Am camping at Keng Cher's and Sandi's cosy place in Lausanne right now. Too lazy to retype conference reflections, so here goes:
Day 1
http://futuresgroup.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=845
Day 2
http://futuresgroup.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=848
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
LIFT Conference
At the LIFT Conference for a few days. By the end of the day, the shops are closed and everywhere is dark, so the only place to go is back to hotel. Geneva is a small place with well-connected transport (well, that is for the rest of Switzerland too). So I managed to hop onto the buses during breaks and take a look around town, and back to the conference.
http://futuresgroup.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/lift-conference-pre-conference-workshop/
http://futuresgroup.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/lift-conference-pre-conference-workshop/
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ski School!
Photos
Ski class was fun! I signed up for a beginner's class at the ski school. A whole day course lasted 5hr (excl lunch) and cost CHF105 (SGD135) per person per day. I took a ski bus with many others to Bodmi - which was an area of gentle slopes where all learners (adults and children) go, and different ski schools had their areas for lessons. After some sorting out, there were 6 of us in the class with an instructor named Walter, who was 77 years old! Fit as a fiddle!
Walter was very experienced and showed us various basic techniques, like walking on the skis, side stepping, parallel ski, sliding etc. The balancing was similar to inline skating, except that now the sticks were much much longer (vs 4 wheels) and took a lot more strain on the ankles, legs and arms (ski poles). I could understand why cross-country skiers had the highest VO2max ever recorded. It was not an easy sport and really worked both upper and lower body. My sense of balance was quite decent. :) I think knowing some skating and being familiar with crampons and snow-shoe etc from mountaineering helped. At the very least, very au fait with handling the ski poles. I decided to sign up for another day's class. :)
Ski class was fun! I signed up for a beginner's class at the ski school. A whole day course lasted 5hr (excl lunch) and cost CHF105 (SGD135) per person per day. I took a ski bus with many others to Bodmi - which was an area of gentle slopes where all learners (adults and children) go, and different ski schools had their areas for lessons. After some sorting out, there were 6 of us in the class with an instructor named Walter, who was 77 years old! Fit as a fiddle!
Walter was very experienced and showed us various basic techniques, like walking on the skis, side stepping, parallel ski, sliding etc. The balancing was similar to inline skating, except that now the sticks were much much longer (vs 4 wheels) and took a lot more strain on the ankles, legs and arms (ski poles). I could understand why cross-country skiers had the highest VO2max ever recorded. It was not an easy sport and really worked both upper and lower body. My sense of balance was quite decent. :) I think knowing some skating and being familiar with crampons and snow-shoe etc from mountaineering helped. At the very least, very au fait with handling the ski poles. I decided to sign up for another day's class. :)
Monday, February 23, 2009
Switzerland Day 2 - Grindelwald Snowed In!
Photos
There was massive snow overnight and today. The snow shovers were out in full force, regularly clearing the roads for cars and buses. It was amazing that the buses were still right on the dot, true to Swiss transport efficiency.
My grand plan was to take the rail up to Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe, which was why I came to this region in the first place. Unfortunately, the heavy snow meant visibility was no good and could not see far. In fact, all the surrounding mountains that I saw in yesterday's perfect weather had 'vanished' in the whiteness!
So I changed plans and headed for Mannilichen to try out sledging, on the advice of the friendly tourist centre service staff. It was an activity where one sat on a wooden sledge and navigated yourself down the snow slopes - great for non-skiers and children. Alas, the lady at the cable car ticket advised that the snow was too high for sledges or hiking! So I saved my money, headed back to town, and spent the rest of the afternoon checking out gear shops and renting my ski equipment, for tomorrow's class.
There was massive snow overnight and today. The snow shovers were out in full force, regularly clearing the roads for cars and buses. It was amazing that the buses were still right on the dot, true to Swiss transport efficiency.
My grand plan was to take the rail up to Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe, which was why I came to this region in the first place. Unfortunately, the heavy snow meant visibility was no good and could not see far. In fact, all the surrounding mountains that I saw in yesterday's perfect weather had 'vanished' in the whiteness!
So I changed plans and headed for Mannilichen to try out sledging, on the advice of the friendly tourist centre service staff. It was an activity where one sat on a wooden sledge and navigated yourself down the snow slopes - great for non-skiers and children. Alas, the lady at the cable car ticket advised that the snow was too high for sledges or hiking! So I saved my money, headed back to town, and spent the rest of the afternoon checking out gear shops and renting my ski equipment, for tomorrow's class.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Switzerland Day 1 - Grindelwald
Photos
I love love love long haul flights especially those on SQ. I just love the idea of checking in and turning up at some faraway destination with both apprehension and excitement. So here I am, after a 12h flight and 3-4hr train ride (with 2 interchanges), in the lovely town of Grindelwald in Switzerland. Grindelwald is located within the Jungfrau region which is a UNESCO heritage site.
It was almost noon when I reached my hostel - Downtown Lodge - a cheap B&B hostel that I booked at the last minute, and thankfully got myself a dorm bed. But this was afterall the land of graciousness and civilization, so hostels are perfectly clean and comfortable.
First stop, the Ski school where I had booked myself for an adults' class on Monday. There I got ideas for what to do for the rest of the day. I found my way to First station to take the ski gondola up to "First", then took the Flier ride. It was like a flying fox except you were strapped to a harness with legs dangling and going down at 84kmh for 30sec. Then I hiked down the mountain, amidst all the skiers and snow-boarders. Midway through, I bailed out and caught the gondala back to the train station.
Grindelwald is a small town, everything within walking distance. I realised that my hostel pass entitled me to free entry to the sports centre, which had an indoor swimming pool. I tried it, it was not conducive for laps but quite a good perk up.
Rather jetlagged now.....
I love love love long haul flights especially those on SQ. I just love the idea of checking in and turning up at some faraway destination with both apprehension and excitement. So here I am, after a 12h flight and 3-4hr train ride (with 2 interchanges), in the lovely town of Grindelwald in Switzerland. Grindelwald is located within the Jungfrau region which is a UNESCO heritage site.
It was almost noon when I reached my hostel - Downtown Lodge - a cheap B&B hostel that I booked at the last minute, and thankfully got myself a dorm bed. But this was afterall the land of graciousness and civilization, so hostels are perfectly clean and comfortable.
First stop, the Ski school where I had booked myself for an adults' class on Monday. There I got ideas for what to do for the rest of the day. I found my way to First station to take the ski gondola up to "First", then took the Flier ride. It was like a flying fox except you were strapped to a harness with legs dangling and going down at 84kmh for 30sec. Then I hiked down the mountain, amidst all the skiers and snow-boarders. Midway through, I bailed out and caught the gondala back to the train station.
Grindelwald is a small town, everything within walking distance. I realised that my hostel pass entitled me to free entry to the sports centre, which had an indoor swimming pool. I tried it, it was not conducive for laps but quite a good perk up.
Rather jetlagged now.....
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Swim Class Better
Swim class tonight went well. The water was warm - it was a hot day. I moved to Lane 3 last swimmer. Henry came for a trial class. After that he said it was 'siong' and had aching arms. Haha.
We did many catch up drills (I lost count), a few sets of 200 - 250m, then a number of 100m and 6x 50m sprints, and some heads-up swim.
Had to rush off after class..... airport, Swiss bound! :)
We did many catch up drills (I lost count), a few sets of 200 - 250m, then a number of 100m and 6x 50m sprints, and some heads-up swim.
Had to rush off after class..... airport, Swiss bound! :)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Aviva Worth the Cost?
KL was not in class, another guy called Lester took over. Class was not as siong and hard though. My legs and back felt a wee bit tight, perhaps time for another massage before I leave this weekend.
I finally off-loaded my Silkair ticket to a replacement climber, and bought a pair of cheap Jetstar tickets. Whew whew! I could plough that savings into Aviva 70.3. Now that I am swimming so much, I think I should sign up for 70.3. Yet the $375 registration fee is a huge deterrant.... Ouch. Let me mull over it a little more, although the deadline is 8-March...
Next up, Busselton. My friends have already booked the accomodation and about to get their air tickets. I am very much considering taking part. Except of course the swim cut off.... 3.8km in 2h 15min. Whew.... (1) I have never done that distance in the pool. (2) Even in the pool, I am not sure of clearing that timing. Confidence aside, perhaps I should chope my slot in the accomodation and air ticket as well?
I finally off-loaded my Silkair ticket to a replacement climber, and bought a pair of cheap Jetstar tickets. Whew whew! I could plough that savings into Aviva 70.3. Now that I am swimming so much, I think I should sign up for 70.3. Yet the $375 registration fee is a huge deterrant.... Ouch. Let me mull over it a little more, although the deadline is 8-March...
Next up, Busselton. My friends have already booked the accomodation and about to get their air tickets. I am very much considering taking part. Except of course the swim cut off.... 3.8km in 2h 15min. Whew.... (1) I have never done that distance in the pool. (2) Even in the pool, I am not sure of clearing that timing. Confidence aside, perhaps I should chope my slot in the accomodation and air ticket as well?
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