Jungfraujoch

Touted as the "Top of Europe" at 3454m above sea level. Actually the title meant that it is the highest peak where people can have easy access to. Other mountains are definitely taller than this but you gotta hike/climb your way up.

Well in any case, it was something we haven't experienced before.. Whole mountain peak covered with glacier. Like a desert.
So because it was something we haven't experienced before, we didn't bring one of the essentials for going atop a glacier.... Sunglasses.
The glare was overwhelming. While we were walking on the peak (the trail just appeared to be about 1km long), we were both panting due to the low O2 level and also taking breaks to shut our eyes so that we could rest from the glare.
We thought about the shades but somehow didn't seriously went about buying it. So kind of suffered for a while.

But enduring through the whole ordeal of panting and straining our eyes was well worth it. View was astounding and the walk was really once in a lifetime..

Signboard at the visitor's center

1 cup of spicy Korean noodles before setting off to the ice. (Cheapest food at the cafe)

Vast plains of glacier. Abundance of ice.

Top of the world

Can't see the end of the trail from here, but it's supposedly quite short. But walking it is tough.. On the lungs and our eyes

'Ahh kena stuck!!' (Posed picture)

Huskies were for show. This Kor Lian Dai had to eat ice, most probably for rehydration.. Dunno how many days never feed/give him proper water. (Business too lousy?)

Thanks to this snow machine, they managed to compact ice to form paths that was walkable with normal shoes. Otherwise everyone will need snow boots. (Reminds me of the harvester from Dune)

Interlaken: Tummel falls/Lauterbrunnen

On recommendation from Lili who's been to Switzerland during winter, we took a glass covered train (goldenpass line) from Montreux to Interlaken. It's a scenic route and the glass roof/windows etc were meant to enhance viewing pleasure. The cabin also had posh seats and well carpeted flooring.
The train's booking system appeared strange to me as they charge a booking fee when you choose seats online but if you hold a railpass, the trip is free (meaning only pay booking fee, don't need to pay for the trip itself). So we could just book seats at about 10 dollars each and show them the railpass when we board.
We booked this train twice unintentionally, due to some strange decision from the travel agency in Singapore who sold us the tickets... We are booking a scenic train ride and he had to put us on the aisle and not the window seat (when the train wasn't fully booked yet!!) So we had to do it ourselves online again but fortunately the booking fee they charged was not substantial.
So we happily went up the train to our window seats and realised that the aisle seats the 'friendly travel agent in Singapore' booked for us were marked 'reserved' as well.
As more people were streaming in (most without seat bookings) and had no seats, we nicely told the conductor that the aisle seats were reserved by us too but we'll forgo them. And the conductor had to reply 'Oh you've to sit at your reserved area!' Dunno had to spend how long explaining to her our whole story but she still didn't understand. Anyway, we still sat at our window seats and after some time, the passengers realised that the 'reserved' seats were empty and decided they could sit there. Really can't imagine what will happen if some prankster book the whole cabin then don't turn up..

Nice cabin, scenery. But book it yourself to avoid disappointment

We arrived at Interlaken and this started the best part of the trip :)

Our first stop was the Tummelfalls. A unique waterfall that transients within a cave. Engineers had skilfully crafted outlooks within the cave so that we can enjoy looking at this hidden waterfall which otherwise can only be seen when it exits.

This mine-cart like lift took us to the middle of the mountain from which we could continue ascend on foot to get to the lookout posts

Walk within the caves and you'll chance upon views like those below...

Honestly, the tummelfalls visit was shortlived (the walk was short) and wasn't that spectacular. It was just unique. So since we still had time, we decided to go for an easy trail in preparation for our planned 6-hour hike 2 days later. The trail goes from Murren to Lauterbrunnen. So the planned route is a cable car up to Murren which is about 2km above sea level and then going by foot downwards to Lauterbrunnen. Easy right? Walking downhilll for 1 hour...

The town of Murren was someplace i'll want to spend my retirement if given a chance. The village was quiet but well built up. Houses were lined with meticulously planted flowers and all the residents seem to have super green fingers here. Everybody's flowers were in full bloom.

Wonder how many crows it successfully managed to scare off...

From the town of Murren, we exited to a jungle path that kept going downhill for the whole hour of the trail. Halfway into the trail, we regretted choosing it as our 'suspension' (knees) began to falter with every step. We had to take breaks not because we were out of breath but because out legs were shaking from the repetitive impact.

Some sites along the jungle path. Good for admiring and resting the knees..

Finally seeing the endpoint.

We reached Lauterbrunnen at about 7pm and night was falling. We also just missed a train that goes back to Interlaken West and had to wait for about an hour. Fortunately, there was a small cafe near the station that provided cheap dinner. Forgot the price, but we were really thankful it was there to provide some warmth and economical but palatable pastas while we were waiting for the train.

Thank this cafe for its food and shelter amidst the darkening skies

Our first dinner in Interlaken

Switzerland: First stop Montruex

Was honestly a little tired of the bustling in Italy. There's just people everywhere. Hence, was real glad we put Switzerland as our last stop. This was where I really felt 'honeymoony'

Our first stop in Switzerland was in Montreux. One of the town surrounding the peaceful, tranquil Lake Geneva.

A shot from a ferry that transits between the towns around the lake. (Hopefully i'm not wrong, but this mountain is Mont Blanc)

So, it was maciam a step into heaven from the busy/noisy/squeezy streets and water buses of Venice :)
We honestly didn't do much research for Montreux, as we intended to just spend a day here, just as a stopover to go Interlaken. Fortunately, the tourist information here is real friendly and they suggested we go to Roche de Naye mountain, as well as the Chateau de Chillion (Chillion castle) which we planned to go initially.

So we took an almost vertical train up the mountain, which supposedly is home to a mammal called the marmot.
The air at the summit was fresh and the view.... Breathtaking.

Those tiny trails actually offer avid mountain bikers an exhilarating downward trail. I find the thought of accidentally hitting a drink can and veering off track too exciting -- will reach the bottom of the mountain probably 10 times faster. So better to give it a miss.

The faraway peaks looked like they are floating on clouds

So since the main attraction is the marmots, of course we'll chance upon them on the mountain!

Cute right? But these creatures were locked up in cages. Don't see a single one scurrying around freely on the mountain. Had to poke my camera through the grill to get this shot actually...

We went on our castle hunt again after the mountain excursion. Chateau de Chillion

The castle was situated on the bank of the lake. Try magnifying the center of the photo then you can see it..
This castle was special because it was near the lake, it was very liberal: allowing photography and within the castle, there were courtyards with well placed flowers/fountains that gave the medieval feel.

'Aura'

Castle by the lake. Just wished it had the 'SOLD' sign and we were the buyers..

Played many games but none gave me such a big treasure chest to open.

Again reminds me of games.. Gotta search the shelves properly to find the hidden item/key card/ammo etc

To top these all, the hotel we booked in Montreux was the most expensive and classy (actually cannot find cheaper ones that's why..) So with a good hotel, they gave us a good view of the lake and also a special bed...

Can adjust head height, leg height.. Comfortable mattress with cosy blanket. But the adjustibility of the bed reminds me of the hospital beds... Only no drip stands, no temperature chart

Venice

Whew.. more than half a year liao, but anyway, just put this up so that in years to come, probably can look back on this...

Venice: world famous for being the water city. Being world famous will inevitably cause an effect on it's citizens. Venice constitutes a group of islands and also a neighbouring area on mainland Italy. Due to the vast number of tourist swarming to the islands, most of the original citizens decided it was better to move to the mainland for livelihood.
We spent our stay in Venice on the 'island portion'. After touring almost most of the islands, we can't help but notice that the whole place is filled with repetitive souvenior shops, branded goods, restaurants, hotels.. The entire place gave us an impression that it was just made for tourists. And true enough, every street is filled with tourists, can hardly see any true blue locals around.

Image of Venice's Grand Canal

Image of Venice's Grand Canal

Image from a clock tower. Gotta pay 8Euro just to take a life to 6th floor for this!

Image from a clock tower

Accident and Emergency

Taxi

Police car.. Boat rather

Bus

Bus stop

Gates to the cemetery (It's a single island by itself) Don't ask why..

Stalled Engine

Long time since any input.. Blogging engine not working for some time..

Slogging in mental health clinics not a very fun and ideal thing to do... Finally endured till a 1 week leave starting tomorrow :)

Sometimes, I don't know if I'm treating myself and the patient's family or the patient himself.
Of course, those with the mood disorders like anxiety or depression (excluding manics) will feel genuinely better with treatment. However, in patients with psychosis like schizophrenia, who in the first place may not have insight to their illness, i tend to wonder if they actually prefer living in their world of voices/hallucination than the real world.

The 2 types of schizophrenic patients i come across are: 1) the blunted (because of the medicine), obedient patient, who will follow anything/prescription offered. They'll say they are comfortable, getting well, not hearing voices etc. Then obediently accept any treatment we institute to them. Of course, these patients are our darlings since they make the sessions easy. Some of them also volunteered that they really felt uncomfortable when they had hallucinations and are happy that they are well now.
2) the no insight, not compliant, resistant to treatment patient. These are the patients i'll start thinking that the actual patients are the family members or the doctor. The patient usually says "i'm not sick, i don't need medicine!!" No matter how one will try, they'll persevere that nothing is wrong with them. So they'll not take their medicine or resist everything else one can offer like depot injections. They often behave strangely and disrupt the lives of their loved ones. Usually the patients require admission to the wards, only to return few months later with another relapse.
I'm wondering if they actually enjoy their world more, since if they become alert to the real world again, they'll need to worry about their livelihood/money/meals etc. And if being 'unwell' is that uncomfortable, why won't they want treatment? Admitting them will relieve their family of constant worry and caregiver stress. It'll also relieve the doctor of the paronoia: whether they'll commit a crime or suicide if they leave the clinic status quo. So? Are we treating the patient or the family/doctor?

Well anyway, most likely i'm not cut out to be a psychiatrist. Really admire them for handling the patients tirelessly for years. I would have suffered from burn out..

Guess i'll continue the trip blog for now :) still got more than half to cover...