sudan and sure not to forget the Great Coordinator for GoCY Program Mia…As well as the next day of the meeting we had nice time with them, we enjoyed together at Mia’s Place…

So we started our road up to the mountain on Friday 29/01/2010, passing all our roads among the Snow.. white at the forest..at the mountain..passing through the down hell mountains for skiing ..Freezing Fjords..So nice..Laughing and discussing together…

So we arrived the Great Place..as Turid say always “ Our Home” ..and it’s really comfortable place, nice and calm cabin..The Weekend for Bangla delegation 2010..as it’s preparation for them and introduction about YMCA-YWCA and Bangladesh.
Friday evening arrived the Participants, and they were 7 kind young people..we have got to know each other there, and have fun..



While the next day on Saturday..It was snowing ..snowing …too cold..but in spite of bad weather we went Skiing for the first time  it was great..so nice,, it’s really interesting!! I like it! Norwegians are really lucky to have such as this sport and can go skiing whenever they want! So Great!

While the participants were continuing their workshop..We were enjoying our time, playing cards..Drinking Arabic Coffee  ..The Norwegians friends liked it so much 
At the Evening..we had fun all together by playing some games and singing, but at the rest of this evening we have presented for them about Palestine..current situation now..I think it was interesting for them, they got new information as they didn’t know about it before.. so we were happy to share with them our real life..our tragic life! It’s good for them to know about others life, to know how lucky they are in Norway..in Peaceful Life! And I shared with them short movie about Palestine the Holy Land..movie as far away from the Occupation..So Turid thank her she has ended thin evening by pray for Palestinians…

Last day, Sunday..it was short program and went home ..As it was great weekend..
But Sunday Evening we have had an International Meeting at KFUK-KFUM Office.. It has arranged by ICY – International Committee Youth..as all the partners and volunteers and GoCY were there..So it was international day!  Palestine..Norway..Sri Lanka..Kenya..Sudan…Madagascar…We had fun together..I met my friend there.. as well as there were three Palestinians as they came for some meeting here, so it was great opportunity to see them and meet my friends again…