JOURNEYS4LIFE TRAVEL

Dear Traveler, Would you like to experience an authentic Greek culture without the tourist crowds and vacation where the locals go? Consider Crete! Arguably, most travelers outside of Europe start planning the first-time vacation to the Greek islands with Santorini and Mykonos in mind. Unfortunately, in the last decade, they have become so popular, that you can rarely enjoy them without the crowds and the high price point of meals and accommodations. It doesn't have to be this way! There are still over 220 inhabited Greek islands to choose from and maybe this blog will help you to consider different options. The Basics Crete is the southernmost island in the Greek Archipelago and the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The best way to explore the island is either to rent a car or rely on the well-developed Public Bus Services Ktel. In general, renting a car will cost less than using the Crete bus system. However, using the local buses will save you the stress of naviga...

Dear Traveler, Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Its dimensions change, depending on the monsoon and the dry season. As a rich biosphere reserve recognized by UNESCO, its vast wetlands are home to more than 300 species of freshwater fishes, turtles, crocodiles, snakes, and other similar reptiles, as well as more than 100 different birds. The lake is also an important commercial resource, providing more than half of the fish consumed in Cambodia. In harmony with Tonle Sap's biological diversity, floating villages were established along the edges of the lake, which made fishing their main source of living. A few of them are easy to access from Siem Reap.                   Boats are the only way to get from the mainland to a floating village With only two nights to spend in the city, our time was very limited. From some earlier research, it looked like there were three floating villages which you can explore on a ...

Dear Traveler, Did you know? The Spring  is one of the best seasons to travel to Southeast Asia due to the low cost of the international airfare and the almost optimal weather. This time my husband and I were set on visiting the ancient ruins of  Angkor Wat , in Cambodia, one of the most remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Situated in Cambodia's northern province, in the outskirts of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. Stretching over some 400 square kilometers, this religious complex-the largest in the world houses magnificent remains from different capitals of the Khmer Empire that flourished between the 8th-13th centuries.                                                                                    ...

Dear Traveler, The lost city of Angkor Wat, Cambodia was on my travel list for a long time. While it's the largest religious monument in the world, until recently, the Western world knew very little about Angkor. It was believed that the religious complex was discovered in the 19th Century by the French naturalist Henri Mouhot. However, later scholars discovered, that in fact, Angkor Wat was never "lost" for the Khmer people, and the Buddhist monks continuously worshiped the temple complex over the centuries.                                                                                         Angkor Wat complex  Angkor was built by the Khmer Empire -- a powerful state in Southeast Asia which existed between the 9th & 15th Centuries. At its peak, it covered m...

Dear Traveler, After a night of unusually strong winds, our Star Clipper ship gracefully sailed into the port of Skala at the island of Patmos. Not typically frequented by major cruise lines, the main draw to the tiny rocky island, located right off the west coast of Turkey, is its close association with the Bible. One can see the main town, in greek Chora, perched on the highest point of the Patmos from the sea level with the fortified Monastery of St. John -- the Theologian. To reach the Chora, a narrow windy road passes the Cave of the Apocalypse and its sacred grotto, believed to mark the spot where St. John, during his exile in Patmos, received visions from Christ and wrote the Book of Revelation at the end of 1st Century A.D. Over the following centuries, Patmos became a significant Christian pilgrimage site, and the holy area is now on the UNESCO list. Key Historical Note #1 :  The New Testament Gospel According to John is generally thought to include the Book of Rev...

Celsus Library, Ephesus Turkey Dear Traveler, An exciting stop in our Northern Cyclades sailing voyage with the  Star Clippers  was the port of Kusadasi -- a popular resort town (especially for Europeans) on the Aegean coast of Turkey. Due to its strategic geographical position, the region played an important role in shaping the history of the Mediterranean. Among the abundance of archaeological sites nearby, arguably, one of the most important is Ephesus, a UNESCO site- today located about 11 miles inland from Kusadasi. Star Clipper docked in Kusadasi Port, Turkey The jewel of the Eastern Mediterranean, Ephesus was founded in the 10th Century BC as a Greek settlement and gradually emerged as one of the largest trade ports in antiquity. However, the main draw to the city was the nearby Temple of the Goddess Artemis (completed around 550 BC), known as one of the " Seven Wonders of the Ancient World ". According to ancient historians, the edifice was four times larger...

Dear Traveler, On a hot summer morning at the end of August, our Star Clipper Ship docked in the Katapola port on the island of Amorgos, the easternmost of the Cyclades group. Somewhat isolated, Amorgos wasn't on the traveler's map until the late 80's when it became a filming location of " The   Big Blue " -a freestyle diving movie featuring the french star Jean Reno. Cyclades Island Map Lonely Planet Compared with its trendy neighbors, such as Santorini and Mykonos, Amorgos attracts with its rough beauty and its peaceful and spiritual vibe. The mountainous relief of the island is hilly and steep with narrow and windy roads. The lack of hotel infrastructure (the majority of accommodations are room rentals concentrated around the port) draws low maintenance hikers, herb-pickers, and divers. We made a new friend at Asset Car Rental Amorgos is big enough that, in order to explore it, you will need to rent a scooter or a car. If you are not experienced w...