Made in Switzerland

Ok, this topic is NOT on baby making, so don't get too excited.

I've had some weird requests to get some "made in Switzerland" souvenirs just before going back to SG. Somehow, these requests came pretty last minute when I had no more time to shop and look around. I've requests like 'just buy any watch' from Switzerland, getting a winter jacket and another was to get any nice jacket below $200.

So given such a short time frame to get cheap and good deals is really testing my shopping ability given that I'm not a shopping queen. So I couldn't accede to all requests.

Once, we overheard a an officer working in the tourism office telling 2 tourists that "Switzerland is an expensive country". We thought that was rather direct if not, haughty. But it's the truth.

Switzerland isn't a shopping paradise nor is it known to be one even though it has the world's most expensive shopping street - the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. You can still get cheap and good deals when certain items are on sale, if you can find your sizes. It's interesting to note items that are in black and white hardly go on sale and sometimes could cost more than other colours as they are the 2 most favoured colours among the Europeans.

Well, I thought it might be a good opportunity to clear some misconceptions on items "Made in Switzerland" since I've discovered some interesting facts whilst hunting for MIS souvenirs.

Q: Are all watches in Switzerland are made in Switzerland?

Well, I can safely say that all milk in Switzerland are from the Swiss cows as the government do not allow the import of milk in order to protect the Swiss farmers. To side track a little, Switzerland is the country that invented milk chocolate (if you happen to read the "Travellers" section of the paper TODAY on 9 Oct).

However, this isn't the case for watches.
Even if they carry the "Swiss Made" or "Made in Switzerland" logos, it doesn't mean they are truly made in Switzerland. A good example is the Swiss Military Watch. It has so many fake versions thou it carries the swiss logo.

Q: Are watches cheaper in Switzerland?

Depends. If you are talking about those high end watches made in Switzerland, maybe. But the price itself can take you from SG to Zurich a couple of times.

Swatch watches are cheaper only if the exchange rate is favourable. And even so, it's just a few dollars' difference.

They have those "pasar malam looking" watches in Switzerland too (some look worse than the pasar malams ones to be honest) and they cost from CHF 19 onwards. It is sold in Switzerland no doubt about it, but it may not be made in Switzerland or the parts may not be from Switzerland.

Extracted from Wikipedia:

Swiss watch

A watch is considered Swiss, according to the Swiss law if:

• its movement is Swiss and,
• its movement is cased up in Switzerland and;
• the manufacturer carries out the final inspection in Switzerland

Swiss watch movement

A watch movement is considered Swiss if:

• the movement has been assembled in Switzerland and,
• the movement has been inspected by the manufacturer in Switzerland and;
• the components of Swiss manufacture account for at least 50 percent of the total value, without taking into account the cost of assembly.

If a watch movement is intended for export and will not be cased-up in Switzerland, but it otherwise meets the criteria to be considered a Swiss movement, the watch may say "Swiss Movement" but it may not say Swiss Made on the watch case or dial.

“It is not generally known that quite a few Swiss companies have watches assembled in China for export to North America, Asia and even Europe, where the brand name is more important that the “Swiss made” label. Such watches may consist of a Chinese case and a Chinese crystal, a Taiwan-made dial and metal bracelet and Japanese hands. If the movement is to be considered Swiss, 51% of its value must be Swiss and at least the last wheel must be added in Switzerland. Swiss watch brands without the “Swiss made” label are usually equipped with a Japanese movement. The “Swiss parts” label means that the movement is assembled in Asia using kits consisting at least partially of Swiss made components.”

You can read this if you're keen to find out more: Swiss Made

Even the famous Swiss souvenir - the cuckoo clocks, do not originate from Switzerland. The Black Forest region in southern Germany is it's birthplace. In fact, many of the cheap quartz clocks that you see in souvenir shops are made in China, South Korea and Japan (ok I don't mind from Japan thou). You can read this for more info which I find it quite interesting:
Swiss Info

So next time when you see the Swiss cross or the "Made in Switzerland" label, it doesn't necessarily mean they originate from the country it has indicated on the label.

Auf Wiedersehn

Time to say goodbye...

to the awesome alps and good friends made,
to the cows, sheep and goats that graze the day away...
to the flowers that have bloomed beautifully in Spring,
and the warmth of the sun that summer brings...
to the lustrous grass that I lay on,
to the charming lakes I've grown fond of...

Just as I was learning to adjust to the cold weather...
Just as I was getting used to the little inconvenience of shops closing on Sundays...
Just as I was beginning to enjoy the train rides a little more...
Just as I was changing to like the freshly baked breads...
Just as I was growing to like you even more...
It's time to go.

Every breath that I take, I feel it's a blessing.
Each step that I take, it imprints in my memory.
Each person that I met, I believe it's destiny. (That also includes the animals I've met especially the cows, swans, ducks and goats which I've grown attached to :>)
Every little discoveries made, I see it as a gift we receive.

You've subtly inched your way to my heart, which, makes it even more difficult to part.
I can almost see autumn coming near, as I try hard to hold back my tears.
The fallen leaves tell me that it is time,
that I could no longer hear the familiar church bells chime.
...it is time to be back, to my city life.

Like the lyrics of the first song, I wish that time could turn us back to yesterday. Maybe then, I would have laughed more, I would have seen you more, I would have experienced and known you more. Now, I can't take my eyes off you anymore.

I'll take home with me the fond memories.

I'll miss the early church bells chime. I'll miss the weekend hikes. I'll miss the beautiful lakes, awe-inspiring sceneries and vast greenland. I'll miss the smell of spring and summer. I'll miss my friends here. I'll miss the kind and friendly Swiss. I'll miss the swans, ducks, cows, goats, sheep, horses, dogs, donkeys, little birdies, hens, the gorillas in the zoo, the lamas, the cats, the pigeons...

This place will always be, like a second home to me.

Last gathering

Last Sunday was our final gathering with our friends in Zurich. I guess we're gonna miss them...

Finally Ah Kin has the courage to invite friends over for a home cook lunch given 6 months of daily practice :)

Lunch menu:
Curry chicken (Prima Premix ;p)
Stew pork with black fungus and mushrooms
Fried prawns
Fried wangbok with carrots and tomatoes (bai cai - the veggie that sweetens the steamboat soup)

I joked that it's a chinese tradition for guests to pack food home if they can't be finished. I guess they are worried they have to pack food home :>
It's a pity that Denes wasn't there with us as he was looked after by his grandpa who was there visiting them for a week.

Hmm...I wonder how he looks like now cos Anna said that because of the day care, he gets sick quite often and there was once he didn't eat much for 5 days. Poor little fella!
Do hope Anna could find a suitable nanny or day care for him. It seems that it isn't easy to look for a day care or nanny here. Most of the schools have waiting list of up to a year! Aren't we thankful that we are spoilt for choice for the number of childcare centres we have in Singapore? Thou not all offer quality care I must say.

And we were just talking about Made In China goods are commonly found here in Switzerland, came the shocking news of the milk contamination saga. Well, not that shocking to me of course.

Well, I think Uncle Tan is feeling kinda attached to this place a month ago and has been taking pictures of the neighbourhood. These are the few night shots of where we stay. Actually it looks quite nice at night huh :)


Our apartment, Zelgstrasse 19




The nearest convenience store, Roli's, that also sells cheap lunches with daily set menues at CHF 7 that comes with a small portion of salat. What is good is, it opens at 6am.

One more day to our departure and we seriously miss this place!

I still have some entries which I haven't had time to upload and post. Well, guess I shall continue when I'm back in Singapore cos some info especially the entry on shopping, would be useful for those who might be keen to visit Switzerland one day. K, gotta go and pack now. Ciao!

Last day in office

Thursday was Uncle Tan's last day at his Zurich office. Following the Swiss tradition, he bought some pastries and chocolates for his colleagues as a form of farewell. I also baked a bread for his colleagues and brought it to his office. Fortunately, the bread turned out fine despite my 'agaration' :)



I finally get to meet most of his colleagues whom I always hear about them from Uncle Tan. A number of them are pretty young. And good looking too hehe :) Most of them are Swiss, one from Austria, one from France, a few from Italy...We did our job of promoting Singapore and some of them who might be going to SG :) Yeah Ms Wong, we'd definitely arrange a session with you ;>

Due to confidentiality, I'd only show those pictures that were taken out of the office.

They are jovial and friendly and after meeting them, I now know why Uncle Tan is happy working here. I would be too :)

Nice colleagues and physical office aside, the work load seems manageable. Or perhaps there were less expectations since he's here on an exchange programme? People get to go back on time (which I believe makes sense as some of them live a distance away with infrequent train timings) and they are flexible in their working hours.

For the past 5 mths, I hardly see his tired eyes. He gets to come back on time if not the latest by 7pm. Of course there were busy periods, especially with the recent financial crisis. But I don't see him as stressed as when he was in Singapore. We spent more time talking in fact since I always get to hear interesting issues from his discussions with his colleagues.

Are we born workaholics or are we afraid to lose out or lag behind? Or do we have too many desires and financial commitments so we have to work extra hard?

Anyways, another 3 more days I'd be back in the tropical island where there's sun, sand and sea...and 4.8 million people (latest population stats). Geeze...Switzerland has about 7.5 million people with a land size of about 41,290 sq km compared to our 699.1 sq km.

Flumserberg - Part 3 (final)

Coming down is always faster than going up. It took us about an hour down.

The mist was cleared for some areas and we were able to see slightly clearer views.

The sun is out! Yeah!

I wonder if I was a solar-powered equipment previously. Without sunshine, I'm like a zombie.

When I spoke to some Swiss who had heard about Singapore, they were saying oh it's a lovely place, so much sun and beaches unlike in Switzerland, so cold all the time. One of Uncle Tan's colleagues even remarked that we are living in paradise with so much sun and having nice beaches around (in Asia). Well, it seems that the pastures are always greener on the other side :)

Uncle Tan and his 'vapor' act again ;p

I suppose this is to rescue those who got lost in the mountains?

The way down

Civilization at last :)

Somehow, the clouds just looks at the mountain peaks.

By the time we reach here, which was about 5+pm, this gondola station going up to other mountains were already closed.

The smile after a couple of screams.
I thought I was in a slow roller coaster ride as it was quite a steep descent. Somehow, the screaming did distract me from having that wobbly feeling :)

The Walensee

There was no one at the train station except us and we had to wait for more almost an hour for the train as Unterterzan is a small town.

The sheep are still grazing and we were surprised to see some of them having very long tails.

Here comes the train.

The sunset view from the train.

View of Walensee from the train

Flumserberg - Part 2 (Seebanalp)

Instead of taking the gondola to continue the journey up to the peak, Ah Kin suggested to hike to Seebanalp instead as there's a lake indicated on the map. Also a way to avoid taking the gondola lah ;p

However, I regretted making that suggestion as I struggled up the steep muddy paths...not to mention, with the cold wind against my frozen face.

It was supposedly an hour's hike. Not too long right? But we took 2 hours...

Passing through the entrance, - this was Just the beginning.

Filming Uncle Tan's making of "The Vapor" ;D

Sun rays through the pine trees.

And yes, it was cold.

See the top where the pine trees are? That would be where we had to go and beyond.

At about 1/4 of the journey, we passed by a place with a stream flowing and the grass were luminously green. To read a book or to have a picnic there is life's pleasure in summer. Not too hot and it's quiet.

The alps water is shiokingly cold :)

Throughout the journey, we were sometimes engulfed by the mist. Both of us were trying to eat the cotton clouds that passed us by :p

The paths here were better as they were on leveled grounds.

It'd be beautiful here during winter I guess. So many Christmas trees hehe :) And what I like about this place is its quietness. We'd meet some hikers occasionally but most of the time, you're pretty much alone.

Exclusive for your eyes only haha ;p We hardly have such photos besides our wedding photos.

This stretch was the mistiest. Perhaps partly due to the winds. So we couldn't really see the road ahead. A little scary but fun :)

Behind Uncle Tan is supposed to be a nice mountain view with the sea, or rather lake. But it was all covered by mist.
Before reaching Seebanalp, we heard some dinosaur-sounding creatures. We presumed they were cows since we heard cowbells as well, but they really didn't sound like the cows we know. For a moment, we thought we were in Jurassic Park haha ;D

They were cows alright and for the first time, I've heard such 'vocal cows'. Usually they would graze quietly or the most, give a few low moos.

I was a little scared actually as we were so close to them and even believed one Swiss who commented that "They are very dangerous", only to realise that it was actually a joke ;p

The cow medley :)

This cow has a weird moo moo.

Finally, we've reached Seebenalp.

The lake is beautiful. Although it might look better on clearer days, it was rather enchanting having the mist looming above the waters.

The water is so clear that it captures the image of the sky, the clouds and the land.
The hike is worth it afterall :)

Some sun rays managed to penetrate through the clouds and we could see the land more clearly.

Ah Kin is always packed with bread for herself and the duckies :)

Imagining rowing a boat in this lake...so poetical :>

The mist is beginning to clear.

I guess this hotel by the lake would be packed with skiers during winter time.

Tea time! The apple tart taste fine without too much sugar. The service of the 2 lady staff could have been better. The young waiter was much more helpful.

We heard this dog whining outside the hotel as the hotel doesn't allow dogs to go in, one of the few places I've known so far. When we approached it, it looked so sad and kept whining, tilting its head to look at us. My first time seeing such a sad dog.

Time to say goodbye to the enchanting lake and head back before the cable station closes for the day. It's good to note that if you're going up to the alps, make your trip early as operators of the cable cars or ski lifts would close for the day quite early. Some at 4+pm or 5+pm and some at around 6pm, depending on the height of the alp and season. They wouldn't wanna find too many missing hikers lost in the mountains at night :)