UEFA 025 - Dracula

On one weekend I cycle to the rear entrance to Leica, that is from Widnau. There was a train level crossing with barrier.

On other weekend I used to walk up the hills in front of Leica factory. It was a satisfying walk, as I found out now, what I used to wonder about, each time when I passed by the main road in front of the factory. It was indeed a small castle.

I came very close to the house that looks like Dracula’s castle and its vineyards. The trainees used to say that it was the house of Mr Henry Wild, the founder and owner of Wild Heerbrugg Ag. I was not able to confirm that during my walk, as I could not find the access to the house, and also I was worried if the owner would accuse me of trespassing or peeping.

During this training trip, there were 2 other technicians from Singapore who were also doing training at Leica Factory in Switzerland, same time as me. One of them was Dave from Leica factory in Teban GardenSingapore. Dave who came later to do binocular training, also stayed in Hotel Heerbruggerhof.

Together with Dave, I went again to Lindau. I became like his guide. We were amazed at this "giant chess competition" in Bregenz

The other was Ron, who was already there for four months doing training on microscopy instruments. Ron stayed in the Leica Apartment just next to the factory. It was a very quiet place out there.

I had a chance to visit it when visiting Ron. It was a nice apartment but too quiet at night. And it was frightening to walk in and out of the apartment from the main road. Perhaps that was the reason for the telephone bills of that apartment became very high. Mr Aerni used to make some unfavorable remarks about its telephone bill.

Dave, Ron and I were at different training places. Therefore, we only met after the training. We went out together on a couple of nights and weekends.

I remembered a night when Ron brought us for a raw oyster dinner at one Italian restaurant. Ron was slurping the raw oysters like scooping touw-huey. I also slurped 3 or four of them, but, frankly speaking, I did not really enjoy it. It was more for the sake of experimenting on new things. Dave was like me, brave to discover new things.

Dave was a very nice young guy. Before, coming for this training he did consulted me on the products that he was to be trained. It was the military binocular. You know..…Leica lenses are the best in the world. You must see thru one of the binocular if you ever have a chance.

I had been doing the repair and service of those binoculars, but, with new commitment in the motorized theodolites, it became almost impossible for me to cope.

438 words

Drafted on 07.04.2007

Edited on 03.05.2007 at 0034hrs

At Woodlands Avenue 5

UEFA 023 – St Moritz

On the first Saturday, I planned to go to St Moritz. I checked at the Heerbrugg train station and bought a ticket to and from St Moritz, which is valid for a few days. That means I can take my sweet time up to St Moritz. The fare system is such that you are free to stop anywhere along the way, stay overnight somewhere, and then continue the journey the next day.


I took the train from Heerbrugg southwards to Chur. I stopped for a while in Chur to look around and survey the Bus Terminal which was high above the train station.

From Chur, I need to change to another train to St Moritz. This was a special train that was designed to climb steeper rail tracks up along the mountain side of the Swiss Alps.

Along the way, the train meandered above fast flowing streams, which still had traces of snow on its sides, though it was already in the spring time of April. The breathtaking view of villages, bridges and mountains put me glued to the window. Of course the train did go through long tunnels in the depth of the Swiss Alps.

St Moritz was really enchantingly beautiful. I am unable to describe it.I will try to sent you the pictures separately, and suggest you take a look at the pictures yourselves.

I walked for about 1 km from St Moritz train station, went around the lake and reached to the foothills where there was still plenty of frozen snow. I managed to get a passerby to record my first encounter with the snow.

The sun was hot. Therefore, the snow was already melting, especially where they meet the water in the lake. I plunged my foot a few times in the melting snow. I realized later that, it could very dangerous to walk along melting snow; I could have plundered into a deep hole and became history.

With that realization, fear and worst still, I was all alone by myself in that dangerous area, I walked back to the train station. From far, I could see the beautiful view of one of the most famous winter resort town in Switzerland, St Moritz.

There were many other tourists. I managed to ask an Italian lady to take a few of my shots in St Moritz, before leaving for Heerbrugg.

=========TO BE CONTINUED=========

400 words

Drafted on 07.04.2007

Edited on 03.05.2007 at 0018hrs

At Woodlands Avenue 5