Our Lifestyle Adventures: Continuing our Nordic Experience in Helsinki

Helsinki has been ranked 3rd in Monacle and 8th in EIU as best livable city in the world for 2013!

on canal cruise around Helsinki Islands

Helsinki is the capital of Finland with a population of over 610,000 (SMSA of over 1,3M), making it the fourth largest among Nordic cities, after Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Oslo. She placed eighth best overall In the Economist Intelligence Unit's August 2012 Liveability Survey of the best and worst cities to live in. And we quickly found out why!

'almost flying carpet' in Arabia

Every day a vibrant Market Square sells souvenirs and Finnish food on the waterfront and a 40-foot ferris wheel is a prominent landmark on the harbor busy with large and small cruise ships. Just after the harbor, a fashion show, a folk music festival, and hosts of people milling around were happening all at the same time on Esplanade Park, Helsinki’s version of Central Park. May 24 was National Cleaning Day and everywhere you look, on grass lawns, even at tourist spots, people laid out their used items for sale in a giant national yard sale! I even found a huge yellow C and matching yellow C balloons at the Kamppi Shopping Centre in an enthusiastic campaign for awareness about hepatitis C.

Carol and white dinner plates

Bill, in peacock suit

In 2009, Helsinki was also chosen to be the World Design Capital for 2012 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.  A Design Museum in the Design District south of Esplanade Park attests to the industry’s achievements. Bill had fun donning a men’s costume inspired by peacocks at an exhibit of Takis’. The next day, we went to a town called Arabia, a residential area northeast of Helsinki where all developers are, by law, required to use 1-2 % of building investments for works of art. The Arabian Museum, an exhibit of Arabia’s ceramic products through the years, is part of the Design Museum.  Fiskar’s exhibit is a very creative expression of scissors and other everyday items.  Many other high quality brands have their factories there. Around the upscale neighborhood of residential condos many artworks like ‘The Almost Flying Carpet’ are featured. We saw why Finland got the Design Award!

beach sauna outhouses

Helsinki was established as a trading town by King Gustav I of Sweden in 1550. The construction of the naval fortress which today is called Suomenlinna in the 18th century helped improve Helsinki's status. This was one of the spots on the Beautiful Canal Cruise we took around the islands of the Helsinki Harbor. The biggest island, Lauttasaari, is now a large residential area with summer homes of the rich. We saw many sauna outhouses built close to the water for the famous hot/cold therapy and water toys for the big boys. The tour guide said there are 2 million such sauna houses around Helsinki. Another island is Korkeasaari, site of the biggest northernmost zoo in the world. There was even a dog beach set apart for man’s best friend.

the Helsinki Cathedral

Uspenski Cathedral

But it was not until Russia defeated Sweden in the Finnish War and annexed Finland in 1809 that the town began to develop into a substantial city. Czar Alexander I of Russia moved the Finnish capital from Turku to Helsinki in 1812 to reduce the influence of Sweden and bring the capital closer to St. Petersburg. The Uspenski Cathedral, largest Eastern Orthodox Church in Western Europe lording over a hill across the waters, and the majestic Helsinki Cathedral that towering over the Senate Square and the Tori Quarter were all built to resemble St. Petersburg, only 190 miles away.

Karuna Chapel in Seurasaari Island

One day, we wandered farther out from the City Centre and took Tram 8, instead of the usual 7, to get to the Olympic Tower, the Sibelius Monument, and the island of Seurasaari. Helsinki was the site of the 1952 Summer Olympics (originally for the 1940 Games which was cancelled because of WWII). We were so lucky because on the day we went, the Stadion was again abuzz in a track and field competition among schools! The Sibelius Monument is dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957). The monument consists of a series of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern, capturing the essence of his music. Finally, Seurasaari is the island devoted to a celebration of old Finland’s old homes and farms relocated to the island from outlying regions, like Oslo’s Folk Museum.

Rock Church

The oldest structure there is a church built in the 1600s, the Karuna Church where a wedding was being held that afternoon. When we got to the Rock Church fashioned out of a huge rock near downtown Helsinki, another wedding was also being held that afternoon. Then we walked another 4 blocks to see the finest example of wooden architecture in Finland, the Kamppi Chapel at the grounds of the Kamppi Shopping Centre. Finland is 80% Lutheran so all these churches are Lutheran.

Begel Lunch at Esplanade Park

But we also have to tell you about how we did on our one-great-meal-a-day policy in Helsinki.  First, after arriving from the airport, we had a Japanese buffet of sushi, miso soup, gyozas, and beef, pork, and chicken teppanyaki.  Next, at the Belge restaurant near the Esplanade, we had excellent beef lasagna and pan-fried chicken in Bearnaise sauce with green salad and traditional dark and dense rye bread of Finland. Third was at Seurasaari for traditional wiener schnitzel and blueberry cake. Fourth was at the  seafood platter of fried Vendace, little fish like the Filipino ‘dilis’, grilled salmon, calamari and potatoes, carrots, and green beans at the Market Square. Fifth was a simple soup and salad buffet at Arabia.

@ the Market Square

lunch at Seurasaari Island

In preparation for my next book, Bill and I tried a suburban boutique hotel after the failed hostel experiment in Oslo. The Hotel Ava is attached to an Institute and had a lovely park in front, so the room had a beautiful picture window of green treetops. Aside from comfortable beds, a TV and a well-provided bathroom suite and ample closet space, there was a shared kitchen and laundry room, even a fitness center and a sauna each for men and women. The only hitch was that it is 20 minutes away from the city centre. Our Helsinki card paid for all of the museums we saw, cruises we took, and public transport we used. We saved less than our savings in Oslo because Helsinki did not have a special card for seniors. We definitely liked this hotel better. It was as if we were going ‘home’ every day after tours.

Hotel Ava and Institute

We loved Helsinki, especially the downtown area we came to know so well. It is well laid out with little nooks and corners of greens amid the concrete. The people are so warm that every time we looked at a map or maybe appeared a little lost, one Finn, whether a teenager, an old man, or a woman with a child, on the bus, on the streets, or inside malls, would approach and ask what we were looking for. Everyone was eager to help so we were always saying ‘Kiitos’ whence they would readily reply, ‘Ole hyva!’

Our Lifestyle Adventures: Beginning our Nordic Experience in Oslo

tulips at the Parliament Square

a Nordic farm at the Folk Open Air Museum

(Note: Technically, we have begun a Northern European ( Nordic + UK) Swing. Nordic refers to the five countries of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark (plus its territory, Greenland) and Iceland while Scandinavia only refers to the first three. UK refers to Scotland, Ireland, and England)  

Spot 'MALAYA' , what I added
on the Democracy Wall
of the Nobel Peace Center!

As intriguing as the term Nordic is, so is the name of the city of Oslo. It has two meanings, "meadow at the foot of a hill" or "meadow consecrated to the Gods".  It is in fact a meadow shaped like an amphitheater surrounded by hills beyond which are the magical fjords of Norway, a country with an astounding long coastline and abundant resources from the sea and the forests.  Oslo is Norway’s capital ranked number one in terms of quality of life in Europe in the Cities of the Future 2012 report. But in 2011 the city also ranked as the second most expensive city in the world, after Tokyo.

at the viking Museum, beside the third best preserved Viking Ship in the world, the Tune

RA II at the Kontiki Museum

As of January 2014 Oslo’s population stood at almost 650,000 with an SMSA of over 1.5M, the fastest growing major city in Europe, with an astonishing growth rate of nearly 2%. The largest minority is Pakistani but there are, I was happy to find out, almost 5,000 Filipinos. Considered one of the safest cities in the world, it has also admirably ranked, for the past 4 years, first in democracy index (US ranks #15 and the Philippines #55) based on 60 indicators grouped in 5 categories: electoral process, civil liberties, government functioning, political participation, and political culture.

Founded around 1000 AD as a trading place, it was elevated as a capital around 1300. Personal unions with Denmark until the early 1500s and with Sweden until the 1800s and a fire in 1624 may have reduced its influence in the past, but never its charm. We visited many attractions, some free and others using a 48 hour Oslo Pass priced at 425 kroner for me and 215 for Bill as a senior. Those translate to $78 and $39 which include both admission fees and public transport. The attractions that charge no admission can all be reached via Tram #12 whose Hausmann’s Gate Station is right in front of our hostel.

Akershus Castle and Sea fortress

Oslo Cathedral

Two blocks from the Central Station, 2 stops from us, is the iconic symbol of Oslo - the Oslo Cathedral. Three more stops away are the National Theatre and Parliament that are at two ends of a garden of colorful tulips, art works, and a pond with a fountain.  A block away towards the water is the City Hall with its twin towers. At the back of City Hall, you can stroll to the left around The Akershus Castle and Sea Fortress that guarded the city since 1299. Beyond the castle and fortress is the famous National Opera and Ballet which features the largest walkable roof in the world.

Norwegian National Opera and Ballet
largest walkable roof in the world

the central Obelisk at the Vigelund Sculpture Park

On the other side is Akker Brugge which begins with the Nobel Peace Center and ends with the Museum of Modern Art.  In between are many shops and boutique restaurants along the waterfront.  The Nobel Peace Center has an ongoing exhibit about the democratization of the world through social media. I had fun adding my own wire art ‘MALAYA’ onto the ‘Democracy Wall’. At the 2nd floor, a tribute to all Nobel Peace Prize winners was quite moving…electric candles on wooden sticks around a dark room. About 20 minutes away from the city center are the Vigelund Sculpture Park and the Oslo Museum. The former is the world’s largest park of a single artist with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron. At the Oslo museum near the Park, there is a delightful 20 minute film of the city’s thousand years.

original Stave Chapel @ Folk Museum

One day we took the Ferry #91 at the back of City Hall for a 10 minute trip to Bygdoy, the southern peninsula of Oslo. First stop included both the Viking Museum which featured the third best preserved Viking ship in the world (the Tune) plus 2 other ships, and the Folk Museum which replicated apartment complexes of early 1900s Oslo, rebuilt Nordic farms, and the original Stave Chapel which had been relocated. We saw a replica of this chapel in Rapid City, South Dakota and were now happy to see the original. At the Ferry’s Stop #2, the Fram Museum displayed the ship, the Polar Fram, the first to reach the North Pole.  Also at that stop is the Kon-tiki Museum where the original raft that traveled from South America to the Easter Islands in 101 days is highlighted. The third, the Maritime Museum had the oldest 2,200 year-old dugout boat found off Norway’s coast.

the Polar Fram

Ice Bar and Gallery

One night we felt adventurous, trooped to the city center, stopped by the Ice Bar and Gallery, donned the heavy-duty hooded jackets and gloves, and braved -5 degrees Centigrade for some cool cocktails served in ice glasses. Not only was it a bar made of ice but it also replicated in ice some of Oslo’s great works of art. The last attraction we visited was the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Tower where the record of 142 meters was set in 2011. Near the top is the Ski Museum that displays the history of skiing. This trip brought us almost to the end of Metro 1 and the top of a Norwegian hill which offered a lovely vista.

Ski Jump at Holmenkollen 

lunch at Akker Brugge

Had we not obtained our Oslo Passes, all the museums we went to would have cost us 1210 kroners, not including the cost of transportation. Thus we saved at least 1200 kroner ($200) in all, more if we had not grown museum-weary. We did not even get to the Munch Museum. But we remained true to our one-great-meal-a-day policy: 1) killying (chicken)tagliatelle and laks (salmon) fettuccine at a trendy bar and restaurant in Akker Brugge, al fresco, on seats lined with faux fur, 2) more affordable lunch at the Folk Museum of laks (lightly smoked salmon) and reker (fresh prawns) open-faced sandwiches, very Nordic especially with light waffles smothered in jam and sour cream for dessert, 3) Middle Eastern spicy noodles and chicken vindalloo outside the Metro station, and 4) comfort Chinese food of wonton soup, egg rolls and fried rice at Oslo City (mall).

Nordic open-faced sandwiches

Anker Hostel

This was my first experience staying at a hostel. It was at a great location. Aside from being just several stops from the city center, it is also only 2 stops from the Central Station where 2 Airport Express Trains ran to and from the airport in just 20 minutes. But the room was bare, just twin beds, 2 chairs, and a table. It had a working stove, a tiny old ref, a kitchen sink, and a small bathroom. There were no services other than reception. We had no TV but our room looked out to a nice green view. But this is probably the last time we will stay at a hostel. It is definitely for the young, not the young at heart!

waiting for airport express train

Besides a great name and tradition, Oslo had an amazing public transport system.  The longest we had to wait for transport was 10 minutes because you had three options all the time, buses, trams, or the T-bane (Metro). Oslo is not only a meadow at the foot of the hills; it is definitely a meadow consecrated to the Gods, with plentiful water and forest resources, admirable and efficient systems, old and new charm, and inspiring works of men. Yes, it was expensive to stay there, even for just several days as we did, but it was worth every krone!  From now on, it will always remind me of water, wood, seafood, ships, tulips, sculpture, democracy, ice, hostel and kroner.

green and clean oslo airport

Our Lifestyle Adventures: Traveling to Oslo!

the Jumbo Nose of the 747 that took us to London Heathrow

approaching Oslo,Norway

We left camp on May 16 and took the motorhome to Camping World in Mesa where it will stay for certain repairs and updates until Bill returns on July 12. I will be remaining in my daughter’s home in Newcastle, England until August 10 for some bonding time. After all the discussions with the service engineers at Camping World, we checked in at our hotel near the Sky Harbor International Airport. Dinner that night was a big BBQ brisket dinner which we shared. We didn’t realize we had missed the dish for such a long time. It was to be the start of our one-great-meal-a-day on this our European Swing.

with the Zderics at Thirteen Coins
near the SeaTac International Airport

Our flight to Oslo began at 8 am on Saturday, May 17 (which meant getting up at 4:30!). Luckily, we had a six hour layover at the SeaTac International Airport. Our friends Irene and Fred picked us up soon after our landing of 11:30 am and we headed for the upscale Thirteen Coins restaurant very near the airport. We sat at the prime seats at the counter where their chefs had a continuing show of culinary expertise. Bill had been savoring Steak Sinatra in his mind as soon as he heard that was where we were having lunch.  The four medallions of steak prepared a special way was a good lunch for two, especially with the spaghetti and extra side order of sautéed mushrooms.

Trisha, Yeye, and Kenji seeing us off at SeaTac International Airport

At 3:00 pm, Deejay, Trisha, Yeye, and Kenji picked us up from Thirteen Coins and we all went for dessert and coffee at Cheesecake Factory some ten minutes away at the South Center’s Westfield Mall. I last saw them from January through March last year so it has been more than a year! Trisha has changed jobs, Yeye is graduating from high school in a month, and Kenji has written a book! We had all sorts of cheesecake, throwing caution to the wind, and all kinds of hugs, feeling all sorts of love in the air. At 5:30 pm we were back at the airport for our flight at 6:45.

the British Welcome at Heathrow

And, surprise of all surprises, British Airways served us a pretty good chicken curry though quite a small portion which was just right since we were getting no exercise. There were lots of movies for our independent screens but they were mostly the Oscar Best Picture nominees we had seen at our 2014 Oscar Movie Marathon. I slept a wink after dinner and turned to writing instead after waking up an hour or so later. I really can’t sleep in such a cramped space sitting up. So this post got finished and the outline of my next book got mapped up! Then I rewarded myself with ‘Mandela’s Walk to Freedom.’ An hour before touchdown at Heathrow, we had our ‘not so good’ breakfast.

Heathrow Terminal 5

At 12 noon of May 18, we arrived at the London Heathrow International Airport with a layover of five hours. That is just right because the airport is HUGE and always terribly busy. More time between flights gives you enough to find your new terminal, not get frazzled, and find a great place to eat. As a matter of fact, to get to our connection, we had to go through another security check which took a long time because my Benadryl Lotion was 3 ml. more than the max allowed. We had to look for the airport pharmacy and buy substitutes which I hope will work as stress brings out my hives! We settled ourselves at the Huxleys English Restaurant and Bar to wait for our last leg to Oslo. Still full from the big lunch and dessert in Seattle and despite the meager food served by the airline, we just had soup and salad...and ice cream!

At 9:00 pm, we arrived at the Oslo Airport still in daylight. We took the Airport Express Train which got us to the Central Station in about 15 mnutes. A short cab ride brought us to the Anker Hostel. Yes, we are staying at a hostel. Lest you are horrified, I found out that such hostels have a few private double rooms with its own bathroom. During my research, I found this to be the most inexpensive hotel right at the city centre, where most popular hostels usually are. This will ensure us of proximity to the Metro or bus station for easy access to the ten attractions we want to see. But I guess this will be the last time we stay at one!

My next book is about Traveling Well, Inexpensively, testing my skills in balancing enjoyment and cost.  As a matter of fact, our flight was paid for through air miles with Alaska Air, collected by Bill through years of traveling and doing business. Aside from flying smartly, we just discovered how to have great meals every day at half price...shared each one. Hopefully, we will also have a good night’s rest because our 2014 European Swing starts tomorrow!

Wonderings on Wanderings: Getting Ready for our European Swing 2014

my still-red-in-may-poinsettias and growing pothos

Mother's Day Lunch!

Our last week before our European Swing started out with Mother’s Day! After mass, Bill took me to a flower shop so I can choose my flowers. Then we had a superb Mother’s Day lunch at Cork n’ Catch, one of the best restaurants in little Cottonwood, Arizona. I had my favorite grilled fish with mango salsa and Bill, his favorite 8 oz. steak after a terrific International Cheese Platter! Bill always makes up for the distance from my daughters who are elsewhere around the world, in Seattle USA, Calgary Canada, and Newcastle England! But they sent a certificate for a Three-course Meal with Aperitif for Two at Tirage Champagne Restaurant in London.

They say to complete a life you have to mother a child, plant a tree, and write a book. Well, I have planted several trees in connection with varied causes. And now, I finally have written a book! Please go to http://gocruisinglifestyle.com/ for announcements about it. But the best, among the three, is to have mothered a child, three daughters for me, in fact. Here they are, smart, pretty, and loving. Without them, I would not have a beautiful Mother's Day every day! 

my three daughters

Well, in five days’ time, we fly to Oslo, Norway for the start of our European Swing 2014. We have decided not to cover countries outside of North America by cruising in an RV. There are no intercontinental roads anyway. Kidding aside, RV’ing in most parts of the world is more difficult and less convenient (RVs smaller and roads narrower).

We decided that now, five years after we started ticking places in our bucket list, we want more conveniences in traveling. Besides, cruising means a pace, not a specific mode of transportation! We intend to travel a maximum of two to three months a year, a month or two out of the country and visits to children the other month. For the other nine to ten months, we will snowbird and so we have reserved again in Viewpoint for even longer this time, eight months!

my new luggage and walking shoes
for our European swing!

As a matter of fact, to have more conveniences in cruising, we have signed up with Diamond Resorts International, the biggest in the industry, so that our stays will be in more comfortable resort-type condos wherever we go. At least once a year, we also intend to have a family reunion like the one we had in Mazatlan in 2009. So we are doing a two-month swing of Europe before April’s wedding at the Guthrie Castle in Scotland and a month’s stay for me at her home in Newcastle after.

The Swing is our transition to our new cruising lifestyle!  We have renewed our reservation for Phoenix’s Viewpoint for another eight months, from August 2014 to March 2015, right after our European Swing from May 17 to August 10 (for me) and July 12 (for Bill). Here is our detailed itinerary:

May 18 to 22     Oslo, Norway

May 22-26          Helsinki, Finland

May 26-27          St. Petersburg, Russia

May 27-June 1   Stockholm, Sweden

June 1-15            2-week Cruise to Denmark, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, and England

June 15-17          Brighton, England

June 17-19          Canterbury, England

June 19-21           Stonehenge and Bath, England

June 21-25           Cotswolds, England

June 24-25           Windsor, England

June 25-30           London, England

June 30-July 1     Edinburgh, Scotland

July 1-3                 Guthrie Castle, Scotland (wedding of my daughter April)

July 3-5                 tour of the Highlands, Scotland

July 5-6                 Edinburgh, Scotland

July 6-Aug 10       Newcastle, England

I hope to post about each of these stops in  9 countries and 20+ cities and towns weekly, beginning next week after our tour of Oslo!

Right now we are in frenzied preparations to make sure we are leaving the RV okay in storage. My biggest problem is this: Who will take care of my plants, especially the still blooming and pretty poinsettia? I even had to buy new walking shoes and sandals since it will be a lot of walking in Europe, especially London. I even have a new set of luggage for the trip since we are using four airlines with differing baggage allowances. We had to make sure we have ones that would meet the smallest and lightest allowances and that is Norwegian Air! 

See you around the world in the World Wide Web!

Wonderings on Wanderings: Turning to Marketing!

my new FB Business Page cover photo

Now that I have submitted the book, I wait for feedback regarding 1) completeness, 2) content liability, 3) Round 1 editorial evaluation, 4) Round 2 editorial evaluation, 3) proofing, 4) printing, and distribution. From the first step to the last can be three months at the minimum or, as I assess my chances, six months, partly because we are going on this three month European tour starting May 17.  So now I have turn to marketing activities.

I have been marketing different products and services all my life: IT training, consulting, software, hardware, and services. In marketing a book, the principles are the same, I think, but the state of the art is very different because of the impact of the Internet. I am told that a credible online platform is a must in selling books. So I have repositioned my blog and Facebook profile as parts of that platform. My blog is now averaging 700 views a day. Good platforms are supposed to log in 30,000 a month. I have to work harder!  A FB fan base of around 3,000 is also needed. I have only 2,000 so far but I think I will get there.

FB BUSINESS PAGE

A FB business page entitled The Cruising Lifestyle has been set up and I hope that likes for it will also reach 3,000. It will be the repository of my most popular OLA (Our Lifestyle Adventures) blog posts of not less than 2,000 views and the WOWs (Wonderings on Wanderings)  that describe or lend a discussion towards the understanding of the cruising lifestyle. Right now it contains five WOWs and five OLAs, with a common post, totaling 9.

Most Popular Posts (OLAs with more than 2,000 views as of May 3, 2014):

1. Traveling Light, in an RV? (19,446)

2. Turning Wounds into Wisdom (18,765)

3. Discovering More in New Mexico (18,511)

4. Going up the East Coast (14,825)

5. Finding Christmas on Treasure Island (11,615)

Descriptive Posts (WOWs):

1. Traveling Light, in an RV (19,446)

2. Cruising to a Life together of Cruising (10,340)

3. Going through the Five Stages of the Cruising Lifestyle (108)

4. Debating the Pros and Cons of the RV Cruising Lifestyle (5,258)

5. Classifying Campgrounds (129) 

I intend to update this Page on a weekly basis. The page gives you an easy way to get updated with my blog through its most important and popular posts. I hope you like it.

WEBSITE

I have also created a website entitled The Cruising Lifestyle. It contains the following sections:

1. an active link to the three most recent blog posts,

2. a link to the five articles/posts that have been republished in three publications,

3. the top 10 photos of five galleries (Scenes, People, Plants and Animals, Unusual Things, and Things Yellow). Actually, my blog contains all our photos in these five galleries, too, and  

4. everything about my travel memoir Carolina, Cruising: the cover, back cover copy, a free preview (later) and all announcements.

Right now the big announcement on my website is that an Early Bird Discount is now available! Please go to http://www.gocruisinglifestyle.com  for the details.

There are four Ps in marketing: product, price, place, promotion. I am working on the product and it is now at the publishing stage. Price will be decided with the publishing house together with place or the points for distribution. The online platform will be the key for promoting the book. But after the platform, we probably will also need advertisements (FB and Amazon) and publicity, the latter probably the more important of the two. So I am scheduling at least two tentative book signing events, Phoenix in November and Manila in January.

They say 10% of the effort is in writing the book, 30% is in publishing it, and 60% is in marketing it. Being right in the middle of publishing and lining up marketing, there is so much work left for me to do. 2014 has and will continue to be one busy, and very exciting, year!