Crete... The Biggest Greek Island

We went to Crete (or Kriti) for 4 days. Crete, the largest Greek island and also the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, was the center of the Minoan civilization (ca. 2600–1400 BC), the oldest Greek and European civilization. It was a ridiculously big island... it could almost be a country on its own in fact... so much bigger than Singapore... Nevertheless, Crete is different from Santorini and the Cyclades group of islands (which are famous for the white-washed buildings). Crete has influences from Venice and Turkey, thus we came across many Venetian harbours and fortresses. The most memorable part of this trip was how Kevin and myself went to trek the longest gorge in Europe, The Samaria Gorge in Crete... It was a 18km walk, which took us 7 hours plus. Wheeew! Don't ask me what had gone into us... to make two little chubby fatties trek for such a long time... hahhahah... we just wanted to challenge ourselves and believe that we can do it (despite the little fats trapped in us)! Join us to see our adventure!

This was the propellor plane we took to Crete.

Spot me!

Ta-ta, we're taking off!

Reaching Chania Airport! Got to get a taxi to town!

The guest house we stayed in Chania - Ontas Traditional Studio

Pretty clean and neat.

Hehehe... the bathroom...

A bright looking church in Rethymno (another big town of Chania)

The Fortezza (Rethymno)

The fortress next to the sea.

Peek-a-boo

It was super hot... i got so tanned...

Kevin and his funny pose.

Spot Kevin!

A cathedral in the fortezza.

Act Cute Kevin 1

Act Cute Kevin 2

Act Sweet Shanshan! :) heheh...

A tunnel back in those days...

Look who's hiding?!! (So not that fat yah?)

Rethymno Old Town

The light house

By the waters... old ship...

Seafood tavernas...

Check out the seafood!

Rethymno Old Town street

An interesting designed shop.

Heraklio (another town of Crete). It is a modern part of Crete, like a city on its own, where ancient meets modern... :)

The sea rushing to shore...

The Venetian Harbour (Heraklio)

Sitting on the ancient Venetian wall...

Heraklio Town

The port area (Heraklio).

Fortress with sea view (Heraklio)

Sea view across (Modern VS Ancient)

Chania Old Harbour

Chania (Old Harbour)

The old buildings...

Along the serene streets...

Sun sets... Kevin pondering...

Old Town of Chania and its charm...

The Turkish Mosque (Chania)

My turn for a shot!!!
Very unique and quite a sight to see a mosque... shows the kind of influence Crete was under in the past...

Lovey-Dovey time!!!

Shopping in old town Chania.

The streets of Chania...

The church in Chania town...

Ela Restaurant. This restaurant was converted from a site which sat the soap factory in the past. The food was pretty good and reasonably priced.

Check out the decor of the restaurant.

The menu with description of its history...

The entrance to restaurant...

Chania streets - night view...

Peaceful harbour at dawn...

There we go!
We're at the bus station to catch an early morning bus to the Samaria Gorge!

There we are! Samria Gorge!

Still very active at the start!

Pose!!!

Mountain views!

Lots of trees sheltered the path for us...

Donkeys along the way... to pick up people who got stuck, couldn't walk anymore to continue with the 18km journey. (As there is only one entrance and one exit, so you can't give up halfway unless you walk backwards to leave from where you came from... So... either you pay for the donkeys to bring you out... Or... Just keep walking!!!)

Check out the rocks and stones!

Nice big tree for a nap!!!

Along the way...

Not even a quarter way yet... hahahah...

Some rest areas with nice views...

There were so many boulders and rocks... And with the super hot sun... Luckily the first part of the journey, we were very much sheltered by the trees... After that, I was really getting upset with the heat... hahahaahah...

Check out the pathways we had to cross along the way...

Super woman!!!
Trying to act tough in the disgusting heat...

Old Settlement Area... Now it is a Rest Area... hehehehe...

Spring water for drinking...

Ancient ruins site... in the gorge...

Are we halfway yet???

Wow! Finally! Half-way!!! The Gorge View...

Hahaha.. Shit!!! Donkey Shit!!! Big Splatter!

The Gorge... Amazing View...

Whew...

Come on! Walk faster! Halfway through, Kevin was getting on my nerves when he was rushing me to walk faster! ahhahah... He was afraid that we couldn't make it in time for the boat ride back to land...

See, now he is tired too! hahaha...

Nice streams to chill and rest...

See the patterns of the rocks...

So strange the way the patterns run... but yet so naturally beautiful...

The small in-betweens of the gorge!

Cross the stream...

Mountain, Blue Sky, White Clouds... Embrace me!

Marching On!!

WAH!!! At last! I see land!!!

The Libyan Sea!!!
At the end of the 18km walk (we started at 9am and ended at 4pm), we arrive at a beach which oversees the Libyan Sea...

Time for a dip!!!

The beach umbrellas! Pay 6 euros to rent a space! ahhahaha...

aaahhhh... paradise in the heat..

The ship we got to catch to go to a nearby town Chora Sfakion, before catching a bus back to Chania...

The sun sets...

See the little houses along the coast under the mountains? There are chalets/resorts in this small town for people who really want to chill out and be away from all the city bustlings! Can you imagine, at night, it is just you and the sea... hahahah... True village living.

The ship docks...

And back in Chania late at night after a hard day's walk... hahahha... Kevin eating Cretan Pie... and my was Veal stew with rice and chips...

Next morning... with all our muscles aching.. hahhaha..

Shadow of love...

Chania... the charming town of Crete...

The long walk to the light house along the sea...

The two of us!

The light house and me...

Having lunch in Chania...

Old man fishing...

Ancient wall of Chania

Town church.. another shot before we go..

Behind the ancient wall..

Town view of Chania...

Chania market...

Check out the poultry...

In Heraklio - Astoria Capsis Hotel... Bathroom

The room...

View from our balcony - checking the square downstairs...
There was a soccer match and lots of crazy soccer fans!

The riot police were standing by man... hahhaah..

Check out the soccer crowds! ahhahah...

With my parents in Crete... Heraklio port... from our hotel breakfast room..

My parents and brother! The best breakfast view we had in Crete!!!

Our hotel in Rethymno... ancient but modern... hehehe...

The nice Greek drawings on the ceiling... And a cabin hydro shower in the bathroom...

The porch area of our hotel... (Rethymno)

Quite a good chill out... heheh..

Lunch time!!!

Nicely decorated restaurant...

Night view of our hotel... Our room on the second level...

The porch area at night...

Seafood at night!!! My dad was so captivated by them lor... If not for the fact that we had dinner before that, I am sure we will have seafood for dinner! hahahah..