Err

This blog is not updated anymore. I´m busy doing other stuff. Be well. 

Suuri matkareportaasi

Koitti toukokuinen tiistai ja oli aika Katjan ja Ellin enemmän ja vähemmän perinteikkään kesäretken. Yleensä kyseinen retki tapahtuu kesä-elokuussa kotimaan kamaralla, mutta tämä vuosi sai luvan olla poikkeus. Mutta eipä mitään; tälläkin kerralla kunnioitimme perinteitä, sillä retkeen sisältyi yksi kansallispuisto, joukko kolmekymppisiä ukkomiehiä ja luokatonta ruokaa (=muonaa).

Mukaan tuli jo legendan maineen saanut Musta Matkapäiväkirja, johon tämäkin kirjoitus pohjautuu. Suorat lainaukset on kursivoitu.

PÄIVÄ 1

Lähtökohdat olivat mitä parhaat, kun molemmat matkalaiset olivat nukkuneet aikaista lentoa edeltävänä yönä 0-2 tuntia. Starttasimme lennolle Kööpenhaminaan, jossa tehtiin välistoppi ja vaelleltiin puolikuolleinna sen verran, että saatiin erittäin hyvät smørrebrødit "mummon kahvilassa", kunnes sammuttiin (minä sammuin) ihanaan Rosenborgin palatsin puistoon. Matka jatkui sitten Zagrebiin, Kroatian pääkaupunkiin. Saapumiseen liittyi ainoastaan sellainen yllättävä seikka, että varattu hostelli olikin jossain esikaupungissa. Ensivaikutelma mestoista: siistiä, modernia ja vähän ränsistynyttäkin. Lämmintä.

PÄIVÄ 2

Ensi töiksemme lähdettiin kaupungille etsimään parempaa majapaikkaa. Hobo Bear Hostel houkutti nimellään ja sieltä meille aukenikin punkat. Köpiksen linjaa jatkaen makoiltiin taas eräässä puistossa, josta tulikin meidän pääkallopaikka. Zagreb vaikutti yllättävän länsimaiselta ja siistiltä: ihmiset näytti vaurailta, ei kerjäläisiä, paljon kahviloita terasseineen, hyvät opasteet ynnä muut turisteille.

Hostellilla oli muutama italialainen, jotka toteutti lajityypillistä käyttäytymistään. Otettiin huonekaverimme Staffan Ruotsista megeen ja mentiin yläkaupungille lasilliselle. Respassa maisteltu rakija ja litran viinipullo teki tehtävänsä, ja keskustelu oli lennokasta. Staffan joi naisellisen cocktailin, kun taas allekirjoittanut kiskoi jonkun litran paikallista olutta. :) Ilta oli lempeä ja lämmin, Staffan kertoi "hyviä tarinoitaan". Kuuntelimme tarkasti...

PÄIVÄ 3

Aamu alkoi puistossa istumalla ja yleisellä fiilistelyllä. Kierreltiin ihanalla kukka- ja vihannestorilla, otettiin kuvia nunnista ja muista hedelmistä (kuten sitruunoista).

Käytiin kiinnostavassa paikassa nimeltä Museum of Broken Relationships. Siellä oli kaikkee kamaa, mitkä liittyi ihmisten eroihin. Kukkulalta olis myös hienot maisemat kaupungin ylle. Lounaspaikkaa etsiessä päätettiin kokeilla kymmenen vuotta vanhan Lonely Planetin suositusta. Se oli virhe. Rafla oli tosi fiksun oloinen, mutta sillä ruokakeikalla lanseerattiin koko loppumatkan käytetty ilmaus "muona". Harvoinpa ravintolassa saatu ruoka on yksinkertaisesti pahaa. Aterian ainoat hyvät komponentit oli etikkapunajuuret ja vesi! Ilta meni hostellilla italiaanoja väistellen, mutta saatiinpa kuitenkin lopulta hyvää ruokaa, kun itse tehtiin.

PÄIVÄ 4

Ystävällisen taksikuskin vinkistä lähdettiin kohti Plitvicen kansallispuistoa pari tuntia Zagrebista etelään. Matkalla oli ihan huikeita vuoristomaisemia, ja kuski otti ilon irto mutkaisista pikku teistä kaasua painamalla. Kyydissä oli ryppyisiä ja ruskeita mummoja vihanneskasseineen, jotka jäi kyydistä jonnekin keskelle ei mitään.

Plitvice oli ehdottomasti yksi makeimmista paikoista, mitä oon nähnyt. Puisto käsittää pitkänmallisisa järviä, joita yhdistää erilaiset vesiputoukset ja kosket. Joka puolella on käytännössä vettä sinisen ja vihreän eri sävyissä. Mikään valokuva ei tee oikeutta sille paikalle! Kierreltiin ihmemaassa puoli päivää, kunnes lähdettiin etsimään majapaikkaa viereiseen kylään. Matka kukkulan yli oli tuskaisa, mutta perillä kylässä meitä odotti satujen kiltti mummo, joka antoi meille ihanan huoneen yhteishintaan 40€. Pihalla kukki syreenit.

Niin, siinä kylässä oli myös laskettelurinne.

PÄIVÄ 5

Seuraavaksi matka kävi suoraan rannikolla, Zadarin kaupunkiin. Upee paikka! Välimeri välkkyi ihanan vihreenä. Keskusta on vanhaa kaupunkia, jossa on valkoisia rakennuksia, liuskekivellä päällystettyjä sokkeloisia katuja, pieniä terasseja ja vanhoja roomalaisia kivikasoja. Vietettiin rento päivä auringossa. Porukkaa istuskeli "meriuruilla" (Sea Organ) kattelemassa laivojen lähtöä. Tässä vaiheessa matkaa koukutuin paikallistenkin suosimaan kahviin, macchiatoon, joka maksaa parhaimmillaan euron kuppi. Myös italialaista jätskii kului.

Yks siisti juttu Zadarissa on valomonumentti "Greeting to the Sun", joka on maahan upotettu pyöreä aurinkopaneelisysteemi, joka pimeässa hehkuu eri väreissä.

PÄIVÄ 6

Ja sitten saarille. Lähdetiin läheiselle Ugljanin saarelle biitsien toivossa. Vaellettiin polttavan auringon alla rantaviivaa seuraillen ja kapeilla kujilla poukkoillen. Matkalla näimme paljon kissoja. Me myös vaellettiin jossain polulla pusikossa, jossa oli nyrkin kokoisia lentäviä heinäsirkkoja. Ja joku ukko poltteli siellä risuja.

Totuus kroatialaisista biitseistä alkoi valkenemaan... Ei mitään hiekkarantoja, vaan betonitasanteita ja tappavan teräviä kivikoita! No, saatiinpa kärtsättyä nahkamme ihan hyvässä hengessä julkkispeliä pelaten. Lounaaksi saatiin mahtavaa pizzaa ja hurmaantunut pizzankääntäjä tarjoili vielä grappaa jälkiryypyksi. George Clooney myi jätskiä viereisessä kahvilassa. 

PÄIVÄ 7


Jatkettiin etelään. Rannikkoreitillä oli komiaa, etenkin Primosten kylä näytti nätiltä. Me jäätiin kuitenkin Trogiriin, jota meille suositteli mm. eräs hullu venäläinen. Se olikin sievä paikka myös! Ja tietenkin UNESCO-kohde, kuten niin monet muutkin paikat Kroatiassa. Torilla myytiin kaikkea peruskrääsää, mutta mua ihastutti etenkin simpukat, jotka oli myös aika halpoja.

Trogir tuntui olevan suomalaisten ja ruotsalaisten suosiossa. Satuttiin yllättävän hyvään raflaan, jossa istuttiinkin kirjaimellisesti enemmän ja vähemmän tuttujan maanmiesten seurassa... Majapaikka löytyi turisti-infon avustuksella ihan keskustan sokkeloista. Sisäpiha oli kuorrutettu kukilla ja viiniköynnöksillä, naapurin mummo solkotti meille kroatiaa. Onni.

PÄIVÄ 8

Tänään ohjelmassa oli retki taas uudelle saarelle, mutta edellistä pienemmälle. Drvenik Veli on ihan lyhyen lauttamatkan päässä Trogirista, ja odotuksissa oli jälleen kerran löytää se biitsi. Aluksi piti löytää tietenkin "sobe" eli kämppä seuraavaksi yöksi. Satama oli aika autio, vain muutama ukko istui varjossa. Onneksi ihan lyhyen kävelyn jälkeen löydetiin legendaarisen muori ikinä: hän ei puhunut mitään muuta kuin kroatiaa ja muutaman sanan italiaa! Saatiin kokonainen huoneisto alle kolmella kympillä.

Muorin elekielisen opastuksen saattelemana lähdettiin etsimään biitsiä, joka on kuulemma "phenomenal". Parin tunnin hikisen vaelluksen jälkeen oltiin varmaan kierretty koko saari ja asukkaiden takapihat, kunnes löydetiin herttainen laguuni, jossa kellui kaikenlaista roskaa. Ikuiseksi arvoituksesi jäi, tarkoittiko mummo juuri tätä paikkaa. Illalla sitten seurailtiin ukkojen petanque-peliä ja löydetiin sattumalta suomalaisen naisen omistama ravintola vuoren rinteellä. Siellä syötiin reissun paras ateria paikallisesta viinistä humaltuen ja tähtiä katsellen.

PÄIVÄ 9

Viideltä aamulla Elli repi allekirjoittaneen ylös päivän ensimmäiseen lauttaan. Seuraava lautta olis ollu jo liian myöhäinen. Määrätietoinen matkantekomme suuntautui Splitin kautta Hvarin saarelle, josta oltiin jo elätelty kauniita mielikuvia. Hvar on tunnettu etenkin laventelin viljelystä: laventelihan on maailman ihanin tuoksu. Jouduttiin venaileen lauttaa Splitissä, ja mitäpä muuta nämä turistit olis tehneetkään, kuin lepäilleet puistossa. Sataman kulmilla kiinnitettiin huomiota elämöivään polttariporukkaan, joka tuli tietenkin samalle lautalle. Viereen istunut hemmo esittäytyi Oliveriksi ja paljasti joukon olevan Brittein saarilta, tietenkin. Missään muussa maassa ei oteta polttareita yhtä vakavasti.

Perillä etsiskeltiin kämppää harvinaisen kauan, mutta lopulta eräs päättäväinen pieni mummo vei meidät luokseen punkkaamaan. Parvekkeelta oli hienot näkymät merelle ja raksatyömaalle. Syötiin lounasta ja katsottiin, kun joku hipsteri ajoi pyörällä kaupan seinään. Ja eikun viinakauppaan, meinasivat Suomen tytöt! Viimeinen ilta meni iloisesti erään pimeän kujan pienessä baarissa, johon ilmeisesti kaikki saaren turistit oli ahtautuneet. 

PÄIVÄ 10

Tästä päivästä ei voi sanoa kuin sen, että nämä kaksi höpönassua oli ihan väsymyskrapulassa koko hela dagen, ja jutut oli sen mukaisia. Kroatia sai kuitenkin riittää, onhan tuo nähty. Split on aika turistinen kaupunki, mutta keskustan vanhat rauniot on tietenkin mahtavia, eli sinne vaan. Ehdittiin saada jopa kantapaikkakin, ravintola Šperun, jossa on ihana ja sympaattinen tarjoilija, eli suosittelen visiittiä Kroatiaan ihan vain hänenkin takia! 

Suomeksi suomalaisille (eli olenko rasisti?)

Mä päätin lopettaa flunssan vartomisen ja lähdin fillaroimaan. Löysin uuden reitin, joka kulkee Gerbyn ja Västervikin läpi. Mukava nähdä, että joillakin on rahaa muuhunkin kuin ruokaan. Jollakin oli jopa ollut energiaa pystyttää takapihalleen oma pieni Stonehenge. Mitä sitä suotta matkustelemaan.

Upotin varpaat hiekkaan eräällä Gerbyn minimaalisella rannalla, joka oli säästynyt rakentamiselta. Mikähän on rantaviivan metrihinta? Rantojen asukkaat ovat rakentaneet portteja ja muureja ja pystyttäneet kylttejä tunkeilijoiden esteeksi. Talvella muistan nähneeni yhden varoittavan kyltin meren puolella erään mökin laiturilla, epäilemättä jäällä kulkevien auringonpalvojien varalle: "Seis! Räjäytystyömaa."

Niin, tuli himo kirjoittaa äidinkielellä näin vaihteeksi. En tiedä mistä moinen; varmaan tuo vieraiden kielten opiskelu jättänyt jälkensä. Ajattelin harjoitella suomen kieltä ainakin väliaikaisesti, vaikka tuntuukin, että tämä ploki vetelee viimeisiään. Kaikki teiniangsti on vissiin purettu. Suomihan on aika jännä kieli. Mitä eroa on sanoa "koululla" tai "koulussa"? Tai niin kuin R.Schatz ihmetteli: jos sanoo "minä rakastan sinua", eikö siinä jää joku osa rakastamatta? Syödäänhän omenakin. Eli lauseen pitäisi kuulua "minä rakastan sinut". Toisen hauskan esimerkin voi muodostaa verbistä "naida".

Oli miten oli, huomenna lähden lomalle, vaikka ei saisi eikä olisi varaa. Tarkoitus olisi tehdä talviturkin heittoennätys Adrianmeressä ennen Äitienpäivää. Onnistunee. Älkää siis soitelko, sillä olen nauttimassa kuivaa valkoviiniä ja grillattuja kokonaisia pikkukaloja.

Ice dancer

Monday is kind of like a day off for me because I don´t have any lectures. Since I don´t have to make a schedule for Mondays I can do whatever I like - do everything in reverse, for instance! I started this Monday with skiing now that for once I was free during the daylight. There was a sunny spell, only a few minus degrees. Skiing gave me amazing energy for the rest of the day. I had lunch, ran my errands in town (returned my work clothes), had afternoon coffee and only then went to the uni. At uni I studied and tried to print for a couple of hours. It was a good day. Exercise in the morning seems to be wise.

 

Later on I felt an urge to make cookies. I found this recipe that met my needs: http://blogit.hs.fi/kauhaajarakkautta/2012/04/26/kun-makeanhimo-iskee-maapahkinavoi-kaurakeksit/

This is my version:

Peanut butter oaties

1dl peanut butter

1dl cane sugar and honey

0,5dl chia seed gel (or one egg)

2dl oats

1tsp baking soda

2 tbs sultanas/raisins

Bake in 175 degrees for 7-10 minutes until golden brown. 

My god they are good with milk !!

Since this day was dedicated to spontaneous acts and urges, I realized my dream of being an ice dancer. After studying for a couple of hours at home, my lungs were screaming for fresh air. (Also, cookies taste twice as good after outdoor exercise.) It was 22pm and skating in a darkened ice rink seemed like a romantic idea. My ice dancer outfit was simply a skirt and my favourite winter coat. I had to have music as well so I took my mp3-player with.

Here are some "highlights" from my playlist... 

First it felt like a stupid idea to skate in the dark, making late-night dog walkers freak out. But skating to music is really fun, especially in the dark. It was like being in a shop after closing time. The only problem was that my mp3-player cords got stiff in the cold and the plugs kept falling out of my ears. I had a proper dance spectacle in the dark anyway and maybe some people in Olympia saw my show through window...

 I will go out tonight
Don't wanna waste my time
I feel I'm bound to fly
And I don't love you no more

Shades of blue

This time of the year is very favorable for Finns because we have several seasonal sweet pastries that are supposed to be consumed in February. Well, at least two, and then there´s Valentines Day when sweet treats are easily justified. In the beginning of the month Finns also eat Runeberg´s tarts in the honour of our national poet J.L. Runeberg. It´s also time for split cinnamon buns with cream and jam inside... What would go better with a cuppa steaming coffee after enjoying fresh mid-winter air..!

On the campus

Feels good when you know spring is approaching even though I don´t want to let winter go just yet. I have some more skiing and skating to do which I have done unfortunately quite little. Lack of time is my enemy as I´m super busy with studies.

This weekend, though, I took a weekend-off and spent it in Seinäjoki with my siblings. It´s quite drastic what some alcohol, crisps and sugar do to you in a couple of days when you normally don´t consume them at all. Headache and fatigue that is. Luckily I recovered quite quickly, too, after going to the gym and having an empowering smoothie. Tomorrow it´s back to work and back to the line in terms of eating!!

The Russian church at dusk

This week I also tried out some raw cakes but I seem to need some practice. It´s hard to get the taste right because "unbaking" a raw cake is just something else... I did make quite nice chocolate cake that was pretty simple: oats and cashews in the crust and raw chocolate on top. I seem to have a sweet tooth especially in winter because it´s cold and dark and it´s nice to seek comfort from food. Baking something healthy is not actually very hard since everything can be replaced. Lately I also discovered chia seeds which can apparently replace eggs if needed. Even replacing white sugar with a natural sweetener and white flour with spelt is a huge improvement.

Some more pics form this winter wonderland and then I´m off to bed.

the City hall

 

New residence and other business

I´ve been unbelievably busy this month and I don´t like that. Almost whole January has gone in a snap of fingers. I moved house and I´m hating this new one because I live with a total stranger who doesn´t even want to get to know me. For me it´s a nightmare. I want my home to be a safe place, not a battlefield of unseen frowns. Also, her room smells like mouth wash and something rotten.

Well, maybe I´m exaggerating. However, I can´t help comparing this with my previous homes. In the last one I lived for a whole year and it was my safe haven, full of light and peace. The one before that was a "cell apartment" just like this but oh how different... I had the best imaginable flatmate and it was a very friendly and relaxed place to live in.

I´ve probably said before how important for me it is to have a good home. Because when you´re out in the world for the whole day, making efforts, encountering people and new situations, following norms and rules of other places... you need a place you can rule and you can wind down at the end of the day without any masks. It´s not easy when you don´t even know who you´re living with and you have to wait your turn to cook meals and take showers.

To other matters. I´ve quit my job and therefore going to spend more time doing fun stuff and even traveling to certain places in Finland. So if you want a fun weekend guest who cooks vegetarian food for free and is up for new adventures, give me a shout...;)

I figured I can´t keep working in a place that I don´t see much value in. Sure, a gas station café can be an important meeting point for some but there´s nothing in it for me... Another good reason to quit was that I don´t want to work nights anymore, it´s not good for my dosha... 

I´m been busy also because I´m doing my best to write my Bachelor´s thesis. It´s going well, though, but I want to make a good one too so I´m making an extra effort. On top of that I have million other courses that require my full attention... Thank god I go to yoga every Thursday, it puts my mind at peace.

To finish this illogical post I bid farewell to my last home. You made me feel I belong somewhere.

Good bye the best kitchen I ever had. I will miss you.

This year, I did it my way

Another year is drawing to a close. I just read through my Word-diary and made a little thinking as to sum up this year. My plan exactly a year ago was to stay in one place for a year and study hard: a plan that came true. Now my thoughts are circling around the future and, of course, traveling. I´m leaving again for sure, but don´t know where yet. I feel like I´ve seen all Vaasa has to give to me and it´s time to move on. The world is bustling all around.

 

This year I´ve had a lot of time to think what I want. My mind is constantly mulling over two opposites: peaceful and easy life against exciting adventures in the world. I´m seeing more and more people who don´t recognize the existence of the latter. It´s overwhelming how many people are depending on material or ego, how nobody questions anything nor listen to him/herself. And I never cease to wonder how much those people who don´t travel miss out. How people just worry about money, looks, work or health. How we look for answers from outside while all the answers are within ourselves. Can we not see good in what we have? Can we not be content with just our existence without analyzing and calculating all the time and discovering ourselves unhappy over and over again?

And moreover, I´m amazed how people want to "get there". For many people I suppose that means permanent job and permanent spouse. They are surely great things to have, but why are there still so many unhappy people, even married? Nothing is permanent. Even a relationship is an "external factor" that doesn´t solve anything as it is. Why are we so scared to be alone with ourselves? Why do we need a profession or a spouse to define ourselves? Meet the person inside you, that you are. What if you were alone and homeless? Would you be less worthy as a person or would you have smaller ability to see beauty around or be happy about little things? Would you have less curiosity and will to learn and develop yourself? Would you love yourself less?

Next year I want to get closer to the person inside of me. That person may be angry or even ridiculous. She is hopefully less egocentric and more tolerable to all kinds of people. Less jealous and judging. That person would be more like an observer of the world and not always running after achievements. She would have the right to change her opinion. She would be brave.

This year I´ve noticed better than ever how good nutrition is a key to a good life. Quality thinking has changed my life for good. Sometimes I feel really alone with my opinions but I can only keep setting example. I know there are more and more people who are aware of holistic health and real well-being.

Many foods I ate ten years ago with good appetite would disgust me these days. And how much better I feel now! Many years I used pain killers on weekly basis because I though it was normal to have headaches. I was tired in the afternoons and depressed by dark winters. Now I enjoy whatever the year brings. Quality in nutrition made such a big change in my life that I improved the quality in other fields, too. I feel like a whole person, both physically and mentally. I feel I can do anything.

Have the best new year ever !!

Gingerbread !

On Independance Day I decided to make some sweet treats for me and my dinner guest. I´ve been wanting to make gingerbread from the scratch, and now that I found a nice recipe online I could realize my plan. The original recipe belongs to Olga and it doesn´t contain the two baddies, white sugar or white flour. This gingerbread is really delicious and the texture is great if you bake them just for as little time as possible. Here´s the recipe translated and modified by me:

Anne´s Gingerbread

1,5dl agave syrup/maple syrup/honey
4tsp gingerbread seasoning (cardamon, clove, cinnamon, ginger)
100g butter
1 egg
1dl cane sugar
4,5dl spelt flour
1tsp baking soda

1. Heat up the syrup with the spices, don´t boil.

2. Chop the butter into dices and stir into the hot syrup. Cool down.

3. Beat the egg and the sugar until foamy.

4. Mix the egg foam with the syrup.

5. Add in the flour mixed with soda.

6. The dough will be quite runny but it´ll firm up in the fridge overnight. After that you still have to work some more flour into it while rolling it.

7. Bake in 175 degrees for about 9 minutes or until light brown.

Way better than ready gingerbread doughs!

Crafts and winter spirits

Winter came with a bang! Alteration in the temperature within last week was something like 20 degrees. This week Vaasa got cold greetings from Siberia and I had to go to uni in -15. In spite of that, I get by well wearing my sheep skin overcoat. It´s a lifesaver! Even in this weather I love strolling by the sea...

Cinnamon and icing sugar?

Sea freezing in

Delayed winter fur

Last week I received the most lovely parcel. A handmade notebook from Russia! Behind this is Elena whom I met a couple of summers ago in Greece. We had the best time under the sun of Kefalonia! Elena makes the most beautiful notebooks ever, check out her fb-page: http://www.facebook.com/lisalena.books
Whats makes this book ever more special is that the stone holding the ribbon is from where else than Kefalonia...

 Moving on. I love making things too, not as advanced though as Elena... I´ve been making a lot of Christmas cards, decorations and random paper crafts. I want to show my favourite Christmas decorations: the Swedish paperheart and the Finnish himmeli. Explanation for my Germanic friends:

Himmeli ist eine aufwendige Bastelei aus Stroh, die in Finnland und Schweden eine beliebte Weihnachtsdekoration darstellt.

Julhjärta

At Eija Koski´s himmeli exhibition

 And finally, a greeting for all the Finns or like-minded...

Journey

Lingering and aimless roaming is underrated.

Today´s world is all about competition, success and winning. One has to be useful, preferably make a lot of money. You have to know yourself and your wants and needs. What will you do when you grow up, people ask playfully while being serious.

Too many plans kill creativity and leave no room for surprises. When you don´t make plans, anything can happen. It´s up to you whether this phrase is negative or positive.

Isn´t it more exciting when you don´t know exactly what your destination is?

Season greetings

It´s here. That season. Season of consumerism. I know, I know; I not going to preach about materialism right now. I know you all know it´s bad and terrible. I want to focus on the positive side even though I´m not so into Christmas myself. I don´t know why, maybe because there´s so much hustle and buzzle and so many norms and expectations.

I don´t like Christmas traditions so much. For many years I felt uncomfortable about going to the Christmas service. Thank god (pun intended) I´m not obliged to do that anymore as I´m not even a member of the parish.

However, I´ve had quite a christmasy feeling lately. I like the atmosphere around this time: days are getting shorter and shorter and we´re expecting the winter to begin for real. Today the temperature plunged down to -6 and there was slight snow fall. There was thin ice on the bay. Also, it feels more and more cosy to stay at home and do some handicrafts, maybe light candles. There are Christmas lights here and there. Even my good old sour neighbour lit a fir tree at the foot of the porch! How sweet.

 

Today I was at a café and thought how lucky I am, being able to have a coffee in peace, watching the daylight drawing in. First snow is another moment I really enjoy. There´s something grand about it. More good moments, less rush and materialism.

P.S. Tomorrow is the Finnish "Buy Nothing Day"!   

Stress and all of his friends

A couple of weeks back I was sitting on my sofa and thought about all the things I should get done. My hands were shaking. At night it was hard to fall asleep. I was undergoing stress.

Me - stressed out? But I´m the most chilled person I know!

It turns out that I was also a "victim" of the performance oriented society that we live in. I was worried about not keeping up the pace and falling behind. What was I worried about in fact? Would something bad happen if I didn´t leave a paper in time, if I didn´t go to the gym or if I didn´t prepare so well for a presentation? Even if something negative would result, is it worth getting worried sick?

Stress is indeed a sickness. Nonetheless, it´s not uncommon to hear stories about stress from friends and acquaintances. About personal experiences. Headaches and insomnia. Hair loss and appetite loss. I think stress is very very harmful if it continues for longer time. I experienced stress only for three days. After getting better I wondered why I was ever so stressed out. It´s just not worth it. If there are too many things to do you can always ignore the less important ones.

Once again, I realize the importance of slowing down life in general and taking time for listening to yourself and just being. Meditation is great but unfortunately I don´t do it very often. Instead, yoga or stretching can be as good. Anything that makes you relax and appreciate the present. As that feeling you get while e.g. meditating remains. It brings peace of mind. 

Stress and its physical symptoms illustrate well the connection between body and mind. Optimal health means both physical and mental well-being. Even more important is the mental one because everything we do happens first in our mind. That´s where everything sprouts from. The mind can make us exceed our physical abilities (not other way around) and that alone is pretty amazing.

I´m expanding on the topic so I leave it here...

Peace.  

Green is the new black

http://positivenews.org.uk/2011/wellbeing/lifestyle/4244/ten-reasons-green-people-are-happier/

I hung this article up on the toilet wall in my parents´ house when I last came back from England. I guess it´s something I hope everyone would take the time to read. The argument goes like this: green people are happier than those who don´t care about the environment. The article is written from a British point of view but all the points are universal and relevant in many cultures so I want to sum it up here for those who are too lazy to open the link. Shame on you. 
 

 1. Living a more local life

Yes, happiness can be grown beneath your very feet. By spending less time on commuting/other travel we have.. more time for our free time and socializing. Supporting local producers help to create a thriving community which brings us to...

2. More vibrant healthy communities

Collaboration is one important aspect of eco living. Having a safe community where you can feel togetherness increases happiness for sure.

3. Human powered transport

I don´t have to justify the health benefits of any sport, let alone the mental benefits.

4. Connection to the natural world

If there really is someone who doesn´t like nature can sign up in the comment box. Growing stuff makes you happy and appreciating nature makes you realize how wonderful things you are surrounded by. 

5. Choice pruning

This is a very interesting point: having too much choice makes you frustrated. When you´re leading an ecological life, it´s a lot more simple.

6. Less materialistic

It´s evident that material things don´t make you happy in a long run. “The richer the society and its individuals become, the less purchasable are the goals that bring them happiness” - so true!

7. Enjoyable pursuits

Abandoning materialistic values releases your energy and time to other things like number eight. Doing things the we truly enjoy, rather than chasing external rewards, brings us real happiness.

8. Personal development

When humans meet their basic needs they can pursue "higher ones". Personal growth increases the quality of life and makes you generally appreciate life more. By taking actions for others out of intrinsic motivation can make your life a lot more fulfilled.

9. Social actualisation

Seeking individual well-being and valuing human relationships. Need I say more?

10. Transcendence

Realizing that all existence forms an unity, we can feel belonging to the universe rather than alienation and anguish. Learning to love and nourish our environment can be a great source of joy. "The future is ours to co-create."

For suga monsters alike

A couple of week ago I sat in the basement of the local eco shop listening to a bright-eyed man in his sixties talking about sugar. But not the sugar most people know, the white unhealthy stuff. The man was Matti Kuosmanen who imports whole cane sugar to Finland. He´s done research in Bolivia and knows a whole lot about the history of sugar and its health effects.

Whole cane sugar has been used in many ancient cultures as a remedy. It has many healing effects and it e.g prevents caries (!). I already mentioned the people of Okinawa in my previous post about longevity. Well, the same long-living people use cane sugar. It´s also an Ayurvedic remedy.

What I learned from Matti Kuosmanen was astonishing. I knew about cane sugar before but didn´t know it has such amazing super powers. It, for example...

- relieves stress

- energizes

- balances hydration and blood sugar

- is a source of iron and raises hemoglobin

- provides nutrition for cells (especially in spinal discs)

- provides minerals* (white sugar contains zero minerals)

- balances pH (cane sugar is a base so it´s perfect for coffee and meat consumers)

Word of warning: not all brown sugar is whole cane sugar! Matti Kuosmanen claimed that many brown sugars in the market are fake and they can actually be bleached and coloured with molasses. Real cane sugar is sand-like powder with a light brown tone. Sure thing it´s more expensive because the production is very very slow and is done manually. But I reckon the perks are worth it... 

I dumped white sugar a good while ago and these days I immediately notice the peak in my blood sugar after some sweet treat. There are so many healthy sweeteners available now so I don´t know why anyone would use white sugar any more...?

*Mineral deficiency is said to cause numerous health problems so it´s worth looking into as well.

A great drink for afternoon fatigue

glass of water (hot or cold)
big pinch of Himalayan salt (or other unrefined food quality salt)
2 tbsp (or more) cane sugar

Stir and enjoy the rest of the autumn with full energy! 

Killing time for longevity

I don´t understand the concept of hobbies. Why do we have to have hobbies? Do we have to fill our free time with activities that pursue self-improvement? Isn´t free time supposed to be what it´s called: free time. Hobby sounds like something you have to do regularly, like defrosting the freezer. 

I don´t think I have to justify the fact that relaxing and not doing anything is good for you. We live in such a competitive and busy world that occasional sitting down and watching the grass grow is more than welcome. I was so happy when a friend returning from holiday answered my question "what did you do" with a mere "nothing". That´s right and worthy!

I don´t get it why we always have to do something useful or developing. Take sports for example. I think it has stolen a way too big limelight in people´s lifestyle. A simple-minded might think that exercise equals health. No way is it so easy. I´ve met too many people whose health has been ruined because of doing too much sports over too many years. Humans are not meant to do heavy sports regularly. Why is there a saying "an athlete doesn´t see a healthy day"? I hereby condemn competitive sports.

Is cooking my hobby if I enjoy it but it also keeps me alive?

Actually I´m more for just being active in a way that our ancestors were. I assume the early humans moved around a lot gathering food, lifting and carrying things, hunting a little bit (not chasing animals though) and maybe building something. I don´t think anyone was obliged to run very long distances.

I´m also inspired by the longevity of people in Okinawa, a Japanese island where lives the most long-living people in the world. People there live in a very simple and traditional way, fishing and small-scale farming. They don´t go to the gym. They get their exercise from daily life, or maybe some folk dance...

Another secret to Okinawan longevity is said to be socializing. I´ve sometimes heard Finnish people judging the custom in southern cultures of sitting around and "slacking". Yes, you mostly see youngsters and immigrants hanging out in my town, while the majority of the population is rushing about and running errands. It´s so sad all this "hanging around" is seen as a negative thing. I would rather see more of it - socializing with no specific aim. It promotes good health and is the most natural, and the oldest, way of passing time.

The end.

Can we chill out more?

Amazing

Human is a weird animal. It´s amazing...

...how much food men can stuff themselves with. (Witnessed a guy shoveling at least one kilo of mashed potatoes on his plate at the uni canteen.)

...how some people go jogging even if there´s a storm of some kind and everyone else would rather lock themselves in the house. (This manifests possibly the Norwegian outdoor attitude: there´s no bad weather, only bad clothes.)

...how some girls think they´re fat even though they´re lean as a moose meat. ("My belly wrinkles when I sit!")

...how many spelling mistakes a grown-up person can make. (Was he working at the field while others went to school?)

...how some people think they have to remain the same throughout their whole life. (Hipsters are probably mainstream one day...)

Arabic nights

Women outside the mosque

You might end up in the most unexpectable places and meet people you´d never meet otherwise if you every now and then let someone else decide. To be honest, I wasn´t so enthusiastic about travelling to Egypt but since my sisters wanted to go there I went along. We ended up having great time in a culture that is very very different and therefore so utterly fascinating. The mix of arabic and western lifestyle is controversial but egyptians don´t seem to mind. I´ve been interested in arabic and eastern cultures for quite a while and this was a perfect field trip as the country is not too shocking for a European.

The arrival alone was pretty breath-taking. Landing to Cairo in the middle of the night and immediately going sailing on the Nile in the moonlight... wow! We can thank our friend in Cairo for a lot of amazing things we experienced, this was only one of them. We continued to the South, Sharm el-Sheikh, where we spent the three first days. Riding a bus through the Sinai peninsula was the first time I ever saw a real desert. Just some checkpoints and gunmen here and there, lot of rubbish and half-finished houses. On the bus there were mostly men, just a few had their wives with them.

The area where we stayed in Sharm el-Sheikh is an artifical tourist village filled with British and Russian tourists. I can´t recommend going to Naama Bay but the presence of Red Sea was enough to keep me happy. We went snorkeling and watching corals which was probably the highlight.

A constant nuisance were countless salesmen and restaurant staff who were after our money. I developed a way to ignore their blabbering even though it was hard. It´s even harder for girls and that´s why I always wore long skirts and scarves as not to awake so much attention.

The polluted Cairo

Back in Cairo we had the sweetest host, an American expat. She was a proof that a western girl can live independently amid a culture ruled by men. We also made other new friends and found that egyptians are very hospitable and friendly towards tourists. I made an effort and tried to speak Arabic which everyone always found hilarious, including me.

Kheops

We did the usual things, you know, saw the pyramids, rode camels, smoked a lot of shisha, drank tea, went to a museum, visited mosques, bargained at the bazaar, belly danced... Pyramids look like just heaps of ancients rocks but when you think about their age and the history it´s pretty impressive. We also went inside the biggest pyramid, Kheops. There was nothing in the chamber, surprisingly or not.

Visiting mosques was more special for me. It´s so fascinating to visit such a holy place, a place where people actually go and pray. The mosque of Mohammad Ali was the most impressive one. Somehow being there was such a beautiful moment. Taking our shoes off, just watching in awe all the lights in the ceiling, speaking sounds echo back from the dome muffled and then suddenly the prayer call comes, loud and clear.

In Egypt it seems that islam is present in peoples everyday life which makes it a "proper" religion in my eyes, compared to the way people practice religion in Finland for example. Also, meeting muslims that are also really great people could be an eye-opener to any westerner who bases his opinion on the mainstream media... 

Inside a mosque

For me it was awesome that people could spend time late in the night without drinking alcohol. We would sit outside in a café smoking shisha and drinking tea and it was completely normal. I would love to do such things in Finland.

After the mosque of Mohammad Ali, my favourite place was the big bazaar Khan el-Khalili. It´s a labyrinth of little shops selling jewelry, shisha, copper, leather, farbric, souvenirs, spices, silver, gold and a lot more. There I practiced my bargaining skills big time with more and less success. It´s another world.  After that I was happy that here in Finland prices are pretty much fixed.

At the bazaar

Egypt is so much more than a beach holiday. Everything´s upside down, the traffic is crazy as if people didn´t know about accidents. It´s ridiculously hot all the time. Cairo is dirty, chaotic, vibrant, noisy, colourful and always open. Men have beautiful brown eyes and long lashes. Go to Egypt and prepare for adventure. 

Run like you mean it

My philosophy is to do everything and try everything. There´s nothing that can stop me and when I look back I see that I have indeed done quite a lot of stuff. My trip to Greece was even a subject of an article in a paper because the editor thought “I do such interesting things”. Yes, and why wouldn´t everyone else!

Work is often an obstacle for people not doing things they really want. Work is just a means to make money so you could have a roof over your head, food and then: do things you like. It´s dead simple. No one has to work all the time for all their life. Really. Unfortunately not everyone thinks I´m supposed to have life outside work. I´d rather be a little lazy and selfish than try to collect cool work certificates. Because when you work, you sell your time and freedom for a certain amount of money. On one hand there´s money and on the other there´s time. Which one is more important?

Time is my friend, that I know for sure, and it´s precious. I feel sorry for people who don´t know how to occupy themselves on their free-time. It´s extremely important to have things you can be passionate and excited about.

One of my top joys in life is physical activity. It´s pretty awesome being able to run fast, climb, swim and so on and so forth. I don´t know why anyone wouldn´t take advantage of all that. That adrenaline kick I get from sports is so invigorating. Best way to feel alive again after a long day at uni. And I´m not talking about aimless jogging on a treadmill while watching Friends - I´m more for going out and doing real things like running in a forest, climbing and working out with my hands or feet on the ground.

Adrenaline is sweet. I wonder why they don´t sell it in cans.

It´s pretty useful to do things that stir you or frighten you. It´s another thing I learned from the inspirational Viidakkomies. Everyone knows how good it feels after a presentation in front of a class or stuff like that. I´m unable to explain it further but it´s just good to do daring stuff. What is daring is also travelling, leaving your comfort zone literally. I´ve deliberately made myself enough time and money to go Egypt in about five days so more daring is to come... I want to try diving so bad even though I find it scary. I will do it though and post an entry about it. So stay tuned and live courageously. 

Peace !

Turning an autumn leaf

Shades of pink and lavender. Sunsets are always the most beautiful when the light hits some clouds...

Autumn is here with a bang and along it came a massive flue. I´ve been suffering from a runny nose for like two weeks but now the damn illness is loosening its grip. Finally. The worst part is that it kept me from doing sports which I absolutely love. Now I´m starting again but carefully. Today I made a leisurely walk for like one and half hours. Walking is sometimes really nice because you have time to think about things without really having have to focus on the exercise.

Having a stroll in a cool autumn evening is quite nice. Another thing marking the end of summer is that we opened our art exhibition with my sister. I´ve been preparing for it all summer and thanks to my self-discipline I managed to get all painting done in time. Feels like I really achieved something. At the opening I had a really weird feeling because suddenly all my work, the insides of my head, was out there on display for everyone to see. I felt kind of bare. Like some artist sometime said: artists always paint themselves in a way. And it´s true.

Our CVs and some props like pictures of our grandparents

That´s why job of an artist is so risky and delicate. You expose yourself to the whole world, what you think is good, and hope that the public will agree. What would be worse than being a failed artist? Maybe that´s the reason I didn´t start studying arts because I can´t bare the idea of failing.

Now I´m getting back to my studies which feels nice, too. I like hanging out at the uni with all the hipsters and future business men and whatever. What a divided lot. And everyone thinks very highly of themselves because they go to university which is like.. the highest education you can get. It´s maybe highest but not the most useful or important. But that´s maybe a topic for another post...

Good night !!

Having a cake and eating it

A whole month without blogging! Oh, I feel so guilty. I don´t. I haven´t posted anything because it felt unpleasant and I didn´t have any great thoughts to share...

Summer´s over. Yes, I don´t mind saying it out loud. We all know the Finnish summer lasts for two months, strictly. We don´t like the heat anyway, do we?

I always (really?) praise autumn and it´s gloominess, heavy rain and wind, darkness, thick jumpers and yellow leaves. It´s dramatic, I love it. Alteration of seasons has already disappeared in some parts of the world due to the climate change so why not enjoy it while we can.

My world today:

Blueberry season. Fitness. Investing in a good jacket. Reading novels. Painting nails. Getting ready for the art exhibition.

I´m also trying not to be so nice. Girls are often raised to be nice and obedient but I want to rebel. Being nice can also mean neglecting your own needs and wants. Or being someone else than yourself. I´ve been practicing at work where I meet a lot of people who expect stuff from me. I try not to be that nice girl who always listens and smiles. I´ve started kind of ignoring people who I don´t want to talk to. I´m polite enough but I don´t have to make customers adore me. How liberating is that!

Trying to please people is my eternal problem, a pain in the arse. Some day I´ll stop for good. Like being afraid of making mistakes and of their results. What I really really really want to do now is to

• buy a bike
• have sushi
• grow muscles
• own more dresses and high heels

And yes, I don´t mind having a drink before I go to work. It´s not illegal, is it?