A decade later: Switzerland
Almost a decade ago, i set foot in Switzerland, in a winter morning..I remembered vividly my first breath of the crisp mountain air..fresh..with a dash of pine..smoky overtones of burning wood from chimneys..brief tantalising smell of sausages frying on the pan….a decade ago..yet, now,a decade later,once again i emerged from the Zurich airport, simply the notion that i am back here once again brought forth the distant memory i thought i have forgotten. I marvel at the way our brain works, how memories we thought were lost or stashed away comes trickling forth when triggered..
This is my third involvement in the” Starguide” series, reprising the role as the tour guide..The first one brought me to Tasmania, the second to Turkey and this third installment, to Switzerland with a strength of 91 passengers and ten working crew (folks from chan brothers and the film crew) which totalled up to grand strength of 101, frolicking thru this scenic country via coach and trains,over mountains and between valleys..
Thermal Springs are one of the highlights here..Not just any thermal springs,but at laukerbad, it is both a therapeutic experience for the body and a feast for the eyes..not so much about the bods of the people in the pool but the magestic swiss alps that rose way up high above..
set in such a splendid environment, one could understand why the folks there could stay there for a week of water therapy..
A visit to switzerland is never complete without the visit to Jungfroch, the peak of Europe..standing at 4158 metres above sea level and a UNESCO heritage site..
though this trip is made in summer, snow is still in abundance..
Besides the awesome scenery, some mouth watering deli wowed us..chocolates..chocolates and more chocolates..
One of the stops were at a chocolate factory, where we were educated on the process of chocolate making and guess wat, a buffet spred awaitd us for sampling and believe me, i have never seen so much chocolates at one go ever.. i mean..ever!
Besides chocolates, we went to the town of Gruyere where the gruyere cheese took our breath away..
Went into the outskirts of Germany, the region of Blackforest, where we sampled the authentic blackforest cake..
Over in Lausanne, we visited the expansive vineyards that overlooked Lake Geneva…
Many would have mistaken Zurich to be the capital of Switzerland..however, the real deal is actually Berne, a quaint little town,which reminded me greatly of Bath in UK..
this quaint little town boasts the most number of fountains and houses the oldest clock tower in Europe..
The Jazz capital of the europe: Montreux…
Queen’s Freddie Mercury stands alone..
Perhaps one of the best known mountain of the swiss alps, the matterhorn, as seen from the town of Zermatt, is insiring and elusive..
Can’t believe that lake Geneva is just slightly smaller than Singapore..the fact that is a lake somewhat throws us off..it really looked like sea to us..
Throughout the trip we saw many castle-like buildings nestled way up in the mountain, and at Lake Geneva, we got to visit the Castle Chillon..
Finally ending up in Geneva, where more watches were bought and pictures taken..
Over here, we got to visit the United Nation’s building and the Red Cross…
Sunset at 9pm serves up a beautiful picture of the lakefront..
And this are the crew…
This is the rowdy group C..
And this is Group A….
and this the group B….and..
this is almost everybody!!!!!!
Besides what was shown above, me thinks its best to leave out the rest for the actual telecast of the programme, airing at the end of the year..Hereby, lots of hugs and kisses to one and all from the trip and thank you all for being so wonderful and helpful with the filming..lets revisit Switzerland once again when the programme airs and we would be reunited in the air…
on June 30th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Wow wee….
Nic nice pics!
And refresh the jolly good times…..
susan
on June 30th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
wow…. the views are breathtaking… they are so so nice…
think i must go there at least once in my lifetime.
on July 1st, 2009 at 12:46 am
看过你的《优游天下》，觉得很不错。期待更多的节目。
on July 1st, 2009 at 10:52 pm
wah that picture of the blue sea and sky is really beautiful…
nice cold weather there in Switzerland when over here in Singapore was the total opposite…
Great tour once again!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 12:05 am
Wow, very nice pic.
if i have chance must go also
So what is the next country you will visit ?
on July 5th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Drey is thinking deeply on how the huge chair is able to balance and not fall. Is there any secret in it? haha.
on July 5th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
hello bryan,
welcome home!! =)
great pictures u have there… the rolling mountains, the warm sunshine and the clear blue skies ^^
i love lakes, and clocks!! someday when i have saved enough, i’m gonna go to europe too. it’s such a beautiful place.
on July 6th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Hey Bryan, I assume you are back in Singapore. Did you get a chance to visit the Thermal Baths in Vals? The architecture is exquisite and the experience there is so worth while! Such a gigantic bath house (or more appropriate to say building) as compared to the ones you experience in Japan. Of course it’s all different in terms of usage but ahhhhhhhhh, your beautiful photos had me wishing I am there right now.
on July 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Really nice pics…I was there more than a decade ago too….people may change but these wonderful memories won’t…enjoy your next trip!
on July 8th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Hi Bryan
Once again, great pics….Open up my big eyes…
Bravo…
on July 8th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
oooowww… those cheeeeeseeeee… and hey bryan, your second photo posted is very nice… brings out your character – taken at a good angle, with good Swiss architectural designs as the backdrop… I am envisaging myself bathing at lucerne, appreciating the beauty of nature… breathing in the mountain air… Is the waer cold or just right? ha ha… is this xperience a better one than soaking in onsen? so good being an actor/actress, but must be one like you la… got ”ren yuan” and lots of travelling opportunites… rather than filming boring dramas… May i know if those photos you took is by using a digital compact camera or dslr? Like the one above, the hugest one of all, of three mountains… panaroma?
on July 8th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Hi,
while surfing internet on switerzland mountains.. , happened to pass by and saw your blog. Nice photo on Switerzland Mountain! Tempted me to visit Switerzland Now! Well-taken! And never know that u really know how to take good photos on your different trips over a year! Well-done! Keep it up!
on July 9th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
dear tiff,
its a canon g9..
on July 11th, 2009 at 1:03 am
Hi,
You made me wanna go Switzerland. The Scenary is breathtaking and romantic.
on July 12th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
hi bryan,
simply love your posts…i would love to go europe at least once in my life time! LOVE all your photos, such a good shot in nice angel..
bucks up, bryan!
all the best..
regards,
carrie
on July 14th, 2009 at 1:45 am
oh no! only airing at the end of the year!!!
非常期待！！
happy working Bryan!!
hugs~hugs!! ^^
on July 15th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Hey Bryan
would you be able to forward me the very last photo (the longest chair)?
Jane said she would send to us but till now no leh….
Thanks,
susan
on July 18th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
schweiz is indeed beautiful and the chocolate is killing me! ah…
i was there a year ago during my student exchange. it’s such a blessing to stay in such an environment and mesmerizing the beauty of nature. so inspiring!
it’s good to know that you had fun there
cheers
weiz
on July 25th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Hey All,
Have tried to email the group photos and long bench photo to all based on those addresses that I received from your TLs but received a number of bounced/returned emails. If you would like to get a copy, please drop me a mail at jane_chang@chanbrothers.com.sg.
For those who already have, appreciate it if you could pass it around to your “bus” just in case some did not receive it.
Regards,
Jane
on August 28th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I can recognize some of your ardent fans! OMG…
on September 4th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
dear weiloon,
great to hear from u!! and ya ya..this time round, doris is even funnier!!
on December 4th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Fantastic trip!
As a student, i don’t have much time to travel around the world. The time is really rare…..
The next year will be my last time travel to foreign countrys before the biggest exam in my life which determine my whole life…..