Sauna diplomacy: Discovering Finland's hot-and-cold tradition

Public sauna and restaurant by the Baltic Sea. [Mwangi Maina, Standard]

It's a sticky, steamy business. Two or more do it naked in a small, dimly lit room. Suomi (Finland) as it is referred to in Finnish, I got a rare opportunity in April this year to visit this Nordic country ranked as the world's happiest nation for the sixth time in a row.

Why are the Finns the happiest humans in the globe? The high level of social trust is one reason. For instance, the Finnish envoy in Nairobi, Pirkka Tapiola expect his wallet to be returned to him if he loses it in Finland.