Blue Wings Good life issue March 2016

GOOD LIFE ISSUE TRENDS, DESTINATIONS AND INSIGHTS FOR TRAVELLERS

MARCH 2016

Your personal copy

VISIT JAPAN’S RAMEN CAPITAL GLUTEN-FREE

LONDON

LAPLAND ON FILM

Tour the scenic fjords

of Norway

The best moments in life don’t require a password When your offline moment is over, check out our sustainable paper selection at www.storaenso.com/paper

EDITORIAL

BY PEKKA VAURAMO CEO OF FINNAIR WWW.FINNAIR.COM

SANOMA MEDIA FINLAND HEAD OFFICE

CONTENT DESIGNER Amanda Soila VISUAL DESIGNER Sirpa Ärmänen SUB-EDITOR Shelly Nyqvist VISUAL ASSISTANT Iris Mark ENGLISH EDITING Silja Kudel REPROGRAPHICS Faktor Oy ON THE COVER Flydalsjuvet lookout point, Norway

by Fototeca 9x12/Günter Gräfenhain BEHIND THIS ISSUE Daniel Allen, Tommi Anttonen, Trevor Baker, Tim Bird, Simon Fry, Kati ­Heikinheimo, Laura Iisalo, Silja Kudel, Alex Leander, Mirva Lempiäinen, Karen MacKenna, James O’Sullivan, Ville Palonen, Laura Palotie, Katja ­Pantzar, Hernan ­Patiño, Anu Piippo, Vesa Salmi, Wif Stenger and Mikko Takala.

SUBMISSIONS bluewings@headofficefinland.fi BLUE WINGS ONLINE www.issuu.com/headofficefinland EDITORIAL OFFICES Porkkalankatu 20 A, 00180 Helsinki, Finland, Postal address P.O.Box 100, 00040 Sanoma, Finland, tel. +358 9 1201, firstname.lastname@headofficefinland.fi ADVERTISING SALES Media Assistant Sirkka Pulkkinen tel. +358 9 120 5921 PUBLISHER Sanoma Media Finland PRINTED BY Punamusta, Joensuu, Finland 2016 PAPER UPM Valor 61g Cover paper Stora Enso LumiArt 200g CIRCULATION 60,000 ISSN-0358-7703

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Arja Suominen arja.suominen@finnair.com FINNAIR HEAD OFFICE Tietotie 9 A, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, 1053 Finnair, Finland, tel. +358 (0)9 818 81, Postal address: P. O. Box 15, 01053 Finnair, Finland CUSTOMER FEEDBACK www.finnair.com/feedback or by mail: Customer Relations, SL/403, FI-01053 FINNAIR. www.finnair.com, www.finnair.fi www.finnairgroup.com

Being a responsible global citizen

F

or Finnair, corporate ­responsibility (CR) is an essential part of our strategy. When it comes to CR, we have adopted a clear approach: we focus on long-term projects that will benefit people and society rather than supporting ad hoc activities. Finnair has recently published its latest annual report with an indepth section on sustainability, where you will find more information on our activities.

Aviation expends a lot of energy. One of Finnair’s competitive advantages is that we offer the shortest and most energy-efficient route between Europe and Asia (finnair. com/fi/gb/emissions-calculator).

Finnair has set a clear and ambitious target: we are committed to reduce CO2

3 projects Finnair is involved in:

1

Led by the Savonlinna Opera Festival, Inspired in Finland looks for passionate Finnish companies who are devoted to their work.

emissions by 20 per cent from 2009 until 2017. We have consistently developed our activities to reduce energy consumption.

We equip aircraft with lighter cabin components, we train pilots on methods that reduce fuel consumption, and we have taken modern aircraft into use. We have also found ways to reduce energy consumption on the ground.

I am eagerly anticipating the moment when markets have developed so that we could start using sustainable ­alternative fuels regularly in our airplanes. I have high hopes for standardisation of biodiesel, which could happen as soon as this year!

Pekka Vauramo

3

Moreau Kusunoki / ArteFactoryLab

We are part of a forest mapping development cooperation project in Madagascar launched by the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.

2

Supporting a Helsinki Guggenheim museum would boost the Finnish travel industry, and provide a dynamic addition to the museum cluster in Finland.

MARCH 2016

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VEPSÄLÄINEN 60TH ANNIVERSARY HÄSTENS LIMITED EDITION

Vepsäläisen asiakkaille valmistettu 600 Hästensin erikoiserä tarjoaa luksusta, joka täydentää upeimmankin kodin sisustuksen. Vepsäläinen 60th Anniversary Hästens Limited Edition on tarjolla rajoitetun ajan. Vuoteet on viimeistelty numeroidulla nimilaatalla, varaa omasi heti: vepsalainen.com/hastens

100€/KK

NOUSUKAUSI

RAHOITUS*

Vepsäläinen 60th Anniversary Hästens Limited Edition sisältää 2 kpl 90 x 200 cm runkopatjoja, 1 kpl 180 x 200 cm BJ-jouhisijauspatjan ja tammijalat. Medium tai tukeva jousitus. Verhoilukangas: musta-, harmaa- tai siniruutu.

Norm. 7.700 € NYT 6.000 € Etu 1.700 € 60 erässä: 100 €/kk

HÄSTENS STORE HELSINKI, Mannerheimintie 8, 00100 Helsinki, tel. 020 780 1370, hastens.com Hankintoja helpottaa TUOHI MasterCard -luotto, jolla maksat ostoksesi tasaerissä jopa 60 kuukauden aikana ilman korkoja ja kuluja. Maksaessasi ostokset TUOHELLA 18.2.–30.6.2016 *välisenä aikana saat ostolle jopa 60 kk korotonta ja kulutonta maksuaikaa tasaerissä. Tätä kutsutaan Nousukausirahoitukseksi. TUOHEN muusta käytöstä maksat korot ja kulut sopimusehtojen mukaisesti. TUOHI MasterCard on kansainvälinen maksuaika- ja luottokortti. TUOHEN todellinen vuosikorko laskettuna 1.500 euron käytössä olevalle luotolle on 20,6 %. Laskennassa on käytetty 3 kk:n euriborkorkoa (2/2016) ja siinä on huomioitu kuukausittainen tilinhoitomaksu. TUOHI on jatkuva luotto, se on voimassa toistaiseksi, ja sen myöntää Nordea Rahoitus Suomi Oy, Aleksis Kiven katu 9, Helsinki. Luottoraja on 1.000–10.000 euroa, korko on 3 kuukauden euriborkorko +12 % ja tilinhoitomaksu on 5 euroa kuukaudessa, ei vuosimaksua. Lisätiedot tuohi. fi. Nousukausirahoitus ei ole käytössä Vepsäläisen verkkokaupassa.

IN THIS ISSUE The coast of Norway boasts stunning ­scenery.

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GOOD LIFE 2016 DESTINATION WONDER OF FJORDS

Norway’s scenic fame is best explored by water

LIFETYLE TOP 5 G-FREE IN LONDON

Where to get your gluten-free cake and eat it, too

DESTINATION SOAPERSTARS OF CRETE

The artisan craft of soap-making lives on in Angeliana

DESTINATION JAPAN’S NOODLE CAPITAL

The seaside city of Fukuoka is home to 2,ooo ramen shops

LIFESTYLE NORDIC SUPER FOODS

Finnish berries are the new powerhouse foods

BUSINESS ONES TO WATCH

The health tech industry makes great strides

Some of the finest olives are grown on Crete.

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DESTINATION BLAST FROM THE PAST Classic cars rev up the streets of Paris

DESTINATION Ў VISIT MINSK

Belarusian hipsters hail unique gallery space

LIFESTYLE TAKE TWO

Lapland is fast becoming Finland’s film location hot spot

DESTINATION DESIGNERLY TORONTO

This Canadian city constantly reinvents itself with cool The secret to ramen is in the sauce.

TAKEOFF NEWS

The greening of hotels ............. 12

SPORTS

Fictional games — no joke........ 14

FAMILY

Learning goes digital ................. 16

46

30 38 42 46 54 60 64 67 68 74

FOOD&DRINK

Scotland’s latest export............. 18

WELLBEING

The rave-olution is on ...................20

DESTINATIONS

Get cultured in Wrocław ......... 22

WORLD

Ready to play in Legoland........ 24

HELSINKI

Men’s eco-fashion........................26

IN THE AIR WITH

Sauna yogi Tiina Vainio.............. 28

TRAVEL TRENDS

Ticket for one ................................29

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IN THIS ISSUE

54

Berry-good-for-you onboard

74

68

Extreme filming in Finnish Lapland

Darlings of ­Toronto fashion

REGULARS

Travel Moment............................................ 8

Marja Makarow........................................40 Alexander Stubb.....................................58 Finland in figures.................................... 98

FLY FINNAIR

Tips for takeoff........................................ 80 Inflight wellbeing.................................... 81 Entertainment.......................................... 82 Shopping..................................................... 83

India, p. 8 Suzhou, p. 11 Wracłow, p. 22 Helsinki, p. 26 Norway, p. 30 London, p. 38

Sustainability............................................. 84 Border crossings..................................... 85 Helsinki Airport ....................................... 86 Maps and destinations......................... 88 Fleet.............................................................. 92 Frequent flyer benefits........................ 94 6 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

Check out this month’s Finnair PlusShop offers on page 97

Crete, p. 42 Fukuoka, p. 46 Paris, p. 64 Minsk, p. 67 Lapland, p. 68 Toronto, p. 74

NUKU HYVIN TÄSTÄ LÄHTIEN.

Täysin uudistunut Jensen-mallisto nyt esittelyssä!

Jo vuodesta 1947 lähtien, Jensen on kehittänyt vuoteiden ominaisuuksia käyttämällä aina uusimpia menetelmiä ja kaikkein moderneimpia materiaaleja. Optimaaliseen nukkumismukavuuteen pyrkiminen on tuottanut myös innovaatioita – kuten entistäkin paremman ja myötäilevämmän Jensen Aloy 2.0 -jousitusjärjestelmän.

Kuvan Nordic Seamless on ainutlaatuinen runkopatjavuode. Siinä on kaksi erillistä runkoa, mutta yhtenäinen joustinpatja ja verhoilu, jolloin nukkujien väliin ei jää rakoja eikä reunoja. Hyvää yötä, www.vepsalainen.com

ESPOO | HELSINKI | HÄMEENLINNA | JYVÄSKYLÄ | KOUVOLA | KUOPIO | LAHTI | LAPPEENRANTA MIKKELI | OULU | PORI | PORVOO | ROVANIEMI | SEINÄJOKI | TAMPERE | TURKU | VAASA | VANTAA

TRAVEL MOMENT

SUPERSTAR SADHUS

BY VILLE PALONEN

KUMBH MELA is the world’s largest ­festival and is celebrated every three years, when millions of ­Hindus c­ ongregate in four rotating locations: ­Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik, and Ujjain. During the month-long festival, pilgrims bathe in holy rivers and consult sadhus, the holy men of India.

Kumbh Mela provides a rare opportunity to meet the sadhus. These men often 8 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

live ascetic and solitary lives, but at the festival sadhus are celebrated as guests of ­honour. Even Shiva-worshipping naga sadhus – who sport dreadlocks and threeprong ­tridents, and cover their naked bodies with ash that symbolises death and ­reincarnation – become superstars.

The Kumbh Mela festival takes place from April 22 until May 21 in Ujjain, India.

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ÄTÖN M E L E T I P , I S UU LL Ä Ä Ä T N O W O H S

Viime viikkoina Ulla, Niina ja Veera ovat ruotineet mm. koiria, karvoja, sisustuskauppoja ja motivaatiolauseita. Katso omaperäisen talk show’mme kaikki jaksot osoitteessa menaiset.fi/evek

TAKEOFF

NEWS / SPORTS / FAMILY / FAMILY / FOOD AND DRINK / WELLBEING / DESTINATION / WORLD / HELSINKI

G V P

s to flie ily. r i da na Fin ghai m n o a Sh nair.c n fi

SUZHOU

Harmonious microcosm

TEXT AND PHOTO HERNAN PATIÑO

THE CLASSICAL GARDENS of Suzhou in the Jiangsu province of China enthrall visitors with their canals, bridges, and gardens. Hailed as the Venice of the Orient by Marco Polo during his visit in 1276 A.D., the gardens represent styles of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. In the peak of the Qing dynasty, there were

some 170 classical gardens. Nowadays 19 are open to the public with nine of them listed as Unesco World Cultural Heritage sites.

The historic city of Suzhou lies about 100 kilometres west of Shanghai and is easily accessible by train or car.. whc.unesco.org/en/list/813

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TAKEOFF NEWS

WORLD OF BENEFITS As a Finnair Plus member, you can earn and redeem points with Scandic Hotels, the Nordic region’s most ­sustainable hotel chain. finnair.com/pluspartners

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY MIRVA LEMPIÄINEN 1 HOTELS

ISTOCK

The luxury lifestyle brand 1 Hotels is serious about sustainability.

These boots are made for walking Hotel industry goes green

‘ECO’ IS HARDLY a buzzword, but 2016 is shaping up to be the year the hotel industry gets serious about sustainability.

A recent TripAdvisor survey found that two-thirds of travellers prefer to stay in a green hotel. The Zero Waste Alliance ecoactivist group found that more than 43 million Americans think of themselves as ‘eco-tourists’.

1 Hotels is a luxury lifestyle brand that leads the eco-boom. Its three hotels – one in Miami and two in New York – are designed in collaboration with environmentally friendly architects and in compliance with the US Green Building Council’s LEED standards. As part of the NYC Carbon Challenge, the chain has pledged to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent in the next decade.

“Two immediate steps we are taking are to convert our high efficiency boiler to cleanburning natural gas, which will reduce emissions by over 20 per cent, and to convert 100

per cent of our light bulb inventory to ultrahigh efficient LEDs,” says Michael Laas, Director of Impact for 1 Hotels.

The hotels serve filtered water through their taps and encourage guests to limit showers to five minutes with the help of an hourglass timer.

“Our goal is not to preach but to use actions over words to fulfil our mission of sustainable and beautiful hospitality,” says Laas.

While NYC leads the way, the green hotel trend is catching on around the world.

The Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, will see a highly energy-efficient hotel built at Bodelva near St Austell. In Bali, Indonesia, Villa Awang Awang is built from all-natural materials, recycles its waste through a bio-cycle septic system, and uses solar power and hydro-electricity. It has received the highest rating from Environmentally­ FriendlyHotels.com.

1hotels.com

Travel the chocosphere FINNS ADORE two things: Karl Fazer chocolate and travel – and the two now come together in a tasty package. Karl Fazer Travel is a chocolate bar series drawing inspiration from four world cities: Copenhagen, London, New York, and Rio de Janeiro. Each bar reflects the flavours of its namesake city. fazer.fi

12 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

Following in the footsteps of meditation retreats and adult colouring books, comes the next big thing in mindfulness: walking holidays.

“Walking burns more fat than jogging, engaging all the muscles – it’s the perfect all-round activity,” says Alison Howell, founder of UKbased Foot Trails. “But for most of us, it is the soulful, slow and, for some, meditative rhythm of walking that has the greatest impact.”

Foot Trails designs year-round walking trips to local villages, Neolithic burial sites, Roman ruins, and historical castles and churches across South West England. Prices start at 250 euros, including B&B accommodation, tailored walks, maps, a snack pack with wine, and a nature guidebook. Guided walks are also available for small groups.

For a meditative experience in the Nordic wilderness, join a Happy Human walk lead by Finnish entrepreneur Mirja Kärnä. This summer’s tours include rambles in the Koli National Park in Lieksa and a walk from Lintula Convent to Valamo Monastery. Prices start at 390 euros.

For further tips, check out Britain’s World Walks, who partner with smaller organisations in dozens of countries offering trips starting at 450 euros. foottrails.co.uk

TAKEOFF SPORTS

PACK TOO MUCH? If you have excess baggage, you can easily pay in advance for an extra luggage allowance at special pre-paid prices directly from finnair.com.

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY TREVOR BAKER

Fictional games THE ROTARY CLUB OF OXFORD SPIRES

Quidditch has become hugely popular in real life. Tom Norton (below left) is captain of the British team.

POOH STICKS Winnie The Pooh’s game, where players drop sticks into a river from a bridge, now has its own World Championships in Oxfordshire: June 5. pooh-sticks.com

TRIDIMENSIONAL CHESS

Battling broomsticks Many British sports were invented by Victorian teachers who wanted to introduce their pupils to clean living and exercise. That’s perhaps why sports invented by the more inventive likes of J.K. Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter fantasy series, and other novelists have suddenly become popular in real life. Even fictional sports attract highly competitive people.

“Losing to France was gutting,” says Tom Norton, captain of the British Quidditch team which lost in the final of the European Championships last year. “We really wanted it and to have it taken from us in the last minute was awful.”

Instead of representing his country he’s the snitch in a game between Cambridge University and Bristol University’s second team. Independent of both sides, his responsibility is to try and avoid having the tennis ball hanging from the back of his belt snatched away by one of their Seekers.

Of course none of this makes sense to anybody but a Harry Potter fan. Quidditch is the game that appears, arguably a 14 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

bit too often, in the Harry Potter books as light relief from the million word struggle to defeat the evil Voldemort. It’s played on flying broomsticks and the aim is to throw the quaffle (ball) through the opposing team’s hoop, or, of course, catch the snitch.

On a wet day in the outskirts of Oxford magic may seem very distant but, even though the “broomsticks” between players’ legs don’t actually fly, quidditch has become hugely popular with hundreds of teams around the world. Indeed it is rapidly moving away from its Harry Potter roots. As the scorer puts it: “Half the people here don’t even like Harry Potter!”

They do, nevertheless, like a sport which is startlingly rough and energetic, but where everybody cheers each other endearingly at the end of each game. It may not be as J.K. Rowling envisaged, but it could still teach other Muggle sports a thing or two about how to have fun.

The US Quidditch World Cup 9 will take place April 16–17 in Columbia, South Carolina.

As every Star Trek fan knows, we should be playing chess in three-dimensions by now. Luckily hardcore Trekkies have come up with their own rules. yestercade.net/tactical.htm

CALVINBALL In the famous comic strip, sixyear-old Calvin and his best friend Hobbes, who happens to be a stuffed tiger, didn’t like sports much, so they invented Calvinball, a game where you make the rules up as you go along and scoring is arbitrary.

This, for many fans, makes it pretty much the perfect sport to play in real life. bartel.org/calvinball

Shopping Centre 60,000 m of premium retail and entertainment space in the heart of Helsinki. 500 daily metro stops. Located by the sea. Opens in 2018.

REDI is a city in a city.

2

Building permit, investors and funding are ready.

Construction works are in full swing. We are now leasing. Are you one of the tenants?

Contact us today!

‹ redi.fi/en

LEASING OF RETAIL PREMISES:

Pia Svensk Commercial Director +358 50 389 0569 pia.svensk@srv.fi – Jonna Majanen Leasing Manager +358 45 110 8802 jonna.majanen@srv.fi – Sofia Palin Leasing Specialist + 358 40 656 5051 sofia.palin@srv.fi

TAKEOFF FAMILY

ONBOARD FUN Finnair’s Nordic Sky entertainment ­system available on A350 aircraft offers a wide range of entertainment options to keep everyone busy.

WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY JAMES O’SULLIVAN

A playful trio

Looking for something fresh and Finnish (and available in English) to keep the kids entertained on the road?

MOOMIN PAD 3–7 YEARS Safely housed in a rubber frame, this tablet comes pre-installed with Moominthemed games and books, with additional content also available from Android stores.

Kapu Toys introduces a variety of skills to youngsters to make learning fun.

spinfy.com

GAMES

Learning with the digital toybox A QUICK LOOK online and it’s clear that much has changed in the world of children’s mobile games in recent years.

“Back when we started in 2011 there were only a couple of companies ­globally doing it,” recalls Hannu Koho, ­founding partner of Finnish games house Kapu Toys. “Now there is a kids category on the App Store and all kinds of subcategories.”

Kapu Toys specialises in creating learning opportunities for those too young to read. Each game in their ‘digital toolbox’ introduces a new set of skills, such as taking photos, stacking building blocks, fishing and making music.

“One of our main aims is to do something in the digital world that inspires kids to go out and do it in real life,” Koho says.

Kapu’s visual style has been a key element to achieving this, drawing from a bright and colourful palette to evoke “retro fairy tales.”

16 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

“We want to do something peaceful and natural,” Koho explains. “The tone of voice we want to maintain is our Nordic heritage.”

And it’s clear that Kapu’s Northern European roots have universal appeal, with France, Germany, Brazil and Argentina among its biggest markets.

But how do they keep coming up with fresh ideas that appeal to the little ones?

Well, Kapu goes right to the source and asks kids themselves what they like.

In fact, founding partner Tuomas Vanamo’s children and their friends play an integral role in testing each game’s potential.

“They love the process, but are so bored by the time the games eventually come out,” Vanamo says. “They’re like, ‘next’. They keep on pushing us.” kaputoys.com

DAISY DARLING, LET’S READ A STORY 3–5 YEARS Nominated for the prestigious Finlandia Junior prize, local author and illustrator Markus Majaluoma shares more tales of ­everyday life brimming with humour and originality. pikkupublishing.com

ROBOGEM 6+ YEARS Introducing players to the world of coding, this strategy board game teaches simple commands for controlling diamond-seeking robots on a distant planet. oppijailo.fi

kia.fi

@kiamotorsfinland

Kia Sorento. Täydellisyyttä tavoitteleville. Täydellinen kaikille.

Hyvän ja täydellisen välillä on paljon eroa. Ja Kia Sorentolla me todella tähtäämme täydellisyyteen. Lopputulos? Auto, jossa yhdistyy ylellinen mukavuus jopa 7 matkustajalle, huippuluokan varustelu, parantunut turvallisuustaso ja tyrmäävä ulkomuoto. Kia Sorentolla jokainen päivä on nautinnollinen. 7 vuoden takuulla.

Kia Sorento -mallisto alk. 44.990 € Vapaa autoetu alk. 850 €/kk, käyttöetu alk. 685 €/kk

Kia Sorento autoveroton hinta alk. 34.015,73 € + arvioitu autovero alk. 10.974,27 € = kokonaishinta alk. 44.990 €. Vapaa autoetu alk. 850 €/kk, käyttöetu alk. 685 €/kk. EU-yhd. 5,7-6,6 l/100 km, CO2-päästöt 149-174 g/km. Kia-huolenpitosopimus alk. 43 €/kk (sopimusaika 36 kk, 10 tkm/ vuosi). Takuu 7 vuotta tai 150 000 km, kolme ensimmäistä vuotta ilman kilometrirajaa. Kia 24h tiepalvelu vuodeksi veloituksetta. Kuvan auto erikoisvarustein.

TAKEOFF FOOD & DRINK

SWEET DEALS Satisfy your sweet tooth by pre-ordering chocolate and other delicious goodies for your flight. www.finnairshop.com

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY ANU PIIPPO

SEASONAL TREATS

Ready for a happy Easter?

Easter comes early this year, so now is the time to stock up on chocolate and other treats. Blue Wings picked three festive palate-ticklers to share with your nearest and dearest.

Fiona Houston and Xa Milne share their passion for seaweed.

From tide to table If orange is the new black, seaweed is the new kale. Sprinkled or spooned as a seasoning, this nutritional powerhouse is making the rounds as one of this year’s superfoods.

Who could have guessed that a chat at the playground about foraging would turn Mara Seaweed into an industry pioneer?

Fiona ­Houston and Xa Milne started the business in 2011 harvesting seaweed under licence along the Scottish coastline.

Today their products are stocked in shops across the UK and they are the ­winners of the UK Great Taste Award for the fourth year in a row. Last year they also made the finals of the BBC Food and Farming Awards for Best Producer and won the Crown Estate Aquaculture Award for Innovation.

“Mara’s products can be used to replace salt and add flavours. Now we are also

Nature on a plate

Anna Emilia Laitinen is a young Finnish artist whose delicate, nature-inspired illustrations are gracing dining tables in Japan. Her tableware collection, developed for bone china manufacturer Narumi (in photo), is available both online and in department stores around the country. annaemilia.com, narumi.co.jp

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equally evangelical about their health benefits, which are backed by science. We don’t source just any old seaweed; Mara specialises in seasonal seaweeds that are high on flavour and nutrients,” says ­Houston, cofounder and “SeaEO.” Seaweed is known to have a ­natural umami flavour, but the company also offers a range of specialties such as dulse smoked over Applewood shavings.

Some of the plans for this year are still top secret, but fans can look forward to the launch of a “Scottish-Japanese flavour fusion” as well as existing products becoming available in single serving sachets.

“They are perfect for airlines and lunch boxes to get your daily mineral and flavour boost in a ready-to-go format,” ­Houston says. maraseaweed.com

Quirky quark The Finns love to eat quark at Eastertime, and this lemon-flavoured lactose-free variant from Valio is a slightly bizarre combination: rich yet fresh at the same time – but ever so delicious. Available in most food stores.

Chocolate heaven Ten-year-old Chjoko – pride of the Finnish ­artisanal chocolate business – offers a range of unique signature chocolate eggs during the Easter season. Buy yours from Chjoko’s store and chocolate factory on Liisankatu Street in Helsinki’s city centre.

Spicy strawberry red This complex Pinot Noir produced by Schug Carneros Estate combines the Schug family’s German heritage with the soil and climate of Sonoma County in California. It pairs nicely with lamb, duck, and even grilled fish.

Price: €22.90 Available for pre-order from finnairshop.fi

myrskyn

JOKU NÄKEE

tuulivoimaa

ME NÄEMME

Tuulienergiapotentiaali on 40-kertainen verrattuna maailman sähkönkulutukseen.

Tuuli on erittäin hyvin hyödynnettävissä oleva energianlähde, siksi Taaleri Tuulitehdas rakentaa merkittävän määrän tuulivoimaa Suomeen.

Omistajuus kuuluu kaikille.

Löydä oma tapasi: taaleri.com

Taaleri Varainhoito Oy, Kluuvikatu 3, 00100 Helsinki, Y-tunnus 2080113-9

TAKEOFF WELLBEING

INFLIGHT WELLBEING See page 81 for handy exercises that will keep you fit while flying.

COMPILED BY KATI HEIKINHEIMO AND SHELLY NYQVIST CARYS LAVIN

NATURAL CHOICES

Healing herbs

This calendula classic by Frantsila Herb Farm was selected as the care product of the year in 2016. Biologically cultivated Finnish organic herbs embedded in a light, easily absorbed cream support skin tissue renewal and soothe eczema. frantsilankehakukka.fi/en

Three-in-one cleanser The rave-olution is on with Morning Gloryville in London.

TREND

Conscious clubbing

LOVE TO DANCE, but less keen on a heavy head in the morning? You’re in luck with the latest social trend: sober partying.

Events serving only non-alcoholic drinks have proven a welcome alternative for those who have grown tired of boozy conversations or hangovers.

One of them is Morning Gloryville in London, which has been hosting monthly morning dance parties around the world since May 2013. Caitlin Hudson, Morning Gloryville’s Global Events ­Manager, says their team is armed with the mantra “the healthier we keep ourselves, the more fun we are able to have.”

Meanwhile in the Nordics, Stockholmbased club concept Sober pioneered the movement with its alcohol-free parties during 2014 and 2015. A similar experience was recently launched in Helsinki by Lifted, a team of wellness and performance coaches who sniffed out the trend. Their parties ­specialise in bringing top DJs to the 20 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

stage and serving stimulating, non-intoxicating healthy drinks and snacks.

“The demand took us by surprise: the first event was instantly sold out. Not only did health fanatics attend, but many average clubbers were curious,” says Jukka Jout­si­ niemi from Lifted. The second, Halloweenthemed event was as popular, and the third one is organised this month in Helsinki.

For those who prefer the gym to get that dance trance on, health clubs have started to offer classes that create a clublike atmosphere while sweating to the hippest beats. Inka Hase from Nordic health club chain SATS Elixia says the Zumba phenomenon paved the way.

“The idea is to offer everyone – regardless of size or skills – a chance to experience the joy that dancing brings. It is all about great music and sheer fun. All while getting fit,” she says. lifted.fi

Latvian organic skincare company Mádara has launched a sister brand, Mossa. The brand’s micellar water cleanses, tones, and moisturises in one swipe. The microemulsion includes vitamins extracted from raspberry as well as hyaluronic acid which can improve the skin’s moisture content. mossacosmetics.lv/en

Arctic assets

This line of protective creams and balms is perfect for (literally) facing extreme weather.

Bursting with the caring effects of rhodiola, beeswax, and arctic berries, the cream is easily absorbed and soothes all skin types. La Véritable Créme de Laponie day cream is available for pre-oder in the Finnair shop. finnairshop.com

International transports by road, sea and air FREJA is a first-class forwarding company that delivers even the most demanding cargo safely to its destination, all around the world.

FREJA.COM

FREJA Transport & Logistics specializes in international transports and, in addition to imports and exports, it offers quick and demanding express and project forwarding services for overdimensional, heavy or otherwise complicated shipments.

– Our services cover transports by road, sea and air. Thanks to our extensive range, we can react quickly to changes in the industry, Matti Urmas, Managing Director of FREJA Finland says.

Thorough understanding of the customer FREJA’s operations are founded on highly specialized, dedicated services that guarantee long-term customer relationships and successful transports.

– We seek to understand the customer and the customer’s service needs thoroughly, in order to optimize our services at all stages of the transport chain.

LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS FOR A WORLD IN MOTION

Reliable partner Personal customer service and professional personnel make transports reliable: the cargo reaches its destination on time, safely, and within budget.

– We are agile, quick and ready to address all kinds of international transport needs, Matti Urmas reminds us.

FREJA manages each transport order with equal professional skill and dedication.

– We want to be the most flexible and reliable transport service provider, and we are ready to invest in this goal, Mr Urmas concludes.

FREJA GROUP • One of the leading freight forwarders in the Nordic countries • 536 employees in the Nordic countries • Offices in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland • Privately held since its establishment in 1985.

Read more on FREJA and its services at www.freja.com

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TAKEOFF DESTINATION

GET CULTURED Finnair flies to Warsaw two times per day and the drive to Wrocław is just under four hours. Finnair also flies to Krakow three times per week and the drive to Wrocław is under three hours.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY TIM BIRD

Wrocław’s old town square, illuminated for the opening ceremony.

Colourful architecture in Wrocław’s Malarska Street.

Wrocław relishes its cultural role FOR MANY CITIES, European Capital of Culture status represents a chance to step into the limelight.

In 2016, San Sebastián in Spain and Wrocław in Poland share this honour and take the lead in their respective countries.

Wrocław nestles on the banks of the River Odra in Lower Silesia in the southwest corner of Poland, close to the Czech and German borders. Eastern Europe is full of exquisite and largely undiscovered old towns, but when you step into Wrocław’s restored Rynek main square and gaze up at its soaring churches you understand why the community is especially eager to put itself on the cultural map.

“I believe this may be the most important year in the post-war history of Wrocław,” says Rafal Dutkiewicz, the city’s mayor. The programme kicked off in January with a spectacular opening weekend of events. Lavish fire shows illuminated the Słodowa 22 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

island and a video mapping project transformed the façade of the National Forum of Music (NFM).

The opening climaxed with “Awakening” — four processions converging on Rynek, each representing a separate reference to Wrocław’s culture and history. But as Chris Baldwin, Wrocław 2016’s curator of interdisciplinary performance, has emphasised, the value of a Capital of Culture programme lies in continuity of existing culture as much as producing something new.

“Culture is a means by which to reflect what it means to be human,” he says. “Our role is to constantly remind – and guard – that it remains inextricably linked with generating social empathy and identity,” says Baldwin.

Wrocław also serves as UNESCO World Capital of Books from April 2016 to April 2017, underlying its reputation as an important university city. wroclaw2016.pl

Wrocław’s skyline is punctuated by soaring church spires.

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TIRED OF THINNING HAIR?

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Dr. Thomas Whitfield, DPhil (Biochemistry); Oxford scientist and founder of Oxford Biolabs

S

cientists from Oxford, UK promise that they can help keep your hair thick and healthy.

Their pill TRX2 is currently one of Europe’s best-selling hair supplements and is sold in over 100 countries. TRX2 is a food supplement based on natural compounds and, compared to medicinal products, has no side effects. Also it does what it says.

“Your hair will look much bigger; it becomes heavier and thicker. You maintain your healthy hair,” says Dr. Thomas Whitfield, biochemist and founder of Oxford Biolabs.

Hair treatments often promise a lot without delivering, but TRX2 is backed by cutting-edge science and has been thoroughly tested. Three of the key ingredients* in TRX2 are officially recognized by the European Commission as contributing to the maintenance of normal healthy hair.

The effects can be impressive. According to a pre-clinical study* conducted by scientists, TRX2 works for 87% of men and women.

Start TRX2 as early as possible in order to start gaining results before the problem takes over.

TRX2 is suitable for men and women of all ages. The crystalline white capsules come in a brown glass bottle,

which holds a one-month supply and costs from EUR 49 if ordered online. The manufacturer offers a money-back guarantee when ordered via TRX2’s official website, and ships worldwide.

For 2016, Oxford Biolabs introduces a new, advanced TRX2 topical range, for a double impact on hair issues from the inside and from the outside.

There’s a special offer for our magazine readers when ordering via the TRX2 website, www.trx2.com.

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* Zinc, selenium and biotin. Visit www.trx2.com to check the 18-month study results

How a pill can boost your hair and self-confidence

TAKEOFF WORLD

FAMILY FUN Let your imagination run free in the original Legoland Park. Finnair flies to Billund during the summer season.

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY MIRVA LEMPIÄINEN

CALENDAR

March events MARCH 11–13

PULA. The 12th Free Salsa Latina Istriana festival in Pula, Croatia, gets everyone dancing by offering 36 free workshops and multiple parties. Last year some 1,500 people attended the classes to learn salsa, Argentine tango, and kizomba. salsalatinaistriana.com

BILLUND

Legoland awakens from hibernation MARCH 19–OCTOBER 30 Opened in 1968, the world’s first ­Legoland Park in Billund remains Denmark’s biggest tourist attraction outside Copenhagen. The theme park opens for its 2016 season on March 19.

The upcoming programme includes the International Viking Market (May 2-8), the Iron Age Village (July 4-7), and sailing for kids (June 28-Aug 16). legolandbillundresort.com

MARCH 27 – APRIL 15

KYOTO. Japan’s fleeting but beautiful cherry blossom season is here again. In Kyoto, pink sakuras will first appear at Nijo Castle and Kiyomizudera ­Temple.

Japan’s national flowers can also be spotted at the Heian Shrine and the popular Maruyama Park. japan-guide.com/e/e3951.html

MIAMI

Dance to the beats

ZAGORA. The 13th annual Nomad Festival held in a Moroccan desert town presents the ancestral culture of nomads through lectures about heritage, health, and the environment. Local and visiting artists will perform poetry, stories, and music.

MARCH 15–24 Hosting three major electronic music events in March, Miami is the place to be for dance music fans. The fun starts with club nights and pool parties during Miami Music Week and continues with outdoor concerts during the Ultra Music Festival. Completing the set is the 31st annual ­Winter Music Conference, which hosts 500 industry events for 60,000 attendees.

nomadsfestival.org

wmcinfo.com

MARCH 18–20

24 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

”Jos Gloria olisi ihminen, se ei olisi koppava k***pää, vaan kuplivan lämmin.”

SAILA-MARI KOHTALA, PÄÄTOIMITTAJA, UUSI GLORIA

upeasti uud istunut!

ainutla atuinen yhteish aastatt elu

milanos sa

kii ra kor & art hu pi borges r

”annamme tilaa toistemm kunnianhimol e le” uusi ihan a palsta

Tammikuu 2016

par haa ant i-ag t -tuotteeet näin synt yy kuoh kea

toisen päivän tuk ka

kenkäsu unnitte menestystarina lijan

kevää

helmikuu 2016 /

muoTi

75 innostav aa ideaa

min na par ikk a

”en antanut työk äijän lannistaa kärin bisneshaaveita ni”

9,90 €

värikän s

ilmiö: miksi super malli katos ivat?t taitei lija rauha mäkil än

Tämä väri on nimeltään Joie de Vivre, elämänilo. Sen sekoitti Glorialle taiteilija Rauha Mäkilä. Joie de Vivre sisältää 20 % eleganssia, 20 % itsevarmuutta, 20 % seikkailunhalua, 20 % nokkeluutta ja 20 % särmää.

Käytä sitä runsaalla kädellä, levitä paksu kerros, älä säästele.

Gloria.fi/ihastu

TAKEOFF HELSINKI

SMOOTH TRANSFER Book a taxi, minibus or premium car in advance via Cabforce from the A350 Wi-Fi portal or finnair.com. You’ll get Finnair Plus points for every ride! Cabforce comes with a flat all-inclusive rate.

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY LAURA IISALO

Pure Waste co-founder Hannes Bengs poses with some everyday basics at the company’s Helsinki concept store on Yrjönkatu street.

HELSINKI

March events

MARCH 12 SAMPLE FOODS and drinks by local producers at Abbatoir (Teurastamo), Helsinki’s hub of food and urban culture. Guests can also try the courtyard sauna.

Open 4 pm–10 pm, free entry. teurastamo.com

DESIGN

Sustainable style for men Three Finnish fashion brands prove that great style is more than just good looks.

It’s timeless quality that is kind to the environment.

PREMIUM WASTE Helsinki-based Pure Waste is a brand with a purpose. All their garments are made from leftover ­fabrics that are turned into yarn and then remade into textiles. The process minimises the usage of water, toxic chemicals, and dyes without compromising an inch on style.

“Some of our customers don’t even know our products are recycled. They choose us for the quality and overall feeling,” says co-founder Hannes Bengs. Consciously keeping the collection small, Pure Waste limits its range to t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and sweatpants. An essential part of the business involves the sale of ­recycled textiles to other brands for use in their own production. “When people see our logo, they know that the material is 100 per cent recycled and ethically made.

That’s what we stand for,” Bengs says. purewaste.org SMART COMFORT Three years ago designer duo Antti Laitinen and Jarkko 26 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

Kallio put their heads together to ­create a brand that is stylish yet casual. The result was FRENN, a range of tailored but comfortable garments hand-manufactured in Finland and Estonia out of ecological materials sourced from around Europe.

“We visit all the factories ourselves and know the people who make the clothes,” Kallio says. The brand is stocked in several shops around Finland and abroad and hopes to open a FRENN store soon in Helsinki – the city from which it draws its inspiration.

MARCH 17–20

THE POPULAR Streat Helsinki food festival is back. Learn the tricks of the trade at the Master Class sessions on Thursday and Friday, join the Eats event on Saturday, and gather around the fire for a barbeque bash at ­venues across town on Sunday. streathelsinki.com

frenncompany.com

IF THE SHOE FITS After 11 years of ­creating two shoe collections a year, Janne Lax decided to jump off the seasonal wagon.

“During my time in this business I’ve learned what men want: stylish shoes with great detailing – enduring classics that are easy to repair,” says Lax, who runs his own label, Saint Vacant. His shop in the Helsinki district of Kruununhaka will stock just five bestselling styles in the future and offer bespoke footwear for men who value a perfect handcrafted fit. saintvacant.com

MARCH 24 SIGN UP for an evening of painting with artist Emmi Mustonen at the Rupla concept store and café.

Learn the basics and shop for art by up-and-coming artists. The workshop costs €15. rupla.fi Events subject to change.

35 v u ot ta

Olemme k채dellisi채.

Antakaa meille soittimia!

Marco Hietala ja Tuomas Holopainen, Tiede-lehden lukijat, Nightwish.

Tiede on tarua ihmeellisemp채채.

Totea itse. tiede.fi/tilaa

IN THE AIR WITH TIINA VAINIO WRITTEN BY LAURA PALOTIE PHOTO BY CHARLOTTA BOUCHT

NEW BREED OF LOUNGING Sweat away your layover with a sauna at Helsinki Airport. Finnair’s Premium Lounge in the nonSchengen area is the perfect spot to relax before a flight.

Yogi on the go In spite of the name – and the perspiration – sauna yoga isn’t hot yoga. As part of her mission to make the practice well-known worldwide, sauna yoga pioneer Tiina Vainio has become a seasoned wellness traveller.

“SAUNA YOGA is a 30-minute series of seated yoga poses practiced at about 50 degrees Celsius. I founded the practice in 2011, and today sauna yoga is offered in about 60 facilities in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Germany, Italy and Spain. I train instructors and run communications and branding workshops, and fly between two and four times monthly. Some of my destinations in early 2016 include Prague, Stockholm, London, Portugal, and Japan.

My days are long, but I set aside some time for yoga each day. I do a few poses in my hotel room in the ­morning, and whenever possible, a sauna yoga practice in the evening: it loosens tension from the day and leaves the body feeling warm. Some of my clients have called it ‘an adult sleep clinic.’ Going for a sightseeing walk and taking a few deep breaths of fresh air also help me sleep better.

In addition to a foldable yoga mat, I always travel with a small, hard rubber

ball that I roll against the soles of my feet for a circulation-enhancing massage. Having Celiac disease restricts my snack options, so I pack dark chocolate and some crispy seed crackers.

Travel can be draining, and the body can tighten from too much sitting. I advise people not to force themselves into an hour-long or 90-minute practice if it cuts into their sleep or results in added stress. A short yoga practice is better than nothing – and after a long flight your body will thank you for a few forward and back bends, twists, and sun salutations. And when you sit down for a meal, order something that makes you feel good.”

In this series we ask frequent flyers how they keep it real while travelling.

28 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

B

TRAVEL TRENDS

BUZZWORD OF THE MOMENT Framily trip – A vacation taken with a bunch of friends who are so close that they’re like family.

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY KATJA PANTZAR ILLUSTRATION GETTY IMAGES

Top 3 wanderlust apps

1

ripr helps users find T and chat with other travellers who are going to the same place at the same time.

2

Citymapper provides comprehensive yet easyto-use real-time journey planning (including cycling routes) for about 30 major cities.

3

TripIt pulls together all bookings into one itinerary – just forward emails to the app and it does the rest.

The art of independent travel

C

hoosing to travel alone is on the upswing.

One in five people travelled alone on their most recent leisure trip, according to the 2015 Visa Global Travel Intentions Study. The survey of more than 13,600 travellers from 25 different countries found that solo travel had increased by almost 10 per cent since 2013.

For Nomadic Chick blogger Jeannie Mark, travelling solo has become a lifestyle.

Dissatisfied with the North American milestones that were supposed to bring happiness, Mark left her corporate job, husband, and house in Canada and bought a one-way ticket to India in 2010.

“My priorities don’t focus on material possessions. I traded in things for

experiences and connections, and don’t regret that for a second,” says Mark, who has journeyed to more than 49 countries since taking off six years ago.

One of the biggest surprises has been that she’s never really alone, she says.

“I’ve met so many memorable, amazing people over the years, had and continue to have fulfilling relationships. Some I’ve only talked to for an afternoon, others I’ve forged lifelong friendships with.

‘Solo’ means you are open to everything and everyone,” she says.

Mark is also representative of another emerging travel trend, which is the rise of “wander women” or independent female travellers.

A TripAdvisor survey of more than 9,000 women found that 41 per cent of

respondents had travelled alone and 74 per cent were planning on doing so in the future.

More than half of those surveyed said they preferred the freedom, while 35 per cent said they valued the independence and challenge of travelling solo.

Mark’s advice for first-timers is simple: “I always tell women to choose a country that speaks to them the most, research the risks, the joys and go with an informed, but open mind.

“In the end, you begin to trust yourself and have faith in what you can do, or not do. It’s a radical way of seeing empowerment.” nomadicchick.com

MARCH 2016

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29

DESTINATION NORWAY

FJORD FOCUS 30 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

The picturesque scenery of Geirangerfjord.

With its northern tip resting in the frigid waters of the Barents Sea, the Norwegian coastline is a dragon’s tail land of dramatic scenery and far-flung-communities. A journey by the Hurtigruten line is the ideal way to explore.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DANIEL ALLEN

MARCH 2016

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31

Above: The MS Polarlys, one of 12 Hurtigruten vessels currently plying the Norwegian coastal route.

Middle: The Hurtigruten coastal service began in 1893.

Below: ­Hurtigruten ­passengers get to sample fine, locally sourced Norwegian products.

S

hortly after half past seven in the morning, approaching the Norwegian coastal village of Ornes, the forward deck of the MS Polarlys reverberates to the sound of popping champagne corks. Sliding past the port side, perched on a grassy islet, a tethered metal globe marks the position of the Arctic Circle.

For many of the ship’s passengers, it’s a geographical milestone well worth celebrating.

“I’ve always had a dream to see the ends of the Earth,” says architect Alessandra Crachi, champagne flute in hand. “The Duke of Abruzzi, Italy’s famous Arctic explorer, is one of my heroes. In some very small way, I’m following in his footsteps.”

Norway is the Chile of the Northern Hemisphere.

The longest nation in Europe extends 1,750 kilometres (1,100 miles) from tip to toe, with a rugged coastline deeply indented by dramatic fjords and fringed with myriad islands and skerries. It’s not hard to see why a country renowned for its seafaring prowess is still best explored from the water.

ICONIC VOYAGE MS Polarlys is one of 12 ships belonging to Norway’s Hurtigruten (“coastal express”) line. Departing yearround from the picturesque city of Bergen, this fleet of well-equipped boats traces the Norwegian seaboard all the way north to Kirkenes, just 14 kilometres from the Russian border. The 2,500 nautical mile (4,700 kilometres) return journey takes 11 days to complete.

32 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

The beautiful Seven Sisters Waterfall in Geirangerfjord.

BG O

Fin Be nair fl rge n s ies to w ­sum eekl ix tim yd es m fou er a uring nd r ti to m yea es pe Oslo r-r r finn oun day d. air .co m

MARCH 2016

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33

With a service that began in 1893, Hurtigruten’s red, white and black-liveried vessels still offer a quintessential Norwegian experience.

“They may have many cruise facilities, but these are working ships, transporting mail, cargo and local Norwegians, as well as tourists,” says Hurtigruten managing director Gordon Dirker. “There’s no bingo or dance floor on board. The beauty and culture of coastal Norway is the entertainment.”

URBAN CHARM Home to only 5 million people, Norway rarely feels crowded. Nestling in picturesque fashion on the Norwegian west coast, clean, green, and historic Bergen is the country’s second largest metropolis with only 260,000 inhabitants. The UNESCO World Heritage listed-architecture of Bryggen, a labyrinthine complex of ancient wooden buildings, recalls the city’s glory days, when it was an outlier of the Hanseatic League’s pan-Baltic trading empire.

Today Bergen still has an international feel, with goups of tourists wandering the cobblestoned backstreets and perusing king crabs in the harbourside seafood market.

“Bergen has long been thought of as the gateway to the Norwegian fjords,” says local guide Johanne ­Kippenbroeck. “A daily Hurtigruten service began from here in 1936. Those departing today are following a long tradition.”

Typically situated in stunning locations, Norway’s 34 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

Top left: Canine residents of the Tromso Wilderness Centre (a Hurtigruten excursion).

Top right: Al fresco relaxation in Bergen.

Above: The ­UNESCO World Heritage listedarchitecture of Bryggen (Bergen).

high latitude communities are kept atypically warm by the waters of the Gulf Stream. Some, such as Alesund and Trondheim, are unexpected hotbeds of culture.

After fire ravaged Alesund in 1904, the entire town was rebuilt in just three years in Art Nouveau style.

Today a whimsical blend of German Jugenstil and Scandinavian mythology greets those Hurtigruten passengers who choose to disembark, with multi-turreted merchants’ houses throwing pastel reflections across the still waters of the local harbour.

Around 300 kilometres farther north than Alesund, vibrant Trondheim is home to a canal, a castle, and a cathedral, not to mention a thriving café culture. With students making up one-fifth of the population, the city boasts an infectious joie de vivre.

FANTASTIC FJORD Norway is a land defined by its countless fjords. From Oslo in the southeast to the Arctic north, the entire coastline is punctuated by these majestic, timeless clefts.

Departing Alesund, the MS Polarlys heads up Storfjord, its steep sides dotted with a carpet of farms and rust-coloured buildings. Navigating farther inland, inlets narrow and change name. Storfjord becomes Sunnylvsfjord, which segues into Geirangerfjord, a watery cul-de-sac that boasts the most impressive scenery of the entire fjord complex.

Rearing up on each side of the ship, sheer cliffs drop into Geirangerfjord’s turquoise waters. Numerous waterfalls plunge downward in wafts of spume.

SVALBARD SAILINGS

In addition to the main Norwegian coast, it is also possible to explore Svalbard – the crown of Arctic Norway – aboard a Hurtigruten vessel.

Located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, the Svalbard archipelago boasts a surprisingly mild climate with distinctive seasons. The scenery and wildlife are the main attractions, with voyages offering sightings of polar bear, reindeer, Arctic fox, seals and thousands of seabirds, as well as the Northern Lights or Midnight Sun, depending on the season.

Hurtigruten ships start and finish their cruises in the town of Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s main administrative centre on the island of Spitsbergen. Voyages of varying length are possible aboard the MS Fram, a polar expedition ship, and the MS Nordstjernen, an older vessel which is a protected part of Norwegian heritage. Both ships run year-round.

LYR

Fin n Sva air fl i l b ard es to tim thr es per ­du ee rin g s wee finn umm k air .co er. m

PRICES • 9-day sailings (full board) on MS Fram ­available from €5700 • 6-day sailings (full board) on MS Nordstjernen from €2500 hurtigruten.com

FINE JEWELLERY DESIGNED BY TINA TILLANDER, HANDMADE BY THE BEST FINNISH GOLDSMITHS ATELIER TORBJÖRN TILLANDER KLUUVIKATU 1, HELSINKI TEL +358 9 686 0980 WWW.TILLANDER.COM

The funicular railway in Bergen, with the city below.

36 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

GOING COASTAL

The most famous of these is the Seven Sisters — a delicate, seven-fingered cascade that bathes the ship in a cooling mist.

Hurtigruten passengers visiting Geirangerfjord can disembark and negotiate the Geiranger-Trollstigen route. Crossing some of Norway’s most powerful landscapes, the highlight of this daredevil drive is Trollstigen (Troll’s Ladder) Road, a series of vertigoinducing switchbacks offering views of towering cataracts and cloud-covered peaks.

NATURAL SELECTION Come rain or shine, Hurtigruten passengers are treated to mesmerising displays of light. Many winter travellers are lucky enough to witness the Northern Lights, while midsummer sailing north of the Arctic Circle means 24 hours of sun.

A Hurtigruten v­ oyage also means getting close to nature. From the sea eagles of BodØ and the huskies of the Tromsø Wilderness Centre to the puffins and reindeer of the Nordkapp (North Cape) region, the Norwegian wilderness is never far away. Whales are frequently spotted from the deck of the ship.

“From hiking, dog sledding and birdwatching to exploration by inflatable boat, kayaking, and snowmobiling, those who enjoy the great outdoors will revel in the excursions Hurtigruten offers along the coast,” says Dirker.

Part cruise, part cultural immersion, part expedition, a trip by the Hurtigruten line is a unique voyage through a remote and stunning area of northern Europe. If he were alive today, the Duke of Abruzzi would surely approve. l

Come rain or shine, passengers are treated to mesmerising displays of light.

Hurtigruten offers Norwegian coastal sailing voyages of three different lengths: a 7-day northbound journey (BergenKirkenes), a 6-day southbound journey (Kirkenes-Bergen), and a 12-day round trip (Bergen-Bergen). It is also possible to simply travel between cities and towns as a regular passenger, rather than a cruise passenger.

For those sailing on the Bergen to Bergen trip, the port stops happen at different times on the return leg, which means the excursions offered are also different. For example, a boat may arrive in the Lofoten Islands at night heading north on the way out, but in the morning on trip back south, allowing daytime exploration.

The excursions and experiences offered by Hurtigruten also vary with season. Winter means a search for the Northern Lights and excursions such as dog sledding and snowmobiling, while summer passengers can enjoy the long hours of the Midnight Sun. Hurtigruten also offers themed cruises. This spring, “Cultural Voyages” will focus on music and art, while “Expedition Style” voyages are currently offered on three ships throughout 2016. These follow the same itinerary as regular sailings, but an on-board expedition team offers educational opportunities and more active excursions such as hiking.

PRICES • 7-day northbound trips from €1000 • 6-day southbound trips from €920 • Round trips from €1500 These prices include full-board accommodation, but not excursions. It is possible to get off at most stops without taking excursions, however. hurtigruten.com

BEHIND THE SCENES

Daniel Allen

Writer and photographer Daniel Allen has lived all over the world, but is currently based in London and St. Petersburg. His work has featured in numerous publications, including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and National Geographic Traveller. daniel-allen.net MARCH 2016

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37

TOP5

Gluten-free London eateries

1

A DASH OF INDIA Based on the original Bombay cafés opened by Persian immigrants to India in the 19th century, Dishoom serves up Irani Indian cuisine with a special gluten-free menu that includes classics such as murgh malai, chicken tikka and gunpowder potatoes. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Dishoom has several locations in London including one right in the heart of the West End theatre district. Mains in the £10 (about €13) or under range.

12 Upper St Martins Lane www.dishoom.com

38 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

LH R

Fin nai Lo r nd on flies to five per tim es finn day. air .co m

Surprisingly, gluten-free food is not always easy to find in the British capital. But if you know where to go, there’s a wide range of excellent g-free fare on offer in central London – all of these cafés and restaurants are located in or near Soho.

TEXT BY KATJA PANTZAR PHOTOS BY KATJA PANTZAR & RESTAURANTS

2

BRITISH BODEGAS Much of Vinoteca’s menu is naturally gluten-free as it’s modelled on the seasonal fare served in the wine bars of Spain and Italy. For example, a starter of braised Brixham cuttlefish served with chickpeas, piquillo peppers and capers comes with a glass of Corbières Blanc ‘Rocbere’ 2014. Each location has a wine shop (for takehome purchases) and a menu catering to its environs: at Vinoteca Soho, a pre-theatre menu is served for £12.95 (about €17) before 6:30 pm.

Several locations around town from King’s Cross to Farringdon and Soho: 53–55 Beak Street vinoteca.co.uk

3

FROM BRUNCH TO BURGERS Honest Burgers lays claim to being London’s pioneer of delicious glutenfree burgers. They use high quality ingredients including locally sourced Ginger Pig, and regular hamburger buns are available for those whose diet is not restricted. Don’t be discouraged by the queue, you can give them your mobile number and they’ll text you when a table is free; burgers about £10 (€13).

Branches throughout London, including Soho: 4a Meard Street honestburgers.co.uk

4

MIDDLE EASTERN FLAIR From tabouleh to fresh hummus, which forms the basis of many dishes on the menu, almost everything at Hummus Bros is glutenfree. This is the place to stop in for a quick lunch or snack, as the Levantine cuisine is addictively tasty and affordable – ­salads and hummus bowls are in the £5-8 range (€6.5010.50). Frequently voted as one of Time Out London’s top 50 restos, Hummus Bros hosts several fixed and pop-up locations around town including its Soho shop: 88 Wardour Street hbros.co.uk

5

THE ORIGINAL ORGANIC One of the first grocers to stock g-free products, American organic supermarket chain Whole Foods Market landed in the UK almost ten years ago. Whether you’re looking for snacks such as chocolate bars, crackers or crisps, or something more substantial from their food bar or ready-made meals section, everything is well labelled with regard to ingredients.

Numerous locations including Piccadilly Circus: 20 Glasshouse Street wholefoodsmarket.com

MARCH 2016

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EUROPEAN VOICES

BY MARJA MAKAROW

How about a health account?

Y

ou have a personal bank lar Medicine Finland, where the effect of 300 account that you access for different drugs and their combinations on the cash and information on your cancerous cells are analysed. Within a couple of days the ­doctor gets the results and is transactions and balance. able to choose the most effective drug comWhy shouldn’t you also have bination for each patient. It has been highly private access to data on your rewarding to ­witness how top-quality research health to help you manage your ‘wellbeing pushed Finland to the forefront in personalbalance’? After all, a person’s health is their ised healthcare. most precious asset.

Prevention and early detection of diseases The answer could be a health account – a costs far less than curing them – a ­significant digital database containing information on point in light of the fact that healthcare is our your wellbeing and health, such as medicafastest growing public expense category. This tion and vaccination history, diseases and was among the incentives behind the ­Finnish allergies, dietary regimens and clinical test health account system called ‘My Kanta’, an results, as well as treatments carried out at interface where citihealthcare centres and zens can access data hospitals.

A HEALTH ACCOUNT entered by healthcare A health account could COULD TRANSFORM A providers. The prohelp prevent health disject was launched by orders, such as PASSIVE PATIENT INTO AN the Finnish Ministry heart disease ACTIVE CO-CREATOR OF and ­diabetes, of Social Affairs and caused by Health in cooperation HIS OR HER OWN HEALTH crosstalk with the Social InsurAND WELLBEING. between genes, ance Institution of environment, Finland (Kela) and the and­lifestyle. Ultimately, you are National Institute for Health and Welfare. So fully in charge of your l­ifestyle. far, 1.4 million Finns – 25 per cent of the popBeing able to f­ ollow data stored ulation – have used this service. in your health account should Personalised healthcare emphasises the thus inspire you to take better individual’s autonomy and involvement in care of yourself. self-monitoring their health parameters. More The account could also be and more people are collecting personal used to safely store and ­manage health-related data using activity bracelets sensitive and complicated data and various apps. Next year, such data can be such as your genome. In case of ill- included in the My Kanta pages, turning them ness, this information could help the into a genuine health account and transformdoctor choose a drug t­ herapy taiing the individual from a passive patient into lored for each patient. an active, informed co-creator of their own The vision I have shared above health and wellbeing. And all this is available is not quite as utopian as it might for free to every Finn! I’m looking forward to seem. Important milestones have seeing how this will transform our healthcare already been achieved in tailored system. l health care.

Personalised drug therapy Professor MARJA MAKAROW is vice president for leukaemia is already piofor research at the Academy of Finland – the neered on the medical campus of the University of Helsinki. Cell samples Finnish Research Council. She is also chair of Technology Academy Finland and the former chief of patients from the University Hospital are delivered to the Institute for Molecu- executive of the European Science Foundation.

40 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

ANNOUNCING

FUKUOKA Finnair flies the shortcut to four destinations in Japan. finnair.com

DESTINATION CRETE

Manolis Plevrakis pours a brand new batch of soap.

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Raising the bar Cretan soapmakers perfect an ancient heritage.

B

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DANIEL ALLEN

elow an undulating quilt of early December cloud, the olive harvest in Angeliana is in full swing. Armed with long-handled rotating combs, swarthy men in overalls make their way through a grove of silver-leaved trees, as a bright green shower of olives rains onto the sheets below. Here on the southern Greek island of Crete, it’s a sign that winter has truly begun.

Nothing symbolises Crete more than the bountiful olive tree. The production of olive oil – still widely regarded as the “elixir of life” by most Cretans – has been closely linked to local mythology, ­culture, and business for the past 5,000 years.

Today an estimated 30 million trees cling to this long rocky outcrop on the southern fringe of Europe.

A world away from the brash resorts of the coast, Crete’s mountainous hinterland is all about sleepy rural villages, ­Byzantine churches and dramatic pine-scented gorges, not to mention a panoply of olive groves. Angeliana, a small inland village of

around 800 residents and four churches to the southeast of Rethymno, is well known for producing some of the finest olives on the island.

BLOSSOMING BUSINESS The bucolic charms of Angeliana are not lost on Manolis and Paraskevi Plevrakis, a young Greek couple who relocated to the village from Athens in 2007.

“We were both tired of the city and wanted to get back to nature,” explains Manolis. “My mother was born here, so in a way we were coming home.”

It didn’t take long for Angeliana’s natural largesse to inspire the Plevrakis’s creative side.

“Our way of life was really turned upside down when we took possession of our own kitchen garden and olive grove,” says Manolis. “We began experimenting with all the raw materials at hand and ended up making a few bars of olive oil soap. In those early days we just gave them away to people we knew.”

Urged on by those same friends, the Plevrakis’s eventually established the MARCH 2016

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Q H C

s to flie es r i na ix tim n i F to as ani k and imes h C ee ot a w on tw g the i n l . uri rak on ­He eek d seas a w mer om .c sum nnair fi

Above: The interior of Crete is covered with a carpet of olive groves.

Bottom: Manolis and Paraskevi Plevrakis.

“Athos” workshop, housed in a beautifully converted stone building at one end of Angeliana’s main street.

Today the couple’s hand-made soaps, extracts, and creams are exported to a growing number of countries around the world.

“In Greek ‘athos’ means ‘blossom’,” explains Paraskevi. “We chose this name because for us, blossom symbolises the beginning of creation. Hopefully we’ll be here creating for many years!”

A TIMELESS PROCESS The Plevrakis’s are not the first ones to make soap on Crete. According to Greek legend, soap was invented on the Aegean island of Lesvos, where it took its name from the poet Sappho. During the 18th and 19th centuries, olive oil soap from about 45 Cretan factories was transported by a large fleet of ships across Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. These bars became so popular that unscrupulous soap makers in other countries would copy the Cretan soap “stamp” to increase sales of their inferior imitations.

“There’s hardly anyone on Crete who doesn’t own at least a few olive trees,” says Manolis. “In the past almost every grandmother on the island would make olive oil soap for their family. But then mass-produced bars came along and people lost the habit.”

It is only in the last decade that olive oil soap production has really taken off on Crete as a boutique industry. Today the emphasis is firmly on quality over quantity.

44 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

SOAP SELECTION Swathes of silver-leaved olive trees blanket the hills and mountain slopes of Crete, with a number of soap workshops and boutiques dotted across the island. Here are a few places to purchase a bar or two or even pick up some soap-making skills of your own.

ATHOS WORKSHOP Visit the Angeliana-based workshop to sample the full Athos range and see the kitchen where the couple work their magic. +30 28340 20728 athosworkshop.com

HAND PICKED GREECE Based on a small olive farm in the picturesque village of Litsarda a 30-minute drive from Chania, Hand Picked Greece run popular natural cosmetic workshops. Using natural local ingredients – herbs and olive oil from the farm, goat’s milk and honey from local producers, and wild herbs from the mountains of Crete – participants learn how to make extra virgin olive oil soap, infused oils, beeswax ointments and lotions. +30 28250 83746 handpickedgreece.com

Above top and left: Soap making at a Hand Picked Greece workshop.

Above right: All Athos Workshop cosmetics are made with extra virgin Crete olive oil.

“All our products are 100 per cent organic,” says Manolis, who also made much of his soap-manufacturing equipment by hand. “They only incorporate the finest Cretan extra virgin olive oil, herbs, and essential oils. Each variety of soap has special properties, and anyone can use them, even babies and people with sensitive skin.”

In contrast with their commercially produced conterparts, hand-made soaps – such as those from the Athos workshop – are made using cold process saponification. This preserves valuable ingredients and results in a high glycerin content soap, which is great for the skin.

Following the saponification process, Manolis’s lovingly created bars are left for at least three months to “cure.”

“Leaving the soap allows it to harden and become more gentle,” says the amiable Greek with a smile.

“At first I was impatient to try it, but when you think about the history of Cretan soap, what’s a few more weeks anyway?” l

FISIKA Located in the village of Tavronitis, about 20 kilometres from the centre of Chania, the FISIKA workshop is run by Voula, Filio, and Maria, three women who have been involved in soap making for decades. There are a range of soaps and other personal care products on offer, all made with organic Cretan olive oil, herbs, and essential oils, as well as tours and workshops. +30 28240 23226 fisikashop.com

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DESTINATION FUKUOKA

Ramen capital

of the world

Fukuoka is a cosmopolitan port city of one and a half million residents on Japan’s southernmost Kyushu island.

46 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

Fukuoka suggests a miniature Tokyo or Osaka: excellent restaurants, lively culture and nightlife, and an endless selection of shops.

TEXT BY MIKKO TAKALA PHOTOS BY TOMMI ANTTONEN

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Fast and fun. Ramen restaurant Ippudo TAO is a one-off concept

by Ippudo, an international Fukuoka-based ramen chain.

A

ll the important sights and activities of Fukuoka are within walking distance or a couple of metro stops of each other; and the locals are noticeably friendlier than in the busier metropolises. Monocle magazine has ranked Japan’s sixth-largest city as one of the world’s most liveable cities. And compared to Osaka or Tokyo, Fukuoka offers an easier introduction to Japanese food culture.

The city burst onto the world’s culinary map in 2014 when Michelin published a guide to Fukuoka restaurants. The biggest surprise was the number of restaurants earning Michelin stars, about as many as in Hong Kong or London. Still you can get by just fine even without a guidebook, as Fukuoka is best known for its street food and its rich tonkotsu ramen noodles soup.

RIVERSIDE MINI-RESTAURANTS The yatai is a not-to-be-missed institution. As evening falls, dozens of food stalls appear on city-centre sidewalks and along the Naka River on Nakasu Island. These mini-restaurants offer many kinds of food at reasonable prices. Take a seat at the counter and order by pointing, because chances are you may not share a language. Food and drink are available until the wee hours, with customers queuing for an hour or two to eat at the best yatai spots.

48 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

These informal restaurants sprang up in the post-war era to serve low-income residents. As the city became wealthier, some image-conscious city fathers began to frown upon them.

Permits for these mobile eateries are handed down within families, and new ones have not been granted for years. There are only about 150 yatai entrepreneurs left, and the number is shrinking. City leaders are however beginning to realise the significance of the yatai stalls for Fukuoka tourism.

BACK-ALLEY DISCOVERY Many yatai stalls serve decent ramen noodles soup, but for the best bowlfuls head to a dedicated ramen restaurant. Kyushu is the country’s pork production centre, so it’s no wonder that Fukuoka’s speciality, tonkotsu ramen, also known as hakata ramen, is based on pork bone broth. This long-simmered broth is murky and deeply flavoured. It has a rich aroma, which you can smell as you walk around the city, which has some 2,000 ramen shops.

Fukuoka’s wheat noodles tend to be narrower than elsewhere. A bowl of soup is usually topped with a couple of slices of chashu (pork), kikurage (mushroom), spring onion and pickled red ginger. If that’s not enough, the soup can be seasoned at the table with toasted sesame seeds and garlic. The broth and noodles are equally important, but so is the flavour base, known as tare.

ADDRESSES:

• Ichiran Tenjin, 1-10-15 Tenjin, Chuo-ku • Mengekijo Genei, 2-16-3 Yakuin Chuo-ku • Hide-Chan, 2-13-11 Kego Chuo-ku • Ramen Stadium, Canal City Hakata • Shin Shin, 3-2-19 Tenjin Chuo-ku • Hakata Izumi, 2-20-14 Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku • Umi no Michi, Kimuraya bldg B1, 1-12-3. Tenjin Chuo-ku

3

X MUSTS IN FUKUOKA

1

Udon are wide wheat noodles, often served in clear broth with tempura vegetables. According to some food historians, udon was born in Fukuoka, which boasts a shrine dedicated to the noodles.

2

Yakitori shops specialise in grilled, skewered chicken, but also serve other kinds of meat such as butabara, grilled pork, as well as vegetables. Yakitori restaurants are casual places where locals hang out to read newspapers or manga comic books.

Irasshaimase! ­Welcome to Ramen Stadium.

Based on the tare, ramen soups are divided into four types: salt, soy, miso, and tonkotsu ramens.

First up is a visit to Ichiran, which has grown into an international chain since it opened here in 1960. The original restaurant, on a dim alleyway, takes quite an effort to find. After slipping some coins into the ticket dispenser in front of the restaurant to pre-pay for my meal, I look for a free booth. Next I mark on a piece of paper how well done I want my noodles as well as how strong and how spicy the broth should be. At the press of a button, a waiter picks up my order from behind a curtain. In a moment the steaming delight appears.

There is nothing to distract one’s concentration as each diner is separated by screens. The complete silence is broken only by the occasional sound of slurping. The noodles are eaten piping hot and quickly. If you aren’t fast enough, they get soggy. Slurping enhances the ­flavour and cools the noodles as they enter your mouth.

Eating at ramen shops, one becomes accustomed to speed, silence, and conformity. Customers don’t linger at ramen restaurants, which typically only have about 20 seats. Most diners are in and out within 15 minutes.

SECRET SAUCE Ramen originally was – and remains – cheap, fast food, but since the 1980s it has become a matter of national obsession. Whereas other areas of Japanese cuisine are governed by strict ancient traditions, noodles were exempt and allowed experimentation. The public embraced this new culinary culture.

3

. Gyoza. Steamed and fried dumplings filled with minced pork (or beef, chicken and prawns) scallions, ginger, and garlic. Often eaten as a side dish with ramen.

Eating at ramen shops, one becomes accustomed to speed, silence, and conformity. Most diners are in and out within­ 15 minutes.

Competition in the sector is tough, egged on by an army of bloggers and a dozen magazines devoted to ramen. This once-lowly dish gained new respect a few months ago when Michelin handed out its first star to a small, cheap Tokyo ramen restaurant.

“What’s the secret of good ramen? Is it memorable? Normally ramen just fills the stomachs of the mass public. But I want to create something unforgettable and unusual,” says Hideki Irie, owner of the Mengekijo Genei ramen restaurant.

“I want my customers to have fun. I want them to chat with each other,” adds Irie, who refers to himself as a ‘ramen chemist’. His restaurant is designed like a theatre, with a direct view into the kitchen from the surrounding stands – set to the beat of loud dance music. With his glittery watch and trainers, Irie looks more like a pop star than a noodle cook.

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Ramen rebel Hideki Irie, owner of Mengekijo Genei does his ramen differently.

3

X SHOPPING IN FUKUOKA

1

Jokyu Shoyu. Soy products including soy sauce made next door according to ancient methods. Japanese garden in the courtyard. 1-12-15 Daimyo Chuo-ku Fukuoka, www.jokyu.co.jp

2 3

Toyokatsu. Hand-wrought kitchen knives. Shintencho Shopping Arcade 2-8-218 Tenjin chuo-ku Fukuoka

Wamono-ya Kaya. Colourful tenugui cloths and kitchenware at outlet prices. Marinoacity Fukuoka, 2-12-30 Odo Nishi-ku Fukuoka

“I started out working as a private detective, but it was a depressing job. Then one day at an ordinary noodle shop I saw a little boy and his grandfather eating ramen, and they looked so happy that I decided to devote myself to this,” he recalls.

Twenty years ago, Japan did not yet have the kind of ramen culture as today. Restaurants made their own soba and udon noodles, but ramen places bought their noodles ready-made.

“For me the logical first step was to go to work at a flour manufacturer,” continues Irie. “I didn’t want to use anything artificial in my soup, including MSG flavour enhancer, which a lot of people are allergic to. So I went to a soy factory to learn how soy sauce is made. Then I began making my own sauce. It took several years of studying before I was ready to open Mengekijo Genei.”

Irie’s sauce costs more than 200 dollars per litre – but it’s not for sale, not even to chef Joël Robuchon, who holds a record number of Michelin stars.

“Robuchon tried to buy my sauce, but why should I give him mine? He can make his own,” says Irie with a grin. With two restaurants in Tokyo, Irie plans to open one in New York or Paris.

FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN In the West, the ramen boom began about a decade ago in New York, spreading throughout the US and then to Europe. Fukuoka’s Ippudo Ramen was the first ramen chain to open in New York, followed by Ichiran 50 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

and Hide-Chan. Former hip-hopper Hideto Kawahara’s Hide-Chan chain began just a few blocks from Mengekijo Genei. Its short menu is based around traditional tonkotsu, but daily specials may include surprising flavour combinations from foie gras to pancetta. Kawahara also stresses the ramen maker’s freedom, and expects the soup to find new markets abroad.

“Ramen has already established its position as a staple Japanese food in Western countries. The culture of noodles and obsession over soup will spread to Europe and the US, just like sushi did,” Kawahara predicts.

If you want to sample a cross-section of the whole country’s ramen offerings, the Canal City mall’s Ramen Stadium features eight popular ramen chains.

The machine where you buy your meal tokens even has an English-language option!

For many, a bowl of noodles is best after a night on the town. While touring the bars of Oyafuko Dori, the main party street in the Tenjin neighbourhood, locals always have the same recommendation: Shin Shin.

Upstairs from this side-street eatery, a boy band is practicing its dance moves in the middle of the night.

The restaurant’s walls are scribbled with graffiti by local bands. Back in the ’70s, this neighbourhood gave birth to Mentai rock, named after another local delicacy mentaiko, which is marinated, sometimes fiery cod roe. Shin Shin’s basic ramen broth is perfectly kotteri (rich, oily and filling), while the noodles are

FU K

Fin n Fuk air fl ie tim uoka s to thr es p e du rin er w e gs eek se umm finn ason. er air .co m

Dining out, literally. There are roughly 150 yatais, open air food stands scattered across Fukuoka.

slightly chewy and the pork slices melt in your mouth.

Classic tonkotsu at four euros a bowl.

FIVE-MONTH WAITING LIST Beyond street food and ramen, Fukuoka also boasts 43 restaurants with Michelin stars, including a duo deemed worthy of three stars. Many of these are pricey kaiseki, sushi or fugu restaurants that do not actively court Western customers – while the threestar Sagano has a list of rules for behaviour for foreigners on its website. Some high-end restaurants welcome Westerners, though.

“Of course we want foreign customers,” says Naohiro Miyatake, who owns the fugu restaurant Hakata Izumi. “I know that some Fukuoka restaurants are hard to find and often don’t have menus in English.

But our entire staff has studied English,” says the master chef, who has been slicing blowfish for 46 years.

Getting a table at some of these places is nearly impossible, even for natives. The small three-star sushi restaurant Gyoten, for instance, has a fivemonth waiting list. Most don’t take reservations directly, only through hotels, and by then it is usually too late for visitors.

For a broader, more easy-going palette of Japanese cuisine, try one of the city’s izakaya restaurants, the Japanese cousin of the gastropub. Their menus can include just about anything from sashimi, tempura and tofu to hamburgers, pizza and as expected ramen.

“These places don’t follow stiff etiquette. They have

wide-ranging menus and reasonable prices. An evening at an izakaya including drinks may cost 40 to 70 euros,” says Masahiko Kamesaki, who runs several izakaya in Fukuoka.

We’re sitting in a room lined with tatami mats at his Umi no Michi eatery. There is plenty of sake and cigar smoke, yet the food is far from typical bar food.

The restaurant boasts one of Fukuoka’s biggest tanks full of seafood for customers to choose from. The pride of the restaurant is iki-zukuri, sashimi of live octopus, which is still alive when served. It doesn’t get any fresher than this. Kampai! l BEHIND THE SCENES:

Mikko Takala is a food and restaurant journalist who has written and co-written many books on travel and food. His latest book, Street Food (Readme.fi, 2015) presents street food culture from Tokyo to Texas.

Tommi Anttonen is a photographer specialising in food and travel. He has created images for dozens of books, most recently Street Food.

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be privilegedċ be oneċ Introducing new oneworld benefitsċ Finnair Plus Platinum and Gold members both now enjoy additional baggage allowances on all oneworld airlines ġ and their baggage also receives priority handling from aircraft to carouselċ Learn more at oneworldċcom/benefits

member of

be connected Welcome to oneworldČ an alliance of the worldĚs leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience across more than āČĀĀĀ destinations worldwideċ Whenever Finnair canĚt take you to your final destinationČ we encourage you to travel with our oneworld partner airlinesċ Enjoy an array of special privileges and rewards ģ which include earning and redeeming Finnair Plus points on all oneworld airlines andČ for Finnair Plus Platinum and Gold membersČ access to some ćĆĀ premium airport loungesċ

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be recognised As a oneworld travellerČ satisfaction awaits you around the globeċ Your Finnair Plus status is recognised across all member airlinesċ And you are entitled to a range of benefitsČ which are provided according to the following oneworld tier levelsČ no matter which cabin class you are flying inč

*Access to preferred or preġreserved seating is in accordance with the individual policy of the oneworld member airline operating the flightċ First and business class checkġin desks and lounges are not available at all airportsċ Fast track is not available at all airportsċ Priority baggage handling is not available on flights operated by British Airwaysċ Extra baggage allowance benefits differ for Sapphire and Emerald level membersċ oneworld benefits are available only to passengers on scheduled flights that are both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline (marketed means that there must be a oneworld member airlineĚs flight number on your ticket)ċ airberlinČ American AirlinesČ British AirwaysČ Cathay PacificČ FinnairČ IberiaČ Japan AirlinesČ LANČ Malaysia AirlinesČ QantasČ Qatar AirwaysČ Royal JordanianČ SĈ AirlinesČ SriLankan AirlinesČ TAM Airlines and oneworld are trademarks of their respective companiesċ TAM Airlines (Paraguay) is currently not a part of oneworldċ Some limitations and exceptions may applyċ For more informationČ visit wwwċoneworldċcom/benefitsċ

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To bookČ or to discover more multiġcontinent and singleġcontinent optionsČ visit wwwċoneworldċcom/flights

SUPER FOODS

OF THE FOREST Finnish natural berries ranging from blueberries to cloudberries are packed with vitamins and nutrients. Here’s our mini-guide to Finland’s super fruits.

TEXT BY KATJA PANTZAR PHOTOS BY ISTOCK AND VISIT FINLAND

H

ardly a week passes without a headline praising the benefits of nature’s edible bounty: “Berries may aid weight loss”, “Berries boost male sexual health” and “Berry good for brain health” – are just a few recent examples.

In Finland, there is a long tradition of eating berries as part of the healthy Nordic diet that dates back to the Middle Ages. In the 1400s, the Nådendal Abbey reportedly published a medicinal guide that included natural remedies for illnesses such as using juniper berries to cure a persistent cough.

An abundance of wild berries – about 50 species, 37 of which are edible – grow

54 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

in Finnish fields and forests and are free for anyone to pick so long as a few rules are observed.

FOREST THERAPY Everyone has the right to enjoy Finnish nature under the traditional Finnish concept of “Everyman’s Right.” This means that anyone can walk freely in field, forest or countryside and pick berries or mushrooms, another super food.

As the law stresses, “together with these wide-ranging rights comes the responsibility to respect nature, other people, and property. Special regulations in national parks and many nature reserves addition-

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Getting there

The handy Journey Planner (reittiopas.fi/en) offers public transportation options.

WHERE TO PICK

A wide ranges of wild berries grow throughout Finland. For travellers stopping over in the Greater Helsinki area, here are three of the most popular spots for a berry-picking expedition: 1. NUUKSIO NATIONAL PARK, about 40 kilometres from downtown Helsinki, features wellmarked trails covering 45 square kilometres of park complete with 43 lakes. Guided berry-picking tours during the summer months are organised by several companies, including Feel the Nature and the City of Helsinki.

Spending time in nature by taking a walk in the woods can decrease stress and increase wellbeing.

nationalparks.fi, visithelsinki.fi, feelthenature.fi 2. HELSINKI CENTRAL PARK (“Keskuspuisto” in Finnish) runs through the city from Töölönlahti (behind Finlandia Hall) to Vantaa, and offers especially good berry foraging in the Laakso and Paloheinä neighbourhoods. hel.fi/hel2/keskuspuisto/eng/1centralpark 3. SIPOONKORPI NATIONAL PARK in the municipality of Espoo, about 20 kilometres from Helsinki city centre, is known for its bilberries, as well as other activities including fishing and bird watching. nationalparks.fi/en/sipoonkorpinp

56 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

ally limit activities such as camping, hunting, the use of motor vehicles, and access to sensitive areas during the nesting season.”

Everyman’s Right means it is not acceptable to disturb people, damage property or litter.

Aside from foraging, spending time in nature has other benefits. Finns consider forests to be a natural elixir for relieving the pressures and stresses of daily life. Research is on-going into whether forest therapy in the form of taking a walk in the woods or spending time in nature can measurably lower blood pressure, reduce stress, lessen depression and improve immunity.

BLUEBERRIES ON BOARD A focus on wellbeing and health is part of Finnair’s unique Nordic experiences, which feature Finnish specialties on board its new fleet of state-of-the-art A350 aircraft.

“We want to offer nature’s gifts and the best of Nordic hospitality to our customers,” says Inflight Service Specialist Mirja Uosukainen, who is part of the team that has developed a series of beverages based on blueberries.

Finnair’s Blue Sky signature drink blends together Champagne, Lapponia liqueur and blueberries served in an iconic Ultima Thule glass (inspired by melting ice in Lapland) designed by Tapio Wirkkala. Fresh blueberry juice and blueberry smoothies round out the menu’s berry offerings.

“Blueberries are so very healthy and part of the super food trend,” says Uosukainen, who is an avid berry picker. “The soul rests in the forest,” she says.

“I’m fortunate to have the luxury of being able to step out of my back door and pick blueberries off the bushes,” says Uosukainen, who lives close to the forest on the outskirts of Helsinki.

LASSE SALO

Mirja Uosukainen serves up Finnair’s Blue Sky signature drink.

finnair.com

Lapland The north of Finland is known for its generous yields of cloudberries, which usually ripen in mid-July, early August. lapland.fi/autumn/pickingberries-and-mushrooms

BERRIES WITH BENEFITS Some of the most popular berries in Finland include blueberries, which are full of flavour and packed with vitamins A, B, and C, as well as essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and 6 and antioxidants that help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Cloudberries, known as “Lapland’s Gold,” resemble a pale orange version of blackberries. The sweet gems, often used for jams and to accompany cheeses, are full of vitamin C – they contain up to three or four times more than oranges. They are also used in cosmetics, and eating cloudberries is thought by some to provide a secret source of youth.

Sea buckthorn boasts cancer-fighting antioxidants such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and vitamin C (on average, it is estimated that one berry contains 12 times more than an orange), as well as essential amino acids and heart-protecting fatty acids. According to a recent study in Current Medicinal Chemistry it may even help treat Type 2 Diabetes.

Lingonberries are an excellent source of vitamin E and are used in desserts such as puddings and cakes or to accompany meat dishes. Other significant Finnish berries include crowberries, cranberries, and wild strawberries. l

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EUROPEAN VOICES

BY ALEXANDER STUBB

Why working parents can’t have it all

D

isclaimer: this Secondly, the life of a career father is column is highly often not a walk in the park either. From personal, so don’t personal experience I can say that there take it personally. is nothing worse than saying goodbye to It’s a reflection of your kids before a long business trip or my own experihaving to skip an important school event ence about paror hobby because of work. enting and work.

And it can get worse. When I was Why write about such a sensitive prime minister the work load and pressure ­subject? Because I think you should read were so intense that even when I was at ­foreign-policy expert, professor, and think home, my mind was absent. Not exactly an tank president Anne-Marie Slaughter’s ideal situation, but something you have to 2012 article “Why women still can’t have cope with — not alone, but as a family. it all” in The Atlantic. It quickly went viral Thirdly, at the end of the day it’s all with more than three about personal commillion clicks and promises and choices NO MATTER HOW MUCH was developed into that every family has YOU BELIEVE IN 50–50 her subsequent to make. book Unfinished But I also believe PARENTING, IT’S OFTEN Business (Ranthat we can do a lot MOTHERS WHO CARRY THE at workplaces and dom House, BIGGER SHARE OF THE 2015). through legislation.

Many of us Parents should be BURDEN. often feel presgiven enough flexsure at home ibility to juggle work and at work. Am I spending enough and family. This means flexi-time and protime with the kids? Am I working viding people with the technology to work hard enough? There is no absolute effectively from home when necessary. truth, but here are some personal The more single-parent families we have, observations. the more critical this becomes. Through Firstly, despite all the progress legislation we should also try to do everywe have made we still live in a society thing possible to make sure that men and where women’s careers often take a secwomen have equal opportunities when it ond place to those of men. Even up here comes to parenting and careers. in the Nordics. How often do you hear of Since the Industrial Revolution we have a husband sacrificing his career for his split work and family into two different catefamily? Why are there still fewer female gories. As Anne-Marie Slaughter aptly sums CEOs than male ones? up, “family makes work possible in the same I find this unfair and antiquated. way work makes family possible. It’s up to Half-truths are plentiful, everything us to create the conditions in which the two from “you just have to marry the right can reinforce each other.” l person” to “you just have to organise it the right way.” Not true, I think. Alexander Stubb is a husband and father of two children aged 12 and 14. Currently No matter how much you believe in Finland’s Finance Minister, he has held the 50-50 parenting, it’s often mothers positions of foreign minister, trade minister, who carry the bigger share of the and prime minister during the past eight years. burden.

58 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

SLEEPING IN A BED IS

ALWAYS BETTER THAN SLEEPING IN A CHAIR

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BUSINESSES

THAT CHANGE LIVES Finnish health tech innovations are in demand: Exports account for 96 per cent of sector output.

What makes them so successful?

TEXT BY KATI HEIKINHEIMO ILLUSTRATION BY ANNI-JULIA TUOMISTO

I

f there’s one industry fuelled by global megatrends, it’s health technology. Population growth and ageing are driving demand for innovative healthcare solutions. Increased accessibility and usability of smart technology makes these innovations available to a growing number of people and healthcare providers across the globe.

According to the European trade association representing the medical imaging, health ICT and electromedical industries (COCIR), the global market for medical equipment is worth 80 billion euros with Europe accounting for some 28 billion euros of this figure. The sector has an annual growth rate of five per cent and R&D investments represent up to eight per cent of sales volume. This makes it one of the most dynamic industries in the world.

BIGGER THAN TELECOMS Steady growth, impressive export figures and an expanding mix of both startups and well-established global players: Not many sectors in Finland can boast such results in these challenging times.

“It seems this industry has taken everyone by surprise,” says Tom Ståhlberg, head of the Finnish health technology association (FiHTA). In Finland, the health tech sector has already exceeded telecommunications in size, not to mention an annual growth rate which has averaged 8.5 per cent from 2009 to 2014 (figures for 2015 are yet to be published, but they are expected to correspond to or surpass previous levels).

“Finland’s particularity in the health tech industry is that more than 96 per cent of manufacturing output is exported; one-third to the rest of the EU and the 60 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

US each, with a growing expansion to the rest of the world. Much less is imported, pushing the trade balance surplus to a total of 829 million euros in 2014.

This has a noteworthy impact on the rather sluggish, export-weak national economy,” says Ståhlberg.

He believes the sector’s success stems from the right combination of know-how.

“We have chemical and biochemical expertise, which is vital for developing diagnostics solutions.

Engineering skills are necessary for designing and manufacturing devices, and proficiency in software is needed for making any innovation usable,” he says.

MARKETING MATTERS Ståhlberg notes that the common bottleneck in commercialising products has been the lack – or delayed timing – of adequate marketing. Complex medical innovations are difficult to market.

The same challenge applies to consumer goods that feature a novel technology or user interface.

Examples from the health tech sector include mobile applications or smart watches and other wearables that allow monitoring one’s body functions and keep tabs on stress levels, recovery and sleep.

Michaela Lipkin from the Hanken School of Economics is writing her doctoral thesis on customer experiences and the optimal marketing of wearables.

“The challenge is that even though wearables can measure and produce a lot of data, it is not necessarily easy to interpret this information and make it useful. The company that comes up with a way to make this data smart – as well as simple and fun to use – will emerge as the winner,” she says.

Lipkin recounts that activity bracelets and sports

IN FUTURE: WEARABLES EVERYWHERE • I LLNESS PREVENTION New solutions can identify health impacts and diseases before they are signalled by symptoms. These solutions range from portable meters to smart insulin/medicine patches and toilets acting as minilaboratories, some with direct connections to medical experts.

•O PTIMISING CREATIVE WORK Devices identify the best possible times for creative, routine, and strategic tasks. These devices can assist in optimising daily schedules, results and output, making them highly attractive to employ-

ers. Growth can be expected on the wearables B2B market.

•T RAINING AND SUPPORT Realtime assistance – via smart glasses, for example – can be offered in repairing a car, assembling an industrial machine or performing a medical procedure.

This is another solution relevant to both the B2B and B2C markets.

•M ULTIPURPOSE TOOLS Most wearables are now single-purpose devices. However, just as mobile phones have become pocket computers, wearables will in the future serve as keys, wallets and even IDs

(recognising its user by their individual heartbeat or other indicator).

• ATHLETICS Wearables will continue to play an increasing role supporting trainers of all levels.

The range of devices will diversify and their complexity will increase.

•G AMING Glasses and other gear enabling an augmented reality experience.

•S URVEILLANCE AND SAFETY Keeping an eye on children or the elderly.

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watches have already broken through to the mainstream market, replacing regular watches on the wrists of many average consumers.

“Other wearables, such as smart glasses or smart clothes are harder to adopt. We are still waiting for a wearable ‘killer app’ that would make it truly indispensable to consumers – as the mobile phone has done in just one decade,” says Lipkin.

HEALTH IN OUR OWN HANDS Our eagerness to take on these new applications is part of a larger trend: reclaiming ownership of our own wellbeing. Whereas tests and treatments were once prescribed only by doctors, an increasing number of consumers now wish to make these decisions themselves. This has created a booming business for consultative laboratories and private companies offering various kinds of hi-tech medical services.

Helsinki-based Nemoy is an example of this new generation. It offers selected treatments for conditions ranging from stress and insomnia to severe Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), trauma and autism.

“We are constantly on the lookout for efficient and safe methods,” says Marja Vihervaara, psychiatrist and founder of the company. Before starting Nemoy, Vihervaara worked in both the public and private sectors. She discovered a clear gap on the market after finding that neurotherapeutic methods were not used in Finland, despite their proven results. According the Vihervaara, neurotherapy has benefited patients who have “already tried everything else.” At the moment, most customers contact Nemoy directly and pay for the therapy themselves. Vihervaara is committed to making these services accessible to more patients, and at an earlier stage of illness.

NORDIC HEALTH HUB Whether in hardware, software, or services, Finland aims to establish itself as the Nordic health tech hub.

Helsinki is busily attracting new investors and growth companies with events such as Slush, Europe’s largest startup happening. Luring investors is also the goal of Helsinki Business Hub and various accelerator programs for health tech startups.

But Helsinki is not alone: other regions such as Turku, Kuopio and Oulu have created their own hubs, and local companies are clocking up impressive growth rates. Team Finland, a government-initiated network for boosting the internationalisation of Finnish companies, has taken an important role in assisting companies with the challenges of international marketing.

Like any growth sector, the Finnish health tech field is brimming with new innovations and solutions.

But it is not just startups getting in on the action.

“Many Finnish companies have been relentlessly 62 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

FINNISH HEALTH TECH NAMES TO WATCH NEUROSONIC A Finnish innovation that uses low frequency vibration to reduce muscular tension and pain. The method has been patented for treating stressrelated insomnia. neurosonic.fi/en MEGA ELECTRONICS Biosignal monitoring for neurology, rehabilitation, occupational health and sports medicine. megaemg.com KORULAB Hardware-friendly, customisable software for wearables and the Internet of Things. korulab.com BEDDIT An app that monitors sleep quality via mobile phone. beddit.com NEXSTIM A Leader in Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Simulation (TMS).

Nexstim.com NEWICON Medical automation solutions. newicon.fi FIHTA WEBSITE Glossary and links to Finnish health tech companies. finnishhealthtech.fi

marketing their solutions for 40, even 60 years, and have gained global leader positions in chosen niche markets in the medical sector,” says Tom Ståhlberg.

Wallac, established in the 1950s and now part of the global PerkinElmer group, has developed cuttingedge solutions for medical neonatal screening and in many parts of the world every newborn is tested with their products. A second example is hi-tech health technology developer Planmeca whose dental units combine exceptional design with digital dimensions.

What we now need are more middle-size companies alongside the big players and the startups.

TOP 2016 EVENTS IN FINLAND Upgraded Life Festival, May 31 healthspa.fi Arctic15, June 2–3 arctic15.com HealthBio 2016, September 6–7 healthbio.fi

Another long-term actor Orion Diagnostica offers solutions for health and hygiene diagnostics.

Ståhlberg estimates there are about 300 health tech firms operating at the moment, more than 100 of which have commercialised their products.

“What we now need are more middle-size companies alongside the big players and the startups,” he says.

In other words, the pressure is on the startups to grow into established players. Who knows, maybe one of them will be the next Nokia? l

Biohacker Summit, November 17–18 biohackersummit.com Slush, November 30 – December 1 slush.org Vertical accelerator programme for startups, rolling biannual applications vertical.vc

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DESTINATION PARIS

CD G

Fin Pa nair fl ris i fiv es to per e tim finn day es . air .co m

Historic Les Invalides in the 7th arrondissement of Paris lies on the Traversée route.

Tremendous

Traversée TEXT AND PHOTOS SIMON FRY

Twice a year, Paris’s most exciting attraction is on its streets, as hundreds of historic cars cross the French capital.

64 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

J

uly will see the ninth summer staging of La Traversée (The Crossing) a vintage vehicle rally running 28 kilometres from east to southwest Paris.

This parade – and party – is a celebration of transport down the decades and the sights of one of the most beautiful cities of the world.

Last year’s summer event saw 805 cars, 15 tractors, 47 motorcycles, four buses and three bicycles depart from Château de Vincennes between 8am to 9am and pass many of the city’s iconic landmarks before gathering noonish at the Meudon Observatory for a picnic lasting several hours.

Laurence Heyries, an English teacher at the Sorbonne, participated as a passenger, in both her husband’s 1958 Simca Vedette (Chambord) and her friend’s 1967 Peugeot 404 cabriolet (vehicles must be at least 30 years old to take part.) For her, this social element is what appeals most.

Fiat 500s are among the hundreds of vehicles participating.

“La Traversée is a chance to meet friends twice a year, to share all the preceding months’ news when in a good mood. Everything about the rally is positive; it is not a race and nobody is concerned about being first to the end,” she says.

According to Heyries, it doesn’t matter whether your car is cheap in comparison with the very expensive ones. In La Traversée, all cars are respected.

“We share knowledge on how to repair the cars and show people this part of history. Cars like these should not be kept in museums but be on the road, alive – can you hear the song of the engine?”

Her point is valid, as the vehicles gather in Paris’s early morning sunshine. Tractors – the first to depart - chug, V8 engines vroom, and motorcycles hum, a harmonious dawn chorus broken only by sirens marking the arrival of old police cars.

Drivers and their passengers wear either clothes from the time their vehicle was built or all-white, with ladies sporting lace gloves and shawls and gentlemen in blazers and straw hats.

MEDIA ON MOTORCYCLES Anne Quémy, who handles public relations for the event, is responsible for ensuring the media gets the interviews needed for television, radio and print. The press packs she hands out have an urgent message – the Préfecture de Police has banned vehicles from using the Champs-Élysées, in keeping with France’s Vigipirate anti-terrorism measures.

Quémy’s work begins in June, when she sends out a press release and then establishes which press will attend and what they need. Television journalists travel on the back of motorcycles to go through the rally quickly, while other press travel in cabriolets so they can take photographs.

“On the day of the event, I arrive at 7:30 am and after all have set off I ride with the president of the organising club (Vincennes en Anciennes) in his Ford Escort. Once at Meudon I meet the press again and stay at their disposal in the days after – until they have no more questions,” Quémy says.

Selfies at the Eiffel Tower are a must for La Traversée drivers.

The rally’s participants expect to be photographed.

ICONIC BACKDROP

Her approach pays off, as, except for a few breakdowns, all vehicles arrive at the end after stopping at locations like Place de la Concorde, Les Invalides, Sacré-Coeur and Père Lachaise Cemetery. Although vehicles do not stop at the Eiffel Tower, their passing provides one of the world’s most famous backdrops for those photographing. Interestingly, this is the only place along the route where La Traversée’s vehicles pass largely unnoticed by those not there for them; MARCH 2016

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Drivers and their passengers wear white or vintage – or ­sometimes both!

Everything about the rally is positive; it is not a race and nobody is concerned about being first to the end. even this cavalcade of cars cannot upstage the Eiffel’s epic feat of engineering.

En route, official vehicles are joined by Parisian car lovers, adding to the festive mood. Streets are thronged with locals and tourists cheering as though at passing royalty. The rally also runs several vintage buses, with a five-euro ticket giving the holder the chance to be a part of the action.

By 11:30 am cars are beginning to reach Meudon Observatory. Despite setting off first, there are no signs yet of tractors or cyclists.

At the observatory, with its view across Paris, people sit in deckchairs to enjoy the procession in comfort, the city of lovers today is the city of drivers. l 66 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

REBELS WITH A CAUSE Non-profit organisation Vincennes en Anciennes was founded in 1998, “To honour the immense richness and diversity of driving’s heritage”, according to president Jacques d’Andréa.

Inspired by the 1956 comedy drama film La Traversée de Paris (The Trip Across Paris), the organisation staged the first cross-Paris rally in 2000, involving 80 cars, which parked in the Bois de Boulogne’s pathways for a post-rally meal at a bowling restaurant nearby. The film depicts breaking of a wartime curfew, a rebellious spirit that the event’s organisers believe matches the Parisian state of mind.

There have been 16 winter rallies, which are held on the first Sunday after January 1, while the summer rally is staged on July’s last Sunday or August’s first, when Paris is quiet. This summer’s rally will be held on July 31.

In months without a Traversée, 250 to 300 vehicles gather on the first Sunday at Château de Vincennes. vincennesenanciennes.com

The new breed of Minsk hipsters hang out in Ў Bar.

DESTINATION MINSK

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TEXT BY ALEX LEANDER PHOTOS BY VESA SALMI

Meeting Minsk

H

ome to hipster youth of the new Belarus, Ў Gallery in Minsk is devoted to driving the local homegrown art scene forward. The non-governmental contemporary art building fuses an exhibition room, a bookshop, a café-wine bar, and a design shop all in one place.

Even the name of this art complex is a subtle statement of its own. “Ў” is a letter from the Belarusian language that locals often blend in when writing Russian, which is the most common language used in Belarus.

When Ў Gallery was established in 2009 by curator Valentina Kiseleva it became the first independent art gallery of ­Belarus. The space is reserved for individual or group exhibitions of contemporary Belarusian artists with a meaningful message. This is an arena where local underground artists that work with political, social and ecological issues can showcase their works.

Nowadays the gallery is one of the most active places in the city, engaged in the promotion of Belarusian culture and language by hosting local exhibition projects, lectures, and discussions. Ў Gallery has even started language courses in native Belarusian. These courses are always filled

to the brim, not only because of the topic, but also because of the interesting teachers such as the famous Belarusian contemporary poets Gleb Labadzenka and Andrey Hadanovich.

Adjacent to the gallery is Minsk’s first wine bar named “Ў Bar”. In this cool casual environment patrons hang out with local artists and laid back people. There is no dress code and the bar is proud of their equally “democratic” inexpensive prices.

On top of a nice selection of international wines you will find whisky, soft drinks and snacks. This is probably one of the only bars in Belarus where vodka or cocktails are not on the menu. During the day, the space is filled with light and becomes a popular meeting point for art students.

The bookstore in the same building is managed by the famous Belarusian publishing house Logvinov. And you guessed it; the books on sale are mostly originals by local writers in Belarusian. You can also find works translated into Belarusian and an interesting, albeit miniscule selection of local literature translated into English.

Locally designed items and quirky souvenirs such as clothes, printouts of paintings, jewellery, small sculptures and decorative items are available for purchase in the shop. l

Ў GALLERY AND BAR Prospekt Nezavisimosti 37 A Go through the courtyard between residential houses 37 and 39 and then look to the right to find the white building with a large “Ў” on the exterior. ygallery.by ybar.by/about-y-bar

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DESTINATION LAPLAND

Lights, action… Lapland

68 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

A crew from Flatlight ­Creative House shoot a commercial on the fells near Rovaniemi.

Finnish Lapland is a rising star in the world of film production.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY TIM BIRD

MARCH 2016

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I Miikka Niemi, creative director and CEO of Flatlight Creative House.

t’s a crisp and wind-free winter morning on the crest of the Ounasvaara fell just outside Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle. The snow hangs in a thick blanket over the trees and the temperature hovers a few degrees below zero.

It’s a perfect day for filming.

Miikka Niemi, CEO and creative director of Flatlight Creative House, is supervising a shoot for a Finnish TV programme, taking advantage of the calm conditions. His crew are setting up to film a scene on the flat roof of the Lapland Hotel Sky Ounasvaara, exploiting the backdrop of endless snow-covered fells and forest. Later in the typically busy day, the crew will be shooting a commercial for a local snowmobile manufacturer.

“We shoot mainly commercials, but we also film for TV documentaries and nature shows,” says Niemi.

“A great deal of work is coming from abroad as well as from southern Finland because the winters have been getting warmer. You can replicate a patch of snow but not the whole landscape – that’s very hard to fake.”

Niemi and his team have experienced far more extreme circumstances. “There aren’t really any cameras designed for Arctic conditions, although our systems have been tested in harsh conditions and they work surprisingly well,” he says. Equipment includes two big drones for shooting aerials, which obviously can be tricky when it’s really cold. “Fortunately, we are learning the limitations through experience. The drones have flown in minus 30 degrees [Celsius]. We didn’t dare try in minus 42!”

Dogs from the Levi Husky Park are stars of film and TV productions.

70 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

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Anna Niemelä of the Lapland Film Commission and her Arctic fox friend.

In the hotel café, a crew from Belgian national TV is preparing for the last day of shooting for Best Friend, a celebrity game show. In the car park another two-man team is setting up to record a video presentation. There is ample evidence of Lapland’s growing popularity with film crews working on all kinds of productions.

A RECORD YEAR “We had a record year in 2015, with 43 productions worth 1.2 million euros to the region,” says Anna ­Niemelä of the Finnish Lapland Film Commission, which provides contacts and guidance to visiting producers, directors, and location managers. “As many as 45 million travellers annually choose their travel destination on the basis of where their favourite movies or TV series are filmed,” she says.

Niemelä welcomes state support intended for the Finnish movie and TV production industry that would enable it to compete more effectively with respective industries in other countries which already benefit from such support. Major brands from Ralph Lauren to Mercedes Benz have already chosen Finnish Lapland as locations for high profile commercials and there is considerable potential to increase this interest.

The Commission, under the auspices of the House of Lapland regional promotional body, has built up an impressive portfolio of locations to recommend to prospective productions. Many of these are within convenient proximity to Rovaniemi, the provincial

SOME OF THE PRODUCTIONS FILMED IN FINNISH LAPLAND • Mercedes Benz C-class commercial: ­Germany 2015 • Lapland Odyssey 2 (Napapiirin sankarit 2) movie: Finland 2015 • Ralph Lauren — Into the Wild photo shoot: US 2015 • Snow Queen (Lumikuningatar) movie: ­Finland 2015 • Red Bull — Tundra Trial video: Austria 2014 • Shamitabh movie: India 2014 • Hyundai Genesis —Time to HTRAC commercial: 2014 • IKEA Russia commercial: 2012 • Blue Peter TV: UK 2012 • Steam of Life (Miesten Vuoro) movie: ­Finland 2010 filmlapland.fi

capital of Finnish Lapland, with its international airport and rail connections.

Housed in an enormous cavern, directly under the Arctic Circle is SantaPark, an enchanting yearround Christmas playground. Together with its ‘sister’ Christmas attraction, the more remote Joulukka, ­SantaPark has hosted an impressive range of productions, from local rock band videos to a Chinese “Shining Baby” child modelling competition and from MARCH 2016

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The authentic Lapland atmosphere is impossible to fake.

Christmas specials screened in China, the US, France and the UK to Audi and Volvo commercials.

“It’s useful to have such a spacious indoor location which has the winter landscape on its doorstep,” says Ilkka Länkinen, CEO (Chief Experience Officer) of ProSanta Oy that manages SantaPark. It’s already February, but Christmas music plays continuously in the background as he talks. “Good access roads, reliable electricity, a place to warm up when it’s minus 30 outside – these are all assets for production crews.”

It’s a wrap: Lapland’s exotic atmosphere provides the perfect location.

72 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

FANTASY EXOTICA Elsewhere, the extraordinary Lainio Snow Village, a beautifully sculptured and illuminated winter labyrinth near the Levi ski resort, was the backdrop for an extended Red Bull soft drink commercial. Finnish movies frequently reference Lapland’s rugged wilderness as a context for their earthy realism, Napapiirin sankarit (‘Lapland Odyssey’) being one popular example.

The region’s more esoteric fantasy aspects are also referenced. Frozen lakes and dense blizzards are recurring exotic elements, and this is one of the most reliable places in the world for viewing the Northern Lights, all of which are featured in a recent Finnish version of the Snow Queen.

“When the makers of the Bollywood film Shamitabh shot scenes in Kilpisjärvi in the summer, they found that the long light days gave them more time for shooting,” says Niemelä, pointing out that Lapland has its attractions for producers throughout the year, not only in winter.

Sanoma Media Finland / Mediamyynti 09-122 98760

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Helsinki Finland

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Reijo Jääskeläinen with a member of his acting menagerie.

She mentions on-site accommodation as another favourable bonus for many of the region’s filming locations, citing the Tonttula ‘Elves’ Adventure Village’ and the Hotel Taivaanvalkeat complex near Kittilä as a good case. Part of the Hullu Poro (‘Crazy Reindeer’) hotel and restaurant group, this idyllic collection of traditional rustic buildings, reconstructed close to the Ounasjoki river, includes hotel lodging and a restaurant and was chosen as the venue for a familiar Finnish ice cream commercial. The opening later in 2016 of a fairy-tale Elves’ Hideaway adventure park will boost its filming credentials.

HOUNDS AND VISION The last word goes to some local acting talent – of the four-legged variety. The Levi Husky Park, a halfhour drive from Levi, is home to some top names in the Finnish animal acting world. Step forward Taiko, the white reindeer, whose starring credits include the Joulutarina Finnish Christmas movie, and his supporting cast of huskies, dog-wolf crossbreeds, a ‘pedigree’ wolf, and Arctic foxes adopted from fur farms.

Trained and lovingly maintained by the park’s ownermanager Reijo Jääskeläinen, the animals have featured in Finnish beer commercials, music videos and even international fashion shoots.

Exotic landscapes, reliable facilities and top class, local animal and human talent: bring on the Oscars! l

BEHIND THE SCENES

Tim Bird

is an English journalist and photographer based in Helsinki and a long-term contributor to Blue Wings. The thrill of arriving in new far-flung places has never worn off for him, but Lapland still tops his list for exotic destinations.

Pieniä terveystekoja vai reippaampi elämänmuutos?

Kokeile ja onnistu! hyvaterveys.fi

93X59_normi.indd 2

31.3.2014 14:20:

klaata u s n u s t u k ä ”M i. vitamiineiks n.” syömise Se oikeuttaa

Katso hulvattomat jaksot osoitteessa menaiset.fi/evek

DESTINATION TORONTO TEXT AND PHOTOS BY KAREN MACKENNA

CHASING CUTTING-EDGE

DESIGN IN TORONTO

V

ogue magazine named Toronto’s design district, also known as West Queen West, as the second hippest neighbourhood in the world after Tokyo’s Shimokitazawa.

Formerly a working class area, West Queen West has quickly gentrified over the past ten years to become the creative heart of the city. Brooklyn meets the West Village so to speak in this vibrant and very liveable neighbourhood.

A good place to get your bearings is at the southern gates of Trinity-Bellwoods Park, one of the city’s most treasured green and cultural spaces. The strip stretches westward for 1.5 kilometres towards the Gladstone Hotel – a boutique accommodation with 37 rooms, each designed by a different artist. A detour up Ossington ­Avenue is where you’ll find ­galleries, vintage record stores, excellent eateries, and popular bars.

Tucked away in a quiet laneway just steps from the park is the design studio of Heidi ­S opinka and ­Claudia Dey, who have fast become the ­darlings of Canadian fashion while also making a

name for themselves internationally.

The two best friends and novelists acted on a whim three years ago when they put aside their pens to start Horses Atelier.

The duo set out to create a brand that would evoke nostalgia, romance, and a sense of adventure. The result was a line of classically simple women’s clothing that is elegant, versatile, and built to last.

The fabrics are sourced from family-owned mills in Italy and Japan and the clothing is sewn in Toronto. Sopinka and Dey make their own prints and develop custom colours with attention to detail – lessons learned from their own master seamstress grandmothers.

“We believe that the woman who dresses herself knows herself,” says Sopinka.

A portion of their sales is donated to the Clean Clothes campaign, an organisation committed to improving working conditions in the global ­garment industry. l horsesatelier.com

HORSES ATELIERS’ TOP PICKS IN THE HOOD WHITE SQUIRREL COFFEE SHOP Named for the albino squirrels who roam the park, this café is “the” meeting place for locals. Not only do baristas brew excellent fair trade organic coffee, but they serve up a perfect flat white to boot!

TYPE BOOKS Type is a not-to-be-missed bookstore with a knowledgeable staff, most of whom are writers themselves. There is a fantastic art and design section, and a shelf dedicated to “plotless fiction”.

INABSTRACTO An interior design shop on Queen Street West, INabstracto specialises in mid-century modern furniture and decor. There is a small art gallery in the back and a good chance you’ll find some Finnish design!

whitesquirrelcoffee.com

typebooks.ca

inabstracto.wordpress.com

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The West Queen West area is constantly evolving with an eclectic mix of shops and­­ ­restaurants.

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FINNAIR NEWS

TOWARDS A BETTER PLANET Environmental and social responsibility are part of Finnair’s everyday activities.

Read more on page 84.

COMPILED BY KATJA PANTZAR

Top 3 Chinese mega-cities

Visiting Shanghai “the Pearl of the Orient” is like travelling into the future (Pudong) with a view to the past (the historic buildings lining the Bund) in China’s largest city.

Top flight “We hit a new record number of passengers: more than 10 million passengers flew with us in 2015,” says Finnair CEO Pekka Vauramo.

The year was ground breaking in many other ways, too, as the first of the new state-of-the-art Airbus 350 XWB aircraft joined the fleet.

“The new A350 aircraft have proved to be very good, and the entire Finnair organisation has worked hard with the new aircraft to ensure a unique Nordic experience,” says Vauramo.

The new wide-body aircraft comprise the engine of Finnair’s growth, as they support the strategic expansion of traf-

fic between Europe and Asia, the core of Finnair’s business. Growth of long-haul capacity will also create a need for more flight capacity between Helsinki and European destinations.

“We are heading in the right direction,” says Vauramo.

Finnair estimates it will create about 1,000 new jobs by 2020. Two hundred new employees joined flight personnel in 2015. Finnair is currently in the process of recruiting a total of 450 new employees including pilots, cabin crew and ground service personnel.

Beijing, the country’s second largest

city, boasts seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites from the Forbidden City to the Great Wall.

finnair.com

Sustainability lead Finnair was one of the first airlines (2008) in the world to communicate on its corporate responsibility issues under the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting framework.

The Annual Report 2015 and GRI section have been compiled in accordance with the newest GRI’s G4 Guidelines. globalreporting.org

76 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

Once known as Canton, third largest city Guangzhou was the birthplace of the ancient maritime Silk Road and lies on the Pearl River about 120 kilometres from Hong Kong.

LOMAILOA LAPSIPERHEILLE Nauttikaa yhteisestä loma-ajasta, pienten lomailijoiden riemusta ja rentouttavista hetkistä myös perheen aikuisten kesken. Tutustu uuteen Parasta perheelle -lomakokoelmaan aurinkomatkat.fi/lomakokoelmat

FINNAIR NEWS

DISCOVER FINLAND When travelling via Helsinki, you can book a stopover in Finland for up to five nights on your way to or from your final destination. Book your stopover flight at stopover.finnair.com.

COMPILED BY KATJA PANTZAR MOREAU KUSUNOKI / ARTEFACTORYLAB

Flight attendant and avid runner Mira HämäläinenIho shares her tips on the world’s best running races:

Top 3 marathons worth travelling for

1 Gearing up for a Guggenheim FINNAIR IS JOINING forces with other major travel industry players to invest one million euros in a Guggenheim museum planned for Helsinki.

Along with Finnair, ferry companies Eckerö Line, Tallink Silja and Viking Line, and Taxi Helsinki are working together in support of the proposed art museum as an important tourism investment to draw

additional visitors to Helsinki.

According to a recent Taloustutkimus survey, the proposed Guggenheim could create more than 400 new tourism jobs and increase revenues in the travel and restaurant industries by tens of millions of euros.

TWEET OF THIS MONTH

Have you heard about #HelsinkiSecret? #Blogger, apply for residence! helsinkisecret.com #VisitHelsinki #Finland

guggenheimhki.fi/en

online in issuu.com

Finnair blog Find out why there’s two pilots in the cockpit

twitter.com/Finnair

78 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

blog.finnair.com/en

Read Blue Wings online at issuu.com

issuu.com/headofficefinland

New York If you want a once-in-alifetime marathon experience, head to New York. In addition to an amazing atmosphere, there are lots of bands, tons of runners, and even more people watching and cheering along the route. tcsnycmarathon.org

2

Helsinki One of the world’s most beautiful city marathons takes place in the Finnish capital. The route winds along the waterfront, circles the city centre, and offers participants the opportunity to experience Helsinki at its best in August. A delightful marathon! helsinkicitymarathon.fi

3

Frankfurt One of the world’s fastest routes, the Frankfurt Marathon is easy to sign up for as there are no applications for drawing or queues like in many other city marathons. This is a wonderful opportunity to run on a level route in October. frankfurt-marathon.com

MELISINE STUDIO NEW YORK

Finnair crew tips

FLY FINNAIR

Your complete guide to travelling with us

WELCOME ABOARD We want you to enjoy your flight. This guide contains all the information you need for stress-free travelling. We have even included tips for inflight wellbeing and entertainment.

So sit back, relax and enjoy your travel experience.

In this guide 80 81 82 83 84 85 88 92 94 98

TIPS FOR TAKEOFF INFLIGHT WELLBEING ENTERTAINMENT SHOPPING SUSTAINABILITY HELSINKI AIRPORT MAPS FLEET FREQUENT FLYERS FINLAND IN FIGURES MARCH 2016

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79

FLY FINNAIR TIPS FOR TAKEOFF

FINNAIR

TRAVEL TIPS

in a nutshell

SALLA METSO Service Agent and Trainer, Helsinki Ground Customer Service, began her career with Finnair in 1997.

Established in 1923, Finnair is one of the world’s oldest operating airlines.

“To make boarding even smoother, Finnair has started a new carry-on ­baggage process. Part of the allowed carry-on baggage is labelled both at check-in and at the departure gate. ­The yellow label is used as a guide for ­personal items (laptop bag, backpack) to be placed under the seat in front of you. Please check the carry-on ­allowance prior to your journey as all excess and oversized carry-on baggage will be removed to the cargo hold.

It’s always a good idea to pack only the most essential items in your carry-on bag.

Remember to take onboard valuable items such as personal medication, home and car keys, wallet and phone.

Have a smooth flight and happy landings!”

Finnair’s route network includes 17 destinations in Asia, 3 in North America and some 74 in Europe.

In 2015, Finnair carried 10.3 million passengers.

More than 1.6 million passengers fly between Asia and Helsinki each year.

SAFETY

IN YOUR POCKET THE FINNAIR MOBILE APP is ­available for iOS and Android devices. The app ­provides up-to-the-minute flight information and ­e-boarding pass storage.

Check-in on your mobile to avoid the queues, upgrade your travel class and view Finnair Plus point ­balances.

Simply log in with your Finnair Plus member ID. Go to finnair.com to learn more and see all the ­features.

80 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

SAFER JOURNEY SAFETY INFORMATION is presented by the cabin crew at the start of each flight. This information is also listed on the safety instruction card in your seat pocket.

Safety belts must remain fastened when the “Fasten safety belt” sign is on. For safety reasons we recommend keeping them fastened even when the sign has been switched off.

Handheld devices can be used throughout the flight (including takeoff and landing) in airplane-mode.

Laptops and larger devices must be stowed away during takeoff and landing, but can be used when the “Fasten safety belt” sign has been switched off.

FLY FINNAIR INFLIGHT WELLBEING

FOOD AND DRINK

EAT WELL

Business class passengers on ­ long-haul flights can enjoy a Signature menu prepared by chefs from top Finnish restaurants. The menus offer passengers a taste of Finland.

Foods to fuel on European flights FANCY A SNACK ONBOARD? Then take a look at the Sky Bistro menu card in your seat pocket. For a small fee, you can choose from a tasty ­selection of food and beverages. Try our new cucumber drink – it will keep you hydrated during the flight! Coffee, tea, water and Finnair’s ­signature blueberry juice are always served free of charge on all Finnair flights.

WELLBEING

MINDFULNESS

INFLIGHT EXERCISES

Sit back and relax

These moves keep you fit while flying. Hold each movement for a few seconds and repeat five times per side.

Mindfulness instructor Aleksi Litovaara's exercises will help you feel calm and rested during your flight.

1

BE AWARE: The basic idea of mindfulness is that you have arrived. The aircraft is already taking you where you need to be so just sit back and relax. Watch, listen and feel your present environment.

CIRCLES

LIFT

RAISE

LOWER

Lift one foot and draw circles with your toes.

Reverse direction.

Lift one knee up and then lower your foot back down to the floor.

Keep heels on the floor and lift your toes upwards, then release.

Keep toes on the floor and lift your heels upwards, then release.

2

TACKLE ANXIETY: If you experience nervousness or restlessness, try holding an object in your hand. It will help bring your attention to that simple physical sensation instead of getting caught up in your own thoughts.

3 SHRUG

NOD

ROTATE

TURN

Lift your shoulders up towards your ears and release.

Lower your chin slowly towards your chest and lift back up again.

Gently rotate your head from side to side. Keep your shoulders relaxed.

Slowly lower your left ear to your left shoulder and then back up again.

THINK POSITIVE: This is a good ­moment to choose nice words towards yourself and other passengers — if only in your mind. You can also ask yourself: what do I need right now? It may well be reading a book or getting some rest instead of working on your computer. aleksilitovaara.com

MARCH 2016

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FLY FINNAIR ENTERTAINMENT

BE ENTERTAINED AND CONNECTED

WHAT’S PLAYING

Finnair’s inflight experience has come a long way.

Experience the Nordic Sky entertainment system now on Finnair A350 XWB aircraft.

ON SCREEN

NORDIC SKY, ­the state-of-the-art inflight ­entertainment system available onboard Finnair A350 flights, offers ­passengers ­individual screens with ­audio and video on demand throughout the cabin.

In addition to entertainment, Nordic Sky ­offers a unique customer experience with its Wi-Fi portal. You can use the portal free of charge with your personal devices to access finnair.com and Finnair services such as destination information, customer care and tax-free pre-order shopping.

Speaking of shopping, Finnair and Helsinkibased clothing company Makia have teamed up to offer you the Makia Shop. You can now ­purchase Finnish design clothing for men and women during your flight via the Nordic Sky Wi-Fi portal.

Enjoy your flight!

Here’s how to get started: 1. Turn on your Wi-Fi enabled device in flight mode and ­enable Wi-Fi. 2. Join the Wi-Fi ­network “Nordic Sky”.

3. Open the browser of your choice.

4. Start exploring.

Want to know more about your destination?

Nordic Sky offers travel tips to make your landing even easier.

PICK OF THE MONTH Action

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises.

Only a ragtag group of heroes can stop the new threat.

82 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

Latest films and TV series

MOVIE THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 2.

Katniss, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow.

MOVIE THE BIG SHORT. Four outsiders in the world of high-finance decide to take on the banks for their lack of foresight and greed.

MOVIE ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP. Alvin and the others come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend... and dump them.

TV SERIES PROJECT GREENLIGHT. The series chronicles the search for a first-time director and ­explores the filmmaking process.

TV SERIES THE MYSTERIES OF...

A Jane Doe is found in Times Square with no memory and mysterious tattoos on her body.

RADIO A TASTE OF INDIA. Discover the sound of India this month.

PLUG IN!

Most Airbus A340 aircraft and all Airbus A330 aircraft are equipped with an electricity socket, which you will find under your seat. On the Airbus A350 aircraft, a USB port is located in the seatback monitor in Economy class and directly from the seat in ­Business class.

FLY FINNAIR INFLIGHT SHOPPING

RETAIL THERAPY IN THE CLOUDS Say goodbye to the winter blues. Here are our latest gift ideas that are sure to put a spring in your step. And remember — the Nordic Sky Wi-Fi portal onboard the A350 gives you direct access to pre-order shopping.

LAURENT-PERRIER, CHAMPAGNE BRUT, WHITE (TWIN PACK) 2 X.375L Available in pre-order shopping catalogue €43.00

PRE-ORDER before your next flight

FINNAIR

EXCLUSIVE

MADE IN FINLAND

Pre-Order

FAZER PURE DARK CHILI TINGLE 95 G Available in pre-order shopping catalogue €3.80

FINNAIR CARRIES a wide selection of cosmetics, fragrances, gift items, confectionary and jewellery, all of which can be ­purchased LIMITED CITY PRICE CITY PRICE CITY PRICE before your flight. On most Intercontinental flights and flights to and -60% -50% -40% STOCK from destinations outside the EU, wine and spirits are available for purchase. You also earn Finnair Plus points with every purchase.

FINNAIR

CRABTREE & EVELYN, WEST INDIAN LIME TRAVELLER MEN’S GIFT SET Available in pre-order shopping catalogue €22.50

BIOEFFECT, EGF SERUM 15 ML +5 ML Available in pre-order shopping catalogue €129.00

EXCLUSIVE

MADE IN FINLAND

Pre-Ord

MIGUEL TORRES, MAS LA PLANA .75 L Available in pre-order LIMITED CITY PRICE shopping catalogue -60% STOCK FINNAIR €41.90 EXCLUSIVE

CITY PRICE

LIMITED

CITY PRICE

STOCK

-50% MADE

PRE-ORDER

-60%

Ordering in advance is always a good idea.

You can save up to 60 per cent compared to city prices. There’s no minimum order and your ­purchase will be waiting at your seat on your next flight! www.finnairshop.com

MARCH 2016

-

IN FINLAND

for stress-free shopping

BOSS, THE SCENT EDT 50ML Available in pre-order shopping catalogue €54.00

CIT

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83

CIT

-

FLY FINNAIR SUSTAINABILITY

UNICEF/ISTOCK

BETTER PLANET A few examples of Finnair’s societal involvement in action:

THE UNITED NATIONS Global Compact is a ­corporate responsibility initiative aiming to make human rights, fair labour standards, ­environmental responsibility and anti-corruption core parts of the participating companies’ operations. Finnair has been a member since 2013.

The airline company has also signed the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles in 2011.

BOOKINGS FOR A BETTER WORLD A KEY element of Finnair’s corporate responsibility strategy is partnering with charitable organisations to promote health care, disaster aid, environmental protection and other initiatives worldwide. Finnair’s oldest partner is UNICEF; the collaboration dates back 20 years.

Since October 2014, Finnair travellers have been able to donate a sum of five, ten or 20 euros for UNICEF’s Schools for Asia initiative while booking flights. The project supports education in 11 Asian countries. The donation option, available through Finnair’s 37 websites worldwide, has been made possible by global travel

WORK WITH US

DO GOOD Finnair makes it even easier to donate to charity. Passengers can now make a donation to UNICEF Finland when they book their flights on the Finnair website. Donations are possible in sums of one, five or ten euros.

Finnair also collaborates with many other environmental and ­humanitarian organisations.

84 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

technology provider Amadeus. Contributions from travellers on Iberia, Norwegian and Finnair have raised one million euros to date.

“The best results for sustainable development can be achieved through cooperation between governments, businesses, associations and citizens to pursue shared goals,” says Kati Ihamäki, Finnair’s director of corporate sustainability. Last year Finnair also took part in a UNICEF-led pilot study assessing the impact of travel and tourism on children’s rights in Vietnam. clickforchange.com

­Members of Finnair’s frequent flyer programme can donate points to the following charities at pointshop.finnair.com: • The Finnish association for Nature Conservation • The Association of Friends of the University ­Children’s Hospitals • The Cancer Society of Finland • The Finnish Red Cross • UNICEF Finland • The Baltic Sea Action Group • Hope

FINNAIR has received 3 of 19 forthcoming Airbus A350 aircraft, which cut back on fuel consumption and emissions by 25 per cent.

FINNAIR is one of the first airlines in the world to receive an IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) certification; this environmental management system is designed to assess an airline’s environmental management.

THE AIRLINE supports the International Air ­Transport Association’s (IATA) goal of zero ­emissions trading scheme. Finnair is dedicated to reducing its carbon dioxide emission revenue as much as 20 per cent per tonne-kilometre from 2009 to 2017. Another ambitious goal is to reduce the total amount of de-icing fluids by 40 per cent from 2006 to 2016.

FINNAIR CONDUCTS an annual employee well-being survey, participates in campaigns promoting equal opportunities at the workplace and places a strong focus on occupational safety and continuous training.

IN 2015 FINNAIR joined the Climate Leadership Council, an initiative bringing together leading Finnish businesses to combat climate change and foster business eco-technologies. The airline is also included on the CDP’s (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) 2014 A List for its efforts to reduce emissions and slow climate change.

FLY FINNAIR HELSINKI AIRPORT

HAPPY LANDINGS Arriving and departing Helsinki Airport

PASSENGERS at Helsinki Airport can use the 30 automated border control gates. Fifteen of these are located in the departure hall. The Finnish Border Guard’s automated border control helps serve growing passenger volumes at Helsinki Airport.

EU, EEA, Japanese and Swiss nationals with biometric passports can take advantage of the automated border control gates.

Other foreign nationals, who are exempt from the visa ­requirement and hold a biometric passport, may also use the automated border control upon departure.

This service is available for ­Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New Zealand, South Korean and U.S. citizens. The automated border control is monitored by a border guard ensuring secure border crossings.

Please note that passengers travelling with an infant, baggage trolley or wheelchair must use the manual border control lane.

AUTOMATED BORDER CONTROL Place your passport with the info page face down on the reader. Please wait while your passport is being read for biographical and biometric data. When the scan is complete, the gate will open. ヘルシンキ・ヴァンター空港シェンゲンエリアで は、入出国審査の際に自動化ゲートをご利用頂けま す。対象となるのはICパスポートをお持ちのお客様 です。

대한민국 전자여권을 소지한 승객께서는 유럽에서 한국으로 입국 시, 헬싱키 공항에서 자동출국심사 서비스를 이용 하실 수 있습니다.

① パスポートの顔写真ページを読み取ります。該当 ページを読み取り機の上に置いて下さい。個人情報 と生体認証データを読み取ります。

우선, 전자여권의 사진 페이지를 인식장치에 올려주시기를 바랍니다. 이 과정에서 여권정보가 시스템에 자동 인식됩니다.

② ゲートが開いたら中に入り、右を向いて下さい。 パスポートの顔写真と照合します。バックパック・ 帽子・眼鏡などは外して下さい。足跡マークの上に 立って画面を正面からまっすぐに見て下さい。 ③ 二番目のゲートが開いたら、入国審査官のカウン ターにお進み下さい。パスポートを確認した後、入 国または出国スタンプを押印致します。シェンゲン エリア居住許可証をお持ちの方は、入国審査官にご 提示下さい。

finnair.com/jp

첫 번째 게이트가 열리면 안으로 들어가 오른쪽에 위치한 카메라로 안면인증을 거치게 됩니다. 이후 마지막 게이트에서 출입국관리 직원의 출국확인도장을 받으시면 됩니다. 보다 간편하고 빠른 본 자동시스템의 많은 이용 바랍니다. 대한민국 전자여권은?

2008년 8월 25일 이후 발급된 여권으로 표지 하단부에 전자칩과 안테나가 내장 되어 있는 여권입니다.

finnair.com/kr

Enter through the gate and turn right. Please remove your backpack if you’re wearing one and stand on the footprints on the floor. Remove your glasses and hat. Stand still and look directly at the screen keeping your face visible. The camera will compare your facial image with the biometric feature scanned from your passport. Wait until the second gate opens.

The border check for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals is completed when the gate opens. Other foreign nationals must move towards the border guard, who will check your entry stamp and mark your passport with an exit stamp.

MARCH 2016

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FLY FINNAIR HELSINKI AIRPORT

WELCOME TO HELSINKI AIRPORT HOW TO TRANSFER Check your gate and departure time on the airport monitors. All Finnair and Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra), formerly Flybe Finland, departures are located in the same terminal.

If you do not have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, please contact the transfer service desk.

Most passengers transferring from non-EU countries to EU countries must go through security and passport control. Please note that liquids are restricted in carry-on baggage.

If your baggage has not been checked through to your final destination, collect it from the baggage claim area and go to check-in and security control.

AUTOMATED BORDER CHECKS are available to passengers with biometric passports. The service is available for ­Australian, Canadian, EEA, EU, Japanese, ­New ­Zealand, South Korean, Swiss, and U.S. citizens. See more ­information on page 85.

34 35

SHOP

33

32

32a

31a-e 30

31x 31

Security control

SHOP

Border control

SHOP

LONG-HAUL AREA NON-SCHENGEN

Bo con

TRANSFER SERVICE 3

2ND FLOOR 36

FINNAIR LOUNGE FINNAIR PREMIUM LOUNGE 37

Border control

38

2ND FLOOR

37a-d

GROUND FLOOR

FINNAIR TRANSFER SERVICE desks in Helsinki Airport T2 ­terminal are ready to help you with any inquiries related to your connection flights.

TRANSFER SERVICE

BUS CONNECTION The Finnair City Bus to the Helsinki Railway Station leaves from Terminal 2 every 20 minutes, stopping also at Terminal 1.

Travel time is about 30 minutes.

Price: €6.30

CHECKING IN Checking in to your Finnair flight is easy. You can save time by checking in at a self-service stand at the airport, online 36 hours before departure or by text message.

TRAIN CONNECTION The Ring Rail Line connects Helsinki Airport to downtown Helsinki. There is direct access from the corridor between T1 and T2 terminals to the station by two lifts. Escalators will open during spring 2016.

FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS In case a flight is delayed or cancelled, Finnair will make every effort to keep you updated. Please make sure that you have provided Finnair with your email address and phone number.

86 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

SHOP

SERVICES AND FACILITIES SHOP SHOPPING Receive special offers for airport services when you show your Finnair Plus card. You will recognise our partners by the Finnair Plus symbol. Helsinki Airport features more than 30 shops and boutiques and various restaurants and cafés.

WIRELESS INTERNET is available free of charge. An eService Bar is located across from gate 21.

CHILDREN Children’s playrooms offer videos, microwave ovens and baby care facilities.

NON-SMOKING Smoking at Helsinki Airport is prohibited outside of designated smoking rooms.

SHOP

FLY FINNAIR HELSINKI AIRPORT WALKING TIME GATE 24–30: 7 MIN

T2 29

28

LOST AND FOUND Restaurant & Deli Fly Inn

27

26 SHOP

SCHENGEN AREA

SHOP

SHOP

GATE AREA

Security check

TRANSFER SERVICE 2 SHOP

23 SHOP

FINNAIR LOUNGE

Security

order ntrol

CHECK-IN 240–270

P

SHOP

SHOP

INQUIRIES Lentäjäntie 1 (next to T2, street level) Open Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 and Sat 09:00–15:00 Tel 0600 41006 (1,97€/min + local network charge)

24

25

FINNAIR check CHECK-IN/ SERVICE DESKS 201–232

22

GROCERY

21

3RD FLOOR

PHARMACY TOURIST INFO

SH

OP

20

1ST FLOOR

SHOP

19 18 17 16

TRANSFER SERVICE 1

15

CHECK-IN 101–114

GROUND FLOOR BAGGAGE STORAGE

13

LOUNGE ENJOY A UNIQUE NORDIC EXPERIENCE! The sauna facilities at Helsinki Airport are situated between gates 36 and 37. The unisex sauna fits up to four guests, and towels are ­mandatory.

Access to the Finnair lounges and connecting sauna is free to Business class customers and Finnair Plus Platinum, Gold, and Silver members, as well as to oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members travelling on a Finnair flight. Other ­guests can enter for a fee of ¤48 or by using Finnair Plus points.

You can book your sauna at the lounge reception.

T1

14

Security check

GATE AREA

2ND FLOOR

12

11

SHOP

1ST FLOOR MARCH 2016

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87

FLY FINNAIR FLIGHTS WITHIN EUROPE KARTAT Great Circle Estimated FROM HELSINKI AMSTERDAM ALANYA/GAZIPASA ARRECIFE ATHENS BARCELONA BERGEN BERLIN BIARRITZ BILLUND BRUSSELS BUDAPEST CATANIA CHANIA COPENHAGEN DALAMAN DUBLIN DUBROVNIK DÜSSELDORF EDINBURGH EILAT EKATERINBURG FRANKFURT FUERTEVENTURA FUNCHAL GDANSK GENEVA GOTHENBURG HAMBURG HERAKLION INNSBRUCK KAZAN KOS KRAKOW LAS PALMAS LISBON LJUBLJANA LONDON MADRID MALAGA MALTA MANCHESTER MILAN MINSK MOSCOW MUNICH MYTILENE NAPLES NICE OSLO PALMA DE MALLORCA PAPHOS PARIS PISA PRAGUE PREVEZA PULA RHODES RIGA

Distances km

Great Circle Estimated Distances Flight km Times

Flight Times

1525 02:35 2722 03:45 4518 05:55 2490 03:40 2632 03:55 1112 03:30 1123 02:00 2581 03:45 1060 01:50 1651 02:40 1481 02:20 2636 03:45 2756 03:50 895 01:40 2639 03:40 2030 03:10 2027 03:00 1512 02:25 1717 02:40 3457 04:45 2098 03:05 1543 02:35 4578 06:05 4310 05:45 768 02:00 1994 03:00 785 01:25 1172 02:00 2777 03:55 1701 02:35 1521 02:30 2620 03:45 1186 02:00 4700 06:10 3369 04:50 1713 02:40 1863 03:10 2950 04:25 3357 04:35 2822 04:15 1817 03:00 1953 03:05 740 01:25 876 01:40 1577 02:30 1471 03:35 2283 03:25 2202 03:25 766 01:30 2777 04:00 2898 04:00 1900 03:05 2093 03:20 1322 02:10 2397 03:25 1865 02:55 2668 03:45 382 00:55

RIMINI ROME SALZBURG SAMARA SANTORINI SKIATHOS SPLIT STOCKHOLM ST. PETERSBURG TALLINN TARTU TEL AVIV TENERIFE NORTE TENERIFE SUR VARNA VENICE VERONA VIENNA VILNIUS VISBY WARSAW ZAKYNTHOS ZÜRICH

1993 03:00 2235 03:25 1592 02:30 1698 02:35 2660 03:40 2353 03:30 1956 02:55 400 01:00 301 01:00 101 00:30 245 00:50 3230 04:25 4691 06:10 4745 06:10 1911 02:55 1847 02:55 1903 02:55 1462 02:30 633 01:15 481 01:25 940 01:40 2526 03:55 1781 02:45

SCHEDULED DESTINATIONS LEISURE DESTINATIONS PARTNER-OPERATED CODE-SHARE OR MARKETING DESTINATIONS SEASONAL ROUTE EW SCHEDULED N SEASONAL ROUTE NEW SCHEDULED DESTINATION IN 2015 AND 2016

Atl Oc antic ean

TÄHÄN KARTTA

8 WINGS 2014 88BLUE BLUE WINGSDECEMBER MARCH 2016

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS New

FROM HELSINKI IVALO JOENSUU JYVÄSKYLÄ KAJAANI MARIEHAMN KEMI/TORNIO KITTILÄ KOKKOLA/PIETARSAARI KUOPIO KUUSAMO OULU ROVANIEMI TAMPERE TURKU VAASA

quay

931 01:35 360 01:00 235 00:50 464 01:20 282 00:55 609 01:35 823 01:25 391 01:10 335 01:00 667 01:15 514 01:05 697 01:20 143 00:35 150 00:35 348 00:55

Bay of B isca ya

Arct ic

Ocea n

FLY FINNAIR IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Nor weg ian S ea

Nort

h Sea

on

on-D

tov-

Ros

Heraklion

Medit erranea n Sea DECEMBER 2014BLUE BLUE WINGS89 8 MARCH 2016 WINGS

rctic

Arctic Ocean

FLY FINNAIR FLIGHTS INTERCONTINENTAL Circle Estimated KARTAT Great Distances Flight FROM HELSINKI

km

Times

BANGKOK 7912 09:45 BEIJING 6325 07:55 CHICAGO 7139 09:15 CHONGQING 6736 08:40 DELHI 5229 06:50 DUBAI 4537 05:55 FUKUOKA 8060 09:30 GOA via Dubai 6739 10:15 GUANGZHOU 7693 09:30 HAVANNA 8718 12:05 HÔ CHI MINH CITY (Saigon) 8510 10:50 HONG KONG 7821 09:35 KRABI 8350 10:20 MIAMI 8342 11:10 NAGOYA 7780 09:40 NEW YORK 6626 08:45 OSAKA 7751 09:30 PHUKET 8312 10:05

PUERTO PLATA 8417 11:15 SEOUL 7050 08:40 SHANGHAI 7410 09:05 SINGAPORE 9272 11:30 SVALBARD 2015 03:10 TOKYO 7849 09:45 XIAN 6421 07:50

Atlantic Ocean

Havanna

FINNAIR PLUS members earn Plus points from travelling on any ­scheduled flight with a oneworld airline.

The oneworld alliance flies to more than 1,000 destinations.

Pacific Ocean

Ocea n Atlantic Ocean

8 BLUE WINGS DECEMBER 2014

Arctic Ocean

FLY FINNAIR IMPORTANT INFORMATION

an

Agadir

Taiwan

Pacific Ocean

Indian Ocean

n

DECEMBER 2014 BLUE WINGS 8

FLY FINNAIR FLEET

AIRBUS A350-900 (NEW IN 2015) Number 3+ 16 on order Seating capacity 297 Length 66.8 m Wingspan 64.75 m Cruising speed 903 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 13,000 m AIRBUS A340-300 Number 5 Seating capacity 266/263/257 Length 63.6 m Wingspan 60.3 m Cruising speed 870 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 12,500 m AIRBUS A330-300 Number 8 Seating capacity 289/263 Length 63.6 m Wingspan 60.3 m Cruising speed 870 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 12,600 m AIRBUS A321 (ER) Number 11 Seating capacity 136–209 Length 44.5 m Wingspan 34.1 m Cruising speed 840 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 11,900 m AIRBUS A320 Number 10 Seating capacity 110–165 Length 37.6 m Wingspan 34.1 m Cruising speed 840 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 11,900 m AIRBUS A319 Number 9 Seating capacity 105–138 Length 33.8 m Wingspan 34.1 m Cruising speed 840 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 11,900 m EMBRAER 190/170 Operated by Norra Number 12/2 Seating capacity 100/76 Length 36.2/29.9 m Wingspan 28.7/26 m Cruising speed 850 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 12,300 m

92 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

FLY FINNAIR FLEET A350

IT’S HERE! AIRBUS A350 XWB – A NEW SENSE OF FLYING The most significant way to reduce your carbon footprint from flying is to fly with modern aircraft.

UP TO FOLLOW THE STORY

reduction in:

CO2 emissions

Fuel burn

FEEL THE

XTRA SPACE 5.61 METRES WIDE CABIN

FUN FACT The overall wing area of the A350 XWB covers more than two tennis courts. That’s 443 square metres or 4,768 square feet!

Share your A350 experience: I IMMEDIATELY recognised the A350 by its moustacheshaped cockpit window and curved wingtips. Although I see the aircraft every day at Helsinki Airport (where I work), it was a treat to finally fly in it on the way back from a golf holiday in Thailand. What I enjoyed most is the modern interior and the spacious, comfortable seats. The cabin is designed with Nordic style and ­details are kept to a minimum. I loved the experience! Can’t wait to fly in it again.

Marjo Rantasola, golf enthusiast

▶a350.finnair.com ▶on Twitter #A350Finnair ▶on Instagram @feelfinnair

FINNAIR’S ECO-SMART Airbus A350 XWB aircraft take over Asia this winter. Book your flights and enjoy the next generation of travel!

SEE THE SCHEDULE a350.finnair.com

To share your Finnair A350 experience email: shelly.nyqvist@sanoma.com

MARCH 2016

BLUE WINGS

93

FLY FINNAIR FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAMME

JOIN NOW Big benefits for ­frequent flyers

FINNAIR PLUS PROGRAMME allows you to earn points when travelling with Finnair or a ­oneworld airline and from ­services provided by many Finnair Plus partners.

As a Finnair Plus member you can also benefit from many valuable offers and benefits including: · A head start on special flight sales · Exclusive members prices on offers · Earn and use points on Finnair, oneworld and partner airline flights · Earn and use points on numerous worldwide partner services EARN POINTS when flying ­Finnair scheduled and leisure flights. Points can also be earned on oneworld scheduled flights.

As a member you also receive points when purchasing products and services from any one of our Finnair Plus partners.

USE POINTS to purchase Finnair award flights, pay for ­additional baggage and upgrade your ­Finnair flight from Economy to Business Class. You can also use your points for oneworld flights.

Points are valid currency in the Finnair PlusShop online and you can use them to pay for services and products from Finnair Plus partners.

Read more about our partners on page 96.

94 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

DID YOU KNOW? JOIN FOR FREE by filling in the Finnair Plus form attached to this magazine or online at finnair.com/plus

MORE BENEFITS New ways for Finnair Plus members to put points to good use!

As a Finnair Plus member you can now use your Finnair Plus award points for additional Finnair services such as seat selection, meals, and extra baggage payments online.

The number of points you pay depends on your flight and the chosen service. You can pay for additional services at the time you book your reservation, or later through the ­Manage Booking tab. finnair.com/plus

FLY FINNAIR FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAMME

KIDS

FINNAIR PLUS MEMBERSHIP

These are some of the benefits you receive as a member. For more information go to finnair.com/plus.

FINNAIR PLUS TIER BENEFITS

BASIC Up to 40,000 tier points

SILVER 40,000 – 90,000 tier points or 24 scheduled flights

GOLD 90,000 – 150,000 tier points or 54 scheduled flights

PLATINUM 150,000 tier points or 92 scheduled flights

• F lights awards •A dditional baggage charges with points*

• One extra piece of baggage free of charge*

• Special baggage free of charge *

• Special baggage free of charge*

• F innair lounge access*

•W aiting list priority based on tier

•P riority Lane*

•P artner service purchases with points

• 1 0% discount on ­normally priced tax-free purchases outside of the EU*

• T ravel class upgrades* • Finnair and oneworld Business Class and Frequent Flyer lounge access + 1 guest

• T ravel class upgrades* •D iscounted travel upgrades for family members*

• 1 0% points bonus*

•P riority Lane* • 1 5% points bonus* • 1 0% discount on normally priced tax-free purchases outside of the EU*

• Finnair and oneworld Business and First Class and Frequent Flyer lounge access + 1 guest •N o expiration on award points during tracking period • 1 0% discount on normally priced taxfree purchases outside of the EU*

* Finnair flights (AY operated and AY marketed)

Finnair Plus oneworld Basic --Silver Ruby Gold Sapphire Platinum Emerald

Kids get points, too!

Children aged 2–17 can join the Finnair Plus Junior programme.

The points earned can be spent on flight awards and exciting product prizes.

•P riority Lane*

• 2 5% points bonus*

EQUIVALENT ONEWORLD TIERS

JUNIOR

Combine your Finnair Plus membership card with a credit card and you can earn Finnair Plus points on all your purchases. Read more: finnair.com/plus

DID YOU KNOW? MISSING POINTS from your flights? If you have taken Finnair or oneworld partners flights without showing your Finnair Plus membership number, it’s possible to earn points for those flights by registering them to your account retroactively as long as you do so between two weeks and six months of your date of travel. Keep in mind you will only receive points if you were a Finnair Plus member at the time of your travel. To claim your points log into your Finnair Plus account. finnair.com/plus

MARCH 2016

BLUE WINGS

95

FLY FINNAIR PARTNER BENEFITS THIS MONTH

MORE THAN 200 PARTNERS For your benefit

Not yet a member?

Find out how to join on the previous page.

DOUBLE YOUR POINTS! NOW’S A GREAT TIME TO SWAP YOUR FINNAIR PLUS CARD FOR A MORE ­REWARDING ONE. With the Finnair Plus Diners Club* credit card you earn at least two Finnair Plus award points for every euro you spend on purchases. ­Apply for the card between March 1 —April 29 and as a bonus we’ll double the award points you’ve earned by 28.6.2016 for using your Finnair Plus Diners Club credit card.

Find out more and apply now finnair.fi/plus * Finnair Plus Diners Club credit card is available for Finnair Plus members in Finland

25% DISCOUNT ON A HOTEL STAY THIS SPRING FOR THE BEST room rate, book through S­ candic’s website and save up to 25 per cent. You can choose from 230 Scandic hotels in seven countries. The offer is valid until May 31 for any night and includes a hearty buffet breakfast to start off your day.

As a Finnair Plus member, you earn 500 points per night during your stay!

Find out more scandichotels.fi

96 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

As a member of our Frequent Flyer ­programme you can earn and use points when purchasing ­services and products from our world-class partners around the globe. · Airlines · Travel · Credit card · Insurance · Restaurants · Shopping · Wellness · Golf · Entertainment · Charity · Leisure time For complete listings and more information: finnair.com/ pluspartners

FLY FINNAIR PLUSSHOP OFFERS THIS MONTH

SHOP ONLINE wherever you are!

The Finnair PlusShop stocks a wide selection of brand products, including Finnish design items, and delivers around the world. To order, simply login using your frequent flyer number, place your order and pay with Finnair Plus points, money, or a combination of both. Shop for the always affordable 1,000 Point Special Offers and your Plus points can be worth hundreds of euros! As a Finnair Plus member, you can choose a new offer every time you have 1,000 Plus points.

MARJA KURKI REVERSIBLE WOOL PONCHO Various colour options, €159 Member offer €115+ 1,000p

All this and more from:

finnairplusshop.com

DBRAMANTE1928 KASTRUP WEEKENDER BAG Genuine leather, three colour options, €219 Member offer €175 + 1,000p

MARIMEKKO PAPAJO SCARF & RIMMI ISO PAPAJO BAG €138.50 Member offer €99 + 1,000p

HAGLÖFS ESSENS II DOWN JACKET FOR MEN & WOMEN €269 Member offer €159 + 1,000p

ARTEK CHAIR 66 Two colour options, €330 Member offer €245 + 1,000p

HUAWEI WATCH, STAINLESS STEEL, LINK BRACELET €499 Member offer €429 + 1,000p

MARCH 2016

BLUE WINGS

97

FINLAND IN FIGURES

DID YOU KNOW? Government: Finland became a full member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) thirty years ago in 1986.

FINLAND

ECONOMIC STRUCTURE

IN FIGURES

Employed persons by industry, 3rd quarter 2015 (per cent of total)

AREA • 390,920 sq. kil­o­me­tres, of ­which 9% is fresh water; land area is 303, 909 ­sq. kil­o­me­tres. There are 188,000 lakes. 6% of the ­land is ­under cul­ti­va­tion. Fo­rests (main­ly ­pine and ­spruce) cov­er 68% of the country.

GOVERNMENT • Sove­reign par­lia­men­tary re­pub­lic ­since 1917.

• The pres­i­dent is elect­ed eve­r y six years. The current president of Finland, Sauli Niinistö took office in March 2012. The 200 mem­bers of Par­lia­ment are elect­ed for fouryear terms.

• Finland has been a member of the European Union since January 1995.

ECONOMY • GDP 2014: 205 billion euros, the annual change in volume -0.4% nnual inflation rate as of •A October 2015: -0.3% • Currency: Euro

Construction and energy 8%

Miscellaneous services

14%

34%

Manufacturing

14% 4% Agriculture

10%

15%

Financial and business servces

Trade and hotel

Transport and communications

Gross domestic product per capita 2014* (EUR)

47%

Other manufactured goods

23%

Forest products

15%

Food prod. and textiles

15%

Nominal

Adjusted for Purchasing Power Standard

73.500 46.200 44.400 37.600 35.400 34.900 32.200 27.400

49.000 34.300 34.100 30.200 34.000 30.000 29.400 27.400

Foreign trade 2014 exports by products by activity: 55.829 MEUR (per cent of total) Chemical industry products

23%

Forest industry products

20%

Other industries

18%

Metals and metal products

14%

Machinery and equipment

13%

Electronics

12%

*preliminary

MONTHLY TEMPERATURES IN HELSINKI 2014

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Mean˚C -5.9 0.2 2.1 5.9 10.6 13.5 20.1 17.9 13.0 6.7 3.2 0.1 Max˚C 5.6 4.7 10.9 19.9 26.3 24.4 29.6 28.4 20.3 14.7 10.3 5.5 Min˚C -18.2 -7.6 -8.3 -4.5 -1.2 3.5 11.1 9.6 0.4 -3.8 -2.4 -15.7

More information: finland.fi, goodnewsfromfinland.com, findicator.fi

98 BLUE WINGS MARCH 2016

Metal and engineering products

EXPORTS BY PRODUCTS

GDP

Norway Denmark Sweden Finland Germany UK France EU27

Manufacturing

Source: Statistics Finland

POPULATION • 5.5 mil­lion • Life ex­pec­tan­c y: men 78.2 and women 83.9 years • Av­er­age house­hold ­size: 2.1 persons • L anguages: 89% ­speak Finn­ish; 5.3% Swedish; 1.3% Russian • Religion: 74% Lu­ther­an; 1% Orthodox; 24% census register or unknown • 81% of the pop­u­la­tion aged 25 to 64 ­have com­plet­ed upper secondary or tertiary ed­u­ca­tion and 37% ­have uni­ver­sity or other tertiary qualifications.

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