Continuing on from Santorini (Thira port), we headed to Mykonos by ferry which took around 2 hours. We booked the tickets in advance and it’s relatively easy. A note worth mentioning is that there are different operating companies. The ferries also don’t really run on time, so we had to keep an eye out while waiting at the pier for the correct ferry.

Mykonos is famed for being a party island. We went on the first week of April during their “shoulder season”, which meant that most shops/bars weren’t open yet and were still getting ready for the season to start. This was actually great for us! We weren’t really in for party scene anyway, so the timing meant we could enjoy quieter streets and appreciate the quaint island even more.

I absolutely love Greece and the Mediterranean climate. From the infinite blue skies, white-washed houses to the idyllic landscapes.

As the locals were still preparing for the season, we came across so many locals repainting their walls and street floors with new layers of white. I loved the distinct rounded floor pattern all over the island.

We explored the backstreets and narrow alleys. The bright white-washed buildings are complemented by blue or red doors and window shutters. 

It’s probably fair to say the food on the island isn’t the cheapest, but there’s a lot of choice for restaurants and coffee shops.

Looking at all the instagram photos of Mykonos, I was really exited to see the blooming pink bougainvillea flowers. However since we went during the shoulder season, the flowers merely bloomed! Fortunately I did come across a couple of trees that bloomed early.

One of the landmarks of Mykonos are these large windmills. Apart from the main stretch on the island front, there are several other windmills scattered up the hills of the island.

It’s hard to compare Santorini and Mykonos since both islands are so different with their own charm and picturesque properties. . Mykonos is definitely more a seaside village and beach destination while you can say Santorini is more romantic. Either way, I enjoyed both islands and I’m glad we visited both.

This post has been long overdue. I wanted to work on this for so long but I kept holding it off, and time flies! To be honest, I was part lazy and felt part daunted by having to sort through all my photos to create a coherent log of my trip. I’m finally trying to pull myself together and gather my memories from Santorini and share here. Since my intention for this website is for myself. I want to be able to look back at my travels, reflect and cherish these memories. Santorini is an absolutely beautiful island and I don’t want these memories just tucked away in a hard drive, so here we are.

Firstly, to put it out here, Varun and I made trip to Greece last year in March. Our outbound journey to get to Santorini was absolutely chaotic and stressful. Our flight was cancelled when we were already an hour in the air, due to malfunctioning of the plane. (I was watching “I, Tonya”, and by the time the plane flew back to HK airport, I already finished the entire film). The stressful situation was that we could only fly the next evening which caused a domino effect in the schedule - missing our connecting flight in Dubai to Athens, and missing the flight from Athens to Santorini. In total, it took us 47 hours to get to Santorini!

As with anyone would, I was seriously upset at the start of our trip. I did my fair share of taking my anger out on the airline and Varun. However when we arrived to Santorini, being physically at this island made my anger go away. The views were breathtaking and I had nothing to complain about anymore.

We stayed in Oia village which is perched on the cliff. It’s a convenient location and it’s where most people go to catch sunset. It’s a popular choice to stay in as it’s the most colourful village of Santorini, hence you could say it’s the most picturesque part of the island. The slight downside is that all the houses/hotels are built on a very steep hill at Oia, so it’s not the most friendly place to lug around heavy suitcases. (Thankfully our hotel staff was very nice and helped carrying the suitcase through the village). To be frank, I hate stairs myself, but it didn’t bother me too much since it was fun exploring all the turns and corners, and walking through all the white-washed houses. Plus, staying in a cave hotel was part of the holiday experience.

The best way we found to explore the island was to rent a car. The car ride was a lot fun and you can really enjoy great panoramic views of different villages and rock formations. One of the villages we went to was Pyrgos. It’s the highest village on the whole island so you get a great view. Unlike Oia, the village is not vibrant but the rustic stone houses and narrow winding paths has it charm.

Santorini is a beautiful island with all wonderful Greek white-washed houses and pastel colours. Like all popular tourist and Instagram destinations, it is very touristy. The best way to explore the village is early in the mornings. In particular, Oia gets extremely packed by late afternoon as everyone goes there to catch sunset.

It’s breathtaking to see Santorini’s landscape and the quintessential view of all the whitewashed buildings draping over the rugged clifftop.

Santorini ❤

Travel memories from my birthday trip to Cebu last November. Varun and I stayed at the Plantation Bay Resort located in Mactan Island for a tranquil getaway. Beautifully set in secluded grounds with colonial style rooms, surrounding saltwater lagoons, freshwater pools and a private beach - the holiday was truly amazing. 

Not only was Plantation Bay perfect for relaxation, the resort was also equipped with an array of water sports and activities for all ages. My favourite however, was definitely winding down with the spa treatments at Mogambo Springs which were a total indulgence!

On one of the days, we also made our way into Cebu town. We went to the Tops mountain lookout which offers a panoramic view of the city, with a unique stone-paved circular structure.

Our 4-day short break went by so fast, but we had an amazing stay and we cannot wait to go back!