Revelations: finding good coffee in Brussels

Despite the large Italian community in Brussels, sometimes it is hard to find good coffee in this city. When you ask for a cappuccino, you can actually get a black coffee with whipped cream (!!). When you politely try to complain, they say it's a "Belgian cappuccino". And you wonder if you just took a time machine to the early 1990s... 

However, with the help of my "500 hidden secrets of Brussels" guidebook and coffee-loving friends, I've been able to find a few spots with excellent coffee in Brussels. Going to these cafés is my weekend pleasure here. 

The top three places for excellent coffee in Brussels are definitely:

1. Aksum Coffee House, no. 132 in the list of "The 5 best coffee bars in Brussels"

This Ethiopian place is my favorite café for sure. It's in a beautiful green house close to the Grand Place. Their coffee made with Ethiopian beans is just fantastic and the cakes they serve are also delicious. They do organise Ethiopian coffee ceremonies at request and probably you can order an Ethiopian style coffee any time, but so far I've only had Italian style caffe lattes. Of course, the Ethiopian jazz in the background is just about the perfect choice for Sunday coffee moments.

2. Parlor Coffee, no. 131 in the list of "The 5 best coffee bars in Brussels"

Parlor  Coffee has a nice Nordic vibe in the ugly and noisy Chaussée de Charleroi in Saint-Gilles. Besides good coffee, they also serve nice small things to eat. I had a veggie bagel that wasn't a mind-blowing experience but suitable for a light Saturday lunch.

3. Or Coffee, no. 134 in the list of "The 5 best coffee bars in Brussels"

Or Coffee has two cafés in Brussels, one in the Dansaert quartier in the centre and the other one at Place Jourdan. I've only been to the latter one. It's a great spot for working as well; there are too few places like this in the city. 

Too bad the Place Jourdan branch is closed on Saturdays, it would be a perfect place to go after my Saturday yoga class next door.

Being vegetarian in Brussels

I hope this will be part 1 in a series of posts on vegetarianism in Brussels and the rest of the series will be slightly more positive... So far, I've been struggling a bit with my conviction of not eating meat or fish - not mentally but in pragmatic terms. The Belgians are a meat-loving people. It's like France, where the cuisine is heavily based on animal-products, but at least Paris is modern and diverse enough so that you'd find plenty of vegetarian, vegan or macrobiotic restaurants there - however, not Brussels. In one restaurant, they could actually only propose a green salad to me (really!!). Ok, but asking 16 Euros for it was kind of ridiculous. 

It should be said however that the EU cantines do provide a daily vegetarian option which is as poor as any of the non-vegetarian options. Obviously, I feel that all public administration and international organisations should do what they preach on reducing carbon footprint: provide only vegetarian food, or at least adhere to the Meatless Monday movement.

Sorry for getting radical once again... But the point is (never mind saving the planet) that I don't know how I will succeed in visiting all the restaurants on my "Brussels 500 secrets" list. Many of the restaurants on the list are a bit old school and probably they find the very idea of vegetarianism against their beliefs. There are a couple of vegetarian places mentioned in the book, in the "Healthy food" section. I'm glad to eat healthy but labeling vegetarian food rather healthy than just good food that is able to compete with any carnivore meal is saddening and old-fashioned. At least in Helsinki, all the fine-dining restaurants are already offering great value for vegetarian money (vegetarians are no poor hippies any longer...).

                    

Until a few days ago, I believed that at least one traditional Belgian food is not only vegetarian but even vegan: the French fries, les frites. Well well, in a rush before a concert I had my fries and smelled like fried oil for the rest of the evening among the cool hipsters in Beursschouwburg. My friend educated me afterwards that the Belgian fries are fried in animal fat, most often beef fat - no wonder the smell sticked on a vegetarian skin so well. So that's it, even this safe option for vegetarian food is now gone. Although, I have to say that I'm not very sorry for losing the opportunity of eating fries, especially because luckily already years ago I have visited no. 76, Frit'Flagey, and no. 79, Maison Antoine, on the list of "The Best Places for Proper Belgian Frites" (later on I was told by a proper Belgian that actually you can find proper fries only outside of Brussels...).

This (and having gained a few extra kilos here) brings me to the issue of healthy eating in Brussels. Belgium is the biggest consumer of fat internationally with a consumption of 95 grams per day per capita. Germany (86,5 g) and Finland (80,8 g) follow a bit behind. When it comes to sugar, Belgium is number 6 with 95,0 grams after for example the USA (126,4 g) and Germany (102,9 g). Finland takes the eight positions with 91,5 grams of sugar per day per capita (see the article on Washington Post). However, at the same time, the share of obese people in Belgium is below the OECD average. I guess they do better in resisting the pains au chocolat etc. than I do. In any case, I have hard time avoiding sugary and greasy products, so missing out on fries is quite welcome... 

Image from the Washington Post article.

Art Nouveau at Square Ambiorix

Even though there are no visible traces here so far, I've been following my "500 hidden secrets of Brussels" new year resolution really well. Let me present you a few examples that can actually be found on my way to work.

No. 228: Maison Saint-Cyr, one of the 5 most striking art nouveau houses in Brussels.

It needs to be said that the Instagram square format doesn't do justice to this amazing art nouveau piece at Square Ambiorix as it is very tall building but only 4 metres wide. It was designed by Gustave Strauven in 1900. The light green iron decorations are beautiful and I can actually remember the building already from my first visit to Brussels in 2001. 

Unfortunately, the gate is locked with a big padlock and it seems that the building has been empty for a quite a long time already - what a pity. (Check out the blue sky, evidence that it's not always raining here...)

Villa Germaine, one of the cutest brick facades (outside the official 500 list).

Villa Germaine, also at Square Ambiorix (or more correctly at Avenue Palmerston) is actually not on my Brussels 500 -list. But it is a pretty building close to Maison Saint-Cyr. Indeed, while Brussels is not often regarded as a very charming city (and personally, I'd agree that it is not), it has some amazing pieces of architecture scattered around if you just have the patience to look up and around - don't get that umbrella on the way. Often a gorgeous art nouveau facade is squeezed between some awful buildings or the facade is covered with a lot of dirt, but it is worthwhile to look up!

Villa Germaine, built in 1897, is actually of an eclectic style and not so much of an art nouveau building. But if you do an art nouveau tour at the square, don't miss this one either.

A bit further down from Villa Germaine is this beauty by Victor Horta.

No. 235: Hotel van Eetvelde, one of the best UNESCO world heritage sites in Brussels.

It actually took me a while to notice this building at Avenue Palmerston and only later I happened to find it on my 500 list and read that it is designed by the most famous art nouveau architecte Victor Horta in 1895. Van Eetvelde who commissioned the house and lived there, was a secretary general of Congo, bringing in mind where the money for the construction of the late 19th century Brussels was coming from... 

In this website, where you can find descriptions of Brussels' architectural patrimony (even my home is mentioned on the website!!), you can also see what kind of treasures this facade hides. Luckily there are some places in Brussels, where you can also enter the buildings and have a closer look at the art nouveau design. Musée Horta, Horta's own home, is a good example. 

There are three other Unesco sites by Horta in Brussels (including the museum). They are all listed in my "hidden secrets" - if you can call a Unesco world heritage site a hidden secret, but still. Brussels is a great city for art nouveau fans, at the turn of the 19th century, the city was the heart of  art nouveau style and Horta its foremost guru. Around a thousand art nouveau town houses were built that time, while today half of them exist. Plenty to do for Sunday strolls...

So, when in Brussels, keep your eyes open - but be careful of dog shit as well!

Discovering Brussels in 2015: food and fashion

Happy New Year!

I was asking my friends if they had any good new year's resolutions, but most people were avoiding any such promises. Me, on the other hand, I couldn't invent any meaningful resolutions. Maybe I'm such a perfect - or ignorant - person already?

However, back in Brussels after Christmas holidays in Finland, I got this great idea of trying to follow one of my new Brussels guidebooks "The 500 Hidden Secrets of Brussels" by Derek Blyth and write down my thoughts about these discoveries here in the blog. 

It's a very nice guidebook listing cool bars, Belgian-style restaurants, small museums, beautiful parks etc. usually off the beaten tourist track. I'm sure it has plenty of ideas even for people who have lived in Brussels a while already.

I followed the book's advise for my choice of lunch today as I wanted to get out of the apartment despite the heavy rain. In the list of "The 5 most exotic Asian restaurants", there was Hong Kong Delight in Rue Sainte-Catherine in the Dansaert quartier. Blyth writes that it serves some of the best Cantonese food in town.

My knowledge of Cantonse food is not very refined as such distinctions are rare in the Chinese food scene in Finland. However, I must say that the food we ordered with my sisters in Espoo from a Chinese restaurant called Jufu was really good and better than the food I had in Hong Kong Delight. Jufu's aubergine in garlic sauce was excellent while Hong Kong Delight's tofu with Chinese vegetables was just basic good. 

Taken that the place features in the list of the most exotic Asian restaurants in Brussels, I was expecting something a bit more exceptional and surprising. For sure, the food was good and there were many vegetarian options (which is always positive in Brussels), but I expect there to be a dozen similar places around the neighborhood. However, I wouldn't mind going back there again for a simple lunch.

Oh, I dream of the Gourmet Dumpling House in Boston, the best Chinese place ever!

No 28: Hong Kong Delight in the list of the 5 most exotic Asian restaurants.

I managed to visit another place listed in the book during my Saturday rainy day stroll in the Dansaert quartier. Dansaert / St. Catherine in the city centre is, by the way, a cool neighborhood with hip boutiques, like my favorite Cotélac, and some nice-looking bars and restaurants that also feature in my Brussels guidebook. So, obviously it is a quartier I need to visit many more times in order to finish my 2015 to do -list.

The January sales was of course a good moment to visit the "most inspiring Brussels designers". One of them, Annemie Verbeke, has a boutique at Rue Antoine Dansaert. Despite the sales, the clothes were still a bit too expensive but otherwise they were really cool and would fit my garderobe. For a special occasion maybe...

It is interesting to notice that the Belgian fashion and design scene is mostly occupied by Flemish designers. Some of them seem very cool indeed. For me, there are many discoveries to be made in this area. And window shopping is enough!

No 160: Annemie Verbeke in the list of the 5 most inspiring Brussels designers. Photo from the website of Annemie Verbeke.

I visited another shop of Flemish design further down the street and bought this pair of funny shoes. There were also a tempting collection of colourful cardigans. Unfortunately, the shop of Roos Vandekerckhove was under "liquidation totale" so I don't know if the whole business has come to an end. It would be sad because of the "Made in Belgium" label in the clothes. I was hoping that decently priced cardigans can still be made in Europe (in a profitable way)!

Shoes by Roos Vandekerckhove. My own discovery. You know, they are also possible...

Road tripping - with Mum and Dad...

It was like my childhood holidays. We packed the car, took the boat to Sweden and drove across Europe.

My dad had come up with the idea that he could drive me to Brussels. Mum was eager to join. This is what we used to do when me and my sisters were small, we would drive by car to Southern France or Italy from Finland. I have good recollection of those car trips across Germany; hardly making any pauses on the way, car fully packed, the views flashing by. Perhaps we spent a night in a guest house and enjoyed a great German breakfast in the morning. 

I can't remember those long boat trips across the Baltic sea to Travemunde, and this time as well, we decided to rather drive across Sweden than take the approximately 36-hours long boat trip in a potential autumn storm (also more expensive than going via Sweden).

This time it was me planning the route. Well, Via Michelin planned the route for me. A total of 17 hours of drive from Stockholm to Brussels.

Here's our route:

1) Helsinki-Turku harbor: 2 hours (with a quick stop in Kaarina). Boat at 20h55.

2) Turku-Stockholm by Viking Line Grace (118 Euros for a car, three people in a cabin and breakfast buffet), arriving to Stockholm at 6h30 local time (just in time to avoid all the traffic jams).

3) Stockholm-Eskilstrup (Denmark): 10 hours with some traffic jam around Copenhagen and three breaks on the way (including lunch at a gas station: I had a veggie burger, but I'm still doubting if it wasn't meat after all). We took the route via Öresund bridge, the setting for the great Danish-Swedish crime series "The Bridge". Bridge toll: 40 Euros.

4) Night at a lovely Bakkegaarden Bed & Breakfast in Eskilstrup. The place was set in the Danish countryside and it would have most likely been really beautiful if we could have seen it in the thick fog. The B&B is totally recommendable even though it was a bit hard to find at first. The couple keeping the place is lovely and the lady insisted in speaking in Swedish to us. "Joo, joo, vi pratar svenska, så härlig här!"

5) Leaving Bakkegaarden at 8h40. Taking the Scandlines ferry from Rodby to Puttgarden in Germany at 9h40 (69 Euros). This is the ferry where we always ate Danish red sausages when I was a kid (always? once? I don't know if it even was this ferry or the one from Sweden to Denmark...). My parents kept on asking: "But don't you remember this?" Well, after all, it was more than 20 years ago... Mum was excited about the cheap dog food in the ferry shop, but I felt that the ferry was way too crowded and the smell of sausages disgusted me.

6) Arriving to Germany at 10h25. Scenery starts to be more diverse and even though it was the first day of November, the temperature was still +20C. Dad drove 160 km/h at some points; looking cars driving past when we had a pause at a gas station, the speed looked completely crazy.

7) Driving so fast in the German autobahns, we approached Brussels much earlier than planned. We arrived there at 18h30 after driving around 9,5 hours.

8) I managed to find a little shop and bought frozen pizza for supper. My parents thought it was delicious. Sometimes it's easy to travel with non-snobs.

And then in Brussels, of course, time for Manneken Pis.

Coming up: a two-year escape to Brussels...

Oh man, only three blog entries this year! It's not like I haven't had anything to write about, the opposite actually; big and small escapes making it hard to find any time for blogging. 

Dolphin as seen in Naples beach, Florida. Oh, such a great thing to swim close to free dolphins playing wildly in the ocean.

I wanted to write about Myanmar before the big tourist groups enter the country or my recent trip to Washington and Florida;

Painting old chairs for kitchen.

I wanted to expand the content of my blog to interior design issues with the decoration boom I'm having in my new apartment;

The craziness of the amazing Shibuya crossing in Tokyo. What a wonderful and curious city!

I wanted to go through my thoughts about my encounter with the Japanese society; 

Andy Warhol exhibition in Sara Hildén art museum in Tampere was worth seeing -  especially for the photo I took of my parents with the Mao painting...

and I wanted to recommend cultural activities in Helsinki and elsewhere. 

Well, I wasn't able to follow my own guideline in blogging: keep it simple and short. If it's not simple and short, it's inexistent... 

Only two champagne glasses got broken during the housewarming party.

Less than a year ago, I bought this wonderful place in Käpylä (at least this is something I have written about) and in April we had a nice housewarming party with my flatmate. Now, six months later, I'm packing my stuff once again and embracing my new status as a landlady and Brussels resident :)

Enjoying the beginning of the hot summer in Café Esplanadi, Helsinki.

Brussels is calling. For the third time in my life, I'm moving to Brussels. As a consequence, October has been a month of goodbyes and little farewell parties. And today, on the day of departure, I need to wipe some tears.

The idea of leaving Helsinki after a gorgeous summer was a bit of a heartache but as the autumn is growing grey, the idea of being once again in the centre of Europe and living a bit of a cosmopolite life is increasingly appealing. Brussels may not be the coolest city in Europe - for sure, it is not - but it has some good qualities that I will enjoy greatly (hopefully, I will manage to write about them later). And those major disadvantages, like poor public transportation and awful biking opportunities, well, I guess I just need to learn to live with them. 

Autumn is now getting colder and darker, but I managed to enjoy some sunny autumn days in the forest - now, good to go...

Moving, especially moving to another country, can be an excellent place for making other changes in life as well. I'm thinking of new hobbies (argentine tango, painting, salsa?), more time for reading good novels and non-fiction (I still have that Piketty unread), and completely vegan diet (with some mussels, obviously). However, I also hope that I will find a good ashtanga yoga shala in Brussels. Yoga has truly been beneficial for my inner peace, clear mind and good physical health, therefore I would love to keep on practicing with good teachers. 

Getting my yoga mat from our yoga shala here was quite sad. It's been such an important place for me for the past two years. But what I have also recently realized is that I can be happy anywhere if I choose to do so.

Frog buddha in Florida... Don't take life too seriously, I think he says.

Fashion revolution: demanding ethical clothes

Last month, on April 24, a revolution took place. This time it was about fashion and the idea was to commemorate the victims of the collapse of the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh one year earlier. The horrible accident killed more than 1 100 garment workers manufacturing cheap clothes for our "needs" in the West. Journalist Jason Burke challenges this mindless consumption in the Guardian: "People blamed the factory owners, the builders, or the government. But isn't the real culprit our demand for cheap clothing?" Indeed it is, but rather than pillorying anyone or everyone, our responsibility now as civilized consumers is to demand for more ethical and ecologically and socially sustainable clothes as was done during the Fashion Revolution Day.

The day consisted of different events around the world to gain attention to the poor working conditions in Asia and to the lack of ethics in fashion industry. Even the Italian Vogue participated in this fashion revolution (hypocritical?). With my flatmate here in Helsinki, we went to the cute and cosy art gallery Lokal to participate in a photo session organized as part of the day's events (they had great scones for breakfast too). The point was to take photos of people wearing their favourite clothes inside-out (showing the "Made in" label). I wore one of my favourite Marimekko dresses ("Made in China"!!!) that has attracted a lot of positive feedback from my friends and strangers alike (in a scout event a German guy told me that I was the best dressed scout ever - blush!).

Wearing one of my favourite Marimekko dresses inside out. More ethical fashion, please! (You can find more photos in Twitter with #insideout)

Unfortunately Marimekko, the most well-known Finnish fashion brand, has started to manufacture more and more of its clothes abroad. I'm obviously ok with EU countries, but I'm annoyed that some of the quite expensive clothes are nowadays made in China. Who knows how the subcontractor of a subcontractor is working. I've send a few emails to Marimekko complaining about the current situation: why isn't Marimekko making its clothes in Europe any more when it is at the same time celebrating loudly its Finnish design tradition? The excuses have been weak ("there is no machinery in Finland any more" - hmmm, I wonder why) and, to my humble opinion, it's just about making more profit for the stock holders (well, of course it is). It's a pity because I'd love to buy more Marimekko clothes and wear them proudly in Finland and abroad (I should actually be given some kind of a Marimekko promotion prize for all the publicity I've done for the company outside Finland - except for this blog piece maybe...).

In the Guardian, Jason Burke continues: "Executives from big brands all make similar points when talking about the Rana Plaza collapse. They express their shock and grief... They also emphasise the importance of the garment industry to the Bangladeshi economy and the social transformation brought about by the employment of millions of young, rural women, albeit in poorly paid, monotonous jobs. One company spokesman points out that otherwise 'these women would be in the fields, in ship-breaking or shrimp farming, working as maids'. Now, he says, they are breadwinners, independent, and often with the means to pay for their kids to go to school." It is true that withdrawing the garment industry from Bangladesh would leave millions of people without a job (altogether the livelihood of 8 million Bangladeshis depends on this industry). That's why it's imperative to improve the working conditions out there. There is a need for global solidarity even though that sounds like a quite unrealistic solution. 

Personally, I think we could afford to pay much more for our t-shirts - and for ecological reasons we should pay more and buy less. However, it's sad what the business is saying (again a citation from Burke's article): "Companies do very precise work to understand the consumers and what level of quality they are willing to pay for, and a large number of consumers prefer inexpensive over respect for human rights or environment. After all, if you buy a pair of jeans at $9.99, what are you really expecting about the working conditions of those who made them or even just the environment in which they live?" This is why the strict regulations should be in the law and not in the hands of the consumers. Couldn't the EU do something (why not ask your EU parliament candidate!)?

I've discovered recently the brand Cotélac, which I really fell in love with and I think it must be somewhat ethical as the clothes are made in France and in their shops they are very willing to talk about the production. However, when I tried to inspect the issue more, I couldn't find information on the internet after a quick look. But well, Cotélac's clothes are so expensive that it is by necessity ethical and ecological as you can only buy very few of them... However, this just exemplifies how difficult it is for the consumer to know what they are buying and where all the pieces and bits are made in. Nowadays it is not even necessary to have the label of origin in the clothes; I find this actually quite shocking considering how much effort the EU is putting on the labels of food for example. I want consumer protection here too - protection against bad consciousness (or is knowing worse? it's made in China and I buy it anyway...).

Cotélac print from this spring's collection.

After the few negative words about Marimekko spelled above, I have to say that at least they have their corporate responsibility agenda clearly visible on their website. It is by the way surprising that of Marimekko's total production only 23 per cent are made outside of the EU. Surprising because each time I look at the "Made in" tag it says China, which after all only represents 8 per cent of Marimekko's manufacturing. All in all, Marimekko's website is a great source of information. This is already quite good while it doesn't impede me from challenging them to work more ethically and ecologically by sending them an email every now and then reminding them that there are consumers who care - by the way, you should do that too with your favourite company. 

p.s. Here are some tips for sustainable fashion brands from Finland.

A little self-discipline exercise

Today was the last day of my 6-day fast. This was my second time fasting so I really didn't have any doubts that I wouldn't make it. Here's how it went.

I followed a "menu" where I could have 1 dl of juice in the morning, 2 dl of juice and 2,5 dl vegetable stock for lunch and 2,5 dl of veggie stock and 1-2 dl of juice in the evening + herbal tea and water all day long. In the instructions I read, and which I also used the last time, they recommend to use a few products to stabilize the functioning of the stomach during the fast. I still had the leftovers of my last fast, but I have to say that Molkosan (milk serum) and Cynara (artichoke extract) taste so bad that after a little cost-benefit analysis, I decided not to use them.

Some benefits of fasting:

1. Some sources say that fasting can have remarkable health benefits.  Already Hippocrates recommended fasting to treat diseases. 
2. A fast gives the much needed rest to the entire digestive system and its bacteria to repair, renew and heal itself. Toxins are removed (de-toxification) and it also cleanses heavy metal from our body.
3. Fasting can enhance immunity, gives longevity, lowers risk of heart diseases, balances pH and blood sugar level, diminishes pains and allergies, cleanses blood, tissue and organs, restores liver functioning capacity and makes the complexion clean and radiant.
4. During the fast, one gets to observe the mind closely. The fast clears the mind. It also helps to understand of our food habits and cravings. Furthermore, fasting can lower our craving for sugar and other stimulants like coffee.
5. Many religious faiths in the world have encouraged the practice of fasting. Fasting is a time of introspection and emotional cleansing. Enhanced sense of joy and lightness may also appear together with increased energy and vigor.
6. A fast can be an inspiration and a kick-start for healthier eating habits.

(Sources: YogicWayOfLife, JuiceFastForHealth, A.Vogel and AllABoutFasting)

A few days before the fast, I tried to avoid alcohol (easy after 2,5 months without alcohol) and coffee and eat lightly. In addition, I ate dried plums and flax seeds in order to get my stomach working. In connection to the last point, every day during the fast I did colon cleansing that is said to be very good in preventing any side-effects of the fast (less feeling of hunger, no headaches or stomach problems).

Day 1. I started the day with a morning ashtanga yoga. After the exercise I had 1 dl of carrot juice and went to work. My colleagues weren't that surprised about my fasting, they remembered me drinking a vegetable stock for lunch one year earlier. I had a headache in the afternoon, which I normally never have and I was also super tired and had a late afternoon nap for two hours at home. However, I'm not sure if this lack of energy was associated with the fasting or with the previous weekend's active programme. Sauna in the evening was relaxing. 

I watched a documentary film on fasting from medical and health point of view. It really encouraged me as the evidence shows the multiple benefits of fasting even though the mechanism is not yet very clear. The main conclusion I made was: if you have an illness, why not try fasting to lessen its effects on you. I discovered that in Russia and Germany there are fasting clinics or rather fasting spas, where people go even for weeks to fast (in Russia only water is allowed - perhaps a bit too hard core for me) and treat their various illnesses. And it seemed to work!

Day 2. Last year I came to realise that weekend is the hardest time for self-discipline when fasting. Wherever you walk in the city, there are cafés, smell of baked bread, and people eating in the restaurants. This year, it was easier for me as I was attending a shiatsu massage course on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, I was still very sleepy and felt really cold all the time, but otherwise I felt fine. On the break, when others were having lunch, I had my 2,5 dl of vegetable stock again. The carrot juice started to taste awful in my mouth and I could only have a sip of it, luckily the veggie stock is enough to keep the hunger away. Went to bed around 21h.

Day 3. I woke up in the morning with nasty stomach pain and I was sweating like hell as if having a fever. I already felt desperate that I couldn't go to my shiatsu course, but after an hour of turning around in the bed, I finally felt ok. At the bus stop I gulped impatiently the rest of my grape juice and started feeling better immediately. The first two or three days are said to be the worst during a fast. Last time I even threw up in the morning of my second fasting day. This time it was much easier. However, the veggie juices start to disgust me... Even the tomato juice that normally tastes so good (well, normally = in the airplanes). 

My flatmate who started fasting two days after me was not feeling so well, she either had a problem with not drinking coffee or she just reacted to the lack of food with an awful headache - I've been much luckier. I gave her a shiatsu mental relaxation massage that relieved the pain at least momentarily.

Day 4. I dared to try morning yoga again. I said to myself that I could do my exercise a bit more easily and even skip the last asanas, but in the yoga shala I felt fantastic. I suddenly felt a lot of energy and vitality within me and the asanas seemed easier than ever. I felt very light. The whole day, I had almost an euphoric feeling.

In the evening, I attended my first ever housing cooperative meeting with my new neighbours that I so far haven't met almost at all. I managed to avoid all cooperative board responsibilities. An excellent day, I should say.

Day 5. Still a great feeling but the taste of all the juices really suck - even the herbal teas bore me. The new juice, beetroot, was just awful, I decided to save it to make a risotto with it after the fast. Instead, I bought some normal organic apple juice to drink - ah, so much better (and cheaper).

In the evening, I did gardening work with my neighbours. Great that I can do gardening while living in an urban apartment. Gardening is a mental holiday, it enhanced the effect of fast on mental clarity; I was fully concentrated in cutting the bushes from the correct spot.

My flatmate still had a headache, poor her. We were thinking that it might be because she didn't do the colon cleansing. Follow the instructions...

Day 6. I woke up even before the alarm rang. I was at work super early and super efficient. Last day of the fast, but I could have even continued if I hadn't planned all  sorts of food activities for the following days. Next time, I will definitely try to make it longer if my calendar allows me. 

In the afternoon, a yoga class again. It felt purely fantastic. I could do some asanas much better than normally. I wonder if it's because I have lost some kilograms and even this little change in weight makes me able to move myself better. Less belly fat on the way to hinder flexibility. Or maybe it's my super focused mind now. Who knows, but this is a good motivation to obey a lighter diet in the future as well. I felt almost sad to break the fast, it has gone so well. But ah, doing grocery shopping at Stockmann was also very nice. 

I could definitely feel the benefits of fasting: a clear mind, lighter body, increased vitality, better focus - and for sure, a greater trust in myself: wherever I set my mind, I can do it with a bit of self-discipline. I also started to think that my usual diet - even though very healthy and vegetarian - might contain too much sugar that reduces my potential energy levels. A lesson learnt, I try to cut down my sugar intake in the future in order to prolonge the feeling of vitality reached during the fast.

As you should start a fast with careful preparations, you should also break it with some precautions. Thus, I had a light meal in the evening to prepare myself for a regular food as of tomorrow. Banana-blueberry smoothie with some flax seeds and bread with avocado. Ah, the taste was so delicious. And the feeling of biting and chewing, very cool sensations. Little simple things really make you happy after a fast :)

And the food-related exercises are not over yet; I was planning to spend a month noting meticulously everything that I eat and check how much I spend on my food. Let's see if I manage to reduce sugar in my diet as well and how to rid myself of sugar cravings. The idea is also to try to eat eco-healthy but with an aim at affordability. I'll try to write some descriptions here on this little study later on.