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Kalevala Day

Today, Finland celebrates Kalevalanpäivä. Kalevala is a Finnish national literary treasure compiled by Elias Lönnrot. The poems featured in the book were compiled from tens of poets in the country during 15 years. read more in wikipedia

The older version of Kalevala was published on 28.2.1835, but it is the newer version, published in 1849, that is famous around the world. Kalevala has been tranlated to 48 different languages.

This day is acknowledged as a flag day... meaning the national flsg is flown everyone. This is taken in Ullanlinna, Helsinki.

Time for a movie

Sweeny Todd at Tennispalasti.Weekend movie tickets are 11€ (about USD16). This is like twice the amount than in Singapore.

How are the prices where you are from?

Making waves ...

where else but at the pool. This sculpture is in Mäkelänkatu Uintikeskus in Helsinki.

Non Stop

This ad was around for Valentine's day at the Pasila train station. Now, there is some other ad. I guess the words need no translation and like it says should be Non-Stop.

Singapore Kway Teow

Fried noodles from Singapore Hot Wok. It was yummy!

3 buildings

I was standing here talking to my friend and I noticed this scene in front, 3 different buildings. The one on the left i believe is the oldest, the old kamppi bus station and of cos the glassy building on the right is the newest.

Taste of home

yes.. Singapore Hot Wok in Kamppi Central, Helsinki. 7 different meals of fried noodles or rice. Yummy.. really is a taste from home. Singapore fried kway teow is a favourite of mine.

Next stop ...

is Kannelmäki. The screen also shows the speed at which the train is moving. The final destination of the train is Helsinki.

No drinks, no dogs, no smoking and no tickets. The 'No Tickets' sign here means that in this particular carriage, the train conductor will not come by to sell tickets. Helsinki has already switched to the electronic means of paying fare on public transports but the conductor is still around for those who do not have the electronic card or prefer to pay cash.

Finland has two official languages and as you can see the train station names are available in two languages: Finnish and Swedish.

Snowing

Instead of just taking the snow, it was just timely that the postman cycled by. Adds some colour to the scene.

Movie and Ice-Cream

Ben and Jerry's is now available in Finland. Also available from this dvd rental shop in Martinlaakso.

Not just coffee..

Also available Irish Coffee, Xante Kaakao, Baliley's Latte and Kahlua Espresso at Robert's Coffee in Silja Line harbour.

Xante Kaakao is apparently made with 4cl Xante (pear cognac) and hot chocolate.

Windy

A windy day in Pasila. Just look at the flags...

Fruits and Vegetables

Hedelmiä = Fruits and Vihanneksia = Vegetables at Malmin SiltaTori = Malmi's BridgeMarket. This is a first for me to see such a market at a railway station in Helsinki. This market is located opposite King Kong.

King Kong's Menu

PIZZA
Salami Pineapple
Fancied 2 toppings

CHINESE
Szechuan Chicken
Bamboo Beef

TODAY'S SPECIAL
Moose Stew
Fried Salomn
Oscar's steak (Piglet steak) Recipe here!
Grilled Steak (usually beef)

Strange that there is Chinese in a pizza place. Notice that the menu stand is padlocked. The other end is attached to a railing of the store. Now, who would want to steal the stand?!

I googled to check if the restaurant had a web page. The first search result was King Kong Eats Pizza! ;-)

King Kong's Territory

Today, I was at Malmi train station with a friend who had an errand to attend to. I don't usually come here and while waiting for her, i saw King Kong. Then while pacing, I noticed i could see three signboards at an angle. Pacing more, I noticed that I could see four signboards.

Ravintola Pizzeria = Restaurant Pizza. Of course, I had to have a look at what King Kong was offering. Find out tomorrow...

Happy...

yes,, i was glad to feel the sun's warmth today. The birds were chirping, clear blue skies and sunny.

Here are the birds.. How many can you see?

Hi, Hello

Come visit us at Tennispalasti.

This is the only photo I managed to take at the entrance of the exhibition today. No cameras allowed inside. The exhibition was great!

Roti Prata

Found in the Asian Market in Helsinki. This frozen Roti Paratha is a popular dish in Singapore and Malaysia. Of course, there it is available hot at any time of the day. Best eaten with curry. Yummy.

I haven't tried these frozen ones.. maybe next time. Won't taste as good as the real one. Check out more in wikipedia. (more photos and how it's made)

Woody's here...

This promo for the Pixar exhibition was found in Kamppi metro station. The exhibition Pixar - 20 Years of Animation will occupy both floors of the Tennispalatsi museum and feature more than 500 original works of art. Will be going there later in the week. Will have more info and hopefully more photos.

wat's there?

They are trying to pick up marbles with a chopstick.

In preparation

The dancers having their photo moments.

Rat(ty) year begins..

These martial arts performers were getting ready to welcome the year of the Rat yesterday at Lasipalasti. Posing for photos before the performance.

The shots taken when they were performing did not come out too well as I was just too far away from the stage.

Goodbye Piggy

Today is the eve of Chinese New Year. There were stalls selling Chinese crafts and food in Lasipalasti in Helsinki. Bejing and Helsinki have yet again organised this event which included dance and martial arts performers from Beijing. There was a countdown at 6pm (12 midnight in Bejing) which I didn't stay for. Too tired. The year of the Pig (last year blog writing) is gone and the year of the Rat begins.
Check out the celebrations in my country Singapore and other cities: Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai,Hong Kong, Petaling Jaya

Runebergintorttu / Runeberg tart

Today is the birthday of Johan Ludvig Runeberg, a Finnish poet. Legend tells that that poet used to enjoy eating the tart with punsch.
Runeberg's tarts are typically eaten only in Finland and are generally available from the beginning of January to Runeberg's birthday on February 5. The tart is seasoned with almonds and rum and it usually weighs about 100 grams. There is usually raspberry jam in a sugar ring on the tart.

Morning pile up

Had to brush off the snow from the car this morning. All this since last night (no idea when) till 7.30 this morning.

But the snow didn't last all day, started to melt mid day. Never here to stay, tat's how this winter has been. Snow today, gone tomorrow.

Snow piled

In Pasila train station, the snow is always piled like in many other places to clear the walkway.

COFFEE Spoon

COFFEE Spoon is the exact name and not just Spoon. My apologies for the incorrect name in the earlier post. The ice cream selection here looks good. In the background, you the check-in desks for Finnair flights. The cafe is found near the international terminal deperature hall 2.

Theme Day : What My City is Known For...

When people hear Helsinki, they think about Finland.. and when you consider Finland.. it's all about the cold, the snow, the tons of lakes and trees and crazy Finns going ice swimming...

So here is the sea, an island and ice melting...

Here are the other cities participating in the theme day:
Portland (OR), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Memphis (Tennessee), USA - Manila, Philippines - San Diego (CA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - New York City (NY), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - San Francisco (CA), USA - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - Mainz, Germany - Weston (FL), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Turin, Italy - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Bicheno, Australia - Durban, South Africa - Joplin (MO), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Brussels, Belgium - Chicago (IL), USA - Montpellier, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mazatlan, Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Toulouse, France - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Susanville (CA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Helsinki, Finland - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Lisbon, Portugal - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Trujillo, Peru - Dunedin (FL), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - London, UK - Baziège, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mumbai, India - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Setúbal, Portugal - Stayton (OR), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arradon, France - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Athens, Greece - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Jackson (MS), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Budapest, Hungary - Rotterdam, Netherlands - St Malo, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cleveland (OH), USA - Nottingham, UK - Kansas City (MO), USA - The Hague, Netherlands - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Wrocław, Poland - Chateaubriant, France - Cheltenham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Monrovia (CA), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Toruń, Poland - Grenoble, France - Lisbon, Portugal - New Orleans (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Boston (MA), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Wichita (KS), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Christchurch, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Wailea (HI), USA - Aliso Viejo (CA), USA - St Francis, South Africa - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Seattle (WA), USA - Pasadena (CA), USA - Vienna, Austria - Orlando (FL), USA - Torun, Poland - Delta (CO), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Paris, France - Stavanger, Norway - Niamey, Niger - Le Guilvinec, France - Bogor, Indonesia - Saarbrücken, Germany - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Juneau (AK), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Glasgow, Scotland - Chicago (IL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Sydney, Australia - Riga, Latvia - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Terrell (TX), USA - Terrell (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA