The Island After 34 Years
I mentioned in my previous post that we visited an island about a week ago so here’s to tell you something about it. With a company composed of my mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, we traversed the island by a passenger ferry. It took about 35 minutes to reach the island named Donso (Donsö) in Gothenburg’s Southern Archipelago. Hubby and his family had lived on the island for almost 10 years so it was interesting for them to see how it was like then and now. He did not visit the island for 34 years and I could see how glad he was when he saw the house they lived in still standing there. He, his brother and his mother were talking endlessly when they were by the house, trying to reminisce every details of the years they spent on the island. And I was busy taking photos of them and around. The island has about 1400 inhabitants and it’s (almost) car-free streets make it easy and safe to walk through everywhere. Here are some photos I took and I let them tell more of the island.
A street at Donsö
This his how the car-free streets look. Hubby and his brother were walking around, looking for some changes that they could think of. The left side of the street was an empty lot but now it’s residential premises.
Means of Transport at Donsö
These are the people’s means of transport. No cars allowed on ths island and the residents’ car are actually parked across the ferry harbour.
Smart Cars at Donsö, lol!
This means of transport reminds me of those small Smart Cars, lol! It’s a little parking area near the harbour.
Apple trees everywhere!
And apple trees everywhere! Just in the wide and greeny yards of some houses grows this short and slender apple tree. Even in the bushes by the yacht harbour, there are apple trees.
Name this fruit
We had no idea what kind of berry tree this is, but it is by the fence and even when we looked nearer, we could not figure out what fruit it is.
It was a wonderful day in a peaceful island. I would not hesitate living in there if given the chance, as long as there’s internet. And as a matter of fact, there is!
Maricris said,
nostalgic. That’s the effect of modern development. Anyway, I have a major award for you but you need to pick it up tomorrow. :)- btw, pwede mo ba ko introduce sa mga friends mo? As you can tell, I hunger for filipino friends kahit sa blogland lang. Thanks!
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Marlene replied on August 13th, 2008:
Maricris, thanks for the award. I’ll drop by and claim it later. Hehee, sure I will introduce you. Most of them I met in blogosphere so you’ll have a chance to meet them, too.
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Joy said,
Wow apple trees. I haven’t seen apple tree yet. Ganyan pala hahaha.
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Marlene replied on August 13th, 2008:
Joy, parang may apple trees din yata sa lugar mo, hehee. Dito mo pa lang siguro nadiskubre kung saan.
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Joy replied on August 14th, 2008:
Sabi nga daw Len meron. Len tumatanggap kba nang tag award? Ay sya naisip kita eh kasi nice blog mo. Just take a look huh? Hehehe.
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Farah said,
I have to tell you this My- this island is absolutely beautiful! the housing area is so arranged and looked posh and beautiful too. Not having cars on that island makes it more unique, well, as long as there’s means of transportation then its ok.
I bet your husband’s family had a lot to talk and remisnice there obviously, wow returning after 34 years! that’s a very very long time. what made them wanna visit the island actually? is it far from where you are now?
I love to see those fruit tress too, i love staying in such an island, where everything is accessible but you have the feeling like living in your own land with limited people around. kinda exclusive right?
ps: oh yeah, me too, as long as there’s internet access, put me anywhere you want. LOL
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Marlene replied on August 13th, 2008:
Farah, it means we both can live on this island. Actually it was Leif’s mom who insisted we should visit there despite the gray weather, so she could visit a family friend who still lives there. The friend prepared lunch for us so it was a sort of get-together.
Yes, it’s exclusive for those who can afford, hahaa! I do like how they build their houses.
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michelle said,
sarap naman tumira dyan ate….
ampunin mo nlang ako…titira ako sainyo
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Marlene replied on August 13th, 2008:
Chelle, kung diyan lang ba kami tumitira, hehee. Halika na, lipad na dito, iha.
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jessie said,
Mhy,
What I love most about that place is not the terrain, not the trees, not the view or whatever. I simply love the transportation facilities. lol! Ang ku-cute naman ng mga rides dyan - golf carts. Kumasya ka ba dyan fren?
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Marlene replied on August 13th, 2008:
I love everything on that island. We didn’t ride any of those. We took the liberty to walk.
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juler said,
Hello Friend province na province din ang dating nito ah… hehehe kala ko tambis ung isang puno..
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Marlene replied on August 13th, 2008:
Juler, may province din tayo diyan sa pinas na ganito ang ambiance di ba. Ahehee, unsa gani nang tambis? Kalimot naman ko ani. Macopa hinumdum pa ko, hahaa.
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Shanker Bakshi said,
Indeed a great place to visit, i like the cool and calm atmostphere around.
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Marlene replied on August 15th, 2008:
Yes, Shanker. The kind of atmosphere when we feel relaxed and safe.
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Nick Phillips said,
That’s a lovely looking island
Looks like a nice place for a holiday, something I could do with right now 
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Marlene replied on August 15th, 2008:
Nick, you must have a place like this in your place, so don’t think twice for a holiday now.
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Amor said,
I also like how they build their houses, ang gaganda ano? At ang apple trees, abot kamay lang pala yan, ang daling pitasin.
Sa amin naman sa Rome-blon (haha!) nakatira din kami sa isang maliit na island at ang means of transpo ay motor boat at motorcycle lang. Dati walang internet doon pero with the use of the new technology, meron na daw, pero yung mga can afford lang syempre ang meron. Hindi nga ako makatagal ng 2 weeks dun kasi wala kaming internet, haha!
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Marlene replied on August 15th, 2008:
Amor, nagagandahan din ako sa mga bahay duon kasi iba-iba ang hitsura at ang lalapad ng backyards. May matataas ding puno ng apples pero naaaliw ako sa dito dahil ang bababa, hehee.
Parang ang layo siguro Rome-blon, hehee. Pero di magtatagal at magiging modern din lahat duon.
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Farah said,
very posh and I love the place. hey, maybe we could be neighbors and exchange dishes everyday. hehehehehe
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