A day at the fairs

Hello dears,

The plan was to go book fair, liquorice and salmiakki festival and Japan day. First was the book fair. Simply because it's my every year tradition to go book fair. There was lots of interesting interviews today so I spend my midday listening lost of interesting interviews. One of them was the interview of makers of Finnish TV programme Madventures. They spoke about their a new book "Mad music", which by the way is on my birthday/Christmas present list now. Wink wink ;) Anyhow, the book is about the music around the world. And it doesn't mean world music or etno music. It's about the music what people listen, well for example in Korea. How many of you has ever heard of K-pop? Personally I think from South Korea comes some of the greatest pop bands. The reason why I am interested to have the book is coz I do like to listen different types of music. Those who knows me well, knows that I am a huge fan Japanese pop/rock music. Lately I have listened a lot German pop/rock music too. It would be great to listen for example African pop. Or even better African metal music. I wonder do they have metal bands in Africa...

Tunna and Riku, makers of Madventures
 

And speaking of K-pop. Here's a song by one of my favorite K-pop bands: TVXQ. You're welcome :)

Next interview that I went to listen was about Shakespeare. In Kansallisteatteri is coming not one but two playes of Shakespeare soon. Macbeth and Richard III. Guess how excited I am at the moment? Very, very...VERYYYY excited. I do love playes of Shakespeare. Richard III is one of my favorite playes. I also love Halmet. So I definitely will go to see both playes. I hope they will bring Hamlet also on the stage.

Then was time to go to next event. And it was Japan day. It wasn't anything special. Same old stuffs as usually, meaning 3 years ago. But what I really liked it was the ikebana workshop.

My first ikebana arrangement.

It was absolutely fantastic finally to do ikebana arrangement. I got so excited that I have to buy all the stuffs for it so I can start to make ikebana arrangements at home too. It's form of art. Unfortenally it doesn't last long but some of the most beautiful things doesn't last long.

I didn't felt like going to the liquorice and salmiakki festival, so after my visit to Japan day I took bus back home. Now I just wanna relax. Read a book that I bought from book fair and drink Glühwein.

Till next time! Ciao!

A few days in aboad

Hello dears,

Last few days I have been in abroad. I travelled in Germany, Munich where I spend most of my time. I did a day trip to Austria, Salzburg. I must say that I did liked Salzburg, it was small city, or should I say a town. It's quite weird to think it's the 4th biggest city in Austria.  Anyhow, on Sunday I arrived in Munich. The flight was a bit late so I really felt like doing anything else on Sunday than eat something and then go back to the hotel.  On Monday I did lots of walking. I wanted to go one of my favorite areas in Munich. That's Englischer garten. Such a lovely park. I recommed everyone to visit there if you're going in Munich. It was glad to see the proper autumn colors in Munich. In Finland the autumn color season wasn't as beautiful as in Munich.

Kleinhesseloher See in Englischer garten

I also visited 2 cemeteries on Monday. My travel guide said that the cemeteries in Munich are, a direct quotation, a romantic getaways. I thought, hmm, a romantic getaway, this I must see. Let's put it this way, my travel guide is exaggerating. Sure, the cemeteries were nice, very park like. The tombstones were beautiful. But everything was far from romantic. 

On Tuesday I did a day trip in Salzburg. I was quite worried coz the weather forecast promised rain for whole day. Luckily, it rained only in Munich. In the end I had a good weather were ever I were during my trip. Anyhow, I had a little problems to find the ZOB bus station in Munich. In the end I found it, after I had asked help. When I arrived in Salzburg I walked to the Mirabellgarten. It was one the places that I wanted to see in Salzburg. I must say "The Sound of the Music" had something to with it, actually quite a lot. When I walked at the garden I hummed " Do Re Mi" on my mind. Silly I  know. 

Mirabellgarten

From Mirabellgarten I walked to the old town of Salzburg. There were lot to see. Before exploring the old town I visited in Hohensalzburg fortress. From the forstess was absolutely beautiful view of the city.

Salzburg from Hohensalzburg fortress

When I got back to the city  I walked around the old town, Which was full of beautiful buildings.
It was quite easy to move around the old town. Everytime I found myself front of statue of Mozart. So, that kinda tells how small the old town really is.

The statue of Mozart

After lots of walking I walked back to the bus station and took the bus back to Munich. The way back Munich took hours. There were bad traffic jams middle of the nowhere. We literally moved 2km/h. Since I didn't had hurry anywhere it was totally okay to me even the bus arrived late in Munich. I went straight to bed when I got back at the hotel. Honestly, I were quite tired.

On Wednesday I did more walking in Munich. I started my day with a long walk beside the river Isar. Again, I really enjoyed to admire the autumn colors.  When I walked around the city I kept thinking why we can't have such a lovely park like areas in Helsinki. I would definitely spend more time at the parks. The parks are one reason why I like Munich so much. It's just very lovely city.

 

A view of the river Isar

After my morning walk I went to the centre of Munich to do some shopping. I bought a new shirt and skirt to myself. I also bought lots of FC Bayern München fan stuff to myself. Like Christmas calendar, which wasn't in a good shape when I got back at home, but hey, at least it's still in one piece and chocolated were inside the calendar.

On Thurday morning I had flight back at home. Even I do like a lot Munich it was nice to get back at home. I missed my own bed.

That's all this time. Till next time! Ciao!

A night at the opera

Hello dears,

So the opera. It was interesting experience, but honestly probably not my thing. I'm more into musicals.

A while ago friend of mine, also my co-worker asked if I like to go to the opera with her and some other co-workers. Of course I did. I think it's always good thing try a new things. You never know what you gonna like if you don't try and explore things. So I found myself opera house yesterday.

The opera night started with early dinner in Manala restaurant in Helsinki. We ate well, and some of us also drank a bit too well ( I think I had one glass too much white wine :P )

From Manala we walked to the opera house. There we had a glass of champagne before the first act.

A night at the opera

I did liked the opera, the dressed were absolutely brilliant. I always like to watch what actors are wearing on the stage. The Marriage of the Figaro was even partly funny. It has it moments, but thanks too much white wine and hot hall I started to feel a bit sleepy middle of the opera.

But now, I must stop. I gotta catch the flight to Munich!

Till next time! Ciao!

What to pack for a city vacation

Hello dears,

Once again I faced the same problems as always when I try to pack for a vacation. I'm that kind of person who USUALLY likes to start packing, let's say a week earlier. I'm a bit a hurry now coz I haven't started packing yet and I'm going on vacation on Sunday. Yaiks!

I usually make lists of things that I need to pack. That usually helps a lot. So now I gonna share one of my lists so if you are struggeling with packing you might find this list helpful.

Let's start with the basics:

- passport and copy of it; email a copy of it to yourself
-visa document and copy of it; email a copy of it to yourself (if needed)
- insurance documents and copies of them; email a copy of them to yourself
- boarding pass
- phone
- phone charger
- adapter (if needed)
- earphones or headphones
- music player
- wallet
- money
- credit/depit cards
- laptop /tablet computer
- laptop/ tablet Computer charger
- camera
- camera charger
- a small handbag
- medication
- a copy of your prescriptions
- first aid kit
- umbrella
- extra plastic bags for dirty laundry
- phrase book for the country you're visiting
- books and magazines
- wet wipes

- face wash

- toothbrush

- toothpaste

- hairbrush and bobbles

- face and body lotion

- shaver

- handcream

- tissues

- cosmetics ( your makeup, deodorant etc.)

- pen and notebook

- suncream (if needed)

 

 

Then the clothes:

- socks/tights
- underwear ( pants/bras)
- jeans
- shirts
- pajamas
- trench coat
- flat shoes ( so your legs aren't aching after walking whole day ;) )
- sweater/cardigan
- dress/skirt
- scarf(s)
- gloves ( if needed)

For short trips I usually pack only pair of jeans and I mix different shirts with the jeans. That way I will have more space on my suitcase for the other stuffs.
I'm sure I have forgot something, like always. But hey, if you don't remember it you won't need it, or...

O yes, and it's IMPORTANT to make a travel notification before your trip. That way if something happens the ministry for foreign affairs has the information where you are.

Till next time!

What to wear to the opera

Hello dears,

On Saturday I am going to see "The Marriage of the Figaro " with my friends.  I'm seeing an opera for the first time so I have had problems to find something proper to wear at the opera house.
I did a little googling and it looks like it's okay to wear pretty much anything when you go to the theatre, ballet or opera. I'm kinda speechless. I thought the idea is to wear a cocktail dress or a suit. I mean something better than what you would normally wear. It's totally okay to wear jeans when you go to see a movie, but NOT in an opera house!! No way.

Basicly I found myself in a situation where I didn't had any little black dresses or cocktail dresses. Mostly coz I just sold my old ones coz they were a bit too revealing. I have noticed that when you get old you don't wanna wear anymore too short dresses. It's simply tacky.

So I bought a blank cocktail dress and I gonna wear it with red shoes. I was thinking something simple but classy. Black dress, red shoes and a necklace. That should be enough. Or what do you think? What would you wear?

I will write about how was the opera later this week, then you will also see my final outfit for the opera.

Till next time!  Ciao!

The Carneval of Lights

Hello dears,

Yesterday I went to the carneval of lights in Linnanmäki with a friend. Linnanmäki is amusement park in Helsinki. Linnanmäki was full of lights and it looked magical in the dark. I really liked the exhibition at the old water reservoir, Alppilan vesitorni. Here's a few photos from the carneval.
 

Welcome to the carneval of lights

Hattivatteja! Hattifattener!

This was one of the works at the exhibition at the old water reservoir.

And here is another one. It's my personal favorite.

Don't worry, BE happy!

It was a chilly evening, so we had chili hot chocolate to drink while we walked around the carneval area. It was really good, the chili helped to stay warm.
 Around 8 o'clock Linnanmäki was full of people, then we decided to left. Either of us didn't enjoyed the idea of walking in crowed amusement park. Not much fun. So we left + plus I started to be quite tired after working 8 hours at work.

Till next time! Ciao! 

I'm a bronde

Hello dears,

I have wanted to do something to my hair quite a while. I ended up with bronde color. Bronde is something between brown and blonde.  My natural hair color is dark brown and it makes me look like a zombie. I often hear comments like "Oh" Your skin is very pale." That's why I like to have lighter color on my hair, so I was excited when I saw L'Oreals Glam Lights color at the market. I had to buy a box of it and try it.

Here's before and after photo:

Yup. Bronde looks much better than brown hair.

I didn't wanted the color to be too light. The magic of bronde color is that you can't be sure what color my hair really is, if the lighting is right the hair looks lighter, almost blonde.

I would recommend bronde color to anyone who wants to have lighter hair color but doesn't want to dye blonde hair.

Till next time!

Fall greetings!

Hello dears,

Since it is officially fall now. I thought why not to cheer up some of my friends and send them fall greetings postcards. Coz' I had some time to do crafts on weekend I made fall greeting cards. In the end I decided to write the cards in Finnish, English and German.
What do you think? I wanted to make something simple and plain.

Fall greetings! Syysterveiset! Herbst Grüße!

Have a good fall everybody!

Till next time!