Hitting the Ground Running

2009 08 14 – Day 49 – Beijing

You might not describe spending most of my first full day in Beijing on the internet as 'hitting the ground running', but the work I did that day was the coiling of my spring, a gathering of strength through knowledge and connections before launching myself into a month of action!
I planned to be in Beijing so long in order to learn a little Chinese and acclimatise to the culture if possible, before setting out into the rest of the country, so I wasn't in a hurry to do any sight seeing.
Thanks to my solid groundwork, by the end of the first weekend, three days after arrival, I had arranged daily language classes to begin on Monday, made some local friends, eaten the classic street barbecue 'chuar', played mahjong, partied in three different club venues and slept on a couch.
Not bad going I'd say.

Chuar outdoor restaurants

Chinese Funk! At trendy live venue/bar/club Yugong Yishan.

Arriving on a Thursday had proved a good strategy. I felt vindicated that I had chosen to continue my journey to arrive in time for the weekend rather than stay longer in Almaty

Helsinki to Moscow

2009 07 23 – Day 27 – Helsinki

The Helsinki to Moscow train certainly feels like a special train as it sits at its platform. Smartly dressed train staff/officers/guards stand to attention by the open doors with the air of an different era of travel when service had a touch more ceremony about it all.

I drop my bags in the cabin I'm sharing with a young Russian family of 3 and return to the door to enjoy an enthusiastic, silly and fun goodbye from Sanna & Nunnu.


Watching the Finnish landscape roll by I reflect on the journey so far and the new chapter I'm about to begin. Until now, I'd had a friend or a relative to meet, or a pre-arranged activity to join up with. Now I have a route and a timetable, but I don't have all my tickets and I don't have all my accommodation and so now I really feel like I'm heading off on my own.

Train to Helsinki

2009 07 22 – Day 26 – Kemijärvi

I'm sure I'll never see the attraction of train-spotting around the UK where they all seem the same. Train-spotting around the world, however, I'm starting to see a glimmer of the appeal. This was the beast to haul us 12 hours through the night to Helsinki.

Watching the pretty lakes of Finland roll by from the comfort of the dining car with a glass of wine in hand, Nunnu & I nattered away into the not-so-dark night.

Eventually returning to our cabin, we discovered I hadn't managed to shut the door properly and it was slightly ajar... I was greatly relieved to find passport and other valuables still there! It was the first time on my travels that I'd left my passport off my person, thinking it safe. Perhaps it will be the last time. Thanks to the good nature of Finnish people my first potential disaster was avoided.

Rovaniemi

2009 07 20-21 – Days 24-25 – Rovaniemi

Returning to Rovaniemi after 10 years was even more familiar and yet strange than Helsinki. Almost everything is as it was back then, but the crucial difference being that previously I'd been here winter through to spring and this time round it was summer... in summary, there was no snow! Not even a hint of it.

Not a particularly great picture of the complete lack of snow and ice.

One of the things that had changed was the name of the central square: now Lordi's Square after the cultural behemoth that was Lordi, the monster heavy metal band that stomped all over the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Why Rovaniemi? Because lead vocalist Mr. Lordi (what else would he be called!?) was spawned there of course – but you knew that already didn't you... :P


Above you can see the mini shrine to Lordi in the local shopping centre, housing their armour of darkness that helped power them to victory. Meanwhile, a young accolytes make a pilgrimage to the square to give thanks to the lordi's of darkness...


Meeting up with old friends Pia & Nunnu over a pint was great.


Tivoli – venue of the best student nights when I was here last... most memorable of which was probably the beach party where it was -30 degrees C outside and +30 inside! Outside everyone wore heavy duty winter wear, inside bikinis and shorts. Sand everywhere, ultimate frisbee and even a massage beach hut!


Fond memories of learning to snowboard on this slope... there was a lot of snow on it at that time... honest!


Somehow the whole 'Santa Village' concept is a whole lot more compelling when there's eye-high snow everywhere!

Helsinki

2009 07 19 – Day 23 – Helsinki

Having briefly visited Helsinki during the 4 months I'd lived in Finland 10 years ago, arriving was a strange mixed sensation of arriving somewhere new and somewhere familiar. My ears enjoyed their re-engagement with the rhythmic Finnish language even if my brain could process very little of it.

Helsinki Cathedral watching over Senate Square

Train Station – I had to catch an overnight train that evening to Rovaniemi, so I sorted my ticket before anything else.

After my time in St Petersburg, I now recognise the Russian two-headed eagle and this pillar is a town centre piece of evidence of Russia's previous rule over Finland.


I don't know what this is or by who, but I quite like it!

Sini, a friend from 10 years ago, helped send me off in style by joining me for a lovely dinner followed by decadent desserts and irish coffees mmmmmm. We gabbed and gabbed - it's so nice to catch up with friends you haven't seen in years! :)

Knowing me knowing you: Sørlandet

2009 07 04 - Day 8 – Gdynia

(yes I know ABBA were Swedish but thinking about 'knowing' my brain sings lyric lines and the alternative was 'Like to get to know you well' by Howard Jones).
from the website
"The SØRLANDET represents a unique heritage from days of the tall ships and fast clippers. Welcome aboard!
"Formerly a schoolship for training of young cadets, she is now owned and operated by a non profit foundation offering adventure sailings for young people of all ages.
"The SØRLANDET is the oldest operative full-rigged ship in the world. She was built in 1927 at the Høivolds Mek. Verksted, a local shipyard in Kristiansand."
For those who know about those sort of things:
"The SØRLANDET's particulars:
Displacement: 891 tons
Gross tons: 499
Length: 57 m
Length inclusove bowsprit : 65 m
Mast height :35 m
Draft: 4,5 m
Trainee capacity: 70/sailing or 150 passenger in closed waters.
Fixed crew: 15"

After dropping my bags, I had time to get to know the ship and my new shipmates.

This is the banjer which is the common room/dining room/bedroom (seat backs get held up by chains to form a top bunk).

Together only a few hours (and a few beers) and already we were a hearty crew!

Our ship even looks great at night!

Belgian Family Coppens!

2009 06 30-07 02 - Days 4-6 - Antwerp-ish

Belgium is flat!
Which is nice if want a leisurely bike ride... they have this great numbered signpost system that means you can plan a route and then cycle all over the place with nothing but a bunch of numbers on your handle-bars. Nice.
(rumour has it the system originates from the Netherlands)

A great couple of days near Antwerp with Dieter & Rut

When I saw them last it was
'Just the two of [them]'...


but now they have 3 beautiful bouncing babies - Suzy, Lou & Francis!
Happy Times! :)

Goodbye friends!

2009 06 - leaving

Ok so this was Mick's leaving party photo... but it was the day before my leaving party, many of the people are the same and he did a better job of organising a group photo than I did!
(the other two are all mine!)