Winner of the Guardian, Observer and Guardian Unlimited Travel Awards 2006.

Sweden came out top in the category “Favourite European Country” when the results of a survey into the preferences of readers of British national newspapers, The Guardian and Observer, as well as the online version, Guardian Unlimited, were collated. Italy came second and Norway, third. The survey offers a unique and fascinating insight into the tastes and preferences of a discerning group of travellers.

“We are very pleased that Sweden has been chosen by such a quality group of readers. The results have confirmed us in our choice of target group and we hope that those who voted Sweden top destination will help us to spread the word about Sweden for the future,” says Fredrik Barthold, Regional Director, VisitSweden (formerly Swedish Travel & Tourism Council).

“I suspect glamour and the pull of nature have something to do with our readers voting Sweden their favourite European destination. There can't be too many capitals like Stockholm, where you can stay in a boutique-style hotel owned by former Abba stars, enjoy a gourmet dinner, party in clubs, and then, the next morning, swap your dancing shoes for a pair of hiking boots to explore the islands or the coast. If you really want to get back to nature, you can head up to Lapland. But even there, they've made a style statement in the form of the Ice Hotel. Swedes seem to have effortlessly struck the perfect party/healthy balance, and that would appear to be a winning combination.” Andy Pietrasik, Travel Editor of The Guardian comments on the Award.

Among VisitSweden’s current campaigns is the innovative “Stockholm the Musical” campaign, in which Stockholm is marketed by the interactive website www.stockholmthemusical.com . The website forms the basis of a viral campaign to drive UK visitors to Stockholm. It takes the visitor on an ironic, fun-filled musical journey through all the city has to offer and includes an interactive retro-style short film inviting users to enjoy picturesque city sights accompanied by a vibrant, uplifting tune specially written for the website. VisitSweden has created interest in the campaign through a variety of channels, including Guardian Unlimited.

So far this year, commercial bed nights in Sweden from the UK have increased by 16%.

The Swedish Space Corporation say it could be a reality by 2011.

Not content with having them dotted all over the countryside, Sweden is now considering putting a little red cottage on the moon. The idea, first conjured up by the artist Mikael Genberg seven years ago, may become reality with the help of the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), according to N24.

The state agency SSC has carried out a technical study showing that it is indeed possible to put a little red cottage on the moon.

"If we manage to do this Sweden will be the third country to occupy the moon", said SSC's Fredrik von Scéele.

A competition has been arranged for students to construct a little red house that is suitably sized for placement by a moon landing device. The construction may not exceed eight square metres and can weigh a maximum of four kilos.

A jury consisting of leading researchers and professors from the Swedish space industry has already been appointed to oversee the project.

The project is expected to cost 500 million kronor. Unless there are problems financing the project or there is a sudden scarcity of Falun red paint there could be a little house on the moon by 2011.

"The idea came to me in 1999. I had just finished working on a tree house hotel and was in the process of producing an underwater hotel when I saw an article in Expressen: 'Now Sweden goes for the moon'. My idea was not realistic at all. But it kept coming back to me and by August 2003 I had made quite a few enquiries. Ever since then it has grown into far more than an artwork," artist Mikael Genberg told The Local.

He explains how the last few years have seen a new race to the moon. And Sweden is keen to be involved, even if this means cooperating with other countries. Putting a house on the moon would strengthen the impression of Sweden as a hi-tech country.

"The project will cost 500 million kronor, which is quite reasonable. I think if we can make absolutely sure that this will happen it should be possible to finance it."

While the little red house is well known as a national symbol within Sweden, Genberg would like the construction to have a more international aspect.

"Everybody sees the moon, so the house should be a symbol for mankind, as well as a sort of all-seeing eye looking over us," said Genberg.

Experts could not confirm whether the cottage would finally provide a permanent housing solution for the man on the moon.

Published on The Local 11 Oct 2006.

Bears prepare to hibernate…….

In the dense taiga forests of Kainuu in eastern Finland it has been another successful year for bear watching, much to the delight of the visitors to the hides at the Wild Brown Bear Lodge.  A visit to the lodge usually involves an overnight stay in a 1-2 or 8 person hide allowing guests to get up close to the bears or the more elusive wolverines.

In preparation for hibernation, which will start in the next few weeks the bears are eating up to one third of their body weight each day, making the most of Finlands bountiful supply of berries.

Bear watching will start again mid April next year and will available through until the autumn. During summer the glorious never light summer days allow you to make the most of your visit.

Image provided by the Finnish Tourist Board. Photographer Eero Kemilä

For further information click here.

Lordi get their own payment card.

A payment card featuring a photo of Lordi is now available from from the Finnish Sampo Bank. The Lordi version of Sampo Bank's international payment cards is for Visa Electron, Visa and MasterCard.

Lordi are currently half way though their European Tour....remaining dates include

October 11th Arena - Vienna (AUT)
October 14th Gamma - Murcia (SPA)
October 18th La Riviera - Madrid (SPA)
October 19th Apolo - Barcelona (SPA)
October 20th Sala Jam - Bergara (SPA)
October 22nd Hof Ter Lo - Antwerp (BEL)
October 24th L'Elysee Montmartre - Paris (FRA)
October 25th Melkweg - Amsterdam (NED)

October 26th Nottingham - Rock City (UK)
October 27th Birmingham - Academy (UK)
October 29th Manchester - Academy (UK)
October 30th Glasgow - The Carling Academy (UK)
October 31st London - The Forum (UK)

November 4st Helsinki, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki Halloween festival.

Young directors make genre-films that are sold around the world on DVD

"Do you love me?" asks Tommi Eronen on the big screen. Nothing new here – a Finnish man whining about his love again. But this time we are in ancient China, the actress is Zhang Jingchu, and the couple has just had a dance-like fantasy duel.

      The film is called Jade Warrior. It is an ambitious combination of themes from the Finnish national Kalevala and Chinese mythology, and tells the story in the style of Wuxia – Chinese warrior films.

     
A new generation of filmmakers who have grown up in the 80’s and 90’s with VHS videos and comic books is emerging along with Jade Warrior. They are not afraid to make a genre film, be it fantasy, horror, science fiction, or Wuxia.
      Director Antti-Jussi "AJ" Annila was studying filmmaking at the Tampere Polytechnic at the turn of the millennium, and became acquainted with the cameraman, editor, costume designer, and sound technician of Jade Warrior there. Now the years-long project of the former kung-fu short film crew is ready and the full-length feature is about to premiere.
     
The group responsible for the Sci-fi parody Star Wreck, led by Samuli Torssonen, can be included in the same generation. They have been successful as well. The script for their next film will be written by Finlandia-prize winner Johanna Sinisalo. This is a significant improvement to shooting homemade films in someone’s living room.

      It is not too much of a stretch of the imagination to include Lordi – the genre-conscious project of one man and his friends that made an international breakthrough.
      "These new-generation artists are emerging with increasing frequency, and not just in Finland. Technology has improved, and genre-specific projects are more natural to young people", analyses producer Tero Kaukomaa of Blind Spot Pictures.
      It has not been easy, however.
      "Genre-specific ideas are disgustingly new in Finland", Annila laments. "It is very hard to gain approval for a film like this – you need a group of supporters that believe in your idea."

     
Advances in computer technology make the job easier. Special effects of reasonable quality have become quite affordable. Although the budget for Jade Warrior, EUR 2,5 million, is a lot for a Finnish movie, it is puny by international standards.
Technology has improved on the consumer end as well. The international DVD markets already comprise a large portion of the money earned by films. This favours genre-specific films, since they are specifically popular on the DVD market.
      "Although the dialogue in Jade Warrior is in Finnish and Chinese, it has a clear DVD market, much larger than that for traditional Finnish drama", Kaukomaa admits. Jade Warrior has already been sold to over 30 countries.

      Blind Spot Pictures intends to answer the call of the market, and is making more genre-specific movies. The framework for AJ Annila’s next film is already on the table. It is also a genre-specific film, and it does not combine Finland with Wuxia, but no further details have been revealed.
     
Annila knows his field. He discussed the principles of a good action movie in his diploma thesis at Tampere Polytechnic. Annila describes the balance in action sequences: "Combat sequences take the story forward in a good action film. They are the culmination of something essential. They still need a certain flamboyance, and they need to be complete entities in themselves." 

After seeing enough poor action movies, you know how to do it wrong.
      "I have seen lots of action scenes that become pointless after two minutes. When a fight scene has served its purpose, it needs to end."

     
After learning the principles of a specific genre, it is possible to take a sidestep and make a genre-specific film that is more appealing to a larger audience, for example a Finnish Wuxia film. Combining Finnish filmmaking and Wuxia was not such an acrobatic leap after all.
"I think that Wuxia does not differ much from Finnish melodrama. It is introverted, feelings seethe on the inside and are not vividly expressed."

Jade Warrior opens in cinemas (Finland) on October 13th.

     
By Jussi Ahlroth  Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 6.10.2006

Will the real Swedish prime minister please stand up?

The Riksdag formally approved the appointment of Fredrik Reinfeldt at 2pm on Thursday by 175 votes to 169, and he thereby became prime minister. But while Reinfeldt has the title, Göran Persson remains theoretically in the job.

“Fredrik Reinfeldt today became prime minister”, reported tabloid Aftonbladet and broadsheet Dagens Nyheter. Indeed, the Riksdag itself now refers to Reinfeldt as prime minister on its official website. If only the Swedish constitution were that simple.
“He becomes prime minister today, but the new government doesn’t take office until tomorrow,”said Roberta Alenius, spokeswoman for Reinfeldt’s Moderate Party.

Sweden has entered a momentary state of constitutional limbo, with Reinfeldt prime minister, but with Göran Persson in theory still in power for a few more hours.

The new government will formally take control at a meeting with the king at the Royal Palace on Friday. But in the meantime, it’s a bit confused as to who is Sweden’s head of government.

“He has been approved by the  and assumed the title from the speaker, so in one sense he is prime minister,” said Anna Wieslander, spokeswoman for the Swedish Riksdag.

But what if the government needs to do anything urgent in the 22 hours between Reinfeldt’s election and the meeting with the king?

“I suppose that according to protocol Reinfeldt won’t be prime minister until tomorrow. For the government to do anything official, it’s still Göran Persson who will act.”

On Friday morning at 9am, Reinfeldt will present his new government’s programme to the Riksdag with Göran Persson and his outgoing cabinet still sitting in the government seats. Yet on the Riksdag’s website it says that “the prime minister will present his programme for government.” And there, they’re talking about Fredrik Reinfeldt.

“It works in every important sense, but the protocol’s a bit confused,” admits Wieslander.

Indeed, when Reinfeldt and his colleagues emerge from their visit to the palace on Friday at lunchtime, there will be no doubt as to who rules Sweden.

Published: 5th October 2006 14:46 CET  The Local.

Meet the latest arrivals at the Harriniva Husky farm in Finnish Lapland.

It is a wonderful life at the Harriniva husky farm. These youngsters are the newest members to the 350 strong husky family! The boys above are Avalon, Aragon and Aurin.
Below are a couple of their sisters, Akita and Aura.

The puppies are currently living in the nursery with their mother where they are given lots of love and attention. In a few weeks time they will move onto the kindergarten. It is then that the husky farm staff start to watch them playing, with their expertise they will be picking out which will be the husky team leaders of the future and which will be the muscle.  As they get older they will gradually be introduced to an experienced husky team, working alongside them. Once fully grown they will have lots of opportunities to do what they love most….to run. They will be whisking guests through the forest on sleds for hours or days on end.

Watch this space for more pictures of the Harriniva puppies as they grow-up.

For further details on visiting Harriniva and seeing the puppies in person this December click here.

We try and answer the eternal question………

While sitting by a lake in Lapland, deep in the forest one evening this summer a discussion started between me and some friends about just how old Santa Claus is.
As we sipped cloud berry juice and cooked sausages and fish over the fire the discussion went on long into the night, or is that day, this Finnish midnight sun is so confusing!

We were all lucky enough to have known Santa for many years as we were either locals or had met him while visiting Lapland on many occasions over the years.

Between the eight people present there was a huge variation in what we believed to be his age from a pitiful 183 years to a rather unbelievable 536 years.

Several of us were just guessing but others spoke with great authority.

Mikko, the local reindeer herder, felt certain that Santa was 428 years old. He pointed out that after all he should know as his family had been caring for Santa’s reindeers since his great, great, great, great, great grandfather was a boy!

Ilkka, the chief elf, just laughed and said that every elf knew that Santa is 498, they already had a committee planning his golden golden birthday, just 2 years away. After all wasn’t it the elves that had found Santa, then just a young man of 200 and something, wandering across the isolated fells and helped him build his secret cabin deep in the forest.

The discussion went on and on until Ilkka asked his grandson, Arto,the youngest in our group, to go to Santas house and ask him how old he is. So off the young elf ran.

We fed the passing reindeer, fished, had a sauna and napped by the fire but still the young elf had not returned. As we packed up to leave and were saying our goodbyes the young elf eventually appeared. As we all awaited the answer Arto promised that he had indeed asked Santa Claus the question. As he rocked in his chair by the fire the great man had started to count off the years, telling him of some of the highpoints of each year, smiling at the thought of some good years and weeping at others. We all encouraged him to tell us his final answer but the young elf had to admit that Santa had got as far as 415 and had fallen asleep!

If you want to visit Lapland and ask Santa how old he is click here.

Thai berry-pickers return home after earning year's salary in Lapland.

This year's berry-picking season turned out to be better than expected. The Thai berry-pickers in Savukoski earned from EUR 3,000 to EUR 7,000 by picking and selling wild berries.
Even though the pickers have to pay EUR 1,000 each for a flight ticket, they will have a nice amount of money left to take back home. In his or her home country a Thai earns about EUR 2,000 a year.

     
On Tuesday the pickers were in high spirits, while waiting for their bus to start in the evening. Moreover, a flight home was scheduled for Wednesday. A couple of months' hard work was over.
"I am very pleased", said Sem Kammani, a 35-year-old furniture salesman from Thailand, giving a broad smile. He became the master of lingonberry picking in Savukoski with his harvest of 1,200 kilos, while his blueberry yield of 4,000 kilos was the second largest.

     
"Everybody is glad and happy, wishing to come here even next year", reports Bandit Jansamram, the 41-year-old interpreter of the Thai pickers.
The majority of the 650 Thais invited by Riitan Herkku - a food processing company in Mustasaari - are flying home today, while the others will head for Thailand on Sunday.
"The season has been better than we dared to expect. Our target was to get a total of over a million kilos of wild berries, and we managed to get a lot more. The amount of blueberries alone was 2.5 times more than last year", reports Jari Huttunen from Korvatunturin Marja, a company affiliated with Riitan Herkku.

Even though the berry crop was said to be poor this season?
     
"It all depends on how hard you want to find berries. Our pickers were lucky to be placed in Eastern Lapland, where the the yields were better", Huttunen notes.
Korvatunturin Marja had also recruited some Ukrainian and Mongolian berry-pickers. Huttunen hopes that the problems which some companies had with berry-pickers would not cause trouble next year for those entrepreneurs who had acted properly.
"It is hopeless to invite hundreds of berry-pickers while not putting any cars at their disposal. Buses are not practical for berry-picking purposes. We had more than a hundred cars available for pickers", Huttunen concludes.

     
In the first summer, some of the local residents criticised the berry-pickers who came to Savukoski from overseas. However, the attitudes seem to have relaxed, and this summer the atmosphere was fairly calm.

Thanoom Muunoongsang, a 35-year-old car mechanic, was pleased with his record of 202 kilos of blueberries in one day.
On the other hand, the berry-picking business creates employment also for local people. Close to 30 people were hired to work at the freezing plant of Korvatunturin Marja and to participate in the company's expansion project this summer. Furthermore, other businesses of Korvatunturin Marja in Savukoski include a garage and a vehicle inspection station.
While packing their suitcases and playing checkers, the Thais are all smiles. Most of them are rice farmers at home. "See you next summer", many of them say happily.
Whilst the foreign pickers are very efficient, there is no danger that Finland will be "picked clean": the vast majority of wild berries and mushrooms available in the Finnish forests rot where they grow.

As reported in Helsinki Sanomat.

A unique New Year at Hotel Harriniva, Finnish Lapland.

Hotel Harriniva’s unique location, and the hosts’ Kopi and Maria’s thirst for festivity and fun, mean that guests to the hotel get to see in the New Year not once but twice, first with the Swedes and then with the Finns!

Harriniva is in an idyllic setting on the banks of the Muonio River, which is the natural border between Sweden and Finland, in North western Lapland. 

For many guests the New Year’s Eve celebrations round off a visit crammed with amazing, and for most, once in a lifetime activities. The location is breathtaking with snow encrusted trees, natural ice formations and those carved by local craftsmen, and the highlight for many, if lucky, seeing the Northern Lights.

As well as the warm welcome, upon arrival hotel guests are provided with special clothing that will allow them to make the most of the Arctic conditions; after all, it is over 200km above the Arctic Circle!

During their stay, guests will get to test the clothing and their taste for adventure to the limit, taking part in exhilarating safaris. A full day is spent on snowmobiles exploring the beautiful forests and fells enjoying lunch in an isolated chalet. A particular highlight is a tour of the hotel’s husky farm, home to over 350 dogs, before harnessing up a team and setting off on a husky sled adventure.  There is also time to learn about local culture and the native reindeers who roam the area. In the quieter moments there is an opportunity to don cross country skis or snowshoes and explore the surroundings.  For those still looking for excitement there are always the toboggans.

Accommodation is in warm, cosy rooms, made of local wood and stone. All have private facilities. You will not find a TV in the room, but with so much going on outside and a welcoming bar where everyone meets to share stories of their day’s adventures, you won’t miss it.

The New Year’s Eve celebrations start with a wonderful dinner in the fireside restaurant, later moving outside onto the ice for the countdown and fireworks to see in the Swedish New Year. Afterwards, the brave can stay outside and enjoy drinks from the ice bar, keeping watch for the northern lights, and explore the igloo and carvings. An hour later it all takes place again!  The party then continues inside in the bar with dancing until the early hours.

Harriniva really is the place for New Year, new experiences, new friends………….

To experience New Year at Harriniva for yourself click here.

Image provides by flickr, Scott Robinson