Electrifying.
That was the culmination of 8 days of adventure summarised into a single word. I never knew how I could be so fatigued yet energised at the same time. In the past 8 days alone, I travelled more than 2000 kilometres on the road, went cross-country skiing for the first time, swam in the Arctic Ocean, went snowmobiling, husky-sledding, ice-carting, and was mesmerised by the enchanting and elusive northern lights. It was simply too overwhelming for a tropical boy who lives 1° north of the equator.
My adventure began even before I landed at Helsinki-vantaa airport. From the window of the aircraft, I saw snow for the first time in my life.
“What a bumpkin you are,” I thought to myself.
The whole landscape was blanketed in snow–the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. From that lofty vantage point I soaked in the beauty of the natural landscape as emotions flooded me. I had always wanted to see snow and here I was–fulfilling my lifetime dream, albeit having to enjoy it all alone.
The student tour I was on involved a 20-something hour bus torture ride to Inari, with stops at Tampere and Jyväskylä. Even though the journey was arduously long and uncomfortable, it gave me an opportunity to see the entire country—literally—from south to north.
Our first stop was the Kemi Snow Castle.
Here at the snow castle, I walked through rows of beautiful ice carvings and sculptures, an ice bar, a church, and several hotel rooms. The temperature inside was a warm and cozy 11°C.
The next stop was the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, situated on the Arctic Circle. It was an entire "village," complete with restaurants, gift shops, and a museum, as well as reindeer and husky rides.
Upon reaching Inari (where we were to stay), we were greeted by our beautiful snow-capped log cabin, which housed eight of us. Situated just beside a frozen lake, it was the perfect place in a perfect location.
For the next few days, our daily tour schedule took us all over the place, giving us little free time. Every night, I would stay out in the bitter cold alone, waiting for the northern lights to exhibit its colours. Everyone wanted to see the lights, but no one wanted to wait for it! On our final night, I was rewarded with a beautiful show of dancing lights, which lasted for several hours. At last I could say that this trip was complete.
As I look back on the trip, I relish every second of those crazy, adrenaline-fuelling activities I took part in, but they were nothing more than clever excuses I made to justify this trip to see the northern lights. Yet this winter wonderland also offered me an unexpected peek into the hidden beauty of the country I have been hearing about since my childhood. In my search for the northern lights, I discovered much more than just a natural phenomenon—I discovered myself. It struck me that I had to explore the farthest reaches of the planet to learn so much more about myself.
"Travelling broadens your horizons."
Oh yeah, it sure does!