SAW-MOVIE NIGHT: Watching SAW I, II, III, IV and V without breaks until the sun would rise again.

All pictures (14) on facebook.

Scandinavian Studies Students rock and chant AGAIN!

Once again: "True and serious" believers are hypocrites.

HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED.
Can only recommend to read the following:



(Jon Krakauer, 1996)

"TWO YEARS HE WALKS THE EARTH. NO PHONE, NO POOL, NO PETS, NO CIGARETTES. ULTIMATE FREEDOM. AN EXTREMIST. AN AESTHETIC VOYAGER WHOSE HOME IS THE ROAD. ESCAPED FROM ATLANTA. THOU SHALT NOT RETURN, 'CAUSE "THE WEST IS THE BEST". AND NOW AFTER TWO RAMBLING YEARS COMES THE FINAL AND GREATEST ADVENTURE. THE CLIMACTIC BATTLE TO KILL THE FALSE BEING WITHIN AND VICTORIOUSLY CONCLUDE THE SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION. TEN DAYS AND NIGHTS OF FREIGHT TRAINS AND HITCHHIKING BRING HIM TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH. NO LONGER TO BE POISONED BY CIVILIZATION. HE FLEES, AND WALKS ALONE UPON THE LAND TO BECOME LOST IN THE WILD.

ALEXANDER SUPERTRAMP
MAY 1992"

Click here to find out more!

Find out more about Trent Reznor at peta2.com.

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WAY NORTH: NORDKAPP-TRIP (October 16-19).

We were renting a car for four days to drive up all the way to North Cape (Norway), pretty much (but not exactly) the northernmost point in Europe. On the way there the five of us passed the following places and cities, starting from Oulu to Rovaniemi.
FINLAND - Rovaniemi, Sodankylä, Ivalo, Inari, Utsjoki, Nuorgam.
NORWAY - Ifjord, Lakselv, Honningsvag, Nordkapp, Hammerfest, Alta.
SWEDEN - Karesuando, Gällivare, Haparanda.

All in all we were driving some 2,500km in these four days, having seen reindeer, moose (even though in some weird case of captivity), Norway's largest fjord and some further northernmost whatsoever. For Europe's north it had been surprisingly warm these days: The further north we got the warmer it became: up to 8°C! The coldest we got was only a mere -2°. However, to save costs we were sleeping all three nights in the car, a Skoda Fabia, by the way. The whole trip - including everything from rental and petrol to food and entry fees - cost us a bit more than €80, each.


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PICTURES are available on facebook:
DAYS I+II (65pix).
DAYS III+IV (85pix).

1)

In Santa Claus Village, close to Rovaniemi - it's not too far away from home, I reckon - not after hanging around in Tasmania... (Y

2)

"Stepping over" the Polar Circle - a totally made up, imaginary line that is steadily changing position.

3)

Eerie white (northern?) night lights? XD

4)

On Lake Inari in Inari village: Daniel, Kristo (from Germany), me, Meagan and Charles (from the U.S.).

5)

Spectcular mountain scenery in Northern Norway...

6)

Majestic clouds preparing for sunset.

7)

The Monument of the children - in Nordkapp: me attracting a stone child's attention. (X

8)

On the way south again...

9)

A big moose in cativity...?

10)

Snowy roads within phenomenal mountain surroundings...

STUDY TRIP II: HELSINKI (again!), STOCKHOLM, TURKU.
October 9-14.

Okay, for those of you at home: I am (still) attending the Scandinavian Studies Programme in Oulu, Finland. This programme pretty much combines (Scandinavian) history, culture (literature, music, architecture) with sociology and also includes a course called Nordic Nature and Environment. If attending all the classes (which I do) I am obliged to join so-called study trips. There are three of these study trips altogether:
The first had been already in September and we've been to the Oulanka Research Station in Oulanka National Park, somewhat close to Lapland. Pictures are to find in the entry of September 18.
The second had been more recent: to the cities of Helsnki, Stockholm (Sweden) and Turku: we've been staying two nights in hotels (omg!), two on the ferries connecting the cities and one on a night train in sleeping cars (which had been rather awesome!). Well, the following pictures are the results. Enjoy!
The third study trip, however, is going to take place in late November and we will be going to Lapland (dealing with the Samí culture) and yes, it might be very dark and cold already by then, but we are all pretty much looking forward...









PICTURES ONLINE NOW:
HELSINKI (48pix).
STOCKHOLM (109pix).
TURKU (24pix).
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HELSINKI (48pix).
1)

The notorious monument on the fish market close to the harbour with the Orthodox church in the back.

2)

A famous artist's home (now a museum) from the inside.

3)

The most common landmark in Helsinki: the Lutheran church on Senate Square, this time in good weather.

4)

Wall and building details in the city centre.

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STOCKHOLM (109pix).
1)

Drottningholm Castle, somewhat outside the city. The Royal family is still spending its time there for parts of the year...

2)

Stockholm Cathedral in Gamla Stan (the "Old Town"), from the inside.

3)

Shot in a tourist shop inside the City Hall.

4)

Most impressive City Hall interiors.

5)

City Hall from the outside.

6)

On the way to some northern districts.

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TURKU (24pix).
1)

Shot taken on a hill, overlooking Turku and its cathedral.

2)

The old defense castle.

3)

French Florian's cell phone and candy merge.

A short 14-pic overview: the last two weeks in Oulu.

For the complete gallery: check on facebook (49 photos).


Aapo and me picking up the girls from Oulu Railway Station.


Charles and me having lunch in the university's main mensa.






Lydia checking on the market square police.




Ly disagreeing with the game's result?! XD


Dima and me on the way up to take appropriate sunset pix.


My 'home' at night.


Getting colour onto the sterile-white walls!


Winter coming to Oulu - as it seems... the snow didn't last too long, though.


Dima and me playing evil games with our flatmate... :D




Ly and me in front of the university building: the snow is gone again, but it's pretty rough, anyway -

Video-material to further enjoy the weekend-trip (Oct 1-5)!


The final minutes of this two-hour game with Lydia winning at the end.
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Back in Helsinki. Back in rain and wind and...
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Sightseeing in Helsinki: still in rain!

Hi everybody!

It's Friday night meanwhile, the days become steadily shorter and I am just returning from an "all-you-can-eat"-pizza shop, utterly filled up. Also: exhausted and sad since Lydia who had been visiting me over the last two weeks up here in Oulu has been taken the train south this morning - and it's a rather odd feeling being alone again. However, tonite is also the start of a one week's Study Trip: I am again going to see Helsinki, but this time with the other exchange students and within the Scandinavian Studies Programme. Plus we'll make it to Stockholm and Turku over the following days - being back again on Wednesday night, October 14.

Lydia, Vanessa, Charles and I had been travelling south already last weekend; on our way we've seen Tampere, Kuopio, Helsinki and - eventually Tallinn by ferry. Estonia's capital had been the most beautiful experience for me, personally - even though Kuopio also had been quite spectacular, in particular considering the great views from the watch tower, overlooking the city and the surrouding lakes, islands and forests.
We've seen Tampere only at night, but it seems to be worth another visit at daylight somewhen. In Helsinki we've again been couchsurfing, even in the same neighbourhood, in Kallio. This time, however, we got bad luck with the weather since it was steadily raining. We nevertheless headed through the city, cheering it all up with some up-mood sing-sang, thank you, Ly! :D
So well, simply see for yourself! The extended picture-galleries are online on facebook, simply click the photos further down.



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PICTURES: KUOPIO, 'Capital of the Lakeland' (41 photos)


The four of us standing in Kuopi's railway station.


On the mrket square.


Lydia on the watchtower.


Magnificient view outside: the tower's shade!


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PICTURES: HELSINKI (53 photos).


Charles holding a Berlinian icon in his hands... how I miss you, beloved energy drink! Club Mate is about three times as expensive up here, by the way!


The flags of the E.U., Finland and Estonia in West Harbour.


Ly and Charles relaxing next to a Helsinki cemetary.


Lighthouse as seen from the ferry towards Estonia.
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PICTURES: TALLINN, ESTONIA (87 photos).




Tallinn's harbour.




Market square.


Old Town overview.




Ly and Charles inside the watch tower.


Getting to know a Finn while playing the NOTORIOUS dice game, on the ferry towards Helsinki.


I can't recall one of us guys winning... however, big fun XD




The three blacksmiths - Helsinki's famous meeting point in the pedestrian precinct.