Ice Sauna

Location : Kuopio, Finland.

Yesterday was my most adventurous day in Finland. My Finnish friends brought me to a special sauna bath in a sauna room made of ice walls. The temperature was probably about 60ºC to 70ºC in the room. I was practically in a steaming hot ice box in the midst of the snow by a frozen lake. There were 2 other old Finnish dudes in the sauna room and when they found out I was Malaysian, they insisted that I followed them into the freezing lake after the sauna session was over. And follow them I did!!! After being in the sauna room for 30 to 45 minutes, all of us headed out to a little outdoor pool just outside the sauna room, by the frozen lake. The water in the pool was from the snow/ice covered lake(see background of picture). And yes, it was bloody freaking stupendously cold! I psyched myself physically by brainwashing myself the way I did when I went skydiving which is to not think about anything else or any consequences but just fucking do it and only worry if I die. So, I jumped BARESKIN into the pool by the lake to the astonishment of my Finnish friends, submerged myself for about 5 to 7 seconds and sprang out of it. Even the Finnish dudes who went in before me were clapping their hands! But man oh man, it was so cold I staggered while climbing back up the poolside stairs because I felt the whole length of my leg become a frozen stick, as if there was a short, sudden muscle spasm. Out of the pool, straight into the sauna room again. The temperature of the water in the pool/under the frozen lake was an estimated 3ºC. I think for a tropical guy who comes from a hot country that is 32ºC all year long, I probably did pretty well! =) I got myself a certificate by the organisers for that stunt....and I'm still alive although I think the nerves between my legs have died.

Tonight I head back to London. I have felt absolutely comfortable with the new Finnish friends I've met here and they turned out to be a friendly, unassuming, warm bunch of ladies. Although I was getting stares from strangers quite a bit, I didn't really mind because it is not the first time I get eyes staring at me in foreign land. Whenever people are staring, I know that I am in a place that is not touristy at all. It feels good to get a chance to see everyday local life. I will miss this cold country because of the warm people I met.

A million thanks to Carita, Outi and Rita for their hospitality while messing up their house during my stay in Kuopio. =)