Rune and the evening

Looked out of the window and the sun was setting...beautiful

It's Rune from Sweden! (XF's soft toy :P)

Who's this?

Back from an expensive but not so nice and authentic dinner across Rhine and lazing by the dining table...abit lazy to pack for the short trip to Interlaken :P

Novartis Day@Basel 2010

Yo!

Glassy offices

I thought this would make a good place for lunch break, enjoying packed lunch

Was happy to be able to eat my ice cream and sharing my joy with Mummy :P

Big-faced Didi :P

Say cheesey cheese :P

Anyone for some beer?

The premises have nice trees!

It's really a mega family day over here at Novartis where XF is working. Thank goodness, the rain stopped and we were having a nice slow walk around the whole campus, hmm, quite a good working environment, not really sure what goes on inside though :P We spent almost the whole afternoon there, drinking coffee and eating pastries :P There was not much time for Art Basel, probably need a few days to finish viewing every hall, so decided to give it a miss and have our Thai meal at a restaurant recommended by Didi.

Lazy Saturday morning

Take away lunch bought by XF, broccoli! :P

Saw a bee while having breakfast, wondering if it's cold in the rain?

Woke up feeling cold, it's raining, still refused to get out of bed :P When I finally did, it's almost ten. We would be out only after lunch so I took my o..w..n s..w..e..e..t time to make my own breakfast and take a shower. Didi and XF were out shopping for some stuff. Plans for the day...Norvartis Day@Basel 2010, Art Basel and dinner.

The same hand

I was in the train, on our way back to Basel from Schaffhausen. The train was pretty empty and Didi was busy taking photographs and looking at them. Thought of the our visit to IWC factory and museum at Schaffhausen in the afternoon...Hmm, all about men's watches (Well, you should know who suggested going IWC :P) but it's kinda interesting to know a little more of the history of watch making and how watch making can link so closely to sports and creating awareness in relation to world issues. Thought of the quote that I have read about in the museum...

"People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want. We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and history of the world were written by the same hand." ~ Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist)

...I looked out of the window on the other side of the train, saw a beautiful river, water gleaming under the sun...I smiled

Schaffhausen

Breathtaking view at the Munot

Time for ice cream break! It's hazelnut :P

Ba ba black sheep...hmm, are we black or white?

City centre in Schaffhausen

Appreciating the little beauties while walking along the river...

After lunch, it was a real long walk along Rhine River...on our way to Rhine Falls, walked about 3km but I thought it's a nice walk, weather was good!

My travel companion for the day :P

Dogs over here seem so obedient, loyal and friendly. They don't really bark and they can be brought into restaurants and shopping malls...thinking of Sunny baby every time I see a dog...

At Basel Bad Bf train station...a connecting train we took here to go to Schaffhausen

Today, my parents decided to just rest in the apartment and maybe shop a little in Basel. Didi and I headed for Schaffhausen in the late morning. I must say that we really walked alot today, my legs are still kinda tired from all the walking :P

Bienne

A nice souvenir from a helpful lady at the museum. Erm, by the way, what's inside is not a watch...but still, I thought it's a lovely pen :P

Didi suggested having this for dessert after lunch (Oh boy, he's eating lots!). Well, good choice!

Somehow, I kinda like the simplicity in Bienne. Well, the usual old town and rows of shops but no sign of tourism as compared to Zurich, Luzern or even Basel. Didi wanted to check out the newly opened Omega Museum so there we were in Bienne. The museum was not too far from the train station. We had a satisfying lunch before we took a bus down to Omega Factory and the museum was right opposite it.

Luzern...Swiss Museum of Transport

Looking for something in this world? Life goes on...

What's your pace in life? Slow down, the music won't last...

Are you lost? Do what you can and accept what you must...

Is this the right direction? Off the beaten track...

Hmm, quite a comprehensive and informative museum about all modes of transport, wonderful exhibits too! But I was just interested in those interactive and hands-on stuff, abit lazy to read information at times :P

Rainy Luzern

World Cup...Switzerland 1 Spain 0 and the whole of Luzern was celebrating, the cars on the roads were sounding their horns, people along the streets were celebrating and cheering, strangers were hugging each other...Mummy commented that they really love their country...I smiled and I shared their joy, they have brought much joy and cheer on a rainy day :)

What I missed most about Luzern...them, can still remember there were so many of them last winter

We had dumplings for breakfast, Didi brought them all the way from Dong Guan...Hmm, they are nice but I thought the fillings had too much salted eggs.

XF went to Zurich for a 2-day conference so left with the four of us making our way to Luzern. Left the decision making and planning for the next couple of days to Didi, my brain can spend some time lazing around, I am sure I am quite fine with whatever that's decided :P It was a rainy day unlike last December during winter which was kinda sunny and nice. This wasn't the kinda of weather I was expecting in summer but anyway, Luzern was still filled with people along the streets.

It's late in the night over here in Basel, Didi is playing some games apps in my iphone and I am telling him I feel like drinking soya bean milk, chin chow and some soya beancurd and doughstick would be good too. He ignored me, silly gal and idiot Didi :P

Hmm...wandering again

It's bedtime...that red cocoon is still moving. XF in her really wonderful sleeping bag

Finally, the arrival of Master Chan...Well, a real long long journey for him :P

Spotted egg plant in the supermarket so decided to cook some for dinner...the Chinese style of cooking - stir fry with egg

As yummy as those I had in Paris!

I woke up really really late, spent the afternoon running an errand for my sis and wander around Basel city on my own again :P Walked past this shop that sells my sis's favourite chocolate, all types of pasteries and macaroons. Well, couldn't resist the temptation, needed to eat some of those. The lady in the shop was trying to explain to me in English the flavour of one kind of macaroon but I was not able to understand exactly what she was trying to say and in the end, she smiled and said, "Here's for you, just for you." She passed me the macaroon, wanting me to try it and I savoured it with much delight. Hmm, but still couldn't exactly taste the flavour of it. It's black so I was kinda curious and asked, never knew that I was in for a little treat, hee :P That was really sweet of the lady!

Zurich in a different light

The day ended with a homecooked meal...pasta 'ribbons', added lotsa mushrooms and green pepper to the pasta sauce. Hmm, well, not forgetting some broccoli, XF hates broccoli. Too bad, I am in charge so no choosing! :P

Wonder why I took this pic...the steps or the wheels?

Hee, I can still remember this clock...the sky was too beautiful to be missed. Hence, silly me kept gazing into the lovely sky and took pics of stuff with background as the sky :P

A busy street in Zurich

Holding onto a swiss rail pass, our only mode of transport has to be the rail...at Zurich train station

It's the second time I was in Zurich in a year. Today, I have really seen a different side of Zurich. It seemed more alive during summer, oh well, maybe most surroundings do get more alive during summer as compared to winter. Wonder how spring and autumn would be like, would love to really feel the difference. It's a sunny day, love to see and feel the sunshine, it has just got a way of bringing a smile on one's face. There were many people walking along the streets and by the river, always wonder if they do work or maybe they ain't supposed to work very hard :P ...Oh ya, I am sorry Didi, I know the whole world may know about this but I just have to say this, you actually missed your flight??!! That's really not you! That's more like me, ha, can still remember how I nearly missed my flight when I was in Melbourne a couple of years agao :P Well, anyway, you must be on board the flight now, safe journey and really hope to see ya real soon... Hmm, I was just wondering, what if I miss my flight home? :P

It's dinner time!

Stir fry cauliflower with capsicum and Chinese mushroom...Japanese curry with chicken, potatoes, carrots and tofu (Hee, I guess I just put in whatever ingredients I like)

We have been cooking dinner for the past few days that we were here in Basel. Most of the time, I was in charge, buying food from the supermarket, preparing and cooking :P Mummy did the washing up, ha, she said she needed to do some housework as she's kinda too free in the evening. She just helped to clean up the whole apartment today while I was cooking. Well, I must say I have been enjoying the cooking so far :P

That gloomy Sunday afternoon

It was a gloomy Sunday afternoon as I took a walk alone in the city of Basel. The very interesting thing about this place is people do not work on Sundays. It's all very quiet along the streets after much partying the previous night. All shops and most restaurants do not open, I guess that means more family time for most in the city. I walked and walked, before I knew it, I was at Rhine river. Ha, after two days of walking around, I guess my sense of direction is getting really good in this place :P Well, I just hope that there's gonna be some sunshine the next day.