2014-10 : Finland- Saareiselka :Catching the northern lights via reindeers and about snowmobiles....

 What exactly is Northern Lights?

Or Aurora Borealis? Some friends asked.

This was what we were seeking for in Saareiselka this trip...unfortunately, the sky was still cloudy and the temp was not low enough even though it was about minus ten degrees. Sob Sob!

On 1st January 2014, we set off to look for Mrs Reindeer of Husky tours...
We found her at about 8pm...

Was brought to the changing room to gear up...even with our duck feathered down, we had to put on their overalls and snow shoes...

We looked like full blown Eskimos!

All the snowmobiles were fully booked for that nite...we had no choice but to turn to REINDEERS instead..

Our FIRST reindeer sledge ride for the trip!

Mr Reindeer and Mrs Reindeer were hard at work. They told us that only snowmobiles were introduced only 2 years back.

Because the weather was bad for aurora sighting...we were bought to an area to set up the campfire...Mr Reindeer was fantastic. He shave a few little carvings of wood and then the fire was immediately lit up with just a few logs!

He made coffee and tea and we had biscuits to go with it...

After about 3 hours later, we were back to home sweet Lodge....zzzzno sighting of northern lights...

But the reindeer ride was a kind of experience in itself..
as we were being pulled, the reindeer behind our sledge kept using its antlers to 'tickle' John from the side! LOL...Hey Hey! Move it off, Dear!

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The next morning 2/1/2014, which was our last day in Finland, we took the adventure Snowmobile ride which started at 9am and ended about 1pm...

Again...gearing up was a pain.....layers upon layers...helmet was heavy...
felt like an astronaut in outer space!

 Going at about 35-40km/hour, the 2-hour bump bump ride was quite an experience! Apparently not easy to control the steering as the macho men did the driving...

And guess what happened to this couple ?

Their bike stalled midway! And had to take over the staff bike instead!

And Guess what happened towards the end?

This driver JOHN caused the snowmobile to turn over sideways! Oh Mind! 
What a First experience! Fortunately our legs were not fractured by the side!

Compared with our previous Hokkaido ride, this one is definitely longer and bumpier!!! One needs to empty the bladder first before riding next time :)