Finland, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Days 42 to 43

8th Jan to 9th Jan

I spent about 30+ hours flying from Finland to Singapore over 2 days.  My flight from Switzerland to Hong Kong was delayed by more than 8 hours, apparently the plane did not even show up.  So my flight to Singapore was also delayed.  Needless to say, I wasn't so happy about it all, but I was glad to land eventually.  I spent 43 days travelling covering a lot of distance and I saw a lot of things, to sum it up in two words, it was bloody amazing.  In particular I really loved the countryside of Ireland and Scotland.  Truly amazing.

The aliens have landed in Zurich Airport.

Helsinki, Finland, Days 34 to 41, Katajanokka Prison, Lux Helsinki, Helsinki, Helsinki, Helsinki!

1st Jan to 8th Jan 2016

From the 1st of Jan up to the 8th of Jan I was in Helsinki, mostly wandering around and taking my own time exploring the place.  I have been here plenty of times, at least 4 and I've pretty much seen all there is to see.  Helsinki has a special place in my heart though, I love design and the city just resonates with me on that level.  So what better way than to spend New Year in one of its prisons?  I also went to the Lux Helsinki which is a light festival.  Funny story, we started off with around 10 people at 7pm, there was the South Africans, the Canadians and the Asians.  With less than 2 hours to go, the South Africans left, and so did the Asians, as it was too cold.  And it was quite cold, -25 excluding wind chill.  So it was just me and the 2 Canadians left.  You know you've lived in Norway too long when you're the only Asian surviving in a tour that's held outside at -25.  It was so cold my phone battery went to 0% with less than 2 hours of usage.  Even the water in my water bottle froze!

On the 9th of Jan I flew to Zurich, then to Hong Kong and finally to Singapore.

Katajanokka Prison.

Katajanokka Prison.

Esplanade.

Katajanokka Prison.

Berlin, Helsinki, Days 31 to 33, Potsdam, Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen, Katajanokka Prison

Dec 29th to Dec 31st

On the 29th of Dec some asshole by the name Alberto Pilon (of Salerno, Italy) of stole my laptop and camera.  Thankfully both him and his associate Massimiliano Rossi (also another focking Italian scumbag) are probably dead and killed now.  Curses aside, always keep your things safe with you, mine were under my bed yet the muthafocker stole it when I went to breakfast.  That didn't stop me from going to Potsdam, a very nice town in Germany where I took photos and met up with a friend who is studying there.

On the 30th of Dec I went to visit Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen which was a political prison back in the days of East West Germany.  People were put into prison for all sorts of reasons, all of them being very ridiculous.  If you have seen the movie "Bridge of spies", part of it was shot in this prison.  The tour guide informed us that his grandmother was put into prison for 2 years for distributing pamphlets relating to Christianity because she was accused of disturbing the peace of the world.  Really insane.  Some young girl was imprisoned for 8 years for putting on make up on a picture of Stalin because he looked pale.  Very eye opening.  I also met a friend where we had some tea and just talked.

On New Year's Day I flew to Helsinki, Finland, where I would spend about a week there before flying to Hong Kong.  I stayed in a prison.  Yes, I stayed in a prison and it was the best prison I've stayed in!

Berlin, Days 28 to 30, Germany, Jewish Museum, Pergamon Museum, Bode Museum, Neues Museum

26th to 28th Dec

From the 26th to the 28th of Dec I was in Berlin, doing a round of museum visits.  The Jewish museum had really interesting architecture.  The Pergamon museum, Bode museum and Neues museum were located on museum island and those were really large and comprehensive as well.  Berlin is modern because of what happened during WW2, but there's a lot of history behind it.

Scotland, Days 25 to 27, Edinburgh, Loch Lomond, Stirling

23rd to 25th Dec

From the 23rd of Dec to the 25th of Dec I was in Edinburgh and flew out to Berlin on the morning of the 25th, Xmas day.  On the 24th I went to Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle.  Stirling is the area where the battles of William Wallace and the English took place.