[AlphaKilo]

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

A friend has promised to take me around the Nurburgring in his BMW next time around.

Sounds mouth watering!

Do you process your post-photographs? The blues of the skies looks touched up and not natural! Which software? Or do you use the settings in the camera?

P.S: YUhuu!! I have reached 700 posts!!! At the rate of almost 1 post per day!! I have broken the "Post per day" barrier!! (like the exceeding Mach 1 - I am now flying in TBHP at 1.04 posts per day!! That's quite fast in my terms )

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

Do you process your post-photographs? The blues of the skies looks touched up and not natural! Which software? Or do you use the settings in the camera?

I post process my images a bit. I use Picasa.

[14000rpm]

..While I was busy cycling around and exploring Vaasa and its surroundings, the summer days were ending and people in Helsinki were busy planning for a mega music event - Summer Sound 2012.




Summer sound is an annual event which goes on for 3 days with top DJ's from all over Europe performing in what can be termed a 3 day long party.
I looked up this event long ago and even mentioned it in the trance music thread

The schedule for the 3 days ->

27.7. FRIDAY

Global Room
23:00 – 0130 Tiësto (NL)
21:00 – 23:00 Hardwell (NL)
19:30 – 21:00 Alex Kunnari (FI)
18:00 – 19:30 Heikki L (FI)

Summer Sound Stage
18:00 – 01:30 Hosted by Hed Kandi (UK)
Hed Kandi presents:
Ibiza 2012 - The Sounds of the White Isle

Gallery Stage
18:00 - 21:00 Niko Geselle (Helsinkivibe, Mixxed)
21:00 - 23:00 Italo-Sami (Unity)
23:00 - 01:00 Mio (Push Up!)

28.7. SATURDAY

Summer Sound Stage
00:30 – 01:30 Dallas Superstars (FI)
23:30 – 00:30 Orion (FI)
22:00 – 23:30 K-System (FI)
20:30 – 22:00 AVICII (SE)
18:30 – 20:30 Fedde Le Grand (NL)
17:00 – 18:30 MYNC (UK)
16:00 – 17:00 Something Good (FI)
15:00 – 16:00 Jay Mellin (FI)
14:00 – 15:00 Dosse (FI)

Global Room
23:30 – 01:30 Dash Berlin (NL)
21:30 – 23:30 Markus Schulz (US)
20:00 – 21:30 Andy Moor (UK)
18:30 – 20:00 W&W (NL)
17:00 – 18:30 Richard Durand (NL)
16:00 – 17:00 Maison & Dragen (FI)

Gallery Stage
14:00 - 16:00 Tapio K (Future Disco)
16:00 - 19:00 Niko Geselle (Helsinkivibe, Mixxed)
19:00 - 22:00 Miia Magia (DTM, Mbar)
22:00 - 01:00 Italo-Sami (Unity)

29.7. SUNDAY

Global Room
00:00 – 01:30 Gareth Emery (UK)
21:00 – 00:00 Armin Van Buuren (NL)
19:30 – 21:00 Alex Kunnari (FI)
17:30 – 19:30 Lange (UK)
16:00 – 17:30 Tom Fall (FI)

Summer Sound Stage
00:00 – 01:30 Todd Terry (US)
22:00 – 00:00 Funkagenda (UK)
20:00 – 22:00 AXWELL (SE)
18:30 – 20:00 Chris Lake (UK)
17:30 – 18:30 Heikki L (FI)
16:00 – 17:30 Mr A & Orkidea (FI)
15:00 – 16:00 DJ Sampl (FI)
14:00 – 15:00 Sergei Shkuroff (FI)

Gallery Stage
14:00 - 17:00 Niko Geselle (Helsinkivibe, Mixxed)
17:00 - 19:00 Miia Magia (DTM, Mbar)
19:00 - 21:00 Tapio K (Future Disco)
21:00 - 01:00 Housemotion (Summerheat)


But then, I had conveniently forgotten about it too. on the 26th July when I was listening to track on the trance thread, I bumped into my own post and kicked myself for having forgotten about it. I then looked for hotels which as expected turned out to be way too expensive. Now, Finland is known to be a very expensive place to live in, in that, Helsinki is all the more expensive and to top it all, it was summer time meaning tourist time..Hotels make merry.
I couldn't afford the jacked up prices and then started to contemplate whether I should go or not. I looked up the list of DJ's..Armin was playing on the 29th in the night (or late evening). I then, decided to go just for the Armin show which was at 9pm. Little past noon, I started my 400 km/ 4.5 Hr drive
and reached in time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccg8w...layer_embedded

It was one hell of a show..totally worth it. It is a totally different experience being in a rock show and being in a live trance concert. It was one huge dance floor with 1000's swaying to Armin's magic on the console. it went on till a little past 12 midnight after which, I drove back 5 hrs to reach Vaasa at around 6 am. The drive back was extremely tiring but then, when I look back, it was one more show that I can tick off my 'to-do' list.


note : pix and video from the 'net. I'd be stupid to take a DSLR to a show like this. BB camera is really pointless.

[manolin]

in the land of nokia, what you need is a nokia 808

shot yesterday by me here in delhi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIjab...&feature=g-upl

[14000rpm]

Time to continue this thread should bring this up to date.

The Night of Arts is an event which is arranged every year in August in Vaasa. This time around, it was on the 9th of Aug.

The event is a common forum for professionals and amateurs. The people in Vaasa and the province have come to follow the event, where the performances are mainly free. The first Night of Arts was arranged in 1991 and it has been more and more popular every year. There has been theatre, performances, exhibitions, music and dance in different places.

Samba Parade and Dance.

[14000rpm]

some classic cars which are usually never seen around town are out on the streets during this event..

[14000rpm]

Night of Arts, Vaasa - Fire Dance


This was a very interesting performance. The group did a dance routine which was very graceful. I loved it. Looked like a musical.

[14000rpm]

Wasa Street Race

While the summer was coming to an end, Finns were still finding reasons to take most of the available sun. Which, this time around, happened to be a drag race event on a disused Air Strip next to the airport.

Some of the participants -

[14000rpm]

more participants..

[14000rpm]

..and then they raced.
























































unfortunately, it rained and the event was stopped and I made my way back home.

[14000rpm]

one day, I was invited to a Dinner at a Finn's house.

Before dinner, we struck a conversation about flights and that's when my friend told me about his Flight from Helsinki to Delhi. Now, this happened to be 26th Jan and we in India call it Republic day. There was nothing unusual expected untill this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEsnb3kUDAw

..the Finnair Crew actually did a Flash Mob dance of sorts on an Indian Bollywood track just to celebrate Republic day !!
The brand not only wins some brownie points by way of cultural bonding but also positions itself as a fun brand.

[14000rpm]

My Tryst with Finnish Food with a Finn came through. I was invited for Dinner at a Finnish Friends house.

Before I even get down to food, lemme tell you this, these guys are very particular about table manners and the usage of their cutlery. The bit of table etiquette that I knew all these years sufficed thru all my Top level meetings in US..here, the scene is totally different and for a change, made me super conscious. quite an overwhelming experience.

Anyway, my dinner started with an Appetizer dish - Reindeer Meat Salad. The combination was just brilliant. Reindeer meat is a bit salty, fibry and lean.
For main course we had Broiled Salmon with boiled and seasoned vegetables. This too was a fantastic combination and was one of the best meals I've had in recent past.

The 1st thing I've heard from most Indians who try out local food speak about the food being bland. Well, I suggest this. Forget the tastes of home. They will always be good but then, once in foreign land, be open enough to learn the local favorite's. Chances are one gets well received. I'm happy that this trick has worked very well in my meetings as the outcome of the meetings have always been positive.

Having said this, I do have my reservations in trying out some of the other local fantasies - Raw fish and some dish made from Blood. I'm staying far away from that.

Note from Mod : Please refrain from discussing alcohol. Mentioning them directly or indirectly is against the rules of the forum. Thanks for understanding.

[narsi_6989]

Hi Avinash,

Such a nice travelogue this , but is dormant for a long time now. Two months back when I was a non-member went through this log in a single read and since then I have been waiting for the next episode. Checked this thread now after becoming a member and really shocked to find no updates. Come on man, there are guys like me waiting for the updates.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by narsi_6989

Hi Avinash,

Such a nice travelogue this , but is dormant for a long time now. Two months back when I was a non-member went through this log in a single read and since then I have been waiting for the next episode. Checked this thread now after becoming a member and really shocked to find no updates. Come on man, there are guys like me waiting for the updates.

Hey, thanks for the good words. Been travelling all over and time is fast becoming a luxury. I didn't realize somebody was waiting for updates..I surely will update.

Cheers

[n_aditya]

Excellent thread Avinash. We are seeing Finland through your eyes. Thank you for taking us through the culture and other aspects of this place.

Loved the pics of the cars on the drag strip. Once again, thanks for sharing.