Hyvää Vappua!!

It's quite unbelievable how differently Finns celebrate May day. In Singapore we say.. alright another public holiday! Or for undergrads like me.. 1st of May is usually spent mugging for exams.. This is how we joined in the fun and celebrated Vappu!!

The parties and barbecues and loud music has already been on for a week. Finns are seen hanging out, sitting on the grass, enjoying the sun and playing volleyball. A huge difference from the haunting winter images of Helsinki =) Finns go totally crazy at Vappu.. i'm sure the alcohol has something to do with it... see the pictures and you'll understand!

30th April.. Vappu Eve..

We planned to meet at 2pm.. but i I needed to print something first.. so i took a walk towards the main building 10 mins away.. It was still early in the morning.. but there were already interesting things happening around school. =)

The banners are out!

It's still early at Smökki (a little hill just outside where i live)

The crowds begin to gather

Lunch party in the open?

People in purple overalls getting ready

BBQ on the roof top =)

Open air pool! (There were people totally naked)

We met at 2pm.. and headed towards Smökki coz there was supposed to be something going on.. Lots of speeches and cheering fun!

Lots of people gathered to watch!

Prodeko (the guild of Industrial Engineering and Management) winning something i can't understand.. but i'm from Prodeko so yay! =)

Releasing of the balloons to symbolise the official start of Vappu!

Pink Panther

Getting ready to depart for Helsinki City Center.. the next piece of exciting action is there!

Moomin balloon for the baby

Most people are wearing their overalls..

but some people prefer something more cooling!

We planned to go for a picnic the next day.. so we walked to Alepa (the supermarket nearby) to get some supplied before heading to Helsinki.. more sights along the way.

On top of the car.. a convenient spot to place empty beer cans..

Somebody obviously had a party here last nite..

Bus rides in Finland are usually eerily quiet.. nobody speaks loud.. if at all.. but this bus ride to Helsinki is super fun!

Pei Joo and Shu Shan.. entertained by the songs =)

The bus driver was visibly pissed..

I love the Lizard reflector

Just outside Kamppi.. balloons for sale!

Long hair guy somersaults.. and if you thought this was weird.. next i saw..


a Superman balancing on a rope?!

Never seen Helsinki so crowded before..

Al fresco style.. You'll never see these in winter

We headed towards the Senate Square to meet up with the rest.. we came around the corner and saw this!!

The stairs packed with people..

Just chillin..

Feeling the Vappu vibes =)

So many people sitting on steppes.. Facing forward.. feels like National Day at the stadium!

Ice-cream truck.. that has 50% discount for the elder and disabled.. =) Good man!

Bumped into Aymeric.. our French project group mate!

Wei Sing has to hide in my shadow.. wanna know y?

Coz she can't open her eyes in the sun!

The crowd starts to head towards Esplanadi..

Helsinki Cathedral

We headed to Esplanadi to see the traditional Capping of Havis Amanda! The idea is that everyone that graduates from high school can put on this White Cap.. On Vappu Eve.. everyone gathers around to see Havis Amanda (a famous statue) get her cap. After which everyone can wear theirs! The Teekari cap.. is different from the rest.. it has a Tassel on the right side.

A crane lowered some people around the statue.. and they started to wash and brush her clean =)

Getting a good view on top of bus stops!


Another crew came back.. and finally she gets her cap!

There she is.. =)

Oops her sash fell.. this girl was helping her put it back on

The random guy behind seems to be smelling Shu Shan's hair.. haha

Borrowing Visa's Teekari Cap!

The city center was crowded like mad.. imagine countdown in Orchard rd =) After the capping.. we went looking for dinner..

Some demonstration along the way

Crowded streets hurray!

We decided to do Bo Liao photoshoots around school before the sun sets..

Big Hug for TKK!

Ri Hao playing with a tyre.. (?!)

Toni with boring plain white overalls =)

And Wei Sing picked up a random cardboard from the ground.. her dream come true!

Did someone BBQ a banana?

Toni, Cindy, Ri Hao and I decided to go down to Cindy's place to see if the Nintendo Wii is free.. and it is free indeed!

Wii Sports - Tennis, Bowling, Golf.. and of course..

Toni vs Cindy

Victory!

We came back on Vappu morning.. to prepare for the picnic in the afternoon =)

Toni acting busy

Ham and cheese Sandwiches.. with lots of mayo =)

Oops no gloves?! Beware H1N1!

We grabbed our barang barang.. and followed the crowd to town!

15 euros each (!!)

"nice hats! Can i take a picture with you guys?" "yeah y not?!"
And so we walked towards THE park with these 2 Finns and their group.. telling them abt Singapore along the way =)

Church along the way

After a 20 min uphill and downhill walk.. we finally arrived at Kaivopuisto! The central park of Helsinki.. It is also the park where we did the sledding.. go back to my previous post (http://itisfinnished.blogspot.com/2009/02/shrove-tuesday-part-1.html) to see if u can recognise the park! I think that 90% of all Helsinki is in the park.. no joke sia! It's tradition for Helsinki to gather here for a picnic on Vappu.. =) Unbelievable!

The number of people!

We found ourselves a nice spot..

Laid out our food..

Yummy!

Relaxing and enjoying...

the Glorious sunshine!

Took a walk around the big park.. and this is what i saw.. =)

People relaxing..

People dancing..

People in costumes..

People with wigs..

People in white caps..

People selling sausages..

People with Hello Kitty balloons..

People hanging around food tents..

People standing on a tree stump..

People queuing for the toilets

People drinking sparking wine..

People with mini portable bbq pits..

People just chilling..

People blasting music..

People climbing up the slopes so they can oversee the coast..

People posing for me..

People playing by the water..

People partying near the boats..

People partying on their boats..

I was crazy.. i've never seen so many people gathered in Helsinki before.. =)

No longer frozen..

I heard Summer is coming..

Coming back to the group..

Chan in his Dinosaur costume..

Roar!

He even has a tail!

Drinking Sima in a champagne glass whilst in Toni's shades..
Sima is a traditional drink.. drunk during Vappu.. of course Finns also drink every other kind of alcohol imagineable..

I was tanning beside a dinosaur!

A wonderful day out.. =) Hyvää Vappua everyone!

Guys.. lets wear our overalls in NUS one day.. we'll picnic in Singapore on Vappu next year as well!