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  • My Switzerland escapades: Bouveret to Brig (Day 5)

    Here  we go again…From Bouveret to Brig, transferring to another platform to another train with our luggage, tsug, tsug, tsug, hahaha… that’s not the sound of the train, it’s the sound of our luggage going down the stairs:-(

    Cesar Ritz Colleges of Switzerland (Brig Campus)

    We’ re visiting the University center of Cesar Ritz Colleges of Switzerland. We were greeted by  two equally beautiful ladies (Ms. Jenai and Ms. Laure) thanks goodness! we don’t have to pull our luggages again going to Hotel du Pont.

    At Lounge (Campus accommodation)

    Brig is located close to the Swiss- Italian border but they refer it as the German side of the Campus.True, people speaks more of German than French though it’s about one and half train ride to Milan, Italy.

    Hotel du Pont

    It is a nice town nestled at the foot of the Alps. Hotel du Pont is in central town strategically located along the shopping stores, train station and different cafe restaurant. Pedestrian friendly place!

    From the Bouveret campus, students transfer to University center to continue their Bachelor degree in International Business Management. Here, students, teachers and staff are all in Business suits. Though there is one charity day that they allow them to wear casual dress and pays 3/CHF . Students accommodation is like a deluxe Hotel complete with bar, cinema,storage, kitchen and Gym.Kevin also attended one class” Global Tourism” , everything was already thoroughly explained to him in Bouveret, our campus tour was brief but positive. We had sumptuous lunch and Kevin also joined them at Indian dinner, I wonder if he gonna trim down when he join them next year. 🙂

    Fondue-melted cheese serve in communal pot over a spirit lamp, dipping bread using long-stemmed fork
    Parfait mocca flambe – i call it as " flaming ice cream"

    And of course we, will not leave Switzerland without tasting “Fondue” and parfait Mocca Flambe , had fine dine in at hotel du Pont. Great day!

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  • My Switzerland escapades:Cesar Ritz Colleges of Switzerland- a parent view (day4)

    Cesar Ritz Colleges of Switzerland (Le Bouveret campus)
    multi -cultural environment

    This is it! August 30, 2011, the reason why we’re here? To visit the prospective college Kevin is interested to join, opppps… i would say, I am more enthusiastic than him because he wanted to go to Florida, USA instead. When Kevin was in the middle school, I asked him what he wanted to be, He said with pride” I want to be a chef and open a restaurant for my dad” Although, he loves food and helps me in the kitchen, I did not take it seriously. He loves to play piano when he was small and now he loves to play guitar (he is passionate with music), I was thinking he might change his mind too, about being a chef. One of his passions too is Art, he is good in drawing, photography and recently attended an ID Tech Camp and took a short course in video editing. My eldest son was telling him to get a course that he is passionate about so  he would enjoy his profession afterward.

    Yes, I believe that passion creates vision…a beginning to follow our endeavor but sometimes it just doesn’t pay the bills. As the sayings goes, “make a business from your passion and money will follow”.Well, I am not a firm believer of this ,otherwise a lot of people who is passionate about playing tennis,baking, writing will all be rich but we all knew that it doesn’t happened all the time. Having a profession that gives you a leeway financially and at the same time being passionate about it is a bonus in itself.

    As a parent, it is also my duty to guide and help him to decide what path of studies he will be following, once he finishes his High School in 2012. So, My research begins, in Arts and Culinary. While Kevin is busy doing his” thing” in the kitchen, experimenting dishes, playing guitar and thinking to get a career in Film (documentary) huh! Sounds confusing… me too! Oh well, mostly of teens are not so sure ; a lot things in their mind, I want to get this, I want to be this..so on and so forth.

    Lets break it, 123 passion; 1.Music,2.Chef,3.Film making.Where to study?1. Philippines, 2.Switzerland, 3.USA. We’ve been to Philippines and USA many times but never been to Switzerland. I asked him again, are you still interested in Culinary? Well, mom why do you think, I am always in the Kitchen cooking? Because you love food and want to eat!*wink* :-)Nice try mom! I want to know if I really enjoy doing it! Alright Kevin..I got it!

    As I goggle the best Culinary School in Switzerland, Culinary Arts Academy of Switzerland, pops up…I read their curriculum and I found that on the 1st year, a student will earn a Swiss advanced certificate and will have 6 months paid internship, 2nd year Swiss higher diploma and another 6 months internship until they graduate on the 3rd year of Bachelors degree in Culinary arts, a total of 7 terms. Or you can take up Bachelor in International Business Management (Hotel and Tourism Management). They have  two campuses, Le Bouveret (Swiss-French border) and the German side (Brig). To find out more, please visit www.RITZ.EDU

    On my point of view, this is a well planned curriculum, I am already 52 years old, I will never know if anything happens to me, will Kevin be able to earn his Bachelor degree? At least if he got his first year certificate and internship, he has something in his CV to start with. But of course, as long as I am able, I will continue to support him until he gets his Bachelor degree or even until Master degree, God willing. 🙂

    After discussing it with Kevin, I sent an e-mail and I immediately got a response from Ms. Laure Parfaite (International Admission Councilor) and received an invitation to visit from Ms. Jenai Oliveira (Area Manager) with outlined schedule of campus tour, classes and complimentary accommodation for him to have a better feel of how student life in both campuses.

    along the road
    walking from La Lagune rive bleu

    Day 4,of  Switzerland escapades; walk…walk… with Kevin’s luggage from the Hotel to Cesar Ritz Colleges of Switzerland; It took us around 20 minutes, I was dressed white with blue blazer (2 years ago my most comfortable attire is shirt and jeans, Kevin would comment on some occasions “dress like a mom”) there you go, I am dressed like a mom 🙂 another request from him, NO PICTURE pls!

    good day!
    overlooking lake Geneva

    As we entered, we were greeted with a smiling front desk officer, he took Kevin’s luggage and we were ushered to their bar lounge (they are after all..a Hotel School). Miss Laure, is a very young lovely lady who toured us around the campus, along the way, we met a lot of Professors, students, staff, executive chef who are all very hospitable and accommodating. Each one gave Kevin some pointers and advises on how to choose his path to success. What I noticed most , students are coming from different culture (Arab, Asian,Europeans etc) which is a  real practical experiences for students on culinary, academic and hospitality.

    The kitchens are super, neat and clean; we had the chance to dine in, which was prepared by the students like we were in the real setting with real chef! Kevin was able to attend a class (Baking) with complete uniform, he really enjoyed the day and hang out with Korean students and stayed one night before we move in to another Campus in Brig.

    Lunch with Ms. Laure and Kevin
    chairs for unwinding thoughts

    PS…Students takes 3 levels of French Language to pass the term! :-))

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  • My Switzerland Escapades: Montreux to Medieval town of Gruyeres (day3)

    boat on Lake Geneva

    Day 3, let’s try another route…boat-walk-train-bus to medieval town of Gruyeres.It’s refreshing and an enjoyable 25 minutes boat ride from Bouveret to Montreux. There’s also refreshment or breakfast on board (too late, we had breakfast already at the hotel).What’s amazing with the transportation here, everything is on time! You can also take your bicycle on boat or on train, there’s a special place for it. There’s also 1st class and 2nd class, I would say if your going for a long ride to Geneva or to Lausanne by boat, it’s probably nice to take the 1st class,.. like your on cruise!

    along the shore of Montreux

    Montreux houses and building are  more continental than Bouveret, its lake shore are more flowered and the windows of huge buildings are decorated with colorful window curtain. There are more jazz bars, discos and hotels. We wish we had enough time to roam around but as I said the train leaves and arrives on time.

    And so we walk and climb upstairs,no luggage hurray! Beware of going from city to city with a heavy luggage, transferring from one platform to another will kill your shoulder and legs as there are no elevators or escalators that will ease your misery 😦

    golden pass panoramic train

    Golden pass panoramic train is an amazing  ride experience from Montreux to Montbovon, a spectacular view passing through the vine yards, lake view, tunnel,green valleys and mountains.

    From Montbovon , we shifted to another train to La Maison du Gruyere where we listen to the history of the medieval town and watch how cheese is being made.

    Then we took a bus to the Castle of Gruyeres, hurray! 2,627 feet above sea level, finally … another spectacular view of well-preserved houses of 15th to 17th centuries line up the main street, with restaurants along the way hmmm no McDonald this time ..No diet pls!

    Medieval town of Gruyeres

    At the entrance of the castle, we found a small museum called HR Giger museum, the art of “alien” and Tibet Museum. I find it amusing to pose with Egyptian mummy statue. The castle is well furnished and preserved.There are about 16 rooms complete with 15th century paintings.We watched  a thrilling multimedia show” Gruyeres” a wonderful story of the castle.Outside is a chapel with stained glass windows showing the baptism of Christ. On the ground is a French style landscape garden, I would say its some  sort of geometrical style.We were so engrossed taking pictures , time passes by so quickly but of course, kevin and I will not leave the place without trying those yummy swiss food!

    We hurried up to catch the train back to Montbovon or else we gonna miss the last boat going back to Bouveret but…as we can’t read nor speak French, we got the wrong train and wallah, we went straight to Bulle, another classic town of  Gruyeres,… charged to experience! And so, we waited for another train to bring us back to Gruyeres then to Montbovon.

    terrace view

    Going back to Montreux, we took the Golden pass classic train in luxury style (2hrs) just right on time to catch the boat to Vevey then to Bouveret.

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  • My Switzerland escapades: Le bouveret back to Geneva (day2)

    yes!

    Sunday, our first morning in Le bouveret, what a day to spend the time strolling around the vicinity, look at the magnificent view of Lake Geneva, the mountains, the people, the small shops around the marina, the smell of brewed coffee with the smell of nature blended together.., oh my!

    magnificent view

    we walk again without our luggage of course!, it seems there  are no taxis around the hotel , so I asked… the receptionist said..”its only 10-15 walk to train station” ahhh but last night was about 30-40 minutes, anyhow, i’ts a beautiful day, indeed! I enjoyed the scenery more while strolling..yesss if there was no train to catch at nine a.m. ( to Geneva) I rather stay in here, there was a sort of festival along the shore, a lot of stalls all around, people walks around with smiling faces, a lot them with dogs (beautiful snazzy puppies and dogs)

    Sunday morning

     Besides the hotel is the Aqua park, which is good for adult and kids who likes to splash in the big slides down to swimming pool or go to the beach, do biking or ride in miniature railway train system which  is unique in Europe or if you like painting, the place is an inspiration in itself.

    As we walked to the train station, we passed by chalet and small cute bungalow surrounded by green and flowers. It’s just so refreshing to note that the place is so peaceful, no malls, no abaya :-), no rude taxi drivers and I believe  i did not see any policemen but my son said, he did notice one. and so the train trip this time seems shorter because the weather is just great!

    perfect!

    Geneva has been described as the third European financial centre after London and Zürich and was ranked as the fourth most expensive city in the world.

      I wonder where all these people hanging out on the restaurant get their money, I see them most of the time  eating out… hahaha would you believed we settled for a McDonald meal instead of dine in!

    As usual we walk…eat ice cream..drink…chocolates..walk…drink. My son doesn’t want to go on tour, he wanted to experience how to travel, eat and live like the resident, so be it. I should have brought a big dictionary of English-French, If i was alone, i would just settle for an air-conditioned coach with a tourist guide!

    But don’t get me wrong, I did enjoyed the trip…so much..that i like to stay more. By the way, this is the only trip that i been to without going shopping! yesss no shopping because it’s Sunday and all the shops were closed except for restaurant and coffee shops. Even on ordinary days, shops  closed as early as 5pm or as late as 6pm.

    Jet de' Eau

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  • My Switzerland Escapades… walk…walk…walk …(day 1)

    le bouveret

    It took us 6 hours flight from Jeddah, KSA to Amman, Jordan to Geneva, Switzerland via Royal Jordanian Airlines. We arrived Geneva at 6:30 pm and the sun was still shining brightly, we readily went to the train station just adjacent to the airport and hence we already have our on- line ticket, we decided to room around the shops and tried some French bread at the café’ resto and tried to figure out which platform are we going in.

    Our final destination is Le Bouveret (Swiss- French border), we asked the tourist office to give us some info about the place and La Lagune Rive Bleue , she gave us  a printed map and we were told to get on the bus or just walk from the train station.

    We booked first class train ticket (and found out later, there’s not much difference between 1st and 2nd class) additional CFH30 is not worth all. It took us about two hrs from Genève airport via Lausanne to St. Maurice, and transferred to another train that took us 24 min to Le bouveret. The scenery is spectacular so I don’t find it boring to travel by train, though it would be nicer to get on the boat enjoy the sunset then go by train.

    There was no Bus stop sign (though everything is in French) that will give us a hint that a bus neither is nearby nor taxis around. Le bouveret is a small town on the banks of Lake Geneva at the mouth of Rhone River. It was almost half past ten and it seems the place is already deserted, good thing, there were few Chinese students who could speak English and told us just to walk right across the train rails and pass through the marina, follow the bridge and right beside the Aqua Park (most popular tourist destination in the area) is La Lagune Rive Bleue.

    beautiful
    La lagune rive bleue

    Huh! Good thing, I am not wearing high heels, I can pull my luggage but to walk and walk not knowing where you are at the middle of the night, sounds creepy??? No, it was fun actually. We saw a bar, full of people and Kevin volunteered to go by himself and asked where the Hotel, I stayed put, oh my! I want to go and make pee. I always wonder why Saudi Arabia call comfort room as WC and the same thing here, ahhh water closet (w.c.) 🙂 and so we walk…walk…walk..finally we got Rive Bleue.

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  • you’re beautiful!

    you’re 84 and still beautiful, i love your smile..your wit and your smell. I remember very well when I was ten years old, you were on trip and i was left alone, I took out the dress that you use that day few hours before you left and i cuddle it for  hours…crying…missing you a lot…the smell of the dress gives me comfort. Even now that I am a mother myself, I still long for you, no words can express how much I miss  and love you so much.

    I will not reiterate what have you done for us, everyone knows how mother are and you are the most wonderful ever mom to me…to us and to your grand children.

    I promised today that you’re dream to go to america will soon be real, just renew your passport and I’ll make you’re wish comes true 🙂 but of course papa should be there too!

    Please stop playing with your jewelries, just wear it everyday to feel your dollars hahahaha and I hope you’re enjoying your teleserye in your new flat TV screen.

    We miss your palabok and we’re trying to copy you’re siopao too, but we didn’t succeed until now.

    Do you still go to market everyday? how i wish i am there with you today … I know one thing that’s make you happy… SHOPPING hahaha that’s where i got my stress management. I’ll take you anywhere to shop till you drop.

    Remember you’re time here in Jeddah… HAPPY HAPPY B-DAY!

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  • Bonjour Mr. French Men! Merci…

    I was not feeling good for the past weeks, I would say it’s been a month since i discovered savvy secret which is not appropriate to share to the public unless I choose to be a “whistle-blower”, But no..no..no, not ME!

    Anyhow, though i am a little presumptuous, i opted to keep a low-key stance so all my stresses went to my inner body and presto! it all shows on my face…i never been so old in my picture .

    under stress photo of me!

    However, I have to submit the photo whether i look good or not. My youngest son, got an invitation to Switzerland to visit a College. I was not able to complete the requirements on the first day so I have to go back to Swiss consulate twice.Actually, that was an easy day, few questions from a French guy ( well, my son thought he is…about in his late thirties) and wallah, come back after ten days to receive the passport. Keeping my fingers crossed!

    I went back to the clinic, and after three hours, I received a text message…” hi doc, how r u? I  am from  the consulate,I want just to tell u, that u r very beautiful, your husband is lucky. have u really 51? I will give u max 35..have a nice day and sorry to disturbing you.”

    Wow! I can’t believe this…flattering as it may seem but I wont deny… it made my Day! At age 52, someone would bother to send a message just to tell me I don’t look like my age!

    Merci!, Mr. French men..though i did not text you back, consider this as my reply..ont un beau jour trop! Merci beaucoup!

    Take note single ladies…”IT” factor works all the time.. cheers!

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  • Trust and loyalty.. a beginning of an end or an end to begin with?

    “Trust me” and everything will be alright, that’s how we build relationship supposedly.. Will you take his/her word? I believe not, that’s more likely a movie  ending not a business decision.

    I am looking for a nice word that will not ruin the relationship that was built on “trust” but I guess I can’t find the right term. Would I dwell for a “tooth for a  tooth” or an” eye for an eye” ?

    Will I just keep quite and let the cruise find its way and be cursed at the end or shall I lead the way so people close to you will be spare from hurting themselves or others.

    Trust and loyalty are big deals when you are in position of leadership, because everyone wants to be your friend for specific reasons. And everyone else doesn’t like you for the same reasons.

    There are others who break trust in order for them to get up into ladder , who cares if they are stepping into others shoes, they want to be the top and wears the best!

    Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and no matter how you balance things still people will be affected. how would you draw the line between keeping a secret so as not to hurt others and revealing the secret so as not to hurt yourself?

    It seems there’s no happy ending, it’s a vicious cycle of one’s wish to acquire monetary gains as opposed to live with integrity. How can people sleep at night or look into your eyes knowing they did betray your trust?

    “the men /women who can not endure his/her errors and shortcomings brought to the surface and made known, but tries to hide them, is unfit to walk the highway of truth.”… James Allen

    There are two barriers that often prevent communication between the young and their elders. The first is the middle aged forgetfulness of the fact that they are no longer young. The second is youthful ignorance of the fact that the middle-aged are still alive. and if the two come together, the only left things to say is…Money talks  but can’t buy trust and loyalty!

  • Love Life

  • Dogs Never Lie about LOVE…

    I like to remember “Rico” though how little  time we spent together, his memories still with us. For you “Rico” and your little friend.

    • “The dog is a yes-animal. Very popular with people who can’t afford a yes man.”
      – Robertson Davies, Canadian author
    “Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.”
    – Roger Caras 
    “No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.”
    – Christopher Morley 
    “He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.”
    – Unknown    
    “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.”
    – Mark Twain  
    “I like dogs better [than people]. They give you unconditional love. They either lick your face or bite you, but you always know where they’re coming from. With people, you never know which ones will bite. The difference between dogs and men is that you know where dogs sleep at night.”
    – Greg Louganis  
    “The disposition of noble dogs is to be gentle with people they know and the opposite with those they don’t know…How, then, can the dog be anything other than a lover of learning since it defines what’s its own and what’s alien.”
    – Plato  
    “The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. . . .He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. . . .When all other friends desert, he remains.”
    – George G Vest
    “The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.” –Samuel Butler 
    “Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate in their object-relations.” – Sigmund Freud
    “Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.” – Milan Kundera 
    “Dogs have more love than integrity. They’ve been true to us, yes, but they haven’t been true to themselves.”
    – Clarence Day 
    The greater love is a mother’s, then comes a dog’s, then a sweetheart’s Polish proverb
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