Was a little bit reluctant to blog about this country because I had so much fun here and really loved visiting this country. The people were all so friendly. Almost everyone spoke english, even the old people on the streets. There a couple of people who were even so well travelled that they told me that they had been to Singapore in the 60s~ And mind you before all this, I didn't even know that Slovenia existed as a country. It's so easier to confuse it for its bigger neighbour, Slovakia. But Slovenia is one of the hidden treasures of Europe. Not many people know about it yet, and yet you're happy for it because it prevents it from being one of those tourist bursting cities/countries that pissed you off sometimes because there are just too many tourists around. So after finishing my classes I caught a quick flight to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. When I first saw the plane, I was like OMG... It was like one of those own sea planes type where there are only about like 20 seats and the propellers are visable with cover. The flight there was ok, but the flight back was a different matter...

Anyhow, when I arrived I left for a tour to the Postojna caves and Predjama castle. The castle is strange in the sense that it is built right next to the cliffs, in a rather isolated position. I learnt later on, that this was a point as this castle was used by a Baron who was a notorious soldier. Fans see him as Robin Hood, but I was told by another tour guide that he robbed the poor as well... The castle is built in front of the entrance to the caves in the cliffs which interestingly also lead to the Postojna caves (but the passageways are closed now except to special tours). I was told that it was also a place for the protestants to hide during the reformation period. From inside the caves, one could see that one had a stategic view of the lands and could see easily when the enemy was coming. One reason that made the castle hard to breach was because it was built against the cliff so there was no way in other than the front gate which made it relatively easier to defend.



Bell to warn the peasants that the enemy was coming..

Interior of the castle

In one of the rooms, there was also a secret room whereby people would go in to have a secret discussion if they didn't want anybody to know about it...

Caves directly behind the castle...

Castle produce: wine and honey. Slovenia is apparently known for producing very good honey... and the number of bees I always found flying around the fruits is probably proof of that.

Next stop... on the the Postojna caves. When we first went in, we sat on a railway that took us through a tour of the rock formations before the walking tour began. The railway path was relatively curvy and there were many a time when I felt that I had to duck if not I would be hit by a Stalgamite... it was quite amusing because there was a bunch of high school kids on the train and they all got so excited whenever the train curved and there would be HEAPS OF SHRILL SCREAMING. I was sitting next to an Australian lady and we both laughed the whole time...

Caves exit

The caves are relatively chilly, the temperature is at a constant 8 degree c, so if you were like Emress (below) and didn't bring your jacket and needed to borrow one, you would be given a hobbit like green wollen cloak... which I must say is not the best fashion statement to have....

Whizzing through the tunnels...

One thing to note is that you're not really allowed to take pictures in the caves... but everyone just kept flashing their camera.. so i guess you can say tht I hopped on the bandwagon.


The cave formations were really pretty and they did a good job of lighting them up.... but most of the locals will tell you that the Postojna caves are too touristy and to go to the Skocjan caves instead (which is a UNESCO heritage site too)... and pictures of that to come later.

Ok, I kinda lied. There is still one more place that I visited in Geneva and this on my last day.... United Nations... ta da! Well, I suppose that Switzerland being such a neutral country and Geneva is basically the city where all the international organizations are, it's almost expected that one should try and see these institutions. For those who know of my "true amibition" would have expected me to pay a visit to the holy grail (sorry, you either know my dream workplace or you don't)... but I didn't. haha. Honestly, I did make an attempt but after looking at how not in the touristy zone it was... and having to navigate the public transport system (despite the free public transport card that tourists get)... I was like nah.... When I go there, I wanna be able to go in....

So back to the United Nations, I had previously been to the one in NY in 2005, so this was like the sister place. So pretty much, I was familiar with the structure and the purpose and pretty much expected the rooms to have the same architecture... but despite all that, they still had some pretty nice rooms:
Diagram of the makeup of the UN. Headquarters is in NY.

Look! I got my very own pass... and I got to keep it too!

United Nations compound is a big conference centre and their biggest conference room (below) can hold up to 2000 people.

Special conference room. The ceiling was decorated by a spanish artist.



One of the more special rooms is the Council chamber with allegorical ceiling murals by Jose Maria Sert.

What is the most interesting part of the tour usually is to look at the various gifts given by the various countries to the UN.

Gift from Germany (I think)

Gift from Thailand

Gift from Burma/Myammar




Intrestingly enough, even the marble stone used in one of the exhibition halls (it's floors) was donated by Finland, Sweden and Italy.


UN grounds: View of Wilson memorial who btw was the founder of the league of nations. Due to security purposes, visitors are not allowed to wander around the grounds.

Ok... the posting was interrupted for a while, but now we're back to normal and I shall put up the last of my pictures in Geneva or more like France... because this trip took place in France though I did cross the border from Geneva to do that.
Mont Blanc is probably one of the most recognizable icons in the world... You have the brand, it's famous among mountain climbers and skiiers and more recently, if you've read Sophie Kinsella's remember me, you will have discovered a new metaphor for it as well. So... being a nature lover, I was quite excited to be going to see the mountains, but one word of warning, it's a very very touristy touristy area. If not for the tour, I think that I would be waiting for ages just to catch a cable car up to the mountains.... It is utterly crowded and almost crazy like. Even my tour bus was full to the brim and it only had one tour operator to organize everyone's details.... so while summer is quite a nice time to visit the mountains, it is also the busiest....

French countryside... enroute to Charmonix, the village where we would take the cable car up to the mountains. It is a very touristy village coz of all the visitors, so as expected prices are expensives and super inflated. That's why I say that if you ever wanna visit this area and you're like an independent travellor like myself, it might be more worthwhile and less hassle to buy a tour. That way you don't have to worry about transportation problems, lunch, queues etc etc.

First glimpse of Charmonix. I really like visiting the small European villages coz the houses are just so pretty. People really take pride in making their houses look beautiful from the outside, lots of flowers decorating the balconies and stuff like that.... but do note that interesting store name (bottom left.)


The cable car is once every 15 mins, but even so it still feels like you're waiting for eternity every time coz there is just so many people. There are two cable cars to take it was a nice ride up, just super crowded... mind you... even the locals like to come up here for the view...


French Alps....



The ice cave, where mountain climbers prepare to climb down into the valley. I was lucky coz when I was there, there was a couple preparing to make their descent, and everyone else was also watching with such fascination as they slowly made their way down...

Other climbers and campers on the French Alps

Back to Chamonix for lunch.... pictures of the streets and shops enroute to the restaurant...


In front of the restaurant where we had lunch... it was a three course meal! Starter/Main/Dessert, so pretty good deal :) Plus I got to meet some people travelling on the tour as well, and they blanja me my glass of wine :P

After lunch, we took the cog railway to visit Mer de glace, which is this glacier cave in the bottom of the valley... view from the cog railway


Mind you when I saw the number steps down to the Glacier I went OMFG to myself. I am so terribly unfit now that it is in my instinctive nature to avoid any kind of strenuous activity especially when my stamina is flat zero now, but I kept telling myself "ok genevieve bong you paid for this you better go in... it's not like you've got a friend who can take pictures on your behalf. " So I practically ran down, so as to give myself enough time to climb back up.... and surprisingly it wasn't so bad after all. I actually passed alot of people on the way up.... and made it back to the top way in time for the train back to Charmonix... hehe... pretty well done I reckon.


So the whole cave is just ice, but of course a few ice sculptures have been made and lights have been inserted to light up the area. But if you actually look at the ice blocks, occasionally you will notice the odd insect that has been caught in the ice... who know, they might become fossils millions of years later...


Overrall i enjoyed the trip. I think that going to touristy countries like France, one just has to accept that you're going to have to share the countries with million of other people... and just have to deal with it.... oh well... After this trip, I definitely want to visit other parts of Switzerland now, like see Interlaken and the Matterhorn... all I need is time...