Finland

Exploring Helsinki’s Rock Temppeliaukio Church

We went to check out the remarkable Temppeliaukio Church, often referred to as the “Rock Church.”

From the outside, you would not even know it is a church. The whole place is imbedded into a rocky hill.

 As we approached the church, we had no idea what to expect inside.
We went through the main entrance and it was stunning.  The church is carved directly into the solid granite rock.

The rough stone walls rise around the entire church and natural light comes through the skylights in the dome overhead. It was impressive simply seeing the creative way they made the church. The church was completed in 1969 and instead of building on top of the rock, they chose to build within it.

Ray looking at the grooves carved out of the stone for the church.

Apparently one of the most fascinating features of Temppeliaukio Church is its acoustics. The exposed rock walls create exceptional sound quality, making the church a popular venue for concerts as well as religious services.

Covered Granite Alter in front of the natural crevice that makes part of the church walls.

The copper-lined dome was also very impressive, suspended on concrete beams and surrounded by 180 skylights.  It was almost like a flying saucer hovering above us.

Copper dome ceiling supported by concrete beams and skylights
Rock base with Skylights and beams holding the copper dome

We walked around the church looking at the creative ways they imbedded features into the granite, from the church organ to the baptismal font.

Church organ embedded into granite wall
Baptismal Font made with stone and copper

After walking around the main floor of the church we headed up to the second level.  There we sat on one of the pues and just relaxed and took it all in. It was a unique, peaceful and more enjoyable than we expected. 

The “Rock Church” was certainly very unique and interesting to visit and explore.  

”Maailma on pelkkää haarautuvia polkuja.” -Einari Vuorela

Finland

A Day Exploring Suomenlinna Island and Fortress

One day we decided to explore Suomenlinna, the historic sea fortress just off the coast of Helsinki. We walked down to Helsinki’s Market Square and took the Ferry to the Island of Suomenlinna.

We boarded the ferry and watch the city skyline slowly recede as we made our way across the Baltic Sea. It only took us about twenty minutes to get to the island but the ride was very enjoyable. We saw some beautiful views of Helsinki and the surrounding islands.


As we approached Suomenlinna, we could see why it has earned UNESCO World Heritage status. The fortress stretches in front of us with historic stone walls, and buildings.  We left the ferry and walked through the main gate of the complex. 

Our first impression entering through the gate was that there was a full town inside the walls of the fortress. 

At each turn there were walkways and paths that led in different directions. We came to a military building that had massive chains surrounding it with cannons as the post. It was quite impressive to see.

It was also very peaceful walking through the fortress even through there were people and tourist walking about.  

We spent the morning exploring the fortress walking through the maze of walls and defensive structures that date back to the 18th century.

Walking through the different areas of the fort we soon got lost and it was awesome to just wander and enjoying the moment.

We came to some fortified bunkers and cave system and decided to explore the interior.

We went inside and walked in the narrow underground tunnels to eventually pop out at another fortified bunker location.

The views from a top of the bunker walls were beautiful. We could see to surrounding Islands and views of the cost of Helsinki in the distance.

We walked along the paths exploring when we came to an interesting spot. In the distance we could see a submarine permanently displayed near the bay of the island.  We couldn’t resist taking a closer look at this remarkable piece of naval history.

It was hard to imagine how a crew of 20 sailors lived and worked in such a confined space beneath the sea. This submarine served in the Finnish Winter War and the WWII between 1939 and 1944. What made it especially significant because it served as the prototype for Germany’s Type II U-boats, making it an important piece of submarine development history.

We visited several of the historic sites scattered throughout the island, including old cannons that still point toward the sea and the museum that told the story of the fortress’s fascinating past.

Walking along the paths it sometimes felt more like a park than a fortress and was very relaxing.

We strolled along a trail that came across a small bridge with views of the Baltic Sea in the background.

After exploring for hours we headed our way back to the ferry terminal. The return trip to Helsinki provided one last view of the fortress from the water. 

It was a day filled with Interesting history, views of the baltic Sea and a relaxing and enjoyable time. 

“Elä hetkessä”

Finland

Detour adventure to Helsinki Finland

On the last day in Singapore Shelley and I were making our way home from Singapore, with Madrid as our intended destination. Everything was going smoothly until we learned that our flight had been cancelled. Like many other travellers facing disruptions, we suddenly found ourselves searching for alternatives.

Unfortunately, as a result of the war in Iran, there were very few direct flights available into Europe.  After exploring our options, we discovered seats on a flight to Helsinki. It wasn’t where we had planned to go, but it got us into Europe. So rather than rushing to find the quickest connection home, we decided to embrace the unexpected and spend the Easter weekend in Finland’s capital.

Scandic Grand Central Hotel in Helsinki,

We checked into the Scandic Grand Central Hotel in Helsinki, a beautiful spot in a beautifully restored historic building adjacent to the city’s central railway station. It was perfect, the hotel was large and had hundreds of rooms. Our room was at the end of one of the long wings of the hotel and it kind of reminded us of the movie “The Shining.”

Helsinki has some unique architecture and its own vibe. Our first day we explored the city centre and were so impressed.  We began by the central train station and walked towards the water front.

Central Train Station in Helsinki

The iconic statues along both sides of the main entrance are known locally as “The Stone Men.”  Their official name is Lyhdynkantajat.

The Stone Men of Helsinki Central Train Station

The centre city has a blend of historic and contemporary buildings and design. 

Shelley in the city centre area of Helsinki

While walking towards the waterfront, we came across the Helsinki Cathedral Church. It was built in 1852 and has a beautiful white facade. 

We arrived down at the waterfront near the market square which is located on the South Harbour of the city. It is one of the city’s best-known landmarks and a hub for daily commerce.

We came to an area with lots of different tent kiosks selling all kind of goods. We walked along checking out the different art and food on sale.

We came to a kiosk selling Salmon soup and it smelled soooo good, we had to try it.

It was amazing and tasted so good. In fact we came back the next day to have the soup again. After exploring all the kiosks, we went to the enclosed market located in a beautiful older building.

The inside was beautiful with wooden kiosks all the way down both sides of the building.

There were small restaurants, cafe shops and artisan stores selling all kind of goods, from Salmon sandwiches, reindeer meat to Caviar.

Kiosk selling Reindeer pelts, antlers and meats.
Kiosk selling different caviars and fish

 Our first day in Helsinki did not disappoint, it was a very enjoyable day and we loved the atmosphere of the city.  One of the joys of travelling is discovering places that aren’t necessarily in your original plans. Helsinki turned out to be one of those pleasant surprises.

“Embrace the detours” – Kevin Charbonnea

Singapore

Exploring the Amazing Singapore Airport

When we were leaving Singapore we intentionally scheduled extra time at the Changi Airport, because we had heard so much about it.

We arrived six hours early and the airport has an early checked bag area. It is there for people who come early to experience the airport. We were able to early check our bags and then we were free to explore. That feature was awesome allowing us to not drag our luggage around as well as not worry about the check in time.

We started exploring and it did not feel like an airport but more like a world-class attraction all on its own.

 There were different gardens each with different themes and walkways.

Ray hidden among the dragonflys
dragonfly gardens in Changi Airport

The main attraction for us was the spectacular Jewel Rain Vortex indoor waterfall. We were walking along in the Jewel area of the airport and turned the corner to see the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.

We stood there and watched the 40 Meter high waterfall plunging  through the center of the Jewel complex. 

All around the falls were gardens and different levels of observation points to enjoy the view. 

After a while the waterfalls slows and turns into a mist before starting over with water. 

The sheer size and beauty of it made for a memorable experience, and we spent quite a while simply taking it all in. It was one of those moments that photos do not do it justice.

After exploring the waterfall, Shelley and I treated ourselves to a wonderful meal at a restaurant with a view of the waterfalls. The food was excellent, and it gave us a chance to relax and enjoy the unique surroundings. It’s not often that dining in an airport it that enjoyable. We then explored other areas of the airport and decided to stop and enjoy a little bit of Canada at Tim Hortons.

What impressed us most was how the Singapore Airport transformed the travel experience. Instead of us rushing or stressed to get to our gate, we could slow down, explore, dine, and enjoy the attractions in the airport.  

“Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints!” -Chief Seattle

Singapore

A Wonderful Day in Singapore’s Golden Garden

Shelley and I spent a day exploring the beautiful Gardens by the Bay. It is a huge, world-famous nature park and located in Singapore’s Marina Bay area. What an amazing spot with more than 100 hectares.  We spent the afternoon and evening wandering through the park, taking in the unique features and plants. There were themed areas and different things to see at every turn.

Everywhere we looked there were exotic flowers, towering greenery, and designed landscapes.

The Coco-de-Mer palm tree

 Some areas felt like stepping into Jurassic Park. We came to a large palm tree which was a Coco de mer. It is a rare palm tree native to the islands of the Seychelles. It is famous for producing the largest and heaviest seed in the world, which can weigh up to 25 kilograms (55 pounds). The tree grows for hundreds of years, reaching heights of over 30 meters (100 feet). Its unique double-lobed coconut has made it one of the most unusual plants on Earth.

Just a little further down the path we came to a Jurassic Park Gyrosphere which fit perfectly into the environment.

Shelley inside the glass-encased Gyrosphere.

Other areas were themed more like the wild Jungle.

There were even Lions and tigers.


One of the things that impressed us most was the incredible architecture throughout the park. The futuristic buildings blended perfectly with the gardens which enhanced the feeling of being in Jurassic Park.

One of the highlights of the day was simply taking our time and enjoying the atmosphere together.  As evening approached, we made our way toward the famous artificial trees for the light show.

Standing beneath those towering structures was an incredible sight on its own. There was a sky walkway which people could walk in among the trees. 

we wandered around looking at all the different trees and found a spot to settle in below one of the tress and wait for the light show.

At  dusk the music and lights started and the trees came to life.

It was truly an amazing experience with the glowing colours and music filled the air. It created a truly magical experience.


Shelley and I laid at the base of one of the trees enjoying the cool evening and took it all in. The combination of lights, music, and the Singapore skyline made the moment feel unforgettable. It was one of those experiences that reminds us how wonderful travel can be and how special it is to share those moments together.

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert

Life is too short to wait for adventure!