i spent some time on the couple of days after we got back from katinkulta wandering around exploring the place a wee bit, first ylämylly then joensuu town centre. Saw a couple of beautiful sunsets (before 3.30pm!) though the sun doesn't have to go far to set as it barely makes it above the trees. And a perfectly silhouetted figure skater - tried going skating in the same place the following day but i can't say i did her justice, at all. The river that runs through/presumably terminates at joensuu (="river's mouth") is lovely. Today we went west a wee ways to heinävesi to visit some friends of the nokelas who have a tiny 2 month old baby. Juuso, me and their eldest boy went skiing/boarding at the local mäki. Pretty small field but with a great view from the top of the slope. I'd forgotten how much i dislike using a t-bar on a snowboard though. After i'd fallen off it one too many times (twice) i decided i'd trade my board for skis and had just made it to the top of the lift when i got a call from Juuso. The other kid (Rasmus was his name!) had had a bad fall and wound up spending much of the rest of the day at the hospital getting a cast put on his broken wrist, his mum had just bought the season pass the day before too. So that was the end of that, not the best note to go out on.
Tomorrow i'm off to kuopio to smother myself in feelings of nostalgia.
Monday, 29 December 2008
Friday, 26 December 2008
I'm dreaming of a white christmas...
And i certainly got one! Plenty of snow around, a real winter wonderland.
On christmas eve (which is when they celebrate christmas here) we didn't overly exert ourselves during the day :p i've taught juuso to play three blind mice (the card game) so played more than enough of that. Ate the last salmiakki from my christmas calendar! Then in the evening we went to an old farm (that's still a working farm) where they put on a huge traditional christmas feast just for us (and a couple of other people). There were salads, breads, riisipiirakka, salmon prepared 3 different ways, ham for those who like it prepared 2 different ways, and "boxes" which are like a casserole type thing maybe. One was basically mashed carrot, another mashed swede and the third a chopped cabbage and carrot ensemble. And they were actually tasty! I must admit i wasn't particularly excited about christmas food from what i remembered from last time but everything was delicious - or interesting enough to not be offputting... tried some strange fish thing that was good but i wouldn't want to eat too much of it. For pudding we had luumuvahva - a creamy plum pudding. And to drink there was home made non-alcoholic beer that reminded me a little of weak ginger beer. As we were leaving we signed the visitors book and the lady working there told our future/a bit about our personalities from our signatures and handwriting! I forget most of what she said about mine (plus she said it all in finnish so i probably deciphered my own unique version in the first place), something maybe about me liking things just so...
Then it was home to discover joulupukki had visited and left pressies under the fazer-joulukuusi (that i made outta chocolate box rubbish :p). I got a silver suomenleijona (finnish lion) necklace from the nokelas on a beautiful thick chain. Think they all liked their gifts from me. The t-shirt for peppi was way too big but works well as a night gown and the mirror hadn't broken on its travels so i was stoked!
On christmas day proper nothing special happens here. We tried to go ice skating (at least i think we did) but that didn't work out so we went and found a little hill by the skifield to sled down for a wee while which was fun. I thought so at least!! and i'm sure peppi did too. There was snow all around and even some blue sky to be seen, even if it was still a little hazy and the sun was already below the hill (at 1.30 in the afternoon). Couldn't supress singing a few lines from some wintery christmas carols.
Spent much of the rest of the day walking to and from the main hotel with Juuso for various things (some of you may find out why later... mystery, intrigue, suspense!) then in the evening we went bowling again. The first game I played in my usual manner, but the second one (which we didn't get to finish unfortunately as time ran out) surpassed my greatest expectations! Somehow i managed to get 94 points out of 9 turns - may well have got over a hundred if we'd finished, for the first time ever i think. Wasn't to be.
This morning we packed up and headed back to joensuu. Arto said we were to leave at 9am and would you believe we were on the road by 8.50 - that just ain't right! The sun was not fully up when we left and i was struck by how all the colour had seemingly been sucked out of the landscape - black trees covered in white snow, grey sky and snow on the ground. It was beautiful but like i'd got colourblind blinkers on of some sort! Some colour did leak back in as it lightened up, but it certainly makes the brightly painted wooden barns and houses stand out when you see them. Saw the cutest little yellow wooden church in the woods just off the road, wish i'd had a camera at the ready.
We arrived back in Joensuu to be greeted by about a foot of fresh snow on the driveway that the "boys" spent half an hour or so clearing before the car could make it to the garage while we traipsed back and forth with the luggage. Then it was baked salmon straight from a norwegian fjord for lunch, with salad, rice and... kermaviili!! No way would i not be pescatarian right now - Delish!
On christmas eve (which is when they celebrate christmas here) we didn't overly exert ourselves during the day :p i've taught juuso to play three blind mice (the card game) so played more than enough of that. Ate the last salmiakki from my christmas calendar! Then in the evening we went to an old farm (that's still a working farm) where they put on a huge traditional christmas feast just for us (and a couple of other people). There were salads, breads, riisipiirakka, salmon prepared 3 different ways, ham for those who like it prepared 2 different ways, and "boxes" which are like a casserole type thing maybe. One was basically mashed carrot, another mashed swede and the third a chopped cabbage and carrot ensemble. And they were actually tasty! I must admit i wasn't particularly excited about christmas food from what i remembered from last time but everything was delicious - or interesting enough to not be offputting... tried some strange fish thing that was good but i wouldn't want to eat too much of it. For pudding we had luumuvahva - a creamy plum pudding. And to drink there was home made non-alcoholic beer that reminded me a little of weak ginger beer. As we were leaving we signed the visitors book and the lady working there told our future/a bit about our personalities from our signatures and handwriting! I forget most of what she said about mine (plus she said it all in finnish so i probably deciphered my own unique version in the first place), something maybe about me liking things just so...
Then it was home to discover joulupukki had visited and left pressies under the fazer-joulukuusi (that i made outta chocolate box rubbish :p). I got a silver suomenleijona (finnish lion) necklace from the nokelas on a beautiful thick chain. Think they all liked their gifts from me. The t-shirt for peppi was way too big but works well as a night gown and the mirror hadn't broken on its travels so i was stoked!
On christmas day proper nothing special happens here. We tried to go ice skating (at least i think we did) but that didn't work out so we went and found a little hill by the skifield to sled down for a wee while which was fun. I thought so at least!! and i'm sure peppi did too. There was snow all around and even some blue sky to be seen, even if it was still a little hazy and the sun was already below the hill (at 1.30 in the afternoon). Couldn't supress singing a few lines from some wintery christmas carols.
Spent much of the rest of the day walking to and from the main hotel with Juuso for various things (some of you may find out why later... mystery, intrigue, suspense!) then in the evening we went bowling again. The first game I played in my usual manner, but the second one (which we didn't get to finish unfortunately as time ran out) surpassed my greatest expectations! Somehow i managed to get 94 points out of 9 turns - may well have got over a hundred if we'd finished, for the first time ever i think. Wasn't to be.
This morning we packed up and headed back to joensuu. Arto said we were to leave at 9am and would you believe we were on the road by 8.50 - that just ain't right! The sun was not fully up when we left and i was struck by how all the colour had seemingly been sucked out of the landscape - black trees covered in white snow, grey sky and snow on the ground. It was beautiful but like i'd got colourblind blinkers on of some sort! Some colour did leak back in as it lightened up, but it certainly makes the brightly painted wooden barns and houses stand out when you see them. Saw the cutest little yellow wooden church in the woods just off the road, wish i'd had a camera at the ready.
We arrived back in Joensuu to be greeted by about a foot of fresh snow on the driveway that the "boys" spent half an hour or so clearing before the car could make it to the garage while we traipsed back and forth with the luggage. Then it was baked salmon straight from a norwegian fjord for lunch, with salad, rice and... kermaviili!! No way would i not be pescatarian right now - Delish!
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
hyvää joulua kaikille!
today it's -10 degrees, and we're talking middle of the day temp here. Did i mention there is actually an icicle about a foot long hanging from the guttering? just the one mind.
To unwind after that really big cross-country skiing expedition yesterday we went to the swimming pool/bath/spa place in the resort. Basically just floated around in warm water with different bubbles and pools and stuff for a couple of hours. There weren't any really warm spa pools... but there were saunas! a whole saunamaailma even. Went in a few different saunas including a beautiful löylysauna where the room was made of stone and there was just one warm light coming from under the floor in the centre. Also a savusauna (smoke sauna) which u had to go outside (in a bikini in minus 5 degree weather with snow everywhere when you're already wet from swimming so extra cold) to get to. It wasn't very smoky at all but someone kept making löylyä (where u throw water on the rocks) and löylyä and löylyä... and löylyä... and vielä löylyä until it got sooo so hot that i went and jumped in the lake. Must say i didn't notice the cold on my way back inside...
Today we were going to go horseriding on some sort of small icelandic ponies (?!?!!) but it's not open as it's JOULU!!
siis rauhallista ja loistavaa joulua teille kaikille!! (the whole two of you that read this blog :p)
have a fantastic day
you too blogi - hyvää joulua sulle
To unwind after that really big cross-country skiing expedition yesterday we went to the swimming pool/bath/spa place in the resort. Basically just floated around in warm water with different bubbles and pools and stuff for a couple of hours. There weren't any really warm spa pools... but there were saunas! a whole saunamaailma even. Went in a few different saunas including a beautiful löylysauna where the room was made of stone and there was just one warm light coming from under the floor in the centre. Also a savusauna (smoke sauna) which u had to go outside (in a bikini in minus 5 degree weather with snow everywhere when you're already wet from swimming so extra cold) to get to. It wasn't very smoky at all but someone kept making löylyä (where u throw water on the rocks) and löylyä and löylyä... and löylyä... and vielä löylyä until it got sooo so hot that i went and jumped in the lake. Must say i didn't notice the cold on my way back inside...
Today we were going to go horseriding on some sort of small icelandic ponies (?!?!!) but it's not open as it's JOULU!!
siis rauhallista ja loistavaa joulua teille kaikille!! (the whole two of you that read this blog :p)
have a fantastic day
you too blogi - hyvää joulua sulle
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
talvi on täällä!
Dear Blogi
It's getting colder. -5 degrees and dropping!
This morning i did a spot of cross-country skiing on the lake. Well tried to. The skis got wet and then stuck so it was more like trudging through snow with long sticks attached to my feet!
It's getting colder. -5 degrees and dropping!
This morning i did a spot of cross-country skiing on the lake. Well tried to. The skis got wet and then stuck so it was more like trudging through snow with long sticks attached to my feet!
Monday, 22 December 2008
orava!!
today i saw the cutest orava only like a metre or less away from me! so i took it's picture. maybe i'll get really clever and try to put the pic on here some other time. Then it saw me and ran away.
ok so yesterday we went skiing again this time i fell once so much more exciting. both my skis came right off. and i did some little (like real little) jumps :D think i'm improving at the whole turning with both skis at the same time thing! no longer just pizza and french fry skiing for me. now it's more like those curly fries skiing.
then juuso and i played some tennis. they've made the inside to look like outside with sun umbrellas even, even though there's no sun even outside... even. turns out we're much better at badminton (played that again today).
This morning all us girls (äiti, minä, mia ja susanna (ja peppi, sort of)) went to a gym class.
So all in all it feels a bit like i've used some muscles over the last few days.
ok maybe the sauna is calling my name
ok so yesterday we went skiing again this time i fell once so much more exciting. both my skis came right off. and i did some little (like real little) jumps :D think i'm improving at the whole turning with both skis at the same time thing! no longer just pizza and french fry skiing for me. now it's more like those curly fries skiing.
then juuso and i played some tennis. they've made the inside to look like outside with sun umbrellas even, even though there's no sun even outside... even. turns out we're much better at badminton (played that again today).
This morning all us girls (äiti, minä, mia ja susanna (ja peppi, sort of)) went to a gym class.
So all in all it feels a bit like i've used some muscles over the last few days.
ok maybe the sauna is calling my name
Saturday, 20 December 2008
pienet laatikot mäellä
yesterday we drove 3 hours further north to get to katinkulta - a resort type place. The further north i go the warmer it seems to get, it was +4 degrees when we got here! Definite proof of global warming. This katinkulta place is like its own little village with lots of little boxes made of ticky tacky little boxes all the same. We are staying in one of these ticky tacky mökki and they're really very nice. Juuso and i played a spot of badminton and peppi tried to too which was really cute - ihanaa! In the evening i had my first sauna since i've been here!
Today Juuso, Mia and i went skiing for a few hours. It was the first time i've been skiing in 5 years and i didn't suck! didn't even fall over (though i discovered even though i didn't want to fall it's actually more fun when you do :p maybe that's why i like snowboarding so much). Ate a ton of good food today and this evening we went bowling - which i did suck at, like always. But it was fun. Mia is really good at it.
Think that's record enough of the last 2 days activities.
TERE TERE TERE See ya next time! XD
Today Juuso, Mia and i went skiing for a few hours. It was the first time i've been skiing in 5 years and i didn't suck! didn't even fall over (though i discovered even though i didn't want to fall it's actually more fun when you do :p maybe that's why i like snowboarding so much). Ate a ton of good food today and this evening we went bowling - which i did suck at, like always. But it was fun. Mia is really good at it.
Think that's record enough of the last 2 days activities.
TERE TERE TERE See ya next time! XD
Thursday, 18 December 2008
helsinki... and beyond
besides just snowing yesterday there was more excitement afoot as both Stippe and Juuso arrived back from guatemala and I ate both karjalanpiirakka and ruisleipä for the first time in five years! pretty equal on excitement level don't ya reckon? It was really cool to see Stippe and Juuso. Juuso's arrival was super secret, not even his family knew (or know), only a few people were in on it. He'd been travelling for 2 years so pretty big deal. Mucked around in town most of the day then went over to Jere and Stippe's in the evening to hang out with all them lot and listen to deep and meaningful conversations about life the universe and everything while all six of us lay like sardines on a double bed!
Juuso stayed at Milka's house that night too. This morning i went to the doctor for my last vaccine before i hit south america (which cost HEAPS and was not nearly so exciting as yesterdays goings on) then bought my train ticket (which also cost HEAPS and also not exciting except for my excellent finnish to complete the transaction :p). Went back to milkas and chatted for ages til juuso woke up - wish i coulda slept like he did when i first arrived here. Then i just made it to the train on time. Managed to trip over my shoelace, which i had neglected to tie in my haste, whilst struggling along with my very top heavy pack and one-wheeled suitcase and fell in full view of everyone in the train carriage i was passing at the time. Musta been quite spectacular as well as embarrassing and a bit painful - have yet to inspect the damage except for some quite dirty knees. The worst bit was the guy walking behind me just walked right on by, coulda really done with a hand up as it was quite a challenge with a big pack on (which i'd already discovered a bit earlier when i went to pick something up with it on and ended up sitting on my bum instead. i laughed. juuso looked concerned and helped me up!)
All the nokelas were waiting in a line for me at the train station! Their place is in the woods about 17k out of joensuu i think arto said and is really nice, all bare, glowing wooden walls floors ceilings. Peppi is sooo cute and has no idea who i am, well i'm sure she's been told but she is only 6. Juuso (brother juuso this time) is talkative and lovely, mia hasn't said much yet but hopefully that'll change. Doing pretty well with the whole finnish business i think, definitely not perfect (nowhere close) but better than i expected! Def don't understand much when finnish people are talking full tilt with one another but never really did, sometimes i can follow the gist of it - least i think i can!
Ok this has gone on for long enough and gotta get up in the morning to go even further north in the morning -a further 256km to be exact! Spa time tomorrow apparently, can't wait.
Juuso stayed at Milka's house that night too. This morning i went to the doctor for my last vaccine before i hit south america (which cost HEAPS and was not nearly so exciting as yesterdays goings on) then bought my train ticket (which also cost HEAPS and also not exciting except for my excellent finnish to complete the transaction :p). Went back to milkas and chatted for ages til juuso woke up - wish i coulda slept like he did when i first arrived here. Then i just made it to the train on time. Managed to trip over my shoelace, which i had neglected to tie in my haste, whilst struggling along with my very top heavy pack and one-wheeled suitcase and fell in full view of everyone in the train carriage i was passing at the time. Musta been quite spectacular as well as embarrassing and a bit painful - have yet to inspect the damage except for some quite dirty knees. The worst bit was the guy walking behind me just walked right on by, coulda really done with a hand up as it was quite a challenge with a big pack on (which i'd already discovered a bit earlier when i went to pick something up with it on and ended up sitting on my bum instead. i laughed. juuso looked concerned and helped me up!)
All the nokelas were waiting in a line for me at the train station! Their place is in the woods about 17k out of joensuu i think arto said and is really nice, all bare, glowing wooden walls floors ceilings. Peppi is sooo cute and has no idea who i am, well i'm sure she's been told but she is only 6. Juuso (brother juuso this time) is talkative and lovely, mia hasn't said much yet but hopefully that'll change. Doing pretty well with the whole finnish business i think, definitely not perfect (nowhere close) but better than i expected! Def don't understand much when finnish people are talking full tilt with one another but never really did, sometimes i can follow the gist of it - least i think i can!
Ok this has gone on for long enough and gotta get up in the morning to go even further north in the morning -a further 256km to be exact! Spa time tomorrow apparently, can't wait.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Juttu Helsingissä
So day 1: Jere invited milka and i to his place after milka finished work on monday to eat some delicious soup and salad with FRESHLY ROASTED PINENUTS!!! that he'd made and make pipareita!! oli niin hauska, was heaps fun. Forgot my camera unfortunately so took a substitute pic on tuesday of me and milka eating some very sad broken and smooshed left over pipareita (still delicious tho - they're iced ginger biscuits). Then jere-the-lock-picker explained to me how locks work which i've actually always wanted to know and now i kinda do!
On tuesday I succeeded in getting myself a sim card for a mere €4,90 and it works even.
Met up with Kiira for lunch at a little cafe in forum which was great, spoke more finnish out loud than i have so far. In the afternoon (after trying and failing to get that vaccine) i did a spot of bouldering with Jere, Dimmu ja Elina (so prob a good thing i didn't get that vaccine today) and jere invited milka and i to go see a friend of theirs' band playing tonight, which was really really cool! It was something like modern finnish folk music with 3 girls, one singing (gorgeous voice), one played sax (2 different varieties... jon'd know which!) and the other played a large electric version of a traditional finnish instrument that's a bit like a small harp lying down on a stand! I forget what it was called but it sounded good! Their set was short but sweet like something really deliciously sweet (good simile huh), really beautiful. one note in particular even sent a shiver down my spine. Didn't stick around for the following bands cos everyone was a bit tired.
What will day 3 have in store?
no, menen nukkumaan
heippä
ps weather's been pretty comfortable so far. Every time i've seen the temp it's been over zero! (+1 and +2 so far :p) not bad not bad. wait til i head north...
On tuesday I succeeded in getting myself a sim card for a mere €4,90 and it works even.
Met up with Kiira for lunch at a little cafe in forum which was great, spoke more finnish out loud than i have so far. In the afternoon (after trying and failing to get that vaccine) i did a spot of bouldering with Jere, Dimmu ja Elina (so prob a good thing i didn't get that vaccine today) and jere invited milka and i to go see a friend of theirs' band playing tonight, which was really really cool! It was something like modern finnish folk music with 3 girls, one singing (gorgeous voice), one played sax (2 different varieties... jon'd know which!) and the other played a large electric version of a traditional finnish instrument that's a bit like a small harp lying down on a stand! I forget what it was called but it sounded good! Their set was short but sweet like something really deliciously sweet (good simile huh), really beautiful. one note in particular even sent a shiver down my spine. Didn't stick around for the following bands cos everyone was a bit tired.
What will day 3 have in store?
no, menen nukkumaan
heippä
ps weather's been pretty comfortable so far. Every time i've seen the temp it's been over zero! (+1 and +2 so far :p) not bad not bad. wait til i head north...
Hooray for long haul flights
Why does finland have to be a whole 2 days travel away from nz i ask you?
In the first flight i sat by 2 lovely expat kiwis, one who lives in Oz going to quebec and one going home to phoenix arizona, right down the very back in row 58. The seats don't recline so much... And the entertainment system didn't work for the first few hours. Watched the start of Wall-E x3 but didnät get any further than that. Watched garbage warrior too, awesome stuff!
Vegetarian meal options are fantastic for dinner but breakfast is just a bit bizarre/downright gross. Why can't i just have the muesli, surely that can't have meat in it!! instead i get a chewy reheated rolled up omelette thing and a grilled tomato - not exactly my favourites.
Navigated my way around LAX successfully, nearly walked all the way out of the airport again. Beautiful view taking off out over the beaches and sea! Tried to take a pic of the hollywood sign, it's just barely discernable if you know what you're looking for in the photo.
Sat next to a nice guy originally from romania, but has lived in LA for last couple of years, makes movies for a hobby so it figures. Bit of a delay landing in a very foggy london, was glad for my obscenely long wait until my connecting flight cos some people were looking pretty stressed.
Sarah and Pete came and rescued me from heathrow and we went to pete's family's christmas gathering in Guildford - niin ihana! Traded boredom for total mayhem, but lovely mayhem :) went for a walk on "the downs" - how very christmas! And ate homecooked fish and chips with baked beans.
Got back to heathrow and had to wait around for yonks anyway cos my flight was a bit delayed. A lovely girl gave me the rest of her internet time plus coinage for more! So i was able to get milka's address which was crucial and kill some time.
Was so out to the world on the flight to helsinki that i completely missed the sandwiches :( caught the bus into town with a couple of guys from australia. we were the only tourists on the flight we reckon! Then dragged my one-wheeled suitcase to milka's place at around 2 am! Found the place thanks to Jere's excellent detailed instructions (even if the street number was wrong :p) but couldn't get in and didnät have a phone to call milka so i was kinda wondering what do i do now, sleep in the doorway maybe?! tried out my finnish on the lady working at the little food stand on the corner and she informed me that there were NO PHONES ANYWHERE! but after a wee while i remembered i had walked past a hotel so tried there and was able to use the phone to call and wake milka up at 3.30-4am-ish, but it was all good. So I have arrived!
In the first flight i sat by 2 lovely expat kiwis, one who lives in Oz going to quebec and one going home to phoenix arizona, right down the very back in row 58. The seats don't recline so much... And the entertainment system didn't work for the first few hours. Watched the start of Wall-E x3 but didnät get any further than that. Watched garbage warrior too, awesome stuff!
Vegetarian meal options are fantastic for dinner but breakfast is just a bit bizarre/downright gross. Why can't i just have the muesli, surely that can't have meat in it!! instead i get a chewy reheated rolled up omelette thing and a grilled tomato - not exactly my favourites.
Navigated my way around LAX successfully, nearly walked all the way out of the airport again. Beautiful view taking off out over the beaches and sea! Tried to take a pic of the hollywood sign, it's just barely discernable if you know what you're looking for in the photo.
Sat next to a nice guy originally from romania, but has lived in LA for last couple of years, makes movies for a hobby so it figures. Bit of a delay landing in a very foggy london, was glad for my obscenely long wait until my connecting flight cos some people were looking pretty stressed.
Sarah and Pete came and rescued me from heathrow and we went to pete's family's christmas gathering in Guildford - niin ihana! Traded boredom for total mayhem, but lovely mayhem :) went for a walk on "the downs" - how very christmas! And ate homecooked fish and chips with baked beans.
Got back to heathrow and had to wait around for yonks anyway cos my flight was a bit delayed. A lovely girl gave me the rest of her internet time plus coinage for more! So i was able to get milka's address which was crucial and kill some time.
Was so out to the world on the flight to helsinki that i completely missed the sandwiches :( caught the bus into town with a couple of guys from australia. we were the only tourists on the flight we reckon! Then dragged my one-wheeled suitcase to milka's place at around 2 am! Found the place thanks to Jere's excellent detailed instructions (even if the street number was wrong :p) but couldn't get in and didnät have a phone to call milka so i was kinda wondering what do i do now, sleep in the doorway maybe?! tried out my finnish on the lady working at the little food stand on the corner and she informed me that there were NO PHONES ANYWHERE! but after a wee while i remembered i had walked past a hotel so tried there and was able to use the phone to call and wake milka up at 3.30-4am-ish, but it was all good. So I have arrived!
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