Getting a new puppy

Since my dear dog "Viki" died last Sept.25, I never did feel myself totally alright.
Even I did have several splendid trips, partly in very good company, but I somehow hated to come back to my empty home, not having this tiny Bison Frise with its smiling face, barking different sounds, jumping with wildly wagging tail. All people, who ever owned a dog know what I mean.
Now, day after tomorrow I'll fly to Oulu with Anna, who is more than just a pretty girl friend of my son Kristian. From this Northern Finnish city we will pick up a three months old puppy (a Bison Frise- boy too) and fly back to Helsinki with it, actually with him. I really am very excited!

Visiting Saaremaa Island in Estonia

Just yesterday I came back from a long weekend on the most beautiful Saaremaa. I was a group leader of 25 members of our Finnish Club, and I am very proud to say that everybody seemed to be absolutely satisfied with our program of four days in this sunny, very friendly and pleasant rural atmosphere. The local farmer's food was excelent, but for most men (13) the experience to remember, was an old smoke sauna on last Friday evening. The boat trip on Viking Xpres took 2,5 hours from Helsinki to Tallinn (Estonian capital) and then a bus trip 4,5 hours, including a ferry of 30 minutes, to Kuressaare, the capital of Saaremaa. This island will be one day a really popular tourist spot, having today the most visitors, maybe 80% from Finland, but even we are not too many down there. The golf players and hunters have already found there their posibilities, however Saaremaa offers much, much more.

Back from Indochina

We ( our group of 27 Finns )really had good luck with our flight from Bangkok to Helsinki last week. First we were afraid that Bangkok airport might be closed because of the riots in the city.
Secondly we just arrived to Helsinki a day before when the airport of Helsinki was closed due the vulcanic erruption in Iceland.
Our stay onboard of 5Star m/s La Marguerite was most pleasant during our seven days cruise at Mekong river. We also very much enjoyed our visits in Saigon (officially Ho Chi Minh City)in Vietnam, as well as in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia.
In Vietnam at Mekong Delta we stopped in several small towns or villages to enjoy the friendliness of local people as well as the mostly very good but simple food.
Our main goal however was the ancient Angkor Vat, near Siem Reap. Angkor Vat, Angkor Thom and other temples are one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and naturally incredible interesting ,enchating and fascinating.
The whole trip took exactly two weeks , and as much I know everybody was very satisfied including those 52 other ones from Australia, USA, England, Germany and Netherlands. Among those nationalities, we Finns were the biggest group.
I was lucky too, because I as the only Finn was invited even twice to dine with the ship owners Mr.Rudi Schreiner and Miss Kristin Karst both from California and Mr.Dang Bao Hieu from Saigon. I could praise the ship and the trip much more but I advise you to contact AMA WATERWAYS or INDOCHINA SAILS to explore yourselves this wonderful experience.

Once more again to Far East

This is not an April joke. In a few hours I'll have with some friends of Finnish Club
a flight to Hong Kong with a continueing one to Saigon. After a couple of days stay there we shall board a luxury river cruiser to Siem Reap for eight days.
The winter here was like in old times, very cold and a lot of snow. But I did not experience almost anything of it, because of my stay in Thailand. I came just back to Finland, when the heavy cold was over and the spring did start. Well, we still have plenty of snow in parks and forests, but I guess that most of it has vanished, when we come back in two weeks time.

Back home from Thailand

After a very long travel time,35 hours, I arrived to winter Helsinki day before yesterday. The reason was that I had to wait the continuing flight from Hongkong to Helsinki for over 13 hours. Partly I could use it for re-visit Hongkong's night life, which I so much enjoyed in the past. But for my big disapointment it was not like it used to be. Only the night bar at Holiday Inn Golden Mile was lively and enjoyable.
Maybe I do not know where are the best places to go today.
I then had to take the last airport express train at midnight, and was spending the rest of the night on a bench at the airport. All bars were closed but I found a small 7eleven shop from where I got some cold Tsingtao beers for the night. In the morning after 7 o'clock all bars were open again and with pleasure I consumed a couple of Bacardi cokes before my flight. I then naturally did sleep fine, seven hours out of ten.

Koh Tao and Koh Samui

I spent one week on Koh Tao before continuing here to Koh Samui last Saturday. Koh Tao is simply a paradise, one of the most beautiful islands I have ever visited anywhere in the world.
There is really not very much to do, but if you are interested in diving or snorkeling,
it is your place. Tourists are mainly young backpackers especially from Sweden. So I was very pleased to look those passing long legged blonds, when sipping my daily drinks at my favourit Sairee Hut beach bar.
Koh Samui is already another world, even so near. You can see here any nationalities and all ages, and especially Chaweng area offers to you anything you might wish.I have reported earlier from this island, because have been here so many times, so I guess there is nothing to add. I still stay here for two more weeks, before returning via Hong Kong back to Helsinki.

Bar girls, grasshoppers and ants

My first week this time in Thailand has been very pleasant. I have met some old friends from Helsinki and made some new ones too. Especially easy to make new friends is in the evening, when sitting with your old chaps or alone in the girlie bars. You will not be long alone , if you are not insisting it. Just a quick look and a smile and some pretty night bird is flying to your table. They normally behave very well, and are not very aggressive to get a drink or trying to sell other activities. Mostly if they like you , you will get free of charge some head or shoulder massage, and very professionally too. One evening two pretty ladies , I already happened to know, sat with me. Then a carriage went by selling some snacks. The other of the young women went to by something to eat. It was quite dark , and I first did not see what it was , when they offered those grilled snacks to me too. I got some light then and could realize that I had tasted grasshoppers and ants for the first time in my life.
Yesterday afternoon after one pint of beer at the most far away end of the Hua Hin beach, which I had reached trough recommendation by bus , I decided to walk back along the beach to Hilton Hotel at the other end . It took one hour and 40 minutes. After wards I heard that the distance was 7 km. My legs did pay the price, I feel it today.
Late tonight I shall move to Koh Tao, in which I will arrive tomorrow around 9am.