en.malanginspirasi.com – I felt my own soul reflected for the first time my feet touched the shore of Lake Follsjå in Notodden.
This lake is only 120 km from Oslo, just about 1 hour and 45 minutes drive to the west. It is close, but it feels like entering another world.
The moment you leave the rush of Oslo, the road takes you through towering pine forests, classic red wooden Norwegian houses, and suddenly… before you lies a giant mirror, greenish-blue and endless. Follsjå.
The water, O’ Allah. I, Santy from Malang, who is used to seeing brownish lakes, fell silent.
The water is so crystal clear, so transparent, that you can see the stones at the bottom even when it is meters deep. It is not ordinary clear.
It is a clarity created by God with so much love. When the sun touches it, it sparkles like thousands of diamonds scattered on blue silk.
I crouched down and touched it. The cold was piercing, but purifying. As if all the fatigue of a 10,000 km journey from Malang, all the anxiety of being a Muslimah traveler, melted away with that touch.
In Follsjå, time stops. You don’t need to do anything to be happy. Just sit.
Also Read:
The Light from Malang to Notodden: How a Small Town in Norway Touches the Soul
But if you want to feel the true heartbeat of Norway, here is what you can do here:
1. Canoeing and Kayaking on a Mirror
Paddle slowly in the middle of the lake. There is no engine sound. Only the sound of your paddle slicing the water and your own breath. You will feel like you are floating above the sky.
2. Fishing with a Peaceful Heart
The locals say there are big Trout here. They don’t fish to catch, they fish to have a dialogue with nature.
3. Swimming – For the Brave Soul
The water is cold, very cold. But once you plunge in, you will feel reborn. Norwegians call it vinterbad. A purification of the soul.
4. Hiking and Picnic on its Shore
Around the lake there are soft, beautiful tursti trails. Bring your lunch, lay your mat, and let the wind of Notodden caress your hijab. No one will stare at you strangely. Nature here accepts everyone.
5. Sit Still and Remember
This was my favorite activity. Sitting on a big rock by Follsjå, watching the reflection of clouds and forests in the perfect water. This is where I felt closest to the Creator.
Follsjå is not a lake crowded with tourists. It does not shout to be visited. It whispers.
It waits for those who are tired of the noise of the world, who long for clarity.
From Malang, I, Santy from Santy Trip, came so far to discover that true beauty does not need to be made up. It already exists, clear, honest, like the water of Follsjå.
It is only 120 km from Oslo. But its peace is as close as your own pulse.
Come. See it for yourself. Let Follsjå reflect the light of your own heart.
