Friday, July 26, 2019

A weekend in Santorini



 I have been dreaming of visiting the Greek islands ever since I read about traveling in Greece a couple of years back. The availability of outstanding and eye-catching photos on the internet has made me determined to include Greek islands in my wish list. Thankfully, one of the many dreams has become a reality and I am truly grateful for that.

As this is my first time traveling to Greece, I’ve included Santorini, which is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. To get there, I had flown on a RyanAir flight from Athens and it took around 1 hour. As an alternative to flight, a ferry ride from Piraeus port in Athens is possible if you have that much time to kill.

There are many ways to enjoy this romantic island. Although one can’t deny that this island is too touristy and some people even think it costs an arm and a leg, especially in summer, you can still enjoy this beautiful island the way you prefer. For a simpler, moderate and less costly trip, choose an accommodation in or nearby Fira town. It is so much cheaper to stay even further but transportation could be a problem. For a more romantic, dramatic, and exclusivity, Oia is a perfect place.

Take lots of photos at the viewing point in Fira


Spend some time, or more, at the viewing point just outside the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral. Located at a height of 400 m and overlooking the Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, the viewpoint will take your breath away. The shades of blue and turquoise of the sea, combined with the natural landscapes of the two volcanic islands, it was hard to stop taking more and more photos. Wind could be a bit strong and chilly sometimes but it should not be a reason not to enjoy the view. The white-washed buildings, complemented with several blue domes make the views even more charming and calming.









Take the 588 steps down / cable car / donkey ride to Amoudi Bay and/or back

Increase daily steps by taking the stairway to Amoudi Bay. Gorgeous views from different angles are awaiting. But extremely careful as the steps are uneven and some are covered with donkey dung. It is best to take pace steps unless stepping on donkey dung is not a problem. Taking the stairways healthier and free, but the stench and donkey traffic would be a turnoff.

If the stairway is your enemy, take the cable car or donkey ride down. It’s faster and more convenient this way but probably not the best way to make full use of the time. It would be a long queue for the cable car ride.








Buy cheap souvenirs at the last row of shops when going down the stairway

These shops sell common tourist stuff i.e. fridge magnets, key rings, shot glasses, postcards, etc. They are the cheapest in Santorini but fewer in varieties






Have a grilled seafood lunch at the restaurants with a heavenly sea view

Pick a restaurant of your choice. There are so many restaurants offering sea view seats. Fresh seafood is guaranteed and prices are reasonable or could be a dime a dozen if you know where to look for the right place (but this is Santorini!). Grilled seafood is often served with Greek rice and fresh salads. Although the views are amazing, be prepared for the strong wind and cloudy sky which could be chilly (especially for those coming from tropical countries). A light jacket or a shawl would be needed.



Update your knowledge of history at the museums and archaeological sites

Santorini is not merely about romance and scenery. It is an island with interesting historical background. It is lovely to see how the history of this island is revived. For history aficionado, it’s a good thing to buy a combo ticket, costs 14, which covers Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, the Byzantine Museum (in Pyrgos), and the 2 archaeological of Thera (in Kamari) and Akrotiri. Otherwise, it would cost 28 and no one wants to burn a hole in their pocket!










Look for the frequently photographed spots

Thousands of photos in Santorini have been luring travel junkies and photography buffs to search for the beautiful spots. With the cliff-lined with white-washed buildings and the blue domes of the churches, it creates ravishing photos regardless of what type of photography device one is using. In Oia, the caldera views, the Atlantis books, and the blue dome churches are the gorgeous photo locations that would be interesting to look for. Other locations include the ravishing Red Beach near Akrotiri, the church bells in Fira, as well as the blue domed church, and the beach in Perissa.





Hiking from Fira to Oia

Santorini may not have high level difficulty hiking trails but for a satisfying and physically challenging activity, hiking to Oia from Fire is a must. Hiking time takes around 2.5 hour, or more. Those who are being charmed by the beauty along the hiking route would definitely take the opportunities to stop and take some photo shots. Wear proper walking shoes or sandals as the path is not always in perfect condition. And of course, bottled water to avoid dehydration.






View the sunset in Oia

Some might despise the idea of going to places having truckloads of people just to witness a sunset (that’s me!) but I must say that the sunset in Oia is a sight for sore eyes. People will swarm in at the Oia castle ruin as sunset is approaching so it is a good thing to be at the viewing spots 2-3 hours before sunset. Make sure to bring spare batteries or power banks because there is a possibility of taking thousands of photos around Oia itself and the camera/phones would run out of battery before sunset. No one wants to experience that frustrating moment.






Spend time at the lovely beaches

Swimming, picnicking, sunbathing, photographing, or doing nothing at all, beaches in Santorini are absolutely the perfect spots to spend the time. Perissa, Kamari, Red Beach to name a few, are both interesting and enjoyable.







The longer the stay, the more things can be done on this island. How I wished I had stayed a week so that I could go scuba diving, island hopping, and explore the cozy villages.

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Out And About Cardiff In A Day


Wales is another country in UK which has its own identity. My good Welsh friend, Wayne, is one of the reasons why I fall in love with Cardiff, the Welsh capital. I thanked him so much for willing to spend some time showing me around Cardiff and it was totally great day, with sunny and lovely weather.

Cardiff Bay Barrage

The first location I visited was Cardiff Bay Barrage. I thought it would be boring and nothing much to see or learn or inspired. I was wrong. I did learn something from Wayne about this place especially on the operation of this barrage. I have acquired a new technical meaning of 'locks' in term of maritime traffic. The view from the barrage itself was lovely. Need a bit of walking around to look for nice angles though.






Caerphilly Castle

I truly enjoy visiting castles, especially the  medieval castles. So this Caerphilly castle is a really nice place to see when visiting Cardiff. It is a large area with fortification and protected by several lakes. This beautiful castle and fortification are made of Pennant sandstone. There are several accessible sections  and i think one hour is just enough to see most of the sections here. Getting to Caerphilly from Cardiff city takes around 30 minutes by train. Admission fee is GBP 8.50




Castell Coch

Another interesting castle to visit which reminds me of the castles in the children's fairy tales. Castell Coch is Welsh which means 'Red Castle'. Originally, its architecture is Gothic Revival and most parts of the castle are built from red sandstone rubble and grey limestone, with addition of red Pennant sandstone in the 19th century. The first, older building was built in 1081. Unlike Caerphilly Castle,  which located in the town, this Castell Coch is located in the woodlands which is quite tricky to get to. It also means that there is no direct public transport access. Admission fee is GBP 6.90




Garth Hill

A perfect day was even better when my friend brought me to go hiking. We did not discuss about hiking prior to my arrival in Cardiff. It was sort of surprise and last minute activity and I enjoyed it so much. So we headed to Garth Hill, or some considered it as Garth Mountain. There is an interesting story behind the dispute of the name, and one should read the novel  The Englishman who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain, written by Christopher Monger. Later in 1995, this story was adapted for the film. Getting to the summit was easy though I had shortness or breath at the beginning of the climb, probably due to cold. Fortunately, the sun was out and that solved the problem.








St. Fagan's National Museum of History

Another great place close to Cardiff city is the St. Fagan's National Museum of History. I visited this place during autumn and I was so in love with the autumn colours displayed here. Not only that, it is also a good pace to know about traditional Welsh cultures which are totally different then the British and Scottish. Traditional houses, public buildings, grocery store and small factories significant to Welsh culture are on display. It is free to all visitors.








Llandalf Cathedral


Constructed in the 12th century, Llandalf Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral which is dedicated to St. Paul and St. Peter. It has a beautiful surrounding and contains a number of tombs of the Bishops of Llandalf, Lord of Llandalf and clergyman.


                 


Bute Park 

There are many places to visit in Cardiff. But if one just feels like strolling and taking fresh air, or maybe just sitting and relaxing, Bute Park is the place. There is also historic interest of the Roman and medieval times if acquiring some knowledge is preferred. According to my friend, this park is also nice for those who want to see, or observe several bird species and some other animals. One might get lost in time here and I guess it's a good way to make full use of time. You don't need money to spend time here.


Cardiff Castle

Just next to Bute Park, the Cardiff Castle is of course one of the main attractions. The 2000 years of history are concealed in this castle and apparently, one will learn a lot of things here. However, the entrance fee is way too expensive, GBP 13.00, excluding the house tour.




Cardiff City Hall

Like many other cities, the Cardiff City Hall building features an outstanding and majestic architecture. It is worth checking out the beautiful interior design, and if the camera still works after taking so many photos, of course it is a good place to get lovely photos. Entrance is free but observe the visiting hours.



Cardiff Market

This is perhaps the best place if a traveler wishes to but anything from souvenirs to food. Thankfully id did not plan to cook during my stay in Cardiff, otherwise would have been spending a lot on the fresh seafood and vegetables. Prices for souvenirs are a bit expensive but it is recommended to look around and compare the prices, if you have time.

Entrance to Cardiff Market (Credit to : designforeurope.eu

There are many other interesting places worth visiting in Cardiff, so I have made up my mind that I will be visiting Cardiff again, and this time, with spare camera battery and more days to spend.