The Four Lake Hike from Mount Titlis to Melchsee Frutt

My Swiss friend runs a hiking club and my visit to Switzerland coinceded with their four lake hike. We caught the 8.10am train to Engelberg and a gondola up Mount Titlis. We got out at the second stop, Trübsee, the first mountain lake at 1796m.

The weather was perfect. This was our starting point after we got off the gondola. It so peaceful and pristine, you could live forever here. 

Trübsee, only the beginning of the natural wonders to come. 

We embarked on a steep climb to the next gondola station, Jochpass 2207m. I was sweating like a pig. Others in the group were like mountain goats on steroids. I don't know how they marched up so quickly. 

We were rewarded with stunning views of the wildflowers, snow capped mountains and Trübsee. 

The higher we went, the more snow on the ground. Yep, there's snow in the middle of summer. I was so hot I wanted to smoosh my face into it. 

We were close to a glacier and I couldn't stop thinking about how unbelievable this paradise was. I feasted on the views with my eyes and the clean air with my lungs. 

At this point it was glaringly obvious that I was a tourist. No one pulled out their phones to take pictures and it seemed that taking a selfie was odd. But not for me. The moment was like a dream but the Swiss have these mountains for life. Souvenir pictures aren't going to take themselves.

EPIC!!! I could touch the clouds. There was an ascent completely covered in snow and my old trainers weren't cutting it. I had climb up on all fours.

After passing Jochpass, we saw Engstlensee, the second lake.

More postcard-perfect views.

Serenity.

More sights of the hike. We stopped at Tannesee, the third lake for lunch.

I swam in Tannesee a year ago. The lake was the perfect backdrop for lunch. Families gathered around and we all shared the wood fired BBQ. Fabienne packed us a healthy lunch and a bratwurst for each of us. 

There are water wells, sourced from the mountain springs. I would take the water by the kilo litre to London if I could. It's the purest water that flows freely for anyone to drink. So clean and cold, it felt like I was drinking from the fountain of youth.

We carried on to Melchsee. I was here last year and it was the last lake on this hike. This time instead of walking to the base of Stockalp we went down in scooters.

It was scary and exhilarating. My hands clamped onto the brakes as we zipped down the windy road. I got off the scooter to pass the cattle grates but everyone else flew over them. We had to hurry to make our connecting bus to Sarnen for our train to Luzern. 

The wind was in my hair and we raced past cows chewing cud on the side of the road. I was on a high!

 We made our bus and I nearly fell asleep on the way to Sarnen. It was hotter below the mountains and there was a parade in the town. People were dressed in traditional Swiss clothes, carrying giant cowbells and playing music. They were dedicated in this sweltering heat.

When we got back to Luzern, I took a much needed shower and relaxed for a teeny while before I took the train to Zurich airport. 

From Luzern to Zurich, Meeting Thien Lan and Beverly

In Switzerland public transport is expensive but superior. Their transport system is second to none in Europe, possibly the world. The buses and trains are clean and fine tuned like their watches. It's once in blue moon if anything is delayed or cancelled.

Unless you have a half-fare card or you're under 26, the only reprieve from the high train fares are Supersaver tickets. I always check if they are available online but beware, if you miss the train booked, you won't be able to transfer to another or receive a refund. On the plus side, they can be as cheap as half the normal fare.

I flew to Zurich to visit two girlfriends from Sydney. Thien Lan lives in a village not far from the city. Beverly is on holidays from Singapore. I haven't seen them in years so I was excited to have our paths cross again.

From Zurich I took a train to Stettbach and a bus to Gockhausen Dorf. The train ride was only 9 minutes and the bus departed within a few minutes from Stettbach station. It was perfect timing. I arrived to foresty village and there were not many people around.

Meeting Thien Lan and Beverly again (and their families) was wonderful. The last time we were together, I was about to move to London. That was eight years ago and so much has changed since.

We played with the kids in the backyard, running around shooting water pistols. There was also a play area which Bev and I took advantage of!

The husbands took the kids inside and we got to have a girly catch up with wine. 

I couldn't believe the afternoon flew by so quickly. Soon it was dinnertime. They set up the crepe maker and we got to make our own savory crepes. 

Unfortunately I had to leave at 8.17pm to make my Supersaver train back to Luzern. I would have liked to stay longer. This is me on the bus leaving the village-see how happy I am to have met some dear friends in this pretty place? 

Here's what the trains look like in Switzerland. They are grand machines. Meticulously on time and efficient. Every moving part simply glides because they're so well designed. And look how shiny they are!

In the carriages they give you updates on connecting buses and trains and tell you where to catch them from. This made the day's travels stress-free.

I took the train back to Luzern with my friend who I was staying with. The Luzern festival was on and I've never seen the city so crowded. We went to a rooftop to watch the fireworks. It was the perfect way to end the day.

The Hostel In Basel

Of all the hostels I've stayed in, Switzerland has the best. I stayed at the YMCA in Basel and it's only half an hour away from the airport.

My 5 bed dorm is female only and was super comfortable.

I can't get enough of Switzerland. I sing my praises to their cleanliness, practicalness, peacefulness-and hot looking people.

This morning I had sunshine and a lively conversation with two girls from California. I'm now rested and having breakfast.

I have an itinerary for today. Although I don't know how the day will turn out, I'm energized and excited. I feel like the world is mine!

Basel airport. Pick a country, any country!

Hiking Through Alpine Country

I woke the next morning with a miraculous recovery from the "neck marbles". It could have been the couch I slept on, walking around with a backpack or simply just Switzerland?

For breakfast I got hooked into the white bread and colored sugar sprinkles. Its a Dutch version of fairy bread. I was in kiddy heaven.

I liked De Ruijter sprinkles so much, Fabs gave me the box!

We headed out to Mount Pilatus where we had a liquor fueled coffee and goulash soup. The trek down the mountain was scenic and the air was crisp. There was sloppy snow patches around Fräkmüntegg. It was divine alpine country (but hard on the knees and ankles.)

As we descended, we watched a thick fog creep up the mountain like a cloud monster. Suddenly our heads were literally in the clouds. Even my hair felt wet.

We returned home and I pigged out on more bread and sprinkles. It's my new food obsession! Then I did some last minute cheese shopping. One cheese I particularly crave but can only get in Luzern, is aptly called the Luzerner. I also bought Saint Paulin which milder and also very nice.

There was one last important stop, a haring sandwich in Zurich. We actually took a detour to get it. Raw herring with onions is reminiscent of our time in Amsterdam. And it was a mighty good sandwich. Too bad about the fishy onion breath. (Sorry fellow passengers.)

Fabs sent me off to the airport and hours later, I was home to a thankfully warm flat. Unable to resist temptation, I snacked on the cheeses with the saucisson from Paris, bought a week before.