Day 41- 44, Apr 10-13, Lappland

Hello Folks! I am finally back from Lappland:D I had mixed reactions while I was there... It's a long long story and im going to shoot em all out anyway!!

Arrived at Jyväskylä Matkakeskus at 1.30am witing for the Lappland express bus to take me to Lappland:) Waiting can be an unnecessary torture, with windy conditions and cold weather!:...( The bus finally arrived at 3am, 1.5 hours late) Boarded the bus and realised that many people were asleep. Found one next to a Spanish Girl by the name of Maria and here I began my exciting 8 hour bus ride to Lappland!

Upon arrival, we visited the largest ice castle in the world: Lumi Linna! It didn't look as fantastic as it seemed, maybe its because the sky was overcast and it was snowing. Also, there were two or three days when the temperature went above 0C. This meant that the castle has melted a little and became dirty from black snow. I didn't want to go in because it costs a hefty 15E for s guided tour. Everyone went in and I was all alone to walk around town:) It was beautiful as the castle was located right next to the massive gulf of Bothnia. The whole sea was frozen and it was Beautiful:D I walked around the old town and by chance, managed to sneak my way into the castle hahahaha... It was really funny as I just walked in like a normal walk-in guest and confidently pass the ticketing counter! It was nice inside due to the lightings and that was it-_-. I was glad I didn't pay the 15 Euros:D Managed to make a few new friends: Rachel and Lamia from Holland, Panagiotta, Kely and Ourainia from Greece, Osman from Turkey, Joghen of Austria, Lukas and a few others from Germany! (During breakfast before the castle trip!)

It was really difficult as due to the previous experiences from the last batch of Earsmus students, I was afraid of being ignored by everyone:.....( I WILL NOT LET THAT HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN I thought to myself. So I bravely walked towards the first group of people (The german Students) and said ," Hi my name is Jordan, may I sit with you guys?".... "Sure! Please!" was their reply. Deep inside me I felt a sense of achievement... And then we started chatting and sharing information of each other's countries. I was glad that things headed the direction I was hoping for!! Then outside the Hotel where we had our breakfast did I meet Rachel, Lamia and the wonderful Greek Girls:D

Our next stop after Kemi castle was Ranua Zoo, located in the City of Ranua. This "city" (town) is located close to the state of Lappland and it's zoo is said to be the most interesting one in Finland, as all the animals: Bears, Foxes, Birds, moose and deers all live under one roof! It didn't really interest me as Singapore zoo is still said to be one of the best in the world:D Also it costs another 15E for a guided tour = 30SGD which was ridiculous!!! Till date I have managed to save 30 Euros heheheh:) Bought lots of sweets and chocolates from the Fazer shop. Fazer is said to be one of the most delicious chocolate brands in Europe.. and I certainly have to agree with that!!

As everyone entered the zoo, I sat down with Kelly, one of the greek girls and we had a great time talking to one another:D She told me lots of things about Greece and I think il be going there after my attachment:D It seemed like a really great place!!

After about tw and a half hours of chatting, we were sent to our accomodation for the two nights... Rova-motelli... ROVA-MOTELLI... A MOTEL BY A HIGHWAY W$#%*#$%$#@!!! There was nothing surrounding the motel.. only trees!! Also, this was when a number of us encountered our first problem: Rooms. We expected a maximum of around 5-6 people per cottage. As we walked down the street, after the 5th group of students, the raminder 26+ of us wew thrown into one main cottage with only one shower area with three showers, no dividers, and a miserable toilet bowl smacked next to one of the showers, with no walls, no doors NOTHING...NOTHING!!!! The german students were quite pissed and refused to enter. I did... but after realising that it wasn't fair for me, I packed my bags and went out, together with two other swiss girls. We went off to look for our guide Katja (a russian) and complained about this unfair designation of the room. It almost turned ugly as Katja wanted the german guys and us to pay for an upgrade to a better room (400 Euros for 10 persons).. OF COURSE WE DISAGREED!!

As she spent so much time talking to her boss, who was the ASSHOLE, we had no choice but to use the Singaporean way... So I told her, " Fine... we will stay in the main cottage with 20 other GUYS, but I expect a refund for the accomodation or you will see me taking this case to the Helsinki Consumer Board.. Also I will definitely ruin the name of your travel agency, which has given us the worse kind of impression, try ME! She was kind of freaked out and had to talk to her boss again... and FINALLY, after 1 Hour of waiting, she agreed and we got the "suite cottages" Wheeeeeee;D It was large and had a very homely feel:) And finally, we have gotten more that what we have paid for!!

Had a good sleep, even though I was worried that after all the arguing, the people (apparently russians owned this motel), would come and shoot us dead and bury us in the arctic circle... interestingway to die:) Woke up and headed to Santa Claus Village:D It was a really nice place and it seemed like some set in a child's impression of winter wonderland. There were gian snowmen, candy bar sculptures, "santa" houses and playgrounds! Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to meet Santa as despite his size, I couldn't find him anywhere and taking a picture with him costs 25E bloody Euros anyway!!! Walked around and bought myself two really cute Husky dogs (toys lah... and two for only 30SGD:D

After an interesting time at Santa Village, we headed off to Ounasvaara Ski Centre. I regretted not going there as everyone had so much free fun!:...( Instead, I chose to go for the Rovaniemi City tour and visit the Arktikum Museum with the Greek girls and my new friends from Italy, which was also interesting and fun:) Were supposed to meet the huskies today but it was cancelled as the season was over... awwww. Anyway we returned back to our motel where I spent my dinner time eating and having lots of fun with the Greek girls, together with Lamia and Rachel!! We were laughing all the way even though we were not drunk LOL:D Then we played "tai-ti"= chinese poker LOL We taught them how to play it and they got really addicted hahhahaha:) I had a really great time:):) Also, Kelly occassionally behaved "serious"to try and scare us.. For instance, when she said a joke about herself and we all started laughing, she became serious and said, " Oh, you think its funny? why are you laughing? YOU THINK ITS FUNNY?" Then everyone in the room becomes sober IMMEDIATELY and we were like looking at one another and "oh shit... she's mad, we're screwed!" And then she startd laughing with all our stupid faces on LOL:D It was so funny and I really really had hell lots of fun!!

Returned to my cabin at 1am and managed to catch a really faint moment of nothern lights... It was really really faint as it was cloudy and the clouds became a little green for a moment. But I think it was good enough for me:D:D

Next morning, I arrived at breakfast late and everyone left for their rooms to pack up. I was suddenlt approached by a gay man who TOTALLY FREAKED ME OUT!!! He had his fingernails painted bright red and was wearing cog shoes!!! He did an action that almost made me burst out into laughter LOL! ( He was doing this "sweeping" motion on his right cheek and his hands stayed on the cheek) HAHAHAHAHAHA He walked over and sat next to me... I couldn't eat anything cuz I was realy freaked out hahahaha:D Worse still, I was holding a banana I bought yesterday and it was peeled and BELIEVE ME, He kept glancing at the banana and me.... He was telling me about his plans to visit Thailand and Bali ( For gay stuff I think) and when he asked me where I was from I said I came from the jungles of Malaysia... I really had too cuz if I said Singapore, my chances of getting caught and grabbed by him would be 42km by 24km, really high LOL!!:D:D

Suddenly, Panagiota and kelly (the greek girls) rushed into the restaurant and was speaking in a really anxious tone.. " OMY OMY JORDAN WE HAVE TO LEAVE NOW IMMEDIATELY AS OUR BUS DRIVER IS DRIVING OFF!!! Knowing that they were trying to save me, I went " OH F*** F*** F*** WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!!!! Then quick as lightning I ran out of the restaurant and I believe he shouted... "REMEMBER ME!!!'"

Once outside, Panagiota and Kelly told me that they had to "OMY, Jordan is all alone and this gay man is sitting next to him... WE HAVE TO RESCUE HIM!!!" I thanked them over and over and all of us were laughing!!! Spent 6 hours on the bus going back to Jyväskylä. I gave all of them a really big big hug before I got off the bus as they were my best friends for the trip!! I missed everyone badly but it certainly felt great to be back home!! Overall the Trip to lappland was great and I truly enjoyed myself.. photos soon:D

Kovski

alone in the snow...10:47 AM