Underwater

Parent and Child

I simply love this scene.

One of these birds...

is not like the others,
One of these birds just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which bird is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

Did you guess which bird was not like the others?
Did you guess which bird just doesn't belong?
If you guessed this one is not like the others,
Then you're absolutely...right!

Ah, Sesame Street is timeless.. :)

From one ferry to the other ...

Was on a school field trip to Suomenlinna sea fortress today. It was a sunny and beautiful day. This was taken from the ferry we were travelling on. We were on our way to the island while this ferry was making its way back to the city harbour.

Suomenlinna 5

Canons on Suomenlinna and the last shot of Suomenlinna.

Today was also the last day of official Christmas celebrations in Finland. This day here is called Loppiainen and people take down their Christmas trees. It is a holiday here but it didn't make a difference today as it is a Sunday. In Singapore when a holiday falls on Sunday we get the following Monday off. Is it like that elsewhere? Is this day observed elsewhere?

Loppiainen in English means Epiphany but it seems like it means different things in different places. Read more about it in wikipedia.

Suomenlinna 4

Inside the fortress..

Suomenlinna 3

Here's something about the fortress. Tomorrow, the building.

Suomenlinna 2

Another picturesque scene that I like. As you can notice, not much snowfall in Helsinki or in Vantaa. It was a black Christmas and New Year. This snowfall just came about 2 days ago.

Suomenlinna 1

I love the colours in this scene. As I was getting ready to take this shot, a little girl ran in and I felt that the 'scene' was ruined. But she seemed to have added more colour. What do you think?

The building (looks like a painting to me) is a church in Suomenlinna. This island fortress can only be reached by a ten minute ferry ride from Helsinki. I was there today with my mum and sis. Expect to see more Suomenlinna this week.

Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular with both tourists and locals, who enjoy it as a picturesque picnic site. Originally named Sveaborg (Fortress of Svea), or Viapori as called by Finns, it was renamed Suomenlinna (Castle of Finland) in 1918 for patriotic and nationalist reasons, though it is still also known by its original name. Read more in wikipedia...

Official Website