Splendid Greece

I am still away from home on my 3-week holidays to London, Paris and Edinburgh. Please do read my previous posts on Greece.

Here are the links:-

1. Athens – The Homeland of the Gods

• Acropolis
• Ancient Agora
• National Archaeological Museum
• Exposé at the Parliament Building
• Neoclassical Trilogy
• The Walking Tour
• The Graffiti
• The Central Market
• Panoramic View

2. The White Dream in Mykonos

• Whitewashed Cube Houses
• Stairways to Heaven
• Barricades in Paradise
• Sea Breeze
• Wind Riders
• With a Little Bit of Red
• Roaming the Streets
• The Holy Ground
• When the Sun is Going Down
• I've Been to Paradise

3. Santorini – Almost Heaven

• Roaming Around the Streets of Fira
• Gazing at the Sea in Fira
• The Southern Crosses in Fira
• The Golden Hour at Fira
• Fira Sunset and After Dark
• Strolling the Streets in Oia
• The Cliffs and the Sea in Oia
• The Domes and the Bells in Oia
• The Barriers in Oia
• The Sunset at Oia
• The Volcano at Nea Kameni
• The Black-sand Beach of Kamari
• Ancient Thira

4. Miscellaneous

• Piraeus – Tinos – Mykonos
• Delos – The Open Air Museum on an Island
• From Mykonos to Thira
• Nuts about Kebab
• Patras

Patras

You may wonder what's Patras, and I can understand that. Before I went there, I've never heard of it as well. It's just a city in the western part of Greece which is the gateway to Greece for the ferries coming from Italy. That's all about Patras, nothing touristy.

Why did I eneded up there? Well, I was there to perform my official duty. That's how I acquired the sponsored air tickets and a few nights stay in Patras and Athens. Apart from the Rion-Antirion cable-ctayed bridge, I can't think of anything else, except the excursions to Delphi and Olympia which I did not go because of the conference.

Although I did not do much of sight-seeing in Patras, I enjoyed the time in the conference discussing on the area of my research interest. The most memorable thing has got to be bumping into my Sifu from the National University of Singapore while I was pursuing my Ph.D. some more than 10 years ago. Besides the discussions on serious topics, we had a great time during the conference dinners. One of the dinners was held at a restaurant on top a a hill overlooking the sea where we had our food while watching the sunset.

It was quite a memorable stay in Patras because I bumped into many Korean and Japanese professors whom I met in conferences elsewhere. I had many great chats too with some Taiwanese engineers who work with the transportation department.

If you would like to read more of my travelogues on Greece, here are the links:-

1. Athens – The Homeland of the Gods

• Acropolis
• Ancient Agora
• National Archaeological Museum
• Exposé at the Parliament Building
• Neoclassical Trilogy
• The Walking Tour
• The Graffiti
• The Central Market
• Panoramic View

2. The White Dream in Mykonos

• Whitewashed Cube Houses
• Stairways to Heaven
• Barricades in Paradise
• Sea Breeze
• Wind Riders
• With a Little Bit of Red
• Roaming the Streets
• The Holy Ground
• When the Sun is Going Down
• I've Been to Paradise

3. Santorini – Almost Heaven

• Roaming Around the Streets of Fira
• Gazing at the Sea in Fira
• The Southern Crosses in Fira
• The Golden Hour at Fira
• Fira Sunset and After Dark
• Strolling the Streets in Oia
• The Cliffs and the Sea in Oia
• The Domes and the Bells in Oia
• The Barriers in Oia
• The Sunset at Oia
• The Volcano at Nea Kameni
• The Black-sand Beach of Kamari
• Ancient Thira

4. Miscellaneous

• Piraeus – Tinos – Mykonos
• Delos – The Open Air Museum on an Island
• From Mykonos to Thira
• Nuts about Kebab
• Patras

Nuts about Kebab

I was supposed to join my Lions Club's fellow members to enjoy the sun, sand, wind and seawater at Sematan yesterday, staying overnight and have some wonderful fellowship there. However, due to being beaten by the food-poisoning bug the second time after just one month, I was, and still is stuck at home watching loads of tv programmes and browsing the internet while admiring the blue sky out there. My abdomen feels like having muscle clamp and my stomach is belching. (I'll never touch dragon fruit again!)

Well, I'm really feeling lucky that I gobbled up the food in Istanbul and Santorini without damaging my gastronomic system.

I once wandered into a small alley of Istanbul and found this restaurant with very interesting menu. The waiters there are also very friendly that he explained everything on the menu in detail to me, so I decided on the Ottoman Plate.

Every restaurant in Europe serves complimentary bread, and this one served me the rolled pita bread.

The 'Ottoman Plate' is mixed kebab serve in the palace during the Ottoman period.

The mixed kebab is basically chicken and beef with capsicum and onion served in a stoneware on top of a bronze plate.

Sometimes when I wanted to save money on meals during my trip, I would walk in the golden arch many times. It's always worth checking the McDs out because they always have some local items that you'll never find it elsewhere.

The McTurco.

The McD version of kebab, beef paté wrapped in pita bread.

The Greeks call the kebab as souvlaki, and we call them satay here. When I was in Santorini, I was told that there's a shop that sells extremely good kebab wrapped in pita bread, which is called gyros. After I've tasted it, I went back to the shop three times just to savour my gastronomy. When the shopkeeper asked me: "With everything in?" My answer was always: "Yes!" And this was what I got every time.

This one is with sliced meat. You can ask for one with meat cubes too.

It's only €1.75 each. There are sets that you can order at discounted rate.

I'm feeling lucky. I wish they'll open a branch in Kuching.

If you would like to read more of my travelogues on Greece, here are the links:-

1. Athens – The Homeland of the Gods

• Acropolis
• Ancient Agora
• National Archaeological Museum
• Exposé at the Parliament Building
• Neoclassical Trilogy
• The Walking Tour
• The Graffiti
• The Central Market
• Panoramic View

2. The White Dream in Mykonos

• Whitewashed Cube Houses
• Stairways to Heaven
• Barricades in Paradise
• Sea Breeze
• Wind Riders
• With a Little Bit of Red
• Roaming the Streets
• The Holy Ground
• When the Sun is Going Down
• I've Been to Paradise

3. Santorini – Almost Heaven

• Roaming Around the Streets of Fira
• Gazing at the Sea in Fira
• The Southern Crosses in Fira
• The Golden Hour at Fira
• Fira Sunset and After Dark
• Strolling the Streets in Oia
• The Cliffs and the Sea in Oia
• The Domes and the Bells in Oia
• The Barriers in Oia
• The Sunset at Oia
• The Volcano at Nea Kameni
• The Black-sand Beach of Kamari
• Ancient Thira

4. Miscellaneous

• Piraeus – Tinos – Mykonos
• Delos – The Open Air Museum on an Island
• From Mykonos to Thira
• Nuts about Kebab
• Patras

If you would like to read more of my travelogues on Istanbul, here are the links:-

• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 1: Hagia Sophia
• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 2: Kariye Camii
• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 3: Sultanahmet Camii
• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 4: Kapali Çarşi & Mesir Çarşisi
• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 5: The Cruise Up the Bosphorus
• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 6: Topkapi Sarayi
• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 7: Dolmabahçe Sarayi
• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 8: Yerebatan Sarayi
• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 9: İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri
• Top Ten Sights in Istanbul – No. 10: Süleymaniye Camii
• On the Streets of Istanbul
• The People Who Posed for Me in Istanbul
• Nuts about Kebab

Santorini – Almost Heaven: Ancient Thira

Ancient Thira was the settlement of the Dorians in 9^th century BC located on a hill by the coast. It was probably the first settlement on this lovely island of Santorini.

I was about to take the suggested path by Lonely Planet from Perrisa up to the peak to see the ruins, but luckily I asked Dina of San Giorgio Villas. I took the route from Kamari instead where there's a driveway up the peak. I would have been climbing the difficult rocky terrain from Perrisa if I didn't ask!

For normal people, it takes only an hour to reach the peak via the winding driveway, but I took nearly 2 hours to reach there, because I stopped several times to take pictures. Well, that's just an excuse for taking breath!

I know I'm on the right way.

The black-sand Kamari Beach is just down below.

Dolphin hasn't changed since the 9^th century BC.

This was probably the agora or market place.

The compound of a house.

The ancient people already had the wisdom in choosing a good site for settlement.

New life in an abandoned city.

These must have been the most expensive plots of land.

The survivors.

The ancient street.

This is probably the site of the theatre.

On my way back to Kamari Beach.

If you would like to read more of my travelogues on Greece, here are the links:-

1. Athens – The Homeland of the Gods

• Acropolis
• Ancient Agora
• National Archaeological Museum
• Exposé at the Parliament Building
• Neoclassical Trilogy
• The Walking Tour
• The Graffiti
• The Central Market
• Panoramic View

2. The White Dream in Mykonos

• Whitewashed Cube Houses
• Stairways to Heaven
• Barricades in Paradise
• Sea Breeze
• Wind Riders
• With a Little Bit of Red
• Roaming the Streets
• The Holy Ground
• When the Sun is Going Down
• I've Been to Paradise

3. Santorini – Almost Heaven

• Roaming Around the Streets of Fira
• Gazing at the Sea in Fira
• The Southern Crosses in Fira
• The Golden Hour at Fira
• Fira Sunset and After Dark
• Strolling the Streets in Oia
• The Cliffs and the Sea in Oia
• The Domes and the Bells in Oia
• The Barriers in Oia
• The Sunset at Oia
• The Volcano at Nea Kameni
• The Black-sand Beach of Kamari
• Ancient Thira

4. Miscellaneous

• Piraeus – Tinos – Mykonos
• Delos – The Open Air Museum on an Island
• From Mykonos to Thira
• Nuts about Kebab
• Patras

Santorini – Almost Heaven: The Black-sand Beach of Kamari

Kamari Beach is where the holiday goers flock to on a bright sunny day in Santorini. This place is famous for its pitch-black sand, but the grains are more like pebbles to me.

To get there is easy, one only needs to go to the bus terminal in Fira and hop on the bus heading to Kamari. The bus drops the passengers at one end of the beach and one can stroll to the other end and back to catch a bus on the returning route.

The black "sand", but I call them black pebbles.

Time can easily be killed under those straw shades.

No matter whether you have a straw shade, a canvas shade, or without a shade, one can still kill time.

The blue sky and the deep blue sea on a holiday. What more can you ask for?

The "Baywatch" hunk.

The inflated boat that needs a shade.

I need a shade too for my 'bird' watching.

I'm finally under a comfy shade to kill my time. What a wonderful holiday, indeed!

If you would like to read more of my travelogues on Greece, here are the links:-

1. Athens – The Homeland of the Gods

• Acropolis
• Ancient Agora
• National Archaeological Museum
• Exposé at the Parliament Building
• Neoclassical Trilogy
• The Walking Tour
• The Graffiti
• The Central Market
• Panoramic View

2. The White Dream in Mykonos

• Whitewashed Cube Houses
• Stairways to Heaven
• Barricades in Paradise
• Sea Breeze
• Wind Riders
• With a Little Bit of Red
• Roaming the Streets
• The Holy Ground
• When the Sun is Going Down
• I've Been to Paradise

3. Santorini – Almost Heaven

• Roaming Around the Streets of Fira
• Gazing at the Sea in Fira
• The Southern Crosses in Fira
• The Golden Hour at Fira
• Fira Sunset and After Dark
• Strolling the Streets in Oia
• The Cliffs and the Sea in Oia
• The Domes and the Bells in Oia
• The Barriers in Oia
• The Sunset at Oia
• The Volcano at Nea Kameni
• The Black-sand Beach of Kamari
• Ancient Thira

4. Miscellaneous

• Piraeus – Tinos – Mykonos
• Delos – The Open Air Museum on an Island
• From Mykonos to Thira
• Nuts about Kebab
• Patras

Santorini – Almost Heaven: The Volcano at Nea Kameni

At the centre of the caldera of Santorini is a small island called Nea Kameni, at which the epicenter of the largest volcanic eruption ever happened on earth is situated. This island is basically covered with the deposits from the volcanic eruption, hence a dusty place.

The only way to get to the island from the main Santorini island is to take a boat from the port of Fira. There were more luxurious yachts but I chose to take the traditional sailboat, and I was put on the Odysseas for my visit to Nea Kameni.

The Odysseas was approaching Fira port to pick me up.

The dusty hike up the crater.

I was already half way up. The jetty on Nea Kameni is at left.

I was almost there, but the tour guide was already up there.

I was finally up on the crater.

This is still an active volcano, so there may be an eruption anytime!

I could imagine how big the volcanic eruption was with that amount of deposits.

I went round and round along the rim of the crater.

The different colours of the deposits.

The only steam hole on the crater, but the steam was too mild to be seen in the picture.

If you would like to read more of my travelogues on Greece, here are the links:-

1. Athens – The Homeland of the Gods

• Acropolis
• Ancient Agora
• National Archaeological Museum
• Exposé at the Parliament Building
• Neoclassical Trilogy
• The Walking Tour
• The Graffiti
• The Central Market
• Panoramic View

2. The White Dream in Mykonos

• Whitewashed Cube Houses
• Stairways to Heaven
• Barricades in Paradise
• Sea Breeze
• Wind Riders
• With a Little Bit of Red
• Roaming the Streets
• The Holy Ground
• When the Sun is Going Down
• I've Been to Paradise

3. Santorini – Almost Heaven

• Roaming Around the Streets of Fira
• Gazing at the Sea in Fira
• The Southern Crosses in Fira
• The Golden Hour at Fira
• Fira Sunset and After Dark
• Strolling the Streets in Oia
• The Cliffs and the Sea in Oia
• The Domes and the Bells in Oia
• The Barriers in Oia
• The Sunset at Oia
• The Volcano at Nea Kameni
• The Black-sand Beach of Kamari
• Ancient Thira

4. Miscellaneous

• Piraeus – Tinos – Mykonos
• Delos – The Open Air Museum on an Island
• From Mykonos to Thira
• Nuts about Kebab
• Patras