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Insider story of Helsinki

helsinki-recommendFashion designer Annika Rantala lives in Finland’s capital, where she retails her own clothing line in Helsinki’s emerging design district. Here’re some of her recommendations:

  • Favorites spot: Suomenlinna is a historic naval fortress, reachable by ferry. It’s a beautiful place to spend a sunny summer day with a picnic.
  • Hidden treasure: A Finnish sauna is a must, and the Kotiharju Sauna is the only remaining publick wood-burning one in the city.
  • Best meal: Restaurant Tori in the trendy heart of the city, Punavuori. With a living room atmosphere, it’s popular with art and media people who dine off its extensive menu which includes excellent Finnish home cooking and all-day breakfast. Decent prices, too.
  • Best music: Erottaja Bar is my favorite bar to hang out with my friends. It is small, cool and cozy, DJx play mostly electro music and it is packed on weekends. There is no dance floor, but I hear that people dance on the tables when the nights get crazy.
  • Solo spot: Esplanade Park is in the middle of Helsinki, with hundreds of people walking through each day, yet you can sit on a bench with an ice cream and enjoy the crowd or read a book.
  • Shopping: Helsinki Design District is ideal for the best Finnish design products - found in design and antique shops, fashion stores, museums, art galleries, restaurants and showrooms.
  • Market: The Market Square is Helsinki’s most famous market, loved for its traditional food, produce, handicrafts and souvenirs. Its heated café tent is where you can sip steaming hot coffee even on the coldest of winter days. In summer, the flea market at Hietalahti market place is a must for great finds and good bargains.
  • Quiet place: The park around Toolo Bay, with its winter gardens and historic wooden villas. Stop for coffee at Blue Villa; its opening is a sure sign that spring has arrived.

As told to Andrew bender of SilverKris Magazine


How to Pack Right, Travel light

travel-light“He who would travel happily must travel right”, that’s what famous people like Antoine de Saint-Exupere (a French writer and also an aviator) said. Like always, it’s much easier to say than do. It’s tempting for us to stuff all manner of things into you luggage with simple reason: ‘just in case’. But you may ask any seasoned flyer and he or she will tell you that trying to bring all those ‘just in case’ things will only results in sore arms and shoulders. So, what does one need to carry in one’s hand luggage?

Below are some of our recommendations:

  • Wallet and passport
  • A c omfy change of clothes, especially for overnight flights
  • Basic toiletries
  • A book, a magazine and or an iPod for simple entertainment
  • Essential medications
  • A sweater or shawl

A common rule for carry-on bag is that the size not exceeds 115cm with 7kg max weight. Those who has need to get some works done, a laptop might be carried separately. So are some stuff like walking sticks, handbags, overcoats, baby stroller and baby-carrying basket.

Well, happy packing!


Chiangmai viewIf you open Thailand Travel Guide, you’ll find that in northwestern part of Thailand lies the old city of Chiang Mai which bounded by partial walls and moats. The recommended time to visit this lovely place is between October and April, as daily rain often washout the area in the other months.

Some great sights and places to go in Chiang Mai are Anusawari Sam Kasat (Bronze Sculpture), night safari, night bazaar (market), Tribal Museum, Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre, Th Phra Pokklao, etc. Chiang Mai’s temples (over 300) would probably exhaust you with its own charmed aura. Some people enjoy to spend sometimes in the city garden below a palm tree, either for a simple relaxation or to practice your Buddhist calm.

Bicycle is the most common vehicle to get around the city area. You’ll find this type of vehicle very cheap to hire, environmental friendly, and will give you chance for a workout. Saamláw (three-wheeled pedicabs), hordes of sawngthaew, túk-túk (three-wheeled motorised taxis) are another cheap alternatives for going around.

Never worries about accommodation in Chiangmai , as about 300 hotels and guesthouses are ready to serve and give its best staying experience for you. Homes that already converted into a simple guesthouse offer you great atmospheres which give you the unique Chiang Mai stay and living experiences.

Everybody who went to Chiang Mai would be agree that its one of the best place to find best restaurant in Thailand outside of Bangkok. Anusan Night Market for example, provides the best seafood and authentic Thai food. Most of them provide menu in English version.

As any other places in Thailand, bars, pubs, live music, cinemas, discos, and cultural show are common options to spend your night time and get entertained in Chiang Mai. It really depend on the venue that you’re choosing, the crowded can vary from locals, expats and backpackers.

Do not believe what I’m saying; prove it yourself by visiting Chiang Mai yourself :)


More Stylish with Elegance Eyeglasses

Nowadays eyeglasses not only used for reading tools, but eyeglasses also used as the accessories for stylish people, choosing the fit eyeglasses can make your appearance more elegance, that’s why many celebrities or performer using eyeglasses for their accessories. And now there are so many stylish eyeglasses from many manufacturers like Hugo Boss, Dior, Carerra, Gucci etc.If you want high end eyeglasses you can try to shop at EyeGlassesContacts.com,
They provide so many eyeglasses from many distinguished brand name, just say it, from La Strada, Valentino, Giorgio Armani etc. When I look at this site on the right sidebar you can see the there are so many eyeglasses brand name manufacturers, its so complete almost all eyeglasses provider and kind available at this website, and at the right down side menu you can see many articles about eyeglasses like cheap eyeglasses, designer sunglasses, discount eyeglasses, Kate spade eyeglasses, baby phat sunglasses, nine west sun glasses etc.

When I click on the “customer care” link from the down right menu you will see there are so many customer care link categories like order change link if you want to make change from your order, shipping options, product warranty, order cancellation etc, this customer care link shows that they are very concern on customer care to give the best services.

Read the rest of this entry »


Car travel preparationBreakdown could happened anytime and ruin your lovely summer plan. These tips might prevent your car from the unexpected breakdown:

1. Emergency Kit - Never forgot to bring some basic items in case of any emergency situations. Basic tools, windshield washer fluid, gloves, jumper cables, flash light, first aid, and a gallon of gas are some items that you might want to consider as your emergency kit. If you’re using car rental , ask whether they able to provide some of these emergency stuff.

2. Cooling system - check your coolant (remember to do this only when the engine is cold) and make sure that the radiator fins is not clogged by debris or dirt. Also keep an eye on the oil and fluids level for brakes, power steering and transmission.

3. Tires - Check the recommended pressure rating for your car in the owner’s manual and make sure the actual tire’s pressure are within this recommended range. Tire pressure that outside the recommended rate could easily blow out by overheating. Ask the vendor to check this for you if you use service from a car rental.

4. Temperature Gauge - Always keep an eye on the temperature level of your temperature gauge, when the indicator shows red zone immediately stop your car in a safe area. Do not open the radiator’s cap while the engine is hot. Overheated can caused a serious damage on your car.

5. Synthetic oil - gives you extra protection on high temperature for your engine

6. Lights - Always check your headlight’s low / high beam, turn right-left signal, brake lights, side marker lights and also emergency flashers.

7. Windshield wipers - wiper’s blade made of rubber which gets susceptible by summer heat. Investing a new (if necessary) set would always make sure your windshield wipers in a prime condition.

These tips might useful whether you use your own car or even use a car rental service. Have a great summer vacation.


CarHire vacationMany people having their dream travel around Europe by using rail transportation. But have you ever considering of driving your own car around Europe, where you can drive where ever you want and whenever you like?

Train prices are always goes up every year and car hire is a good option for every traveler in Europe, especially when you got limited budget. Below are few tips when you try to find car for hire to enjoy your vacation:

  1. Surf the Web. Internet is like a giant shopping catalogue where you can find and compare car hires on different rates, companies, car types, pick locations, schedule, etc. Many car hire companies also provide discount to anybody who rent through internet. The best thing is that You can get the information 24 hours a day, 365 days. It’s also regardless you want to find car hire Spain, England, Denmark or where ever you want.
  2. Travel on weekend. Most of car hire companies would provide cheaper rates at weekend (although this is not always the case).
    Hire weekly. It is most likely that all car hire companies would give you better rate if you hire weekly, rather than daily. One of the car hire france companies even gives 30% discount if you rent for the whole week, so it will be a pocket saver.
  3. Take look insurance carefully. (CDW) Collision Damage Waiver and (LDW) Loss Damage Waiver are common type of car hire insurance that offered to you when rent car. Both are good coverage for you, but not if they duplicate with your own existing insurance policy. Some Credit Card provider even also offer this coverage if you paid using their CC. Double check with your credit card provide before proceed with the Car’s insurance.
  4. Avoid airport pickups. Due to its additional fee and taxes, most of airport car hire / rental are 11.5 percent more expensive than at nearby neighborhood.
  5. Be Careful on bigger vehicle upgrade. Some car hire companies will give you free upgrade into bigger vehicle, which sounds like a good deal. But remember that bigger vehicle consumes more gas. So this ‘free upgrade’ is not really free, as you must pay for the extra gas. But this feature can be really a good deal, especially when you do need extra spaces on your car, to more enjoy your vacation.

By following those tips, I hope that you can more enjoying your vacation through Europe.


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