Ten days in Switzerland. Traveling the length and breadth of a country in the world's best rail service. The breath taking views of hills and lakes, valleys and chalets, the snow covered alps peeping at me from the corners of my vision. The highest point of Europe..Jungfrau hoch, Titlis, Pilatus, Schilthorn..all covered, all registered, the gushing streams, the beaming blooms, the green vineyards, the dot on time trains, the motor free zones, the battery operated cars and buses, the cycling people, the skating kids. cheese and bread, wine and chocolates, tap water that is pure and ice cool. I had a good time. And yet...
This country made me smile and it made me sad too. Why at the most beautiful moment in this place when my husband was praising the country and my kids were rolling in the greenery, was I lost in my thoughts from back home? Why did I miss India? The highest peak of Europe that lies in the Swiss alps, and that we felt proud to climb..is just half the height of the Everest.. India has it all and yet we travel abroad for vacations.. I felt guilty admiring Switzerland when I had not admired Kashmir.
The shops close at 6. People though friendly are distant and quiet. Its a land of beauty but its two dimensional...its picture perfect..and like all pictures its two dimesional! I am not discouraging anybody wanting to hit this alpine country.. just my perception!
It feels great to be back home!
This country made me smile and it made me sad too. Why at the most beautiful moment in this place when my husband was praising the country and my kids were rolling in the greenery, was I lost in my thoughts from back home? Why did I miss India? The highest peak of Europe that lies in the Swiss alps, and that we felt proud to climb..is just half the height of the Everest.. India has it all and yet we travel abroad for vacations.. I felt guilty admiring Switzerland when I had not admired Kashmir.
The shops close at 6. People though friendly are distant and quiet. Its a land of beauty but its two dimensional...its picture perfect..and like all pictures its two dimesional! I am not discouraging anybody wanting to hit this alpine country.. just my perception!
It feels great to be back home!
36 comments:
a bit on the shorter side, you could have elaborated on your perceptions more..
OK these day most of the time I get terribly home sick when I read your posts :( I wanna go back home wahh ahh wahhhhhh...
PLease put more pictures of swiss..pretty please?!
I agree with SJ since u did mention how booootiful is the country...some more pics would def great!!
and welcome back!
Yes home and home country also always provides me with a unique level of comfort and sense of belonging.
Great to see you back in the blogosphere. Hope to hear more of the Swiss experience ….. special features
I agree...We try and go abroad before even seeing what our country has on offer....
Short post it is...I have a pal who has traveled to many countries. Switzerland too. But she always says nothing beats Kashmir...
Hope you had a good time!
Ah ! India.
Ah ! Home !
Welcome back. And now that you are back here, do share a few snaps from the swiss alps.
Well, i'll keep Kashmir on the list. I promise ! ;)
First, I'm SOOO glad to see you're back. I've missed you and was delighted to see your comment this morning...reminding me that YOU'RE BACK! Whooot!
I think a lot of places feel two-dimensional when we know we won't be staying or attempting to make a real home. I went through severe culture shock when I lived in Europe for just a summer. I wasn't accustomed to the cultural expectations, nor was I accustomed to being worshiped by some or snubbed by others simply because I'm an American. You just never know how people will respond to your culture due to stereotypes and political beliefs.
We live within 1-2 hours drive from a ton of tourist areas. For the first time in our lives we've really been taking advantage of that by visiting Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wounded Knee, and we hope to soon go to Yellowstone because it's not too far from here, either. I agree that there's so much to enjoy in all of our backyards if we just relax and look around.
Suddenly going to half of our income has been a blessing in that way--allowing us to see what's right before our eyes since we can't fly or pay hotel fees. A gift, I tell ya.
Again, so glad you're back! And even a shorter-than-normal post is great. Sometimes "less is more," right? And I connected with this one.
Hugs!
2Shaye
Welcome back! On Thursdays, the shops are open till 9 pm! :) On other days, they close at 6 pm. :)
@Ajit A picture post will follow Ajit and so will a few interesting tidbits..this was my first breathless account!
@SJ no place like home!! will do a picture post shortly..it was a great place for shots!! You would have done wonders with your camera!!
@Purnima a picture post will follow
@SumanDebray However hot and ugly, home is still my own..nothing beats that feeling. There will follow a tidbit post on things I liked and things I didnt..just getting back to life..
@Suraj We always think alike
@Nikki your friend is right!! I had a good time thanks dear
@Kavi its always like that with me, ..ah home..ah India! apost with pictures and anecdotes will follow soon
@Shaye am so glad to be back! you are right when you say that we dont know our backyards well..and the neighbour's garden always seems prettier..wish we could take care of our own gardens a bit more..
@Nona it was wierd, I hated it..cannot undersatns why shops should close at 6 when the the sun sets at 9:30 pm..
Welcome Back :)
welcome back, nothing to feel guilty of. there is more to Swiss than just mountain and greenery. The culture, people, the strive for perfection, the triumph of craftsmanship.... i dont think you would get the same in kashmir.
We were planning to go to Austria and Italy(Vienna) this vacation, but then Ms.Ananya came into our lives and changed the plan altogether. perhaps after few years. NICE POST>:)
Nice to see back on your blog..great!!
Must have enjoyed a lot...Its the political instability and security that no one goes to Kashmir n those regions...but heard its more beautiful than Switzerland. India has many beautiful places nd many r not known to us.
Sare Jahan Se Acha Hindustan Hamara!!
Home is home no one take its place!!
Hey Sujata,
I agree with you. There is beauty outside, but no warmth. I have started exploring India more and it feels great!
Well yes, home will always have a special place in our heart. But maybe we need a foreign trip or two to get out of the 'taking-for-granted' mood. And each place has its own different beauty.
oh, welcome back:)
heyyyy gr8 2 c u back...ya..it's always home sweet home, but travelling is good for the soul and spirit..sure u enjoyed..now get cracking. tell us what all mischief u did in sland..:)
SUJATA...welcome back..plz post pictures of your trip....home is home no doubt but hindustani (indian) philosophy also says...VASUDHEV KUTUMBAKAM...sara jahan hamara....but again people like you and me believe in ..sare jahan se accha hindustan hamara.....
Welcome Back....................
Seems you have bought the cool breeze from swiss to ur blogs :)
Welcome Back dear. I too used to feel the same way. I want to visit Kashmir first. But is it safe?
10 days in Switzerland has been my dream for quite a long time. But I generally have a theory about dreams. They come true in the weirdest of ways. And in the least expected times. So I thinking instead of honeymoon, retirement maybe???
Hope you have a whole lot of pics to make an album for your kids to cherish...
The point, Sujata, is not to compare. Appreciate each for its/his/her merits. India has its charm; so has the Swiss. Standing amidst the chaos that is India, one would yearn for Switzerland; but I belong here; this piece of the world is what I am part of, this air, though it may stink, this water, though it is polluted, these people, though insensitive...
HEy..welcome back.. :)... and why guilty???...the two places are different altogetehr and are beautiful in their own way. Good that you got to enjoy a different place and a different culture...home will always remain your sweet home and will wait for you with arms opened...that you have got an opportunity to venture , feel free and do so...Life is about enjoying moments, Man!!! :D :D :D..(Signature: Gyanoda Shankar).. :D :D
And she's backkkkkkkkkkkkkk :D
Oh stop contemplating and relive the fine memories...must ve been fun eh :D :D..u make me soo jealous right now!!
Oh and btw..haaan..how true...we have so much back home we choose to ignore and something even quite less splendid in some other country leaves us awestruck...y do u think tats the case??
welcome back once again su :)
luv
amith
nothing is better than the other..every thing has its own value and beauty..waiting for the picture post..and hearty welcome back...
hey so good to see you back,Sujata. Switzerland looks heavenly.Its one of my dream destinations that I'm yet to explore.
Sujata,what you said is what my husband felt too when he visited the country.He missed India so much when he went there and he somehow failed to see the point why Switzerland was at the top of the must see list of so many people,when our own country had so much more to offer.
Haven't been to Switzerland but have been to Kashmir and trust me on this, it's breathtaking. The road from Jammu to Srinagar is awesome and the places around Srinagar like Gulmarg, Pahalgam are just out of this world.
But Switzerland I am sure is no less beautiful and both places are to be savoured and enjoyed.
No guilt, just pure pleasure.
Hey Sujata..welcome back ! Have been seriously missing your posts and comments.
I can see i am quite late here , net not working at home. Never the less...so glad to have you back.
And like you said..grass is always greener on the other side.
Nice to see you back in blogosphere.And yeah...plan a vaccation in the Himalayas next time ...:)
Welcome Back...I don think so i will miss India for any reason.We are only left with a 10hr job and some more work to managed so I don think so any country will be different for me.
Thanks @Anil its great to be back!
Thanks @ZB Mind does have a way of its own..at the most precious moments you miss the person you love most..and I guess it was the same way for me..Switzerland is beautiful no doubt..but India is not just about poverty either..only if were a little more organised and disciplined
@NR thanks and so true..Sare Jahan se achha Hindustan hamara
@eye-in-sty thanks, I know what you mean..I felt the same way in London..though it was a bit more livelier than Switzerland.
@Meira thanks dear
@Ramesh thanks see i can be more cribby than you..I can take cribbyness to a different level altogether..
@Kavita agree whole heartedly..with your sentiments..we have many many odds against us and yet our country shines through it all
@Numerounity thanks
@Jyothi thanks, yes each place is beautiful..but the only feeling I kept having is why cant we make India a little more organised,a little more disciplined..then perhaps it will be a dream destination for many
@Bala I agree but like all mothers I compare my child to the next.. just a wee little bit. Its great to see you back on my page
@Priya my dear gyanoda shankar..I am learning from you!! next trip I promise to behave
@AwSM sooo its not just you who gets to crib..i dont get any consolations? just ohh get back and relive memories..!! Life is so unfair... Hey Its great to be back
@Extremity thanks
@deeps thanks I can totally relate to what you said you husband felt..Wont say that i was whining the entire time..but yes the smile was not full on..some corner was comparing and getting sad!
@Aparna the chocolates were pure pleasure
@Gymnast it feels great to be back!!
@Bhavya B Thanks I have too..within the year and then say "take that!!"
@Anamika its only when you are away that you miss your own
I appreciate your perception but why comparison. Both have their own charms and beauties. But I am sure you must have enjoyed the visit :)
Can totally resonate with that..anil and me have decided we will on an expedition in India soon..covering the length and breadth of the wonderland still undiscovered by me...even planning to take a step further and digging into our history and charting a map accordingly exploring my own country.
pics pics..where are the pics???
Welcome back.There is no place like home I agree,but Swiss is heaven and one will not mind being away for few days to enjoy the Swiss beauty,Chocolates,train ride,walk along the Geneva lake etc.
Good that we will get to read your posts again.
Beautiful description about Switzerland.I am sure you all must have enjoyed very much.
Hmmm... need to rethink!
Post a Comment