East Eats West

Restored wooden tables

Picture: picture perfect cat on antique table.

Many tourists admire the knack for perfection in Switzerland. But sometimes we overdo it and especially houses are over-restored: they then lack patina and life. One carpenter in Zurich, Mr. Bachmann, has realized that and creates wooden tables recycled from old tables and doors. They are not restored to perfection and because of their flaws they ooze life and history. He has been restoring tables and chairs for over thirty years and he wants the customer to “feel” what kind of table he wants. Yes, Mr. Bachmann’s sales pitch is as un-commercial as it can get and he always seems to be open for a chat (watch out, you might have to lend a hand). And even if you do not want to buy a table, his shops is worth a visit (on the Marktgasse 4 in the Zurich Niederdorf).

You can contact Mr. Bachmann under 044 261 44 01 or via e-mail: alpha@boxdb.ch.

Panzerkinder

Picture: Howitzer moving on the Swiss army base in Biére.

If you really want to know how it is to be in the Swiss Army, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Qil_R6ZSY

PS: I was on the same army base, doing, well, similar things.

Asian fusion restaurant Nooba

 

Another trendy Asian fusion restaurant by Höschgasse Gastro called Nooba (at Kreuzplatz in Zurich). Like the interior, the food is not too exciting.

Swiss ice-hockey

I went recently to a Swiss ice-hockey match (ZSC who lost against Rapperswil Jona) in the refurbished “Hallenstadion” in Zurich. Here are some pics.

No WiFi at home...

I am currently offline at home. Please be patient and I shall post some more entries soon...

I want my MTV...

Picture: Maybe something like that?

A good friend of mine deliberately exposes himself to the newest gadgets in order to keep pace with technology. I reckon I should do the same and get finally ride of my old-fashioned and bulky tube TV. So I went into a TV shop and was stunned by the over 100 TVs on display. Therefore I need you to help me choose a new TV!

I watch mostly news and every now and then a movie. I want a sleek and slim model that offers good picture quality and is moderately priced. I reckon 32 inches is enough for me.

So what brand shall I look at? What model? LCD or plasma? And where do I get good prices? I am glad for any advice. Just leave a comment below.

Back from the Swiss Army

Picture: Sunrise on the army base in Biére close to the Jura mountains.

I did my first army training back in 1994 and I am now the oldest guy in my battery. Yuup, I am a army dinosaur. To be frank, the older I get the more annoying the service becomes. From a cold war setup society has become extremely individualistic and the willingness to submit oneself to discipline and a group has deteriorated. I wonder how many soldiers would actually show up in a case of war. My guess is less than 50 percent. The army runs out of funds, closes down bases constantly and it lacks enough professional instructors (over 400) as no one nowadays wants to have a career in the army.

The positive effect of being back from the army is that I value my private life again. I am tired but extremely content again. Whenever I serve in the army I live through ups and downs that I would not experience in private life. Like lying in the snow doing rifle practise in the middle of the winter. This certainly toughens you up.

For more pictures of my army service, click here: http://easteatswest.typepad.com/photos/swiss_army/index.html

Picture: Sleeping rough in the Swiss Army.

The world’s most complicated watch

Picture: The world's most complicated watch on display in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.

People unfamiliar with expensive mechanical Swiss watches might be wondering why one would want a watch called “complicated”? And should you then learn that the mark-up of most Swiss watches in any shop is easily 100 percent, you would question the sanity of a decision to buy a watch costing a couple of thousand Swiss Francs. Nevertheless are Swiss watch manufacturers experiencing a boom of a lifetime because they realized it is all about branding and heritage.

The most prestigious watch brand dating back over 150 years is Patek Philippe from Geneva. The brand not only to most expensive watch ever sold (1.5mio. dollars at an auction) but also the most complicated watch named 95. The watch features every imaginative function and is on display in the Patek Philippe Watch Museum in Geneva. Even though the museum functions as a brand-beacon it is memorable for its vast collection of watches and clocks dating back 500 years. The watches on display are works of art either in pure beauty or mechanical advancement. Among my favorite items is a singing-bird clock in the shape of a little pistol made for the Chinese market in the 19th century. The watch sports a tiny moving bird that pops out of the barrel and chants a little song. The mechanism of the watch is explained and left me truly baffled. And I felt like buying another complicated and expensive mechanical Swiss watch. Not a Patek Philippe though: they are just too small for my taste (and never mind the starting price of 30'000 Swiss Francs).

Picture: An absolutely stunning antique bird-watch in the shape of a pistol. It shoots out a little mechanical bird that sings and turns while playing a tune!

I am in the army again...

Picture: My army re-con eagle in the sunrise.

I already served over 600 days in the army and I will have to do another 100 days. Would I do it again? Hard to say but probably no. Nevertheless have I gained some interesting insights into the psyche of men in uniform.

First would I have never met men from such different backgrounds as in the army. I for example now have farmers from the countryside in my platoon who listen to Swiss folk music and do all sorts of manual labor with light speed.

I also endured temperatures of minus 27° Celsius and walked over 100 kilometres in one go.

And last but not least I am currently a fire command officer in the artillery sitting in an armored Humvee with laser guidance, GPS and a laptop. I direct artillery fire power via my laptop and wonder if a 14 years old computer wiz-kid would not be better suited for this job.

Anyhow, I still find the heavy drinking and smoking revolting; luckily one more week to go (this year).

Picture: Two Eagles patrolling in the frosty morning.

 

Click here for some more pictures from the Swiss Army: http://easteatswest.typepad.com/photos/swiss_army/index.html

A beautiful Sunday morning in the Sauna on the lake

Perfect peace and pure blissful happiness!