The Long Way North, By Myself

A Personal Journey to Rovaniemi, Finland

This writing is for my future self,
the version of me who might one day forget how far she once went, how tired she once was, and how brave she once had to be.

This is not a guide. Not a highlight reel.
This is simply a personal archive of a journey, exactly as it happened, exactly as I felt it.

Before the 55 hours on the road, before the cold, before the aurora, there was a decision.

This trip was planned as a solo journey. Entirely mine. From the route, the budget, the risks, to the quiet confidence that I could do this on my own. Unexpectedly, a friend later joined part of the journey in Finland. But the crossing, the planning, and the courage behind it remained mine.

On the Road: 55 Hours of Survival

I crossed six countries back and forth means a total of 110 hours :

The Netherlands — Germany — Poland — Lithuania — Latvia — Estonia — Finland.

Spending 55 hours on a bus is not romantic. It is survival.

There is no proper shower, only a tiny bus toilet and bottled water for washing your face. You will learn to sit patiently, to move minimally, and to appreciate transit stops more than destinations. The toilet on the bus is not something you can rely on for showering or defecating, I do all of that when in transit or maybe on the ferry.

Food became strategy. I brought boiled eggs, sambal, rice waffles, milk, chips, Nutella, bread, chocolate, and plenty of water.

I departed from the Netherlands on 17 October at 14:00, and reached Białystok on 18 October around 13:00. A quick clean-up, a change of clothes, a few photos and back on the road.

Tired, but steady.

First Ferry, First North

On 19 October at 06:00, I stepped onto a ferry for the first time in my life, crossing from Estonia to Finland.

I sat on the deck with a cup of instant noodles, watching the sunrise. No rush. No fear. Just a quiet sense of I’m really doing this.

Ariving - and Not Being Alone

I arrived in Rovaniemi at night, expecting to sleep at a gas station.

Instead, Iki had booked a nearby hotel. We met, ate dinner, talked and rested properly for the first time in days.

After waking up, we immediately went around Rovaniemi to enjoy the autumn atmosphere. We also had breakfast and enjoyed the view of the lake, until we were picked up by the Aurora Tour bus.

The North Gave Me More Than I Asked For

The aurora appeared on 20 October, under a clear sky, without snow.

The temperature dropped to -16°C. I made a terrible decision, leather pants and leather boots.

Even with double wool socks, my feet froze. I spent most of the time shaking inside the car  questioning my choices...

But then the sky moved.... Soft, Green, Alive.

It was my first time seeing the aurora and it felt unreal.

We finished the Aurora Tour around 3 am. We returned to the gas station. It is a 24-hour gas station, actually made for drivers. There are hot dogs, lots of warm, delicious, and cheap food. Even the water here is free. It was a good place for us to rest for a while because that day I didn't book accommodation.

When I woke up snow had arrived, It wasn’t heavy, just baby snow but it stayed.

Aurora the night before.

Snow the morning after.

Rovaniemi treat me verry well.

Staying Instead of Leaving

I was supposed to leave on 22 October, but I didn’t.

We extended our stay and moved into an apartment. It was warm, comfortable, and complete. a bedroom, living room, kitchen, balcony, and even a private sauna. The grocery store was only three minutes away and surprisingly cheaper than in the Netherlands.

Mornings were slow. Netflix. Breakfast. Snow outside the window.

Some days I cooked, some days Iky did. I still had meetings, still handled organizational responsibilities, still stayed connected to home.

Things I tried

Scandinavian Salad
Simple, fresh, and better than expected. Lots of nuts. Very different from Indonesia. I liked it more than I thought I would.

Leipäjuusto
A Finnish dessert I still remember clearly. Sweet cravings will never feel the same after this. I would pay good money to eat it again.

Salmiakki
A famous Finnish candy. I tried it.
Less than 30 seconds later, I gave up.

An Accidental Lesson
I accidentally ate a sausage and I only found out it was pork when a local told me, I immediately stopped eating, feel so guilty....

A Real Finnish Sauna
Yes, the sauna originated in Finland. I tried the sauna, it really felt like the original-original, ​​I don't know how to describe it feels so good

I always wanted to go to the northernmost McDonald's and yesterday I made it happen, McDonald's with hot chocolate without rice and a letter from Santa plus a very magical view.

Discoveries in Finland

The bidet doesn’t work unless the sink water is on.

Turn on the sink, then the bidet works.

Public toilets surprised me too.

In the Netherlands, toilets are mostly paid and rarely have bidets.

In Finland, many public toilets are free, even though the two countries are both European, in some ways they are very different.

At McDonald’s or restaurants, you ask the cashier for a code.

Not to make it complicated, but to keep things clean.

I appreciate their system.

When Things Fell Apart

On 22 October, I booked a flight back to the Netherlands. It failed. The payment went through… then got rejected. My money was stuck :) I cried. A lot.

I decided not to repeat the same mistake. It wasn’t the time to force myself onto a flight, so I chose another long bus journey home. This time I was prepared, 900 grams of fried chicken, sausages, eggs, snacks from Denmark, milk, and everything I needed to survive another two days on the road.

The People Along the Way

Travel gave me something valuable: People & Experience.

A traveler from India who guided me through the ferry terminal and reminded me to keep my passport close.

A traveler from Malaysia who shared stories during the crossing.

A Finnish traveler heading to the Netherlands so we go together.

And Iky, who stayed calm when I panicked, who grounded me when I cried, and who made everything feel lighter.

We didn’t dramatize. We didn’t judge. We simply handled things together.

What I’m Proud Of

This was my first solo journey.

Yes, someone joined me at one point but the courage, planning, and responsibility were mine from the start. I funded most of this journey myself, saved for it, and chose discomfort over fear.

Not everyone is willing to do that.

Not everyone can.

I returned to the Netherlands tired, cold, and deeply fulfilled. Carrying stories, confidence, and a quiet pride that doesn’t need validation.

And that... more than the aurora, the snow, or the photos, is what stayed with me.