My Dream Destination

29 Mar 2009

The chapel of Santorini.

As a person who loves to dream about exotic places, I often browse the net just to look for beautiful pictures from all over the world. But there are no other images that I love the most than those of Santorini in Greece.

The first time I saw one of the photographs at TrekEarth capturing the white little houses that scattered all over the island which had the expansive view of the Aegean sea in contrasting bright white and navy blue, I couldn’t help but thinking how it’d feel like to really be there.

Surprisingly enough, not many people of whom I’ve conversed with have actually ever heard about this place. They know of Greece but they know nothing about the island. Even in Discovery Travel & Adventure Channel program called ‘Seductive Seaside Resorts’ – which I bought because I was thrilled to see any motion pictures of Santorini when it was mentioned at the back of the DVD cover – Santorini was placed at the lowest rank, which was no. 10, and that was ironic considering that Amankila Resort in Bali was placed further up the higher scale at no. 2!

But I fall in love with the simplicity of it so much that not even the glitzy night lights and the designer shops in New York or Paris can tempt me with. Some people might favour Paris for its romantic atmosphere, or Rome for its ancient sculptures and paintings, but it is Santorini that really captures my heart all the time.

Santorini in all its glory.

It’s not so much the exoticity of it that really enchants me, but the idea that this volcanic island is filled with houses that are so uniformly monochromatic when looked from afar, as if all the dwellers have had some sort of agreement not to use any other paints to paint their residencies in any other colors except white, blue, and various hues of yellows and oranges. And the uneven path that goes up and down along the houses makes it seem like there are so many things to be explored there, and that anywhere you turn, the view of the Aegean Sea welcomes you always.

When I used to work in the corporate company and there was one of those occasional days when I got so stressed out, I’d secretly browse images of Santorini (which I’d saved obsessively like there was no tomorrow) and all of a sudden, life didn’t feel so difficult anymore. If I could just imagine myself opening that door and see that deep blue sea stretching out to nowhere …

And then there was that one night during the weekend when I was home alone, flicking at the TV channels randomly until I settled on HBO where it was showing a movie about four girls who apparently could fit into the same pair of jeans despite the differences on their body shapes. That’s right, I’m talking about The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the movie adaptation of the novel written by Ann Brashares. And in that movie, Lena the Greek girl went to Santorini for her summer holiday and fell in love with a Greek boy called Kostas who was absolutely gorgeous but who cares about the boy? I was drooling at the fact that I got to see Santorini in all its glory being featured in an enjoyable movie that had become my all-time favorite movie ever.

The door that leads to the most amazing view...

I’d been obsessing about this island ever since. It was my secret, my ultimate dream destination that got me thinking, “Even if I do end up going there someday… it would be fun to be going there with the person who loves it as much as I do.” As silly as it sounds to some people, and despite the fact that I’d probably won’t get there until I’m 50, I do believe that everyone must have a dream, no matter how silly it may seems, it’s so much better, as the saying goes, to have a dream than not having any at all.

I was still pondering (most of the time, obsessing of course) over this idea, until I met my soulmate. And guess what? It was his dream destination too. Still is. Sometimes when I’m all depressed and losing my perspective in life, I often ask him whether we would actually get there. But he, being the positive person he is, without fail will always say the same thing, over and over again, “Yes, we will.”

Someday, we’ll get there.

Tags: love

23 Responses to My Dream Destination

Eru

March 29th, 2009 at 2:30 am

Image Training Yes…

Hmm I remember my friend was send me a postcard from this place,
and the hills are associated with nipple (since they put the hill and nipple side-by-side)

BTW i love the theme comment box

Eru´s last blog post..[Fiksi] ~ Black Wing ~ Raziel

I so did not get that nipple thing, Eru you naughty boy! LOL. Yep, visualisation until it becomes the real thing. I’ve calculated the money that I need to save in order to get there – I’ll need A LOT – and there was a point where we wanted to get married there but maybe renewing vows will do
For now we’ll just get married in Indonesia

Glad you like the comment box… but is it ONLY the comment box? Eh? (evil_smirk)

Lorraine

March 29th, 2009 at 2:46 am

You did it! Thanks for sharing. Those are beautiful pics. Never knew before that your fianc

Thanks Yoyen… I’m still curious with the next sentence!

rima fauzi

March 29th, 2009 at 4:20 am

that’s beautiful.. i’ve been to amman, jordan and the buildings look somewhat similar to these pics, they are all white. apparently they cant have any other colors in jordan, all buildings must be white. strange but it makes the scenery beautiful.
my dream destination is the maldives. i know im going there some day..

Maybe the white is used to reflect heat from the sun? This is another theory that has been going around in my mind regarding the white and blue color

You will get to your dream destination too, soon enough!

Finally Woken

March 29th, 2009 at 6:07 am

It is indeed beautiful. I wonder perhaps since you really like blue, you’re instantly attracted to Santorini because the color dominates the place?

I myself for a long time was longing for Tuscany. Only recently after visited more places in in Indonesia I realise that our country is really gorgeous and I’m never tired exploring it.

Hope one day you could visit your dream destination!

Finally Woken´s last blog post..Facebook Has Taken My Friends Away…

Could be! I never thought about that before, but it kinda makes sense too doesn’t it? And I was thinking as well, perhaps the reason why the people in Santorini use the white and blue color combination is because it’s the same color of their flag.

But I agree with you, Indonesia is beautiful. There are so many places to explore in this country alone, such as the beach in Maluku which is famous for its soft, silky white sands and beautiful sunset scenery!

You will visit Tuscany very soon, no? The Italy trip is still happening, right?

parvita

March 29th, 2009 at 6:53 am

Gosh, Therry, so many nice places around this world and just looking at these pictures makes me lost for a second. It looks tranquil, peaceful, a place you would go to with your loved one. Another place to go on the list!

parvita´s last blog post..So Many Calegs, So Little Choices…part deux

Now you understand my obsession to collect images of Santorini from all over the web it’s a very dreamy place isn’t it? Bring back some awesome photos if you do end up going there!!!

March 29th, 2009 at 7:06 am

Ok, I proceed my comment, I never knew your fiancé also loves this island. These white houses are build because of the temperatures which can rise to 40 degrees Celcius in the summer (heard this from my husband. He is also a fan of Greece and has been there so many times). I agree with this cause I’ve been to Casablanca and Rabat (Morocco). The houses there are white too, with turquoise accent here and there.

Once you get to visit Santorini, you will love the place, food & the people.

Live your dream Therry, as someday it will come true….

Lorraine´s last blog post..Scheiden doet lijden

Thanks Yoyen.. I do hope by the time we get there we can still have fun and enjoy the experience as much as we can – I won’t want to miss a single thing! And yes, my fiancé and I turned out to have the same dream, which was kinda freaky but also delightful.. he found Santorini very enchanting too, and he was just as surprised as I was when he found out it was my dream destination as well

Thanks for the temperature info, now I totally understand! Your husband is so lucky to have traveled to Greece so many times, I’m jealous!

emmychen

March 29th, 2009 at 8:26 am

the most beautiful thing is, when u go there with someone u love, and he loves it to be there too! hyaaaa..
wish u wish u wish u will go there somehow ther!

nabung yg byk gih.. hihi~

emmychen´s last blog post..17 Minutes Therapeutic

You’re right, Ems! I do wish that my dream will come true, preferrably sooner than later *loh kok maksa* hehehe… time to save up, thank God for this new job! LOL

Titus

March 29th, 2009 at 6:25 pm

I’ve never known before about Santorini. That’s beautiful place as you described. For me, the cross sitting on top of the dome is really meaningful. Wish your dream comes trough where someday you would be there with your loved one. But, don’t be like Glenn Fredly and Dewi Sandra after that. Ok? (just kidding)

Titus´s last blog post..The Park is Not For You, Sir, Sorry

Thank you Titus. I do love the little crosses on top of the domes, make them look sort of majestic. Glen Fredly and Dewi Sandra? Hmm … well, fortunately neither of us live the lifestyle of the rich and famous so even when we get married there will be no paparazzi following our every moves

neonbulbs

March 30th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

It is indeed a wonderful place. great view, nice air and of course serenity. Been wondering to be there too since I’ve watched Sisterhood of Travelling Pants. Should be my place of choice when i get old.

Thanks for sharing…cool post..

neonbulbs´s last blog post..Photo Essay : Batam

Thank you neonbulbs… maybe you won’t have to until you get old to be able to get there!

Ivy

March 30th, 2009 at 10:56 pm

i’ve heard about the place from my older bro a couple of times actually n yes it looks really beautiful. I hope i get to see one of these pretty places before I die. love your blog theme very much btw ther….so peaceful

Ivy´s last blog post..LV Presents From Sam

Thanks Ivy, this is definitely my favorite blog theme so far… and you know how much I love blue. The Santorini pictures are bonuses to compliment the whole theme itself, don’t you think?

boy

March 30th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

volcanic island??? asyiiikk..banyak pemandian air panas dong

Gue ngga gitu tau sih ada apa ngga, tapi gue pernah baca di Wikipedia katanya sumber air mereka itu dari tempat lain… keqnya sih air disana lumayan susah dapetnya loh..

Chris Taylor

March 31st, 2009 at 2:56 am

Quite lovely! It’d be tough living in paradise though, as Aldous Huxley talks about in Brave New World … I prefer a little storminess in my life …

Chris Taylor´s last blog post..Favorite Place on Earth

Well, I think whereever we choose to live, there will always be little (or big) storms that come to enrich our lives, on way or the other

Diny

April 1st, 2009 at 12:07 am

Cool layout, ‘ther! And yes, that particular shot is everywhere. It’s almost like a ‘trademark’ of Santorini. I’ve watched the Sisterhood too and really really like that place.

Diny´s last blog post..Age Denial?

Thanks Diny! I’m loving this layout too. Yes, you’re correct, whenever someone or something’s promoting Greece there is always a couple of pictures of Santorini – it really is a great tourist attraction.

Toshi

April 1st, 2009 at 12:48 pm

Indahnyaaaa…. Hihi daerah Mediteranean emg eksotis banget deh ya

Toshi´s last blog post..on the creation of Hindu-based and Buddhist-based political party in Indonesia

Kalo eksotis mungkin masih lebih eksotis Indonesia kali ya… gue sih suka arsitektur, pemandangan sama suasananya aja, kayaknya asyik banget disana.

woelank

April 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm

I don’t know why, I still imagining maldives..
ergh….

(budget.. budget…budget…)

Ayo, ayo, ngulik duit!

boneman

April 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 pm

I have no stuccoed bricks overlooking the sea,
nor do I have that marvelous color blue.
But if the gift of giving it all were given to me?
I would gladly give it all up just for you.

boneman´s last blog post..WHAT is BEAUTY?

You’re just too sweet, Boneman… and coming from a talented artist like you, that’s a real honor. How’s Princess Gni Gni doing?

dianne

April 5th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

I like to look at images of exotic places too…there are so many beautiful destinations and I dream of visiting one day.

Greece does look wonderful, I love the white houses with the deep blue and the colour of the Aegean sea would be difficult to rival.

I love that image of the doorway, with the sunshine and the view of the sea.
I am so pleased you have found your soul mate and I hope the both of you find yourselves in Santorini one day, what a perfect way to spend the time there…with the person you love. ♥

Dianne, thank you for your kind words. I hope your dreams will come true and you’ll get to visit those exotic dream destinations too! For me, having a dream works as some kind of motivation to always do better and achieve more

Devi Girsang

April 6th, 2009 at 7:52 pm

It’s beautiful! Good luck to you and your fiancee. I believe you two deserve it!

Btw you’re the 3rd blogger I’ve visited today that has a new template! Wow. I feel I kinda want to change mine as well! LOLz!

Devi Girsang´s last blog post..In The Bus, Part 1

Hello Dev, long time no see! Kapan kopdar lagi? Thanks for the wishes! I really love this template, it’s soothing and it’s in my favorite color too! So when are you changing yours? *wink2*

April 11th, 2009 at 4:21 pm

Iya nih, kapan yah? Ga sempet pulak akhir April ini soalnya gw mid sessions Wish me luck! Anyway iya nih gw juga masih nyari template yg berkenan. Hahaha.. Gw juga demen yg nuansa putih; simple, clean and neat. Uda browsing banyak banget tapi ga nemu yg cocok.. Mudah2an deh, gw juga pengen ganti template hahaha *ga penting*

Udah liat template lo yang baru Dev… tapi gue lebih seneng yang pink sebelumnya sih, it was more you Good luck ya, semoga lulus! Abis itu traktir doooooooooong *minta ditimpuk sepatu Manolo*

Mia

April 24th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

Seriously Ther.. we could’ve been twins, so many of our thoughts are alike! Greece is my absolute dream place to visit, I’m still kicking myself for not going there when I was still living in Germany.

We’ll go there someday! I’m sure of it!

trax

June 1st, 2009 at 11:44 pm

Greece is really beautiful. Wish i could go there with the one i loved.

Have faith and it will happen

ydnic

September 14th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

juz add me to your facebook if you have…. and also to your friendster if you have too…. hatzikcor_ydnic@yahoo.com

I would if I knew who you were.

Abhijeet

October 6th, 2009 at 1:53 pm

I love this images

boy: nice article therry..it makes me not wanting to be a teacher..:) [...]

Finally Woken: Nice post. The students are very lucky having you as their teacher. Not every teacher is as attached [...]

wien: ther... udalah.. ga usa dipikirin lagi.. let go lah.. :p [...]

emmy: u deserve to get the place u belong to, the life u dream on, the home u get comfy with. life is too [...]

k: Hi :) Thanks for reminding me the lovely things about melbourne. I have lived here for 12 years now [...]

My Dream Destination

23 Responses to My Dream Destination

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