Took bus and arrived at Blausee (downhill en route to Frutigen) in less than 30 min. Entrance ticket fee on weekend is double that on normal days @CHF10. The small lake was less than 5 min behind the entrance. There were many more people around another turquoise lake on that Sunday afternoon.
We walked around the small lake and left after less than an hour to take next bus to Frutigen station, from where we returned to Spiez by train.
Had another nice Italian dinner (2 nights in a row) close to the lake rim of Thunersee, about 15 min on foot downhill from our apartment.
We had a wonderful day visiting two turquoise lakes surrounded by tall mountains on a fine day. Rested early to be ready for yet another day in the Bernese Alps.
Visited Oeschinensee and Blausee as a day trip from Spiez – one of the highlights in this trip.
Took a fairly crowded train to Kandersteg in 20 min but it turned out to be about 45 min. Due to unknown reasons (announcements were made in Swiss-German) the train stopped at Spiez station for about 15 min. From Kandersteg station, we walked towards the cable car station in about 20 min when it was still overcast.
Rothorn, Bluemlisalphorn, Oeschinenhorn
Mt Bire
cable car
Though it was on a Sunday, we lined up for a while at 10+ am to board the cable car, which took us up to nearly 1700m in around 10 min. Outside the top station, we were surrounded by plenty of summits in blue sky. In higher spirits, we followed an easy trail heading slowly downhill to Oeschinensee in 20 min.
Bire, Zallershorn
transparent
Though Oeschinensee is a lake at nearly 1600m, it is a gem surrounded by summits (Rothorn, Bluemlisalphorn, Oeschinenhorn, Frundenhorn) of well over 3200m. The lake was almost transparent and turquoise on a calm and sunny day. We walked along the lake rim before having lunch in one of the two lodges along the lake rim. Well, we did not expect food to be delicious @1600m but it was one of those few lunches with such a scenery that surely we would treasure for many years to come. Service was also friendly despite on a fairly busy Sunday.
turquoise lake
some fall foliage
lunch
On the way back to Kandersteg station after 1pm, there were still many people heading towards the lake. We were eager to catch the next bus to Blausee which only serves roughly once per hour.
Arrived at Spiez by the Golden Pass Line from Montreux in about 3 hours with 1 transfer at Zweisimmen. As it was on a Saturday, the train was full with plenty of passengers standing. Luckily we were on board 15 min before departure and had secured seats.
After departing from Montreux @395m, the train had to ascend and descend multiple times – reaching the highest point @1274m before descending into the Bernese Alps.
Views along the train ride
ascending from Montreux
changing trains at Zweissimmen
Spiez is a small town on the southern lake rim of Thunersee. We stopped at this station briefly in June 2018 while transferring trains to Zermatt and Luzern. This time we based here for 4 nights to visit the Bernese Alps.
We checked into an apartment annexed to a hotel. The concierge was nice to offer a free pick-up service from the Spiez station. Again, we were allowed to checkin early and were given two transport cards in the Thunersee area. The apartment was spacious with views of Mt Niesen.
apartment that we stayed
small garden
Niesen in the distance
vineyards + Niesen
After lunch we strolled downhill to Schloss Spiez and along the lake rim.
Visited Lavaux/Cully as a day trip from Montreux. Lucky it was a sunny day after a rainy day on the day before. Took a commuter train (heading to Lausanne) and alighted at Cully – a scenic village. Walked uphill in about 20 min passing by UNESCO Lavaux vineyards with gorgeous views of mountains surrounding Lake Geneva.
Lunch in Michelin recommended restaurant in Cully, overlooking Lake Geneva. Lucky to be seated w/o booking, while some were having business lunch. Delicious food and good service, also nicely decorated.
After lunch, we strolled around the town briefly before descending downhill and took train to Vevey.
Lakefront in Vevey, and the Fork
the fork
statue of Charlie Chaplin
Views of Dents du Midi from hotel room
from the moment we checked in Montreux it caught our attention in the distance. Captured some shots in early morning as well as before sunset. The summits were dusted with more snow after a long rainy day.
Visited Gruyeres uphill as a day trip from Montreux. A well preserved medieval village and our main goal was to visit the Chateau de Gruyeres, which has been turned into a museum after being bought back by the Canton of Fribourg.
main street
Chateaux de Gruyeres
The castle was first built in the 13th century and was inhabited by the counts of Gruyeres. In the mid-19th century it was acquired by the wealthy Bovy family, who established artists’ colony and invited guests to stay including impressionist painter Corot and pianist Liszt etc.
paintings by Corot and his students
piano played by Liszt
large kitchen
Courtyard
Beautiful landscape from the Courtyard
Lunch in Gruyeres
Views taken on the train – lush green, snowy mountain tops, Montreux and Lake Geneva
Wife and I visited Switzerland for the second time in 17 days from early to late October, focusing on Lake Geneva, the Bernese Alps, Ticino and fall foliage.
We relied entirely on efficient public transports and did not bother to drive, based on good experience on our previous trip in June 2018. We both had the Swiss Half fare card and obtained local transport cards from hotels/apartments so local commutes (by bus and train) were free. We also forwarded our luggage to the next SBB (train) station for collection 2+ days later with a small fee of only CHF6 in some locations.
While there were rainy days as expected, we were grateful to enjoy sunny days during our visits/hikes in Geneve, Chateau de Chillon, Lavaux, Oeschinensee, Blausee, Kleine Scheidegg/Wengen, Locarno.
We arrived at Zurich airport after an overnight flight direct from HKG. As it was about 15 min late, the connection to the domestic Swissair flight to Geneva was quite tight – security checks on carry-on bags plus boarding in another zone. We thought we would not make it though luckily when we arrived at the gate boarding had just commenced.
The domestic flight departed on time and the flight was brief in 1 hour. We were seated on the left and caught sight of the distant and snowy Swiss Alps floating in a sea of clouds not long after sunrise at around 8 am.
prior to landing in Geneve
Arrived at our serviced apartment in the old town by bus (free tickets obtained in baggage collection) before 10 am. Luckily a room was available and we were allowed to check-in early. The apartment was spacious at 42 sqm and properly furnished as in a 4/5-star hotel – my wife was happy (with my choice as usual 😀 )
living room
a large double bed
view from room
Strolled around the lake rim and the English garden – less than 5 min from our apartment on foot. Had lunch in an Italian restaurant and it was almost full – many were closed on Sunday. Afterwards, we dropped by the Palais de Nations – also closed, and strolled in the old town before dinner.
#tourdeille
#jetdeaugeneve
#horlogefleurie
#palaisdenations #brokenchair #genevaoldtown
#palaisdenations
#brokenchair
On the next day, took the yellow boat (covered by the local transport card) to cross the lake, dropped by the Russian Orthodox Church. Unfortunately, it was closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Also took some shots of the Jet d’Eau in rainbow colours – at the bottom and the apex.
Returned to Sapporo for 2 nights before flying back home. While koyo won’t be in Sapporo until mid to late Oct, it was more for relaxation and to enjoy French dinner course served in a 3-star Michelin restaurant.
Quickly dashed to our fav sushi restaurant in Sapporo for lunch after dropping our luggage in JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo.
Madai, Hokigai, Uni
botan-ebi, anago, taraba-kani
zuwani-kani, ika
butter grilled scallop
grilled Hon-maguro fish jaw
Dinner in fav izakaya. No sightseeing as it had been raining quite heavily in Sapporo.
Akeshi oysters
grilled scallops
grilled Tokachi beef
grilled taraba-kani
grilled kinki, komai
It was a sunny day on the next morning after the passage of another temperate cyclone. Went to Otaru again for easy strolls in its canal and glass shops.
Otaru canal
Glass shop from Taisho-era
Seafood-don lunch in Sankaku market
scallop+uni+kani-don
French dinner course “Terroir” in Michelin 3-star restaurant – delicious food and superb service !!
starter – onion tart
corn soup
shiitake tempura
salad of 50 types of vege !
grilled botan-ebi
hairy-crab risotto
milk sorbet paired with chilled pear wine
Tokachi beef with turnip
goat cheese and herbs
dessert
Dropped by the former Hokkaido Government office Building again and Odori Park before departure.
That is the end of our 1-week koyo trip in Hokkaido.
On the next morning, headed up to Ginsendai after checking out from the Sounkyo onsen hotel. The temporary shuttle bus had much less passengers and after 35 min it arrived at the trailhead at over 1500m.
It was a cloudy day while sunlight pierced through clouds from time to time. The trail leading up to Akadake was less muddy in the beginning though after 15 min it was in snow and puddles as in Kogen onsen. Further up the trail was narrower and completely covered in some form of hardened snow. Arrived at a viewing point where koyo could be viewed (unblocked by trees). Koyo had clearly past its peak in pale red as expected due to snow and higher elevations. Stayed for about 10 min and returned.
registration mandatory for hikers
Tenninkyo / Hagaromo Falls (天人峡/羽衣の滝)
Returned to Sounkyo for brief lunch before noon. Drove to Tenninkyo about 100km away (3rd visit). Arrived at around 2pm+ and followed a flat trail of about 600m to Hagoromo falls. That trail had been closed for a few years due to landslides and was reopened recently.
In our 2nd visit 10 years ago the observation deck was at a higher and closer point where the Y-shaped falls could be seen in full. Sadly, the onsen hotel we stayed in 2004 had been closed.
Hagoromo fall
the other fall partially obscured by trees
forested path
pillared rocks
While on the way to our onsen hotel in Furano, dropped by Biei before sunset for Daisetuszan, Mt Tokachi range on the distant horizon, Family trees and Ken & Mary tree.
Daisetsuzan
Mt Tokachi range
Family trees – close up
Family trees
Ken & Mary Tree
New Prince Furano Hotel – 3rd stay and sumptuous western dinner course.
grilled abalone
lobster bisque
scallop and rockfish
Beef fillet and venison
berries’ dessert
Returned car in Furano station on the next morning and took Chuo express bus back to Sapporo on another rainy day.
Next we headed further up to Midori-numa (緑沼), another gorgeous koyo spot. As it was one of the few spots with wooden benches and where eating was permitted, it was full of hikers at nearly noon time.
Did not rest and continue uphill to Ezo-numa (エゾ沼). Koyo was less impressive than in our 1st visit in 2004.
Ezo-numa
Next was Shikibu-numa (式部沼) which was probably the most gorgeous pond of the day.
Arrived at Daigaku-numa (大学沼) whose resting area was entirely covered in snow and puddles. Took a brief rest and quickly consumed an onigiri where eating was also permitted.
Daigaku-numa
Spoke to park patrols on-duty and attempted further uphill to Kogen-numa but had to give up. That trail had become very slippery due to snow and mud all submerged beneath mountain streams. By then it was past 1pm, chilly at probably 5-6C and many hikers had returned. It was at the same location that wife and I had reached in 2004.
Upon descent took some quick snaps on some swamps such as Kamo-numa, Basho-numa etc.
above Shikibu-numa
near Kamo-numa
Basho-numa
Finally returned to the trailhead at almost 3:30pm. Took the last shuttle bus (seated) back to the temporary parking lot. Drove back to the onsen hotel at around 5pm – exhausted though grateful.
** Lessons learned
Apart from proper mountain hiking gears including waterproof hiking shoes and trekking poles, renting waterproof plastic boots up to shin (on spot) might be a better solution to trails strewn with muddy puddles, mountain streams and possibly snow.
