[caption id="attachment_1272" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Shinn & Me!"]
[/caption]I was really excited to come to Switzerland to meet Shinn in Lausanne. This is my first time meeting a friend overseas after 7 months of flying. Even though we have never spoken a single word to each other in school, our interests and love to travel has brought us together. So, I thought, why not visit Shinn in Lausanne since I will be flying to Switzerland. And I would really love to tour around École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). Coincidentally, my group did our semester 2.2 project based on building a educational-themed resort in Pulau Ubin, collaborating with EHL to offer diploma and degree courses. Can you imagine that I did my project based on this school and 2 years later, I am in Switzerland touring around the place? Wow, isn't it so amazing..
[caption id="attachment_1273" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Zurich HB Railway Station"]
[/caption]I took a 10 minutes tram ride from my hotel to Zurich HB railway station and 2 hours and 11 minutes train ride to Lausanne.
[caption id="attachment_1275" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="First Class Cabin"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1276" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Second Class Cabin"]
[/caption]The seats in the first class cabin are pretty comfortable. I didn't know I was holding a second class ticket until the train conductor came around to check the tickets. I had to shift to second class cabin after a nice 30 minutes nap in first class. :(
And...Guess what I saw when I woke up again from my nap?
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Snow-capped mountains! So b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l!
This is what I love about taking a train ride in Europe - looking out on the beautiful window-framed scenery! :)
[caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="École hôtelière de Lausanne"]
[/caption]From Lausanne railway station, I took a 20 minutes metro ride to Croisette and 10 minutes bus ride to EHL. It was certainly a long journey to Lausanne from Zurich but it did not deter my determination. I felt great when I reached EHL cos my direction sense has definitely improved tremendously.
[caption id="attachment_1283" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="First HTM student to enter EHL"]
[/caption]EHL is accepted industry-wide as the best hotel school in the world and I am so proud of Shinn for being the first HTM student to gain admission into EHL! I am sure this will pave the way for more HTM juniors to follow her footsteps.
Shinn took me around her school and introduced me to some of her friends. The students in EHL present themselves very well and it is also a school rule to wear business attire. They greet and acknowledge each other. I had to greet "Bonjour" here and there as we walked around the school. Here are some glimpses of the school..
[caption id="attachment_1285" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Tutorial room"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1287" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Berceau des Sens - Fine Dining Restaurant"]
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This is the view guests get while having their meals at the fine dining restaurant.
[caption id="attachment_1289" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Wine Tasting Studio"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1291" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Kitchen"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1293" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="La Ferme - Causal Dining Restaurant"]
[/caption]According to Shinn's friend Cherie, her room is unfairly bigger than others and it is very true! Lucky babe! :)
[caption id="attachment_1301" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Shinn's Room!"]
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[caption id="attachment_1304" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Shinn's Study Table"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1305" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Autograph by Chef Paul Bocuse for Shinn!"]
[/caption]Chef Paul Bocuse is honored as Chef of the Century and how impressive to have an opportunity to dine at his Michelin 3 stars restaurant and even meet him in person! Really envious!
After touring around her room, Shinn brought me to the town and we also visited the Cathedral, Kathedrale Notre-Dame.
[caption id="attachment_1308" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Kathedrale Notre-Dame"]
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Here is a question.. Why are the statues looking down? Is there a meaning to it? I realize that the statues are looking downwards in all the cathedrals that I have been to so far.
I also bought macaroons from Ladurée, which I did not manage to try it when I was in Paris. My favorite has got to be the pistachio flavor! Yum~
Shinn treated me to Mövenpick ice cream and I chose the pistachio flavor. I love pistachio!
Our next stop was Lake Geneva and I love this photo the most.
We ended our day with a nice dinner at Cafe Romand so that I can taste the authentic Swiss food here.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="584" caption="Cheese Fondue"]
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We also had the Pork Knuckles.
It was really a lovely and comfortable evening with Shinn and we had so much to talk about ranging from school, work, life, travel, future and etc. It didn't feel like we have only met and talked to each other for the very first time.
Shinn...Once again, I really appreciate you for taking the time out to plan the itinerary and bringing me around in Lausanne. Thanks for much for hosting me! There is so much passion in you for the hospitality industry and I am really happy for you to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience to study in EHL. I sincerely wish you all the best in your future endeavors! :)
P.S. Hope to see you in Shanghai to have Xiao Long Bao together. ;)
