Subzero degree: Tales from the winter wonderland of Finland

It's always a special moment for any girl living in a tropical country to see snow. A few days after I celebrated my 28th birthday, I saw snowfall for the first time in my life—and not just any ordinary snow but thick, knee-deep snow.

The author meets a sled dog in Santa Claus's hometown of Rovaniemi, Finland. Photos: Natanya T. Nono

I traveled more than 5,000 miles to Finland, Santa Claus’ official home country, to shoot for “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho’s” White Christmas Special.

Aside from being a Christmas hotspot, Finland is a traveler’s dream because of its pristine nature and winter charm. Snow season begins in November and may last until May. The temperature may drop from -0 to -30 degrees Celsius, but during winter, Finns don’t stay indoors. They indulge in different snow sports like skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobile rides.

“You just need to layer your clothes right,” our Finnish guides kept telling us.

It turned out the weather wasn’t as cold as I expected. The air was just dry and my thermals and winter jackets kept me warm throughout. During outdoor activities, we were thankfully provided with thick overalls.

We arrived in Kuusamo late in the evening, I was wearing my boots which kept sinking into the deep snow. I was scared to slip but at the same time, I couldn't wait to jump in and lie down on what looked like a soft, white bed of ice in order to make a snow angel.

The next morning, we went to Era-Susi Nature Safaris for our first snow adventure: husky sledding. We met Mr. Wolf, a farm owner with 200 dogs. He said he'd been in the business for almost two decades and the number of his dogs just kept growing.

Six dogs make a sled team. Mr. Wolf told us that each dog would answer to a designated name. Our husky team consisted of Salama the pack leader, Rike, Kayak, Ruslano, Tahabo and Venus.

Huskies were built to run in order to keep their mind and body in sound condition. They are also one of the few dog breeds that could survive cold climates. They have natural ear muffs, their eyes are almond-shaped for protection while running, and their fur is double-coated to trap heat and keep snow off their skin.

Mr. Wolf said we needed at least 20 centimeters of snow for a smooth husky ride. That day, snow was thin so it was a bumpy ride. Nonetheless, it was an exhilarating experience that felt like a natural roller coaster!

Another great snow attraction for tourists was ski resorts. We stayed in Ruka Ski Resort, one of Finland’s big four ski resorts.

I was hesitant to try skiing because I felt intimidated and I was uncertain about my balance and body coordination. To ensure safety, we were asked to wear an overall suit and a pair of bulky ski shoes. Though it was hard to walk around, how could I not choose to let go of my fears? #YOLO, right?

After putting on our ski gear, I and the rest of our team—Ate Bell, Marcus and Vivian—met our ski teacher, Jarno. He told us we needed to warm up first by... salsa dancing! In under 15 minutes, we warmed up with our ski shoes and tried on our skis. The next hour, Jarno taught us how to glide through the flat snow surface, how to stop, and how to walk with our skis on. I promised myself that the next time I go to a ski resort, I would ski on actual slopes.

Before we left Ruka, our team shot the spiels of our host, Ms. Jessica Soho, in the open air lift. The view on our way to the top of the snowy mountain was amazing. It made us sing, jump and turn into amateur models posing in front of wonderful views. In those moments, we truly felt blessed and grateful.

Four hours away from Ruka is a magical place called Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Every year, 30,000 tourists flock to this small village to visit the famous glass igloos. Despite the freezing temperature outside, the glass igloos can keep the warmth inside with its special thermo glass, which prevents frosting. The glass igloos are also situated away from the town lights to ensure maximum darkness when viewing the Aurora Borealis.

Staying in these glass igloos for a night were not just Instagram goals but also life goals! That night, we were not able to see the Aurora, but the view outside was just as spectacular as the clouds quietly crawled across the sky, obscuring the moon.

Each day spent in Finland felt as if I was able to cross out items that weren’t even on my bucket list. The sights were just beautiful and surreal. The warm hospitality of our Finnish hosts too perfectly complemented the cold weather.

Finland is indeed a winter wonderland and a perfect setting for a white Christmas which a girl from the tropics like me would always remember. — BM, GMA News