Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine December 2017 | Page 143

Travel | Helsinki
141
There’s something special about gathering to drink glögi
in the cafés or playing board games in the cosy Kallio bars.
People gravitate towards light, and that’s why the Ice Park
is such a glowing haven.
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5 Senses – Touch
SAUNA
There is an awful lot of water in
Finland, the Land of Ten Thousand
Lakes with a 1,250km coastline. So
swimming, especially combined with
a sauna bath session, is popular
throughout the year. The Christmas
sauna remains a traditional family
event. The outdoor water is heated at
the Allas Sea Pool near the Market
Square and is open through
December. Sounds daft, but it’s a
typically eccentric Finnish experience!
www.allasseapool.com
Ada banyak perairan yang
melimpah di Finlandia, Land of Ten
Thousand Lakes, dengan garis pantai
sepanjang 1.250 km. Berenang, yang
dipadukan dengan mandi sauna,
cukup diminati dalam sepanjang
tahun. Sauna Natal menjadi acara
untuk keluarga. Air panas di Allas Sea
Pool yang berada di luar ruang, tak
jauh dari Market Square buka selama
Desember. Mungkin tampaknya tak
biasa, tetapi inilah pengalaman khas
Finlandia yang eksentrik!
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curved Aalto vases and Oiva Toikka’s whimsical
ornamental birds, are other perennial favourites.
From Espa, it’s easy to head down to the Market
Square by the harbour and find the Market Hall,
a good place to buy a sample of a Finnish
Christmas dinner staple, namely gravlax,
melt-in-the-mouth raw salmon cured with salt
and dill and served here on squares of rye bread.
The flower stands here and across town will be
ablaze with poinsettia plants and hyacinths, both
of which are popular table decorations.
Venture away from these central areas to
discover more intimate and local shops and
cafés, all of which exude a sense of Christmas
welcome. Drop into the Tikau boutique on
Korkeavuorenkatu, the street that thinks it’s a
village, to browse the exquisite handicrafts, a
hybrid of Nordic design ideas and Indian
artisanship. Or head up to the northeast Kallio
district to experience hipster bars and trendy
vintage outlets.
“What’s great about Christmas in Helsinki? So
many things!” says Henrietta Lehtonen, a
Helsinki born-and-bred and a Kallio resident.
“There’s something special about gathering to
drink glögi in the cafés or playing board games
in the cosy Kallio bars. People gravitate