where others come for vacation ...
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Summer in Switzerland is about being outdoors and, of course, like true locals hiking. Hardly anyone hikes here with hiking poles (except the seniors or those with bad knees)! Since I'd been hiking all by myself a lot recently, we decide to do one together.. like the locals.. on an unmarked trail along a ridge.. (Jeez.. can you hear my bones rattling???)
We park the car at Schwändi and begin walking uphill. The first km & half is easy-peasy walk in the park till we come to a cow shed and then, there's no sight of the trail. It seems to have been swallowed by the underbrush. A couple of back and forths, skirting itchy bushes & jumping over swampy puddles and finally we spot a narrow trail. From here, it'll all uphill.. over wet & slippery rocks.. I'm hoping that we're not returning this way. It's kinda relatively flat after reaching the ridge as we walk through a magical moss forest. I'm expecting fairies, pixies, elves or bespectacled men (
) to jump out from behind the tree trunks at any moment. Soon we're walking on a slippery narrow trail along the ridge. It's barely wide enough to fit both feet... I walk with my heart in my mouth trying to focus on the beautiful views.
Read more: Musenalp - A tale of jittery knees and fine herbal tea: Aug 14
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Friday evening, Sunset, Jazz-Blues concert by the lake, a Tuk-Tuk Bar with Indonesian food and some exotic drinks..
What does Tuk-Tuk have to do with Jazz, one may wonder? A creative Swiss guy has converted a Tuk-Tuk (3 wheeler) into a mobile Bar and named it "Gajah" Bar. Gajah in Sanskrit stands for "Elephant" and yes his vehicle does look like an elephant from the front. He parks his mobile bar at General Guisan Quai Stansstad, a beautiful beach on Lake Lucerne, and invites small bands for concerts on Friday evenings.
Too bad, picky me wouldn't eat the Tempeh as the veggie and the chicken were grilled together on the same grill 
Thank you Karin for the invite :)
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4 hours, 12.67 km, 1158m elevation gain (start:765, max: 1923);
Jumping over shallow river beds and stacking rocks;
Passing by Farms and Mountain huts;
Pausing to watch Horses, Cows and Goats grazing & basking in Sunshine;
Gingerly stepping over steep, narrow & pebbly trails;
Feeling like Heidi and going offtrail when cows block the path;
Spotting a "perfect for meditation seat" in the mountain ridge;
Watching paragliders fly-off from Niederbauen and remembering my own "closest-to-flying exhilarating" experience @ Torrey-Pines
To finally claim my reward after the steep climb to Niederbauen Chulm - an awe inspiring panoramic vista of Lake Luzern ringed by jagged peaks.
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A morning with clear blue sky and a gentle breeze is not to be wasted. Before the speedy motor-boaters disturb the tranquil waters of the lake, we hurry on to Dolfin...
5 hours & 20 km of "Ready to Turn?", "Ready!", "Turn", good wind = smooth sailing, no wind = just lazing & sleeping, strong winds = grappling with sails, learning to let go of my agenda and instead be guided by the wind, dangling legs in the cool waters, listening to Boccelli and just Being..
