Superyacht Paradigm

Paradigm, a Benetti Classic Series Motor Yacht, announced its sale with a listing by Luxury Yacht Group earlier this week. Coinciding with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, this unique five stateroom, tri-deck yacht with rich interior décor certainly measures up to its name as a perfect example of the highly successful Benetti Classic. 

Constructed in 1999, this 35.052 m (115’) beauty is in spectacular condition. Having cruised the Mediterranean and Caribbean, she has continuously been maintained with numerous upgrades to ensure a state of art experience onboard. With regal design of the Benetti Classic Series, Paradigm rises to an elite status with the rare and distinctive details that are usually absent from a yacht this size. Paradigm’s accommodations, including a main deck owner’s suite, skylounge and deck, both VIP and guest staterooms for entertaining ten, and elegant dining areas, harmonize impeccably with the most decadent yachting itineraries around the world.

Paradigm has an asking price of 7,990,000 USD.

Switzerland trip - Day 2 - Visit a Clock Museum in Zurich - Many shapes, sizes and styles

After the end of the Zurich city tour (see here) we visited the Clock Museum at the centre of the city. It is interesting to note that the simple act of keeping time presents many different ways of timing it. Below are some of the photos of the various clocks kept in the museum.

A clock with a tortoise as the hour hand (above).

Sand clocks (above, and left of the picture).

Sundial with a small cannon lighted by the rays hitting the magnifying glass.

Various sand clocks.

A kinetic energy clock using the weights of the ball bearings to move (top).

Another kinetic clock. The whole clock slides down the ramp. Push it up to rewind.

A Steam clock.

The gears are all outside the clock.

An ancient mechanical clock.

The original Rolex Aquamarine wrist-watch.

Switzerland trip - Day 2 - Zurich City Tour - Friday afternoon but where are all the people?

After the chocolate factory tour (check out the previous posting on this), we drove back to Zurich and got into the city around 2:00 pm. Although Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, compared to Kuala Lumpur, it looks small. With a population of just 300,000 people and lack of tall buildings, it is a cute city.

There are till many old buildings interspersed with new buildings. It is also has the largest concentration of financial institutions in the world. Everywhere you look, there is a bank.

As we drove in into town, the first thing that struck me was the lack of traffic and people on the street. I can accept the fact that the temperature is sub-zero but it does not mean there should be no one on the street.

In the picture below, you can see how empty the street was on a Friday afternoon at 2:00 pm. Unbelievable.

The same.

Even at a supposedly important bridge.

The only conclusion is that everyone in Zurich has a desk job!

We arrived in a restaurant for lunch and finally we got to see people. As we eat our lunch, the streets remains empty. Below is a scene through a window of the restaurant.

The restaurant is quite sophisticated with modern fittings. Food was nuevo-cuisine. 

At least you can see people working at their desk! Note the coke bottles and other stuff on the window-sill. Cheap form of refrigeration.

Balding trees!

Took a picture of these fascinating trees. Repeated trimming of the branches has resulted in "bonsai"-like appearance. Very ghostly.

More coming on the Switzerland trip in the next posting!