Travel Theme: Costume

Well, well, we’ve got costumes. What a lovely theme!

 

For those who don’t know, in South Africa we have eleven official languages and almost every group has it’s own traditional costumes.  

amaZulu

Famously known for their beadwork and weaving.

 

amaXhosa – pic courtesy of Google

For their beautiful language called the “click” language because it consists of the 3 clicking consonants – c, q, x

 

BaSotho

For the blanket that is part of their costumes which they wear in sizzling hot temperatures

 

AmaNdebele

A small group with a language that is unfortunately becoming extinct

 

Gumboot dancers

There’s no language affiliation here but a dance invented by the mineworkers to entertain themselves

 

That’s just a few, to see all you’ll have to visit South Africa.

Have a good weekend folks:)

For more on the outstanding costumes, visit Ailsa at http://wheresmybackpack.com

 

Liebster Award

Many thanks to forestwoodfolkart for the lovely nomination. I’ll be honest I’ve tried to avoid accepting and responding to nominations because of the time they take. But I promised forestwoodfolkart that I’ll do this one for her. Thanks once again for taking interest in my blog. Much appreciated.

Recipients of the Liebster Award must:

List 11 Random Facts about you

Answer the questions that were asked of you (By the blogger that nominated you)

Nominate 11 other blogs for the Liebster Blog Award and Link to their Blogs

Notify the bloggers of their award.

Ask the award winners 11 questions to answer once they accept the award

11 Random Facts about Me

1. I come from a big family, I have 12 siblings

2. I’m not big on talking and really enjoy my own company

3. I like the Finnish culture in that sense, they get it that silence is fun

4. Outdoor activities I enjoy amongst others are hiking, canoeing, fishing, snow shoeing and snowmobile rides

5.I am list “freak”, I’ve got a whole lot of to-do lists going all the time:)

6. I would love to go on a dance holiday trip around the world

7. I “battle” with a 3Cs addiction – chocolate, cheese and champers:)

8. I’m at an age where I should start thinking about retirement but instead I’m back to student life – talk about not wanting to grow old.

9. I absolutely detest prejudice, corruption and people who hide behind culture to justify their misbehaviour

10. I have a fear of frogs but totally enjoy cuisses de grenouille – talk about contradiction

11. Like most girls, I love shoes

Questions by forestwoodfolkart as follows:

1. Where is your favourite Holiday destination? Knysna, South Africa

2. How much time do you spend on technology? All the time

3. If you had your time over again, what would you do differently? I would have listened to my uncle who suggested in my teenage years that I take up teaching as a career, because that’s what I enjoy most nowadays

4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Exactly where I am – Finland

5. What is your favourite book? Too many to mention

6.Give five words that others might use to describe you? compassionate, reliable, loving, sensitive and a non-conformist

7. How do you relax? Read, read and read

8. What is your greatest contribution to the planet so far? Good question, I’ve yet to findout

9. Best experience from childhood/School years? Growing up in the countryside, playing and running bare foot on open fields with no care in the world

10. What general piece of advice would you give to the youth of today? Education is key

11. Do you speak another language beside your native tongue? Yes, 7 other languages

Well there you have it folks, that’s me in a nutshell. I’m breaking the last rule by not nominating anyone but please do to join in (if you have time) and give random facts about yourself.

Cheers!

Travel Theme: Pathways

A path saved for cyclists

Travel Theme: Beaches

Hooray! At last we have warm temperatures (+17C degrees today), it does look like we skipped spring and we are now in summer.  

I’m loving our new city and we’re already moving in tune with the rhythm. The absolute delight is that we live in a quiet area, about 5 mins walk to the forest and the beach.  

Lakeside

Some of the things that come to mind when we talk about beach are the cascading, beautiful, sometimes furious and foaming waves on a hot summer day. Feeling pebbles under your feet whilst you stroll around looking for ‘the’ perfect picnic spot with your loved one. 

Seashore

Maybe lying down on the sand in your designer swimsuit that had seen you spending more time at the gym than socializing. A cocktail drink in hand, gorgeous sunglasses (designer or not, they still look great), big sun hat to shield you from the harsh sun that could turn your face to resemble a raisin. And yeah! Life’s good.

Coastline

Well, most Finns go on holiday to Thailand, Spain, etc, for the kind of beach I just described. But not to be outdone, we do have beaches here. They come in all forms and yes, once in few years we actually have a hot summer. Ranta is a Finnish word meaning beach, waterfront, seafront, lakeside, bank, etc. 

Riverbank

Even though at the moment we might need to wear hand gloves when dipping in that beautiful, crystal clear and cold water – Man! It’s still a beach and we’re gonna put on our swimwear and enjoy the sunny days, who knows how long they will last.

This is the kind of beach holiday I dream about…
(pic. courtesy of Google)

Hope you enjoyed my beach and sunny post, with no snow for a change.

Enjoy what is left of the weekend. And those celebrating Mothers’ Day, have a great one.

More on gorgeous beaches, visit Ailsa at http://wheresmybackpack.com

Season for change!

Oh yes, I’ve been waiting for spring with so much anticipation and it looks like it’s finally here. The beautiful, sunny, shiny and warm weather is starting to feel familiar.

The season has brought about another change to our lives. On my previous post I mentioned that I will be starting spring cleaning soon – well I’m not spring cleaning, I’m literally packing. The city calls - we are moving house again to the southern part of the country, my hubby got an offer he couldn’t refuse.

What is the city but the people? ~ William Shakespeare

 

“Easy access to shopping, different kinds of restaurants, and cultural events. Plenty of people to choose from in finding friends. Travel is easier – airports, trains, etc. More kinds of jobs available. Better access to universities. You may not need a car. There is usually more tolerance of individual eccentricities.”

Sometime ago I wrote here about my love for both worlds – country & city. The sentiment that I’d choose countryside to live in, still holds true but if the opportunity to feel the vibrant and pulsating beat of the city again presents itself, I’m certainly grabbing it. I’ve missed the city in some ways.

But before I go teetering on my stilettos in the city’s side-walks  pathways, footpaths, platforms, etc, I’ve got to finish packing. On top of that my assignments deadlines are looming – phew! so much to do.

I will hopefully resurface soon and after all the rush has subsided. If you don’t see me around on the blogs, bare with me I will probably be still finding my balance or just simply being lazy, watching Pretty Woman for the umpteen time – escapism from the demands of daily life:-)

A happy new season to you all – whether it’s spring or autumn, hope it brings about all the positive changes in your lives.

Cheers!

  

Hesitant Spring

I’m sure this winter has not been longest than most but it surely has been the darkest – grey & cloudy. It’s said to have been the cloudiest in 20 years. We all know what grey weather does, it offers no inspiration at all. The weather and other responsibilities have somehow led to my absence from the blogs, lots of catching up to do.

Pic taken from Lappeenranta – couldn’t figure out what it was about but it sure looked grey.

Even though we don’t have the spring vocab yet, e.g. spring flowers, spring cleaning, spring fever, spring etc, there is hope. We have beautiful sunny, warmer and longer days but the nights remain very cold – that actually makes for good skiing and enjoyment of other winter sports.

Better make use of that snow that doesn’t seem to be melting away

Heard some beautiful twittering of the birds, yes the few brave ones are back.

Töyhtöhyyppä / Northern Lapwing

With bears seemingly still asleep and snow still in abundance, clear skies and sunny days are slowing warm up our frozen lips and bringing about much needed smiles:-)

Blue as a sky

I’m slowly getting my groove back and I’ll be hopefully tackling spring cleaning soon, i.e. clearing up my wardrobe with clothes I don’t need that are taking up the space.

Enjoy your spring folks. To my friends and family down south going into autumn, have fun. I won’t be visiting any time soon – enough of the cold:-)

 

Travel Theme: International Women’s Day

I celebrate or acknowledge Women’s Day twice a year. On March 8, Finland, International Women’s Day and August 9, South Africa, National Women’s Day.

 

I’m not even going to start comparing the two countries when it comes to a woman’s role or standing in national affairs, business and socially, the contrast is huge.

 

But instead, I dedicate this day to all the beautiful women of the world. By beautiful, I mean the following:

 

The beauty of a woman

Is not in the clothes she wears,

The figure that she carries,

Or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,

Because that is the doorway to her heart,

The place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole

But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives,

The passion that she shows,

And the beauty of a woman

With passing years only grows!

–  written by Teresa Mahieu

“Beauty has a lot to do with character.”

 

Happy Women’s Day and remember…

 

“Seldom do well behaved women make history” ~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

 

For more on celebrating women,visit Ailsa at http://wheresmybackpack.com

 

p.s. image courtesy of Google