[210112-230112]
Determined not to spend my CNY alone in Oulu after knowing that every other asian chinese had their own travel plans in mind, I decided to head south to the second largest city in Finland, Tampere, and spend CNY with some Singaporean/HK/Chinese friends! :) Thank god for FREE WIFI on the Finnish trains (aren't they awesome, they are by far the european country that's one of the most generous with their WIFI), the 6hour journey didn't feel all that long. #firstworldproblem

My CNY wasn't lonely and boring as what many would expect since I was in a country with so little chinese influence. In fact, it was really FUN :D I mean, how many people get to enjoy CNY with SO MUCH SNOW!!! My fellow friends also made the season more enjoyable by putting in so much effort to bring out the festive mood ;)

It was just early in the Finnish winter, Tampere was just as snow clad as Oulu, temperature was about -20deg C? My very kind ese sep mates, Ivie and yx, showed me around their town. Its city centre is much bigger than Oulu's and has more things, owing to its more southern position and industrial-centric culture.

Cross country skiing

They brought me to some really ulu forest!!

YX's fav haunt

Their school looks so new!

One of the lakes in the city surrounded by lakes!

I always wonder how these dogs stand the cold

On CNY eve, we headed out to explore a tower near IV's apartment before heading back to prepare for the CNY EVE REUNION DINNER ;)

Ivie brought me to have lunch at top of one of the towers!

Shrimp pizza

Fairytale-ish view from the top of the tower

This is how the restaurant looks like from the outside! YES, the balcony was flooded by snow and the wind was super strong!

Extremely touristy pose

Ivie's hostel has a bbq pitt beneath!

HAHA SO IN THE CNY MOOD

Contrary to popular belief, they do have lots of mandarin oranges in Finland!! In fact, they eat it more often than we do, they have it in their salads now and then.

Iv cooking up a storm, in preparation for the potluck later on ;)

Awww IV sacrificed one of her mattresses for me

So jealous that she has a mirror in her room!

I made this stir fried chicken and onions (with this packet of sauce that I got from the asian market)

IV's curry chicken!

POTLUCK TIME! AHAH those HK girls made the butterfly pastries that tasted really good! (i think i forgot to take a picture when all the food arrived, guess i was too hungry HAHA)

LOOK AT THAT, they even had 对联

Bak Kut Teh cooked by Finian and Nigel (i think)

Talented Xiao Chen with her dumplings!

HAHA they made it a point to be dressed in red/orange

Happy faces

OMG WHY SO BLUR!!! BUT IT WAS REALLY REALLY AWESOME!!! AHAHAHA Two NTU guys made these ;) They had to roast them for hours!! Apparently they got the stuff from the asian market in their vacuum packed form and just had to roast them. I think it was because I missed having Char Siew, it tasted extremely good!

What is CNY without a (makeshift) bar?

OMG ROASTED PORK!! SUPER SUPER GOOD HAHAHAHA. Crispy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside ;) Kinda like a good pork knuckle!

GAMES TIME!!

HAHAHAH THIS WAS THEIR REACTION UPON HEARING THEIR FORFEIT!! No prizes for guessing what it is.

Another forfeit!! Poor dude had to do a standard pushup for every idiom that the girl recites!

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM SENG!!!! (cheers)

大年初一, 身为一个好导游的IV继续带我到处参观这个即美丽又宁静的城市. 虽然冰天雪地, 小城市还是不断地散发出浓浓的人情味.

I guess this is every Finnish kid's favourite pastime?

That's right, this way up!

WE'RE HERE!! THE HIGHEST POINT ;)

Yes, it was snowing

This tower apparently sells the BEST DOUGHNUT in Tampere ;)

This was me before the 5kg weight gain

IM A PWWWWINCESSS :D

OMG SMOKE STACK *LIKE A GEEK*

We haven't forgotten how to write chinese ok!

HEHEHE NARCISSISTIC!

We didn't forget our friends either

I guess every city has its own kauppahalli (market hall)

It sells all kinds of food, from desserts....

To bread!! (oh the oval shaped, pie crusted looking things are known as the traditional finnish pastry, pirrakka, goes damn well with buttered egg)

YES CHEESE!!!

JAP FOOD TOO!

Assorted sausages!!!! omg i miss those things! why are they so expensive in sg :(

Pretty roses!

What is Finland without SALMON? HAHAHAH

SPY MUSEUM! HAHAHA but i didn't go in... didn't have time! I had to take my 6hr train back home!

traces of an industrious city

I know I have said it before but I REALLY MISS THE SNOW :(
Like other cities in Finland, Tampere is also a really peaceful town! It also houses the Moomin museum as well as the new angry bird amusement park!! Aren't the Finns innovative? hehehehe It's a pity I never got to visit them due to the lack of time :(
Much thanks to the hospitality, I really enjoyed my stay there :)

Labels: Finland, Tampere