First bits of Bali

I sit on the plane, waiting for it to arrive at our destination. I look outside and see clear blue water and a shoreline appearing from the clouds. The view is like straight out of a travel magazine. Long beaches, beautiful mountains, so green and fertile. I keep staring at this amazing view as the plane continues its descent and touches down on the hot tarmac before I even realize it. “Welcome to Bali.”

So we finally arrived in Bali, it felt good for all of us to get out of the big city and enjoy some real relaxing time. The first night we ended up spending in Seminyak which wasn't too quiet, mainly full of bars and clubs. Luckily it was only for one night though. The beach was really trashy, never seen anything like that but apparently it was due to heavy rains that bought trash down from the city and swept it into the ocean.

Roasting some coffee

For the night we planned to see my dad and Willy (his best friend) in Sanoor, about half an hour drive from our hotel. When we arrived we felt at home. A small fish restaurant right by the beach in the open air, serving really tasty seafood. We had a really fun night just eating, talking and joking around.

Now it was really time for some peace and quiet as we headed out for Lovina, a small town in the north of Bali. We still had a three hour drive ahead of us, or at least we thought so. The small mountain roads took its toll and eventually it ended up taking us over four hours. The views on the way were incredible though. Green fertile mountains all around us, lakes, temples and amazing views of the coastline as we crossed over to the northern side. We had booked a villa for 5 nights but none of us could have imagined what kind of a villa was there waiting for us. It was huge with two guest houses and a nice pool. Sweet! All of us were really hungry from the drive so as soon as we settled down we started the hunt for food. As it turned out close to us was this really good and cheap local restaurant where we eventually ended up eating almost every day.

This old lady we got to know when her rooster scared Linnea one morning by crowing in a basket right next to where we walked. It made a good laugh for all of us. We talked and took some pictures of the lady. And every time we passed her house we kindly greeted her. Such a tough woman.

So for the first full day we decided to rent some scooters and go see what's around. It only cost us 3.5€/scooter/day. Driving in Bali is a bit different than back home. First of all they drive on the wrong side (yes right is right!) and everybody drives like a maniac. Very typical in many African and Asian countries. I had Luukas on my scooter and Linnea's parents were on one scoot which makes driving even harder. Secondly, there are a lot of holes on the road, people or animals crossing or other vehicles driving by and around - which means sudden stops, someone opening a car door in front of you or passing/turning without a warning. One more funny thing with scooters in Asia is that you_can_carry_everything on one. Everything.

My parents told me I can become anything I want. So I became a moving bush.

A Christmas coconut..

We heard about this waterfall located a few kilometers down the road so we went there to check it out. We parked our scoots along the road where a little path lead to the jungle. At that spot a local guy offered to guide us to the falls. We thought we didn't really need him, we would find our way, but he insisted to show us the way and we followed. He was walking without any flip flops and we were a little nonplussed about that at first since there typically is a lot of objects on jungle ground.

This is a pretty example of me climbing a wall...

The waterfall we came to first was apparently one out of the two and the smaller one, they guy told us asking if we would like to see the other. No doubt we did, so the hike continued. Leaving our shoes behind this time, understanding why our guide had non. We had to climb narrow steps, cross the river a few times, hop on slippery rocks and literally climb on walls to get there. One misstep and you are in the water, one careless hand movement and a wild cactus stings your fingers. But totally worth it! Amazing. We could swim under the waterfall and go under it for a “massage”. Our local guy showed us a spot for some mud bathing that smoothed our skins. After that we took a shower under the falls.

Our guy :)

Morning swim under a waterfall

Of course swimming makes you hungry so off we went to quickly see through a temple on the mountains and hunt for some food on our way back. Ended up to a place that just was one of the firsts that we found. Boring looking from the outside but after going through the gates... By accident we had found this awesome place where you could sit right on the water. There we were offered some fresh juices and different fish dishes. Yummy!

We booked some massages for the evening. Obviously you can't go to Bali without going to one. Me and Linnea went in at the same time. The massage was outside in this open air hut and the whole thing was just pure gold. Relaxing atmosphere, music, a very good massage and some tea. We both loved it! Later on during our trip we enjoyed so many more of those. I mean, 30 minutes of massage for 4 euros...

One morning we woke up very early to go dolphin watching. All of us were still kinda sleepy when we arrived at the boat but quickly recovered once we got to the open seas. It didn't take too long before we got our first glimps of the dolphins. They were beautiful! Just playfully jumping out of the water like they were giving us a show. 

On New Years eve me and Linnea decided to go snorkeling so we packed our scooter and hit the road after breakfast. It was an hour drive and on the scooter you never realize how sunny it is since the airflow eases the heat. And that makes you burn fast. We had quite nice tan lines when finally arriving to out destination on the West side of the North Bali - very quiet area. We left our scooter parked and walked to the long, yet peaceful beach. Saw some rescue sea turtles which we got to nurse; one of them really loved some attention.

From there we rented some snorkeling gear, dumped or bags to a local guy and headed out from the shore. That's one of the best qualities of this place. People are so honest and kind. No such robbery culture as in many poor countries. You don't have to hold on your belongings for your life. But anyway... Back to snorkeling... The coral underneath us spread all around. The colors and thousands of different fishes are just too hard to explain. Bright blue starfishes, little details and a whole new world under the surface are something the pictures can't tell. In that beauty we got to spent an hour. Swimming around, bumping into sea snake and getting above a coral that spreads this tickling particles. Then we just became way to hungry and headed to explore the menu on the restaurant by the beach. We ordered ourselves some lunch and made friends with some homeless cats and dogs before heading back to the sea for another 45 minutes before jumping on the scooter again.

The last hours of 2016 we enjoyed eating in our village with the whole gang and heading to the beach like all the locals. There we found a nice spot to watch the fireworks and exchange our first New Years kiss. 

More about our trip, Ubud, Borobudur and Linnea's accident coming up soon! Stay tuned.

Thanks guys,

Arno & Linnea

Two thousand sixteen

When the fireworks light up the sky and the count down ends. That's when the year changes. People start planing for new things and make promises, wanting to be better or do better. But as I see it, it is also a moment to be thankful. To look back and realize where you started your past year and how it has ended. Or that you really made it to the end.

Being a writer, I like to play with an idea of a book. With 365 blank pages to fill. Writing my own story. And there is nothing more satisfying than closing the back cover. Also nothing as bittersweet.

I consider my self as very lucky to end every year even better than it started. And in the end of every year I can say that I have been happier than last year. This year is no exception. I am luckier than I have ever been in my life. It has been the best year so far. And I can proudly say I really have written my own story this year. Following my heart against others' opinions, making irrational decisions, taking risks and straightening my back. I have grown up. And I have loved it. With all it's ups and downs.

I have traveled through 21 countries on three continents. Been sick with painful dengue fever and recovered. I have booked extempore flight tickets to Albania when everyone told me not to and had the time of my life. I have met so many new people on the road. Traveled to Zimbabwe with boy whom I made a drunken promise about it. Seen my African family again, filmed a commercial, traveled to Bulawayo and Matopos. Had an amazing trip to the world's biggest waterfalls - the Victoria Falls (again). I have gotten a new member to my family - my sweet little angel girl whom I started to sponsor and got to hang out with back in Zimbabwe. I have met the Turkish ambassador. In the Summer I have driven through Europe. Cruised around Lake Garda with a motor boat, gotten lost in the streets of Venice. Explored little cities in Croatia, almost puked on the way to Slovenia and cycled through Budapest. Eaten breakfast on a Alp meadow and spent 49 minutes in Lichtenstein. Fed birds in Switzerland and visited the Neuschwanstein castle in Germany. Enjoyed ice coffee in Prague and spent a few quiet moments in Auschwitz, Poland before hiking the Tatras in Slovakia. I have enjoyed the Summer in Barcelona and climbed on the highest mountain in Andorra. I have danced on the deck on my way to St. Petersburg and made few trips exploring Estonia. I have now later on visited Indonesia and enjoyed New Year fireworks on the beach in Bali.

Back in Finland I have been snowboarding, cooking, playing games, watching movies and just having good time with friends. I have spend a cabin weekend with my German cousins. I've celebrated our birthday's and many other days from 1st of May to Thanksgiving. I've been working on a tour with some amazing athletes, driven around the country and visited Lapland for the first time in my life (after writing two books about it and travelling everywhere else possible - exploring the backyard). I have been doing many shows on different stages and festivals. I have started studying filming in a new school and gotten new friends. I have gotten a dream job in Yle - the national Finnish broadcasting company - and met so many talented and amazing people. I have been responsible over projects, talked in seminars, done a project with the managing director, filmed many live streams and become known for my fist bums in the office. 

I have kicked off this blog with my sweetheart. I have gotten to know that there are so many that have read my book, gotten emails, messages, tags and comments. I have met some wonderful readers that have become friends. I have been thrilled to see how much 112 - Vihaan itseäni has touched you. And also how it's been bought and borrowed and how it has raised much money for the new children's hospital.

I've missed people that are not near and spent hours skyping. I have laughed and cried, felt so many emotions. Been scared and trying to be brave. I have started dating. I have fallen in love. I have said the three magical words for the first time to a boy. I have gotten to know a whole new person, whole new view of life and a whole knew part of me. I have traveled around the world with this person and moved in with him. I have shaved his head when he left for military and watched him walk through the gates every week. Driven thousands of kilometers between the navy base and my home just to spend a few hours together. And we have waited for the long 165 days to end and celebrated when the army was finally over. I also have gotten to know a new wonderful family my boyfriend has brought to my life. With them I have celebrated birthdays as well as early Christmas before flying off to Indonesia. There I got to end this year and start a new one by getting my first New Year's kiss on the beach, under the colorful fireworks. 

And now. On my page 6. I am sitting on a bed in Borobudur, Indonesia typing this text on my computer, thinking of how far I've come. With my sweetheart laying his head on my shoulder, sleeping. I look at him, run my fingers through his hair and can't stop thinking of just how lucky I am to write a story with this wonderful person that was one of whom made my 2016 so amazing. And who has promised to stand by my side during all the unknown adventures yet to come. And those? Those will be the adventures that will form the story that I/we hopefully will get to tell you when the countdown begins again for the next year.

Happy, awesome, lovely, warm and wonderful (yes almost a week late) New Year 2017!

With dozens of hugs:

Linnea 

Jolly Jakarta

So we spent the last few days in Jakarta – the capital of Indonesia – touring and exploring around the city not so well known to tourists. None of us (me, Linnea, her parents and brother) have ever been there and neither did we actually plan on going there. Just ended up there due to the cheapest available flights around Christmas. The only thing I've heard from a friend was “There are two cities in Asia that you should avoid, Manila and Jakarta”, so not the best advice to start a trip from. All in all it wasn't that bad that you should avoid it, we just had some troubles like finding a place to eat since our hotel was located in a banking district where everything was closed on Christmas days and the city isn't really made for walking.

The best way to get around was by taxi, usually in Asia people tend to use Subways but Jakarta doesn't have one and I wouldn't even start looking at how the buses run since taxis were incredibly cheap. Going from one end of town to the other cost us less than 5€. The traffic is a major problem though – like in every big Asian city – so driving from A to B took quite a long time even with very short distances.

Jakarta doesn't really have that much to offer, it's okay to visit for a few days and say that you've been there but don't go there for a week. During these few days we visited the Indonesia mall in where you could buy about anything you wanted, nice mall but way overpriced even on Finnish standards. We had fun walking around for a few hours though, there was also a very weird Asian Christmas event going on that caught our eye.

The national monument – MONAS – was also nice. The first thing we noticed was the high presence of police around, apparently due to the high risk of terrorist attacks. Well we didn't get bothered by that and moved on towards the monument. The monument is a high tower surrounded by a huge park, which was built to symbolise the independence of Indonesia. We took a few funny Christmas pictures in front of the park and in an instant we became celebrities, all the locals surrounded us and started taking pictures of us and also wanted to come on the picture with us. What a weird experience.

The main attraction in our minds was the old town, it wasn't really advertised anywhere and the taxi driver had no idea about it. It was just a few blocks and one main square but this really nice old Dutch colonial style buildings. At the square we found this lovely restaurant – Cafe Batavia – which I definitely recommend you should visit. A bit pricey though but located inside a beautiful colonial era building. We had a lovely breakfast and you could even get Nutella dumplings, Nutella goes with everything!

When we left the restaurant we were surrounded like movie stars again. Now there was like ten times as much people, we gradually had to pull out in order to get away from the cameras. And I am not exaggerating. The people were nice though, they just simply wanted to be on a picture with you. Nobody even tried to grab our bags or steal anything.

Me and Luukas also had a KFC bucket challenge of who could eat more chicken. It was a pretty tight race, the better one won - Luukas. I lost to him by a mere half piece of chicken but I just couldn't finish it up. Congrats to him! 

Afterwards Linnea and the parents wanted to fill their stomachs with something else than delicious crispy chicken so we just found our way to the nearest restaurant. No one really said a word there, they just took us in and sat us down and without even ordering anything the table was filled with plenty different local dishes. Some more better looking than others. And as we were not hungry with Luukas and the three of them could not finish all of it, we had to pretend looking like we ate something and took stuff to our plates just to mess them up. I mean it would look bad if we came and didn't touch the food they were carrying in front of us so kindly. And in the end when we asked for the check, the waiter came to count how much we had eaten and by that he created the prize of the food. So we kind of ended up paying of the food we just messed the plates with not to look too rude.

On Christmas eve we went to eat at this nice place located close by, good local food but a dead empty restaurant. After eating we found out there was a little roof terrace in our hotel so me and Linnea went to chill out there and exchanged our Christmas presents on top of this ever moving city. Next stop: Bali!

Greetings:

Arno (and Linnea - and Luukas who photobombs a lot)