Soundscape issue 3 / 2020
BLUE WINGS DON’T BE SHY – HELP YOURSELF TO THIS ISSUE!
SOUNDS O F N OW
I HE A R YOU
TH I NK PI NK
Z EN ME UP
The secret power of deep listening
Japan’s top spot for cherry blossoms
Is sound bathing the next wellness trend?
Life is a rocky road with its ups and downs. Our goal is to minimise the problem of getting dressed appropriately, so you’ll have time to worry about the bigger picture. Makia was born in the harbour of Helsinki to stand the test of time and to accompany you for years to come - Through the Rough Seas.
makia.com | Flagship store: Mannerheimintie 22-24 00100 Helsinki Finland
Editorial Welcome onboard
bluewings.finnair.com
FO KUS M E D I A F I N L A N D TOPI MANNE R
Managing editor Amanda Soila Art director Aino Ahtiainen Executive editor Shelly Nyqvist Visual designer Sesilja Lindell Editorial assistant Mirkka Helkkula English editing Silja Kudel Reproduction Teemu Salovaara
Chief Executive Officer, Finnair
Cover Lxandra by Kim Öhrling Behind this issue Tim Bird, Carla Coffing, Laura Feasey, Mark Fletcher, Heiða Helgadóttir, Laura Iisalo, Silja Kudel, Rachel Li, Lissu Moulton, Katja Pantzar, Ossi Piispanen, Camille Romano, Wif Stenger, and Kim Öhrling Submissions and feedback bluewings@fokusmedia.fi Blue Wings online bluewings.finnair.com issuu.com/finnair_bluewings Editorial Offices Hämeentie 135 A, 00560 Helsinki, Finland, tel. +358 40 630 8253 firstname.lastname@fokusmedia.fi Advertising Sales Jaana Lindvall-Harki tel. +358 40 582 1416 jaana.lindvall-harki@fokusmedia.fi Publisher Fokus Media Finland Printed by Punamusta, Joensuu, Finland 2019 Paper NovaPress by Stora Enso, 60g Cover paper LumiArt by Stora Enso, 200g ISSN-0358-7703
Editor-in-Chief Arja Suominen arja.suominen@finnair.com Finnair Head Office Tietotie 9 A, Helsinki Airport, 1053 Finnair, Finland, tel. +358 (0)9 818 81, Postal address: P. O. Box 15, 01053 Finnair, Finland Customer feedback finnair.com/feedback or by mail: Customer Relations, SL/403, FI-01053 Finnair finnair.com, finnair.fi, finnairgroup.com
Enjoy the silence T H E BE AUTY OF calm and quiet is a precious commodity in a noisy world. Though the stereotype of Finns being a silent people may not always hold true, it’s fair to say that in Finland silence is a virtue. It’s something we value greatly, especially in the great outdoors, as we boast large swathes of pure nature throughout our country. Silence is also important to us at Finnair, as we fly a modern fleet of Airbus A350 planes that are 20 per cent quieter than current-generation aircraft. With the noise level being as much as 16 decibels below the current standard requirement, it’s easy to rest and relax while on board. We recently took delivery of the fifteenth member of our A350 fleet, which in addition to offering a smooth ride also features reduced emissions with 25 per cent better fuel efficiency over current-generation aircraft. Wishing you a peaceful journey, Topi Manner
Our A350 fleet is 20% quieter than currentgeneration aircraft.
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 3
Contents Soundscape issue
Dream
The ancient healing practice of sound baths. Page 32
1 8 LO ND O N
Ólafur Arnalds: Music is a conversation
PAG E 14
11
GLO B AL P U L S E
Wellness hacks
14
PASS IO N PR OJ EC T
Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds Tea time
2 3 P RO D U C T I N S PI RAT I O N
Danish dreams
Spring into Sakura season PAG E 2 6
Explore 2 6 JAPAN
Less-thanperfect parents podcasters
Cherry blossom spotting
3 2 LOS ANG E L E S
Musical meditation 40 SMAR T STUFF
Clever thinking by companies 42 PR OFI L E
PAGE 4 2
Scummy Mummies
45 CONVE R SATI ON
Mikko Dufva on the next decade
London’s fashionable tea scene. Page 18
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 5
Contents Soundscape issue
Create 48
C RE ATIV E CO R N ER
Finland’s next-gen musicians 58 D E NM ARK
Beautiful beaches
6 2 FINL AND
Get on board 66 S H OWRO O M
Global design 72 INV E STIGATIO N
Conscious listening 78 Q &A
NYC’s jazzy haunts
Coastal life in Denmark. Page 58
Fly
Loud and free Lxandra PAG E 4 8
79 FI NNAI R NE WS
What’s new
83 FLYI NG STOR I E S
Get social
84 E NTE R TAI NME NT
Stay connected
85 FI NNAI R PLUS
Frequent flyer rewards
86 SHOPPI NG
Wish list from Finnair Shop
89
HOL I DAY SAMPL ER
Southern Europe
90 W E L L NE SS ONB OARD
Bubble gum deliveries
Healthy options in the air
91
STAFF TI PS
Far East food adventures
92 FI NNAI R I N A
PAG E 66
NUTSHE L L
Fly the shorter route
93 FL E E T
Modern fleet at your service
94 MAPS
Helsinki Airport and destination check-list
98 FI NL AND FACTS
Fascinating figures The art of snurf boards. Page 62
6 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
LEXUS ES
LUOTA INTUITIOON LEXUS SELF-CHARGING HYBRID Hyvien päätösten tekeminen nopeasti ei ole koskaan ollut tärkeämpää. Ehkä ES:n erottuva siluetti on kiinnittänyt huomiosi. Tai kenties vaistosi kertoi, että Lexuksen neljännen sukupolven itselataava hybridi tarjoaa poikkeuksellista polttoainetehokkuutta ja hienostunutta suorituskykyä. Vai olivatko ne intuitiiviset Lexus Safety System+ -turvallisuusominaisuudet, jotka tekivät päätöksestäsi salamannopean? Joka tapauksessa: kuuntele intuitiotasi ja ota yhteyttä meihin jo tänään. Tutustu ES-malliin sekä muihin Lexus-hybrideihin ja varaa koeajo osoitteessa lexus.fi
ES 300h alk. 50 592,84 € (sis. toimituskulut 600 €)
LEXUS EASY kk-erä 430 €*
ES 300h CO2 119–127 g/km, EU-yhd. kulutus 5,3–5,8 l/100 km. Arvot perustuvat uuteen WLTP-mittaustapaan. *ESIMERKKILASKELMA: LEXUS ES 300h Comfort 50 592,84 € (sis. toimituskulut 600 €). LEXUS EASY kk-erä 430 €. Rahoitusaika 60 kk. Kilometrit 75 tkm. Käsiraha 25 % (12 648,21 €). Suurempi viimeinen osamaksuerä/taattu hyvityshinta 17 408 €. Korko 2,95 %. Todellinen vuosikorko 3,53 %. Luototettava määrä 37 944,63 €. Luoton ja kustannusten yhteismäärä 42 793,32 €. Edellyttää hyväksytyn luottopäätöksen ja kaskovakuutuksen. Luoton myöntäjä Toyota Finance Finland Oy, Korpivaarantie 1, Vantaa. Kuvan auto erikoisvarustein.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SKETCH
Dream
Keep your curiosity alive
London calling Cafés that bring a cool factor to high tea (p. 18) 3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 9
TÄYDELLISESTI VARUSTELTU
OPEL INSIGNIA EXECUTIVE CLASSIC A 34 990 €
NAHKAVERHOILU SÄHKÖSÄÄTÖINEN ISTUIN HUD-NÄYTTÖ LED MATRIX -AJOVALOT OPC-PAKETTI 18” VANTEET 360 PYSÄKÖINTIKAMERA NAVIGOINTIJÄRJESTELMÄ VAPAA AUTOETU 700 €/kk KÄYTTÖETU 535 €/kk
Nyt rajoitettu erä uskomattomaan erikoishintaan: vakiona edustusautoluokan varusteet. Saatavana myös tilava Sports Tourer -farmari Insignia-mallisto yhdistetty polttoaineen kulutus 5,0-7,8 l/100 km, CO2-päästöt 148-167 g/km (uusi WLTP-mittaus). Opel Insignia Grand Sport Executive Classic kokonaishinta alkaen 34 989,88 € (sis. toimituskulut 600 €). Takuu kolme (3) vuotta / 90 000 km (Opel FlexCare -jatkoturva), joista kaksi (2) ensimmäistä vuotta ilman kilometrirajaa. Lue lisää: opel.fi
Global pulse COMPILED BY KATJA PANTZAR
Ideas for good life from around the world
Book nook
STOP TALKING
Get cosy in the urban forest.
Listening is a crucial skill that we’ve lost sight of in our age of leading the narrative online, states New York Times journalist Kate Murphy in her new book YOU ’RE N OT L I STE NI NG : W HAT YOU’RE MI SSI NG AND WHY IT
Forest treats
PHOTOS MIKA HUISMAN / DECOPIC, ROADTRIP WITH RAJ, ELIJAH HIETT
MUSHROOM MANIA I N S I D E one of Helsinki’s most interesting concept stores, Metsä/ Skogen, which highlights the healing powers of the Finnish forest, lies the recently opened Mushroom Bar. Run by wild food chef and expert forager Sami Tallberg, it serves up novel drinks, snacks, and dishes ranging from wild mushrooms with spinach and garlic to cold smoked Lapland reindeer, and chaga cappuccino. Fungi is, of course, a super food packed with vitamins and minerals and high in antioxidants.
B AL I
The Bali Vedic Retreat from March 3–9 takes place during Nyepi, the traditional Balinese holiday celebrated with 24 hours of silence.
Wellness break
ENJOY THE SILENCE A silent retreat could be the ticket to a calmer mind.
MATTE R S (Harvill Secker). Yet, according to Murphy, listening (instead of talking) offers the potential to transform our relationships, improve our knowledge, and increase our creativity.
CONNEC T IC UT
Wake up Together Zen Retreat from March 27–29 at the Copper Beech Institute explores Buddhist and Christian traditions over a weekend.
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www.barbour.com
Global pulse Ideas for good life from around the world
Undivided attention
F U N FAC T
ATHLETIC BRAIN
Learning a second language can improve brain power.
PL AYI NG SPOR TS has many perks but a new study has found that it also helps elite athletes to block out unnecessary noises and tune into sounds that matter. A team led by neurobiologist Nina Kraus at the Brainvolts lab at Northwestern University in Illinois found that top athletes’ brains have less static, which means that they are not as noisy as the minds of non-athletes. This suggests that playing sports helps to muffle out unnecessary sounds, an important skill we can all benefit from in today’s noisy world.
HEALTH BEAT These apps help you control the sounds around you.
E SCAPE NOISE POL LUTI ON
Hush City is a free mobile app that allows people to find quiet areas in cities, where noise pollution is a growing concern.
PHOTOS TOMMY BOUDREAU, SIDDHART BHOGRA. NAMROUD GORGUIS
TUNE OUT THE SOUN DS
Dark Noise plays white noise to drown out the sound of cars, air conditioning, etc. and allows you to discover quiet spots nearby.
Life hack
THE IDEAL OFFICE SOUNDTRACK need absolute silence to work, many people thrive in a work environment that includes some ambient noise such as clinking dishes and whirring coffee machines. Next time you’re stuck for inspiration head to your local café with your laptop to enhance creativity. Source: Lifehack.org
W H I L E S O M E PEOPL E
TUR N D OW N T HE VOLUME
Knobby is a unique volume widget app for your home screen that allows you to manage sound levels in a variety of ways.
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Some solutions lead to new problems – and some to opportunities beyond their original intent.
14 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Passion project
PLAY IT AGAIN Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds feared he’d never play again. Then the “Ghost Pianos” gave him a new lease on creativity. TEXT WIF STENGER PHOTOS HEIÐA HELGADÓTTIR
A
road accident left Icelandic composer and keyboardist Ólafur Arnalds with nerve damage in one hand, throwing his career into doubt. Between bouts of depression, he developed a pioneering system of software and mechanical pianos that allowed him to play and compose again. Eventually, the process opened more doors than he could have imagined, far beyond its original aim. Arnalds’ music draws on classical, minimalist, ambient, electronic, and rock. He has a worldwide fan base, playing 140 concerts last year across several continents on the back of his fourth album, re:member. His music has been featured in films such as The Hunger Games and the TV series Broadchurch. Arnalds started out as a drummer in punk and metal bands, yet his influences range from minimalist composers Steve Reich and Arvo Pärt to his grandmother’s favourite, Frédéric Chopin
– whose music he reinterpreted with JapaneseGerman pianist Alice Sara Ott. “There’s now a willingness to embrace music that mixes classical instrumentation with something else. If your artistic expression means crossing some pseudobarriers of genre, great. Good music is good music, no matter what kind,” he says. Arnalds mingles acoustic and electronic, pop and experimental elements like Icelandic colleagues Björk, Sigur Rós, and Of Monsters and Men, with whom he’s shared stages and band members.
“Good music is good music, no matter what kind.”
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND
Arnalds’ recording career started in 2004, when he worked with a German metal band that had toured Iceland with his punk band. A London label then invited him to make a solo debut, 2007’s Eulogy for Evolution, which includes explosive drum-driven tracks. His third solo album, 2013’s For Now I Am Winter, was the first to include vocals and to attract wider audiences.
>
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 15
ÓL AFUR AR NAL DS, 3 3 Icelandic multi-
instrumentalist, composer, and producer
E VOLVI NG SONG S
“A recorded song is a photograph, a captured moment in time. When we play live, songs start to take new forms. You find new nooks and crannies to explore and play around with.” SUSTAI NAB L E TOUR I NG
“There’s a paradox in talking about ‘green touring’, but there are steps that we can take to offset some of the damage. For OPIA, a festival I created in London last year, we followed suit by banning all disposable plastic and planting a tree in honour of each guest.”
FINNAIR FL IE S TO Reykjavík
(KEF) daily.
Then, misfortune struck when his car was rearended, crippling his right hand. “Aside from the physical difficulties of playing my instrument, it was pretty strange mentally to be in pain all the time,” he says. “It’s easy to fall into a loop of depression, which is not a particularly creative state to be in. Not being able to play piano forced me to step back and focus on other things.” Some solutions lead to new problems – and some to opportunities beyond their original intent. Musical history offers parallels. Pianist Paul Wittgenstein (brother of philosopher Ludvig) lost an arm in the First World War but went on to a one-handed career, playing works specially written by the likes of Maurice Ravel. Roma musician Django Reinhardt, whose fingers were crippled in a fire, created an inimitable jazz guitar style, making a virtue of necessity.
For Arnalds, the solution was Stratus, developed over two years with his friend Halldór Eldjárn. It combines sequencer software with 19th-century mechanical piano technology. “The software controls two player pianos that react to what I play on a third piano. It almost feels like improv in the way that it changes the creative feedback loop. When the ‘ghost pianos’ react to your playing, it changes your ideas of where to go next and forces you to come up with new ideas.” This brings surprise and improvisation into songwriting and live shows. “Stratus started as an idea for how to get around using my right hand much while playing piano, but by the time I started to work on re:member, I’d mostly gotten better,” he explains. “But I had a really bad case of writer’s block. Stratus became a way-over-the-top method to help me beat it. It was a way to make the piano seem new and exciting again.”
“Not being able to play piano forced me to step back and focus on other things.”
16 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
“The software controls two player pianos that react to what I play on a third piano.”
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 17
Inside track London
Farmacy’s sweet and savoury treats are served with hemp leaf tea.
British tea party In London, a cup of tea comes as standard, but these venues put a fabulous spin on the tradition. TEXT LAURA FEASEY PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CAFÉS
18 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
The plantbased menu is also free from dairy, refined sugars, additives, and chemicals.
Clean eating in a stylish setting at Farmacy.
Healthy high tea Afternoon tea is given extra oomph at FA R M ACY LOND ON , whose “High� Tea includes hemp leaf tea and cannabidiol (CBD) infused chocolates and cocktails. Farmacy is the first restaurant in London to serve CBD, which is known for its health-boosting benefits. The plant-based menu is also free from dairy, refined sugars, additives, and chemicals. Just guilt-free treats here. >
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Xu Teahouse brings the traditional Taiwanese tea ceremony to London.
Chic ceremony Inspired by the social clubs of 1930s Taipei, XU TE AH O U S E brings the traditional Taiwanese tea ceremony to London. All the tea is sourced directly from teahouses in the Far East and is brewed in bespoke teapots. You can enjoy it alone or as part of a leisurely tea ceremony accompanied by Taiwanese-inspired pastries.
Taiwaneseinspired pastries are served at XU.
20 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Artist David Shrigley’s prints on the walls of Sketch.
Drink pink Tea comes on tap at SKETC H , where it’s wheeled around on a trolley of test tubes filled with loose leaf blends. Cups are accompanied by kitsch classics such as Battenberg cake, and egg and soldiers, all served on eccentric china designed by Brit artist David Shrigley. The restaurant sings in head to toe millennial pink and the walls are covered in Shrigley prints, making Sketch part high tea part high art.
Proper cuppa F I N N A I R F L I ES TO
London (LHR) six times a day.
3
themed teas
Armed with a dream of bringing better brews to London, Emilie Holmes started G OOD & PR OPE R T EA with a mobile tea bar in a converted Citroën H van. Now a destination tea house in the city’s stylish Clerkenwell, these passionate tea makers serve a curated collection of blends from around the world. They also bake a mean crumpet.
S C I - FI FE AST
Gastronomy meets chemistry for The Ampersand Hotel’s science-themed afternoon tea. Think chocolate mousse planets and Petri dishes of jam.
PR Ê T-À- POR TE A
AR T-TE A
A must for any fashion fan, The Berkeley’s afternoon tea is a couture cake fest. Each season, the menu pays homage to the latest fashionista must-haves in sugar form.
Edible art is served at the Rosewood, where treats are inspired by famed artists ranging from Koons to Kandinsky.
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EMBRACE CHAOS.
The bed you choose prepares you for whatever the day has in store for you. So choose carefully. Order our new eye-opening catalog at hastens.com. Be awake for the first time in your life.ÂŽ
HĂ„STENS STORE HELSINKI, Mannerheimintie 8, 00100 Helsinki, tel. 020 780 1370, hastens.com
Culture swap Destination inspiration
COMPILED BY LAURA IISALO
Sweet dreams FINNAIR FL I ES TO
Copenhagen (CPH) six times a day.
Sleep tight with the loveliest of Danish bedtime products.
Overnight miracle cream!
1
2
4
3 6
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES
Doubles as a kimono!
5 1 — PER F EC T B EDD I N G Make your bed in extra soft pearl pink Organic Cotton Percale bedding. From €129 from teklafabrics.com 2 — S L EEPI N G BEAU T Y Let the Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Sleeping Cream repair your skin while you sleep. €68 from kicks.fi 3 — L I G H TS O F F Swap bright lights for the brass Arch Candle Holder. €95 from fermliving.com 4 — Z F O R Z EN Relax with a cup of caffeine-free Løv is Zen tea before bedtime. €14.90 from lov-organic.com 5 — NA P T I M E Grab the Bo Nordic BlueSilk Velvet Sleeping Mask when in need of a nap. €40 from vibekescott.com 6 — LOVELY L I N EN Wear the crisp white Hørmorgenkåbe linen gown in and out of bed. €135 from ordinarythings.com
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Visualisoinnit taiteilijan näkemys
38–220 m2 ARVOASUNTOJA MEREN LÄHEISYYDESSÄ
Töölön Kesä kadun asuntojen myynti on alkanut
Ainutlaatuisia koteja
kaupungin kauneimmilta paikoilta Auratum Asunnot luo mahdollisuuksia korkealuokkaiseen asumiseen rakennuttamalla uusia ja uudistamalla arvokiinteistöjä. Valitessasi Auratumin rakennuttaman kodin, voit olla varma siitä, että asuntosi on laadukas pienimpiäkin yksityiskohtia myöten. Laatu näkyy erinomaisessa varustelutasossa, toimivina ratkaisuina sekä tyylikkäinä, kestävinä materiaa leina. Kohteemme sijaitsevat aina keskeisillä ja arvostetuilla paikoilla. Tutustu tarjontaamme ja nosta asumisen laatusi uudelle tasolle. Meiltä saat kodin, joka täyttää toiveesi jokaista piirtoa myöten.
LUE LISÄÄ: TOOLONKESAKATU.FI
AURATUM ASUNNOT • www.auratumasunnot.fi HELSINKI: asunnothelsinki@auratum.com TURKU: asunnotturku@auratum.com
PHOTO RACHEL LI
Explore
Think beyond the box
Serenity now Soak in Japan’s cherry blossom bliss (p. 26) 3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 25
Escape Japan
Think pink
In the spring time, Hirosaki in northern Japan flushes pink with blooming cherry trees. Step into one of Japan’s top sites for sakura spotting. PHOTOS RACHEL LI
26 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
The Botanical Garden at Hirosaki Park is a fan favourite for a reason: Come early spring, the park boasts a canopy of cherry blossoms.
The cherry trees at Hirosaki Park produce more flowering buds than normal cherry Âblossoms due to a special pruning technique adapted from apple tree pruning.
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3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 27
Beautiful sakura trees hang over the moat at the Higashimon entrance. Later in the season, the moat is covered in floating pink petals.
Start with a stroll through the sakura tunnel next to the west moat for an enchanted display of fresh b  lossoms at eye-level.
28 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Night illumination gives the blossoms a different beauty and is one of the top three nightviewing events in Japan.
Rent a boat on the west side of Hirosaki Park and row along the west moat with Mt Iwaki as the perfect backdrop.
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3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 29
FI NNAI R FL I E S TO Tokyo Narita
(NRT) and to Tokyo Haneda (HND) daily.
Takaokabashi bridge views: Take a moment, breathe in the spring air and enjoy.
30 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
EXPLORE FORM&SIMPLICITY IN FINNISH DESIGN With Finland’s rich nature and colorful group of international designers, it can be surprising that a big part of our design is so contained and effortlessly functional. However, it is no wonder since historically our northern location meant everything had to help us survive rough outdoor conditions. The same spirit influences our contemporary design from accessories to service design; everything needs to redeem its promise and serve its user – but it doesn’t hurt to look good while doing so.
LUMOAVA Jewellery doesn’t have to be complicated to be exquisite. The best part about Lumoava’s wide range of silver and gold jewellery is that everyone can find a style that suits them best. Show your true nature at lumoava.com
HURTTA The Finnish way to dress up your pets is more practical than decorative. And rightfully so, because no matter what the weather is like, you want to know your furry friends are safe and dry. Hurtta’s outfits are all about their functionality and design. Get your best friends new gear at hurtta.com
POLAR LIFE HAUS Find inner calm and happiness inside Polar Life Haus’s modern log houses. Their clean lines blend into the surrounding nature or bring nature to urban surroundings with their building materials. Most importantly, their form is functional and serves its occupants for years to come. Find peaceful living at polarlifehaus.com
WHIM APP What if you could travel cities with every means of transportation using just one app? With Whim you get around, buy tickets and check schedules and availabilities – all through one handy app. Talk about making life simply brilliant. Get to know the revolutionary solution at whimapp.com
See it. Feel it. Sense it. designfromfinland.com
GOOD
“A sound bath offers healing vibrations to gently reset the nervous system,” says sound healer Asha Kalka.
32 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Field trip Los Angeles
V I B R AT I O N S Could the healing power of a sound bath offer an antidote to a busy world? There’s no better place than Los Angeles to find out. TEXT KATJA PANTZAR PHOTOS CARLA COFFING
T
ucked inside a modest façade on Ventura Boulevard in LA’s Studio City neighbourhood lies an oasis of calm. At The DEN Meditation studio, people of all ages and all walks of life gather for sound bath sessions to bask in the reverberations from gongs and crystal singing bowls being played by a teacher. “A sound bath offers healing vibrations to gently reset the nervous system,” says Asha Kalka, who is an experienced sound healer and the district manager of the DEN’s Studio City location. “It’s a reset from the stresses of everyday life, from noises such as cell phones beeping and traffic,” says Kalka. The popularity of sound baths is growing in the US, as people look for natural ways to boost their health and wellbeing. According to wellness brand MindBodyGreen, the frequency of commonly used instruments in sound baths has been shown to help
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 33
>
A welcoming space: The DEN Meditation’s lounge and studios.
guide the brain into a more subdued and receptive meditative theta state. Various forms of sound baths have been used for thousands of years in many different cultures as a way to restore balance. The gong, a suspended circular metal disc that’s hit with a mallet, originates from Asia.
THE POWER OF POSITIVITY Kalka discovered the healing arts industry by accident. A professional dancer en route to becoming a ballerina-model-actress, she suffered a spinal injury at age 16 which left her bed-ridden for six months and signalled an end to her dream career. “Through physical therapy I found yoga and this whole new healing world emerged: energy work,
“It’s a reset from the stresses of everyday life, from noises such as cell phones beeping and traffic.” 34 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
sound healing, and meditation. All of these things were unfamiliar to me before,” says Kalka. Kalka, who tried her first sound bath in 2014, says that life-changing experience started a journey that inspired her to purchase a set of crystal bowls so that she could help others by becoming a sound practitioner. But she says she doesn’t consider herself to be a healer: “I believe that we are all our own healers. I’m more like a sound facilitator.” And her journey continues. “Even for people like myself who have been practicing for many years, there’s always something new to hear or take away,” she says.
REAL CONNECTIONS Though the DEN caters to a laid-back crowd, those in the know may spot familiar Hollywood faces getting zen on the yoga mats – the former head of comedy at NBC, Tal Rabinowitz, founded The DEN Meditation in 2016. “Our whole ethos at The DEN Meditation is that everybody’s welcome, our lobby is one of the most healing spaces that we have,” says Kalka. “Clients will sit down with a teacher or each other and just share stories and feel less alone,” who goes on
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“I believe that we are all our own healers. I’m more like a sound facilitator.”
Asha Kalka plays crystal bowls at The DEN Meditation for a relaxing class.
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 35
to say:“With social media we’re so connected yet we’re so disconnected because we’re not sharing energies. When we interact in-person there’s something to be said for that one-on-one, looking someone in the eyes, sitting with them, and hearing their pain. When you’re able to open up and have more compassion for others and for yourself, you realise that you’re not alone.”
TUNING IN A row of large white crystal bowls lines the floor underneath an impressive wall of magnificent gongs at The Soundbath Center on Eagle Rock Boulevard in LA’s Eagle Rock neighbourhood, which has been a backdrop for Hollywood movies and TV shows. The Soundbath Center owner and founder Jamie Bechtold was among the first people in LA to combine gongs and crystal singing bowls and play them together in the early 2000s, initially as part of yoga classes and massage treatments, and later as a part of sound bath sessions in the late 2000s. “A sound bath is a way to tune into yourself, to get to know yourself,” says Bechtold, who like Kalka discovered sound healing through yoga. “The sound affecting your brain helps your body to relax and to calm the sympathetic nervous system, which is all fired up when we’re stressed.” As a biology student in college, she attended her first yoga class where the teacher played a gong. “I was like ‘Wow, this is the most amazing sound ever!’ At the end of the class I asked the instructor where I could get the CD and then she explained it was a gong!” recalls Bechtold, who then started taking yoga classes just to hear the gong. “When >
36 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
“A sound bath is a way to tune into yourself, to get to know yourself.”
The Soundbath Center founder Jamie Bechtold plays a wall of hanging gongs.
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 37
“The gong is such a powerful and empowering instrument.”
The look on eople’s faces is p incredible when they first experience the transformative sound of gongs, says Jamie Bechtold.
38 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
FI NNAI R FL I E S TO
Los Angeles (LAX) three times a week.
At The Soundbath Center sessions are intentionally intimate with room for about ten people.
I would hear it my body would relax, my mind would expand, and I felt so clear and connected afterwards,” she says.
AHEAD OF THE PACK Bechtold says that although she fell in love with the sound of the gong 20 years ago, she didn’t think that it could be a career of any kind. “I got into massage and worked in the field for about a year and started to hear the term ‘sound healing.’ But I hadn’t connected gongs to sound healing yet, as gongs weren’t used much in sound healing back then in the States,” she says. When she gave her first sound baths in 2005, Bechtold did something that she hadn’t heard others do. “I had seen people play either crystal bowls or gongs, but not both in combination. I wanted to play them together and I still do, my specialty is blending multiple gongs and multiple singing bowls together, with anywhere from three to 12 gongs and up to 16 singing bowls,” she says. In 2015 she opened the Soundbath Center, which is an intentionally intimate space with room for about ten people or so. Bechtold says that after years of teaching larger groups – up to 50 people in
a yoga studio – she wanted to have a smaller space. “Everyone’s in the front; it gets cosy and intimate and you really get to experience the sound,” she says. In 2017 she launched sound bath practitioner trainings with her partner Robert Lee so that they could share their passion and teach others how to give sound baths. “When you’re present and tuned in, your selfawareness is enhanced. And feeling good spills into positive life changes, something comes to your awareness that wasn’t there before and you get your own answers and that’s a big thing,” says Bechtold. “The gong is such a powerful and empowering instrument,” says Bechtold. “One of my favourite things is when people play the gong for the first time and they’re like ‘Oh!’ The look on people’s faces is incredible. It’s an instrument that has so many sounds and it’s a really effective as a way for people to connect to themselves and the parts of themselves that they may not have been previously connected to.”
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 39
Smart stuff Discoveries for a clever life
High-end headphones
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F O R YOU R E YES ONLY H AV E YO U E VE R dreamed of super-sight? Well, the dream might be one step closer. California-based Mojo Vision are developing an AR contact lens, from which they aim to not only boost natural vision but act as a micro-display for all kinds of data and information. Though not quite at the prototype stage, when commercially rolled out these super-charged lenses will be a massive leap in wearable computing.
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WAL NUT WO N DER
The Meze 99 Classics are a work of art with solid walnut ear cups that not only look great but also give a great texture to the sound. €309
Podcast pick
WHAT’S THAT SOUND?
B ASS IN YO U R FAC E
Bang & Olufsen’s wireless Beoplay H9’s keep up the standard with booming bass and solid premium framing. €399
40 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Ever wondered why sounds sound the way they do? TW E NTY THOUSAND HE R TZ , from renowned sound designer/mixer Dallas Taylor, explains in great detail the stories (and reasons) behind the most interesting and recognisable sounds that can be heard all around us.
Smart stuff Discoveries for a clever life
Personalised health
BLOO DY G OOD
Nightingale’s blood test and app aim to boost lifelong health.
H E ALTH TEC H is booming like never before, and with it a rise in related innovations. With a pioneering blood-testing technology, Finland’s Nightingale Health aims to provide the best tools for preventative healthcare for everyone. Via this innovation, Nightingale wants to move the focus towards prediction and prevention of chronic illness by democratising the benefits of scientific findings and advanced blood testing.
“Greatness and madness are nextdoor neighbours who borrow each other’s sugar.”
COMBINING ELEGANCE & COMFORT
The good kind of silent treatment.
Smart office
LIKE PEAS IN A POD seem to be here to stay, but so are their downsides: noise, distractions, and lack of privacy. A new generation of office “phone booths” aims to tackle these challenges with pods that offer quiet space from phone calls to meetings. An award-winning novelty comes from Finnish Framery whose 2Q office booth, designed for four to six people, comes with a superior sound insulation system that ensures your meetings won’t disturb the office – and the office noise won’t disturb you.
O P E N- P L AN O F F I C ES
SIESTA - 1952
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES, GETTY IMAGES
COME D I AN JOE R OG AN
FINNISH CRAFTSMANSHIP – WITH RESPECT FOR TRADITION
Flagshipstore Pohjoisranta 2, Helsinki
fasetti.fi
Think again
BAD MOTH E RS The Scummy Mummies celebrate the ups and downs of imperfect parenting in their hugely popular comedy podcast. TEXT SILJA KUDEL PHOTOS OSSI PIISPANEN
TH E S C U M M Y M U M M IE S Ellie Gibson
and Helen Thorn WH AT M AKE S A GRE AT PARE NT
Gibson: “There’s no such thing.” Thorn: “If only we knew.” HOW M U M M Y UNWINDS
Gibson: “Carbohydrates and wine.” Thorn: “Yeah.” TH RE E TH INGS I CAN’T L IV E WITH O U T
Gibson: “Cheese, my children, and tea – in that order.” Thorn: “Pants (I don’t like going commando), wet wipes, and pesto.”
42 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
E
it off, discovering they both had a very parent knows the feeling. background in comedy. You’re looking at a screaming “Open mic circuits of that time were toddler, an overflowing nappy, predominantly male, then suddenly and a household in chaos, there was this woman my age up on and you’re thinking: “Where’s the stage talking about my stuff, and she Chardonnay?” was hilarious! We started hanging out These are among the sticky moments visited by Ellie Gibson and Helen Thorn and had a great time talking about our frustrations and thought ‘Why not put in their Scummy Mummies comedy this on the internet?’ Making a podcast podcast and stand-up show, which is a good excuse to drink wine together!” takes a frank, funny, and fearless look quips Thorn. at issues both big and small affecting Building on the success of the modern parents. An instant hit since its podcast, the duo began performing launch six years ago, the podcast has live five years ago. The been downloaded over three live show differs from million times in more than “We share the podcast by including 150 countries. sketches, songs, silly games, But don’t listen to stories of and an unforgettable visual Scummy Mummies if failures. It’s component: signature you want parenting golden catsuits. advice – Gibson and all about “Ellie and I have different Thorn are definitely not making bodies, but we both wear dispending tips on how to be Supermum. They look people feel the suits with confidence,” says Thorn, who also flies at the joys and hassles normal.” the flag of body-positivity in of parenthood across a her Fat Lot of Good podcast colourful spectrum of topics and @helenwearsasize18 Instagram from flatulence to boring PTA meetings, account. without shying away from difficult What started out as a “good excuse issues. “We share stories of terrible parenting to drink wine” has grown into a hugely successful comedy empire including a failures, stories of sticky fingers, food best-selling book, 105 sell-out shows a on the floor, and poo on our hands. It’s year, and fortnightly podcasts. all about making people feel normal,” “We never expected to be where explains Gibson. we are now. But the most gratifying part is getting feedback from people FAT LOT OF GOOD saying ‘I was breastfeeding at 3 am and really lonely, but your podcast was a It all began when Thorn – a comedian great friend and comfort that helped from a small town in Australia – me though postnatal depression.’ We saw an open mic gig by Gibson, a didn’t consciously mean to, but we’ve video games journalist “too lazy to accidentally done a great service,” says leave London.” The less-than-perfect Thorn. mums got chatting and instantly hit
Comedy gold: Ellie Gibson and Helen Thorn remind mums and dads that parenting is hard, but we’re all in the same rocky boat.
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 43
Conversation Guest writer Mikko Dufva
Symphony of the next decade
I M IKKO D UFVA is a
PHOTO MIIKKA PIRINEN
foresight specialist at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. He analyses trends, looks for weak signals, and imagines better futures.
magine the next decade captured in a symphony. What would it sound like? What would be the theme, the rhythm, the mood? Firstly, I believe the main theme would be ecological crisis and reconstruction. Climate change, loss of biodiversity, resource scarcity – these are things that need to be addressed now. Our responses to the ecological crisis play a crucial part in how the next decade and indeed the whole century will play out. Luckily solutions already do exist, and actions are being taken. Ecological reconstruction – such as the transition to renewable energy, circular economy, and sustainable lifestyles – turns the music from ominous to hopeful. Secondly, the future is noisy. There are so many signals of potential future developments that it’s sometimes hard to cut through all the noise. There are multiple voices telling stories and anecdotes about shifts in behaviour, politics, and priorities. Facts, ideas, and opinions are mixed in a cacophony vying for our attention.
The symphony of the next decade is not a peaceful melody, but rather a discord of tensions, a concerto of polarisation, inequality, technological divides, and generational gaps. The tensions and our responses to them create an erratic, unpredictable rhythm, often verging on the chaotic. The next decade could be described as a transition towards post-normal times – to a world that is not just complex, but also contradictory and confusing. The very idea of what is normal is being challenged again and again. And thirdly, all this confusion and tension stirs mixed emotions. The mood of the symphony is one of sadness, irritation, frustration, but also of hope and joy upon the discovery of new paths and opportunities. Indeed, the tensions could also be seen as a call to action. The next decade will be about rethinking many things we hold immutable: power, the economy, and progress. Imagination and radical hope can guide us in this rethink. The future will be different. The question is: What do we want it to be?
The very idea of what is normal is being challenged.
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PHOTO KIM ÖHRLING
Create
Celebrate accomplishments
Music to my ears Who are the biggest names in Finnish music right now? (p. 48) 3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 47
Hear A new generation of Finnish artists is breaking onto stages across the globe.
TEXT LISSU MOULTON PHOTOS KIM ÖHRLING
Jesse Markin is one of the hottest names in the Finnish urban and indie music scene.
48 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
me out
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 49
Born for this
J
Jesse Markin is ready to take the world by storm.
esse Markin arrived in Finland on his sixth birthday. And in a way it really was a rebirth. Born in Liberia in 1985, Markin spent his first years living in Ghana with his cousins and grandparents. When he and his aunt left to join his father, who was studying in Finland, Markin had no idea where the plane or life would take him. When they finally landed, Markin found himself in Viljakkala, a tiny town around an hour from the city of Tampere and a world away from everything he’d known before. “There were 2,500 people and one black boy,” Markin says. Everywhere he went and everything he did was everybody’s business. “I felt like all eyes were always on me.” Markin didn’t know it back then but being the centre of attention was something he was going to have to get used to. When he was around 13, a group of Markin’s friends decided to put a band together and invited him to join. Well, sort of. “You’re black, so you can rap, right?” they asked. Up until then, Markin’s musical experience was limited to “singing in the shower just like everyone else,” but he was the band’s best option, so he went for it. “It turns out they weren’t wrong. I just didn’t know it myself yet,” Markin laughs.
After wowing audiences in his hometown of Viljakkala, Markin went on to make a name for himself as the front man of the massively popular and critically acclaimed hip-hop group The Megaphone State. Now, he’s ready to go solo. Since dropping his debut album Folk in May 2019, Markin has quickly become one of the hottest names in the Finnish urban and indie music scene, with critics, industry experts, and audiences all saying he’s headed for international stardom. Markin describes his sound as a fusion of different genres he “just liked.” He blends rap, soul, and progressive rock into something totally unique and deeply authentic. Markin wants to use his music to talk about things like love, hope, and greed – plus some things that not many people want to talk about. “I’m experiencing life as a black man in a really white society. I grew up putting whiteness on a pedestal instead of myself,” he says. Music is Markin’s way of challenging that. The music Markin is making is one leg of the long journey he embarked on almost 30 years ago with his aunt. “I was born in Liberia,” Markin says. “But in Viljakkala I found a part of myself that I might never have found otherwise.”
“Lots of people feel pressure to fit in, but as an artist you have to stand out.”
50 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
>
Markin is one of the only English-language rappers in Finland. He never took singing lessons or studied music. “I started out singing in the shower just like everyone else.�
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 51
Lxandra’s songs are like a heart-to-heart between her and her audience.
52 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Hear her roar Lxandra uses her voice to encourage everyone else to use theirs.
L
xandra has always had the urge to tell stories. When she was a little girl, every time she would sit on the toilet, a long and detailed story would come out. “My parents eventually put them into a book called ‘Poop Stories,’ she says. Every poop story started with the same line: Once upon a time there was a little girl…. And then all kinds of amazing things would happen. Lxandra is all grown up, but the story she’s living right now is wilder
than any of the ones she dreamed up as a kid. It’s been a little over a year since she dropped her second major-label single Swimming Pools, off the newlyreleased EP Another Lesson Learned. Since then, the 23-year-old has snagged the prestigious Music Moves Europe Talent Award for pop, her voice has been compared to Adele, she’s opened for Dua Lipa, and critics are predicting she’s going to be Finland’s biggest gift to the pop world since Alma.
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3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 53
Lxandra describes her music as emotional, mostly piano-driven, darker pop that encourages people – especially women – to be loud, free, and “not give a s**t what other people think about them,” she says. That’s something Lxandra has had to learn first-hand. Right now, Lxandra lives and works in Berlin, but she grew up on the Finnish fortress-island of Suomenlinna, just across from Helsinki’s Market Square. Growing up, Lxandra says she lived on an island in more ways than one. “I’ve always felt like an outsider and been a bit of a ‘weirdo,’” she says. Lxandra says that while she cared deeply about what other people thought
about her, the experience of not always fitting in helped shape her into the artist she is today. After all, “if you want to tell stories, you have to have stories to tell,” she says. Lxandra says that the biggest gift she can get as an artist is that something she’s created has the power to help someone get through really hard times or experience something wonderful even more intensely. Like the couple from Germany that got married last summer with Swimming Pools playing in the background. And like all the people – especially women and girls – who are doing exactly what Lxandra is: “Showing a big middle finger to society’s expectations.”
“If you want to tell stories, you have to have stories to tell.”
54 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
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“Singing is like therapy for me. I don’t think I could live without it,” says Lxandra.
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 55
Lake Jons’s newest album, The Coast, takes them away from the city and back into the forest.
56 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
A force of nature Jooel Jons and Mikko Pennanen are on a musical journey back to their roots.
I
f you’ve ever wondered what the misty Finnish forest and deep, dark lakes sound like, you’re going to want to stream yourself some music by the Helsinkibased duo, Lake Jons. Made up of friends, Jooel Jons and Mikko Pennanen, Lake Jons has a sound that’s hard to pin down, seemingly going from deep, soulful, and almost heart-wrenching to playful and whimsical – all in the space of a few chords. And audiences in Finland and beyond are loving every second of it. Jons and Pennanen don’t like trying to stuff their music into any overly defined genres, preferring instead to talk about how it sounds and feels. “I like to think it sounds like nature,” Jons says, with Pennanen adding that they want to make music that’s “off the grid and not too perfect.” The band’s name is meant to represent a perfect place in nature that’s untouched by industry and where money means nothing. “It’s like a Finnish Shangri-La,” Jons says. Both Jons and Pennanen say that while it might sound like a cliché, they really do take a lot of their inspiration from nature. And they like the idea of using their music as a way to talk about how important it is to value nature and human connections over material things. As such, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that Jons and
Pennanen started making music in Jons’ grandmother’s garage, which they say is located in a top-secret location in the greater Helsinki area. For a long time the garage was their main studio and also a chance for Jons and Pennanen to spend some quality time with Grandma. “She likes to make us waffles,” Jons smiles, with Pennanen adding: “Really, really nice waffles.” Jons’s grandmother has gotten to hear many of the band’s songs before anyone else. But they have a pretty huge fan base outside of the garage, too. When asked to describe their audience, Pennanen says: “I’ve never been brave enough to look.” He’s just kidding, of course. The truth is, the band loves connecting with their fans, but – like the music itself – most of the true magic really happens away from the city. “Sometimes when we have gigs in Kuopio or Pietarsaari, we can spend the whole night hanging out with fans. That never happens in Helsinki,” they say. While the band has played everything from main festival stages to the iconic Helsinki-venue Tavastia, their favourite place to play is a bar called Musikcafé After Eight in Pietarsaari, which is around six hours northwest of Helsinki. “They don’t even charge admission, but the guy who runs the place is so nice that we play there whenever he invites us to come,” they say.
“We like music that sounds like it’s off the grid.”
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 57
Sidesteps Denmark
At low tide, the long, wide, sandy Henne beach is perfect for riding.
LI F E ’ S A B E AC H Denmark’s North Sea coast is the place to be for a healthy coastal escape. TEXT AND PHOTOS TIM BIRD
58 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
The bunker mules on Blåvand beach are wartime defences converted to symbols of peace.
Blåvandshuk lighthouse marks one of Denmark’s most westerly points.
I
n Denmark you are never more than about 50 kilometres from the coast. Danish beach life is associated with good health and outdoor therapy, both physical and mental. Spa hotels and restaurants nestle in the dunes, children build castles, and joggers trot off along the shorelines at dawn and sunset. The sandy natural playgrounds close to the North Sea port of Esbjerg are the essence of the Danish seaside escape, offering all its invigorating delights and activities.
RIDE AWAY In true Danish fashion, bikes are readily and affordably available to rent from hotels and they make an excellent transport for exploring Blåvand’s attractions. Within a leisurely hour’s ride, you can find the functioning Blåvandshuk lighthouse and the four bunker mules, a series of former Second World War German defence bunkers. Half submerged in the sand, the concrete bunkers were later supplemented with seawardfacing mule heads by British artist Bill Woodrow, transforming them into pieces of art. >
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 59
Hotels and selfcatering villas nestle in the dunes, within easy reach of the beach.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME The thatched roof b ungalows and apartments of Hvidbjerg Strand hotel are located seconds from the Blåvand beach yet sheltered by the surrounding dunes. Guests at the spacious self-catering beach villas and apartments have acres of sand to themselves for beach walks, as well as easy access to the nearby spa and the restaurant. A 30-minute drive further north one finds the Henne Mølle Å Badehotel, a classic Danish “bathing hotel” surrounded by carpets of purple heather and furnished with 1930s elegant white furniture.
SALTY COMFORTS
FI N N A I R F L I ES TO Copenhagen
(CPH) six times a day.
Gourmet Danish dining at Restaurant Høfde 4.
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Sea air works up an appetite. Happily, there are top class options available to satisfy this requirement. The pick of the gourmet bunch is Restaurant Høfde 4, a bistro located just below the dunes at Blåvand. The classic Bakskuld, consisting of salted, dried and smoked fish with tartare sauce and rye bread, makes a tasty lunch at the all-organic Henne Mølle Å Badehotel. For a fabulous hearty open sandwich topped with local salami, bacon, and smoked cheese, helped down with local craft beer, stop off at Claus Skov’s delicatessen and charcuterie store in Blåvand village, Hr. Skov.
>>> LIVE THE FINNISH drEAm >>>
TRUE BLUE Blåvand is blessed with long, clean, white sand beaches that stretch out at low tide, while the grassy dunes provide sheltered picnic spots and perfect hideaways for sunbathers and book readers. Lifeguards keep watch where rip tides might sometimes hold sway, but the full force of the potentially ferocious North Sea is kept at bay by offshore sand ridges.
NUUKSIO Villa 119/140 m2
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sauna Ultimate paRadise by the pure lake of Kolmperä, only 30 min from Helsinki city centre and the airport. modern house blends beautifully into the surrounding nature and can also be sold fully furnished. located close to Nuuksio National park on a fenced property and a private no-through street. this spectacular place is a unique example of Finnish nature and design at it’s best. an absolute must-see for those seeking the perfect holiday home for year-round use. laitamaanranta 28, Kirkkonummi. 865 000 €.
Men at Sea: Svend Wiig Hansen’s sculpture is an Esbjerg landmark.
NäSINIeMI Mansion 400/558 m2
6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, saunas, tennis court
STAND TALL On the outskirts of Esbjerg, the evening light sheds an eerie glow on four giant figures towering above the promenade. The seated nine-metre-tall male sculptures are the Mennesket ved Havet, or Men at Sea, the work of artist Svend Wiig Hansen, and are located near the Fisheries and Maritime Museum.
a stUNNiNg maNsioN with over 1,5 acres of prime lakefront property. move-in ready home with everything you wish to desire. Custom gated property is a true haven by the beautiful lake Bodom, only 30 min from Helsinki city centre and the airport. the separate saunabuilding by the lake has been kept traditional and provides an authentic sauna experience. Näsiniementie 9, espoo. 2 260 000 €.
HEIdI LUUmI Kiinteistönvälittäjä Real estate professional Maison Luumi Oy + 358 (0)45 135 1967 heidi@maisonluumi.fi www.maisonluumi.fi
TEHOKASTA JA VASTUULLISTA KIINTEISTÖNVÄLITYSTÄ
Ilahu boards are tested on the slopes of Finnish Lapland.
62 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Let’s get on board The Finnish founders of Ilahu snow surfing boards bring fresh playfulness to winter sports. TEXT HANNES NISSINEN PHOTOS JANI KÄRPPÄ AND OTTO PONTO
I
s it a snowboard? Is it a surfboard? No, it’s a snurfboard and it all started with the word “joy.” Or at least that’s the word that inspired Ilahu (“rejoice” in Finnish), the brand name of carpenter Jan Leutola’s snurfboards. Snow surfing, or snurfing, an alternative genre of snowboarding has been around since the ’60s but has recently gained popularity as more brands are bringing snurfboards to the market. Among these is Treeform, a company founded by Leutola and designer Maxim Narbrough, that produces handcrafted snow surfing boards in Finnish Lapland. The idea behind Ilahu, however, was born on the other side of Europe in Cádiz, a small Andalusian town where Leutola and his wife lived for ten years. During his time on the Atlantic coast, Leutola came up with the idea of producing snurfboards for the slopes of Lapland. After all, he had crafted downhill skateboards back in the ’90s – how different could this be? His friend Narbrough, who grew up on the skate ramps of Hastings in East England, was immediately up to the task. “There aren’t too many surf breaks in Rovaniemi,” says Narbrough, who first
FI NNAI R FL I E S TO
Rovaniemi (RVN) six times a day.
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3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 63
JAN L E UTOL A
Founder of Treeform, a Lapland-based company producing Ilahu snow surf boards MOTTO
“Different stokes for different folks. There are as many styles of snow surfing as there are surfers.” D O I T YOUR SE L F
“Skating, surfing, and the DIY culture surrounding the sport have always been close to our hearts.” MOUNTAI N OR HI L L?
“You can get the same kicks on a small hill as you can on a mountain. It’s all about preference.”
Jan Leutola hand finishes Ilahu boards at the workshop in Rovaniemi.
came to Lapland as an exchange student in the ’90s. “But there are a lot of downhill slopes in Lapland to surf on.”
POWDER PEOPLE
The two friends, Leutola and Narbrough, head for the slopes whenever they can.
64 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Unlike snowboards, snow surfing boards are primarily designed for fresh off-piste snow. They have no binding and require no special footwear – any boot will do. The sport is essentially a mixture of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding. Without binding, you experience a greater sense of freedom, letting you feel the snow in an exciting way. “By reducing the amount of gear, you get closer to the heart of the matter,” Narbrough says. When Treeform was founded in 2011, the duo initially focused on furniture, but soon shifted their focus to surfboards for snow.
The first interested customers were friends, but the boards soon caught the attention of the wider sporting public. “The story is similar to how snowboarding got started. We’re going back to the roots of the sport with a modern twist,” says Leutola. Today, with snow surfing witnessing an international boom, Ilahu produces several kinds of boards for snow surfing. All boards are hand-made from Finnish birch and paper composite. In addition to Ilahu boards, Treeform also produces furniture and exhibition structures in Rovaniemi. Today, Jan Leutola runs the company by himself but the two friends head for the slopes around the city whenever they get the chance. A community has formed around the sport, and all new products are tested by a group of fellow snurfers. “Snow and a few friends in tow is all you need,” concludes Leutola.
“We’re going back to the roots of the sport with a modern twist.”
Without binding, you experience a greater sense of freedom.
Snow surfing has become an international phenomenom in recent years.
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 65
Showroom Celebrating creative outcomes
BEAR NECESSITIES
COMPILED BY SILJA KUDEL
Special delivery
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Come out of hibernation with a roar.
B OX is a new self-service collection point in downtown Helsinki where customers can pick up their online orders. A strong contender for the title of world’s funkiest post office, the interiors feature a standout pink-and-khaki colour scheme by design studio Fyra. The space comprises velvet-curtained fitting rooms, a recycling zone, and even a cosy lounge for grabbing a coffee. The worldfirst concept responds to new consumer needs by filling the “missing link” between online retailers and shoppers.
TE D DY TOT E
Step out looking fierce with a silk-screened tote bag by Emma Leppermann, €25 from Estonian Design House
S C E NTE D TRA I L
The bear cub that left its imprint on this organic soap now has a juniperscented paw. €14.40 from Aamumaa
Book nook
SMALL BOOK OF BIG HEROES
H O NE Y H UN T ER
Go wild in the kitchen with a chopping board by Miiko. Also doubles as an elegant pot stand. €32.
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€15.50 from Etana Editions (Finnish edition)
Steven Hawking is the latest addition to the L I TTL E G UI D E S TO G R E AT L I VE S series, offering kids a fun, accessible introduction to one of the world’s most famous scientists. The beautifully illustrated guides recount stories of figures from Frida Kahlo to Maya Angelou.
PHOTOS RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI, COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES
Orders are stored in 600 bubblegumpink lockers in the rear.
Showroom Celebrating creative outcomes
KLAUS H AAPAN IEMI
No shrinking violet
Dark plum amplifies the Slavic notes of the Opium silk minidress. €398.99
DEEP PURPLE
M AD E BY C H O I C E
Shiny mulberry adds mystery to this enigmatic storage container by Hanna Anonen. €250
Cool blue and fiery red find a perfect balance in the plummy colour of creativity. With snap-on short or long strap.
Nocturnal blooms evoke the dark arts.
NANNA SUSI
Magenta, eggplant, and lilac express complex moods in the artist’s latest exhibition in Rovaniemi.
LUMI ACCE SSOR I E S
The classic Supermarket Bag takes on an an arty hue of violet. €360
LEAF
KnowledgeCotton Apparel’s ribbing hat in royal purple is your crown of choice on chilly days. €14.98
The movable pavilion will be re-erected every two years.
ART IN THE ARCHIPELAGO PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COMPANIES
SOAK SUSTAINAIBLY A WO O D E N bathtub might seem like a counter-intuitive idea, but Finnish company Woodio crafts bathroom fittings using a waterproof composite made of real wood chips. Boasting a significantly lower carbon footprint than their traditional ceramic counterparts, Woodio products are disposable. When the time comes to pull the plug, the whole tub can be burned for energy.
by leading international artists will fill the cobbled paths and historic buildings of Vallisaari Island next summer with the launch of a brand-new major art event, the Helsinki Biennial. One of the architectural highlights will be a temporary wooden pavilion designed by Verstas Architects. Evoking the smooth cliffs of Helsinki, the pavilion will double as an event venue and ferry terminal for passengers travelling to Vallisaari.
WOR KS
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WE COMBAT ANIMAL DISEASES TOGETHER! We want to prevent serious animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever and African swine fever from spreading to Finland. These and other animal diseases can be transmitted from one country to another by animals or by meat and dairy products even if they are packed for personal consumption or intended as gifts. Travelers like you play an important role in preventing the spread of animal diseases.
Don’t bring meat, meat products, milk and dairy products from non-EU countries to Finland! A ban on personal imports applies to meat and dairy products brought into Finland by travelers or ordered and sent through the post. The ban applies to foodstuffs intended for personal consumption or as gifts and to pet foods. If you have food products of animal origin with you, throw them in a waste container in the point of entry or contact Customs! Outside the EU, African swine fever has been detected in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Serbia, Africa, China as well as in many other countries in east and southeast Asia for instance. Although not dangerous to humans, the disease is deadly to pigs and keeps spreading from country to country if not stopped.
Bringing meat-containing products as presents and for personal use from an EU country to Finland At the moment, there are EU countries with cases of African swine fever. In those countries there are restriction areas and, as a rule, pork or wild boar meat or products containing these meats may not be imported from these areas into Finland. Import is allowed only under very strict criteria controlled by local authorities. However, the sales of these meat products within the country may be allowed. In the EU, the disease has been detected in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Belgium and Italy (Sardinia) for instance. It is difficult for travelers to know and prove from which area meat products originate and whether the products on sale meet all criteria. This is the reason why we recommend that people avoid importing any meat products containing pork or wild boar meat as presents or for personal use from countries with African swine fever. PLEASE NOTE! Never leave any food waste or scraps in the environment or places where they may be eaten by wildlife. Never give food waste or scraps to production animals or to pet pigs.
Thank you for helping us to prevent the spread of animal diseases. We wish you a pleasant journey! More information on private import:
Lisätietoja yksityisestä tuonnista:
Showroom Celebrating creative outcomes
Q&A
CREATIVE CRITTERS
Finnish artist duo nabbteeri are currently exhibiting in Kiasma.
Welcome to discover captivating experiences and deeper meanings – to calm, to disagree, to be surprised and empowered by dance! 10. & 11.6. winter guests (NO): STORY, STORY, DIE. by ALAN LUCIEN ØYEN 10. & 11.6. CCN2 Grenoble (FR): MOVING PIECES by YOANN BOURGEOIS 10., 11. & 12.6. Dance Schools On Stage 12. & 13.6. GN|MC Guy Nader | Maria Campos (ES): SET OF SETS 12., 13. & 14.6. Genelec-Gala 13. & 14.6. Iiro Näkki (FI): [ frames ]
PHOTO PIRJE MYKKÄNEN / KANSALLISMUSEO
Bugs become artists in the work of nabbteeri, who invite us to slow down and notice our miniature neighbours. JANNE NAB B A N D M A R I A
W H Y D O YO U M A KE AR T
TE E RI, H OW CO M E YO U
O U T O F M AT ER I AL S FOUND
H AV E A “ CO M B I N ED ”
O N S I T E?
ARTISTIC ID E N T I T Y ? “Our collaboration started off as a series of experiments in 2008. We wanted to step off the default artist’s career path which is still widely seen as an individualistic and competitive one.”
“In the current overwhelming multitude of materials, constructing works from a diverse range of things that happen to be available can be seen as fruitful preparation for a world of decreasing resources.”
14.6. Compagnie 111 – Aurélien Bory (FR): CORPS NOIR 15.6. Le Patin Libre (CA): THRESHOLD 15. & 16.6. Peeping Tom (BE): KIND by G. CARRIZO & F. CHARTIER 15. & 16.6. Cristiana Morganti (IT): JESSICA AND ME
N A M E A PL AC E I N THE TINY O RGANIS MS PL AY
WO R L D T H AT EXC I TE S YOU
A M AJ O R RO L E I N YO U R
V I S UA L LY.
“Art merges with life and all the mundane things around us. Moving to the countryside has put us more in touch with soil, the garden, and their critters. WO RKS . WH Y ?
“Our favourites, undeveloped wastelands, vary largely from city to city. Their biodiversity, such as lichens and algae that occupy even the most inhospitable urban corners, never cease to enchant us.”
Ticket Sales:
72 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Investigation
Little more conversation How conscious listening could boost your happiness and working life. TEXT TIM BIRD ILLUSTRATION CAMILLE ROMANO
I
n this increasingly noisy world, our ability to listen to arguments and opinions is eroding. And it is making us miserable. According to the founder of The Sound Agency, sound and communication expert Julian Treasure, conscious listening is a skill that has been submerged in a flood of social media and technology, encouraging impatience and nurturing a landscape where conversation has been replaced by shouting. Yet, conscious listening enhances happiness, effectiveness, and wellbeing, says Treasure, whose TED talk videos attract millions of viewers. His popular book, How to be heard: Secrets for powerful speaking that will transform your communication skills looks into how to speak so that people listen, and how to listen so that people feel heard, both in a workplace or in social or political situations. Treasure prefers the “conscious listening” tag to that of “deep listening” preferred by other experts on the topic. Both are buzzwords for what used to be a basic and inherited tool for people to get along with each other. In the same way that people are more aware of what they need to eat and do to stay healthy, the argument that they also need to be
more diligent in their listening skills is convincing. Treasure and his fellow advocates believe that one can be confident and assertive without sacrificing empathy and receptiveness to conflicting opinions. Treasure argues that the futures of civil society and democracy depend on the expression of “enlightened disagreement,” and this in turn depends on the act of listening. Children are taught how to read and write at school – but not to listen. Treasure believes it’s time to add listening to the school curriculum.
TEXTING OVER TALKING? Treasure is not alone in placing an emphasis on conversation. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, professor Sherry Turkle has been exploring computer culture for 40 years, summing it up as a flight from conversation and empathy. In her book Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, she warns that the conveniences of technology are removing people from the social and emotional skills that “make them human” – including the skill of listening. As is the case with Julian Treasure, professor
>
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MAINOS TOIMIVA TOIMINTAMATKA (WLTP) Yhdistetty
311 km Kaupunki 412 km SUPERPIHI SÄHKÖNKULUTUS
138 Wh/km AJONAIKAISET CO2-PÄÄSTÖT
0 g/km
Oikean sähkön lataaminen on yksinkertaisempaa kuin polttoainepistoolin valinta – väärää sähköä ei ole.
Hyundai IONIQ Electric hurmaa hiljaisuudellaan ja täsmällisillä vastauksillaan kaasupolkimen pyyntöihin. Ajaminen on ihanaa!
IONIQ Electricin saat mukaasi edullisimmillaan 37 990 eurolla*. Maalis kuun ajan saat 3 vuoden huolenpitosopimuksen 0 €/kk (45 000 km). * Hinta alkaen 39 390 €, toimituskulu 600 €, valtion hankintatuki yksityishenkilöille 2 000 €
Täyttä sähköä Hyundai IONIQ Electric -täyssähköauton saat ajoon alle kuukaudessa. Sähköinen tulevaisuus on nyt.
Hyundai IONIQin verhoi luissa on käytetty uusiutuvia luonnonmateriaaleja, kuten puuta ja sokeriruokoa, sekä vulkaanista kiveä.
Sähköautoilijana saat paikkakuntakohtaisia etuja. Esimerkiksi Helsingissä kadunvarsipysäköinti puoleen hintaan maksu vyöhykkeillä 1 ja 2.
hyundai.fi
Korkeajänniteakun takuu on 8 vuotta tai 200 000 km, kumpi ensin täyttyy.
Lataa siellä, minne muutenkin menisit. Voit samalla tehdä jotain hauskaa, tai hoitaa vaikka viikon lopun ruokaostokset.
We struggle to pay attention to ourselves and what suffers is the ability to pay attention to each other.
Turkle’s arguments ring true in the workplace as much as anywhere else. “Our culture is preoccupied with presentation and getting it right,” she says. Our dependence on phones and devices has encouraged this. “In business, love, and friendships, we text rather than talk, we’d rather email than be face to face. You can always edit yourself,” she says. Turkle identifies a crisis in empathy in all aspects of modern life, the best cure for which is conversation. “The good news is that we are wired for empathy and conversation. Face-to-face conversation is the most human and humanising thing that we do. I am not anti-technology - I am pro-conversation. I’m not talking about giving up our phones, I’m talking about using them mindfully. We don’t have to reinvent anything.” Reclaiming conversation, however, requires rediscovering solitude. “In solitude you find yourself and prepare yourself for conversation with something that’s authentic. You can learn to have conversations with yourself and reflections that are a cornerstone for life. We struggle to pay attention to ourselves and what suffers is the ability to pay attention to each other. Conversation takes place in real time and you can’t control what you’re going to say. We’re rich, messy, demanding in our conversation,” notes Turkle.
PRODUCTIVITY BOOST Conversation at work also needs to be encouraged, she says. “When employees take their breaks
together, productivity goes up. People think too often that they are only productive when they are at their screens. They feel in control, but they are wrong about their productivity.” A call and a visit will convert an inquiry into an account more efficiently than just an email. “You can’t buy a relationship over an email,” says Turkle. Julian Treasure shares Turkle’s optimism that the twin arts of listening and conversation can be revitalised. He offers a pathway of five simple exercises towards improving our conscious listening. The first, in line with Turkle’s advocacy of solitude, is to experience three minutes of silence daily, to reset one’s ears and recalibrate hearing. Secondly, he proposes what he calls “the mixer,” whereby we separate the individual sounds or voices in a lively environment – a busy office or a bustling restaurant or café would serve as well as a natural environment full of birdsong or flowing water. The third exercise he refers to as “savouring,” that is, tuning in to and appreciating the “hidden choir” of ordinary everyday sounds – a tumble dryer or a coffee grinder, for example. The fourth and most important exercise is being able to adopt the most appropriate listening position for particular sounds, playing with the filters that enable us to pick out individual sounds from a collective din, and ascribe meaning to them For Treasure, listening is a matter of spiritual as well as practical significance. “I believe that every human being needs to listen consciously in order to live fully,” he concludes.
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 75
Fly with the brighter alliance. Welcome to oneworld®, an alliance of 13 world-leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and connecting you to over 1,000 destinations around the world. It’s the smartest way to travel and make your connections to more than 150 countries worldwide. Exploring the world has never been easier. If you’re planning to visit three, four, five or more continents in a single trip, booking a oneworld Explorer fare is the simpler way to travel around the world. Select routes, plan stopovers, and book your itinerary by searching global travel options that fit your needs. Learn more about how you can travel bright at oneworld.com
Enjoy more places. And how you get there.
Finnair Plus Silver oneworld Ruby
Finnair Plus Gold oneworld Sapphire
Finnair Plus Platinum oneworld Emerald
Earn and redeem Finnair Plus points on all oneworld member airlines Earn Tier points on all eligible oneworld flights Access to Business Class priority check-in Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating Priority on waitlists and when on standby Access to Business Class lounges Priority boarding Extra baggage allowance Priority baggage handling Access to First Class priority check-in Access to First Class lounges Fast track at security lanes Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating is in accordance with the individual policy of the oneworld member airline operating the flight. First and business class check-in desks and lounges are not available at all airports. Fast track is not available at all airports. Priority baggage handling is not available on flights operated by British Airways. Extra baggage allowance benefits differ for Sapphire and Emerald level members. oneworld benefits are available only to passengers on scheduled flights that are both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline (marketed means that there must be a oneworld member airline’s flight number on your ticket). American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LATAM Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and oneworld are trademarks of their respective companies. LATAM Airlines (Paraguay) is currently not a part of oneworld. Some limitations and exceptions may apply. For more information, visit www.oneworld.com/benefits. Fiji Airways is a oneworld connect partner which provides select alliance benefits to oneworld members. For more information, visit www.oneworld.com/oneworld-connect.
The happy place In search of good living with global creatives
Little morning delights. City inspiration in the historic Sugar Hill district.
In New York, jazz is present everywhere.
How do you recharge your creative batteries, jazz bassist Kaisa Mäensivu?
I N THE CI TY? Smalls and Mezzrow in the Village are two of my favourites. I also like The 55 Bar as well as Village Vanguard, which is a legendary spot. W HAT’S YOUR FAVOUR I TE MOR NI NG R OUTI NE ? I normally sleep in since most of my work is during the evening. Nothing wakes me up better than an Americano from the coffee shop next door! W HE R E D O YOU G O FOR SOME
My absolute favourite is a Korean SoJo spa in New Jersey, right across the Hudson. I also like to go hiking in Beacon, upstate New York.
ME -TI ME ?
WH AT I N S PI R ES YO U M OST A B O U T
The history of jazz is everpresent and there’s such an amazing cast of characters and musicians that make up the community.
NE W YO R K ?
78 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
SHAR E YOUR ULTI MATE FAVOUR I TE SOUNDSCAPE ? The sound of crackling wood in a sauna stove on a summer evening.
KAI SA MÄE NSIVU is
a Finnish upright bass player and composer working in New York and Finland. She also leads her own quartet: Kaisa’s Machine. kaisazz
PHOTOS TIINA ARMINEN, JASON BRISCOE, SASH MARGRIE HUNT
The swinging city
W HE R E D O YOU G O FOR G R E AT JAZZ
Fly
The world of Finnair
Elusive volcano eternal and holy about a mountain. When it comes to Mt. Fuji, the iconic mountain of Japan, its beauty, symmetry, and mystery forever inspires and calls to poets, artists, and travellers the world over. The cone-shaped white peak is a notoriously elusive sight, yet worth chasing year-round.
TH E RE ’ S S O M ET H I N G
PHOTO ISTOCK
Finnair flies to Tokyo Narita and Tokyo Haneda daily.
Inspiring journeys The world is your playground with Finnair’s extensive network 3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 79
HELSINKI
TRONDHEIM
FIND THE NORDIC TWIST Finnair flies non-stop from Helsinki to Trondheim several times a week. Book your flights at finnair.com
World of Finnair Highlights of the month
You can also ask the cabin crew to refill your cup.
Sustainability
GOODBYE PLASTICS to halve single-use plastics in catering services by the end of 2022, Finnair has reduced packaging materials of the onboard sandwich selection by 50 per cent. The airline is also replacing plastic cups with paper ones, with the target of saving more than 11 tonnes of single-use plastic a year. W I TH THE AI M
Did you know the non-Schengen Finnair Business Class lounge is only 45â‚Ź during off-peak hours? Easy travels
FLY & RAIL AWAY Finnair offers a convenient option that combines flight tickets with a train journey. Operated in conjunction with German Deutsche Bahn, customers can fly to one of Finnair’s destinations in Germany and continue by train to over 5,600 destinations across the country.
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 81
HELSINKI
LJUBLJANA
BREATHE THE CULTURE Finnair flies non-stop from Helsinki to Ljubljana several times a week from 30 March until 24 October 2020. Book your flights at finnair.com
World of Finnair Flying stories
Get social
annamari.emilia Darkness is over! #pudasjärvi #finland
SHARE YOUR Finnair moments on Instagram! Use #feelfinnair, if you want to be featured.
aaronjamescarpiosacil Tea Break on Mars. #lostiniceland
pinjaelvina Some inspiration for what to have as houseplants. #architecture #newyork
FINNAIR ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Did you know that you can do yoga on a plane? You can stretch and unwind with the videos provided by Yogaia onboard our A330 and A350 aircraft.
FINNAIR
Lapland is one of the places where you can enjoy the magical night sky without light pollution.
F EEL FI NNAI R
In a few days, we’ll get the 15th member to our A350 family! Our new aircraft, registered as OH-LWP, will be flying home to Helsinki Airport soon.
FI NNAI R
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 83
World of Finnair Entertainment
WHAT’S PLAYING KNIVES OUT
A fresh, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect.
FROZEN II
Elsa and Anna journey into the unknown in search of truths about the past.
JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL
In Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed.
BOMBSHELL
A group of women decide to take on Fox News head Roger Ailes.
Stay connected THE NORDIC SKY portal is available on all inter-
continental flights and most European flights, and gives you access to news, destination information, and Finnair services. You can use the portal to connect your own devices to the internet.
WI-FI PRICES
KEEP IN TOUCH
Based on the true story of the visionary Carroll Shelby and the fearless Ken Miles.
Short haul
LE MANS ‘66
0-2 H
2+ H
BROWSE 4.95€ STREAM 10.95€ BROWSE 6.95€ STREAM 14.95€
Dan Torrance has fought to find some semblance of peace.
84 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Long haul
DOCTOR SLEEP
1H
7.95€
3H
11.95€
12 H
19.95€
FI NNAI R CHAT Finnair Live chat is available every day of the week.
chatbot, affectionately known as Finn, who is ready to help plan your journey via Finnair’s global Facebook Messenger account. ME E T FI NNAI R ’S
FI NNAI R APP Tap your way through your journey. Log in with your last name and booking reference or your Finnair Plus username and password. W ECHAT Follow Finnair’s official WeChat account.
World of Finnair Frequent flyer program
Finnair Plus membership THE FINNAIR PLUS program allows
FI
N
N
A JO IR IN .C A O T M /P L
U
S
you to earn both tier points and award points when travelling with Finnair or a oneworld airline and award points from services provided by Finnair Plus partners.
A WORLD OF BENEFITS for free by filling in the form online at finnair.com/plus. As a Plus member, you get access to valuable benefits and rewards. Earn points for flights and services and use them both at home and abroad. You can use your Finnair Plus award points for additional Finnair services such as seat
J O IN FINNAIR PLU S
WHAT’S NEW THIS MONTH?
FROM OUR PARTNERS
Earn points with Avainapteekit
selection, meals, and extra baggage payments. The number of points you pay depends on your flight and the chosen service. You can pay for travel extras at the time you book your reservation or later through the Manage Booking tab. Go to finnairshop.com to find Finnair gift cards, partner services, and award vouchers.
Earn 500 Finnair Plus points when you buy €50 worth of Orion’s campaign products from Avainapteekit. Enjoy your holiday without worrying about your health.
your Business Class upgrades via the Finnair app. You can purchase upgrades with a debit/credit card, Finnair Plus points, or upgrade benefits. When paying with points or using upgrade benefits, you can check availability of upgrades and get waitlisted. Finnair will confirm upgrade status at least 37 hours before your flight. finnair.com/en/manage/upgrade MANAG E
Hotel benefits from around the world Make the most of your Finnair Plus membership with a hotel stay. You can use and earn Finnair Plus points from hotels around the world as well as get other benefits by showing your Finnair Plus card. finnairshop.com
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 85
World of Finnair finnairshop.com
4 easy ways to shop FIND THE BEST deals on Âtax-free Âproducts and enjoy
special Finnair Plus offers at finnairshop.com
Home delivery
Onboard
Use Finnair Plus points to shop for products delivered directly to your home.
Shop online via your own mobile device during the flight using the complimentary Nordic Sky portal.
Pre-order
Vouchers
Pre-order online before your Finnair flight: finnairshop.com.
Use Finnair Plus points to redeem a voucher for restaurants, hotel stays, car rentals, and much more.
20%
OFF
86 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
This month, receive a 20% discount on all pre-order purchases from March 2-31, 2020. In addition, receive 20% off all onboard purchases from March 16-31, 2020. Please visit finnairshop.com, check the catalogue in the seat pocket, or ask a cabin crew member for more information.
World of Finnair finnairshop.com
March picks
FINNAIR PLUS OFFERS
FIND THE PERFECT gift or exclusive Organic and luxurious all-in-one!
souvenir from finnairshop.com
JOYACTOR TI NYMATE
Small and light wireless earbuds with good sound quality. Pre-order € 99
Stays put even while exercising!
SUUNTO 5 AL L E L SE FAD E S
This compact GPS watch is engineered to perform with you and to help find your flow. € 3 09 + 1,000 P
Home delivery
EL I Z A BET H A R DEN
Ceramide & Retinol Capsules Day and Night Serum Duo rejuvenates skin.
MONTHLY VOUCHER OFFER
Pre-order €69
H E NUA REC H ARGIN G M O ISTU RIS ER
Formulated with anti-ageing ingredients to boost collagen production. Pre-order
Find out what your skin has been missing!
€99
KAR L FAZ E R
Sweet and salty that melts in your mouth: raspberry and liquorice in milk chocolate. Pre-order €4
R I STE I LYKE SKUS Redeem an award voucher for a cruise with Risteilykeskus using a combination of money and Finnair Plus points. € 180+ 6,000 P
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 87
Meistä luonto on kauneimmillaan luonnossa ja sen monimuotoisuuden suojelu on tärkeää. Teemme retkiä vain kumppaneiden kanssa, jotka jakavat kanssamme samat arvot. Lopetimme lipunmyynnin eläinpuistoihin ja akvaarioihin, emmekä tee eläinretkiä, joissa villieläimet eivät pääse liikkumaan vapaasti. Jaamme myös asiakkaillemme aktiivisesti tietoa, miten lomailla luontoa kunnioittaen ja luonnonvaroja säästäen. Emme ole valmiita, mutta olemme sitoutuneet yhteiselle matkalle kestävämmän tulevaisuuden puolesta. Lue lisää aurinkomatkat.fi/vastuullisuus
World of Finnair Holiday sampler
Experience more with Finnair Holidays TAILOR YOUR TRIP to look like you! Explore the Finnair
Holidays selection and book flights, hotel, and airport transportation conveniently from one place. Finnair Holidays is available in Finland, Sweden, and Estonia. Start your journey at finnair.com/holidays.
TOP 3 ON THE COAST Discover holiday destinations in southern Europe from aurinkomatkat.fi (Also in Finnish).
With the taste and elegance of a big city, this seaport on the Costa del Sol boasts many palatial attractions such as Malaga Castle and Alcazaba Palace.
MAL AG A.
This Italian city is filled with cute little alleyways and great food. All roads may lead to Neapolitan pizza but it’s worth dining at a traditional trattoria, too.
NAPL E S.
Over 80 destinations Finnair Holidays opens the door to the most intriguing places in the world. The story of a lifetime awaits!
Entire trip from one place Find flights, hotel, experiences, and airport transportation all in one place.
Triple Finnair Plus points Every euro you use for your Finnair Holidays trip will gain you three Finnair Plus tier and award points.
Portugal’s second largest city, set aside the Duoro River, is best known for its port wine, colourful architecture, and azulejos tiles.
POR TO.
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World of Finnair Wellness onboard
TIPS FOR ENERGY ON THE GO
3 ways to
a tasty meal FANCY A SNACK onboard? Finnair offers
a wide selection of seasonal and healthy options that are inspired by untouched Nordic nature and its pure flavours.
Pre-order
Consider taking a walk at the airport, and choose accommodation that offers fitness opportunities either on site or in the neighbourhood.
STAY AC TIV E .
You can choose from a wide selection of sandwiches, salads, breakfast, or dinner by pre-ordering.
Stand up and move regularly during your flight. Don’t be embarrassed to do a few squats, heel raises, and simple stretches.
Onboard The onboard menu includes a selection of tasty snacks, sweets, and beverages to mix and match.
M OV E ARO U ND.
Complimentary G rab a pre-meal burger on long-haul f lights!
Business Class ST RE TC H IT O UT. When you arrive at your destination, do some stretching and mobility exercises to get rid of any stiffness.
Earn Finnair Plus points from Hintsa Performance hintsa.com/finnair-plus
90 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Chicago-based chef David Posey’s Signature Menu is inspired by his Danish heritage: “I want to provide a taste of Scandinavia through seasonal dishes.” His menu is available for Business Class customers on flights departing from the United States to Helsinki.
Complimentary coffee, tea, water, and Finnair’s signature blueberry juice are served on Finnair flights. Complimentary meals are served on all intercontinental flights.
World of Finnair Staff tips
Roasted goose is a famous dish in Hong Kong.
Bangkok’s streets are full of local culinary delights.
Laem Sai beach in Phuket offers splendid views and tranquility.
Taste of the East As a passionate food traveller, Finnair Kitchen’s Tomi Karlson knows where to go for a perfect Asian meal. is a gourmet hotspot. Follow the crowds of locals to find the best restaurants. One of my favourites is the Michelin-starred Kam’s Roast Goose in the Wan Chai area.
PHOTOS ISTOCK
H O NG KO N G
has a rich variety of street food, especially along Sukhumvit Road. Most of the menus include photos, so don’t worry if you don’t speak
B ANG KO K
Thai! Service at street stalls is remarkably fast, making the area ideal for the busy traveller. is renowned for its fresh seafood. I recommend Laem Sai Seafood in the Thalang district. It’s located almost in the jungle, but worth the trip. The restaurant boasts a huge wooden terrace with spectacular views – both on and off the plate.
PH U KE T
TOMI KAR L SON, Outstation Management
Specialist for Finnair Kitchen, is passionate about food both inflight and on the ground. gentleman_traveling
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 91
World of Finnair Finnair in a nutshell
PUSH FOR CHANGE CHANGES BEGIN with small actions. Join us on a journey towards a more sustainable future.
OFFSET EMISSIONS Offset the CO2 emissions of your flight by supporting an emissions reduction project. Donate €1 for flights within Finland, €2 for flights within Europe, or €6 for intercontinental flights. Donations will go in full to an emissions reduction project in Mozambique.
Fly the short northern route W ITH A M O D E RN fleet, extensive route network, and world-class service, Finnair offers a comfortable and convenient way to travel. Established in 1923, Finnair is one of the world’s oldest airlines. Since then, the company has grown from a small carrier to one that is a respected member of the international airline industry. Finnair’s route network includes
BUY BIOFUEL
20 destinations in Asia, eight in the Americas, and 100 in Europe. In 2018, Finnair carried over 13 million passengers. Finnair operates 104 flights a week to Asia, of which 42 flights are to China and 41 flights are to Japan. Finnair’s modern and eco-friendly fleet consists of over 60 aircraft, most of which are Airbuses.
Alternatively, you can buy biofuel to reduce the CO2 emissions of a flight by 60–80% compared to fossil fuel. The biofuel we use has been produced from used cooking oil. Buy biofuel for €10, €20, or €65. All sustainability products are available at finnairshop.com/en/ sustainability-products
95+ YEARS AND COUNTING 1 92 3
1 924
Finnair, known as Aero, is founded
Finnair receives its first aircraft: Junkers F 13
92 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
1 9 47
1952
1968
1969
1980
1992
Finnair air hostesses take to the skies
Helsinki Airport opens
Finnair reveals its new logo and name change
First Finnair trans-Atlantic flight to New York City
Blue Wings launches
The Finnair Plus program is introduced
World of Finnair Fleet
AIRB U S A35 0- 9 0 0
Number 15 + 4 on order Seating capacity 297/336 Length 66.8 m Wingspan 64.75 m Cruising speed 903 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 13,000 m AIRB U S A330-3 0 0
Number 8 Seating capacity 289/263 Length 63.6 m Wingspan 60.3 m Cruising speed 870 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 12,600 m AIRB U S A32 1
Number 19 Seating capacity 209 Length 44.5 m Wingspan 34.1 m Cruising speed 840 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 11,900 m AIRB U S A32 0
Number 10 Seating capacity 174 Length 37.6 m Wingspan 34.1 m Cruising speed 840 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 11,900 m AIRB U S A31 9
Number 8 Seating capacity 144 Length 33.8 m Wingspan 34.1 m Cruising speed 840 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 11,900 m E M B RAE R 1 9 0
Operated by Norra Number 12 Seating capacity 100 Length 36.2 m Wingspan 28.7 m Cruising speed 850 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 12,300 m
ATR 72
Operated by Norra Number 12 Seating capacity 68/70/72 Length 27 m Wingspan 27 m Cruising speed 463 km/h Maximum cruising altitude 7,620 m
1 995
Finnair’s website launches
1 999
1 999
2 004
Finnair joins oneworld alliance
Arrival of Airbus A320
Online check-in opens
2 013
Launch of Marimekko for Finnair collection
2 015
Arrival of Airbus A350
2 018
2019
Finnair celebrates its 95th anniversary
Launch of CO2 offsetting service Push for Change
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 93
World of Finnair Airport info
Welcome to Helsinki Airport CHECK YOUR GATE and
departure time on the airport monitors. All Finnair and Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra) departures are located in the same terminal. If you do not have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, please contact the transfer service desks in T2.
HAPPY LANDINGS
Fly the short northern route FLY VIA HELSINKI and take the most direct route
between Europe and Asia. Thanks to Helsinki’s location, Finnair’s northern route is a geographically convenient way between Europe and Asia. The northern route also offers competitive travel times to destinations in the US from many European cities. The Helsinki Airport is efficient, compact, and easy to navigate, making it ideal for transferring between Europe, Asia, and the US with short transfer times.
94 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
PASSE NG E R S AR R I VI NG from outside the Schengen-area will find their way into the arrival hall with both automated border control gates and manned border control booths. EU citizens , as well as citizens of Japan, South Korea, Australia, US, Canada, and New Zealand can use the automated gates as they depart. Citizens from other non-Schengen countries will be directed to the manned booths. In addition, there are separate queues for passengers travelling in large groups. Passengers travelling directly to Helsinki from the non-Schengen area will follow their own route to the border control downstairs. Those passengers travelling with infants or baggage trolleys must use the manual control lane. Passengers with the capability to use wheelchairs independently may use the automated gates.
World of Finnair Airport info
A change of plans? If your flight is delayed or cancelled you can keep up with the status of your new booking via Manage Booking. Go to finnair.com or scan the QR-code. The service is free-of-charge and does not require paid internet access.
49
48AB
47
46
45AB
44
43
42 40
55
54
53
TRANSFER SERVICE 3
52
AUKIO
FINNAIR CITY BUS
to the Helsinki Railway Station leaves from platform 51 at T2 every 20 minutes. Travel time is approx. 30 minutes. €6.90 THE RING RAIL LINE
connects Helsinki Airport to downtown Helsinki via train. There is direct access from the corridor between T1 and T2. TAXI RANK
BUS GATES 51 A–D
T2
39
Agency-specific price information is available in front of the terminals on the information screens.
38
WIRELESS INTERNET
FINNAIR LOUNGES
Security
BUS GATES 50 A–M
check NONSCHENGEN AREA
NONSCHENGEN AREA
37 TRANSFER SERVICE 2
31 Passport control
31A–31E
30
29
Helsinki Airport offers free Wi-Fi throughout the airport. PLAYROOM
Children’s playrooms offer toys, videos, and baby care facilities. WATER DISPENSER
Passengers can refill their water bottles with drinking water free of charge.
Security check
CHECK-IN 240–270
28
FINNAIR CHECK-IN + SERVICE 201–229
2ND FLOOR GATES 5–11
T2
CHECK IN 101–114
T1
26
13
14
15
16
PASSPORT CHECK
CHECK-IN AREA
Security check
SCHENGEN LOUNGE
12
27
SECURITY CHECK
17
18
19
20
21
22
SCHENGEN AREA
23
25
ARRIVALS AREA
24
BAGGAGE STORAGE
1ST FLOOR 3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 95
World of Finnair
Domestic and European destinations
From Helsinki
Tromsø Ivalo
Reykjavík
Rovaniemi Kuusamo Kemi Oulu Kajaani Kokkola
Finnair Destinations New Finnair Destinations 2020
Umeå Vaasa
Trondheim
Kuopio Joensuu
Jyväskylä Tampere
Turku Helsinki Mariehamn Tallinn Stockholm Tartu
Bergen Oslo
Gothenburg
Edinburgh Billund
Dublin
Ivalo 931 01:35 Joensuu 360 01:00 Jyväskylä 235 00:50 Kajaani 464 01:20 Kemi/Tornio 609 01:35 Kittilä 823 01:25 Kokkola/Pietarsaari 391 01:10 Kuopio 335 01:00 Kuusamo 667 01:15 Mariehamn 282 00:55 Oulu 514 01:05 Rovaniemi 697 01:20 Tampere 143 00:35 Turku 150 00:35 Vaasa 348 00:55
Kittilä
Bodø
Manchester
Visby
St Petersburg
Riga
Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times
Moscow
Copenhagen Vilnius Gdansk
Hamburg Amsterdam
London
Brussels
Hannover
Berlin
Düsseldorf Frankfurt
Paris
Minsk
Warsaw
Kraków
Prague
Stuttgart Zürich Bordeaux
Geneva Lyon
Porto
Nice Madrid
Munich Salzburg Innsbruck
Vienna
Ljubljana Venice Verona Pula Bologna Rimini Pisa Split
Milan
Varna Dubrovnik
Barcelona
Lisbon
Budapest
Rome
Alicante
Ibiza
Menorca Palma de Mallorca
Naples Corfu Preveza
Málaga Catania
Skiathos
Zakynthos
Athens Kos Santorini
Malta
Heraklion Chania
Antalya Dalaman Alanya Rhodes Paphos
Funchal Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arrecife Tenerife Norte Fuerteventura Tenerife Sur Las Palmas
From Helsinki
Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times
Alanya/Gazipasa 2722 03:45 Alicante 3034 04:25 Amsterdam 1525 02:35 Antalya 2638 03:50 Arrecife 4518 05:55 Athens 2490 03:40 Barcelona 2632 03:55 Bergen 1112 03:30 Berlin 1123 02:00 Billund 1060 01:50 Bodø 1168 02:35 Bologna 1976 03:00 Bordeaux 2417 03:30 Brussels 1651 02:40 Budapest 1481 02:20 Catania 2636 03:45 Chania 2756 03:50 Copenhagen 895 01:40 Corfu 2329 03:25 Dalaman 2639 03:40 Dublin 2030 03:10 Dubrovnik 2027 03:00 Düsseldorf 1512 02:25
96 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
Eilat
From Helsinki
Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times
Edinburgh 1717 02:40 Eilat 3457 04:45 Frankfurt 1543 02:35 Fuerteventura 4578 06:05 Funchal 4310 05:45 Gdansk 768 02:00 Geneva 1994 03:00 Gothenburg 785 01:25 Hamburg 1 172 02:00 Hannover 1278 2:15 Heraklion 2777 03:55 Ibiza 2897 04:00 Innsbruck 1701 02:35 Kos 2620 03:45 Kraków 1 186 02:00 Las Palmas 4700 06:10 Lisbon 3369 04:50 Ljubljana 1713 02:40 London 1863 03:10 Lyon 2081 03:10 Madrid 2950 04:25 Málaga 3357 04:35 Malta 2822 04:15
From Helsinki
Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times
Manchester 1817 03:00 Menorca 2688 04:05 Milan 1953 03:05 Minsk 734 01:15 Moscow 876 01:40 Munich 1577 02:30 Naples 2283 03:25 Nice 2202 03:25 Oslo 766 01:30 Palma de Mallorca 2777 04:00 Paphos 2898 04:00 Paris 1900 03:05 Pisa 2093 03:20 Porto 3117 04:20 Prague 1322 02:10 Preveza 2397 03:25 Pula 1865 02:55 Reykjavík 2429 03:50 Rhodes 2668 03:45 Riga 382 00:55 Rimini 1993 03:00 Rome 2235 03:25 St Petersburg 301 01:00
From Helsinki
Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times
Salzburg 1592 02:30 Santorini 2660 03:40 Skiathos 2353 03:30 Split 1956 02:55 Stockholm 400 01:00 Stuttgart 1637 02:45 Tallinn 101 00:30 Tartu 245 00:50 Tel Aviv-Yafo 3230 04:25 Tenerife Norte 4691 06:10 Tenerife Sur 4745 06:10 Tromsø 1078 01:55 Trondheim 813 01:50 Umeå 459 01:20 Varna 1911 02:55 Venice 1847 02:55 Verona 1903 02:55 Vienna 1462 02:30 Vilnius 633 01:15 Visby 481 01:25 Warsaw 940 01:40 Zakynthos 2526 03:55 Zürich 1781 02:45
World of Finnair
Intercontinental destinations
Sapporo Beijing Seoul Busan
Xi’an Nanjing Shanghai
Fukuoka
Tokyo Nagoya Osaka
Delhi Dubai Guangzhou Hong Kong
Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times
From Helsinki
Bangkok 7912 09:45 Beijing 6325 07:55 Busan 7847 08:55 Delhi 5229 06:50 Dubai 4537 05:55 Fukuoka 8060 09:30 Guangzhou 7693 09:30 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 8510 10:50 Hong Kong 7821 09:35 Krabi 8350 10:20 Nagoya 7780 09:40 Nanjing 7165 09:35 Osaka 7751 09:30 Phuket 8312 10:05 Sapporo 8013 09:35 Seoul 7050 08:40 Shanghai 7410 09:05 Singapore 9272 11:30 Tokyo 7849 09:45 Xi’an 6421 07:50
Bangkok Ho Chi Minh City Krabi Phuket
Singapore
Chicago New York
Winter season 2019–2020
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Finnair adds flights to popular winter destinations in Lapland, including new non-stop flights from London, Paris, and Zurich.
Miami Havana
From Helsinki
Great Circle Estimated distances / km flight times
Chicago Havana Los Angeles Miami New York Puerto Plata Punta Cana San Francisco
7139 09:15 8703 11:15 9016 10:35 8342 11:10 6626 08:45 8410 11:15 8404 11:05 8724 10:45
Puerto Plata Punta Cana
1 W E E KLY F LIGHT
London Gatwick – Kittilä Paris – Kittilä Zurich – Kittilä 2 W E E KLY F LIGHTS
London Gatwick – Ivalo
3 / 2020 BLUE WINGS 97
FINLAND FACTS Nature
168,000 lakes*
75%
Government
1917
land covered by forests
*with an area of 500 m2 or more
Sovereign parliamentary republic
1995 Monthly avg. temperatures in Helsinki (2018):
area
338,455 km2*
Member of EU since January 1995
200 members
elected for four-year terms
*includes land area and fresh water
Parliament
7%
National bird
Languages
5.5
million
Economy
Education
GDP
(2018*)
SV
€234
FI
billion
the annual change in volume 1.7% *preliminary
88% speak Finnish 5.2% speak Swedish 0.04% speak Sámi
Fun facts
Currency
€ EURO
73%
14
Universities *incl National Defence University
of students have studied beyond basic education
25
Universities of applied sciences
Consumption of coffee per capita
9.9kg* 2,300,000* saunas
*estimate
98 BLUE WINGS 3 / 2020
*per year
506,000*
overnight stays by foreign travellers (Sept 2019)
*preliminary
National food: rye bread
SOURCE: STATISTICS FINLAND ILLUSTRATION: ANGELINA LUZHINA
SÁ
elected every six years; current president is Sauli N iinistö, who was re-elected to a second term in January 2018
whooper swan
land used for agriculture
Population
President