Surreal. That's the feeling when I am once again walking the dog around the same neighbourhood I have been living in since 2001 (with the exception of the Singapore getaway). Everything is pretty much the same with only superficial changes. Same shops, same restaurants, same schools, same kindergartens, same parks. Same cold, wet weather. As if I never left. I was away only for 2 years, but it is pretty amazing this dreamlike quality when thinking about past 24 months.
Here are some of the quick observations from the first days before I end up not noticing them anymore:
On the very first day I encountered what could probably only be labeled as an old hobo, who seemed to have peed all over himself just a little bit. He was looking for a fight near the subway station. Luckily not with me. This was around 10 o'clock in the morning. Suffice to say you would never ever see a sight like that in Singapore. I wonder if quick corrective caning would decrease (or perhaps only further increase) the aggressive behaviour over here? The hobo was dressed in black. Like practically everybody else. Perhaps few people have dark gray jacket on. Or dark brown if they are very expressive.
My phone (new OnePlus One!) was struggling to hang on to LTE-network, but was dropping to 3G (!) speeds in the suburbs of Töölö, which could still be considered to be part of downtown Helsinki. This feels quite out of place coming from a area with complete countrywide (albeit miniscule country at that) coverage for full LTE speeds. Apparently I was almost the only one enjoying my 3G connection in the bus. I remember wondering few months ago if 80% of my fellow HKIers would be fiddling their phones in public transports by now.
Was it always like this: only old, ugly and dirty cars on streets? Where are the occasional Lambos, Ferraris and Maseratis? Then again I did get my first Tesla sighting in the streets of Helsinki! Of course I could easily get a ride with one of those German made cars for a fee. I was planning to take my kids to nearby National Park of Nuuksio to marvel the Autumn colours, but the trip would have costed me 70 euros -- each way. I guess we can enjoy the absolutely beautiful display of nature in the city parks just as well.
While on the topic of cost of living, I happily renewed my electricity contract for about 200 euros for the whole year. Also 20 euros a month for a mobile phone subscription with limitless calls and txts and 50 gigs of LTE traffic sounds inexpensive to me (as long as LTE works). Finally home broadband for 350 Mbps connection which costs 20 euros a month is truly a bargain anywhere.
Finally, I am afraid Singapore has ruined my taste buds beyond repair. Japanese food tasted bland. Nepalese wasn't really spicy even with warning texts on the menu. Not to mention eating home cooked family dinner. I solved the immediate concern with a bottle of chilli sauce as my hidden weapon. Now I only regret that I didn't purchase that special chilli sauce from Katong Laksa. However, I am compelled to add that I had truly spectacular sautéed wild boar (*) as part of the Autumn game menu in a local restaurant.
Here are some of the quick observations from the first days before I end up not noticing them anymore:
On the very first day I encountered what could probably only be labeled as an old hobo, who seemed to have peed all over himself just a little bit. He was looking for a fight near the subway station. Luckily not with me. This was around 10 o'clock in the morning. Suffice to say you would never ever see a sight like that in Singapore. I wonder if quick corrective caning would decrease (or perhaps only further increase) the aggressive behaviour over here? The hobo was dressed in black. Like practically everybody else. Perhaps few people have dark gray jacket on. Or dark brown if they are very expressive.
My phone (new OnePlus One!) was struggling to hang on to LTE-network, but was dropping to 3G (!) speeds in the suburbs of Töölö, which could still be considered to be part of downtown Helsinki. This feels quite out of place coming from a area with complete countrywide (albeit miniscule country at that) coverage for full LTE speeds. Apparently I was almost the only one enjoying my 3G connection in the bus. I remember wondering few months ago if 80% of my fellow HKIers would be fiddling their phones in public transports by now.
While on the topic of cost of living, I happily renewed my electricity contract for about 200 euros for the whole year. Also 20 euros a month for a mobile phone subscription with limitless calls and txts and 50 gigs of LTE traffic sounds inexpensive to me (as long as LTE works). Finally home broadband for 350 Mbps connection which costs 20 euros a month is truly a bargain anywhere.
Finally, I am afraid Singapore has ruined my taste buds beyond repair. Japanese food tasted bland. Nepalese wasn't really spicy even with warning texts on the menu. Not to mention eating home cooked family dinner. I solved the immediate concern with a bottle of chilli sauce as my hidden weapon. Now I only regret that I didn't purchase that special chilli sauce from Katong Laksa. However, I am compelled to add that I had truly spectacular sautéed wild boar (*) as part of the Autumn game menu in a local restaurant.
Welcome back me!
PS. For all you Finnish speakers out there there was a similar list of findings shared when Shanghai correspondent of the local newspaper returned back home.
(*) Mission accomplished!
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