Switzerland Diaries - Sep' 2017

It is true that “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”, but beauty can be quite subjective leading to a difference in opinion among the beholders. For what may seem ravishing and breathtaking to me may not look appealing to the other. However, the case with Switzerland is a bit different for majority of the people acclaim it as a “Heaven on Earth” and an “Epitome of beauty”. Its breathtaking natural scenery couldn’t be more diverse – picturesque and snow-capped mountains, endless green fields, gorgeous lakes and creeks. It is one of the most expensive countries in the world but then – Beauty comes with a price!!

We were a group of 9 (including a 4 year old kid), travelling from different countries, all vegetarians and Yes, it was an overwhelming task for us to plan and prioritize 6 days to experience the best of Switzerland. We were traveling in mid – September and went ahead with the below itinerary –

• 1 Day in Zurich 
• 2 Days in Interlaken 
• 2 Days in Lucerne 
• 1 Day in Montreux

Purchase an 8-day Swiss Pass: To experience the beautiful country, it’s vital to have a Swiss pass that gives you access to unlimited train and bus rides across the country. It may look expensive to the budget travelers but Swiss pass makes your travel within the country very cost-efficient and hassle free.

Day 1: Arrive in Zurich

We arrived in Zurich early morning and stayed in Novotel close to the airport. The history lovers can start their day with the Swiss national Museum but it was a cloudy day so we headed straight to the Rhine Falls. 

Rhine Falls

Rhine Falls is the largest waterfall in Switzerland and boat trips can be taken up the Rhine to the falls. There are viewing platforms near the falls that gives a spectacular view of the area. There are also many eating joints/snacks and sitting areas amidst the walk to the falls where you can sit and relax while you enjoy the scenery around. 

Next, we headed to the main city (via trains) which was surrounded by beautiful Zurich lake, churches, wide shopping streets and numerous eating outlets and cafes. We took a stroll around the lake before visiting Fraumünste and Grossmünste Church in the vicinity. 

Storchen Cafe

Before our visit, one of us saw an amazing post about a Café - #Storchen Café in the main city where you get “Selfies” printed on a cup of coffee. Being hard core “Fé lovers” - coffee and selfie, we couldn’t afford to miss this one! To our surprise, the staff was amazed to hear about their posts and popularity worldwide and we were greeted with warm welcome.

It was getting dark so we were looking for a decent place to have some Vegetarian food and our research led us to this amazing restaurant “Hiltl” – which is the oldest open vegetarian restaurant in the world. The buffet option works on the concept of “Weigh & Pay” where in you get a variety of cuisines, with more than 100 dishes, and pay based on the weight of the food in your plate. Never imagined vegetarian food could be this delicious in Zurich!

Day 2: Arrive in Interlaken

Our body was now getting accustomed to the time difference and after a tiring day, we managed to reach the Zurich train station next day morning in the nick of time. We were running with big suitcases and one of us had to literally stand on the door of the train before it left any one of us. If we have any “Bollywood fans” here who have watched “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le jaenge” (DDLJ)– the scene was no less than Raj giving a hand to Simran to board the train! Switzerland for DDLJ fans is reliving the romantic moments of that time.

The journey from Zurich to Laken was one of the most beautiful and scenic journeys I have ever taken. On our way we passed beautiful cities and villages with lush green grasslands surrounded by water bodies and mountain ranges. 

Upon arrival in Interlaken we checked in the hotel which was just across the train station – with heavy luggage in hand that was a WOW moment for us. After checking in some of us went for Paragliding in the Alps (http://www.alpinraft.ch/) while the rest of us decided to take a stroll near the landing area. 

You can’t just skip Switzerland without trying and falling for the Swiss chocolates, so we went to the famous Funky Chocolate Club located in the vicinity. Here you not only get to taste and buy delicious chocolates but as well experience some hand-on-workshops to make your own Swiss chocolates.Opposite to the Chocolate Club is “Al-Azteca”, a restaurant that serves delicious Mexican food.

Next in line was the most awaited Interlaken river cruise that starts in evening around 16.30 from Interlaken OST and takes you to Brienz. You can choose to return via boat or take train back to the Interlaken station. The cruise is ~1.5 hour long and the boats are equipped with a restaurant and a bar. Be prepared to witness the fabulous views of the impressive mountain scenery or historic castles and romantic waterside locations as you sit and dine. 

By the time we returned it was late, we grabbed dinner from a nearby outlet and were back in hotel. We had some fun activities planned for later that night and played games like Mafia and Dumb Charades before realizing that it was 2 hours past midnight and we had a long day ahead of us the next day. So, Bed Time!

Day 3: Trip to Jungfrau

One of the highlights of the Swiss trip was the Jungfrau. Located at a height of 4200m, Jungfrau is the one of the main summits of the Bernese Alps and the highest point in the Alps that is reachable by train. There are two routes to get to Jungfrau – one via Lauterbrennan and other via Grindelwald. While heading to the range we took the former route so from Interlaken OST you must take a train to Lauterbrennan; at Lauterbrennan you board another train to reach Kleine Scheidegg; from there the cog wheel train to reach Jungfrau. The total journey is ~2 hours one way.

"Zara sa jhoom loon Main - from DDLJ"

At Jungfrau, you will find many attractions such as an Ice palace with multiple ice sculptures, Sphinx observatory with panoramic windows, several exhibitions and an accessible area to go out and enjoy the view. In summers, you can go sledging and skiing as well. There are multiple restaurants located at the top so you don’t have to bother about carrying eatables.

On our way back to Interlaken we took the latter route via Grindelwald and took a 2-hour halt to roam around, try some local cheese fondues. Overall it was an amazing, unique and a real snowy experience for us. Though it is not a cheap excursion but worth the money !

Day 4: Arrive in Lucerne

Hotel Felmis & Arrival in Lucerne

Unlike Interlaken, Lucerne was a busy city but luckily our hotel in Lucerne was located far from the hustle bustle of the city, amidst the grasslands and mountains, the way I imagined typical villages of the country to be – surreal and beautiful! 

A part of me just wanted to pause and stay there for the next 2 days, but at the same time I didn’t want to forego the experiences that were along the way. After checking in to the hotel we headed to the main city to the Swiss Museum of Transport. It is a wonderful place to learn plenty of interesting stuff about all kind of transportation means and more and there are a few experiences like airplane and helicopter simulator which could be fun. The museum also has numerous activities for children which keeps them engaged.

The Chapel bridge & the "Palat Scene"

From the Museum, we headed to the old town of Lucerne and our first stop was Chapel Bridge, which rests on the Reuss river and is famous for the marvelous paintings covering the roof of the walkway that tell different tales of the city’s rich history. The bridge is one of the most photogenic spot of Lucerne and can be viewed both during day and night – giving an altogether different expression at both times of the day. Having said that, being DDLJ fans we could’t resist shooting the famous scene at the bridge “The Palat Scene” !

Our next stop was the lion Monument. It is a beautiful walk from the Chapel bridge to the Lion monument along the river. The monument is a tribute to the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries attacked the Tuileries Palace in Paris. 

It was already dark, we were tired and hungry at the same time. We discovered a very good Burger place nearby – Jeff’s burger where we had yummy Bean burgers. Now, it was time to head back to the hotel, take some rest before we begin our next expedition.

Day 5: Trip to Mount Titlis

Finally, the day had arrived when we were visiting one of the most visited and famous places in Switzerland – the Mount Titlis. We took a train from Lucerne to Engelberg and a cable car connected Engelberg to the summit of Titlis. It was a very cloudy and windy day so the view uphill wasn’t very clear. But when we reached to the summit, we were surrounded by clear skies and snow-capped mountains. The activities that followed were typically the Flyer (after a walk through the suspension bridge), walk in the ice caves, revolving cable car etc. “Ice Flyer” was the highlight of the trip and is the most recommended activity; the ride takes you across the snow mountains and the panoramic view of the glaciers from the flyer is spectacular.

Another highlight was the DDLJ poster at the Mt. Titlis. We knew it existed somewhere in the area but what surprised us the most was the long queue of people from different nationalities, awaiting to click a picture in front of it. So, for all those who plan to visit Switzerland in near future this Bollywood movie is a must watch for you will always be reminded of the movie scenes and romantic moments in the pastoral beauty of Swiss Alps.

Lake Trubsee

After spending ample time at the Summit, while returning we hiked to the Lake Trubsee which falls midway in the cable ride. The lake lies at the foot of the Titlis above the village resort of Engelberg. The landscape is pretty amazing from the lake and you can take a boat for a row across the lake.  

This was almost the end of the most memorable trip to Titlis but before leaving we wanted to leave behind the impression that reminds us of the togetherness and the wonderful time we had here !!

Cousin's trip - 2017

Day 6: Arrive in Montreux

Our last stop in Switzerland was the beautiful town of Montreux, sheltered in the Lake Geneva. We took the Golden Pass train (a must do) from Lucerne to Montreux; the peculiarity of this train is its large panoramic windows which provides a 360-degree view of the beautiful landscape on the way.

Our hotel in Montreux – Eden Palace was a luxury hotel located at the banks of the Lake Geneva. The walk along the long, flower-bordered lake promenade just outside the hotel is one of the most beautiful walks, for you are surrounded by beautiful lake, picturesque mountains and lush green shrubs and colorful flowers. We took a stroll along the promenade before heading to the Chillion Castle.

A 3 km walk along the promenade will lead you to the castle but you can take buses that run frequently in the town. The Chateau de Chillon has been made famous by several significant literary figures. As you walk along, the audio guide and exhibits helps you learn the hidden stories associated to the courtyards and dungeons in the castle. If you are fascinated by historical events, the place will keep you engaged for at least 2 hours. 

Before heading back to the hotel promenade to see the sunset, we stopped by the Casino and shops close to the hotel. 

The sunset from the promenade is amazingly stunning and a photographer’s dream so you can’t afford to miss and capture it. You can also take a walk or choose to dine at one of the restaurants located by the lake.

This was out last evening together in Switzerland; some of us were heading to Paris to continue our trip for the next 3 days while some were returning to their countries. As we spent the evening chatting, talking about the moments and fun we had, we didn’t realize it was early morning and time to leave and bid adieu to each other.

I never thought traveling in a group with 7 other people would be so much fun and each moment would be filled with laughter and excitements. 

T.S Eliot has rightly said “It’s not the destination but the journey that matters” – Journey with the right people, journey with the closest and most lovable people for they will always ensure that every moment is special  for you !!

This blog is dedicated to you Guys for making it so memorable !!

Celebrating Pink - in Montreux

And in the end, if you are wondering, what happened to the love story of Raj and Simran - Babuji let go of Simran !!

Thanks to the DDLJ spoof Team !!

Singapore Diaries 2018

Singapore, the little island and one of the smallest countries in the world, had been called by a variety of names over several centuries. It’s first name was Temasek meaning ‘Sea town’ but by the end of 14^th century it came to be popularly known as Singapura, a lion city. It was once an impoverished, colonial backwater without natural resources but today it stands as one of the world’s biggest financial center and the busiest port. It is one of the three surviving city states in the world, others being Monaco and the Vatican City.

Today, Singapore is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South East Asia. The city offers a whole spectrum of attractions ranging from fun filled adventure parks to beautiful gardens, street shopping to spectacular malls. I recently stayed in Singapore for 6 days and the city’s top-notch infrastructure, quality of living and extreme helping nature of Singaporeans really fascinated me. For the most of us, 6 days are usually counted as “overstay” in Singapore but if you are looking to fully discover and explore the beautiful city here’s a 6-day itinerary from “MyTravel”.

Shortcut to access all the links and day by day itinerary, refer the attached.

See PDF

Rest of it in detail goes as follows:

We arrived in Singapore on 20^th Jan around noon and after checking in to the hotel, headed to the Night Safari located at Mandai Road. The place is easily accessible by taxi/Uber/Grab or a combination of public transport.

https://www.wrs.com.sg/en/night-safari/before-you-visit/getting-to-night-safari.html

Singapore's Night Safari is the world's first nocturnal safari park. It showcases more than 2,500 animals in their natural nighttime habitats. As you enter the park, you will witness a thrilling performance by a troupe of tribal warriors that will keep you excited for the next. The tram ride at Night Safari takes you around the park where you can see nocturnal animals in their habitats. You can also explore the walking trails to see even more animals not visible from the tram journey.

If you are travelling with kids or you are an animal lover or on a Safari expedition, though I was neither, it is recommended to take a ParkHopper Ticket that provides access to all the 4 Parks, namely Singapore Zoo, River Safari, Jurong Bird Park and Night Safari for 7 days. For details and other options: https://store.wrs.com.sg/

Second day, we started our day with the Merlion. The Merlion, a half-fish, half-lion beast, is an iconic symbol of Singapore and resides at the waterfront Merlion Park adjacent to the Fullerton hotel overlooking Marina Bay. The fish represents Singapore's origin as a fishing village or 'sea town', Temasek and the lion head portrays Singapura which means 'lion city'. One can enjoy breathtaking views of the Marina Bay during a walk in the Merlion park alongside the Waterfront.

Our next stop for the day was Marina Bay Sands, MBS, which is around a kilometer walk along the bay. Standing as one of the most magnificent hotels with the world's highest and largest rooftop pool, MBS exemplifies the rich architectural qualities the city exhibits. The observation deck and the pool area provides panoramic views across the bay. The Infinity pool is accessible only to the guests staying in the hotel so if you wish to explore the views, you can either go to the Observation deck or grab a drink in Spago, a fine dining restaurant located on level 57 of Tower 2 overlooking the Infinity pool. We went with the latter to have a reasonable time to enjoy the spectacular view of the city skyline.

Connected to the MBS via a bridge, known as the Lion’s Bridge, is the Gardens by the Bay. The garden is a home to Supertrees, tall tree like structures, connected through the elevated OCBC Skyway that provides an aerial view of the entire garden. The garden also features the world's tallest indoor waterfall at the Cloud Forest and the largest glass greenhouse at the Flower Dome. These two conservatories are among the most striking features of the Garden and a must do for every visitor. Another highlight of the garden is the Garden Rhapsody, the evening light and sound show at the Supertree grove, where the lights and music transform the iconic Supertrees that provide shade in the day into sparkling tower like structures.

Post the light and sound show at the Garden, we headed back to MBS to experience a captivating Light and Water Show, the Spectra at the Event Plaza. The show can be best viewed from the promenade to the left of the Louis Vuitton store, which is outside the main exit of the MBS. The 15-minute show leaves the audience mesmerized with its dancing water fountains and state of the art visual effects and projections on water. What a beautiful end to a beautiful day!!

After an astounding day, it was time to step into another world and explore the beautiful island of Sentosa. Sentosa is derived from the Sanskrit word “Santosha” meaning satisfaction or contentment. It is a popular island resort located south of Singapore and is accessible by Cable car, MRT or taxi.

http://www.chasingplaces.com/how-to-get-to-sentosa-island-via-public-transport/

The island is a home to multiple attractions, around 30+, ranging from adventure parks and fun rides to beautiful beaches, marine life to world of illusions and images. The attractions are spread across three stations on the island that are 2-3 minutes apart namely Waterfront, Imbiah and Beach station accessible by Monorail. It is lucrative to take a Sentosa Fun pass that gives you access to either 3, 5 or 20 attractions in a day or two and you have the option to combine it with Universal Studios also.

For details refer, https://store.sentosa.com.sg/main/packages

We went with the 5-day attraction pass and covered Trick Eye Museum, Sea Aquarium and Royal Albatross, Luge/Skyride and Wings of Time. You can choose to go with other attractions, the list of which is accessible through:

https://www.sentosa.com.sg/en-us/Explore/Attractions

Trick Eye Museum, an internationally renowned 3D art museum from Korea, has huge exhibits that makes 2D art pop up into 3D using their own Mobile application. So, before you enter, prepare yourself to trick and be tricked with their illusion paintings and structures and don’t forget to download their app to take photos or record videos as it triggers animations and sound when you are near an exhibit.

S.E.A. Aquarium is a large aquarium featuring marine life in a variety of habitats. As you move in the enclosure you will find myriads of colorful fish and sharks around you.

Skyline Luge is an adventure ride that allows the rider to speed down a hill in a self-steered vehicle. The ride starts from Imbiah and ends at the beach station. It was one of the most adventurous ride and their tagline “Once is not enough” truly fits in. Once you are at the end of the hill, you can board the Skyride to get back to where you started. You can choose to reverse the combo by going up the hill first via Skyride and returning via Luge depending on where would you like to end it. We took the Skyride later since we were to attend “Wings of time” show that is opposite to the Skyride junction at the Beach Station.

Wings of time is another laser and water show that runs twice every evening and features dancing water fountains and laser light projections on water. It’s a good relaxing show to watch in the evening after an exhausting day.

Next in the list was the most awaited Universal Studios, a theme park located at the Waterfront, Sentosa. If you have been to Los Angeles, this one looks a mini version of the Universal, Hollywood but does no injustice to the thrill and adventure experienced by the people here. It is a small theme park featuring rides, attractions and 4D shows. The Waterworld show, the Mummy ride, the Cyclone (roller coaster) and the Transformers ride are the must do attractions here. This place turns out to be a paradise for kids and ride lovers.

So, by the end of spending two days in Sentosa, both of which turned out to be unique fun – filled experiences, we were really contented, in sync with the word “Sentosa”.

Finally, it was time to explore some markets so we headed to the most famous street market @ Bugis. This must-to-do market is a suitable place to buy cheap but decent quality souvenirs, clothes, shoes and accessories. I read everywhere that this is a good place to bargain but seems like now everything is fixed price and you can get a 3-5-dollar discount when you spend around 40-50 dollars. So, before you head to a mall, don’t forget to check out this place.

The next best and unique shopping area of Singapore is the Orchard Road, the epicenter of shopping with dozens of malls showcasing the world’s most expensive brands and trendiest fashion. So if you are a brand freak or enjoy stargazing at the big brand names then Orchard Road is a must.

The other famous market, Chinatown, is stuffed with lots of colorful shops selling Chinese clothes, crockery and some souvenirs. With Chinese New Year coming by, this place looked more attractive with lights and decoration and lots of food shops selling hawker food but from shopping perspective if you have been to Bugis, you would prefer to just take a quick stroll.

Amidst shopping, there is something the city offers to the F.R.I.E.N.D.S lovers. Yes, this is the famous Central Perk café located in @Clarke Quay which is a kilometer away from Chinatown. This is a theme based restaurant where you will find Monica’s kitchen, Chandler’s fosse ball, Joey’s Hugsy and the famous sofa that recreates the experience. The restaurant also features drinks and dishes after the name of the TV characters. Though Vegetarian options are limited but we really enjoyed Phoeby’s Veg Pizza and Ross Geller shake.

It was our last day in Singapore and we were pretty align on what we wanted to do. So, we decided to avail the Park Hopper ticket to explore the remaining parks and headed straight to the River Safari (located next to Night Safari and Singapore Zoo). It is a river themed zoo where you can take cruises and theme park rides, the most amazing being the Amazon ride, to enjoy the nature as you watch unique creatures in their habitats. One of the highlights of the park was the Giant Panda Forest where you can witness two Giant Pandas in their man made natural habitat.

Located adjacent to River Safari is the Singapore Zoo which is a home to 250+ species of mammals, birds and reptiles. As you take a walk or a tram ride, you will see different animals displayed in open and spacious exhibits separated from the visitors through some hidden barriers. The park also features shows which allow visitors to meet and interact with some of the park animals.

Jurong Bird Park is located (till date as there is some construction going on at Mandai Road, perhaps to accommodate this park as well) in Jurong region which is 20-25 minutes by taxi from Mandai. It is one of the largest free flying aviaries in the world and home to 5000+ birds from 400 species. The tram ride takes you around the park where you will witness vibrantly colored birds and multiple aviaries.

The entire day spent around animals from multiple species was no less than a wildlife expedition.

It was time to now bid goodbye to a beautiful destination which had flavors of adventure, amazing architecture, spectacular light shows, wildlife and what not!!