
I left my heart in Switzerland
When most people think of Switzerland, the idea of skiing and indulging in cheese fondues springs to mind. Though this is indeed a few aspects of the landlocked country, there’s really so much more on offer.
Switzerland is probably the most advantageous country to visit if you are an avid traveller. To the west of Switzerland is France, Germany is to the north, Italy is south of Switzerland and Austria borders Switzerland to the east.
The neighbouring countries of Switzerland have impacted the nation greatly, showcasing three distinct cultures that I had no idea about until visiting. The Swiss-Germans in the north are very straight-edged and clean, the Swiss-French of the southwest enjoy wine and living a stress-free life, while the Swiss-Italians sip on cappuccinos and make good pizza.
I’ve been to Switzerland so many times (mostly Basel and Bern); the peaceful ambient atmosphere makes it one of my favourite places in Europe. The country is terrific; low unemployment, beautiful scenery and the highest GDP than any other country in Western Europe.
A weekend in Zürich
The first time I visited Switzerland with a full squad was right after my 18th birthday. The idea to visit had never entered my mind until my friends peer-pressured me into an unplanned weekend. We took a short trip from Germany and arrived in Zürich in no time. Though it was a weekend and our time was limited, we managed to squeeze in so many activities that would make a group of tourists jealous.

City view from Lake Zürich, Switzerland.
We took a stroll to Lake Zürich, a popular spot for swimming, boating or having a picnic on one of the banks. If you are looking for a truly memorable experience, take a ferry between Meilen and Horgen on the lake. The surrounding artisan cafes combined with the mountainous backdrop is a real treat to your eyes.
My friends and I felt like we needed something more invigorating and spontaneous, so we went to Altstadt which means “old town” in German. There were so many medieval houses, contorted lanes and iconic landmarks, perfect for taking photos. You might think I was on the set of Game of Thrones.
While there was a lot of history in Altstadt, the location was also home to many of the city’s clubs and shopping malls.
The next day we decided to have a good breakfast which consisted of Mcdonalds. We needed the energy for Uetliberg, a famous mountain that takes about 30 minutes to 3 hours to climb (depends on your health condition).

View from top of Uetliberg, Switzerland.
At the top, we could see the Alps which were an excellent view from the window of a café we sat inside. There are a lot of nature trails that we didn’t realise until arriving. We opted for a nice woodland walk which was easy to explore.
Bern baby Bern
As I mentioned above, I’ve been to Switzerland for so many times, but mostly to Basel and Bern. I might visit other cities before but mostly with friend and family. SO this time I decided to visit Bern, a capital that’s managed to retain its historic identity, alone. The old town of Bern is also classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, something that I could tick off my bucket list after visiting.
Bern is set in the heart of Switzerland and the gateway to the Alps. Though the city has an excellent transport system, it was much better for me to travel on foot, so I didn’t miss anything. I headed to the Rose Garden to get a panoramic view of the city and the river Aare.

Rose Garden, Bern, Switzerland.
I really enjoyed the many boutiques, bars and cabaret stages in the old town which naturally attracted a lot of tourists. Wish you were here Lea 💔
Another iconic location I went to was the Albert Einstein House, where the genius often stayed when in Bern. I learned a great deal about the Nobel peace prize winning physician, especially the strange fact that he didn’t like to wear socks. Tried it once, turned out it wasn’t a good idea for a hyperactive guy like me. I got some blisters on my feet. Huft! Not recommended!
Anyway, the house of parliament is also located in Bern, very close to the railway station. I thought I should stop by as doors are open to visitors most of the time though it wasn’t particularly exciting as anticipated.
Bern is also known for its heraldic beast, the bear. The city has Bärengraben aka bear pit or bear park where you can see a family of bears which is something I didn’t expect. Visitors can access the elevator for free. It makes the park even more convenient not only for young adult but also for elderly and disabled people.
Getting to know Geneva
Ever since I was a kid, I would aspire to work as a UN secretary general. The possibility of working on volunteering projects across the globe appealed to me. I have a few friends who work with the UN in Geneva which were a perfect reason to visit.
A tour to the UN was definitely on the cards since I was in Geneva. I was lucky that I have friends who work there, not only I could join an hour tour, I even had a chance to wait for them at the library. Check out UN Office Tour admission here.
The tour consisted of visiting many rooms, ones where important and historical decisions were made. There was the assembly hall, council chamber (lots of negotiations took place there), a movie screening on the activities of the UN and gifts given to the UN’s office from different countries.
It inspired me with so much hope; that maybe someday we can all live in a world with peace and understanding. The city of Geneva is mesmerising, and I’ve never seen so many expats in any other city in Switzerland. This gave me the opportunity to make new foreign friends a little easier. Swiss people are genuinely gifted too; a lot of the locals I met could speak at least three languages with ease.
Dinner took the form of cheese fondue with a few of my pals which were followed by chocolate fondue afterwards. The experience felt taboo, but in Switzerland, it’s perfectly normal for adults to indulge in.

Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
Couple years back, I visited Dina in Geneva. She was one of my co-announcers on student’s community radio. We both love X-Files, that was enough reason for us to explore the city around midnight. We were pretending to be ghost-busters since all the old buildings, and quiet canals looked like places you would probably find ghosts.
Dina’s friend (sorry, I forgot his name) who also lived in Geneva was an expert on cooking and a culinary student. I got the special privilege of enjoying his food (and it was free too). Since Switzerland is a little expensive, we could just hop over the border to France to get some supplies and ingredients (which is very common for the native swiss).
Finishing off in the Alps
Probably the biggest reason why so many tourists flock to Switzerland is because of the Alps (and maybe not paying tax too). The Alps mountain range spreads across many European countries, its only in Switzerland can the highest peaks be reached. One notable spot on the Alps is the Aletsch Glacier. It’s regarded as a UNESCO World Heritage site and quite the spectacle.

Aletsch Glacier, Fieschertal, Switzerland.
There was no way I could visit Switzerland and not go skiing in the Alps. It’s essentially a rite of passage for dedicated travellers. The toughest decision was whether I wanted to go skiing or snowboarding. I decided to ski one day and snowboard the next. One unusual activity is snow golf which was not as difficult as anticipated. My greatest advice to anyone going to the Alps is not to eat yellow snow. You can PM me if you want to know what it is, though you might have some idea already.
As long as one of UN offices is still in Geneva, I’ll always come back, and Switzerland will always be one of my most favourite countries to visit.
Thanks for reading this blog, hope you enjoyed it. Read more travel blogs here. Meanwhile, have a wonderful holiday!!
Happy birthday, David!
I always love reading your posts. It’s incredible to me that you can summarise your trip into such a concise little essay. It’s an exciting way to view time and journaling. In fact, it reminds me of the 2010 video game, Braid, where everything goes back in time in the end. Memory really is a form of time travel. You, my friend, are a fantastic traveller not only in geographic spaces, personal spaces, mental/emotional/spiritual spaces, creative and business spaces but also in time. I wish you many more beautiful years of travel and discovery.
Cheers!
Lake Geneva aka Lac Leman is without doubt the top attraction in Geneva. It’s the best place to walk around or even run, a very good relaxation spot to anyone.
Belated happy birthday, David! Here’s hoping the next 20 are just as awesome! You’re an inspiration for a lot of people! Proud of you!
Have you been to Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle? The admission is free. It has great collection of taxidermy birds, mammals, reptiles, fishs, etc.
Thanks for the article, David! Next time you’re in Bern, I recommend you to stay at Hotel Allegro Kursaal. It’s a nice, clean, and modern 4-stars hotel. The location is in the heart of tourist areas. http://allegro-hotel.ch
What a joy to read this!
Happy belated Birthday sweet David! Your beautiful, open heart is such a gift to those who know you.
No biggie. I knew you’d love the trip to Zürich. The thing is sometimes, you need to stop your insane routine and try to enjoy the present.
Belated happy birthday, David! May you find the balance of the mind you are looking for. Be happy, be peaceful and be healthy!
I must say, you have very interesting visions of the value and purpose of human life, and I admire that. But I agree with Niklas. Get loose and have some fun every once in a while isn’t a bad idea. You deserve a holiday as much as others. Proud to be your friend! Have a good life, David! Keep writing your stories 🙂
Very nice post! Glad that you finally wrote the story. A bit upset because you didn’t mention our meetup at the magnificent Eigergletscher Restaurant!! I’m waiting for the 2nd part of the story!
You’re such a good storyteller. I want to read more of your story!
I’m jealous of the way you live your life!😳😳
I really love reading David’s blog. It changed my perspective on travel and life in general!
Your blog will inspire young people to travel, and once they go out there, they won’t come back to work because they just enjoy the trip so much. In the meantime, it’ll be hard for me to recruit more talented people, so I’ll just quit my job and travel the world instead 🙂
It’s more than just a typical blog. David has this unique ability to bring the readers with him deep into the story. Great job!
Stunning spots, great adventure and superb views! Thanks
Despite your tight schedule, you still had the time to write this! I’m just annoyed yet amazed with your talent, David! Anyway, Sydney, Aiden, Julia, and I are planning a ski trip to Erciyes in December. Any ski holiday plans for you and Lea? Triple date maybe?
You’re probably half of my age, but you visited more countries than me! That’s an excellent life you have.
Just had to say I am in LOVE with your blog! OMG! Just read one of your posts a couple days ago and am quickly becoming obsessed with your travel stories.
I am totally blown away at the brilliance writing skill you have, David! Keep writing, I like reading your blog and will pass it on to my family WhatsApp group.
This article brightens my mood. Thanks for sharing your interesting story, David!
This is great, David. I will make sure to bookmark your blog.
Awesome pictures, wonderful words! You are a star. Seriously. You and your blog make the world a brighter and happier place, because you are deeply kind and genuine, and your sense of wonder is bigger than the universe. Please keep sharing your travel experiences 🙂
I love reading your blog. In March my bf and I are going to travel Switzerland. Our first stop would be Geneva. Cannot wait to share some update 🙂
Your blog is unique, I’m super excited to share your content on my website.
Hi, I’m from Peru and I want to visit Switzerland too, but I’m broke. So I just read your blog instead. You have such an amazing life 🙂
Heading to Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, and Vienna next month. I’m considering to visit Switzerland too.
Beautiful blog! I suggest you to visit Egypt.