I have been in Cali, Colombia, for three months now. During these three months I’ve learned quite a few things about locals in Cali and about the Colombian culture in general. Here are ten such curiosities which have caught my attention and have once again proved that cultural differences still do exist! (Gladly!)

In February 2017, I was asked to participate in the Paraguayan TV show Mandiorama. Now, six months after the episode Viajeros (Travellers) came out, I finally got to see it myself! And just in case you all also want to see what me and fellow traveller, Favio Patiño were asked by Patrick Altamirano, here you go with our spectacular (!) TV appearance (in Spanish).

When I first visited Motel Kiss Me in Cali, it was for an appointment with Humberto Villegas — owner of Latin America’s biggest theme motel. Señor Villegas gave me a warm welcome in his penthouse apartment, on top of his own motel, with gel in his hair and his bright white smile shining like a lighthouse for lost sailors. Upon my second visit, however, I had a chance to speak to the workers of the motel and discovered a whole new world behind the colorful façade.

There are many people who inspire us in this journey called life. To me, such are usually either people who do what they love and love what they do, or people who so passionately help others, that they nearly forget themselves while at it. This woman is a combination of both! Anna Lev dances salsa, and while at it, does free YouTube tutorials to help us all with this art even at home.

Have you ever wondered where your roots are, where your ancestors come from? I sure have. Why? Because A) our family history from my father’s side is quite blurry, B) strangers in Finland often tend to speak to me in English, saying I don’t look like a Finn (whatever that means…) and C) I feel so at home in Latin countries, I wonder if there’s any historic explanation to it (my dad loves to tell the story of a French organ grinder’s blood running in his veins). So, guess what? I’ve decided to do a DNA test!

First of all, Strangerless is now a year old, so thank you all for being here! I’m happy that so many ex-strangers have joined me on this continuously evolving journey – a journey which is not nearly as much about me, or about long-distance cycling, as it is about all the inspiring people I meet in this wonderful whirlpool called life. Yet, today, it’s about myself. It’s about the exhausting storm of ideas within me.

Me and my friend, Blue Fox, have started a new YouTube series! It’s called Una Vuelta Por El Barrio (A Stroll Around the Block) — a small journey through Blue Fox’s home hoods, the neighborhood of San Antonio, Cali, Colombia. We’ll be visiting the many intriguing places this neighborhood has to offer, and interviewing the people for whom San Antonio is home.

Cali is situated in the Valley of Cauca (Valle del Cauca) and thus surrounded by lush, green mountains wherever you look. The ones closest to the city are the Farallones – a mountain range approximately an hour’s ride away from the city center of Cali. And that’s where you can quite effortlessly go to when you want to spend a weekend out, hiking and camping.