16:16 Finnish Cuba

Finland undergoes an extreme transformation as the seasons change. The normally dour-faced stoic Finns uncover their true selves when the sun arrives to burn away the snow that has blanketed the country for most of summer and spring.

This year for Ilosaari, the clouds have fled and the sun reigns unchallenged. A friend, Finnish native Maarit Turunen, attended reggae band Natural Vibration's show near the beach and watched the dancing crowd, some of which were watching the show while waist deep in the water. She commented, 'Everyone's happy, people are dancing. It doesn't seem like Finland anymore when they play reggae here in the summer it feels like Cuba!' Finland is a two-for-one deal: a Nordic winter wonderland but also a sun drenched tropical paradise locked away behind a door. And music is the key.

-- Kochun 'Kossunen' Hu

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