Finland won't be the first country that Singaporeans will think of when they hear USSR or Russian Empire.They will be thinking of Siberia or countries ending with the suffix -stan (ie Kazhakstan)
Note : Siberia is actually part of the Russian Federation.Not a separate country itself!
But in 1809 , during the Finnish War, Finland was ceded to the Russian Empire.And in 1917,Lenin and the Bolsheviks recognized Finland as an independent country.During World War 2, Finland fought against the Soviet Union and had to cede a huge part of Karelia to the Soviet Union.
Before heading to Petrozavodsk (Karelia Republic,Russia ) in the west northen side of Russia for my language immersion, i decided to drop by Finland for a visit on route to Russia.Geographically , Petrozavodsk is extremely near Finland .However , the bus routes from Finland to Petrozavodsk was uncertain , making it necessary for me to take a bus to Saint Petersburg and a train up to Petrozavodsk.
Tampere
Tampere is the 2nd biggest city in Finland.While , the Helsinki city slickers have called it a boring "countryside town" , I had the most interesting adventure here.I was going to spend 2 days with Tiina , a crazy and absolutely fun Finnish girl whom i befriended during my student exchange program in Moscow 2009. Tiina is a Finnish student majoring in journalism in Finland.
There are regular bus services from Helsinki Airport to Tampere.And upon my arrival in the city at 530pm ,i was told that there was a bus strike going on and 1/3 of the buses will stop plying their routes after 6pm.
Read about it here!
http://helsinkitimes.org/htimes/domestic-news/general/10072-finlands-bus-coach-and-lorry-drivers-to-go-on-strike-.html
Tiina and her friends had plans for their Singaporean visitor for the night.A traditional Finnish Sauna.Due to the unexpected bus strikes ,I was brought to the Finnish Sauna immediately upon arrival with my 27kg luggages.
Finnish Saunas
Sitting in a cramped mixed gender sauna and later taking a dip into the icy lake was indeed an experience.Taking a dip in the icy lake in March is no joke.Roilling in the snow in swim wear isn't either.But the crazy Singaporean did it all.The frozen pain was numbed by downing Apple Cider!
Other amazing things to do & check out in TampereHeavy Metal Karaoke pub , Cafes, Moomin Museum , Kaupehaulli and sledding down snow slopes.
Helsinki
Capital of Finland and it sure looks like another capital.Tall buildings, the hustle and bustle of city life all around.I was couchsurfing in Helsinki with a kind Finnish guy Lasse.Lasse is a Finnish student who had done an internship with Lenovo in Singapore .Cool dude with pretty good taste in decorating his studio room.
Perhaps my arrival was a jinx as another piece of bad news came upon my arrival in Helsinki.The ice on the Baltic sea trapped thousands of passengers.Weird things happen when new places are visited in Finland.Perhaps it's a good thing that i left Finland the next day.
Read about it here!
http://www.examiner.com/x-3122-Chicago-International-Travel-Examiner~y2010m3d4-Baltic-Sea-ice-strands-thousands-of-ferry-passengers
The buzz of the capitalThough i spent just an hour or 2 walking around Helsinki, it reminded me of just another city.It wasn't very special.If not for the great company with Lasse , Helsinki could have been extremely boring for me.It is afterall people who make your travels an interesting one.
Onward travel
A bus ticket for a 7 hour bus ride from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg,Russia is sold at just 15 Euros.(to be paid to the bus driver ).This makes travelling by bus to Russia from Finland the most ideal option for most travellers.A 2 hour bus ride from Helsinki airport to Tampere bus station costed 38 Euros.Doesn't this make travelling in Russia more attractive in terms of cost?
Met an interesting 40+ year old Finnish man with a beer belly ,who spoke perfect Russian and some english on the bus.He was helping me with everything,from translating to bringing me to the right train station in Saint Petersburg ,even though i knew my way around.
Such Kindness :)
Note : Siberia is actually part of the Russian Federation.Not a separate country itself!
But in 1809 , during the Finnish War, Finland was ceded to the Russian Empire.And in 1917,Lenin and the Bolsheviks recognized Finland as an independent country.During World War 2, Finland fought against the Soviet Union and had to cede a huge part of Karelia to the Soviet Union.
Before heading to Petrozavodsk (Karelia Republic,Russia ) in the west northen side of Russia for my language immersion, i decided to drop by Finland for a visit on route to Russia.Geographically , Petrozavodsk is extremely near Finland .However , the bus routes from Finland to Petrozavodsk was uncertain , making it necessary for me to take a bus to Saint Petersburg and a train up to Petrozavodsk.
Tampere
Tampere is the 2nd biggest city in Finland.While , the Helsinki city slickers have called it a boring "countryside town" , I had the most interesting adventure here.I was going to spend 2 days with Tiina , a crazy and absolutely fun Finnish girl whom i befriended during my student exchange program in Moscow 2009. Tiina is a Finnish student majoring in journalism in Finland.
There are regular bus services from Helsinki Airport to Tampere.And upon my arrival in the city at 530pm ,i was told that there was a bus strike going on and 1/3 of the buses will stop plying their routes after 6pm.
Read about it here!
http://helsinkitimes.org/htimes/domestic-news/general/10072-finlands-bus-coach-and-lorry-drivers-to-go-on-strike-.html
Tiina and her friends had plans for their Singaporean visitor for the night.A traditional Finnish Sauna.Due to the unexpected bus strikes ,I was brought to the Finnish Sauna immediately upon arrival with my 27kg luggages.
Finnish Saunas
Sitting in a cramped mixed gender sauna and later taking a dip into the icy lake was indeed an experience.Taking a dip in the icy lake in March is no joke.Roilling in the snow in swim wear isn't either.But the crazy Singaporean did it all.The frozen pain was numbed by downing Apple Cider!
Other amazing things to do & check out in TampereHeavy Metal Karaoke pub , Cafes, Moomin Museum , Kaupehaulli and sledding down snow slopes.
Helsinki
Capital of Finland and it sure looks like another capital.Tall buildings, the hustle and bustle of city life all around.I was couchsurfing in Helsinki with a kind Finnish guy Lasse.Lasse is a Finnish student who had done an internship with Lenovo in Singapore .Cool dude with pretty good taste in decorating his studio room.
Perhaps my arrival was a jinx as another piece of bad news came upon my arrival in Helsinki.The ice on the Baltic sea trapped thousands of passengers.Weird things happen when new places are visited in Finland.Perhaps it's a good thing that i left Finland the next day.
Read about it here!
http://www.examiner.com/x-3122-Chicago-International-Travel-Examiner~y2010m3d4-Baltic-Sea-ice-strands-thousands-of-ferry-passengers
The buzz of the capitalThough i spent just an hour or 2 walking around Helsinki, it reminded me of just another city.It wasn't very special.If not for the great company with Lasse , Helsinki could have been extremely boring for me.It is afterall people who make your travels an interesting one.
Onward travel
A bus ticket for a 7 hour bus ride from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg,Russia is sold at just 15 Euros.(to be paid to the bus driver ).This makes travelling by bus to Russia from Finland the most ideal option for most travellers.A 2 hour bus ride from Helsinki airport to Tampere bus station costed 38 Euros.Doesn't this make travelling in Russia more attractive in terms of cost?
Met an interesting 40+ year old Finnish man with a beer belly ,who spoke perfect Russian and some english on the bus.He was helping me with everything,from translating to bringing me to the right train station in Saint Petersburg ,even though i knew my way around.
Such Kindness :)
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