Rhodes was a pretty cool place, with the (medieval) city tucked away inside a fortress wall. Walking up cobbled streets past the touristic shopping strip, I chanced upon a mosque and also Moslem library, which was housed in a separate building. Both were interesting tributes to architectural and cultural diversity, along with expected Greek ruins. As a traveller, I look…
Arriving late in the afternoon, I wandered around Patmos for about an hour, taking pictures here and there. While it was not quite as picturesque as Santorini or Mykonos, it was not without its own unique charm. There were the same whitewashed buildings, the same shops hawking all manners of wares from shirts, hats and scarves to jewellery, postcards and…
We pulled into the port of Mykonos a little after 6pm on the first day. I’m glad I packed my Gorilla Pod so I could capture the island as the day faded into night. It was a beautiful spot: white washed houses faced the sea, along with shops and restaurants. As the sun was swallowed by the horizon, a crescent…
We drove from Napflio to Sparta through an impressive mountain range. Sparta is nestled in the Evrotas valley, and up on one of the peaks is Mystra, which I knew nothing about. The climb up to the castle was quite steep, and up along an ancient stone path. My effort was rewarded by a breath-taking view of the mountains, Sparta…
I arrived in Athens, tired and worn out from my tour of Turkey. I was over being on the road, being with people, the early starts, the getting in and out of buses, the whistle stop visits and the lightning quick stays, the Whispers, the food. I desperately needed to recharge in time for the next tour*. Athens I love…
The last part of this tour has been memorable for a couple of reasons. Yesterday we were up early to visit more Roman ruins, culminating in a visit to Troy in the late afternoon, after what seemed to be a never-ending time on the road. While the morning ruins were interesting – and peacefully empty – Troy (and no one…
This part of the tour has been busy. Early starts (6am wake up calls are the norm) – with long days spent driving across a landscape reminiscent of Australia – vast and arid – and walking around Roman/Greek ruins when we do get off the bus. I need a holiday from my holiday, or at least a sleep in! Pamukkale…
As much as I love being on a schedule, it is exhausting being on the move non-stop, and with 40 other people. Plus I’ve been on the go for more than two weeks. So today, I opted out of the optional excursion just to laze around in my room, and catch up on some stuff like washing. Unfortunately, Whirling Dervishes…
Whenever I travel, there is always one place that I feel especially connected to. It was Hue in Vietnam, Shanghai in China, and Assisi and Stresa in Italy. Who knew on this trip that it would be Sarajevo in Bosnia/Hercegovina? For some reason – only probably understandable on an intuitive level – I loved Sarajevo. I can’t pinpoint it, but…
I took a tour to Lake Bled today, and was rewarded by stunning scenery. Our driver/guide Taja (pronounced Tie-yah) was very chatty and happy to answer any and all questions about Slovenia, its culture and way of life. Here’s what I discovered: 1. Slovenia was once part of Yugoslavia, along with Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia. All are part of…
I walked around 10 kilometers today because I wanted to visit the zoo. I’m not normally a zoo goer, but I intend visiting the Singapore Zoo when I’m in Singapore next month, so thought what the heck?! Anyway, I’ll get to my zoobservations later in this post. First though, are my general impressions of Ljubljana. The people The people of…
I am a very lapsed Catholic. I only go to church (if I have to) for weddings, funerals and baptism. I don’t pray to God in the traditional sense. I certainly don’t partake in any Catholic rituals like Communion or Confession. I hate the propaganda and dogma of the Catholic Church. Not to mention the corruption and abuse of power…
…that has not already been said before? It is a truly beautiful city. The canals, the architecture, the history, and its people filled me with awe. I visited San Marco Basilica and saw the wonderful mosaics that decorate the church; the Palace and its golden staircase and gorgeous artwork; the Bridge of Sighs (so-called because it was built next to…
Taking a tender (shuttle boat) from the Noordam to the old port of Santorini, I must admit I thought: “What’s all the fuss about?”. I spent a day on the island and now I know. I also know a day is not nearly enough time to spend on Santorini. I have merely scratched the surface. Santorini (named after Saint Irena)…
For some reason, I feel more connected to Greece than any place I have visited on this cruise thus far. Yesterday, I watched the sun set over the isle of Corfu as we sailed out of the port, and was incredibly moved by the moment. I admit I did shed a tear or two (not in a bad way) and…
October 8, 2012
Corfu has got to be one of my most favourite spots in the Mediterranean so far. I say this knowing that I still have Turkey and Santorini to go, though. The landscape is just so pretty: towering mountains protecting quaint villages; monasteries decorated with art from the Byzantine era; an old town boasting Venetian architecture (at least, that’s what I…
Sicily is a gorgeous island. Or rather, it could be. It’s landscape is dotted with flat-roofed houses and blanketed with a patchwork of fig, citrus, olive and eucalypt trees. Prickly pears are par for the course, with the fruit of this succulent being sold in markets. Its volcanic past is evident in the mountains and valleys that form the island.…
…falls mainly in Barcelona. Well, it did while I was here, so I didn’t get to experience as much of this gorgeous city as I would have liked. Still, I saw enough to get a feel for it and know that I like it alot. Bareclona is sandwiched in between mountains and the sea; it is a city that is…
Well, I’ve arrived safe and sound, with ALL my luggage, thank the Lord! The flight was uneventful, but (after China trip) that’s a good thing. We left Adelaide on time and there was room to breathe at the Singapore end with the connecting flight to Rome. No customs or immigration dramas in any of the three countries I’ve gone from…
Hanoi and Thang Long celebrations We landed in Hanoi during the Thang Long Hanoi – 1000 year celebrations. Apparently it’s wall-to-wall people at the best of times, but was even more so because of Thang Long. It was crowded. Really crowded. People, cars, buses, motorbikes everywhere. Every inch of space was taken up with people, or their activities. It was…