Copy The Cat For Nine Lives

I am not a scientist who is an expert on cats but at one time when I was a teenager I had 47 cats. So I can claim to have some authority on cats' behaviors . We humans can certainly learn a thing or two from our feline friends. As cats don't catch mice anymore these days (at least mine don't), I have a strong believe that cats are meant to teach us about how to live our life so that we can have nine lives or at least be able to live to a ripe old age.

Here are some of my observations of cats' behaviors that we can certainly emulate :

1) Have plenty of sleep

I notice that my cats seem to be spending most of their days and nights sleeping than doing anything else. They sleep when I sleep, they sleep when I am up and about. Location of the sleep is also important , usually it would in a warm, comfortable nook or corner like between my armpits when I am asleep or on my lap when I am at my PC.

Learning from this, we humans should sleep as much as we can. Make sure you have 8 hours of sleep at night and several siestas in between. And if your boss catch you sleeping in the office just blame it on the cats.

2) Eat small meals sparingly

My cats are small eaters. In fact my Sonic hardly eats at all. I can assure you that it 's not because I don't feed them or that the cat food that I serve are not delicious ( because they are cheap), I believe they know what's good for their health.

We humans especially us Malaysians have a tendency to overeat.That's due to our passion for food and the many varieties that we have in addition to the many occasions where food are served. So it's not surprising that obesity among Malaysians are on the rise. So it's high time that we take a leaf from our cats in changing our eating habits.

3) Do stretching exercises

In between their sleep my cats will get up and have a really good stretch. If you have seen a cat stretch, you would realize that even the best exercise guru  would agree that every muscles in the cats' body seem to be stretched to the max. I am sure that improves their blood circulation and keep their muscles supple.

So forget about your treadmill or gym visits. Just stretch whenever you have the opportunity, at home,in the office,in the car. So if you see me at the supermarket looking like I am trying to get something from the top most shelve which seems out of reach, chances are I am not trying to get anything at all from the top shelve.It's just me having my morning stretch!

4) Be nice and purr

When I arrive home my cats especially  Mogwai would be there in front of the door to welcome me home. She , Chucky,Sonic and Gizmo  would try to beat each other to brush their  heads against my legs. The moment I sit down, at least one of them would climb on my lap and start kneading on my fleshy tummy and purr. I understand that this behaviour means that they have adopted me as a surrogate mother. Thank God for that because I thought that it's because of the fleshiness of my tummy !

We humans should emulate this behaviour. Be nice to people and treat people, even your worst ,enemies with civility. Based on Law of Attraction, being nice and likeable make people react by being nice to you. Isn't that an easy way to have avoid stress in relationships and thus lead to overall well-being?

5) Mate only in Spring

My cats are on the heat only in Spring. You can hear their mating calls from my rooftop. They appear restless and seem to be walking with that 'look' on their faces. After Spring it would be peace and quiet in the home front.

Men should learn from this. There are time for everthing, don't ask your wife for it while she's busy cooking for your five kids and expect to be entertained. Some men would disagree with this. My husband is already shaking his head and rolling his eyes,he must be thinking' Yesterday was headache, now cats!'

6) Eat greens

Whenever my cats feel woozy and need to heal themselves, they eat grass. That would trigger vomiting and out come any unwanted items from their stomach- fur ball or undigested or wrong food that they ate.After that they will be as fit as a fiddle.

Learning from this, we humans should learn to take more vegetables and herbs not only to keep the digestive system on top form but also to keep those awful germs and virus at bay.

7) Get yourself stroked regularly

Many times a day my cats will come to me with that look that says 'Please stroke me' . Unfortunately this always happens at the wrong time- while I am balancing my accounts or writing that nasty complaint letter to the city council. Nevertheless when they look at me with that innocent and lovable eyes, I would set aside what I do and give them a good stroke. I guess the stroking gives them a feeling of security and love.

We humans also need to feel secured and love and nothing does it better than getting a good massage. If you are lucky your other half would oblige you with a rub down( but I suspect he would want to be 'paid' in kind for it). Or you could go to one of the many spas for it but men are advised to stay away from spas that provide 'extra services' because that would not give you nine lives but instead you risk losing the only one that you have !

8) Keep yourself and your surrounding clean.

My cats spend a lot of their time grooming- licking their fur to make sure that it's clean and shiny.Keeping clean does not confine to their body only.They also make sure that they bury their poop so that their surrrounding is fresh and clean.

I cannot understand why some people can walk around with hair that has not been shampooed for days and clothes that smell of sweat and body odour.I suspect that their homes would be as dirty and smelly as them. Their lack of cleanliness open themselves and their homes to be breeding grounds for germs and diseases.

9) Avoid stress

My cats know what's best to keep their stress level at the minimum . They always look happy and stay happy. They don't let small things like their friends  stealing their girlfriends get to them,they just look for a new one.

We humans tend to get rattled over things that are unimportant and insignificant.We have to put our lives in perspective and focus only on major issues. As stress is a major factor in a lot of serious illnesses, avoiding stress would certainly keep the doctors away.

I am sure that if we were to imitate cats' behaviour as above, we would lead a happy healthy life. I have to stop here, I need to go and  purr and get a good stroke!

Tribute to My Staff

My staff in HR are the best of the lot
They are smart,they are hardworking and strive alot
They grit their teeth when times are rough
They are not afraid of work,easy or tough

Setbacks and problems they are not afraid to face
They welcome challenges ,they are not ones to laze
When the task is too big for one to solve
They rally as a team and the problem is resolved

To all HR staff I'd like to thank you
For all the support I received from you
I don't have presents to give all of you
Just these few words from the heart to describe you

My hands are shaking not due to nervousness
My voice is choking not due to the food
My eyes are watery not due to the pepper
My knees are wobbly not due to fear

I laugh loud to hide my sadness
I smile wide to hide the tears
A phase of my life has come and gone
It's time to move on to new frontiers

I am quite poor at saying hello
I am surely worse at saying goodbye
Hope our paths will cross tomorrow
But for now this is "Goodbye"

(The above poem was composed and recited during my retirement farewell dinner )

Ode to Tan Sri Dato Sri Dr Teh Hong Piow

Three little canaries
Perched on a cherry tree
Beckon me close
A secret they wish to disclose

"There is this man", they sing
"Who rules land far and near
Revered by nobles and kings
A legend he is ,we hear "

"His hand is like a magic wand
Turning ashes into treasures
Dark nights turn to dawn
He is indeed a man so precious"

"His heart's like a glowing gold
Spreading fortune to young and old
Filling lives with joy and cheer
Bringing happiness year after year"

As I say farewell on this day
For his health and longevity I pray
May he be blessed with abundant prosperity
And his life surrounded by positivity

(The above poem was composed and presented to Tan Sri on his 80th birthday in 2010 and was again recited during my retirement farewell dinner in June 2011)

Romantic Interlude

I am the luckiest girl in the universe
To have a husband like you
I would not want my life in reverse
As that would make my days blue

You are such a romantic man
Like a Barbara Cartland's creation
You shower sweet kisses on my hand
You buy roses for every occasion

You buy me gold,diamonds and jewels
Which are indeed a girl's best friend
You take me out for the night,dancing
We waltz all night til the music ends

You enjoy walking under the moonlight,hand in hand
You serenade me with sweet nothings
To you, I am the prettiest in the land
For your compliments I am not complaining

You are kind at heart which everyone agrees
You will never hurt anyone's feelings
If possible everyone you will please
Your patience is higher than the ceiling

You accept my mood swing with a smile
You comfort me when I am down
You are happy when my biorhythm is high
You cheer me up when I frown

What else would a girl ask for
When her husband is Mr. Right
You are the one I would die for
Because in darkness you are light

(The above poem was published in The Malay Mail on 8 December 1999 to celebrate my husband's birthday and our 20th wedding anniversary )

Enchanting England

Day 1 ( 11 July 2011 ) - London - Stockport

Took the 11am train from Euston London station to Stockport.The journey took about 2 hours.We arrived at 12.55pm where we were met by  my cousin.We were taken to his house in High Lane where lunch was ready for us.

After lunch we visited the local church and admired the beautiful stained glass windows and paintings on the ceiling and walls.Then we went for a walk in the countryside admiring the wild flowers and trees and farmland along the way.We walked along the canal where we saw beautiful boat houses ,some plying the canal and some moored along the side of the canal.The boat houses were beautifully painted in dark blue, green and red with gold wordings and had interesting names. We were lucky enough to be invited on to one of the boats which was used for day trips and functions.

We stopped at a small shop for ice cream and after that we made our way back to the house and got ready to have dinner.

Day 2 ( 12 July 2011 ) - Stockport - Lake District

Left Stockport at 8.30am. Stopped at Sainsbury to buy some sandwiches before proceeding with our journey to the Lake District. Stopped at Hayes Garden Centre,Ambleside for coffee and scones. There we saw a few owls being exhibited in an effort to create awareness of its beauty and to raise funds.One of them was the biggest I have ever seen,it was the size of a chicken!

Arrived at the Lake District at midday.Passed through Windemere which is where most tourists will stop if they go to the Lake District.We went there many years back and this time it was exactly as I remembered it.We stopped at Tarn Hows which is a smaller lake and less touristic and went for a walk along the lake.As we walk along my cousin pointed out to me the various wild flowers like foxgloves, thistles,clematus and many others.We passed a group of hikers with several dogs,the biggest I have seen in my life.They looked more like bears than dogs but although they were huge they were quite friendly.We had a picnic there and the sandwiches,chocolate biscuits and coffee tasted wonderful in the cool refreshing air of the countryside.

Then we went to Coniston which is a quiet and charming English village. We went for a walk through the village and from there to the shore of the Lake where we spent some time admiring the view and enjoying the serenity of the place.Afterwhich it was time to make our way back to Stockport.

Day 3 ( 13 July 2011 ) - Visit to Chester

We left Stockport early for Chester located in the county of Cheshire and once we were there we took a walk on the Roman wall that circumvent the city. From here we got a good view of the city. We came down from the wall and we passed by the Chester Cathedral which was first built in the year 907 .

We stopped for coffee at a cafe in one of the narrow streets in the city. From there we went to the main street in time to hear the town crier calling everyone to attention. It was an innovative way to depict the history of the city and also as a tourist attraction.

One of the attractions of the city is the beautiful and ornate Eastgate Clock which was erected  in 1899 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee of 1897.It is reputed to be the second most photographed clock in England.

As we explored the city we were impressed by another feature of Chester that is the medieval two-tiered shopping galleries in black and white design.We then visited the ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre . From there we took a walk through the Roman gardens which displayed some Roman artifacts. What was interesting was to see a history class being conducted in the garden for school children complete with the teacher dressed in Roman attire. I thought that was a good way to generate interest in history amongst the students. From here we walked to the banks of the River Dee. Lunch was at a Thai Restaurant along one of the main streets.

We left for Stockport quite soon after that.


Day 4 ( 14 July 2011) - Stockport - Essex

Left Stockport at 8am. Stopped at Eastwood near Nottingham to say hello to a relative who was staying at his friend's house. The house was interesting as it was situated in a cemetery ! The people staying there joked that they had very quiet neighbours! Even during Halloween when they were ready with plenty of sweets for the trick or treat , not even a single kid came !

After a cup of coffee we continued with our journey to Matching Tye in Essex and reached another cousin's house at 1pm.The house is a charming house built circa 1550 with wooden beams and columns and the walls made of a plaster mixed with horse hair ! We were given a tour of the garden which had beautiful flowers and various fruit trees like apple, cherry and plum. After lunch we went on a tour of the village and I had this feeling of  going back to the past and being stuck in time and it remindered me of the place described in the book "Little Women" which I used to read.Our first stop was the parish church and then to the forest for a walk.

Dinner that night was at the charming village pub where we had a typical English dinner, fish and chips which was really good.


Day 5 ( 15 July 2011 ) - Visit to Kentwell Hall and Lavenham

Left the house at 9.30am and travelled to Sible Hedingham which was about an hour away,to visit Castle Hedingham.Unfortunately it was closed for a private function.

We then went to Kentwell Hall near Long Melford .Kentwell Hall is an Elizabethan manor house which was once a derelict building and has been undergoing refurbishment since 1971.At the end of  an avenue lined with ancient lime trees was the imposing building with a moat surrounding it. We went on a tour of the interior of the building and admired various rooms such as the kitchen,dining, parlour, bathroom and sleeping chambers.After a quick lunch at the Stableyard Cafe we went for a walk through the huge garden. We saw an oak tree which was claimed to be 1000 years of age with a girth of 27 feet. We walked along different types of trees and plants including huge clipped yews, shrubbery and fern stumpery.We then took a walk in the walled garden with a variety of flowers, admiring the various colours and textures. There were also different types of apple trees and vegetables planted in the garden. Another interesting feature of the garden was the topiary depicting the Pied Piper story.We could see that work on the house and gardens were still in progress.

We then proceeded to the historical town of Lavenham.Our first stop was a huge old parish church where we admired the stained glass windows. We walked along the town which had old wooden houses and interesting facade.Our walk took us to the town square whose main attraction was the Guild Hall which was built in a Tudor style. We had afternoon tea with scones at the beautiful Swan Hotel which was housed in a Tudor building and the interiors recently and tastefully furnished.

We returned to Matching Tye at 7.30pm and visited the farmers market which was held in the village hall,since it was drizzling. We bought some cherries and some second hand plates which cost only a pound each to take back home as souvenirs when we leave this charming village tomorrow.

Smitten by Switzerland

Day 1 ( 1 July 2011 ) - London - Zurich

Took the train from Forest Hill to London Bridge station.From there took another train to Luton Parkway.A shuttle bus took us to  Luton Airport.We departed at 2.35pm by Easy Jet and one and a half hours later arrived at Zurich at 5.15pm local time.Took a taxi to our hotel, Novotel Zurich City-West. The taxi fare cost us 60 franc.Luckily the hotel was not far from the airport.We decided to have a quiet day. So we just went for a walk near the hotel.The hotel is situated in a quiet and newly developed area. It looked like the area was probably once dominated by warehouses. These have now been developed and turned into cafes and restaurants.

We had dinner at a mediterranean restaurant and after which had an early night.

Day 2 ( 2 July 2011 ) - Zurich

After breakfast and a short walk away we board  tram number 13 and in less than 10 minutes we were in Bahnhofstrasse , the main street in the city of Zurich  and the main shopping area with fashion shops and boutiques selling watches at every corner.Zurich is not a big city with a population of 360,000 people. Most of the main attractions were within walking distance.We took  a walk in the old city with it's cobblestones streets and explored areas on both sides of the Limmat River. The attractions include St Peter's church ,the oldest church in Zurich and with the  biggest clock face in Europe with a circumference of 28 feet.As our tram ticket included a boat ride we took the boat for a round trip from the Limmat River to Lake Zurich.We were amazed to see how  clear the water was,with swans happily swimming in the river.

The day would not be complete without us having coffee at one of the cafes while watching the world passed by.

Met our Tour Director,Marco and other people who were joining the Cosmos tour at the hotel lobby at 6 pm. We were given a short briefing on the itinerary for the next day.Dinner which was part of the tour was at the hotel.

Day 3 ( 3 July 2011 ) - Zurich - Appenzell - Liechtenstein - St Moritz

Our coach left the hotel at 8.45am and made our journey east, and in fifteen minutes we were out of Zurich. Soon we were in the countryside with rolling hills and farms of maize , wheat and grazing cattles. We past quaint villages with houses perched on hillslopes.The houses looked pretty with wooden windows and balconies with window flower boxes of petunias.Reached Appenzell with a crystal clear river gushing through it. The temperature was a cool 14 degrees Celcius.Stopped at Appenzell for 45 minutes and went for a walk through the town with shops of multiple- hued facade.

We resumed our journey downhill to the Rhine valley with the glorious mountains in the background,past cows grazing on grass slopes. We soon arrived at the principality of Liechtenstein which is one of the smallest country in the world with only a length of 20 km and a population of 34000. Perched high on top of the hill is the Schloss Vaduz,the  castle of the Prince of Liechtenstein who is reputed to be one of the richest man in Europe. The flag was up signifying that he was in and we were tempted to invite ourselves for lunch ! The city of Vaduz has nothing really  exciting other than a small cathedral and museum .We were more interested in a row of vintage sports cars parked along the main road.

We  continued our journey through what is fondly refered to as Heidiland  after the famed story Heidi. I remember reading the book Heidi when I was small and was captivated by the description of the hills and meadows. It was exactly as I pictured it to be -grassy slopes with pink,white and yellow wild flowers swaying to the mountain breeze with the mountains looming on both sides and the clear milky green Rhine River gushing on our right.

We then made the slow climb passed Murmarera Lake which is a manmade lake up to Julier Pass at 2274 metres above sea level. There we stopped to have a better view of the majestics peaks surrounding us. There were cattles grazing and we could here the chimes of their bells like a beautifully orchestrated symphony floating in the air.

The trip thereafter was downhill to St Moritz which is 1800 metres above sea level and decorated by the pristine Lake Silvaplana and Lake St Moritz. This is the winter playground for the rich and famous and we were told that the place would be buzzing with holiday makers in the winter. Since we are neither rich nor famous and I am basically a sun worshiper, summer in St Moritz is perfectly fine by me. We checked into Hotel Baeren at 4.30pm and went for a walk along the Lake admiring the picturesque scenery.

Day 4 ( 4 July 2011 ) - St Moritz - Tirano - Lake Como - Lugano

Woke up at 6am to a bright sunny morning. Looked out of my balcony window to a beautiful view of the snowcapped Alps mountain basking in the morning sun.The air was chilly and crisp.

We left St Moritz train station at 8.45am on the Bernina Express, said to be the slowest train service in the world.Shortly we were surrounded by snowcapped mountains that took my breath away. Although it was summer there was still snow above the snow line.There were exclamations of wonder among the passengers and everyone was jostling towards the windows to get a better view of the spectacular surroundings and to ensure they get the priceless snapshots of the mountains.The train reached the highest point at 2253 metres above sea level along two manmade lakes called Lej Nair and Lago Bianco and started it's descent.

Shortly we reached Alp Grum a snow covered mountain cap that redefine my idea of beauty. Downhill the train meandered like a giant serpent along pine forest. We caught glimpses of a river rushing down to the valley below.The view was interspersed by quaint villages on slopes with church spires looming tall above the rooftops.At Le Prese  we were greeted by a view of the beautiful Lago di Poschiavo with it's beautiful calm green water and houses scattered around it. As we descended further, the landscape and vegetation changed.

We arrived at  Tirano, Italy at 11.12am and breezed through the Italian border checkpoint, which was nothing more than someone at the train station standing there and saying welcome! The weather was bright and sunny and we had lunch at an Italian Restaurant (of course !). Tirano is a small town with not many people in sight except the tourists.Since it was a Monday the shops were opened only at 3pm. I suspected the locals were out in the park basking in the sun while sipping red wine.These people really know how to enjoy life!

We  left Tirano at 12.35pm for Lake Como. Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy and popular as a summer destination for aristocrats and celebrities. We  stopped at Lago on Lake Como. It's a beautiful lake surrounded by villas mostly used as holiday homes. We had Italian ice cream recommended by our guide and said to be one of the best around. It was quite good really especially when it's eaten while taking in the beautiful sights of Lake Como.Unfortunately our stay there was only for 45 minutes. I told my husband we must come again and stay here for a week and do nothing ,which I am quite good at!

One hour fifteen minutes  later we arrived at Lugano in Switzerland on the shores of Lake Lugano and checked into our hotel called Acquarello.After a short rest we went for a cruise on the Lake which is only three kilometers in width and thirty kilometers at it's longest point. We stopped on the other side of the lake at a restaurant for a seafood dinner. After dinner we sat outside by the lake watching the sun set.We continued with the cruise passing the Italian enclave with a huge Casino dominating the landscape,which I felt was out of place amongst the beautiful houses. We then made way back to Lugano which by now was colourfully lighted and looked  like a beautiful arrangement of jewels on the clear night.

Day 5 ( July 5 2011 ) - Lugano - Lake Maggiore - Tasch

Our day began with a walk in the park in Lugano, admiring the pretty flowers in all it's glorious colors - white periwinkle,yellow daisies,marigolds and hydrangeas in lilac,pink and shocking pink, colors I have not seen before.

An hour later we board the coach for a chocolate factory called Alprose just a short distance from Lugano. We were greeted by two ladies offering a taste of a biscuit stick dipped in a chocolate fountain.We watched a short video on chocolate making, walk through the factory to see for ourselves the process and at the end of it we were led to a small shop selling chocolates which we of course couldn't resist buying.

Next we were on the coach for our next destination and five minutes later we were again crossing the border into Italy.Reached Baveno on the shore of Lake Maggiore at 12.20pm.Lake Maggiore is the second  largest lake in Italy with a medditeranean climate.When we arrived the temperature was a heaty 32 degrees Celsius . Despite my love for the sun I was thankful for the breeze.A 10- minute boat ride took us to the island of Isolabella,meaning beautiful island.A palace was  built by the king for his wife Isabel ( I am still waiting for my husband to dedicate an island to me! ).After a quick lunch at a cafe by the lake,we  were given a tour of the interiors of the palace by a local guide who was a very funny man and was quick with a one-liner punchlines.

We then were given time on our own to explore the gardens of the palace.There were four levels of terraced gardens with a large variety of plants and flowers of myriad hues.There was also a greenhouse containing tropical plants.Beautiful flowers were seen creeping on walls, growing in flower beds and borders. Numerous statues and  sculptures adorn the top level of the garden.Visitors were seen snapping pictures of every spot of the garden, including myself. Soon it was time to leave the island. At 3.20 pm we said goodbye to Baveno for our next destination.

At 4.20pm we crossed the border back into Switzerland and were soon greeted by vertical rock - surfaced mountains that loomed high above on both sides as our coach maneuvered sharp corners uphill.Conifers formed the main vegetation interspersed by waterfalls,rapids and streams.A few kilometers apart we saw farm houses.We stopped at Simplon Pass which is the highest point of the road at 2005 metres above sea level for a cup of coffee. While we sipped coffee we sat here admiring God's painting of beautiful snowcapped peaks against the clear blue sky.

From there we started to make our descend down to the valley below past the city of Brig with the River Rhone flowing through.Then our journey took us uphill again to the picturesque village of Tasch.We checked into a Swiss chalet called Matterhorn Walliserhof Resort.As we stepped out from our room to the balcony there were " oohs" and "aahs" as we took in the sight of the snowcapped peaks in the distance.After dinner we went for a walk enjoying the fresh alpine air and the serenity of the village.

Day 6 ( 6 July 2011 ) - Tasch - Zermatt - Gornergrat - Lausanne

At 8.20 am  left our hotel and walked to the train station which was two minutes away. Took a 10 minutes train ride to Zermatt at the foot of the Alps. From here we board another train. The train slithered it's way precariously along the mountain slopes.Soon the chalets in Zermatt appeared as just specks on the ground. Our guide Marco had advised us to sit on the right side of the train and we soon knew why.Looming up in the sky was the Matterhorn which looked like a dagger pointing towards the sky.

Our train continued it's journey until it reached the highest station,Gornergrat which stood at 3089 metres above sea level.We spent one short hour admiring the work of the greatest Painter.I had the feeling of being on top of the world, figuratively and literally. This must be how climbers of Mount Everest feel when they reach the top. As I stared at the majestic peaks 360 degrees around me with the Matterhorn taking centre stage, I feel so small and insignificant against such magnificent creations of God.I could have stayed there forever and not felt that I had enough of the scenery.If heaven is on earth this must be the place!

Unfortunately we had to make our way down on the 11.07 am train down to Zermatt where we had a quick lunch before catching the 1.07 pm train back to Tasch where our coach was waiting to take us to Lausanne.

Less than two hours later we reached Lake Geneva and passed through Montreax where we had a glimpse of Sion Castle.

We checked into Novotel in Lausanne and spent the rest of the day at the hotel.Our stay at the Alps had taken a toll on us,maybe it was the excitement or maybe it was be the thin air at that altitude.

Day 7 ( 7 July 2011 ) - Lausanne - Gruyere - Berne - Interlaken - Lucern

Left our hotel in Lausanne at 8am and an hour later we were in Gruyere. Our first stop was a cheese factory where we spent about 45 minutes on a tour of how cheese is made and some time to purchase cheese. Since we are not really cheese eaters we didn't buy any.

We then visited Gruyere village where I had the impression that time stood still.It has a main street with cobbled road,typical Swiss chalets with flower boxes in windows.The village's centre of  attraction is the Castle of Gruyere, perched on the highest point of the village.

We left Gruyere at 10.45am and travelled to Berne, the capital of Switzerland. Berne's main attraction is the clock tower and cathedral. Unfortunately the cathedral was under refurbishment.Berne was quiet and  had a  laid-back atmosphere about it.We had lunch there and spent some time in the main avenue.

We left Berne at 1.45pm for Interlaken which is a town between two lakes and spent 45 minutes walking along the main street. Far in the horizon we could see the peak of the Jangfrau mountain.

We left Interlaken for our next destination,Lucern. Along the way we passed the pictureques village of Lungern on the shores of Lake Lungern with it's calm green waters and wooden houses on slopes surrounding the village.It's such an idyllic place to stay.

We arrived at Lucern at 4.45pm and checked into Hotel Astoria which is situated in the centre of the city. Later we went for a walk along  Lake Lucern and admired the older parts of the city and the city's old Chapel bridge which is made of wood ,has a roof along the span of the bridge and flowers running on both sides of it.Unfortunately it rained quite heavily and we were stranded under a bus stop before we decided to made a dash for the Hotel.

Day 8 ( 8 July 2011 ) - Lucern - Stanserhorn - Zurich

Woke up to a beautiful sunny day with a temperature of 22 degrees Celcius. At 8am left the hotel for a visit to the Lion Monument which is a lion sculpture carved into the stone cliff of a hillock , screened from the city by lush green trees and plants.In front of it was a pool and it was said that throwing coins into the pool will fulfill one's wishes. One wish that I had was to be able to come again to Switzerland !

Next we went for an hour-long cruise on Lake Lucern and we enjoyed the panorama as our guide gave a commentary of some of the interesting buildings around the lake.After disembarking from the cruise boat we took a walk in the city admiring the Chapel Bridge with it's beautiful flowers adorning both sides and looking at the swans and various birds swimming in the Lake.We visited the Bucherer shop which sold various Swiss watches and seemed to be very popular with Asian tourists especially tourists from China, who seemed to be buying watches by the dozens.

Then our coach took us to the foot of Mount Stanserhorn which is just half an hour way.Our  journey up the Stanserhorn Mountain was by way of a vintage funicular train and then a cable car ride which took about 20 minutes in total.When we reached the top mist covered the peak blocking our view.Fortunately the mist lifted shortly afterwards and  we spent about an hour enjoying the vista around us while having lunch in the crisp mountain air.

Soon it was time to go down and from there we proceeded with our journey to Zurich.We reached our hotel in Zurich,Novotel an hour later.After checking in we decided to go for a walk in the city along the Limmat River and through the streets of the old part of the city,ending our day with dinner.

Day 9 ( 9 July 2011 ) - Zurich - London

Had a good nite's sleep last night. Got up late at 8.30am and had a leisurely breakfast.Left the hotel at 12.30pm for the airport which is only 10 minutes away.It was time to say goodbye to spectacular Switzerland. I hope I am able to come again for another visit very soon.