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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Swiss ‘Mountain Tinder' sparks high-altitude attraction
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Patrick found the message on the peak of Wandflue, left by Ms Rotzetter a week later and was charmed. BULLE, Switzerland - Ms Cathy and Mr Patrick relish describing how they found each other: through a message left on a Swiss mountaintop. 'It was just a beautiful way to meet,' said Ms Cathy Rotzetter during a recent hike in the Pre-Alps of the western Swiss canton of Fribourg. Sick of online dating sites, the 58-year-old said she was thrilled to discover an analogue alternative, with a Swiss twist: 'Mountain Tinder'. In October 2024, she clambered up to the Wandflue peak, at an altitude of 2,133m, and jotted down her information in the red notebook she found there. Ms Rotzetter recalled the message as she sat in a mountain pasture, her arm laced around Mr Patrick, with the Wandflue towering behind them. 'I wrote that I liked relaxed hikes, and also to have a drink afterwards,' she told AFP with a laugh. Mr Patrick, who is also 58 and who declined to give his surname, found the message a week later, and was charmed. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Israel to decide next steps in Gaza after ceasefire talks collapse Singapore 'I wish I can hear her sing again,' says boyfriend of Yishun fatal crash victim Singapore Singapore-made bot amble matchmakes strangers virtually - without profile photos Asia What's it like to deal with brutal US tariffs? Ask Malaysia Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy Singapore Conditional warning for ex-manager at Mendaki accused of trying to obtain laptop as bribe Started as a joke Mountain Tinder is the brain-child of Mr Thibaud Monney, a 29-year-old avid hiker who told AFP the whole thing started in 2023 as 'a joke'. During a climb up the Dent de Broc, overlooking the picturesque Lake of Gruyere, he realised he missed having someone to share the view with. On a whim, he jotted down his feelings in a leather-bound visitor's book. The books are traditionally found on peaks across Fribourg. 'I wrote that I had climbed up for the sunset, and next time there would be two of us,' he said. Mr Monney, who provides woodwork vocational training for disabled people, said that when he shared the story with colleagues they jokingly suggested he place dedicated 'Tinder' notebooks on mountaintops. 'It has worked well,' he said during a recent hike to the La Vudalla peak. 'A number of couples have been created,' he said, thumbing through the red notebook he had stashed alongside the traditional visitor's book in a metal letterbox mounted on a large wooden cross. In all, Mr Monney said he has placed notebooks on seven Fribourg peaks, swapping them out for new ones as they fill up. The idea has also spread, with people in other Swiss cantons and as far away as Argentina telling him they have started Mountain Tinder notebooks. Nature 'a good filter' Mr Monney said he felt 'proud' when hearing from couples who met through the notebooks. It is nice, he said, 'to make someone happy'. The notebook on La Vudalla is filling up fast. 'Passionate about mountains, skiing and climbing,' one message reads, while another is seeking someone who 'likes sports, metal and tattooed women'. 'The idea is very simple,' Mr Monney said. 'If you contact someone, that person has also reached the peak, and probably likes nature and mountains. You already have something in common.' Ms Rotzetter agreed.'The shared love of nature... is a good filter,' she said. Her first date with Mr Patrick last winter was a long scenic walk, ending with a picnic. Mr Rotzetter said she loved that Mr Patrick brought along food and drink for her, and noticed that he kept pace with her. 'I wasn't looking for someone I had to run after,' she said, adding that walking makes for a perfect first date and provides good insight into the other person's character. 'You can see if they adapt their pace... or if they charge ahead.' Mr Patrick added: 'It is very revealing.' Mountain 'algorithm' Mr Monney said he preferred his system to the online dating apps he stopped using a decade ago. 'I didn't like the idea of choosing a person based on a picture and swiping left or right,' he said. Others have congratulated him for liberating dating from algorithmic dictates. With Mountain Tinder, he said, 'you have to reach the peak. That's the only algorithm'. The peaks also naturally filter for age and physical ability. La Vudalla, at an altitude of 1,669m, is one of the easier peaks to reach, allowing older or less fit people to leave messages there. But Mr Monney said only the fittest will make the technically difficult climb up the 2,376m high Vanil de l'Ecri across the valley. He has himself found love, not by leaving messages but still thanks to his notebooks. 'She saw me on television' speaking about Mountain Tinder and 'got in touch', Mr Monney said of his partner. 'Now I am happy.' AFP
Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
LTA clears the air on cross-border e-hailing: Only licensed taxis, not Grab-style services
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) has clarified that it has no intention of fully liberalising cross-border ride-hailing services between Singapore and Malaysia, dispelling speculation raised in recent Malaysian media reports. The authority's statement on Aug 3, reported by Channel News Asia (CNA), follows discussions held between Singapore and Malaysian officials on Aug 1 regarding cross-border transport arrangements. While the possibility of enabling e-hailing platforms to operate across the Causeway was raised during the bilateral meeting, the LTA confirmed that no decision has been made. 'While we are open to ideas to improve the cross-border commuting experience, we would like to clarify that LTA has no plan to fully liberalise cross-border point-to-point transport via ride-hail services,' the authority said in its statement. Licensed taxis to remain the backbone of cross-border services Instead of extending services to ride-hailing giants like Grab, Singapore is focusing on improving existing cross-border taxi arrangements. Under the current scheme, up to 200 licensed taxis from each side are permitted to ferry passengers between Singapore and Johor Bahru. However, these taxis are only allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at one designated point in the other country, Ban San Street Terminal for Malaysian taxis and Larkin Sentral for Singapore taxis. LTA noted that the full quota of cross-border taxis is not currently being maximised, and it is encouraging full take-up to better meet commuter demand. In tandem, it is considering expanding the number of boarding and alighting points in both countries, as well as integrating ride-hailing platforms for booking these licensed taxi services. These steps, according to LTA, are aimed at enhancing convenience without upending the regulated framework that protects the interests of local taxi and private hire drivers. Johor's proposal for on-demand transport not yet agreed upon Reports in Malaysia, including The Malay Mail , suggested that Johor and Singapore were considering the launch of a cross-border e-hailing service. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi stated that such a service could provide more flexible transport options and help ease congestion, as quoted by CNA . However, the LTA made it clear that any changes to the cross-border point-to-point transport regime would require mutual agreement between both governments; the existing taxi scheme operates on a reciprocal basis, and no decision has been made with finality for now. Read related: Johor and Singapore explore cross-border e-hailing to ease congestion Open for future discussions Despite this stance, however, LTA's openness to using ride-hailing apps for licensed taxis and to revisiting this discussion shows a pragmatic middle ground: embracing technology without dismantling the structure of the existing scheme. In short, Grab-style cross-border rides remain off the table for now, but slow and measured changes to improve convenience are on the horizon. This would be possible as long as they fit within a regulated and reciprocal framework. Read also: Singapore to review Malaysia's request to start cross-border buses earlier
Independent Singapore
18 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Singaporeans travel the world — but why always the same places and never backpack?
SINGAPORE: If you've ever had a conversation with a fellow Singaporean about travel, in all likelihood, you've heard some familiar destination names such as Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, and London. Whether it's a quick retreat or a long-anticipated holiday, several Singaporeans tend to settle toward the same lineup of tourist spots. Why is that? Why can't they take a new direction and discover the lesser-known corners of the world? An inquisitive vacationer posed this question in a Reddit post that triggered an animated discussion: 'Why do Singaporeans always travel to the same places? Why don't more Singaporeans explore off-the-beaten-path destinations?' The original poster noted how even within popular countries, Singaporeans usually stick to the bigger capitals. For example, in Thailand, it's frequently Bangkok, Phuket, or Chiang Mai, notwithstanding the country's many other exciting but lesser-known destinations. The poster also shared his experiences backpacking across Southeast Asia and Europe, staying in inns and hotels, and meeting people from all walks of life from all over the world—except Singaporeans. 'I've stayed in about 20 hostels,' he wrote, 'but never once met a fellow Singaporean. Why don't more of us backpack?' See also Are voters from Blue states running away to Red states in droves? The post not only resounded with some but also rubbed the wrong way with others, instigating a torrent of responses that offered a deeper understanding of Singapore's travel psyche. Many Redditors joined in to protect the customary travel patterns. For many, it's basically about relaxation and well-being, not everyone views travel as a quest or an escapade to rough it out. 'I like my luxuries when I travel,' wrote one commenter. 'I love culture, arts and music, and I travel for architecture, concerts, and galleries. Backpacking is not for me—I'm not an extrovert and I don't enjoy meeting too many strangers.' Another clarified: 'When I travel, the last thing I want to do is scrimp. I want a family-friendly, relaxing holiday. I don't want to deal with complex planning or worrying about safety.' With a limited number of vacation days, most Singaporeans choose destinations that are easier to reach and where planning for the trip is not complicated. One of the most convincing refutations came from a Redditor who contended that daring Singaporeans do exist, just maybe not in inns and hotels. 'You just didn't meet them,' she wrote. 'I know Singaporeans who have travelled to Bhutan, Ulaanbaatar, Colorado to ride horses, road-tripped across the USA, explored South America, and wandered into small Himalayan towns. They're not full-time nomads. They're just everyday people.' See also No, Kesha does not deserve a Grammy Backpacking, with its dormitory cots and shared bathrooms, simply isn't everyone's cup of coffee. Many Singaporeans may have done it in their younger years—fresh from the gates of the university, not much budget, high on the desire to travel. But once maturity and careers kick in, so does the fondness for more relaxed choices. The absence of Singaporeans in backpacking hostels doesn't mean they're not exploring—it just means they're doing it differently. The debate eventually came down to a larger, deeper truth — there's no 'correct' way to travel. Whether one is staying in a five-star resort in Bali, on a solo road trip through Patagonia, or in a hostel in Budapest, people travel for various motives—discovery, relaxation, connection, escape, or even bragging rights, but that's for them to decide, their call to make. As one commenter put it frankly: 'Everyone is different, so I don't see why you should care how others travel.' So, do Singaporeans only visit the same places? Statistically, yes—most outbound trips are to nearby, well-trodden locations, but that doesn't mean Singaporeans don't explore. You just might not meet them in hostels or read about them in Instagram stories, but they're definitely out there, quietly plotting their paths. And maybe that's the most Singaporean thing of all: pragmatic, low-key, and doing things on their own terms.
