Rapperswil
July 26, 2004
Swissness
Sunday morning found me up, bright and early (well, 10.00am is early if you’re on holiday!), ready for some good old-fashion Swiss action: hiking!
M and I took the train and bus up to the Schwägalp, all intent on walking up to the top of the Säntis. So off we set, striding along in good spirits. After half an hour we’d mastered the hiker’s etiquette (greet everyone you meet by saying “gruezi”) and had come to one of these yellow signposts that indicates which path to follow. Hello, we thought, the Säntis doesn’t seem to figure on this post! So we stopped a fellow walker who told us that yes, we were heading the wrong way and should hurry back if we wanted to reach our destination (2502m) before the rain came. Having said this we glanced up and saw ominous rain clouds gathering at quite a speed. “Don’t you have a map?” Our friend asked us (he was an old grandfather figure). When we admitted that no, we’d thought we would rely on these signposts, the father (grandfather) in him came out full force and we had the pleasure of him rambling on about various other paths and the dangers of mountaineering.
Nearly falling over ourselves to escape, we thanked him profusely and shot back to the Schwägalp as fast as we could. There we discovered that a cable car goes right to the top of the mountain in about 20 minutes. Hmm, M said. Hmm, I replied. 30 minutes later we were freezing at the top of the mountain, the panorama completely obscured by heavy clouds! The only thing we managed to see was a bit of the glacier, which had once covered the mountain.
So this is it?! I asked myself.
Frozen, we took the next cable car going down. After that temperature drop we thought a change of scenery was the order, so we took bus and train to the beautiful city of Rapperswil.
Rapperswil is situated on the boarder of the lake Zürich, with lots of little cafés along the water and a charming old town. After relaxing we boarded the boat to Zürich, and hunger made me crack open a packet of biscuits. Suddenly we saw a seagull following the boat, so I threw a bit of a biscuit out at him. 30 seconds later, 10 – 15 of his feathered friends had turned up and another family had started to throw bread at them too!
Arriving in Zürich, we stumbled upon a huge open air salsa party with many bars and food stands, serving up all sorts of ethnic dishes. But it was late and after sampling some Indian and Thai food we set off towards the station.
We heaved our bodies into the train and whilst speeding homewards, I believe my sleepy mind located my Swissness: It resides in the cities, lakes and towns of this beautiful little country and not upon mountain tops.
M and I took the train and bus up to the Schwägalp, all intent on walking up to the top of the Säntis. So off we set, striding along in good spirits. After half an hour we’d mastered the hiker’s etiquette (greet everyone you meet by saying “gruezi”) and had come to one of these yellow signposts that indicates which path to follow. Hello, we thought, the Säntis doesn’t seem to figure on this post! So we stopped a fellow walker who told us that yes, we were heading the wrong way and should hurry back if we wanted to reach our destination (2502m) before the rain came. Having said this we glanced up and saw ominous rain clouds gathering at quite a speed. “Don’t you have a map?” Our friend asked us (he was an old grandfather figure). When we admitted that no, we’d thought we would rely on these signposts, the father (grandfather) in him came out full force and we had the pleasure of him rambling on about various other paths and the dangers of mountaineering.
Nearly falling over ourselves to escape, we thanked him profusely and shot back to the Schwägalp as fast as we could. There we discovered that a cable car goes right to the top of the mountain in about 20 minutes. Hmm, M said. Hmm, I replied. 30 minutes later we were freezing at the top of the mountain, the panorama completely obscured by heavy clouds! The only thing we managed to see was a bit of the glacier, which had once covered the mountain.
So this is it?! I asked myself.
Frozen, we took the next cable car going down. After that temperature drop we thought a change of scenery was the order, so we took bus and train to the beautiful city of Rapperswil.
Rapperswil is situated on the boarder of the lake Zürich, with lots of little cafés along the water and a charming old town. After relaxing we boarded the boat to Zürich, and hunger made me crack open a packet of biscuits. Suddenly we saw a seagull following the boat, so I threw a bit of a biscuit out at him. 30 seconds later, 10 – 15 of his feathered friends had turned up and another family had started to throw bread at them too!
Arriving in Zürich, we stumbled upon a huge open air salsa party with many bars and food stands, serving up all sorts of ethnic dishes. But it was late and after sampling some Indian and Thai food we set off towards the station.
We heaved our bodies into the train and whilst speeding homewards, I believe my sleepy mind located my Swissness: It resides in the cities, lakes and towns of this beautiful little country and not upon mountain tops.
July 23, 2004
Heatwave
At last, summer has deigned to rear its lovely head! But to be honest, after these three days of over 30°C I welcome the sun’s toning down of its enthusiastic beaming. Although watching lobster like individuals lumbering up and down Basel’s city centre has added to the evening’s amusements.
Now, drum role please: I have decided, slowly but surely, to get in touch with the Swissness inside me (I’m not sure that I really possess much, but hey, growing up in a country must count for something!). This soul searching was brought about by a certain M who talked me into walking (!) up a hill in Appenzell (a canton in the deepest darkest midst of Switzerland). Now this idea is almost revolutionary for me, as
1. it involves walking without shops or cafés and
2. I've always believed that wandering aimlessly around a hill or mountain where it might pour with rain at any moment is kind of pointless.
But I learnt recently that the Swiss seriously believe any visitor is capable of managing a 5 hour hike through cow dung infested slopes and along murderously narrow paths in street shoes (now for all their practicality wouldn't it be fair to warn the unsuspecting guest to bring proper shoes?). So if this poor person can endure the lavish Swiss hospitality, shouldn't I discover the delights of rolling about in cow muck too? Well, I wonder.
Now, drum role please: I have decided, slowly but surely, to get in touch with the Swissness inside me (I’m not sure that I really possess much, but hey, growing up in a country must count for something!). This soul searching was brought about by a certain M who talked me into walking (!) up a hill in Appenzell (a canton in the deepest darkest midst of Switzerland). Now this idea is almost revolutionary for me, as
1. it involves walking without shops or cafés and
2. I've always believed that wandering aimlessly around a hill or mountain where it might pour with rain at any moment is kind of pointless.
But I learnt recently that the Swiss seriously believe any visitor is capable of managing a 5 hour hike through cow dung infested slopes and along murderously narrow paths in street shoes (now for all their practicality wouldn't it be fair to warn the unsuspecting guest to bring proper shoes?). So if this poor person can endure the lavish Swiss hospitality, shouldn't I discover the delights of rolling about in cow muck too? Well, I wonder.
July 20, 2004
needles
Appearances can be very deceptive...
Last week I had the misfortune of running into a brutal battering ram camouflaged as a pretty, friendly nurse. Under doctor's orders she stuck a little needle into the cradle of my arm, took gallons of blood from my poor little vein and left me to recover slowly from my fear of needles.
Throughout the day my arm felt heavy and slowly but surely a black bruise the size and consistency of an acorn formed over the wound.
The next day the bruise had spread to mid upper and mid lower arm, covering the entire surface with streaks and patches of black & blue, green & brown. My arm looks like it had been in the ring with Mike Tyson and had managed to hold on til the last round!
So beware nurses who decide to puncture the entire vein, by inserting a needle that comes out the other side of it!
Last week I had the misfortune of running into a brutal battering ram camouflaged as a pretty, friendly nurse. Under doctor's orders she stuck a little needle into the cradle of my arm, took gallons of blood from my poor little vein and left me to recover slowly from my fear of needles.
Throughout the day my arm felt heavy and slowly but surely a black bruise the size and consistency of an acorn formed over the wound.
The next day the bruise had spread to mid upper and mid lower arm, covering the entire surface with streaks and patches of black & blue, green & brown. My arm looks like it had been in the ring with Mike Tyson and had managed to hold on til the last round!
So beware nurses who decide to puncture the entire vein, by inserting a needle that comes out the other side of it!
July 19, 2004
the telephone call
What a day.
I woke up full of apprehension about a certain telephone call I had to make. As the time for the call drew nearer, I began to panic, switched on the computer and immersed myself in information on this certain person who had the power to change my life for the next three months.
Punching the numbers I hoped and prayed that everything would turn out alright. 2 minutes later saw me putting the phone down, absolutly elated: guess where I'm going... my favorite country of contrasts: Malaysia!!!
So, you know lah, needless to say lah, I am SOOOO PSYCHED!
I woke up full of apprehension about a certain telephone call I had to make. As the time for the call drew nearer, I began to panic, switched on the computer and immersed myself in information on this certain person who had the power to change my life for the next three months.
Punching the numbers I hoped and prayed that everything would turn out alright. 2 minutes later saw me putting the phone down, absolutly elated: guess where I'm going... my favorite country of contrasts: Malaysia!!!
So, you know lah, needless to say lah, I am SOOOO PSYCHED!
A nice cup of tea
A little girl made a cup of tea for her mother.
"I didn't know you could make tea", said mum taking a sip.
"Yes, I boiled some water, added the tea leaves like you do, and then strained it into a cup. But I could't find the strainer, so I used the fly swatter."
"What!" exclaimed mum, choking on her tea.
"Oh, don't worry. I didn't use the new fly swatter. I used the old one."
"I didn't know you could make tea", said mum taking a sip.
"Yes, I boiled some water, added the tea leaves like you do, and then strained it into a cup. But I could't find the strainer, so I used the fly swatter."
"What!" exclaimed mum, choking on her tea.
"Oh, don't worry. I didn't use the new fly swatter. I used the old one."
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