Monday 17 November 2008

Levi, Finland

Levi ski trip 21/1/07 to 28/1/07. This was one year project. I was invited to joint a ski trip holiday on feb 2006 by my supervisor at work and we have 11 months to raised money toward this trip. Levi is near Lapland, father christmas home for your information. We flew from London Gatwick airport and arrived at Katila after 3 hours flight. Before landing the captain announced that the temp outside was -34c.

First night, before dinner we were asked to go to ski shop to get our ski lift pass, hire and fitting our ski boots and ski. Ski boot is the worst ever boot that I wear. Its was hard and you'll have poblem with latch (lucky I have husband who can do it for me) if you are first time skier (actually this was not my first time I did learned to ski in New Zealand 20 years ago) not to forget walking in it.


This photo taken outside the lodge, The snow was very thick you can lay on it and make an angel.Our accomandation was big and cosy no problem for 24 of us. There was also sauna to use. Breakfast and dinner were provided but not lunch. For 7 days my husband and I became vegaterian while the rest of them enjoying their meat, by fifth day we are craving for meat but we can't as there don't cater halal meat.


Look, how beautiful our lodge, from outside it doesn't seem big but inside there were 3 level. The top level 6 bedrooms plus 2 bathroom, middle - 4 bedrooms with ensuit, kitchen and lounge and bottom level - 2 bedrooms, laundry, sauna and small sitting area and plenty of place to move around and socialising.







In November 06, I had accident at work, I injured my left knee therefore I missed lot of my ski lessons, to fill time while my husband had his lesson, I decided to use slider, the fun of free fall made me miss my childhood, the only downturn was you have to climb back the slope for your next turn. Morning and noon the slope were busy with lot of people skiing and snow boarding. By 3 pm the sun already set therefore less people, as few of our friend want to use this time to brush up their skill, we decided to tag along, I managed to come down the slope without falling, always remember to bend you knee while skiing


There were spa, gym and swimming pool at nearby hotel. 3 euro perhour to use the indoor heated pool and jaccuzi. If I not skiing, I will be in pool swimming.


On wednesday, we were informed the day will be a bit warmer, we looked forward to do our walk around town, as you can see it was warm -19c compare to -28c day before. The view around was superb, trees and houses were white with snow. The snow was so thick and it reach your knee, you can't use your everyday shoes to walk or else you end up on you back because the road/track was slippery. We were told to bring walking shoes which is snow friendly.


One of activity that everybody want to do was night motorski ride through frozen lake and stop over for hot drink and return back journey in pitch black. We need to dress warmly, on top of our ski suit we were supply with overall to proctect us against the cool. You can see me dressup in gear. My husband supposed to ride and me as pillion but unfortunatly while cleaning his glasses, he broke the middle steel holding the glasses and it can't be fix by tape. Lucky Nigel and John willing swap place, they become the main rider and we become the pillion. We ride in pitch black, the guide were the motorski light in front of us, the wind were freezing cold and you kept bum up and down as the road/track were not level. It was great experience and I not going to repeat it again.

Next day we went to Katila ( 1 hour journey by taxi from Levi)- where you can find big shop and airport. The reason were we have to get the glasses fixed or else my husband can't see or do anything. We need it urgently because the next day we going to Ice Hotel, Sweden. We have to wait 2 hour for the glasses to be put in new frame, lucky there were an optician shop in Katila. While waiting we go around the town and I become my husband eyes.


To fill up the evening, we played cluedo. Somebody being murdered, so who were the murderer?, Nigel was dressup as a woman, what an act. We have fun on that night.



Top of slope. We took pegola to reach the top. It was fun to see people ski/snowboarding through the steep hill but for us as beginner, there were no hope.

1 comment:

adibah said...

Salam. Just got the time to catch up. Interesting pixies though! Bye