The Sami are identical with one of the famous areas in the arctic circle named Lapland. Socially, culturally and politically, Lapland was asked by various Scandinavian countries and Russia so often the image of tourism of each country that claims this is where Saint Nicholas, aka Santa Claus lives and come from.
For Finland, Santa Claus comes from a village near Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. Here stands the village of Santa travel so that we can feel the atmosphere of Christmas during the winter and meet and take pictures with Santa.
But Lapland offers more than that. Subarktik the unique natural beauty with a stretch of tundra and pine forests, frozen lakes in winter and snow hill near the national parks became popular winter tourist center and is different from other places.
Various tourist resort provides a traditional cottage not far from the winter sports facilities. This winter sports like skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding or on safari with a Siberian Husky and reindeer while knowing the local culture.
In addition, in summer, Lapland becomes the destination of nature lovers, campers, and water sports. They come to enjoy the summer sun that shines all day to lose track of time and nature of the green.
Lapland is also the site of the Midnight Sun Film Festival. Such version of the Sundance film festival, founded by Finnish duo famous Finnish director Kaurismaki brothers.
Last March, I along with some friends to join in the student tour packages to Lapland. The trip to Lapland from Helsinki, where I currently reside, usually reached by night trains are comfortable and warm through the cold heart of Finland from south to north along the 800 km. For about 12 hours of arriving in Rovaniemi in the morning.
This route is practically used to save the cost of staying a day at the hotel and into an opportunity to tour Finland glimpse of the top rail. It was still thick blanket of snow all over the place as if to melt.
Though winter should have been nearly finished by March. But the white snow was a charm that attracted us all to the arctic circle.
Up in Rovaniemi, sleepiness that struck directly shocked with the cold morning wind and light snow piercing eyes. We are in the entourage took a bus to Korvala, towards traditional resort where we will live and move is located.
On the way, we passed an imaginary boundary line and into the arctic circle named. Welcome to the board the Arctic Circle suddenly jerking the realization that we were in different worlds.
We were greeted with traditional views of some of the girls dressed up neatly against the background of a row of wooden huts. Wooden huts roofed with red paint the snow around a small lake.
The lake is frozen with a bright blue horizon and thick pine forests surrounding the resort. I am a red ski jacket super thick, anti-wind, water repellent, anti-cold, looks like Santa Claus in a Christmas postcard of the village.
Owner and manager of family-owned resort is to explain how the tourism business has been cultivated from generation to generation. Enterprises that have been running for hundreds of years and full of tradition and a sense of kinship.
But the barking dog breeding Siberian Huskies from behind the resort continues to be heard. As if to make us like a child who can not wait to play with them rolling around in the snow.
With haste, we pulled the luggage on top of the sled against the snow is deep. We hurried to our little red cottage. A small wooden totem on the porch symbolizes the protective forest fairy cottage.
Our log cabin is not too big but so comfortable. With living room, kitchen and dining table, four-eyed on the edge of the window around the fireplace before going to the bedroom with the bed level and a bathroom with hot water.
Our cottage looks like a cottage in a fairy tale dream. But before entering the cottage, in front of the door, following the tradition, we have to clean the shoes of snow. It is said that the snow that goes into a cottage can bring disharmony in the family.
Initially, this activity is quite practical and fun. But after all this time with the snow so much, this can be tedious, and make us a little obsessive compulsive.
After clean up and put on warm clothing, jackets and waterproof ski pants, we were ready for war like a snowball. The first day's agenda: visit the ranch Siberian Huskies and Reindeer.
Reindeer ballads and Huskies Siberian Express
Snowball staring at my eyes with the view of casual indifference. Round black eyes like marbles, his nose red with cold. Beautiful snow-white fur commensurate with branched antlers that molt space epic.
Snowball like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Still, he seemed bored one afternoon in late winter in the northern polar circle. But dutifully along with the participants that day, he listened to an explanation of the herdsmen on the history and behavior of his people.
The herders dressed in traditional Sami tells how each spring, about one hundred thousand babies born reindeer. They will start running from ages six to twelve months.
Wildebeest counted as wild animals for hundreds of years but has been cultivated by the locals as the economy and their food sources. Hunted and herded reindeer for their meat well-known, traditional warm skins for clothing, and horns for accessories.
Reindeer are also used to attract rail transportation as well as the traditional sled dogs Siberian Huskies. The shepherd looked very serious drawing in the snow with his fingers the various symbols reindeer owner's family.
Then he reminded again to avoid a reindeer with large horns twisted like rhizoma the arrogant and rebellious. He was tied to a tree in the corner the crowd. He is still considered wild and mischievous because several times trying to escape from the farm.
We view a young Snowball tied back with sled reindeer along with others formed a kind of carousel. These vehicles will we ride spins at the edge of the lake.
A little discomfort arises when imagining what if the reindeer is to understand what the man was talking about. Not far from where they stood, there is a mountain of reindeer skin that has been dried.
That afternoon we admired the elegance of live reindeer, but the next night we will also voraciously eat their meat is delicious. I am afraid of Snowball's so funny to me like a fork piercing gore reindeer stew.
But it felt like we were hugging him when he heard the story of his people who had a boon to mankind. With respect we put our hands on his back and feel the warmth of the Arctic sports.
Before the meet Snowball, we also briefly traveled through the woods with sled pulled by Siberian Huskies dogs. Usually the sled rider standing on his sled with his leash in the back of the train.
Sled can be filled with goods or passengers while about ten dogs in pairs line up in front of the pull cart. Siberian Huskies are known as intelligent animals and very intuitive.
They used to assist in navigation and a strong man to run fast against the wind cold and deep snow. The figure of those who rada like gray wolves with blue eyes looks like a super natural power poles.
Me and a friend the chance to ride together in a sled. Because of its elongated shape, as we sat in the canoe. Rider that day was a tough woman dressed in traditional Sami.
Ten dogs with excess energy Siberian Huskies look like unruly and out every time you ran. But with a strategy that has been inherited from their ancestors, the Sami studied each character of Siberian Huskies and how to train them.
Siberian Huskies row positions depending on their character. Those with the characters and smart leaders navigate the most commonly placed in front. While the dog is just happy to run and play normally placed behind the motor.
Suddenly our bodies jumped backwards and glide with the super fast train. Polar wind and snow flakes hit our faces repeatedly. The driver shouted firmly gave instructions while controlling the reins.
The Siberian Huskies raced with excitement as the first time seeing snow. We shouted for joy come together they slide toward the horizon. Snow, a row of pine trees and the sky turned white blue green spectral lines. We like to merge with the polar wilderness. Hiyaaa! If it says the cowboys of the West.
This sled speed should not be taken lightly. Special tracks in the woods around the resort is made to track sled. One time, my very amateur in skiing, challenge yourself to slide from a narrow path down the middle of the forest.
Though my friends have warned that this pathway is the sled tracks Siberian Huskies. Of course, unconsciously I always choose the right moment for me a pompous candidate is finally exposed stone as well.
The sound of barking dogs and sled riders stalking me from behind. The Siberian Huskies are too tight to run. The distance is too short to put the brakes immediately without hurting those who might collide with each other due to a chain bridle ties.
I recently stopped sliding and trying to move to the side track. I forgot the ski tips are basic: do not run with the sled.
His name alone surfboard, must be created to glide, not walk. I walk like a duck in a panic videotape slowed because of the increasingly heavy sled snow affected a subtle but deep.
It was also my best friend pushed me to the side of the tracks. As in the movie comedy class B, the face I immediately sank into the snow and the whole body.
In my imagination, which is visible on the surface of both legs only with skis crossed towering like two chopsticks. When viewed from satellites, may I have tarnished the clean canvas of snow by the body to form an "X" inside.
Forgive me, the universe because I was too humane. My face was flushed due to the cold slap of snow ice mixed with a sense of shame when the driver tried to make sure we were okay.
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