Snapshots 2006

For my last entry of the year, I made a compilation of some of my favourite snapshots form 2006. It was a busy year for my camera – the folder for 2006 contains about 4000 pictures – so picking the best ones out was not a piece of cake. Some of the snapshots were an obvious choice, while some were chosen just because they got my attention.

Yesterday at a party, a friend told me that 2006 had been his longest year. For me as well, it seems like every new year is longer than the previous one. It’s fantastic!!!

These pictures are in random order. Unless otherwise stated, they are taken by me. Please leave a comment if you like them- to see the original versions, just click on the pictures. Happy new year 2007!


This is Merangasse, my home street in Graz. It's definitely one of the best things 2006 gave me.


April in Helsinki. One of the first pictures I took with the new camera I got for my birthday. Some familiar sights can be seen in the background.


My flatmate Thomas in a good mood. This is in Thomawirt, a posh bar/restaurant around the corner from where we live. The picture was taken in early December.


Christmas eve 2006.


One of Graz's main attractions against a beautiful blue sky. Early December.


Another Töölönlahti picture. Spring.


Okay, here I am with my friends Sanna and Martin in Stanley, which is a settlement on the southern side of Hong Kong island. Martin and I had arrived from Helsinki this day and by the time this picture was taken, we had been awake for about 30 hours in a row. So what did we do? We went rowing in the South China Sea, of course! Oh and this one obviously wasn't taken by me.


August. A sudden rainstorm in the county of Sulkava, where we were spending a weekend at a friend's summer cottage, brought our outdoor activities to a halt. I love Finland.


This is Maiju in Riga. Our Ryanair escapade happened on the coldest weekend of the winter. While temperatures plummeted to -30 degrees celsius outside, we got to see a lot of the insides of Rigan shops and cafes.


The garrison church at Riihimäki quiets down after a long day of recordings. Dominante spent a weekend in March working on its next cd, which will hopefully come out soon.


This is one of my favourite family pictures of the year, taken in Damascus in June. Mummy, Dea and Solhi seem in the best of moods. Nana is covered by my sister but I love the way Grozney's tail makes an appearance. If that cat could talk, she'd tell you all about our family's emotional history. Make time for her.


Daddy took this picture of me leaving to Graz on the 25th of September. He should get a medal for all the pictures he has taken of people leaving in airplanes.


My hotel room (15€ a night) in the remote city of Sanliurfa in Turkey. My things are packed and I'm ready to go back to my grandparents in Syria - the next unforgettable twelve hours made up the wildest, scariest and most adrenalin-filled day of the year.


The daredevil in this picture is Mikko, with whom I spent two weeks in Ireland in August. Doolin, on the west coast.


My friends on a hike in Nuuksio national park, outside Helsinki. September.


I really like this one. Our traditional Christmas reunion.


Hong Kong's skyline at night. May.


Summit of Mount Nemrut in Turkey. I decided I would go there and I did.