A little piece of UK

Eclipse of the sun, huge snails, a giant jar of ketchup, one lost tooth and a young boy yelling "mamma mia". 

These are all the things I remember about UK. My memories from our family vacation to Ipswich. The one and only trip to overseas we did when I was a child. When I was around 6-years old.

So, this time differed a lot from the previous one but in a good way of course. Another city meant new beautiful places and a different company meant it all. It's obvious that there's so much more you can do as an adult than as a child or youngster. Me and my friend had such a great time. We ate well and enjoyed some really good beers. All the pubs (even the bigger ones) were cosy and kinda sweet too. 

Portobello Road

King's Cross

St Albans Cathedral

There was so much to see but unfortunately time is limited. So, the rest of the places have to wait until the next time.

All the world is a birthday cake,

so take a piece, but not too much.

- George Harrison

Out of the blue

Let's rewind to the end of August. Back to the time when summer was almost over and the days were still full of light and overall brightness. The last days at work were like they used to.

It happened just before my upcoming trips. I received an email which got me like "wow". It surpised me more than positively. I was asked to present my thesis. Or acctually to hold a short (and proper) lecture about its subject. I doubted for a second but it was obvious that I couldn't pass it. So, there was a bait and I caught it. I decided to travel to the other side of Finland. From the West to the East. To South Karelia to introduce myself to the others. For the sake of my future.

In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity.

- Albert Einstein

Altogether everything went fine and pretty smoothly. I had plenty of time to prepare my presentation and got some good feedback from it. It was also great to got to know and meet new faces around the country. Especially other professionals from my field! Yet, I can't name myself as one of them 'cause I have just graduated and got my job title. Well yes it happened already at the end of February, but they have all been working so hard and for years for where they are now. But I will learn from example and gain as much knowledge as possible. One day I'll be a specialist too. Just wait and see.

Still round the corner there may wait,

a new road or a secret gate.

- J.R.R. Tolkien

Then almost but not quite out of the blue came winter. Yeah, finally it's December! One new year has once again come to an end and at this stage we tend to do a lot of things. Most of us will start to sum their goals and acts. Is there something we missed? How can we fix those things? How to revise our ambitions so that we won't do the same mistakes over and over again? And just like that you will recognize yourself in this same identical situation one year after another.  

Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.

- Rose Luxemburg

Solo in Copenhagen

A short stay at home after Prague and then I was off again. This time to Copenhagen. Sure, non-stop travelling (doing several trips without stopping) would have been easier and more economical choice, but I'd this one event where I  really wanted to attend. But I think you all know what happens when you go out and have a plast with your friends. That was a chance I knew and a choice I made. What's done is done. So, after staying up till the small hours, the actual packing for this trip happened at the last minute. But I managed to do it in a flash. 

Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.

- Lovelle Drachman

I arrived to Copenhagen early in the morning. I'd plenty of time to waste 'cause I couldn't check in to the hostel until 2pm. So, without any rush I started to wander and the first place where I found myself was Nyhavn. 

I also found a place where E.T. had been. 

Nyhavn wasn't the only area where were views that could had been memorized and fitted in to postcards. You could found colorful and beatiful buildings etc. from all over the city. 

Everything you look at can become a fairy tale

and you can get a story from everything you touch.

- Hans Christian Andersen

Few of the places (like the canals with all the docks and boats) looked a lot like in Finland.

No matter where I go, I enjoy going to different kinds of churches and cathedrals. And just so that you know this applies only when I'm abroad. I don't know why or what's the thing that draws me in to them. I'm not even a religious person or anything. Maybe it's the architecture or the silence and peace you feel when you go inside of them. So once more, I'm not a believer and definitely not a belieber either. A part of me is just a bit spiritual that's all. 

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.

- Nelson Mandela

Views from the Round Tower.

Christiania was undoubtedly the bizarrest place where I've visited so far. It's a freetown, a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood (expression/fact it's from Google) that lives entirely it's own life. I knew that it can be a bit restless place so I didn't go there too late in the evening. And in Christiania it's also forbidden to take any photos, but I hardly minded the warning signs. Oops.  

Three yellow dots. The symbol of Christiania. The flag of Christiania. 

Life is like a beautiful melody, only the lyrics are messed up.

- Hans Christian Andersen

So, I'd heard something about this famous Freetown before. But still I was completely unaware of the things that had happened there in this year. As a matter of fact just few weeks before my stay in Copenhagen there had been some shooting incident in Christiania. But you can look more information about it by yourself if you want to. I'm not gonna write it down here. Nothing happened to me and now I'm safe. Now, I'm back at home.

I am free and that is why I am lost.

- Franz Kafka

Solo in Prague

Unlimited amount of free time and nothing to do? Or just too many things going on your mind and you would like to get rid of them? Do like I did and travel. Make things happen. Fulfil your dreams. I can assure you that being a solo traveler is a real blast. No, I'm not a loner. I only consider myself as a person who doesn't mind doing stuff all by myself. So, I'm just a real living example of that kind of people. And I'm totally fine with that.

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

- Hilaire Belloc

So, travelling alone is a worthy option for those who kinda enjoy their own company. It requires a bit of guts tho so that's why it's not for everyone. But I would still highly recommend it! My latest  solo destination was Prague from where all these photos have been taken from. I'm not systematical so I don't like to plan things so much in advance. All I did for this one, was booking flights and accommodation. That's all.

The one and only place where I asked some random to take a picture of me was at The John Lennon Wall. Though it would have been nice to be precisely middle of those glasses.

Maybe the best moment of your life will be on your next big adventure. 

- Siya Zarrabi

Planning my days won't start until my arrival. Not until I've get myself a map of the place. After that I'll be ready to walk around. I'll start to wander and spot sights that are worth seeing.

A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it isn't open.

- Frank Kafka

My advise is to be brave. Just go out there, the world won't bite you. Or at least that's what I'm hoping. And if you cannot get anyone to join you then that's their loss. Be open minded. Doing solo doesn't mean that you're gonna be alone around-the-clock. You'll meet other people who might be travelling alone too. Your friends and family might be crossing their fingeres while you're away though. It's a bare fact that in these days you need to think your plans a bit further. Like things that where and when you can really go alone. Especially if you're representing the same sex than I. And that's also what even I had to do. In the very end it's still all about yourself but that's enough of that.

Follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.

- Frank Kafka

St. Vitus Cathedral 

Church of Saint Ludmila

Travelling is like knowledge. The more you see the more know you haven't seen.

- Mark Hertsgaard

Now, the benefits of solo travel. Is there any? Hell yeah! You can go anywhere you want to. You can do it in peace. In your own pace without rushing from one place to another. Plus you don't have to go and see sights which doesn't interest you at all. Sounds good right? So, now you know what to do next. Summa summarum I really enjoyed my time in Prague. Beautiful sights and view points from both sides of the River Vltava. Now, I cannot wait for my next trip which is only a day ahead.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

- Helen Keller

Eräjormat syysreissulla

Siellä sitä taas oltiin, Liesjärven mökillä nauttimassa perämetsän hiljaisuudesta ja hirvikärpästen kutinasta. 

Pieni järven rannalla sijaitseva mökki, joka on suht kaukana kaikesta sivistyksestä tai ainakin melkein keskellä ei mitään. Niin ja autolastillinen tavaraa, joiden avulla selviää edessä olevista öistä sähköttä ja ilman juoksevaa vettä. Ei ihan jokamiehen tai -naisen hommaa, mutta eräjormana olemisessa on se joku kumma juttu, joka vaan tuppaa vetämään puoleensa. Lähinnä silloin kun haluaa pakoon arjesta.

Honest people don't hide their deeds.

- Emily Bronte

Mökin aurinkokennot oli tällä kertaa fiksattu niin, että ne toimivat, joten tuli niitäkin sitten tovi (hetken tai pari) käytettyä. Mukaan harkiten valitut ja otetut ruoat alkoivat nekin (yllätysyllätys) jossain kohtaa tympiä. Onneksi saatiin pientä vaihtelua metsän siimeksestä löydetystä sienisaaliista. Taisi siinä pörriäisten huitomisen ohessa yksi jos toinen voimasana suusta tulla. 

Ennen mökille saapumista käväistiin Hämeenlinnan puolella Aulangon luonnonsuojelualueella. Matkakumppanin tehdessä töitä meikäläinen kuvaili ja kierteli aluetta ristiin rastiin. 

Näkötorniin piti uskaltautua kavuta kahdesti kun aamulla ei tahtonut edes eteensä nähdä. Sumun hälvennettyä maisemat olivat kuitenkin aika komiat.

To a great mind, nothing is little.

- Sherlock Holmes

Inspiration is a guest that does not

willingly visit the lazy.

- Tchaikovsky 

The best way to predict the future 

is to create it.

- Abraham Lincoln 

Teimme mökiltä myös melontaretken Korteniemen perinnetilalle, johon oli suuntaansa noin viiden kilometrin matka. Ei siinä kauaa nokka tuhissut, mutta paluumatkaa hidasti yllättäen noussut kova tuuli jonka vuoksi meno oli hieman siksak. Siinä kohtaa saatoimme ehkä hetken aikaa näyttää muiden silmiin parilta Mikkihiireltä merihädässä. 

Time flies when you are having fun.

- Albert Einstein