This series will be in 3 parts: Finland, Norway and Sweden. And, nope, I did not add to the robber statistics. The entire trip was kept under S$ 5,000. So, travel bugs out there who love travel and comfort yet do not want to burst your budget. Read on! ;)
Public's perception of Finland especially during winter are: booze (count in gallons ), depressed and drunk Finns, dark gloomy skies and boredom- with only Santa Claus to its name.
Undeniably, the sun does sinks at 3pm. But activities doesn't halt like a blackout in Helsinki.
Walking in the heart of the capital, rows of red wooden huts starkly juxtaposed the pale winter skies, selling the season must-drink Gloggi, pastries, baked salmon, and candles and everything to do with Santa Claus.
The city was enveloped in romantic fairy lights and candles telling you that 'It is Christmas time!'.
This season is warm and bright, despite the -20 bone numbing cold.
Itinerary at a Glance:
1. Helsinki 2. Rovaniemi and Pyha 3. Raseborg
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| Vibrant Aleksanterinkatu is the major shopping belt. 3 H&M beckoning to empty your wallet. |
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| Our cosy red wooden cottage with a private BBQ hut and sauna! Not to mention that it is located right on the bank of a frozen lake. |
A domestic flight to Rovaniemi city followed by a 3hrs drive north brought us to Pyha Ski Resort. Aurora deserted us. But, one shouldn't plan a winter trip focused only on the green lights!
Try staying in one of the red cottages and experience the:
Finnish sauna: crazy endurance to 70C or more, then run outside to admire the galaxy and plonk yourself into the snow- naked (if you dare).
Finnish BBQ: Enclosed inside a hut so this smokes not only the salmon, but you as well! Nice experience but I would rather this in summer when I can open the windows and doors.
Bake the traditional Christmas pastry- Joulutortut, ride a husky sled and, take a photo with Santa! That man is expensive! 20 euros for a picture!
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| In the Santa Claus Village. A total rip-off for tourists like us who want to see the 'real' Santa. Nothing much differs except his height hence the longer beard. I think I'm ok with the Singapore version, free some more heh! |
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| Pyha Ski Resort is a true winter paradise for skiers! |
If not for the hefty price tag, this sport would be one of my to-do during winter!
An hour's drive from the city brought us to Raseborg. Strolling down the idayllic old town with its centuries- old wooden houses is a walk down memory lane. You can estimate the age of these houses by the design of the window panes, and imagine the life and those living then.
The sky was surprisingly azure blue that day, and the sun blazed like it has never encountered winter.
A romantic place to reminisce the past and talk about the future over the excellent Finnish pastries and coffee.
Winter for me is never depressing,
The mentality is ~
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| Ice climbing, a real muscle endurance sports. |
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| Ranua Zoo, where all the Arctic animals hibernate. |
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| If this adorable Arctic Fox is not a reason compelling enough for us to visit, I don't know what is! |
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| Donsby B&B. These red cottages are certainly a magnet to me. |
The sky was surprisingly azure blue that day, and the sun blazed like it has never encountered winter.
A romantic place to reminisce the past and talk about the future over the excellent Finnish pastries and coffee.
Winter for me is never depressing,
The mentality is ~
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| Cafe Gamla Stan serves homemade pastries. They were so good, we ate 3! At 'critical' moment like this, forget the waistline! |
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| A stroll in Gamla Stan along the sea. Every turn is beautifully painted in red, brown, blue. |
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| Inland Baltic Sea. |
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