Travelog for: Rachel

Hi!

Please have a small video we edited... it's from our roadtrip to hostmom's hometown Kiiminki

I hope you'll enjoy the scenery :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll9Ebt9isz8&feature=youtu.be

Love from Rachel

Yuma is going to travel on to his next host in Spain... Have a safe journey, buddy! It was amazing to make friends with you (:




Oh, Helga also traveled back home earlier but unfortunately we didn't get any group pictures of her departure. Greetings to her, too, anyway - hopefully you reached home safely <3

~Rachel

Hi! We spent a weekend in Kuhmo which is a town in the very east of Finland, 100 kilometres to east from Kajaani.

Tuija took us for a walk around the town.



Here is a popular lunch cafeteria in the town:



This statue represents traveling salesmen ("laukkukauppias") who were a familiar sight in the late 1800's and early 1900's Finland, especially in the eastern regions of rural Finland. These men came from Karelia which is these days a part of the Russia federation. They spent months on the road during autumn and wintertime, carrying big rucksacks full of clothes, textiles and other smaller yet useful items. Traditionally they walked from house to house and stayed overnight in places they got customers from.


What a funny spruce tree Let me just tell you that Kuhmo is called "the town of three spruces" because the coat of arms of Kuhmo has three golden spruces on it. This town is very much full of forests and big, beautiful lakes.

The downtown Kuhmo is located by one of those lakes which is, by a wonderful coincidence, called Lammasjärvi (that's "Sheep Lake" in Finnish!! )




Sunkissed (:


Contemporary art in front of a local Karelian folk art museum (which unfortunately was closed)

Another day in Kuhmo...



Let's build a snowman!



Relaxing with a new pal...


And finding many familiar faces!


That last one... a packet of paper tissues! Soft as a lamb's wool n.n

We watched a nature documentary on penguins...


...and had a laugh over silly candy teeth 


Love, Rachel

We got a new TV in the house today! His name is Fred Leprechaun and he brought greetings from California.

Hi mom!

Today we visited a very exciting place here in Kajaani. There are ruins of an old castle which was built in the 1600's to function as an administrative centre, a prison, and a fort. It got unfortunately blown up during a war about one hundred years later but the ruins remained and today they are a sight for anyone to visit anytime.

The castle is located on a small island in the middle of Kajaani River which flows through the city centre.




There were steep staircases! Better watch out...





Lastly, we viewed he river. There was another small island there.


Too bad the castle isn't whole anymore... I would've loved to be a princess for a day 

Hi!

It's been quite a month here in Finland! Today I'll be off to Japan. That's going to be fun!

Just before leaving I got some breakfast. Look what funny stuff they eat here.


These rye crust pies are called rönttöset. They're filled with a sweetened mix of mashed potatoes and lingonberries and they taste exceptionally nice when heated up and a touch of butter on the sides.




After breakfast it was time to say goodbye to my friends and get packed and ready to travel.





Bye, Finland! See you soon, Japan!

Rachel

Hello Papa,
I arrived in Japan. Yeah!
They rescued me from an envelope. They did a heart massage for me.
I received many warm welcome from everyone.
And I showed a beautiful postcard from Tatterdemalion (Finland) for them.
My host said "You came at just the right time! Cherry blossoms will bloom soon."
I plan on enjoying life in Japan.
See you soon.

Hello!
New guest has arrived from China today.
It is my mom's an envelope.
Oh! Hansi Hü. I'm glad I could see he again.
I heard it's horse zodiac year of this year(2014) in Japan.
We might find something horse-related.
We sincerely welcome him.

Hi, mom.
We decided to go to McDonald's because I've heard that there is a drink of SAKURA(cherry blossoms) related for a limited time at McDonald's from my mom.
Well, McDonald's was 5-minute walk from my host's home.
It was a delicious cold drink, sweet smell and good cherries taste.
Drink of this pink is like a cocktail that does not contain alcohol at all.
We were able to see cherry blossoms began to bloom on the my way home.
Cherry blossoms will be in full bloom soon.

My host just came back from work, we explored the cherry blossoms around the house.
Many Japanese people loves cherry blossom so much.
It is said that it is because cherry blossom symbolizes the ephemeral nature of life due to the way it blooms spectacularly but only for a short while. or feeling spring comes and meaning everything start.
Well, we will start a week of searching the "SAKURA"(cherry blossoms) for us.
I found small flowers. It is very cute!
Then We were looking at this scenery that cherry blossoms were falling.
Of all the windy yesterday, the cherry blossoms have fallen off.
However, I heard The cherry blossoms are at their best few days.
I think I want to more enjoy cherry blossoms.

We went to visit to hear "Tadodai-buncyosya(Tadodai branch office) " is to be opened only one week during the cherry blossoms season. But it will be closed in one hour, today. It was built in 1913.
There were many people taking pictures and watching the cherry blossoms.
You can see Japanese-style room and conference room in Tadodai-buncyosya.
Stone of Antarctica was also on display. Of course, I tried to touch to stone.
We can see the Tokyo Bay below our eyes, cherry blossoms bloomed in a nice garden.
Pond was being represented by white stones on part of the garden.
This is a typical representation of a Japanese garden.
The weather was not good, but we were able to enjoy.

I  went to a "Hashirimizu fountainhead".
The ground was covered in pink petals, and the remaining blossoms and leaves covered the sky giving the place a pink glow.
I am afraid the flowers will not last till next week.
Although the cherry blossoms were on a decline by the time of our visit, we were nevertheless able to catch some pleasant views. However, with the afternoon showers in the area, more petals will fall and that would bring the cherry blossoms season closer to its end.

Hello! mom.
New guest has arrived from Germany today.
Her name is Josie. She is cute tiny dog.
We sincerely welcome.

Well, Spring vacation has ended, and the new school term started today.
In Japan, April is the month when school starts and companies begin a new business year.
Everyone seems little busy.
Bye for now.

Hi mom!
It's sunny day.
We came to Kannonzaki park.
First, we greeting an old cat who lives here.
He looks very comfortably by basking.
A short walk, And we found a very mysterious dark cave.
Kind of an old small shrine, any incorporeal supernatural being, Don't you think so?

There's a legend that a large snake lived on this dark cave.
Monk visited small village Kannonzaki in 741.
He heard that a large snake lived in this cave, and afflicts villagers and fishermen, the people of marine transportation.
Monk was killed the large snake. Then large snake was enshrined in this dark cave .
I think we should keep away from this cave.