Article Surfing Archive

Give the travel brochure a once over and take the next plane to Finland. You deserve a break after being at the beck and call of your boss. Well, he can't say no because you can use audio conferencing while taking in the Northern Lights after a cold swim.

Grasp the Break By the Neck

Before the long flight to Helsinki, you'll have to review your schedule. Your boss wants another meeting on a Monday and by that time you'll still be in Helsinki taking in the sights. The boss has already assured you that his secretary will set up the necessary audio settings to enable the live meeting via audio conferencing. All you have to do now is synchronize your clocks.

No, you are not a polar bear (that's what the winter swimmers are called). You're a curious chap eager to try something new and extreme, like swimming in negative 20 degree Celsius with no wind. You're a swimming novice but willing to risk a lot for the adventure. So, mark your calendar on the date and time of the audio conferencing, and say goodbye to all that's warm and sunny before you take the next day's early morning flight.

Winter swimming

In Winter, Helsinki is terribly cold and the lakes are frozen. For winter, swimming in a round hole is tapped, and swimmers dip themselves into the water for about 30-60 seconds without submerging their heads, avoiding the risk of hypothermia. Those who can do this feel so accomplished, sans the trophy.

In your case, you want to get rid of arthritis. Winter swimming advocates boast that taking a dip into the icy water builds body resistance to colds, improves blood circulation, and relieves arthritis. So, it is holiday plus a quest for a cure that had you taking this trip.

Your First Dip

Your first dip was truly a chilling one, one that went straight to the bone, and it took quite some time before you lowered yourself into the hole. It would have been easy to back out of the challenge, but the pain in your knee tells you you've got to do it.

The shocking contact of cold water on your toes is your first taste of the swim. Determined, you go down deeper into the hole and stay for 30 seconds ' the longest 30 seconds ever. You scuttled up the ladder for the warmth of your fleece throw blanket and rush to the warmth of the car waiting for you.

It's amazing how the fresh feeling stayed with you the whole day. The swim invigorated your tired muscles and you longed for sleep. Then you get the beep ' the audio conferencing marathon will soon begin. The moderator announces and gives you the bridge number. At 9:30, you connect and learn that there are 10 people in just one line.

Next scene, the Northern Lights

You know that a visit to Helsinki is not complete without watching the dance of the Northern Lights. Take a plane to Ivalo. Its distance from city lights makes it the perfect viewing place for the atmospheric phenomenon. You take the trip once the audio conferencing and reporting is over. You deserve the break.