Links to My Vacation Journals and Destinations

Looking for something in this blog?

Beware of the Pigeon Poop scam or Seagull Poop scam in Stockholm

24 May 2017

As the name implies, the Pigeon Poop scam is common in places where there are lots of pigeons, especially Europe. It seems that places with lots of seagulls like Stockholm has similar version of this scam. We could probably call it the Seagull Poop scam.

Let me describe what happened to us in more detail.

My wife and I was enjoying our day out on Skeppsholmen island when we walked past a couple who seemed to be fellow travellers, with a map and pointing around at the sights while they looked at the map.

Out of a sudden, we were hit by poop from behind.

The poop were greenish, foul smelling, sticky. Some were on my lower body and some were on my wife’s back and head.

Damned gulls!

The couple quickly came to our aid with wet tissues. We spent about 5 minutes cleaning ourselves up with the tissues.

We thanked them for their help and decided that we should go back to our apartment to get a good shower we felt there was still residues of the stinking mess on our bodies.

It was later that I discovered that the “helpful” couple had helped themselves to the cash in my wallet! We had been scammed by what is called the “Pigeon Poop” scam".

Basically, how the scam works is that the thieves would spray some kind of liquid or  “poop” onto your bodies as you walked pass them. They would pick their victims carefully, often in isolated areas where there are no other persons around. In our case, I guessed they had used some kind of water pistol, hidden under the map that they were holding, and used it to squirt the liquid on us as we walked past them.

Isolated area on Skeppsholmen with lots of seagulls. Ideal conditions for the “Seagull poop” scam.


They were very fast to come to our “aid”, with wet tissues to try help wipe us down. While doing so, one would distract us while the other would steal from our wallet or bag.

In our case, the woman scammer held my hand to point out the places with poop on my partner’s head and hair. Her job was to distract us and prevent me from looking at what her partner was doing.

She kept telling my wife to stay still while she cleaned the mess from her hair. On hindsight, what she was doing was preventing my wife from turning around to see what her partner was doing to me!

In the meantime, her partner was busy pretending to clean the poop on my pants, but was actually cleaning out my wallet!

They worked fast, and was very professional! They quickly say good bye and left once they had taken the money!

I did not realised the theft until later when I found the cash missing and I googled on Internet to confirm that such scams exist.

What was amazing was that they took only the cash, and put back the wallet back in the zipped pocket of my hiking pants. I was able to use my SL Access card, stored in my wallet, to take the train home without realising the theft.

I think we were not the only persons scammed that day. An elderly couple walked pass us shortly after, while we were still cleaning ourselves up (after the scammers left us). They told us they have been pooped upon too and even jokingly told us that today was our “lucky day”. There is a belief that if a bird poops on you, your car or your property, you may receive good luck and riches.

In a way, we had been quite “lucky” compared to other cases of such scams. Some had lost much more. There were cases where the scammers snatched the bags of victims and ran. Or stole the entire bag with cash, cards, mobile phones and all!

Thankfully, I did not loss any ID cards, credit cards, SL Access card, etc. I only lost some cash from my wallet. Small payment for an unforgettable experience and lesson learnt!

We were wondering why they never took the whole wallet.

My guess was that we were on Skeppsholmen island and there was only a single entry and exit point from the island, the Skeppsholmen Bridge. If I were to discover the theft immediately, I could have stopped them from escaping at the bridge. Also, by taking only the cash, it would be impossible for me to prove their crime.

I knew that Europe is not a very safe place for travellers but I would never have imagined that such things could happen to us and happened in Stockholm too.

It is easy to fall for such scams since the scammers are very professional. They made use of the fact that most people would be distracted by poop sprayed on your bodies or drinks deliberately spilled on you. It is also human nature to not reject someone “kind enough” to provide assistance to persons in distress. They would use this to get close to you or even touch you so as to pick your pockets or steal from your bag.

So be warned, fellow travellers! 


Continue Reading »

Visit to the garden of Drottningholm Palace in Stockholm

25 May 2017 

“Drottningholm Palace is Sweden's best preserved royal palace constructed in the seventeenth century, the permanent residence of the royal family and one of Stockholm's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.”

When I read this about Drottningholm Palace, we decided to head out there. OK, I was actually more interested to explore the huge garden at the Palace ground instead of the interiors of the palace itself.

The palace is located on the outskirt of the city but access was easy. Tourists who stayed in Stockholm city center could take a regular boat service from Stadshuskajen (the City Hall Quay) to Drottningholm. For us, we made use of our SL Access 7-days Travelcard and took the subway (Tunnelbana) to Brommaplan and changed to a bus to Drottningholm.

Once we alighted from the bus, we could see the palace across the road. There were some beautiful spring flowers on sale outside the visitor center cum gift shop and cafe.

These were some of the photos we took before we even go see the palace. Fancy names were given to the varieties on display.

Drottningholm Palace in Stockholm

Drottningholm Palace in StockholmThis flower is named the “Jolly Face”.


Drottningholm Palace in StockholmGuess the name of this flower. Answer at the end of the post.


It was a good thing we came on a weekday morning. We practically had the lake in front of the palace to ourselves.

To see the interior of the Palace, a ticket is required and can be purchased online, at the visitor center or at the palace entrance. We did not go into the palace as our aim was to explore and take walks in the huge garden on the palace grounds.

 A female armed guard on duty near the front entrance.


Statue of a boy strangling a goose. 


Side and rear of the Drottningholm Palace.


Drottningholm Palace in StockholmArtist at work at the Theatre Courtyard painting the statue and the Drottningholm Court Theatre.


 Stone lion outside the Drottningholm Court Theatre.


We entered the garden of the palace through this gate. This gate is more for show than for security! The palace is not fenced off.


These were some of the photos shot at the garden at the rear of the palace.

Big long driveway that led all the way to the horizon!


This is what the Queen’s visitors might see as they drive up to the palace in a horse carriage back in the old days.


Some of the figures and sculptures on this fountain and surrounding area were trophies from past wars.


The Baroque garden next to the palace looked very similar to the garden of the Palace of Versailles in France. The architect who designed the garden actually took inspirations from there.

Drottningholm Palace in Stockholm


The garden was very large. It was a good idea to shoot a photo of the above map near the front entrance.

One of the highlights in the garden is a building called the Guard’s Tent, built in 1782.

Drottningholm Palace in StockholmGuard’s Tent at Drottningholm Palace.


The building was actually barracks for the palace guards. The design came from the Swedish King Gustav himself. It was modelled after Turkish tents he saw at the palace of the French King when King Gustav went to visit King Louis of France. 

Confused?

To make you even more confused, the tents were actually made of sheet metal! Painted to resemble canvas. It is used to cover a 2 storey wooden building inside. 

Near to the Guard’s Tent is the Chinese Pavilion. This is another key attraction at the Drottningholm Palace.

 Chinese Pavilion at Drottningholm Palace.


This Chinese pleasure palace was actually a surprise birthday present from King Adolf Fredrik to Queen Lovisa Ulrika on her birthday in 1753.

“Surprise!”

Yes. I was surprised that there was a Chinese Pavilion in a Swedish garden. It seemed that Sweden and China had bilateral relationships back in the 17th century.

The original wooden building was replaced in the 1760s by a more permanent one, which today contains one of the finest European rococo interiors with chinoiserie and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.


Chinese Pavilion at Drottningholm Palace in StockholmWestern-looking dragon, instead of a traditional Chinese dragon, on the facade of the Chinese Pavilion.


One of the side buildings at the Chinese Pavilion.


There was a cafe near the Chinese Pavilion, located inside an old stone building. That was the only place selling food within the huge garden. Since we did not pack a picnic lunch (we should have!), we topped up our energy with coffee and some snacks there.

Spring was the perfect time to visit a garden.

There were plenty of colourful blooms on display near the Chinese Pavilion.

Even the lawn looked nice with the yellow dandelions!


We took about 2.5 hours to cover only about half of the palace garden. The other half of the garden, on the other side of the Baroque garden, is around lakes and waterways. Not to be missed too.

I enjoyed seeing the locals bringing their dogs for a romp in the garden.

This is also a perfect place for getting a tan or a picnic.




Although we did not venture into the interiors of the palace, it was the walks in the huge garden that we enjoyed.

20170525_095251

Answer to “Guess the name of this flower”. This flower is called “Mickey”. It does has looked a bit like the famous Disney mouse.

Continue Reading »

A walk along Norr Mälarstrand and visit to Stadshuset (The City Hall of Stockholm).

25 May 2017

Norr Mälarstrand (Swedish for "Northern Shore of Mälaren") is a boulevard on Kungsholmen in central Stockholm. Stretching 1.4 km west from the Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset) to Rålambshovsparken, a walk along the lake shore in good weather was a very pleasant experience.

We took the subway to the Rådhuset Station, after visiting Drottningholm Palace in the morning. Rådhuset Station is one of the nicer subway (Tunnelbana) station.

Check out these photos.



Inside Rådhuset (Tunnelbana) station at Stockholm with the natural looking cavern painted in a reddish clay colour.


We arrived at the middle part of Norr Mälarstrand lake-front boulevard after a short walk from the Rådhuset subway station. We decided to head towards the Vasterbron, where a park named Rålambshovsparken is located.

The seafront of Norr Mälarstrand is lined with many boats. Each boat that is moored at the pier has a small signboard explaining the details and specifications of the boat.

For Singaporeans visiting Stockholm, check out this boat named “Singapore”!

Norr MälarstrandA boat named Singapore.


Reading the information on the signboard, this boat has nothing to do with my country, Singapore.

Norr Mälarstrand has many nice houses by the waterfront.

 View of Norr Mälarstrand as seen from Skinnarviksberget during winter.


The photo of Norr Mälarstrand (above) was one of my favourite photographs I shot during winter from Skinnarviksberget, the highest natural point in central Stockholm.

 Skinnarviksberget as seen from Norr Mälarstrand across Lake Malaren. We could see the tiny people on the rocky hill.

Walking along this boulevard allowed me to have a closer look at these buildings.

Close-up look at the facades on the buildings along Norr Mälarstrand.

Lake Malaren as seen from Norr Mälarstrand.


It did not take too long to reach the end of the boulevard. After a short rest at the Rålambshovsparken at the end of our walk, we headed back towards the City Hall.

There were a few cafes and restaurants along the waterfront, including even a food van. We chose to have our late lunch at an Italian restaurant called the Trattorian.

A pasta, a pizza and a beer to share between two persons cost 364 SEK which was reasonable for an expensive city like Stockholm. It was a nice cosy place, with music, with above average food.


 Moon Tower and Main Tower with the 3 crowns at Stockholm City Hall.


The Stockholm City Hall is one of Sweden's most famous buildings, and one of the capital's most visited tourist attractions. We had shot many photos of the City Hall from Skinnarviksberget and Monteliusvägen, so it was fitting that we pay a visit to this place.

It was also here that I noticed the rectangular shaped trees in Stockholm city.  Interesting to see trees grown and prune with this shape.

The gardens and exterior of Stadhuset are free for us to explore but entry into the interiors of the building is by paid guided tour only. We did not take the tour, which meant we missed seeing the venue where the Nobel Prize award ceremony dinner is held, amongst other things.

The tower is also open for visits for those who wants to have a workout, climbing the stairs, and to see views of the city from up above.

 The Southern portico.


We went to explore the courtyard within the building complex.

Stadshuset, TheCity Hall of Stockholm.

Statue of Saint Clara holding a crown above the entrance. The crown she is holding is a symbol of Stockholm.


 Vines growing on one of the walls.


A large single oak tree stood in the courtyard. The oak was planted on the day the building was opened in 1923, so it is just as old as the City Hall itself.

Stadshuset, TheCity Hall of Stockholm.Children’s Meeting Place in the courtyard of the City Hall.

Stadshuset, TheCity Hall of Stockholm.


This oak tree is declared as the Children’s Meeting Place where children and decision-makers can meet and exchange ideas for a better future. Nice concept.

Stadshusparken is a small garden between the City Hall and Lake Malaren. We sat at a small corner place called the water hide. It is meant to be a peaceful and hidden place where one can sit and enjoy the view.


Stadshusparken – at the water hide.


View of Riddarholmen Church across the lake from Stadshusparken.


As we made our way to the Gamla Stan T-Bana Station, we walked past the cenotaph in honour of Birger Jarl, founder of Stockholm.

Stadshuset, The City Hall of StockholmGilded sarcophagus of Birger Jarl next to City Hall, Stockholm.


The sculpture is made of granite, with a sarcophagus covered in gilded lead in the center. Having a golden sarcophagus, next to the City Hall, as a final resting place is a great honour.

Only problem is:  Birger Jarl is not resting here but in Varnhem Cloister Chapel in Västergötland!

Continue Reading »

Welcome to igoiseeishoot!

Thanks for visiting the igoiseeishoot blog. If you are visiting for the first time, you may want to start here.

This blog is where I share the places I have been to (I go), my experiences at these places, people I met, food I tried and things that fascinated me (I see) and memories of my travels and vacations with lots of photos (I shoot).

I hope you will enjoy reading the posts or find something useful in this blog.

I would love to hear your thoughts or feedback by email (igoiseeishoot@gmail.com) or dropping some lines into the comment boxes of the posts.

Stay connected with me on instagram.