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We embarked on an exciting journey to the world largest limestone ice caves located in Werfen – The Eisriesenwelt (German: “World of the Ice Giants”).

We met two friendly English old couple from Yorkshire. They were leaving the resort and they offered us to get into their cab to the train station. It was snowing in Schladming.

But during our way to Werfen, we missed our friend as he hopped onto a train first and before we could board the train, a train officer shouted at us and warned us that the train was leaving. Then we also realised our friend was in the wrong train. A kind man told us that the train would terminate at the next station and we could meet our friend by taking the another train too.

When the next train came, Jacky asked another train officer if it was the right train , but the officer simply ignored us when his colleague went up and talked to him! They completely ignored us! Feeling helpless, we boarded the train and we thought it was the right train until Jacky asked a conductor and was told that the next train was the right one instead. Immediately, we got out of the train, so scared that the train would just go before we could get down, just like our friend who failed to do that!

So, the train to Werfen was late. We went to the ice caves without our friend as we had too many doubts about the train timing, plus unhelpful train officers.

Finally, we reached Werfen. To get up to the ice caves, we took the shuttle bus to the next bus-stop. From there, we had to walk for another 20mins upslope in the cold to the cable car station. The cable car took us to somewhere near the ice caves entrance, and we had to walk for at least another 20mins upslope in the cold again, while gasping for breathe in the thin mountain air. However, it was a lovely walk in the snow. In fact, it was snowing.

Despite the problems that we encountered on our way to the giant ice caves, it was a well worth visit. We had a German-speaking guided tour in the ice caves; we were given an English description of the ice caves instead.

At the giant ice caves entrance.

The giant ice caves entrance that overlooks the mystical yet enchanting landscape of the Salzach valley.

We climbed a lot of steps in the gigantic ice caves and we had to be very watchful with our steps on the slippery ground. The ice caves are covered with bizarre and beautifully shaped thick ice-layers. The tour lasted around 75mins.

Very cold inside, my fingers were numb as I wasn’t wearing any gloves in the giant ice caves, and the skin cracked.

The mighty Hohensalzburg Fortress watching the giant caves.

At the town below the ice caves, we met our friend in a supermarket! Guess friends think alike in a foreign land! He told us he had also finished his ice caves tour. He was lucky as his cave guide spoke English and even allowed him to take photos in the ice caves since his tour group size was very small. When he told us he got a discounted ticket as a student, we were surprised as the ticket seller told us no discount for students! We met another unhelpful officer again…Gosh!

We went back and had to make another tiring walk up to our resort at the mountain again – 1 and half kilometres UPHILL! We were surprised to see an entire different view of our resort – the roofs were snow-capped! It must be snowing quite heavily when we were away in Werfen.

For dinner, I fried chicken fillets, boiled broccoli, warmed precooked curry and prepared mashed potatoes.

Hallstatt and the cuckoo-clock houses