Monday, August 12, 2013

A Swiss Rendezvous

Aum Sri Sai Ram

A Swiss Rendezvous

As I think to gather my thoughts, words are racing ahead of me. Yes, finding it difficult to give prominence to a particular thought in this vortex, if I can call so. The Swiss trip fructified on 28th May and as they say all good things have to come to an end, it concluded on 18th June. 


Our flight was from Bengaluru to Muscat with a long transit of 8 hours and the onward journey from Muscat to Zurich for another 7 hours was in the night at 2.10 am. What happened here is worth mentioning. There are a some hassles in airport operations. Since my parents required wheelchairs, I had requested for them. 
My parents at the Bengaluru International Airport
They have a protocol, wherein persons pushing the wheelchair to the lounge leave them in the lounge. There are another set of persons who again take the wheelchair bound persons to the bus and then to the flight. These persons had not come till 2.10, I was getting panicky, but the air hostess was saying that she has the printout of people travelling in the aircraft and the flight won’t leave till it is given. At last somehow we were rushed to the aircraft, the staff were saying if there had been more delay, the flight would have taken off! This flight was a spacious one with good in-flight entertainment and lots of pampering with food. Even in the dead night, we were served with snacks. At around 6 am again a breakfast. Looked like they just wanted to finish their work! When we landed at Zurich, there was a significant change, helpers were ready with wheelchairs. Probably the staff at Muscat had informed well the Oman Air staff at Zurich airport. And we were greeted with temperature of 6 degrees. Quite cold for we people from the tropics! The person who was pushing the wheelchair was curious about us since we were from India. I mentioned that I was from a place called Puttaparthi, the abode of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He did not seem to know about Swami. My father gave a photograph of Baba to him. Our conversation had to end since we were already outside the airport. My brother was there to receive us. He had arranged a good wheelchair for my mother. He had made our stay comfortable and arranged for our visits to various places. My sister-in-law was there to provide us with good food and took us to some places. My nephew, the playful and active boy kept me engaged in the evenings with football and cricket and sometimes with Playstation. 

The same evening, i.e., on 29th in the chill weather, we had travelled to a picturesque place called Turlersee. Swiss people being nature lovers like to lead their lives away from hustle and bustle of city. We saw caravans with all modern facilities including dish antenna in this location. One needs to be a poet to describe the scenic beauty, never ending well manicured landscapes. Switzerland is a captivating country of hills, dales and valleys, and all the places are made available for tourists. The transportation system is immaculate, the trains, trams and buses ply at the appointed time. There is no question of any delay. In the buses, trams and trains, there is an electronic board displaying the next stop and time taken to reach the place. There is also an application from the Switzerland transport authority called SBB. One needs to just enter the boarding point and destination, the app. displays the trains and buses to the place, the time taken and the availability. They say one can set one’s watch in accordance with the timings of buses and trains.  One disadvantage I noticed, their lives also become like robots. Everything is pre-programmed. Any slight change upsets them (This is my observation).



Turlersee
On 31st, I had gone on a stroll wearing thick clothing. The climate was cold and I was puffing copious amounts of smoke with every breath. There was pouring rain, and that too continuously. Some depression led to floods in many countries of Europe. My brother was saying, after many years even spring which was supposed to be pleasant was cold and rains too. Again the view was breathtaking. People as soon as they get up in the morning see the weather report and plan their work. The weather is accurately predicted for 3-4 days in advance. In Switzerland, people have a lot of concern for their country and the tourists. 


On a stroll
The city Zurich is a mix of modernism and traditionalism. There are forts and big shopping malls, IT companies and the famous banks. The rains were the biggest distraction in the cold weather. Our visit to the shopping malls, one of the costliest in Europe showed us the modern side of Zurich. Well laid out promenades leading to well-lit shopping malls with display of items equally attractive – mouth-watering cookies, cakes and pastries and the world famous watches.  








Zurich City - Shopping Malls
In the weekend, we had been to Black Forest, Germany. Got a feel of another country in Europe! This place is in the fringe of Switzerland. We drove to this place. Interestingly, I came to know that travelling by car is cheaper than public transport. Had breakfast in MacDonald's restaurant on the way in Germany. Saw a Sardar with his kid there. Black Forest is famous for its cakes, pines and fir forest. The main attraction is the waterfall which descends from a great height. One has to climb through winding pathway a lot to get a closer look of the waterfalls. One thing I noticed in common were the ubiquitous sighting of Indians. Indians and Chinese are the main tourists to these places, and there are a lot of Indians settled in these parts too.  


On the way to Black Forest









Black Forest
Then on our way back in Germany, we saw the largest mechanical clock in the world where the cuckoo comes out every hour and dancing figurines come and go. It has entered the Guiness Book of World records. 



The world's biggest Cuckoo Clock
As we entered Switzerland, we witnessed Rheinfall, the largest waterfall in Switzerland. Water gushing in torrents was a sight to watch. There is a lift to take people to an elevation from where the view was marvellous.  






Rheinfall
Zurich old city and Zurich lake was the next place we visited. Zurich old city has a watch tower with minarets, and the famous banks – UBS and Credit Suisse. The lake had a cruise for tourists. 








Zurich old city and Zurich Lake
Rome, the capital of Italy was our next destination. Swiss air took us to Rome in one hour from Zurich. Since it was evening time, there was a lot of traffic in Rome. It took almost an hour to reach the apartment pre-booked by my brother. It was a spacious one with facility to cook. The address was via Palermo. As there was WiFi facility, we could tune into Radiosai. Interestingly, I was asking one of the persons in an Indian restaurant the way to Colosseo (the famous colosseum, an amphitheatre, the epicentre of many gladiatorial contests in the bygone era), he started replying to me in Hindi! Rome in all respects is somewhat like India. There is an open top bus service which takes people around the historic places in Rome. It is called Red Bus, service no. 110. I was active with my camera as I went to the top while my parents and brother were seated downstairs. In the evening, I visited the Colosseo, a large amphitheatre. Though in a dilapidated state, they have maintained it well. Even the Pope visits the Colosseo once in a year, I think on the Good Friday. There are two storeys, one can climb them and get a better view. There is also an audio visual museum inside the building which gives various details of the structure and the prevalent practice in those days. Then I went around Rome because there are many historic sites close by. It was a long walk. People speak ‘little’ English. As I was walking through Rome, I noticed two Indian Sadhus, one meditating suspended in the air with the help of a stump. One Sadhu was seated balancing the other Sadhu with a stump in his hand. And this feat went on from morning till evening. There was another person dressed as Pope and a few others in the costume of Roman emperors. A place worth mentioning is the Trevi fountain. This place is crowded with tourists. Like in India, we drop coins in rivers, they too have a sentiment; people drop coins in this fountain. It seems the belief is if one drops a coin, he will get an opportunity to visit Rome again. I did not do so! Here in the street adjoining the fountain artists sketch portraits of people. Since I had gone a long way from our apartment, I was finding it difficult to trace my way back. There are many Bangladeshis in the streets selling toys and trinkets. I asked one of them how to go to Palmero, he was baffled, then I realised, it is Palermo. He told me Palermo is another city. Haha! I remembered my address via Palermo. I had just crossed the central bus stand in Rome. It was getting late. So, I took a taxi to my place. There are tourists who walk the whole of Rome with a guide. Walking groups as they are called carry a flag with them for identification.






Trevi Fountain




Colosseo








The next day, we visited the Vatican, the Mecca of the Christians. It is a huge compound with beautiful buildings. The Sistine Chapel is a place worth mentioning, which is also the official residence of the Pope. One has to walk and walk in the chapel. The walls and roof are frescoed by Renaissance artists including Michaelangelo. The famous painting of Michaelangelo “The Creation of Adam” forms part of the painting in the ceiling here.  I forgot to mention, had a taste of the Italian Pizzas in Rome. On the next day morning, we travelled back to Zurich. One thing I noticed in these parts, to market a product, for example a cola drink, is given liberally to all people in a busy thoroughfare.



Sistine Chapel


The Vatican
Luzern and Interlaken, the picturesque locations is not missed by any tourist to Switzerland. Even the Golden Pass train runs on this route. Golden Pass train has large glass windows like other trains in Switzerland, but these windows can be opened. The train travels at a slow pace so that one can capture the scenic beauty. Again the swans here in Luzern gave a beautiful sight. We could not go into Luzern as there was not much time left for the train to Interlaken. At a station towards Interlaken we needed to change the train. In Switzerland, the trains, trams and buses are designed in such a way to help the old and the infirm. The bus driver when he / she sees any wheelchair, the driver tilts the bus (there is such a facility in the bus) so that the wheelchair or perambulator can navigate easily to the bus. Even the trains and trams steps come close to the platform. But some of these older trains and trams are not friendly towards the elderly. One needs to climb 2 or 3 steps. To continue the thread, in this train the steps were a bit higher. My mother was finding it difficult to climb. Seeing the difficulty experienced by my mother and the commotion we were creating, the driver of that train himself came down to us and told that there was a bus service to Interlaken which will be easier for your mother. There is also a facility for the differently-abled and the elderly, if prior information is given at the station, then a ramp is brought by the station staff which gives easy access to the train. At Interlaken, the adventurous go for paragliding. Being very conscious and enthusiastic not to miss the scenery, I was busy clicking, in the process, missed a bag containing some eatables and fruit juice on the way. Here we experienced travelling by cruise. And the landscape was breathtaking to the beholder. All through the journey from Interlaken to Zurich, the view from the ship of the hills and the green water was picture perfect for the lens. One more thing which I would like to mention is if one buys a ticket, it is valid for 24 hours and for all modes of transport, whether it is land or sea. One needs to buy a pass, a half-pass so that the ticket one buys during the period is half-priced. I got misled twice during my trips all by myself. Even in a funicular or cable car, the half pass is valid. I happened to buy the full ticket. The ticket vending machine is fully automated.  



Interlaken
 

Luzern
I travelled towards the Italian border on 10th June 2013. A long trip indeed, so started early. Had to change three trains to reach the place where the entire Switzerland is depicted in miniature form, called the Swiss Miniator. A toy train takes people around inside the miniature. I decided to walk around slowly. The well connected train network, the ice mountains and the modern Switzerland are all shown in the form of models. The trains and ships keep making rounds. My next halt further was San Salvatore, from where Italy is very near. One has to travel via funicular to get the bird’s eye view of the valley and the mountains. The green mountains and the valley view were beyond any description, I should say. 





On the way to Swiss Miniator






Swiss Miniator


San Salvatore

My brother came early that evening and took my parents to Lake Sihlsee by car. The evening view was beautiful. Since the sun sets in these parts very late as late as almost 10 in the night, they had a good experience. And mind you short nights too, the sun rises by 5.00-5.30 in the morning. 





Lake Sihlsee

The one icy experience we had was Mount Titlis, frequented by Indians mainly. Just at the foothills, there is an Indian restaurant selling Pav Bhajis, Dhoklas and Idlis. It looked like a mini India. As it was a week day, my sister-in-law had taken us. The cable car experience was unique with its undulating motions. Cows jingled with Swiss bells beneath as the cable car made its way. It was already late. We did not know that the entry to the ice mountain closes by 4.30. By the time, we reached, it was almost 3.45. Switzerland is 3.30 hours behind India during summer and 4.30 hours behind during winter. It was zero degrees at the top, and almost zero visibility. One cannot continuously look at the ice as it was glaring to the eye. I walked in the slippery ice to a place from where one can take the ice flyer. Ice flyer is a small cubicle which takes you further in the ice mountain to get a better view and from where one you play and indulge in fun and frolic. Since it was already late, I could not get down. As I was coming back, there was an indication to smile. A camera automatically clicks the photograph of the person in the cubicle. They print and give then and there for a price. Of course things are quite costly by Indian standards in Switzerland. There is another place where Bollywood, Hollywood stars and Cricketers  are dressed in hunter and musician costumes with the background of the ice mountain. We could see Virender Sehwag and family and a few other celebrities’ photographs there. Here too, they print the photograph and give you then and there. The last cable car was making its trip, so we travelled along with the staff. There are two cable cars to this mountain, one takes to a certain point and thenceforth, another cable car. I am not aware of the reason. They make a thorough check at different points with a sniffer dog because anybody left there have to spend the rest of the night in the mountain.












Mount Titlis
Also got a chance to witness a football match involving my nephew. It was an engrossing match which resulted in a tie. After the match, children are asked to clean their shoes themselves and also take bath in the wash room before leaving for their homes. 



I had then travelled to a hill called Rigiblick which gives the view of the Zurich city. I think this place houses the staff of the University of ETH. Had to walk a lot in the elevation to get a better view, even walk in a forest. 
Rigiblick
On 15th June, my brother and myself travelled to a lake called Rappersvil. A view of the vast expanse lake with large swans quacking in the lawns kept the shutterbugs busy. There are beautiful rose gardens with flowers of various hues. A marriage ceremony was in progress in the church in the traditional way.





Rappersvil
Our last visit was to the queen of mountains in Central Switzerland, Rigi Kulm. It is at a height of 1,797 metres. Again access to this mountain is through cable car. One gets a view of 13 lakes from Rigi Kulm. The view was magnificent, this place is also famous for paragliding. There is also a tower in the mountain. One can climb the steps to get a better view. 









Rigi Kulm
My brother and I visited a Mexican restaurant, had a taste of Continental and Asian gourmet. On 17th June, we had our flight back to India via Muscat from Zurich in the night at 10. This time the transit was for only 3.30 hours in Muscat with less hassle. In our flight from Muscat to Bengaluru, everyone was given an immigration form. Even helped an Omani to fill the form, but I did not fill myself thinking that it is not needed for Indian citizens. But on arrival at Bengaluru, we too were asked to fill the form! Thus ended our memorable trip to Switzerland.

A comment on their culture: What I noticed is their way of life, their behavior are completely different from ours. Their culture is theirs. If we start aping their culture, then we will lose ours. The perfectness in their work culture, what is called the Swiss precision and punctuality is what we can learn from the Swiss people. Sorry for the lengthy description, hope I have not bored you.  
Jai Sai Ram