In Melbourne again

Well, it has now been a week back in Melbourne, Australia. What can I say?

Firstly, flying international business class (Austrian Airlines) was phenomenal! worth every cent, something I would definitely recommend to do. The food was restaurant-worthy, the air hostess service exemplary, and the little touches (e.g. chair that massages) made the difference. Never felt so good coming off a 24 hour flight in my life.

Ok, I digress, back to Melbourne. Well it feels like I have never left! Firstly, it is summer, so I have revelled in the 30+ degree days (especially, since I have been on holiday); I have been slowly catching up with friends and have just been blown away by the food - unbelievably cheap and good; and can't comprehend how there are so many people in the city (I think I am a little overwhelmed after being in little Zurich for the last year).

Anyway, I am going out today with my camera so hopefully I will take some nice photos and put them on the Internet.

Bye, bye Switzerland ... for now

Well the 7-month journey is over.

Zurichsee; from Munsterbrucke (just outside where I lived)
tourist's view; uploaded by Dreamer7112.

I will miss:

• church bells on Saturday / Sunday; quite loud, mildly annoying (when hung over), and bizarrely, cheerful (or, at the very least ironically pleasing)
• cycling for 5 minutes and being outside Zurich and in the hills / alps of Switzerland; want a thrill? - ride 70km/hour down a Swiss mountain - big fun!
  
• smell of farms; my Mum was brought up on a Swiss farm - and when I visited Switzerland when I was a child I often visited both my grandparents and eldest Aunt's farms
• travelling; especially on trains to most of Europe!
  
• Swiss chocolate (stereotype - I know; but it really is good)
  
• the friends I have made here; in particular Josh, Ivan, Adrian, Nabs (from work); Yan Yan (my only Aussie mate); Jo, Dan (poms from Zurich); and Sibs, Martijn (my housemates!)
  
• the Swiss family; in particular Aunty Hedy and my cousin Marco; while I am a single child - Marco is the closest thing to a brother I have - the favour will be repaid if they ever make it to Australia!
  

I will not miss:

• ambiguity of pedestrian crossings; typical behaviour is for vehicles to accelerate whenever pedestrian is seen; this 'playing chicken' I prefer not to face when I am ambulating through Switzerland's cities
• UBS, Opfikon cafeteria food; while not awful - there were definitely some 'lowlights'; very similar to college food at University of Melbourne, except now you had to pay for it (and it is not cheap)
  
• all beef being ridiculously expensive and in general, Swiss food is pretty average (when compared to Australia)
  

And the question will I ever live OS again? definitely!