Posts filed under ‘photos’
I’m watching The Big Bang Theory and listening to MC Hammer
So volcanos blow up, airplanes don’t fly, the winter is the whitest in years and the summer seems to become the coldest for balance. There are reasons why to update and why not to update. I’ve had plenty of the last category in the past few months. Believe me, I was sorry before this silent period even started, but now I’m planning to be back in the game. So I’m unpausing the blog and I feel like playing through the few months quickly for you.
Honestly the last few months have had more minor notes than major. But right now, I’m getting flashes of the sunny side. Taking steps forward, the sun can’t stay behind the clouds forever. (I’m still waiting for the Finnish summer to show me something else than it’s back side though.)
I found a job that I adore so far. I look forward to going in the office and seeing what the days bring. Every day new possibilities and chances turn out! Along these changes comes another one, I’ve moved back to the area where I grew up. The calming surroundings have given me such a boost!
Now it’s all ahead: summer, possible travelling, new challenges, rock festivals, picnics, bike trips, friends visiting, couchsurfing, new appartment, decorating, sitting on the balcony and reading,
Valentine’s day special
Suvi, Jaakko and I decided to do something special for Valentine’s day. But before I get to the special, let’s go to the Valentine. There’s a story behind that since in Finland the day is dedicated to friends more than lovers the day being ystävänpäivä (ystävä – friend, päivä – day). So doing something special for Valentine’s day in three doesn’t mean what you might be thinking of. Our choice included snow but no sauna.
The best slide and the highest peak in Helsinki is Malminkartanonhuippu. Only a quarter of an hour train ride away from Helsinki is the quite nice suburb called Malminkartano. After a kilometer walk from the station, you’ll arrive to the gorgeous view’s that also serve as an awesome slide. Sunday’s are definitely not lazy here.
It gives a wild ride down the hill especially if you make a queue out of those two seen in the last pictures and then put four people on board. Actually so wild that in the end one will end into the hospital with a strained ankle :) No worries, Suvi is just unfortunate, prone to accidents and recovering!
After the countless “this is so fun, we should do this more often” the supposed last slide led into 2 hours spent in the hospital and getting her ankle x-rayed and everything. Humour sticks through everything and in the end I have to say it was a fun friendsday that after the hospital gig lasted another 12 hours :)
Gran Canaria and its juicy clementines
My trip to Gran Canaria was very unexpected and unplanned in many ways. I booked the flights over a month before departure and went there straight from London. I was suppose to stay with a friend but due to weird circumstances decided there had to be a better way. The decision couldn’t have been better and the whole vacation turned out to a true adventure. Who knew… an island that is more famous for its touristic beaches (at least in Finland) than anything else has such a beautiful hidden side. And there wouldn’t have been any of this adventure if it wasn’t for The Magic Bus.
As to the change of mind, I was urgently searching for a couch to sleep in anywhere in the island. I got a very quick reply from a Parisian Emmanuel who promised to help me. Here’s where it all started like domino pieces.
First stop: Las Palmas.
The city is really nothing exciting. 2 days is just enough to explore its fruits.
Emmanuel was mostly away climbing the mountains. More on the mountains later on. Through Emmanuel I met so many lovely people who made my stay simply awesome. Two germans – Marcel and Marius – had decided to rent a van that would fit at least 6 people and drive around the island. The island is quite small; driving from Las Palmas to Maspalomas takes a rough hour. But before that adventure, I was to meet with a friend.
When we later joined the magical crew, the plan was to hike to a secret beach called Playa de Güi Güi. It is 2 hours or a little less from the closest road in the village of San Nicolas. I had been trying to get someone hike with me for ages. I really missed all the silence and nature around.
There was three men living near to the beach. One of them was a complete hermit with two dogs, who didn’t really want to get in touch with people but the other two were very friendly. One of them lived just next to the ruins of a church (?) we staid at. He’s goat lived in the side room of the ruin every day for a good half an hour when he milked and fed it. What a life.
Living with nature is just beautiful. There is no time and you always sleep well – and long enough. (The next two pictures have been taken by Rosa)
The way back was much less pleasant but adventurous for sure. The guys decided to take a short cut: “Let’s just go straight from here! No path!” Four men and me… the mountains just grew bigger and arduous. There was always one after the other. After seven hours of climbing and hiking among the rocks, we ended up going back to the same path we once started from :D The rest of the hike we were almost running.. in under 1½ hours we were at the car when the sun had already set.
In the car driving from the airport back to Puerto Rico, after taking German there, Marcel and I talked about how different all the people gathered together are and how in the hike we had to stick together and be comfortable. It’s not easy to like someone straight away but if you put a group of strangers in the position that we were while hiking in the mountains, it forces them to be a team. Noone is left behind and the weakest is the strongest in the group.
All this is thanks to couchsurfing. Later German wrote to the thread of the whole magic bus idea:
“Guys, I’m back in London now. I’m fucking freezing but that can’t erase the big smile in my face every time I recall the moments I spend on the Magic Bus with the very special Magic Bus Crew.
This advice comes from the bottom of my heart because I want everybody to have a great time as I did: do yourself a favor and ride the Magic Bus, you won’t regreat it and in fact you will probably thank me (kiitos) later.
Have a great life and adventure
German, Former Magic Bus Crew.”
Presa de la Niñas.
Haha, I taught the guys to sing a finnish drinking song in the tune of Brother John. The lyrics are just finnish beer brands. The next day they were paddling with the rubber boat around the lake and singing that song!
I have at least 5 videos of Marcel backing up the car really fast and then breaking, trying to make all that stuff fall out from the back. If it would’ve actually worked out the video would’ve been called “How to clean the magic bus in 10 seconds.”
Thank you people! Peace, love and sunshine!
London means money spending
We got free tickets to skating in Hyde Park from a random passer-by. 13,5 pounds for one ticket! The first time I skate this year… and in London.
Camden Town is my favourite part. It’s full of details.
London Eye at night, after the spectacular show of Stomp.
Tate Museum of Modern Art was packed, because outside was like this:
What comes to the New Years Eve and party. I have an advice, warning and a praise. Don’t drink vodka redbull! If there is more than 3 bottles of Jack Daniels in the house, be sure to find your host sleeping under the table. If you love electro, techno kind of music – go to the Egg. It’s an experience with it’s metal detectors, guards and people in a trance.
Autumn gone by
And all I’ve done is sit inside writing the Thesis.
Next week, I will have more stories to tell: Muse in Münich is waiting!
Helsinki: Where it all began..
I met up with a friend today and we decided very randomly to go see the point where Helsinki was once founded. The day was absolutely beautiful for such an adventure.
Many old cities are very famous and touristy attractions but in Helsinki, the old parts are further up from the down town and because of that, often forgotten. It’s 6,5 kilometres from the center and easily reached with several buslines or the tram going to Arabia. It’s about 15 minutes ride.
The area is beautiful. There’s men fishing along the riverside and children playing or watching the action when one catches a fish. There’s also a cute little restaurant that looks like someone’s home when you go inside. The cosy wooden house area is worth a visit in any case.
After a little bit of searching and asking around we found the right track to the monument. The hill does have a nice view and many interesting details, such as this one. Someone had left a cross-trainer on one of the rocks. What a great way to train! You can watch down to the colourful area and cross-train away!
And finally on top of the hill: the history lays its hands on us. Here is the point where they say Helsinki was once founded. At the cross of the now Viikintie and Hämeentie.
I’m curious about life, period.
I’ve had some back problems in the past few days. Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with my booty pop practising.. or well, maybe it does, because I don’t really know what it’s about. Also writing the thesis is getting on my nerves at times. Poor flatmate, has to bare with me :)
While I keep on struggling with my own little problems, there is something greater to be shared, Wisdom Book.
The maker Andrew Zuckerman. Source: http://www.zimbio.com/
Wisdom is an ongoing project which was inspired by the idea that one of the greatest gifts one generation can pass to another is the wisdom it has gained from experience. This project seeks to create a record of multicultural group of people who have all made their mark on the world.
“Presented against the same white space, all of the subjects are removed from their context, which not only democratizes them, but also allows for a clear dialogue to exist between them. In an attempt to create a more profound, honest, and truly revealing portrait of these luminaries, the project encompasses their voices, their physical presence, and the written word.”
Chuck Close, Billy Connolly, Clint Eastwood, Malcolm Fraser, Kris Kristofferson, Henry Kissinger, Esther Mahlangu, Nelson Mandela, Willie Nelson, Yoko Ono, Michael Parkinson, Federico Mayor Zaragoza.. and so many others I’ve heard of once, several times or never.
Browse through the whole heartfelt page, and see the touching film trailer, here: http://www.wisdombook.org/
Teenage dreams in a teenage circus, running around like a clown on purpose.
Even if busy, I’ve had time to spend in my pj’s at my parents house, my nuclear home.
