By River Vantaa, Helsinki

2 km run 1 km walk 1 river 1 beautiful sunset 1 McBurger 1 thoughtful head and 8 hours of sleep and rest (hopefully)

A Frankfurt hotel room on a Saturday morning

Its' 7 in the morning on the 17th floor of a hotel in Frankfurt. I leave for the airport in an hour.

Here I am

watching video's of Susan Boyle and Davy Graham

whimsically thinking about my crushes

mentally making a list of errands - like that pile of travel-laundry that needs to get done

visualising that run by the stream in this new spring weather

Sigh

The coming of Spring, Helsinki Apr '09

The Winter has all but gone away. Spring is starting to make Her way through. And I am just discovering the beauty of Vanhakaupunki ! After days of lethargy I found myself singing 'Life is a Highway, I wanna ride it all night long' hoarsely, loudly and completely out of tune. And I knew it was time to invite Spring and say bye to Winter.

I decided to get out and fetch my cycle Dhano Rani from Ruoholahti.

And on my way back - decided to take some pictures. :)

The River Vantaa has been frozen since the time I got here >> This picture was taken in Feb '09. >>

So, it was extremely cool to watch the transformation over the last few days - and now - its almost in spate! And if I now open the window or stand in my balcony - I can hear the roar of the river! And the woodland near the mouth of the river - (Vanhankaupunginlahti) constitutes a natural conservation zone. The area is largely marsh like and has large tracts of grassy marsh area - with patches of wooded land.

However, for purposes of walking amidst the reeds, the City of Helsinki has graciously constructed small wooden duckboards.

Apparently, there are at least 280 species of birds in the vicinity. (Though I spotted only about 5 or 6 including the obvious duck and swan.) Unlike other 'non-protected areas', visitors are not allowed to move or fish within the marshy foliage. Even the inimitable cycle or the dog is prohibited.

And did I mention that it literally is my backyard! :D All these photos are of locations not more than 5-8 mins by walk from my apartment.

(More pictures on my Picasaweb location) Here's to Spring!! life is a highway I wanna ride it all night long...

Go Skating!

4 Weeks
5 vertically challenged sessions
2 hours each
More body contact with ice than ever in my life
Finally,
the 6th one - I actually managed to slip in a few moments of actual skating
Exhilarating and a sense of liberation - almost like gliding!
(And a hint of 'Finally!')

Time to breathe and take it in

The days are longer during the winter - just as much as the lethargy and resistance to participate in Life is! When I got back from India, I was too busy 'settling into my new place'; then there was the hectic schedule at work. And then I told myself - even the Finns hibernate during winter. And embodify more of the quiet reticence that personify them. But truth be told that I was just not willing to participate in Life. Not that that was bad :) And how many of us have felt that way - and then found a zillion things outside of us to make the reason for this non-participation. :) But I have discovered how the Finns continue to participate in Life despite the winter cold - between the warm gloggi with friends, and the winter sports - there is always a Life to be led. Like this morning. When my friend Antti visited me; he actually skated on the frozen sea for a couple of kilometers to come visit me! After a warm chai (battling the Finnish winter with India spiced tea!), we set out and I tried his skates on the sea and have been inspired enough to try the new skates that I have bought - which I shall do tomorrow. And this evening. When some other friends and I dropped by at Tiina's for a Valentine's party. And had a most wonderful time, with friends that I am beginning to value as close ones. Enough said - here's to taking another bite. And finishing what Life has on my plate.

Christmas!

Helsinki in December -the Land of Santa.

• Long Dark Days - where its still pitch dark at 8 in the morning and starts to turn dark again by 3 in the afternoon
• Long Dark coats - a la Matrix
• Cold biting winds
• Slippery ice on the roads
• Warm Glögi
• Long movies at home
• Contemplative quiet times
• Red and White in every street corner
• Trips - where the foreigners are buying tickets to go home ...and the Finns are buying tickets to warmer places (India, Indonesia, Bermudas...)
• Snow Angels