Explore Finland Radio Show Mark Wiltshear

This episode is something a little different, I hope you enjoy it.
In partnership with Into Seinäjoki & E-P WIISE ry, I interviewed my friend Mohammed Al-Marrani about his journey from the countryside of Yemen to the plains of South Ostrobothnia. He explains his dream of being an entrepreneur, his integration into Finnish society, the help and guidance he received to start his business and his plans to grow Mokka Market in the future.
Guest: Mohammed Al-Marrani, Mokka Market https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057121463256
Into Seinäjoki video: https://youtu.be/uCkU1GB0SVE
Audio/video: Glenn Murray
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Part two of a two-part episode...
When I asked about visiting the "Terwaviikko" (Tar Week) event in Kuortane, I was quickly introduced to Michael Hutchinson-Rees, a fellow Londoner in Finland, who is now firmly involved in the Lions Club of Kuortane that organises the weeklong tar-making event that takes three years of preparation.
Michael invited me to visit the tar pit in Kuortane a few times across the week, to learn how tar is made and to witness different stages of the tar-making process.
In this episode, Michael tells me how the Kuortane "Terwaviikko" event comes together, why it takes three years of preparation, how wood-tar is made and what to expect when I visit during the week of festivities.
This episode ends with an audio description of the event. If you want to see the video version (and you probably should) you will find it here:
Blog: show notes and links https://explorefinlandpodcast.com/2022/10/16/history-of-tar-making-and-kuortane-terwaviikko/
Guest: Michael Hutchison-Reis and Kuortane Terwaviikko
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Facebook page www.facebook.com/explorefinland
Instagram www.instagram.com/markwiltshear/
YouTube www.youtube.com/channel/UCvzxW3QitfJtfFVwDfmAzGw

Part one of a two-part episode...
When I asked about visiting the "Terwaviikko" (Tar Week) event in Kuortane, I was quickly introduced to Michael Hutchinson-Reis, a fellow Londoner in Finland, who is now firmly involved in the Lions Club of Kuortane that organises the weeklong tar-making event that takes three years of preparation.
Michael invited me to visit the tar pit in Kuortane a few times across the week, to learn how tar is made and to witness different stages of the tar-making process.
In this episode, Michael explains how wood-tar is produced and the great cultural and historical importance this industry has for the village of Kuortane.
Blog: show notes and links https://explorefinlandpodcast.com/2022/10/16/history-of-tar-making-and-kuortane-terwaviikko/
Guest: Michael Hutchison-Reis and Kuortane Terwaviikko
----more----
FEELING SOCIAL?
Facebook page www.facebook.com/explorefinland
Instagram www.instagram.com/markwiltshear/
YouTube www.youtube.com/channel/UCvzxW3QitfJtfFVwDfmAzGw

I was invited by Päivi Nurmikoski, to visit SF-Camping-Kalajärvi in nearby Peräseinäjoki. She introduced us to the caravan park itself and all the facilities , activities and entertainment for her family, that make them return here almost EVERY weekend, all year long. They love it here, maybe you would too.
Blog: show notes and links https://explorefinlandpodcast.com/2022/06/09/sf-caravan-kalajarvi-a-year-round-family-resort/
Guest: Päivi Nurmikoski at SFC Kalajärvi www.caravan-kalajarvi.fi/
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YouTube www.youtube.com/channel/UCvzxW3QitfJtfFVwDfmAzGw
 

Recorded back in summer 2019, I was welcomed to experience my first sauna festival by the organiser of Kalajärven Saunafestarit, Tero Knaapila.
Tero talked me through the origins of this event and what one can expect from a sauna festival. He then took me into his converted motor home sauna (which is still road legal!) before a cooling dip in Lake Kalajärvi.
Blog: show notes and links https://explorefinlandpodcast.com/2022/05/09/finnish-sauna-festivals-kalajarven-saunafestarit/
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YouTube www.youtube.com/channel/UCvzxW3QitfJtfFVwDfmAzGw
 

In this episode, I am joined again by Craterologist, Teemu Öhman, to revisit the subject of Pyhävuori. It's an area overlooking Lake Lappajärvi, that is full of geological interest and historical mythology, featuring trolls, hermits and a sacrificial stone. From the ice age to modern days.
Following this recording, Glenn Murray and I went out to explore (and as you can see in the video) get slightly lost on) the holy mountain, Pyhävuori.
0:00:00 Introduction0:01:15 Where is Pyhävuori0:01:15 The Preserved Rim of Pyhävuori0:03:10 The Geology of Pyhävuori0:07:48 Uhrikivi - the sacrificial stone0:10:12 The ice age 'Baltic Lake' at Pyhävuori0:14:09 'Pirun pesä' caves - the Devil's nest0:15:39 Jaakko Reipakka - the hermit and his hut0:17:09 Kalliomaalaus – rock paintings0:19:22 Impact Craterlake Geopark, Lappajärvi0:21:28 Outro
 
Show notes and links: https://explorefinlandpodcast.com/2022/02/17/pyhavuori-the-holy-mountain-of-alajarvi/
The Nordic Tourist video "Pyhävuori: Human Sacrifice and the Finnish Mountain Man" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQQIxcXF2OI