Europe #2: Rovaniemi, Finland

LOMA-VIETONEN VILLAGE

Our home for 2 nights 

Our backyard 

HAHA and i fell after that. 

Still our backyard :) 

Frozen lake right outside our apartment :) 

Snow mobile 

Reindeer Sleigh 

caught the auroras from our backyard :) 

Back to Rovaniemi City Center 

 Aurora Hunting 

Had to climb up a snowy hill, no joke. TIRING HAHAHA 

Roasting sausages while waiting for auroras 

Ounasvaara Ski Resort Rovaniemi 

Left a part of me in Rovaniemi. Hands down the best part of the trip. 

The frozen lake just right behind our room is so vast, so white and so still.

My limited vocabulary will never be able to describe how i felt. 

HAHA 

Sitting by the fire at night, just waiting patiently for the auroras, absorbing the stillness.. 

it was amazing. I really don't know how I can actually describe it? but still really hope to be able to write this down so I won't forget it. HAHAHA 

Finland has been a trip of many firsts. 

First snowfall 

First reindeer sleigh

First Snowmobile 

First aurora 

First ski 

First -20degrees 

First sausage roasting in the cold 

First time climbing up a snowy hill with a skiing stick just to hunt for auroras 

First time tasting snow 

First time visiting Santa's home 

First time wearing 3 layers of heat tech 

First time spending so much. HAHAHAA 

First time seeing a wild reindeer galloping across the snow?! I froze because... idk if the reindeer would attack us?? HHAHA and there weren't any guides or locals with us, we were alone!! 

It was an amazing sight nonetheless :) 

I should have taken a picture.. but like I said, I frozen when the reindeer turned at look at us. HAHAHA  

5 days 4 nights, 

2 nights in Loma Vietonen 

2 nights in the City Center 

Loma Vietonen Village is a must go :) 

Free aurora right outside our doorsteps (the ones in the pictures), don't have to spend 80 euros just to hunt for auroras (which we didn't even catch any!) 

How do I describe it?

It was just us 30 human (at most)  in such a biggggggg area. 

Imagine how quiet and how still it is? 

Slightly intimidating but definitely breath-taking. 

Can't wait to explore more of Finland already!!!! 

  

Europe #1: Birmingham + London

Pre-Flight 

So, considering what a BB i am, I had to take this picture prior to my flight. HAHA 

Was kinda freaking out before I boarded the plane. But guys, yay me!! Take a plane by myself checked!!! :) it's really nothing to be afraid of actually. 

Eat, watch movies, sleep, eat, watch movies and tadaaahhhh landed! :) 

Took a coach into Birmingham from London Heathrow Airport. 

Didn't expect myself to reach early so I booked a later coach and YES I WAITED 2 HOURS IN THE COLD. 

but I was actually too excited and overwhelmed to be affected by it. hahaha! 

Coach duration was about 1hr45mins and cousin and nieces were waiting for me at Birmingham Coach Station :) 

Birmingham

Met little nieces Wincy and Ellsy. 

Cousin took me in for 2 nights :) 

I'm just gonna include a shameless selfie because good weather, good hair. so, why not? HAHAAHA 

Star City for movie with the little ones :) 

HAHAHA Ellsy randomly held my hand during the movie. :) sweet or what?! 

Winter Carnivals are the best, aren't they? 

Dropped nieces off and spent some alone time with Anna :) AT THE CASINO HAHAHA :) 

Am I her lucky star? haha 

Anna dropped me off at Birmingham train station. I was really determined to capture the "Grand Central" HAAHAH 

LONDON 

Took a train into London for about GPB 38 and met Jean at Euston Station, after which, we took a LONDON CAB (need to emphasize HAHAH) to London Victoria where our Airbnb was located :) 

London Airbnb 

"Ensuite Studio in Victoria (6)"

Location: about 5-7 mins walk to Victoria Station. 

Relatively clean, heater stopped working for awhile though. HAHAHA but the owner handled it quite well, came down to do a check and all.

Met up with a few friends in London :)

Had dinner at Wright Brothers Soho. Relatively Pricey but by looking at this picture, you'll know that it was worth every pence. HAHAHA 

After which, we went to PK's friends house for New Year Countdown. 

Overseeing London Eye on New Year's Eve? 

Soooo Thankful :) 

I fell asleep shortly after counting down. HAHAHAHA and it was sooooooo difficult to get back to our apartment. I think we left at the wrong time? The crowd was insane. 

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 

  

 Always wanted to visit Winter Wonderland and it was indeed a dream come true! 

Flat Iron Soho 

Burger and Lobster

Big Ben London 

Sister got called up to London. 

BOXPARK 

BOROUGH MARKET 

Dinner at J Sheekey Covent Garden 

The Book of Mormon 

Camden Market 

Natural History Museum 

Missed our Ice Skating timing in Winter Wonderland, so we decided to ice skate at the NHM instead. 

London -  One of the best, definitely a place that i'd love to revisit.

Maybe next time i'll remember not to order lobster burger and grilled lobster @ burger and lobster but order the steam lobster instead. (Jean and I went twice and I ordered the wrong one twice..) 

Till then.