"Family Trip Part 2: Dad joins the photo! Switzerland with Matterhorn view, Jungfrau peak, and Grindewald hike."

Please follow us on Facebook.com/NotAloneDad.

PAGE takes his family on a trip #Notalonedad

Hello everyone, I'm back with a follow-up to my first post where I shared a story about a father taking his wife and children on a trip and taking family photos. However, the post ended up focusing more on his complaints and shopping experiences. Despite this, I received feedback that the post was "exposed" on the pantip.com Facebook page. This was quite a phenomenon for someone who doesn't write much like me. 555

After that, I saw a message in my Pantip inbox. I clicked on it and saw that I had been awarded a Pantip Pick (which I didn't even know existed!). I also received a commemorative keychain. I was so excited that I almost immediately started working on the next post. However, I had a lot of work to do, so it ended up taking me over a month to finish the post.

An envelope arrived from Pantip.

I'm not sure what this is called, but it has a PantipPick badge across its chest and a mischievous look on its face.

Despite the confusion surrounding the concept of "pantip pick," the positive response to my writing has encouraged me to create a page dedicated to sharing tips on traveling with young children. Within a day of creating the page, I have gained nearly 500 followers, primarily consisting of friends who I invited through Facebook after sharing my pantip post and promoting the page.

Let's get down to business. The second trip has Switzerland as its destination, a beautiful city that everyone dreams of.

The primary motivation for this trip to Switzerland was to attend a conference in Zurich. Initially, I hesitated due to the anticipated cost. However, upon discovering EasyJet flights from Newcastle to Geneva for £20 per person, I decided to book without further deliberation. The cost for our child's ticket was surprisingly higher at £22. We opted to pay for an additional checked bag, which surprisingly only allowed for one bag for the three of us. As a minimalist family, we primarily focused on packing essentials for our child, while my wife and I squeezed our belongings into the single bag.

There is no text to translate in the provided input. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.

Last April, when our son was 10 months old, we took a trip. He was as adorable as ever (and I was just as smitten). This time, I'll try to add some substance to my writing, or else people will think I'm just rambling (my wife is the one who says that, haha). Of course, packing was essential before our flight. And just as important was packing for our son. As you know, carry-on items for babies must comply with airline (or airport) regulations. So, when I (actually, my wife) packed for our 10-month-old, we had to carefully decide what to bring on board and what to check in. For this 3-hour flight, we didn't need much. We mainly focused on preparing...

1. A couple of pouches of pre-made baby food, specifically Ella's Kitchen, which offers a wide variety of flavors. However, I must say that the quality of pre-packaged baby food in Thailand (brands available upon request) is not on par with those in England. The consistency is quite watery, and it seems to lack the necessary texture for proper infant feeding. (Personal opinion)

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

Please provide the text you want me to translate.

2. When boarding the plane, consider your child's boredom. Pack one or two small, quiet toys to avoid disturbing others. For example, I choose small nesting toys that make a soft rattling sound when shaken.

3. Another essential item is a pacifier. During takeoff and landing, young children may not be able to communicate when their ears are blocked. In this case, a pacifier can be helpful. Alternatively, a water bottle or milk bottle can also be used.

Diapers and baby wipes are essential items, especially for long-haul flights. While short flights may not require extensive preparation, transcontinental flights necessitate anticipating unexpected situations. I recall a flight from England to Thailand when my child was experiencing a growth spurt and had nearly ten bowel movements. We almost ran out of diapers, causing significant anxiety. Fortunately, the last diaper held out until we reached Thailand.

5. Essential Milk Supply

For me, packing milk was a simple task because my son was born underweight. The doctor recommended supplementing with formula alongside breast milk, as breast milk lacked certain vitamins like K or B (if I recall correctly). This meant my son was accustomed to both breast milk and formula. Therefore, when traveling, I would prepare formula in double-layered ziplock bags, just in case the first layer broke. I would also estimate the amount of water needed. However, when he was very young, I would also bring pre-made formula of the same brand he was used to.

Pack a can of powdered milk in your suitcase.

Ready-to-drink bottled milk

Milk is a crucial aspect of a toddler's diet. Switching to a different brand can cause discomfort and lead to diarrhea, potentially ruining your trip. To avoid this, I always pack my toddler's usual milk formula in a large container and check it in my luggage. (I plan to share a detailed guide on packing and essential items for toddlers in a future post.)

For mothers who are breastfeeding, it is recommended to prepare an appropriate amount of breast milk, as the amount of breast milk varies from person to person and cannot be accurately predicted.

6. Pack a sweater for your child, as the temperature on the plane can be cooler than usual. Ensure your child's comfort and sleep so they are ready to explore upon arrival. However, avoid overdressing, as this may restrict their movement and cause discomfort.

The family trip continued with a few informative stops, followed by the usual family photos. This trip was different in one way: I was starting to get more comfortable using the camera, so I took pictures throughout the journey. At first, we went to the airport and waited to board the plane. This flight was very comfortable because it was not crowded, so we could sit anywhere we wanted. I took some pictures on the plane to help my child relax (or so I thought).

Some people ask me if my baby is fussy on flights. I can confidently say "no." My baby first flew at 2 months old, from England to Thailand, and then again at 4 months old, from England to Thailand. She is now accustomed to airplanes. When other children cry and fuss, she simply looks at them and wonders why they are crying.

On one occasion, while flying back to Thailand when I was one year old, it was evident that the person sitting next to me was visibly annoyed at the prospect of being seated next to a young child. However, upon landing, they turned to my parents and remarked how impressed they were that I hadn't cried once during the flight. My parents were understandably proud.

Do not worry about taking young children on flights. I have done it myself (after consulting with a midwife in England before flying, who said it was perfectly safe and there was no need to worry). (I will tell you more about my experience of taking my two-week-old baby on a trip another time, and I may have some photos from my phone to share.)

There is no text to translate in the provided input. Please provide the text you want me to translate.

Look, he's just sitting there, yawning and not paying attention to anyone.

After a three-hour flight, I arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, at approximately 10:00 AM.

Following the first day's plan, after picking up the car, I immediately drove to Tasch to go up to Zermatt. I took care of the car rental and then drove off. I chose to drive instead of taking the train, mainly because I have a young child. I try to avoid restricting my child's time as much as possible. If he gets tired from sightseeing, I want to let him rest. I don't want to have to rush him to catch a train in the morning. As a parent, I know how stressful that can be.

After driving for a while, I must say "WOW" (although not as WOW as Iceland, which was an amazing first impression). Switzerland is a beautiful country and remains my number one travel destination (although my girlfriend says it's only number two because she loves Oia, Greece the most). Along the way, there was Lake Geneva, which I drove along, and then I stopped at a spot I can't remember the name of. All I know is that it was truly beautiful, and I thought I would stop by again on the way back (but ended up taking a different route T_T).

To capture a stunning family photo, I instructed my wife to move closer to the edge. However, being the head of the household, she refused to follow the orders of her subordinate (claiming it was too dangerous and she might fall into the water). As a result, the photo ended up with a tree in the background. Despite this, the image serves as a reminder of the arguments and discussions we had before finally capturing the shot. We bickered back and forth, as any married couple does. After all, "If you don't argue with your wife, who else will you argue with?"

After browsing the shops, we continued our journey for about 3 hours. We arrived at the train station to go up to Zermatt village. We had some free time, so we took a family photo. However, my son, Nia, looked bored. He had to sit in the stroller and refused to look at the camera because he was watching another group of Thai people who were having fun taking pictures of pachinko. But when Nia got out of the stroller and onto the train, he saw the view and was very excited.

I want to eat my mother's cooking.

A Thai tourist taking a selfie with a train.

He got out of the wheelchair and ate to his heart's content, feeling happy all of a sudden.

Enjoy the view outside.

Upon disembarking from the train, I headed straight to the hotel I had booked. However, upon arrival, I was informed that the hotel was fully booked and was directed to a sister hotel within the same chain. While initially annoyed, the city's beauty persuaded me to comply. The hotel arranged for transportation in a small, tin-can-like vehicle, providing a unique and memorable experience. Had I not documented it on Pantip, I would have forgotten about this ride.

Upon arrival, we checked in at our accommodation. Our daughter fell asleep soundly in her stroller, so we went for a walk and took photos of my wife around the city. However, since our daughter was asleep, I was too lazy to set up a tripod for a family photo, so I only took photos of my wife. My wife has been saying that ever since we had our daughter, I haven't paid any attention to her (haha). If you're interested in seeing the atmosphere of Zermatt, please refer to Comment 4.

During my trip, I coincidentally bumped into a high school friend who was checking in at Zermatt on the same day (what a small world!). He was on his honeymoon with his new wife, so we decided to meet up for dinner and plan to see the Matterhorn together the next day. My son is adaptable and doesn't fuss, probably because we travel frequently and he's used to meeting new people and interacting with them. After dinner on the first day, we relaxed and prepared for a busy day ahead.

On the second day, we woke up to pleasant weather. After feeding our child and taking a few photos, we set off to meet our friends and continue our journey.

The hotel room they changed us to is conveniently located near the train station. It's a Best Western Butterfly, I believe. Thank goodness! The first room was a long walk away, uphill, and required us to lift the stroller. This new location is right across from the train station, with easy access to flat paths. We met up with our friends outside and then boarded the train together. During the train ride, little Nia was relaxed, drinking her milk and comfortably sitting on my friend's lap.

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

Please provide the text you want me to translate.

Taking the train to the top of Gornergrat, the vantage point for the iconic Matterhorn, I had one thought in my mind: "Family photos!" I was ready to fire away with the remote shutter. But then, a problem arose. My well-intentioned friend offered to help with the shutter. The issue was that my friend didn't know how to take photos, and when I set up the camera, I used manual focus. As a result, my friend didn't realize they weren't standing in the right position and kept snapping away, blurring every shot. On the train ride down, I opened the camera to find that our faces were all blurry, while the photos I had taken of them were perfectly sharp. I had to bid farewell to my friend and explore the town while I took the train back up to retake the photos, using my usual method: setting up the camera myself, aiming, and pressing the shutter with my own remote.

My friend took the picture, don't worry, it's blurry in all 5 photos. 555

However, despite the clarity of the self-taken photos, there was one drawback: our daughter's extremely sullen expression. She had to wear a snowsuit, which restricted her movement, causing her to pout like an old mackerel. 5555. Every time I think about it, I can't help but laugh. (Apologies if there are too many photos with the Matterhorn.)

The family's signature finishing move, a double cheek pinch on the chubby cheeks of their child.

Another post for the day.

After a while, Nia closed her eyes and fell asleep.

After resting until Nia woke up again, we took a picture with the Gornegrat sign.

For those planning to visit snowy areas with children or elderly companions, I highly recommend investing in snowshoe cleats (also known as crampons or spikes). During my trip to Iceland, I encountered icy and slippery terrain while hiking, which prompted me to purchase these cleats to prevent falls. This time around, I did my research and decided to try them out again. The results were remarkable! The cleats provided excellent traction and stability, significantly enhancing my confidence while walking. In contrast, my friend who wore Skechers shoes experienced multiple slips and falls, resulting in a bruised tailbone. As you can see in the image above, both my shoes and my partner's shoes are equipped with cleats.

After capturing the desired photo with Mount Choco, the trip felt complete, similar to capturing the Northern Lights on my Iceland trip. I relaxed and continued taking photos with joy, not realizing that the next mountain I climbed held even more stunning views waiting to be discovered.

Translation:

There is no text to translate in the provided input. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.

Translation:

A small collection of photos taken before leaving Tasch and during our time in Interlaken.

Beaming smile, no need for a snow suit.

Strolling past the renowned Laderach chocolate shop, a ubiquitous sight in Switzerland.

Photo taken in front of the Gornergrat train station

Board the train from Tasch to continue the journey to Interlaken.

The charming town of Interlaken

After that, we checked into our accommodation in Lauterbrunnen. We stayed at a small hostel with a pub downstairs. The room was tiny, but the view from the window was of a waterfall, and the sound of the waterfall was constant. Even though there was a pub downstairs, my wife said it was the best night's sleep she'd had since we arrived.

Waking up early, I went out early in the morning. I took the cable car up with the special privilege of being a mother with a small child. I got to sit and wait before anyone else. At first, when I saw the weather conditions, I remember feeling very disappointed. I thought to myself, "I paid so much money, but I might not be able to see the view because of the rain, clouds, and fog that are blocking everything. I can't see the top or any of the scenery." To make matters worse, a group of Chinese tourists got on the same cable car. As we were getting on and off, changing cable cars, they didn't care about the mother and child and bumped into my boyfriend, knocking him off his feet.

Translation:

There is no text to translate in the provided input. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.

Privileges of new mothers

The atmosphere around was filled with a sense of despair as the rain poured relentlessly.

A Chinese tour group was involved in a collision with a fan, causing the fan to be thrown off balance.

Upon reaching the top, we did not sit at the 007 restaurant because we thought the view was not good, but we still wanted to take some cool pictures of ourselves eating. After about an hour, thank God! The sky began to clear, and we started to see the mountains. Then, the Jungfrau peak appeared along with its two siblings. I remember being very excited and thinking it was beautiful. However, from that spot, there were not many good angles to take pictures with the mountains. We were a little disappointed, but we still had fun taking pictures (as you can see from the photos, it was quite chaotic).

After finishing our meal, we took our children for a walk around the area to take some photos. My son saw the face of James Bond on a nearby sign and refused to look at the camera. He was too busy wondering who this person was and what he was doing there. The photos turned out as if our family had four members instead of three.

Sky-high restaurant view

We, 3-4 people, took a photo with James.

After taking photos, we continued to ride the cable car because the restaurant owner told us there was another photo spot. When we reached the viewpoint, we were even more impressed. The view was breathtaking, and the warm sunlight made us forget the cold. We took family photos again, and after a while, our child fell asleep. We sat there, basking in the sun and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

First picture with the 3 brothers Jungfrau Eiger Monch before.

Upon waking up, Ponia was immediately brought in for a photo shoot.

However, I would like to remind parents who are planning to take their children abroad that even though the weather may be cool, try not to let your children be exposed to the sun for too long when it is sunny. My son fell asleep in the sun for a short while, and it damaged his skin. When he came down from the mountain the next day, I saw that he had "freckles" on his forehead. I think the reason is that we were on the mountain, close to the sun, and we didn't realize how hot it really was. T_T Therefore, parents, don't forget to bring sunscreen for children with you at all times.

After disembarking from the cable car, we opted to descend at Grindewald village, which was accessible by foot. Our initial expectation was that there wouldn't be much to see, but to our surprise, the scenery was breathtaking. It was so stunning that we couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!" for the third time. (This is why Switzerland has become my favorite country.) As we made our way down the mountain, we were so captivated by the panoramic views that we hardly took any family photos. In retrospect, we deeply regret not capturing more of those precious moments.

The trail started off beautifully, but halfway through, we encountered houses where people kept horses and sheep. Some houses had a strong natural smell. I pushed my son past the horse stables, intending to let him see the horses up close. But before we could get there, he smelled something bad and started crying. It was hilarious! I still remember it to this day.

After a day of rest, we continued our journey to visit the cities of Lucerne and Zurich. Our time in these two cities was limited, as I don't usually enjoy city tours. We stopped in Lucerne to see the famous Lion Monument, just to capture a photo as proof of our visit.

After a leisurely stroll, I drove out of town to attend a seminar. I'll end my trip here.

Translation:

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

Please provide the text you want me to translate.

We then stopped in Zurich, a charming city with a colorful pedestrian street lined with attractive buildings.

Translation:

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

On the return trip from the seminar and Geneva.

Short Summary for Me:

The Switzerland trip was not particularly exciting or thrilling. It was more of a relaxed and leisurely experience. For those with young children, teenagers, or adults, a trip to Switzerland is a surefire way to create lasting memories. The stunning scenery and charming towns offer something for everyone.

The primary goal of this trip for everyone was undoubtedly to see the renowned Matterhorn and conquer its highest peak. My goals were no different from others; capturing a family photo with my wife and children against the backdrop of the Matterhorn was my main objective. Everything else that came with it was a "bonus" that exceeded expectations. Whether it was the breathtaking views from Schiltorn or the descent through the charming villages, I would love to return with my family. It's no wonder why Switzerland receives so much praise.

Translation:

There is no text to translate in the provided input. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.

Translation:

This review aims to provide additional information (albeit minimal) that may be helpful for those considering traveling with young children. It seeks to address common fears and concerns associated with taking children outside the home, encouraging a shift in perspective and promoting a sense of confidence in venturing out. The author emphasizes that certain situations may not be as dangerous as initially perceived (personal opinion).

Or let the mothers use the post and tag their husbands to "force" them to go out together. 555 Don't leave me and the baby alone, like I saw many mothers or women tag their fathers or boyfriends in my page's Facebook post. 555

Some may argue that children are too young to understand, and that such trips are merely a form of self-indulgence for parents. While I agree that there is no right or wrong answer, it is undeniable that even if children are unaware, the "wife" is certainly aware and overjoyed, as the saying goes, "Happy Wife, Happy Life." Ultimately, I encourage families to prioritize happiness and embark on family trips to create lasting memories.

Translation:

For those interested, please like and follow our page at www.facebook.com/notalonedad or #travelwithfamily.

I still have many travel photos that I haven't reviewed yet, including France, Greece, Germany, Austria, England, and of course, Thailand.

The serene atmosphere of Zermatt village, captured during a leisurely stroll with my wife.

View Images

#zermatt #matterhorn #travel #family travel #switzerland #climbing

พาลูกเมียเที่ยว

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 7:24 PM

Comments