Occupy Wall Street 15th October

I arrived to New York city on friday night just before the massive riots. So I woke up early, took a subway to downtown and joined thousands of protesters. We walked through the whole Manhattan, what a perfect way for a sightseing for a first time visitor ;)

Even that the protest was very calm there was hundreds of police officers, horses, cars and even FBI.. And when te night fell and we reached the Times Square they took action and pressed people tight so that there was a sudden panic among protesters. I was a little bit too close and almost got stuck but eventually found my way out.. Hectic!

I truly believe this cause. I believe that people got really too greedy. Not only investment banks but all of us. We all forgot that money doesn't bring us happines and that we don't really need that much. We forgot that we should keep our trust in God, not in money. So this is the consequense, money failed us. And those who created this massive depression got away and we are left to pay the bills. And this is wrong. In US there are hundreds of thousands of people without home, they have lost everything. And that is the limit.. everyone should have the right to a home to live in and food to eat.

Check the action page, these protests are spreading all over the world :)

www.occupywallst.org

South Africa

Only 8 hours flight from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg. But what a different world!

We spent 2 days there so I managed to visit a Lion Park which is a big nature park with wild and captured animals. We were sitting inside the car while driver told us about these amazing african animals.

One of my life's most memorable moments were when we entered a small cage where they had lion cabs. Those "puppies" were not that small, maybe a mid size dog but still babies.. just sleeping and playing. And they gave us 5 minutes and I was able to pet them! What an amazing feeling, incredible! And I started to miss my baby dog again..

City of Johannesburg is not too big, the center is all about business/money and you can't miss all those expensive german sport cars. But outside the city is a different world, slums where people don't really have a proper houses. So no wonder all the rich people have secured their property with huge fences, dogs and guards with guns.

We flew a turnaround to Capetown airport where we did some shopping.. I found so beautiful african handicrafts, something for my future home. Next time I will fly to Capetown for a holiday, I have to see the table mountains, sea, penguins and wine area.
And on April 2012 my company will open a route to Nairobi Kenia where I will definitely go to a real safari! That usually is extremely expensive at least from Europe, so now that I have a possibility to do it I can't miss it! So looking forward to that :)

I have to mention about local prople that I met, people are very relaxed, smiling and friendly. Somehow I felt the atmosphere is like in Australia or Ireland, people don't stress too much but enjoy their life and other people. I really love that, I wish my home country could be more like that.

My next destination is Germany and after that my leave when I will be going to New York city!! My first destination will be the Apple Store in 5th Avenue ;)

www.apple.com

By the way, that food in the picture is NILE CROCODILE! It tasted like a fish, only a bit harder to chew :)

My favourite place in Abu Dhabi <3

After spending over a week on a sick leave because of this damn flue, I decided to spend a day outside in a sunshine. Before it has just been too hot so it has been impossible to enjoy at the beach. But now the weather is getting so much better :)

There is a huge white sandy beach just in the city center called "Corniche beach". I think it's artificial like everything else over here but it doesn't matter! The sand is pure white colour, whiter than in Thailand.. and the water is sooo clear, turquoise and warm. You can just stay there for hours and people do..

So i went there today after seing my doctor who told me I have to rest few more days. But spending over a week inside I had to get out! And it was the best idea I had for a while! For now I know what is ultimatelly the best thing about the city and why it's a priviledge for a finnish girl to be able to live here :) The beach is amazing, the sea is amazing!! It is so beautiful, so peaceful, you only hear the waves hitting the shore and the sand is full of beautiful seashells..

I decided that every time that I'm off and in the city I will come to the beach, to relax, to have some sun and to swim in the ocean. Because most of the people are paying thousands of euros to be able to enjoy a weather like this for few weeks a year. And I have got the priviledge to be able to enjoy it every single day of the year! I truly appreciate it and I'm very grateful to be able to experience this in my life :)

Paris

Last time I visited Paris was years ago during the Paris Fashion Week. City hasn't changed that much, it's still beautiful, expensive and rude. Locals don't really know how to or don't want to speak any english so for turists it's not very easy always to ask for help or even do shopping.

I had time to go to the city and because it was a beautiful warm day I walked in the streets and parks and took pictures.

I also had some bad luck with my iPhone, I dropped it to the basement and the whole glas got broken. So I have to find out if they can fix it here in Abu Dhabi or do I need to buy a new one. Timing couldn't be any worse though because I'm going on my leave to New York next month and for that I'm trying to save as much as possible. So to have to buy a new phone is cutting my shopping budget ;)

Next destination Dublin, I think it's going to rain over there so let's see if there's anything to do for a layover. But the city is beautiful and so green, reminds me a bit of Finland <3 I miss home right now :)

Hot day well spent in Dubai

Beautiful Burj al Arab, the 7 star hotel standing on it's own small island. I however spent the day next to that luxury location in an amazing & fun waterpark cooling down.

Our group were almost the only female guests they had, apparently locals don't allow women to enter that place even when they wears "swimwear" that covers everything from head to toe. So the ladies have their private fun time every thursday night when guys are not allowed to enter. Boring! ;)

Face of a misery @ Bangladesh

Dhaka | Bangladesh

I just returned from Bangladesh and even I have been in many poor countries this was the ultimate experience.
In the capital Dhaka there are about 15 million people and I would imagine propably all of them arw living in slums or at the streets..

I have never seen so many beggars, families living under the rainy sky with the only shelter by the plastic "tents". People don't have pure water, food, shoes on their feet, no education, no future... It is a sad place to live in.

To all of us living in the rich part of the world I highly recommend a visit to these slumms. It gives your life a completely new propotions and maybe a grateful attitude for all that we have.

Dublin | Ireland

Temple Road | Dublin, Ireland

UGG store | Sydney

Chinese garden in Sydney

Sydney Australia | 16.08.2011

GeoTagged, [S33.86255, W151.20910]

I love this city! Beautiful, green, tropical, clean, western, cool, metropolitan feeling, artistic...

It's a city where I could easily move to. The nature and weather is perfect, almost tropical and yet it's close to european culture and way of life. I love the architecture, high skyscrapers and old buildings side by side.

Just amazing!

Local pub near Heathrow | London 06.08.2011

Southbank festival 05.08.2011

London traffic

Wimbledon 05.08.2011

Wimbledon | London 05.08.2011

Shakespeare's Globe | London 05.08.2011

GeoTagged, [N24.46329, W54.37617]

Local food market in Colombo

Colombo, Sri Lanka | 1.8.2011

Capital of Sri Lanka, big noizy city but sooo friendly and safe! I fell in love with the country. But it needs at least few days to go to the countryside and visit those amazing tea plantations, eco friendly hotels and beautiful sandy beaches.

Country is beautiful like Thailand but there are less turists, you have more space for yourself :)