Sometimes, I need to go off on my own. I'm not sad. I'm not angry. I'm just recharging my batteries.

After thanking Yann for the wonderful hospitality for two days at his home, I decided to go for another scenic adventure, so I jumped on a random train up to the mountain. On the way up, I could see the whole Lake Geneva and the calm beauty truly amazed me. I arrived at the top at a place called Les Pleiades. It looked like a small village for skiing and was completely deserted. No one was getting off and I was reminded by the conductor that the train would start again in an hour. It was early November and it was starting to snow as I walked, tiny flakes of snow gently landing on my hair. For someone from a tropical island, the novelty of snow never wears thin. It was really beautiful and I almost went dancing (or slipping) on the train track with my heavy suitcase and backpack.. I was also feeling desperate for a toilet moment again, which is a strange physical reaction whenever excitement is mixed with the uncertainty of a trip.

I went into this small restaurant which was empty and only had two staff working. One of the men was very friendly and let me know that I could use their restroom. The whole atmosphere was immediately relaxing. After the toilet break, I sat down and wondered if I should order something for lunch. I saw the Swiss Fondue on the menu and I was very curious. The waiter did not speak much English but he was very friendly when greeting me and took the time to teach me the finer details of how to enjoy my first Swiss Fondue through his careful coaching. 

The Swiss Fondue looked a lot like the “hot pot” we have in Asia, but instead of broth, it was melted cheese. You dip the bread and vegetables in the hot melting cheese, and you could sprinkle pepper on them to add to the flavor. I loved seeing the cheese dripping from my bread when I lifted it away from the pot and it was certainly very delicious and comforting for my tummy. Although I was alone, I truly enjoyed the atmosphere and immersed myself in exploring the new food, with a dream backdrop of a snowy mountain top. 

It was quite an expensive and simple lunch at 30 Euros but it was worth every cent. With little time to spare from my remaining 30 minutes, I paid for the meal and got on the train to head back down. Then it was time to head off to my next destination which was Bern!

Stay tuned...there’s much more to come! 

In the next episode I’ll be sharing another heartwarming Couchsurfing experience in the capital city of Switzerland - Bern.

搭乘火车一定会听到的几句英语：

This train terminates here. 这是本列车的终点站。

All change, please. 这里是终点，请换车。

Please take all your luggage and personal belongings with you. 别忘记你的行李还有随身物品。

****本系列会将中英的版本分开录制，想要进行更深入的英语听力学习或训练，可以听伴随在中文版本的下一集。

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