Flea market / Car Show along Lac Leman ( Water front of Lake Geneva) – 13 Sep 09

On 13 Sep 09 (Sunday) morning we decided to go for a walk along the Water Front of Lake Geneva that is quite close to our home. It was a very pleasant walk – as we enjoyed ourselves along the lush green well-maintained lawns. The privately owned sailing boats anchored alongside, reminded me of Sausalito in San Francisco. On our way we came across a Charlie Chaplin statue, who incidentally had spent his last years in Vevey, and his descendants continue to live here in this area.



We also came across the “Flea Market” – where “used” (second hand stuff) is sold! Also some farmers sell their farm produce here. What is interesting is that vegetables that are imported are cheaper than the local vegetables! Also saw a very interesting way of advertisement for a food museum - a model of a fork embedded in the lake in front of the building!



As we continued to walk along Lac Leman we stumbled across an “Antiques Car Show”. What an amazing variety of Cars, easily numbering about 200 different varieties – many several decades old .The Owners of the cars were proudly driving in and parking their cars in their allotted parking areas. The cars were not for sale.



The immaculately maintained cars were in such an excellent condition - I kept wondering as to how the owners are able to maintain their cars. No wonder they were proud to merely exhibit their cars and enjoyed the adoration being showered upon their vehicles by the appreciative audience!



Out of all the cars I found the “Limo” – the huge ship like Limousine the most attractive which even had a Bar built in! Another interesting point to note is that the Swiss still believe in two wheelers – not the Harley Davidson variety but the good old Vespa and Lambretta. And theses scooters are equipped with more powerful engines than in India enabling hem to race with cars on the Freeways – being driven at 100 mph !!



In the afternoon Ms Roopshah of IBM was invited for lunch by the Bharaths. Ranju had made a typical South Indian meal. Went along with Bharath, in the evening , Achyut giving us company to drop Roopshah back in Lausanne - which is quite a big city .

Visit to “ IKEA / ToysRus / Aligro ” – 11 Sep /12 Sep 09

On the day of our arrival on 11 Sep 09 evening we went along with the Bharaths to IKEA – the same Swedish company that has its branches in the US also. Some items that they had not purchased for their home over a period of time was purchased by them. This included a quilt for us for the winter, which is just setting in. IKEA was exact in its stocking and as immaculate as the one we saw in San Francisco although this one seemed a little smaller in size.



We visited ToysRus – a supermarket for toys only. Items for Achyut’s birthday on 22 Sep 09 were purchased. What an amazing variety of toys – and how creative and innovative. There were miniature models of kitchens including toy microwave ovens, washing machines etc, Carpenter kit by BOSCH all in miniature, the idea being to teach the child self reliance at a very early age during his formative years - an amazing concept. There were toys a plenty – name it and you have it here Really enjoyed ourselves as much or probably more than the kids! The Swiss really take care of their children and cater to their HRD (Human Resource Development) right from the start!



We also purchased weekly rations including fruits and vegetables at wholesale rates from “ Aligro” within the same complex somewhat like the Chinese market in SFO – a smaller version. The quality and variety were of course commendable – kept meticulously clean. There was also plenty of the famous Swiss cheese – a very wide-ranging variety. Bharath bought a beginners cheese (less than 3 months old - less stinky :-) ) for us to try out - nice.

From Geneva Airport to home in La Tour De Peilz ( pronounced as Latoor Theypay) – 11 Sep 09

We were in Geneva before time at 1.40 in the afternoon as against the scheduled 1.55 a very comfortable flight which included viewing an in flight James Bond movie “ From Russia with love” and a reasonably good Asian Vegetarian Meal. The exit was quick and pleasant – none of the cumbersome check out procedures followed at US airports.

Ranju and Achyut were waiting for us. The Geneva Airport Railway station is just next door, almost an extension of the Airport. We quickly got our Railway passes made, saving us 50% of train fares for our stay in Switzerland. Once the “temporary pass” was made we were on our way to Vevey an hour’s train drive away from Geneva Airport Railway station.

And the train ride was simply fabulous. To start with, the train itself was very neat and clean. Cushioned seats and absolutely no overcrowding at all. All the passengers were business like, absorbed in reading their French newspapers but very courteous. The giant windows enabled us to see the countryside as it rolled by – the scenery was breathtaking. Lush green fields and Swiss chalets – single independent housing units with sloping roofs and healthy cows lazing around .The tranquility was amazing. Not taking part in both the World Wars has obviously made a great difference to the Swiss people. So calm so peaceful and so confident of themselves.

The terrain is mountainous and vineyards are grown on theses very mountain slopes, so many of them – the harvesting had not yet been done and we could see the black luscious grapes hanging from the grape plants – here each family owning the vineyard makes its own wine and Swiss wine is not exported! The Swiss economy runs on Banking, Dairy and Tourism .No wonder the reception at the Geneva Airport was so friendly! Down below was the huge Geneva Lake separating Switzerland and France .A Ferry ride from the Swiss end, and you are in France at the other end of the lake!

At Vevey railway station Bharath met us and drove us down home 3 kms away at La Tour De Peilz , a very quiet and peaceful silent village where a pin drop can be heard even on the roads, ideal for meditation! What a contrast to Mumbai or even Secunderabad.

And so we were finally home with our darlings -Ranju, Bharath and Achyut

From Chennai to Abu Dhabi and onwards to Geneva – 11 Sep 09

The Jet Konnect Flight (a subsidiary of Jet Airways – not connected to the protest - thank God for small mercies) took us to Chennai by 8.30 pm on time. Our Etihad Airways flight from Chennai to Geneva via Abu Dhabi was at 4.30 am on 11 Sep 09 .So we decided to freshen up by going to Nanganallur – 10 mts drive away from the Airport to Sai Ranjani’s in laws residence. Planned to keep our heavy baggage at the Cloak Room at the Chennai Airport but decided against it when I saw that the Cloak Room was more of a fish market – worse than a Railway Parcel office – which is probably better organized! Net result - really sweated it out taking the luggage up to the first floor flat of the Varadans.

Got an additional baggage for RanjBharath from them. Reached Chennai International Airport at 1.00 am. Checked in our luggage and waited for our flight to take off. Waiting in the lounge, was observing the type of passengers who were waiting like us for flights to the Middle East – mostly blue collared workers – maybe plumbers, carpenters, electricians - could make out from their attire as to their likely avocation. Got into the flight at 0430hrs and well there was breakfast at 05.30 hrs -fruit juice, bun, butter, jam, sweet yoghurt, Semiya upma, mini Uthappams and to top it all Coffee!

Abu Dhabi looked amazing from the sky – a beautiful city right in the middle of a vast merciless desert. What beautiful Expressways stretching miles and miles in the desert The Persian Gulf is close by – maybe that makes all the difference – but no greenery anywhere except for patches – could be oasis – like the ones Lawrence of Arabia encountered – so beautifully portrayed by Peter O Toole in a film decades back!

The Abu Dhabi airport is truly international in style – the duty free shops could give airports like Hong Kong and Frankfurt a run for their money. Very well organized – lot of Indians working in the Airport too – one of them gave directions to me in Hindi! But was really surprised find at least two Namaz rooms in the Airport! - although I should not have been surprised as we were in the Middle East .

From Hyderabad to Chennai on our way to Switzerland - 10 Sep 09

We were back from Mumbai on 07 Sep 09 after a few days at Vadodara, Surat and Mumbai .At Mumbai we attended the first death anniversary of Latha’s mother Vasantha at Mumbai. A year has gone by, not only since the time she passed away but also since the time we left the States after the marriage of Sai Sundar – and since the time I last maintained my Blog! I sometimes wonder whether time flies or whether we stand still as events overtake us. Both the Sais have been repeatedly telling me to re- start my Blog – but somehow never got down to it. Decided that will re start from this Swiss trip onwards once again!

Well we started from Secunderabad or rather Shamsabad airport on 10 Sep 09 in the afternoon itself, as we were not too sure whether we would be able to catch our scheduled Jet Airways flight from Hyderabad to Chennai at 7 pm – thanks to a majority of Jet Airways pilots having gone on mass casual leave – their way of protesting against their management for justifiable or unjustifiable demands, increasing the blood pressure of passengers like us!

Drawing huge salaries – in these days of recession - probably the best in India right now (Rs 2 Lakhs per month or more) and equally huge perks and holding the traveling public to ransom – where has ethics gone? God has given us enough, through Mother Nature to meet our needs but what about our Greed? When is Man going to realise that there is no greater happiness than contentment?

By contentment I certainly do not mean resting content with mediocrity – we must do our very best – excel ourselves in our pursuit of excellence but a line has to be drawn where our ambitious pursuit does not come at the cost of other’s agony / misery/ unhappiness. Success by its very definition is the pursuit of one’s goals without treading on the path of pursuit of others’ goals!