Standup Paddleboarding (SUP) and Finnish Sauna | Finland Vlog Day 6
On our final day of travel in Finland (day six) we had some exciting activities planned. In the morning we both tried Standup Paddleboarding (SUP) for the first time. The idea is that you stand up on this massive paddle board, which is a lot more stable than a surf board, and paddle your way around. With a life jacket and strap that is attached to your paddle, it feels very safe and the worst thing that can happen is that you'll fall off into the water. Audrey, being the natural that she is, did very well initially finding her balance and maneuvering around the water with grace. I, on the other hand, was just like a cat out on water. It was challenging for me to stand up from kneeling position and when I did I often struggled to find balance on the board. Near the end of my experience I didn't slow down properly near the dock and I almost experienced a catastrophic crash if it weren't for the kind help of some fellow travel bloggers to pull me up before I fell off. Even though I'm hardly an expert, I definitely recommend giving stand up paddle boarding (Hawaiian: Hoe he'e nalu) a go. It is the perfect adventure summer activity that you can plan outdoors when considering fun things to do in Finland on your next holiday. Afterwards, we relaxed in a Finnish Sauna that was located mere seconds away from the water. Aside from Korea, I've never been to a country that embraces sauna quite like Finland. Apparently, there are three million saunas for a population of only five million. When you're thinking of Finnish cultural activities to consider sauna is as authentic as you're going to find. Alright, so this is day six in Finland and this morning we are going to try stand up paddle boarding. Apparently, this is a sport that has been around since the 60's but it has only become really popular in the last three years. I've never done this before so I hope my balance is really good. And if there is one person that is most likely to fall in it is definitely me. I would agree. Fingers crossed. Our guide attempted teaching us to paddle both the Hawaiian and the Tahitian way, but most of us were concerned about not falling in to the waters of the chilly Baltic Sea. Okay, Mr. Wobble Wobble are you ready? I bet I'm going to be the only one who actually falls in. Like a cat on the water. Worse than a cat on the water. Okay, Sam is going to attempt standing up. Let's see how this goes. Oh, it looks like he's got it. Our first time stand up paddle boarding turned out to be a lot of fun, and we were lucky to have calm waters to practice. Audrey was a natural. I on the other hand, had a little trouble dismounting. Hahaha! Oh my gosh. Did you get it on film? That is not the best way. Dock fail. When in Finland you absolutely have to experience a sauna. Apparently, there are five million Finns and three million saunas. We're going to go in and try one. I absolutely love the sauna. When I lived in Korea I used to go almost weekly, so this is going to be a lot of fun. Okay, let's go in. Finnish sauna is typically enjoyed naked with friends and family, but we kept it PG13 for you guys. You're welcome! Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and Finnish Sauna | Finland Vlog Day 6 nomadicsamuel.com/video-blog/standup-paddleboarding-finnish-sauna Music in this video courtesy of Audio Network This is part of our Travel in Finland series. We're making a series of videos showcasing Finnish culture, Finnish arts, Finnish foods, Finnish religion and Finnish people. Proudly presented by: nomadicsamuel.com , smilingfacestravelphotos.com , thatbackpacker.com & backpacking-travel-blog.com All photos and video taken by Samuel Jeffery (Nomadic Samuel) and Audrey Bergner (That Backpacker).
