Thai students and Professionals in Finland

ballad~ · Guest

My last trip to Helsinki has been planned since last year and I have been there on January 13-14, 2006. The trip started by booking hostel, Eurohostel in Katajanokka, and buying “Helsinki Card” which I found later that it can save money for only “honest” tourist through internet. I went to Helsinki by ExpressBus and it cost 19.90€ from Lappeenranta. I was wonder because actually, with student card, I can get discount 50% and its price should be only 15.70€ but after took the bus for around 4 hours from 2:40 a.m. to 6:55 a.m., I arrived to Helsinki anyway. It was still dark at that time and every place were not opened yet so we could only walk around and found the way to the hostel. I arrived to Eurohostel (www.eurohostel.fi) around 9 a.m. I got triple backpacker room which cost 18.80€/person who held an International Hostelling Membership Card or ISIC Card. The receptionist was very kind. He gave me the room at that time (normal time when we can check in is 12:00) so I could left my stuff in the room. That made me able to travel more comfortable. Next, I went to the Tourist Center to get the Helsinki Card (you can find information from http://www.helsinkiexpert.com). I showed the confirmation e-mail of purchasing this card online which I have printed to the officer and she did not check anything. She just received that and wrote something on that document, not even checked the order number, and gave me the card. I could realize at that time that Finnish people is very honest because that document can be faked very easy. However… my trip started.

The first place I have visited was Helsinki City Museum. It represents the 450-year-old history of Helsinki.

Next, I took the ferry from Kauppatori to Suomenlinna, a World Heritage Fortress which located on the island.

I visited Suomenlinna Museum which tells about the history of Suomenlinna naval fortress in 18th c in the visitor center.

Suomenlinna also has others interesting place because this island is quite big. I walked pass the church, many canons, bunker, and reached the king’s gate.

Then, I had to take the same way back. I visited Ehrensvärd Museum. Woodcrafts in this museum are really beautiful.

I went back to the main land by ferry near the Toy Museum which close in winter to Katajanokka and took the tram to the city center. In city center, I had lunch at University of Helsinki where I can use the student card to get a discount for a meal. After I finished my lunch (almost can call dinner), I went to take a picture of Lutheran Cathedral besides the university and behind Senate Square.The Lutheran Cathedral is perhaps Finland's most photographed and recognisable building.

Actually, I had an appointment with P'Paper. He said he will come and show me Vietnam grocery in the city center but we planned to visit many place and I was afraid that I will bother him so I cancelled the appointment. Sorry again na krab..... Next, I went to Ateneum Art Museum (opposite the railway station). I spent time in the evening after tourist attractions are all closed for looking around in the city center. Helsinki is totally different from Lappeenranta. It always crowd with people and big buildings. I bought something for my breakfast and went to keep them at the hostel before went out again to see my mother’s friend, Khun Ann. I met her at Anttila and went to her apartment by metro. Transportation in Helsinki is very convenient and nobody checks whether the passenger has the ticket or not. That is why I said that it can save money for only “honest” tourist because you can transport free in Helsinki by tram or metro unless you are very unfortunately because sometimes, there are officers who check the ticket at the exit. I passed three metro station from the city center and arrived to her apartment. She has a dog, completely w /hit

e dog which is very friendly. I had dinner with her. She cooked some Thai food and it was quite spicy. After chatting for a while, I took metro back to the city center and took the tram back to the hostel.

I slept very well last night and I found that it was nearly 10 o’clock in the morning. I checked out the hostel and left my heavy bag in the luggage room. I visited Uspenski Cathedral which is near my hostel before I went to the Helsinki Zoo (Korkeasaari).

Normally, there is a ferry go directly to the zoo but it has only in summer so I had to take metro to Kulosaari and walked around two kilometers to the zoo which is on the island too.

This weekend, there was an Ice Sculpture Competition but for me, I felt this competition was not quite big competition. There were only four teams sculptured at that time and their works were not look very fascinating (or this was only the first day of this competition so there were few teams working).

However, I went to look around the zoo. There is a building for animal from other regions of the world, Amazonia, and Africa.

There is a showcase that made me really shocked. It shows insects from Africa, hundreds of Madacascar Cockroach in a small showcase!!! How could one imagine if he/she fall into this showcase!!!

Ok, left them there and walk to cat valley. I was very lucky that the lion was just getting out from its room and walking in the cage so I could take its picture closely.

There are also others animal, for example, Tiger, Leopard, Musk Ox, Snow Owl, and Reindeer.

I spent the whole day at the zoo. Before I leaved, I went in the souvenir shop and found that the price is very expensive as usual.

I walked back to the metro station, took the metro back to the city center, and took the tram back to the hostel to get my bag. I headed to the Kamppi, the bus station, to buy the bus ticket. There was some time left before the bus so I looked around in the Kamppi and went back to Lappeenranta safely.

ballad~ · Guest

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namtaohu

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aim1605 · Site Admin

Hi ballad, you should contact us. we will take you out!!

Next time, do not be hesitate!! we are lovely gang Smile

aim1605 · Site Admin

aim1605 · Site Admin

Also post in the blog.

Other members, please write more articles about your life or trip or study, in Thai or English.

http://thaifin.blogspot.com/

Thank you for sharing!!

danaiii

That's an interesting article with nice photos. It seems I miss visiting many places for example zoo. Shall we go and pick the photos there?

good job...

ballad

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ทริปนี้ไปกะเพื่อน เรยมะอยากรบกวนพี่ ๆ อ่าคับ Embarassed

zeldom

หวัดดีคับพี่ชื่อเท่ มาเที่ยว Vaasa มั่งดิ อิอิ มาเมื่อหร่ายบอกด้วยนะคับ หุหุ

Guest

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