Ages ago, the very sensuos Sridervi
(Bollywood actress), crooned to a melodious song, 'Tere mere honton
pe' in the film 'Chandini'. I didnt like the film, mainly because I
was too young to understand what was going on there. As a kid, I
watched the song and all I took from it was the image of Sridevi in a
bright yellow Saree and the breathtaking backdrop of
Switzerland. Of course, I didnt realize then, that this image, well,
not so much of Sridevi but the lush green locale in the song would go
on to become a life-long fascination with Switzerland.
The beautiful landscape with
snow-covered peaks, the boistrous colours of the flowers, the crystal
clear rivers and lakes, the clean roads, the beautiful trains and of
course, the much talked about 'Swiss perfection', makes this country
a very popular tourist destination.
For
most Indians, if not all, the very mention of Switzerland makes us feel like hopeless romantics. It is synonymous with romance (not necessarily
love!) or the idea of 'falling' in love. Especially so, for those who
grew up watching the bubbly 'Simran' being swept off her feet by the debonair 'Raj' in the movie that epitomizes romance (strictly
personal view!).
'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'(DDLJ), may not be the greatest movie ever made, but it certainly created a notion of what romance is or should be all about. The very tag-line of this film, 'come fall in love', transports the audience into a world of love and laughter, songs and soul-mates....A world where it is OK to be vulnerable and clichéd though this may sound, love trumps all odds.
No, this blog is not an homage to DDLJ, which brings me back to the Swiss connection with romance and Indians. Switzerland has been the hotspot and
the 'it' location for most of the romantic hindi songs for a long
time now and for obvious reasons. But it was DDLJ that made falling in love more spectacular if it happened on a Euro rail trip, especially in this beautiful Valley.
Ever since I watched it, I too wanted to meet someone special, fall in love and burst into song in the Alpine bliss. Well, I did meet someone, fall in love, but the 'Alpine bliss' part had to wait.
It happened last month, the Genie was out of the bottle and my wish was granted. It was time to fly to the dainty land where birds sing and the flowers croon. By now this particular blog has probably given you an idea about what a realistic person I am...I mean who amongst us hasn't had a childhood obsession to spend a fortune and run off to a fantasy land. Very real and acceptable. Right? I thought so!
In consistence with my very very realistic expectations from this trip was one very small and hardly worth mentioning request to my hubby dearest...I told him, all I wanted from this trip was 'nothing'...'nothing but perfection'! Please dont tell me it was too much to ask! For the life of me I dont know why but he seemed very tensed from then on. Et voila! all the reservations were in First class and the Hotels there had a spectacular view!
Switzerland I did go and saw the most gorgeous mountain peaks and the pristine lakes, travelled in the most scenic trains and enjoyed the splendid cable car rides, soaked in the beauty of the serene villages and the spectacular valleys, kissed a thousand robust flowers and had fun with the flaky snow. Gosh! I really have seen it all!
From the lovely Lucern to the top of Titlis, the interesting Interlaken and the bustling Zurich, the quaint Zermatt and the the quiet St.Moritz, this place was a continuous panoramic shot, painted by 'the most talented Hand of all'.
So what if I didnt meet Raj 'there' and fall in love 'there'.... My Raj was with me and what's more and this is very important, he paid for the trip and more...
I guess its safe to say, I had it better than Simran all the while.
I guess its safe to say, I had it better than Simran all the while.
This trip, apart from fulfilling my long-lasting wish to visit the Valley, taught me a great lesson in life and I hope hubby dearest is reading this, that a magic trip is just a 'request' away!
---Urooj fathima
