Rama Moondra

 To Special five men whose opinion matters.

Ritesh, Anil, Abhishek, Manish and Ashish, thanks for shaping my opinions always about everythin and Men too..:)

Nick Pye is a special person. Not only because he is avid lover of India and visits  from Italy every year,but also that he is my scuba coach in Australia. He generated love for adventure sports in me and became a very caring friend. He missed a beat in my first sky jump (he told me later though).

So when he made it a point to meet me in Locarno, very close to Italy, I jumped out of happiness. That night we sat over my favourite Zindalfel ,discussing everything under the sun. Shaneen,his recent girlfriend is hungarian. Whenever I meet Nick,its a new girl every year.” How come you cant continue with one? You claim to be in love evrytime” I asked laughing on his last girlfrnd’s foto’s(torn and thrown). ” Well, a man’s heart is too big for one single woman. We dont believe loyalty comes from having slept with only one person all your life”.

I kind of understand it. Luck or whatever,I work mostly with men . Once back,I picked this topic again with Ratnam and Samir,two great business associates in Mumbai. ” Why associate loyalty with physical relationship?” Ratnam asked me. I kept quiet waiting for Samir.” Ok..Listen,let me admit,Men are genetically unfaithfull.Its not possible for them to love a single woman or atleast remain physical only with one all their life. And we are good at covering up for each other” He winked.

Though the discussion went on too long on both nights in both countries,one thing I am sure, Men think alike on lots of issues despite colour of their skin or nationality.

Think James Bond in “On her Majesty’ Secret Service“pushing down villains in Shillthorn,Rishi Kapoor to SRK singing along love tunes to melt even a stone and you know what Berner oberland in Central Switzerland is made of.  Snow ladden mountains,green lush meadows ,sparkling lakes,red rooftop houses with smoke wilting chimneys..Spellbound is the impact.

Usual tourist attraction Interlaken is most frequented here. Interlaken  has more adventure sports attraction. Most of it closes down with first shower of snow.I chose the road less travelled and went to Wilderswill and then to Murren.. A cable car journey takes you to Shillthorn and then to Jungfrou. The snow was early this year and most of mountains were freezing cold with dripping snow off trees. Very few times that one feels so connected with nature and no one, no where status.

Small villages like Gimmewald has a lonely quiet train route..I loved walking on trail and snow.  Sitting underneath a tree when it was sunny around and  snowy on the mountains with bits of snow falling over me, I could only gasp in beauty of nature god has given this country.

 The lonely track of Gimmewald

Swiss northwest corner has deep dark forests,green hills and wealth of sights. A day trip from Bern,its easy to get on .Honestly, the places have museum,history and 12th century medieval attraction blended with ice creation too but just sitting pretty on any place and soaking in the beauty made more sense to me.

Open air cafes ,glittering lake and laid back french style surrounded by vineyards, Neuchatel is a place dreams are made of.  The sandstone beauty of old town is mesmerizing.

When I boarded the train early morning 7 am from Bern,  first cup of coffee was on train. Swiss trains have good food served in inbuilt restaurant. I ordered veg  breakfast too which was bread,herb spread and butter.

“You must try La Creperie in Neuchatel”,  I looked at the gentleman sitting in front of me. He smiled,” Hi..Indian?” I smiled back nodding .Mouth full of blueberry muffin would not let me speak. ” Wanna share a coffee there?”" He said, I accepted gleefully.. Swiss are pretty friendly and happy to show around, I was  in terms with it by now.

La creperie serves Tome Neuchateloise Chaude ., a cheese starter so filling that I skipped my dinner too. Crepes are a must here and potato mashed savoury  crepe won hands down, anything faintly resembling samosa will win an Indian heart  anytime.  Is not that true?

View from distance..

Switzerland Bollywood style

I have seen two most understated capital cities of world.One is Perth and second is Bern.

I liked Bern for the characteristics it has.At once medieval and modern ,Bern charms you with a gentleman’s charm and flirts with ease of a modern high fly girl.Very artsy bars,vintage boutiques and sweep me off my feet nightlife,Bern is rightly under protection of Unesco world Heritage site.

Bern name has interesting history. The first hunting victim of Berchtold V was a bear (Barn in local dialect) and the city takes its name after it. The bear is heraldic mascot of city now.

If you suddenly feel your relativity has increased in Bern,its because the Theory of relativity was found here in a humble appartment by World famous Einstein. Zentrum Paul Klee is remarkably beautiful Renzo Piano building is curving up and down.

Though Aare river has a swimming area, I felt one needs to either national level champion or suicidal  to jump in the current. It has a topless bathing area too. ( enough reasons for doing both).

I chose Starbucks for a change for my coffee this time. Sitting and watching upmarket Bern was fun. The Barista gladly informed me about lunch at Della Casa . I went there only to find the place meat obsessed,though beautifully decorated and cosy. The person gave me a friendly smile,” Go to Lorenzini. Good Pasta vegee”.

Lorenzini is almost culture in Bern.Coffee, salad and home made pastas are popular here and makes great meal. While relishing my Cream caramel gelato on way back ,on the riverside, I stood in silence,still by breathtaking view.

By the River

Today’s Blog is exceptional. First, I never thought of writing a movie review and second ,its sunday.

Abhishek, this is dedicated to you with my sincere appreciation for you actually.( To make me write this and more).

 Well, I have always believed,Americans are the best marketeers born to mother earth. Watch 2012 ,if you don’t believe me.

Take  faded shades of Determination from Arnold of Terminator, blend with poor version of emotions of Titanic and then shake well with excerpts of The day after tomorrow.

Voila..garnish with good cinematography.

 A good cocktail requires good base and top up. So now dont forget to include India and China . After all, America does not survive without them.

The 43 year old Cussack needs to be reminded that he has changed after  1989. “Say Anything”’s classic boombox scene was fabulous but he was 22 then( no male pattern baldness showing). Even as action (side  )hero peacenik-y U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin — in a pair of hippie sandals, his Con Air was good.( to me, Nicholas cage steals the show)

So, watch it if you are still not sick of repetative American Humanity Projection(?). superheroism and too long a scene of survival with poor time management. You sure can watch it if you have not seen Terminator,  Mummy series,  the day after tommorrow,Race to Witch mountain and I am legend beyond Titanic.

A scenic lake,mountains of myth and wooden Kapellbrucke (Chappel bridge) ..Lucerne is picture perfect place. I reached on a rainy chilly day morning. The weather was dull by Swiss standard but I find it beautiful. ( cant help..coming from a state which has three weathers only..Hot, Hotter, Hottest) ..

This town has a flavour of medieval bridges and old squares.   Situated on the northern bank of  Reuss river ,Lucerne has 15th century buildings and KapellBrucke built in 1333, are most distinct feature of this mostly pedestrian place. The distinct water tower and the famous fire of 1993 are talked about . A beautiful pictorial panel of Dance of death is under roof line.

Bodu is an Institution in Lucerne. The french brasserie has excellent river view and mind blowing Bordeaux wines. The place dishes out exotic Provencal cuisine and piedmont.

I loved walking along the city and the boat tour.  Just after I finished boat trip, the hot rolled crepes with cream burlee’ and cinnamon flavour felt heaven sent.

And why not, after all the town has a myth of  an angel showed the light to first settlers of town about building chappel and the crepe shop is just next to it.

  The Water Tower and Kapellbrucke

My actual plan never included this lovely city until I met a handsome swiss bloke  Arnie Schiffer on trainstation of the atrepaltz in Zurich. He offered me to show around this city he belonged to and I jumped . We met on a lazy sunday morning and boarded train to Winterthur.

 The cultural city of Winterthur in addition to several theatres and the biggest event venue of Switzerland is also home to the Swiss cabaret and comedy centre. The friendly old town with its many street cafes is perfect for strolling and shopping.

In spite of its industrial tradition Winterthur is also a ‘garden city’ with a conspicuously large number of parks and gardens. There is even a city tour dedicated to “Villas and Gardens”. In the charming area surrounding Winterthur, in the forests, wine-growing areas.

 Switzerland’s sixth-biggest city boasts art collections of world known artists.  Museums and monuments, a lively old town, an active music and comedy scene, parks and public gardens give Winterthur feel of a big city and charm of a old country town.

 The Oskar Reinhart Collection “Am Römerholz” is one of the most impressive museums in Winterthur. It is among the most important private collections of the 20th century and includes about 200 works of European art from the 14th to the early 20th century. The focus is on 19th century French painting, in particular on paintings by the French impressionists and their precursors.
 
Winterthur owes its cultural wealth to rich patrons from the days it was an important industrial centre: with the onset of the industrialisation in the 19th century the city became  an important economic centre with  motor, locomotive and textile factories.

My funniest sites were two in this city. One was the name of the pub and the other I will write tomorrow. 

Oh Ganesha..forgive them.They dont know know what they did.

Rosy faced goatherders still yodel a melody and Cheese fondue is to die for. Rich choco truffle nuga is a sinful must do and not to forget that this the country which invented LSD and secret bank accounts. My travel experiences are my opinions and reflections of my tinted glasses(as I see it). Diverse and ultraglam, Natural and friendly, Suiss has all faces.

As easy as cheesecake and heartwarming as dark rum chocolate, Zurich does not overwhelm. It hugs as an old pal and makes you feel home instant..It may sound as boring bankingcapital but that’s not true

. The northern end of Lake Zurichsee hosts this city.Very easy to navigate split by River Limmat, Zurich has everything to offer.Bahnhofstrasse is a place where effluent Zuricher are shopping . what makes it even more interesting is the fact that the street is above the bank vaults said to be cramming with gold and diamonds of  many not known billionaires.

The 13th century Fraumunster cathedral is highest talked about attraction with some of the most distinctive and attrctive stained glass windows in the world. Back on the west bank St Peterkirche has the larget clock face of Europe(8.7 m in diameter)

But apart from official sightseeings it has the lake side walks and river side dance hubs.  A boat trip takes you around the best the city offers. The best vegetarian food I ate in Europe so far is Hilti in Zurich.

 Rainy and sunny days ,  fond memories of new found friends and  melting cheese fondue with thai pumpkin soup , Zurich has a special place in my heart. The autumn  evening glows through the windowsills of afternoon sun and I leave home to catch up on the most favourite swiss snack of season ”Hesse Marroni” ( roasted chestnuts).