As a promise to myself, I returned to Switzerland mainly for Matterhorn. Fate has played a joke on me. It was the beginning of June, and the weather was warm. Never would I imagine that the lakes I wanted to go to were not accessible as both cable cars were closed for improvement. Another lake was not reachable because there was too much snow on that side of the mountain. And the most sarcastic part was that another train station with a 4th lake close by, had been closed for construction last summer, was still closed this year till June 11....and I had a ticket to leave Switzerland on the 10th. Switzerland has her own special way to make me go back there - better luck next time getting the ideal spot and angle for Matterhorn.

Before I left New York, I only had definite plans for Matterhorn and the Italian part of Switzerland. All the other towns were on my "go as I please" list, as my usual way of travelling. But this time, besides my disappointment in photographing Matterhorn, the Itlian part was also out of the question, as it was rainy and stormy there during my 6-day stay. So, I just let myself go with instinct, visiting a few small towns which turned out to be lovely places, and wound up in the French part for one day. With the recommendation from my friend Maureen, I also visited a village called Iseltwald which was plain but picturesque.

It has become a habit that when I travel by train in Europe, I would get off at a town without any preparation or any knowledge of it. I'm just too lazy to read any tour books. I also like to check out the first town in a neighbouring country. This time my instinct led me to Thun, Solothurn, Olten and Sion. And the first stop in the neighbouring country is Bregenz, Austria - a country which is as beautiful as Switzerland.

(All copyrights reserved)