Such a surprise... :)

Hei,


Just a quick note :) Yesterday ‎I  received a parcel from Finland! :) From Visit Finland - Finnish Tourist Board.

One of my pictures taken in Finland in Tampere at Pyhäjärvi Lake (see below) has been chosen as a picture of a month on their Face Book group I Wish I Was In Finland and I won a T-shirt...

But they sent me much more :) Yay! :) I can go fishing now:) and run in a rain... and I have got a wooden USB pen :) and mooooooooooooore :) Oh! and I love these sleepers:) with Finnish flag and word SUOMI :) 

Kiitoksia paljon! :)

In Tampere...

After my arrival to Tampere I headed to my hotel – Omena Hotel at Hämeenkatu 28 (really great idea of cheap accomodation and the great value for a price). I had a shower, changed and then went to the train station to pick up my friend – Agata. She came from south part of Poland, from Upper Silesia (where I am originaly from) to Turku and then took a train to Tampere so we could meet up and next day she needed to go to Lappeenranta in south-east Finland.

Agata and me at Tampere Railway Station

It was great to meet up with Agata… she is a huge finnophile, like myself so we had planty things to talk about, disscuse Finnish life and experiences gathered in Finland… while having beers:) We ended up in the bar opposite to Tampere Railway Station called Ale Pupi with karaoke and dancesJ lol That was fun! And I was even encouraged by some guy to go and dance as well :) lol Aactually we were the last customers… I guess we left it around 2.30 AM or so...

Next day we explored a bit of Tampere. As my friends suggested we needed to go to Pyynikki to have the best doughnuts in town and some coffee in Cafeteria of the Pyynikki observation tower

It was lovely… in the forrest, on the hill… yummy doughnuts and fresh air. The day was bright and sunny… I was so lucky as the weather for whole my stay was just amazing.

After our coffee we went down to the bank of the lake Pyhäjärvi… that was such a nice view… ice still on the surface… quiet and peaceful… we climbed the rocks and enjoyed the view… It was one of these many amazing and relaxing places in Finland. 

And in Tampere, being in a city centre, we needed to walk around 20 min and we were reunited with the nature… it is incredible how close it is over there! I wish to have such a quiet spot in London for moments of stress…

11 days in Finland... April/May 2011

Moikka!


The day has come... I need to share my thoughts and experience with you after my trip to Finland. Amazing experiences, fantastic people, great time and beautiful nature all around me - that's in a nutshell how it was in the Land of Thousand Lakes.


My flight from London-Heathrow to Helsinki-Vantaa was on 22nd April at 12:05. British Airways had no delays and everything was on schedule.


While being airborne in some point I was able to see Finnish Land. At last!!! :) I was so excited! Frozen lakes... forest... and frozen sea... I have never seen frozen sea in my life :) so that was an amazing moment:) And when the plane started to descent I was in seventh heaven as in a moment I was going to walk on Finnish soil... 


We have landed... :)


As I have been to Vantaa Airport before it was easy to get to the car park and get the bus. This time I went to Tikkurila train station (bus no. 61). I have found this really nice guide on YouTube how to get out of Vantaa Airport, it may be of some use to you:

At the train station I needed to buy a ticket for a train to Tampere. I have found the ticket machines, happy me :) and wanted to purchase the ticket. How surprised I was... the information on screen was only in Finnish and Swedish... :) well, I tried both... I thought I would have more luck with Swedish as I know some German. hahahaha :) no way:) So I asked a girl who was buying a ticket next to me and she (she was very straight to the point :) ) explained me quickly what, how and when... and I was a happy owner of InterCity train ticket to Tampere. Thanks to this ticket I have learnt new Finnish words :)


junalippu - railway ticket
vaunu - carriage
ikkunapaikka - window seat

Riihimäki station

On the way I tried to read some book... but I was too excited :) and needed to take some pictures... the weather was beautiful, blue sky and sunny... I left Tikkurila at 18:22 and the train stopped in Riihimäki, Hämeenlinna, Toijala and arrived to Tampere at 19:52. My final destination :) Yupeeee! :)

Source: Google map

Ihanaa Leijonat, ihanaa! :)

Hei! :D


Oh what a match that was! Just amazing moments packed with emotions and tension! :) 


Yesterday evening the Ice Hockey World Cup final match between Finland and Sweden. I have watched it on-line. For a whole day I was panicking as I wanted to watch it live but all internet sites I have found wanted me to pay for a monthly subscription. At the end Jari send me the link to the official International Ice Hockey Federation site and then I was able to pay-per-view for the match. 


It was worthy every penny spent :) Watching the match and commenting on Skype as I watched it with Jari from Espoo - that was great fun... I was shouting in English, Polish and occasionally in Finnish :) I can bet my neighbours think I am crazy now :)

The first period passed without any scores but flying puck gave us all a huge amount of excitement. In the second period Sweden scored 1 and that was just so disappointing... but then Leijonat showed what they can do... and the third period was just an amazing time... all Finnish scores were like one after another... The boys were great!!! And fast! The game finished with the result 6 : 1 for Finland and a huge happiness in Finland and in my room :) I needed to celebrate it together with my Finnish friends, so the bottle of sparkling wine needed to assist me! :) 

The game was amazing and after 16 years Finland won the World Cup!!! Celebrations on the streets after the match... I am wondering how many people actually went to work today :)


Ihanaa Leijonat, ihanaa! :) ja kiitos!

Final countdown

31 days to go!!!

Hyvää elokuvat! Good films!

SUNNUNTAINA 20. HELMIKUUTA 2011 / Heli, heljä, helinä

Hei!

Another week has passed:) Quickly, isn't it?:)

Well I managed to watch two Finnish films during this time. And I like both of them and the actor Petteri Summanen.

First film Blackout is a serious stuff about a surgeon from Helsinki hospital who has been attacked with a nail-gun and stayed in coma for a along time... he woke up and tried to find the one who did it to him. Really good film and it kept me thinking about a lot of things after watching it.

The second one: Nousukausi a black comedy... about young rich couple... they need some holidays... :) Nowadays anything can happen:) so beware! :) It was fun but as well there were moments when I felt said... life, isn't it:)

This week I will order another couple of DVDs so should let you know what to watch... if you like Finnish films... or maybe you will like it:)

Hulluna humpasta taas... minä olen hulluna humpasta taas! :)

sunnunTAINA 13. HELMIKUUTA 2011 / sulo

Hyvää iltaa!

Miten menee?

Oh, yesterday was a great day:) I went to the Finnish Institute for an intensive Finnish course. The plan of the day was as follows:

10.30 - 11.00 Welcome Coffee, introductions

11.00 - 13.00 Hectic studies in small groups

13.00 - 13.30 Picnic lunch with a Finnish twist

13.30 - 15.30 Studies continue

15.30 Coffee and Finnish sweets

16.00 Last lesson, feedback and finishing at 17.00

We started with a breakfast: a nice coffee and a karjalanpiirakka with egg on top. That was really nice:) I have seen them before on pictures but have never tried them :) so that was my first time:)

We had a lovely lunch too... with herrings, meatballs, black bread and more... and then later we had really, really, really yummy korvapuusti. It was delicious:) And we had a chance to listen to Finnish music too... there was Sibelius and humppa too :) 

Talking about humppa, I have found a great band... they do mostly parodies of well known songs but in humppa style:) the guys are crazy!!! I want to see them life!!! :) Check this song... just first few bits and I want to dance:) Eläkeläiset "Hulluna humpasta". I am adding these guys to my list of the Finnish bands I like:) 

And then we have a lot of Finnish studies but the atmosphere was really great and I would like to thank our teacher - Riikka. She was really nice and funny hence it was a great pleasure to learn the language. And I need to say that I would stay even longer because it was really interesting. Not only to learn Finnish but to talk about Finns and their own approach to certain things :) I really liked it. :)

So if anyone wants to do the Finnish course? try with Finn-Guild! :)

The Music Day

TORSTAINA 3. HelmiKUUTA 2011 / Valo

Morjens!

Today I decided to make a list of 10 Finnish songs I like:) So please, do check it and let me know if you have any other, favourite, Finnish bands:) 

Say no more and off we go! :)

1. PMMP - Joku Raja
2. Lauri Tähkä & Elonkerjuu - Pauhaava Sydän
3. Apocalyptica - Path
4. Nightwish - Walking in the Air
5. The Rasmus - In the Shadows
6. Rajaton - Lunta
7. Jean Sibelius - Finlandia
8. Monica Aspelund - Lapponia
9. Jenni Vartiainen - Nettiin
10. Benny Törnroos - Käy Muumilaaksoon

So that is just 10... but obviously there are more of them:)

Enjoy! :)


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And yesterday I have finally booked a hotel in Helsinki. I will stay in a part of the city called Katajanokka, which is actually an island :)

Source: Googlemap

Landmark of the district is the biggest in Europe Russian Orthodox Cathedral - Uspenski Cathedral. See the picture above, that was taken by me during my last stay in Helsinki in October 2010. I have not been close to it but this time I will inspect it in more details:)


The room I have booked is actually a studio apartment in Hellsten Hotel Senate. So I will feel like home :) With my own bed, kitchen and bathroom :) surrounded by Baltic Sea :)  


I am so happy I am going to Finland and honestly I cannot wait:)

Muumimamman keittokirja :)

MAANANTAINA 31. TAMMIKUUTA 2011 / ALLI

Hei!

Finally I have booked an accommodation  in Turku in  Bad and Breakfast Tuure I have just confirmed prices and learnt something new about Suomi and Finns from the owners - Joukio and Lili. Apparently: "Finland is the country where anything and anywhere can be paid using cards (except those Amex/Diners). However we are also a country where people have smallest consumer debts, since everything is usually paid by debit cards. As a result we have the smallest amount of cash money in circulation in the whole of Europe."

What I have heard as well is that there is no problem with paying invoices when you do the business with Finns - everything will be on time, no delays! That is what I like. I want to do the business with Finns! Or at least work for Finnish company... any offers? I do logistics... for my full CV, please drop me a line ;)

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Yes, Moomins again:) I have bought this fantastic book "Muumimamman keittokirja" with English translation: "Moomins Cook Book. An Introduction to Finnish Cuisine" written by Sami Malila and with lovely pictures by Tove Jansson. 

You can find here so many interesting recipes... I don't know where to start to be honest :) As soon as I cook something I will post a picture. :) You can be sure of that. :)

Haluan nähdä muutakin (I want to see something else)

TIISTAINA 25. TAMMIKUUTA 2011 / Paavo, Pauli

Moi! :)
Mitä kuuluu? :) How are you?


So far, so good:) The hotel in Tampere has been booked - Omena Hotel :) Now I am still trying to find something in Turku and Helsinki - I can go for Omena as well but on the other hand I am tempted to try something else:) Yesterday I received a magazine from Turku and there was an advert of B&B http://www.netti.fi/~tuure2/en/. That could be something else... and I have got a link from Sonja regarding another, different type of accommodation: http://www.hbb.fi/ 


By the way Sonja - I have fixed the comment bit, you may post them now:)


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I had a great conversation yesterday about forests in Finland and what they can offer... and all the memories from my youth came to my mind... the smell of the wet soil... the feel of moss and birch in your hand... and all the mushrooms you could pick up: 
cep (herkkutatti / borowik szlachetny), 
chanterelle (keltavahvero / kurki), 
oyster mushroom (osterivinokas / boczniak)... 
well I used to go with my cousins to the forest early morning, after the rainy night, in a country side... the smell of the forest was great and this emotions that you may get lost:) Well I could, I am a city boy:) and you needed to be careful whenever you see the sunny spot on the grass... cos that could be a place where the snakes could rest and warm their bodies. So we had some berries: wild raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, proper blueberries, the small one, which grow on  little bushes and when you eat them your tongue and mouth become black:) yummy, yummy, yummy... in Finnish they are called mustikka... and they are used for a lovely mustikkapiirakka - blueberry pie. yummy :) I had one:) It was baked especially for me when I was in Helsinki last time - really nice:) I was even participating in a purchase of all ingredients:)

Picture taken by Tuomas Piippo


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RE: the title of this post :) please check: http://haluannahdamuutakin.wordpress.com/in-english/ That's a cool idea! :) Me, personally, I am fed up with adverts of Burger King or other junk food on the bus stops.

The Post Day

KESKIVIIKKONA 19. TAMMIKUUTA 2011

Hei!

It was a good day today :) I came home and found 2 letters waiting for me.

First one from The Finn-Guild - the welcome pack as I became a member :) This is a very good idea as for £15 per year you not only support the organisation but as well get some benefits which include discount for Finnish language courses, access to Finnish books, films and music library, and more. 

And yeah, I have enrolled for the Intensive Finnish Course for beginners which will be held on 12/02. A whole Saturday packed with Finnish, Finnish, Finnish! Ihanaa! :) Unfortunately I was not able to get on the long course but this one will be run again in September... so I will join :)

Second letter was from Finland :)

Last weekend I was browsing internet and looking for some information regarding places I will visit: Turku and Tampere and I have found their own sites. I was able to order some brochures, maps and other very useful materials. And today I received the Tampere ones. I have maps and places to visit, more details, more choices... better planning of my stay :) So I will start going through all of them shortly:) In case you would like to get one of these please visit:

Turku - http://www.turku.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=22909

Tampere - http://www.gotampere.fi/eng/brochures

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Today I decided to post my blog link on Facebook... I do hope that I will get some comments and constructive feedback :) and if there are some questions I would be more than happy to answer them.

Please note... I am new to the blog world and I am not a writer :) hopefully I will improve :)

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I have just received a lot of lovely pictures taken by my friend from Tampere - Tuomas Piippo. I have his permission to post them on my blog. Kiitti Tuomas:)


Pictures were taken in Vesilahti, near Lempäälä, south from Tampere. This is lake Pyhäjärvi. I think these pictures are magic and one day I will visit the wild Suomi as well.

The Journey Plan

TiistaiNA 18. TAMMIKUUTA 2011

Moi!

Well... so that has been done! 

Today I bought a ticket for a flight on 22/04 to Helsinki and then 11 days in Suomi. 

I am soooo excited :) and cannot wait:)

My trip is planned as follows:

22/04              - flight from London-Heathrow to Helsinki - Vantaa

the same day  - train from Helsinki to Tampere

25/04              - train from Tampere to Turku

27/04              - train from Turku to Helsinki

01/05              - celebrating Vappu in Helsinki

02/05              - flight back from Helsinki - Vantaa to London - Heathrow

Now I need to find a hotel... I have found Omena Hotels http://www.omenahotels.com/ reasonable price and everything I need... so I guess I will go for this option.

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As you can see I have added some link on the right hand side... this is for Visit Finland site. Really good! Before my first trip to Helsinki I have got some tips from Lea from VF - thanks a lot! By the way, you may find them on Facebook too under I Wish I Was In Finland :)


Another link is for Finn-Guild - Finnish - British organisation... you may find the newest issue of their Finnish - English magazine "Horisontti" over there - recommended.

So that's it for today... I am a little bit tired but thought about the trip works like some energy drink :)

Awww... one more thing! A big thank you to Tuomas for supporting my idea of creating the blog and for sharing some incredible pictures from Suomi, and for all his tips regarding places to see and visit in Tampere, and for some Finnish lessons :)! Paljon kiitoksia! :)

The Beginning

MaananTAINA 17. TAMMIKUUTA 2011

...and I was a Muumi in my previous life... hence Suomi is my remedy...

Maybe it will heal me and open my eyes wilder... well... when I went first time to Helsinki at the end of October 2010, it was for me like a trip of my life. I have been waiting for it since being 17 and I was afraid as well: what if I will be disappointed? But then... seeing from the plane lakes and forest I was like a child and so eager to land... and I LOVE IT!!!

 And when I am telling my friends about my trip to Finland they are surprised: Again? - they ask. Cos normally we tend to go to different places, visit different countries but for me... I want to discover Suomi...

I should copy all of this and post on my blog, cos that's my idea. It will be dedicated to Suomi and my trips and feelings about it... It came to my mind today when I was taking the tube...