Miles & More in Switzerland: The Beginning of Your Journey

We embark on a journey to 'live life,' not to 'Instagram,' not to 'Facebook,' not to 'show off our lives.' Therefore, let us follow our hearts, not others.

Each individual has different motivations for embarking on journeys. The events of October 13, 2016, served as a catalyst, multiplying the desire of the elder brother and the younger sister to travel to Switzerland. This desire had existed for a long time, but the project had been shelved. With only a Schengen visa and approximately three months of preparation time, the outcome was a sweet and lasting memory of happiness and satisfaction.

This trip took place in early November, as Switzerland was transitioning into winter. Let's see what Big Brother and Little Mouse encountered during their journey.

My first experience flying with Swiss Air was on a Boeing 777-300ER, a direct flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Zurich Airport (ZRH). The flight took 12 hours and 10 minutes, covering a distance of 5,622 miles. We departed at 1:05 PM and arrived in Zurich at 7:15 PM (Swiss time is 5 hours behind Thailand time).

Upon boarding the aircraft, passengers will be provided with a menu outlining the meals to be served during the flight. The menu is available in both English and Thai.

The food was served in waves, starting shortly after we sat down.

Get your taste buds ready with this.

Here's our lunch menu:
Appetizer (top left): Grilled chicken breast served with papaya and carrot salad
Main course (center): Rigatoni pasta with creamy tomato sauce and spinach
Dessert (top right): Pineapple and raisin crumble with vanilla mousse

This menu is for meat eaters. It includes stir-fried beef with garlic and black pepper, served with steamed rice and stir-fried Chinese kale.

Enjoy your meal while admiring the beautiful scenery outside the window.

Here's another sweet treat for you.

I don't remember how many hours passed after that, but the flight attendants began taking care of us again, offering delicious chicken sandwiches as snacks. With food being served throughout the long journey, I was completely full.

Hours before reaching our destination, Swiss Air delivered on its promise, serving the pre-announced menu: stir-fried noodles with mushrooms and vegetables, accompanied by a salad and seasonal fruits as a pre-landing snack. The meal was topped off with a wafer from Nestle, another Swiss product. Not only did it look good, but it was also delicious.

As the plane approached its destination, Swiss Air left a lasting impression on the passengers with a thoughtful gesture. Recognizing Switzerland's renowned chocolate, the airline presented each passenger with a small chocolate gift. This seemingly insignificant gesture demonstrated the airline's meticulous attention to detail, leaving a delightful and memorable experience for all.

We finally arrived in Switzerland. We did not need to apply for a visa for this trip, as the Schengen visa from our previous trip was still valid.

We successfully passed through Swiss immigration with ease. It's already past 10 pm, so let's hurry and get our luggage. We still have a long journey ahead to get to the city.

Let's go get our bags first.

Bag in hand, it's time for an adventure!

Passing through Duty Free, but not the time to be interested.

Let's find a way into the city first.

Purchase your train tickets at this machine.

Once you're on the train, find a seat as the journey to the city takes about an hour.

It's time to head into the city.

And then we arrived at Zurich HB. Let's find our way to the accommodation first.

Our first night's accommodation was within walking distance of the station. We arrived in the evening and it was still safe to walk. We booked through booking.com. The accommodation here has no reception. When booking, you will receive a booking number. Use that number to press the button on this machine to receive the key stored in the box. When you press the code, the key will fall into the slot below. When you return, drop it back into the slot above. It's very convenient, and you don't need to wait for someone to greet you if you arrive at an odd hour.

This is our first night's accommodation in Switzerland (this picture was taken in the morning, as it was too dark to take pictures when we arrived). Casa Heinrich Guesthouse

This is the key dispensing machine in question.

Upon entering the accommodation, you will find a small kitchen like this.

Descending the winding staircase to the basement, we encountered a dormitory equipped with clean and well-organized beds. At the far end, a bathroom provided all the necessary amenities.

Our first night in Switzerland was uneventful, just getting ourselves here. The adventure has just begun, and there is much more to come. Stay tuned for the long journey of tens of thousands of miles inspired by the big brother and the little mouse from now on. Please follow the next episode.

You can say hello to Piyai and Noolek at https://www.facebook.com/TravelWithPiyaiAndNoolek/.