Chong to Greece 31 May to 6 June 2022

30 May 2022 to 31 May 2022 

As usual, it’s last minute packing for us again. Luckily I took half day leave if not I don’t think we can finish packing. In fact, we are so disorganized that we took like 2hrs to get everything packed with some stuff still at Teck Whye. 

We picked Lexuan up from school before we went Teck Whye for home cooked dinner. So nice to eat fried rice just before we fly. Then we went back home to wrap up our packing. 

It’s our lucky day as we could get a cab without on call. Our cab fare costs $26 which I think it is reasonable as usually my cab fare back home from office cost about $28 to $30. We are considered early at 9.30pm and there wasn’t any queue yet. 

It was then we realized we didn’t purchase the check in baggage. Haha. So we bought on the spot which cost us $236. We bought Milo and Fanta orange to drink before we decided to have some snacks at  Four Fingers. We bought the 3 pieces of drumlets meals + 2 pathetic cheese sticks  and it cost us $14? 

Then we walked to Gate E26 to wait. I was really surprised to see so many people. In fact, there was a long queue to clear the security counter. At this time, our dear Lexuan is still very energetic. I think it’s a full flight from the never ending queue. 

We boarded at 12.15am and Lexuan didn’t want to sleep. We ordered pringles, cup noodles and Tiger Beer. She finally fell asleep around 2am and it was without pampers. Yes, she “survived” sleeping without pampers! I slept for a while only and woke up at 5.30am. I ordered Milo and coffee. 

Then we slept a bit more again. I woke up about 9am. We ordered cup noodles again as Lexuan is hungry. The whole flight we kept on going toilet and each time we got to wait for quite a while before it’s our turn. 

We touched down Athens time before 7am (Singapore time 2pm). There was a queue clearing the customs but at the right time, Lexuan started crying and the staff was nice enough to give us priority queue which we are very thankful. Then we collected our luggage. 

We went to Burger King for breakfast and Jianhui ordered a lot of food - 2 big whooper burgers, fries and chicken nuggets. Then we changed into shorts and re-pack our luggage so that we can leave our luggage at the airport hotel while we go downtown. 

Sadly, we couldn’t check in early so no choice, we did the registration and left the luggage there. Then we took train to city. The train ticket is expensive. It cost us EUR9 per pax. We bought for lexuan though I think nobody really buys train tickets for kid? 

Lexuan fell asleep in the train so she had about 40 minutes nap time? She was groggy when she woke up so we bribed her with ice cream. It didn’t work as she wanted me to carry her even after eating ice cream. So I carried her to Central hotel. The lift is still so small. We took the lift to the Thea Terrace Rooftop bar. The bar is newly renovated and looks nice! 

We ordered rose wine (not so nice) and mythos while lucky Lexuan has complimentary juice. It’s a nice place to hang out. If only we can come here in the evening and it will be a nice place for dinner. 

Then we took train back. We are so happy to check in after being out for so long. The Athens airport hotel also renovated the room so it looks new and nice! And most

Importantly, it has a bath tub so Lexuan is really happy too! And we get to use our bath bomb which Lexuan got the last kuromi! Our collection is complete now! 

We bought tickets to go to town but we waited very long for the train. By the time the train came, Lexuan told us she didn’t want to take the train anymore. So we ended up eating dinner at our hotel restaurant. Food was normal. 

Then it’s nights off for us! Time to sleep! 

1 June 2022

So we slept at 9pm and woke up at 6am. By 6am, it is already very bright, so this is summer in Greece. We stared packing as we need to get ready to go Mykonos today. Jianhui didn’t have a good night sleep. For me, I think it’s still not bad. Haha. I think as long as I don’t have to work, I can sleep relatively well! 

We had buffet breakfast at the restaurant downstairs. The omelette is very nice especially I requested for extra cheese for mine. It cost us EUR50 for both. Lexuan eats for free! 

After doing our final packing, we checked out and walked over to the airport. We did online check in so we can just deposit our bag. Thanks to Lexuan, we can go to the families counter which is very fast. We cleared the customs very fast and soon we are ready to board the plane. We bought a baby doll (Dolly/Elsa) for Lexuan and she loves the doll a lot until it’s a nightmare for us as she kept on losing it in Mykonos. 

So glad that we got priority in boarding as well as it’s quite a long queue. The plane is small but the seats are spacious. It’s a short flight from Athens to Mykonos, probably about half an hour? So, It’s like so fast we touched down the Mykonos airport.

The airport is newly renovated and quite small. After collecting our luggage, we went to get the car. The guy damn funny, trying to cross sell and up sell us to mini cooper and electric car. Who drives such cars in Greece? 

Lucky it’s a short 6km drive to our hotel as it is quite challenging to drive in Mykonos, especially our route to our apartment, Amare Mykonos. It’s like climbing up uneven grounds like “Great Wall china” with lane meant for only 2 small cars or 1 car at a time. It was then later we know that there’s another “easier” route (which isn’t much easier too) to the apartment. It has been tough for Jianhui to drive us around in Mykonos.

Though it’s really difficult to reach our accommodation, it’s a beautiful place with fantastic view! It’s a newly renovated apartment with an extra bed for lexuan and sofa bed in the living room. The master bedroom looks cosy with ceiling fan and there is kitchen plus fridge! And it has a pool too which Lexuan immediately told me that she wants to go swimming. Oh ya, they served us with beer and lemonade for lexuan! The host also introduced some places and restaurant to us. 

It’s clear blue sky here. After swimming for just a while, both Lexuan and I are one tone darker. And the water is so cold! I had to swim a few laps to warm up. 

After showering, we went supermarket. So happy that we finally found supermarket. We so happily shopping until the damage

Is EUR67. 

We wanted to go Ornos for dinner but on our way there, Jianhui realized that the right front tyre is punctured. He went to petrol station to pump air and drove a bit before we decided to drive back to airport Hertz for servicing. So, there was a nail in our tyre. The guy managed to patch it and we were done in 10mins time. 

So, we decided to have dinner at Amare. We ordered club sandwich, chicken souvlaki, beer, moscato and fresh orange juice at the reception. The food is very nice so I would say it is a great dinner. Lexuan loves the swing at the reception which she will keep on asking me to go with her. 

We slept about 10pm. Lexuan really sleep alone outside without me though she called for me one time in the middle of the night. 

2 June 2022

Since it get so bright early in the morning, we woke up super early too at 6am, even Lexuan is up. We had bread with Nutella + kopi gao Siew dai (brought from Singapore) in the room. It’s a windy morning. 

Then we drove to Mykonos windmill. It was super windy to the extent that the sand would hit your legs and face. So we quickly took some photos before we hid in the streets. Most of the shops were closed so we just walked around to take photos. It’s the place where Little Vernice in Mykonos is located. 

We wanted to go toilet and it cost us EUR1 per person. We bought ice cream to eat and walked around. We also bought gyro but it wasn’t that nice. It was then we realized that we lost Lexuan’s dolly doll. She was crying very badly for her doll. After searching every pockets in the bag, we concluded that we lost her doll in the toilet when she or me took out the comb. So we walked back to the toilet. When the staff saw me, he told me that he found a doll! Totally so happy to find back her doll for her.

It has been an eventful morning so we decided to walk back to the car park to drive back. 

And when we are back, this girl wanted to go swimming again. I wonder why does she has so much energy man. It’s super windy so the water is really cold. I managed to swim a few laps to warm up.

Then, Jianhui cooked Maggie mee for us for lunch. We rested a while. The host gave Lexuan a slice of cake which makes her really happy. 

We first headed to Psarrou beach via Nammos Village in which they offer valet parking. The whole place was damn happening. The whole beach was filled with beach chairs, playing loud dancing music and many people. This is definitely not a place where Lexuan can play at the beach. Luckily, there was a playground and so we brought her there. There are 2 young ladies who played with Lexuan. Just before the peak hour of 5.30pm, we decided to leave this place. The valet parking cost us EUR20. 

Then we drove to Ornos which was super windy. It was totally impossible to play at the beach and so we had to head home. 

When we were driving back half way, I realized that Lexuan left her dolly doll at

The playground at Nammos village! Given that it’s peak hour now, jianhui decided that we will go back there tomorrow instead. Hopefully, the doll is still there tomorrow. 

We had dinner at Amare and the food was awesome! 

We slept around 9pm+ but we woke up a couple of times as Lexuan was having nightmare. Eventually, Jianhui carried her in to sleep with us around 3am and finally we got some peace. 

3 June 2022

We woke up at 6am+ as usual as it’s really bright by now. We can relax on the bed as we are having breakfast at 9am Amare today. Lexuan started to have a bit of flu. I guess she might have caught a cold when swimming or sleeping outside in the living room last night or due to the windy day at the beach. 

The breakfast spread is amazing with coffee and orange juice, plus amazing sea view. This is life man. Though I must say it is very cold to eat it outdoors. Haha. 

After breakfast, we decided to head to the 

Agios Stefano beach which is near us. This beach is quiet and just nice for Lexuan to play sand. It is shady too! And I simply love the water, way too beautiful! 

We played for a while before we walked along the beach. We ended up at St Stefano Greek Traditional Cruisine and beach bar which is a beautiful nice place. We had a bottle of Mythos and 2 glasses of ice cream. We wanted to order some food but the food takes half an hour, so we decided not to eat the food. 

Then, it’s the journey to Nammos village to find Lexuan’s doll. Luckily they allow us to park aside for me to find the doll. The 2 young ladies we met yesterday kept the doll for Lexuan. So happy and relieved to find her dolly! Hope this doll doesn’t go missing again. Let’s see if she makes it back to Singapore. 

Then we went back to our super cosy apartment to rest. We ate snacks for lunch. Lexuan is having a bit of fever and so I fed her nurofen. When you travel with a kid, bringing a thermometer and medicine is definitely a must. 

For dinner, we initially planned to go to the restaurant recommended by the host at Ornos. But we changed our mind when driving halfway there as it was quite jammed. So we ended up at the same restaurant we went this afternoon, St Stefano Greek Traditional Cuisine. 

We ordered grilled pork chop, grilled calamari, grilled shrimps, watermelon juice and mythos (my 2nd one in the day). The food is normal. I guess the chef at our hotel cooks better. Jianhui finds the calamari semi-cooked so we didnt finish it for fear that we might have tummy ache.  After having our dinner, we went back. 

As usual, Lexuan was complaining that she’s hungry. And so we ordered our favourite toasted sandwich and home-made orange cake with ice cream from the kitchen. Very satisfying as usual. 

Lexuan slept at 8pm+ and we hope she can sleep well tonight (so we can sleep well too). 

Good night! 

Kinda sad it’s going to be our last relaxing night at Mykonos! 

4 June 2022

We had our awesome breakfast at Amare. Same stuff as yesterday except that we have an extra croissant today (probably for Lexuan). Happy breakfast with beautiful view. 

We made payment for our meals here and you won’t believe it. We spent a total of EUR160 here at the restaurant but I must say it’s money well spent as we really enjoyed the food and even the orange juice. Lexuan took photo with Auntie Fenia.

Think Lexuan is going to miss her so much. Auntie Fenia has been taking good care of Lexuan by giving her lots of extra food and talking to her. 

So today is our Rest & Relax in room day since we got a race later. We wanted Lexuan to take a nap but as usual she was so happily playing with her tablet that she didn’t sleep. Despite her eating 3 croissant for breakfast, she wanted to eat Maggie mee. 

We got ready to take ferry at around 1.30pm. The port is very near our accommodation. We managed to get a good parking lot near the port. Boarding the ferry (Golden Star) is a breeze and it’s like a cruise. Very clean and nice. 

We ordered pringles, ice cream and slurpee wanna be drink. I find it too sour but somehow Lexuan loves it. Haha. We reached about 3.15pm. As we were alighting from the ferry, I feel like we were in some hunger games or what. Waiting to land on a strange place and started playing games. The big trucks and motorcycles can just drive down the ferry. 

We followed some runners to collect the race pack. Lexuan totally can’t wait to start but it’s still early. We found a cosy restaurant near the starting point. We ordered fries and coke. Lexuan wanted to eat ice cream but we told her to eat after the race. 

The kids looked really excited to start the race. Lexuan was excited to run for the first 300m before she started complaining she has stitches. Must be eating too much fries. Along the route, she saw those dinosaur rides and she wanted to detour to the rides instead of following the route. 

So I carried her for a while plus encouraging her to continue walking. At least she completed 1km race! Haha. Her first overseas kids’ run. At least now she knows she cannot eat so much before a running race. 

Then Jianhui got to get ready for 5km run while I tried to make our girl happy. As promised, I brought her to the dinosaur ride and I also bought her a Marshall’s lollipop holder. At least this makes her happy and less grouchy. 

We also managed to see Jianhui running past us just after the starting point near the dinosaur ride. Then, we walked back to the same restaurant to wait for jianhui. It’s the best place to wait as it is cooling + I can sit down and it is so near the finishing line. I ordered iced lemon tea while waiting for Jianhui. He did quite a fast 5km run as he finished it about 28 minutes which is quite ahead of a lot of runners. 

We ordered Souvlaki for dinner and mythos! Probably our last mythos for the trip! Around 7.30pm, we walked toward the port to wait for our ferry. While waiting, we saw half marathon runners running past us so we also acted as supporters. The ferry came around 8.30pm and I was so amazed that it left at 8.40pm sharp! Totally no chance for people to be late. 

This ferry looks oldest and not as atas as the earlier one that we took. We ordered Fanta orange.

We reached about 9.15pm. It’s Jianhui’s first night drive and it was really dark to drive up to our accommodation. Thanks to his good driving skills, we are back in our room at 9.30pm. It had been a long night for us.

Jianhui cooked Maggie mee for us. The host and Auntie also came to say good bye to us. 

After packing, we slept around 11pm. 

5 June 2022

We’re going home today! We woke up 3.45am for our super early flight at 6.25am from Mykonos to Athens. 

Lexuan woke up and started crying… she misses the house, the swing, the playground and the white car. So emo sia. 

It was a dark and we drove the steep way down since it’s more straightforward. I guess it’s still early so there weren’t many cars. 

We drove to Hertz to return our white car before crossing the road to the airport. It’s about 5.15am and there’s a short queue. But, everything was done very promptly. After removing all the water, our luggage is lighter too (13kg and 15kg). 

We still got a bit of shopping time and I bought the super big lollipop for Lexuan. I regret not buying the kinder surprise soft friend. I thought I could get it at Athens airport but in the end, the shopping area at our gate there doesn’t sell this. 

It’s a super short flight and before you know it, you would have touched down. We thought that we are in no hurry since our flight is at 4pm, not knowing how crazy it would be later in the afternoon. Haha. 

So we had a relaxing Burger King breakfast which I ordered the chicken version and it was nice! We basically stayed there quite long until I could complete all the Pokémon event tasks. 

While waiting, Jianhui googled that there’s this Care4bag service and so this gave us the idea to make a quick trip to acropolis! So we checked in 2 big bags and 2 small one which cost us EUR26. 

Then we waited damn long for the metro to go town. Luckily, Lexuan is more cooperative this time round. It was very sunny not so windy. 

Poor Jianhui had to carry Lexuan up as this girl is just too tired to walk up. We bought super-sweet-not-so-nice frozen orange and draft beer which was a relief as it was really hot. Up on the acropolis hill, it was windy and nice! Happy to be back here again. We took some photos before making our way back to the train. 

Just when we thought we are early for check in, we were horrified to see long queue to check in! It seems like a lot of passengers have problems and checking in is not so straight forward. When it was our turn, we had to buy the check in luggage which we couldn’t do it online. By the time Jianhui made payment at another place which was super far, it was already 3.10pm. And at this time, my handphone no more batt. 

Then we quickly walked in the departure gate to find our gate. Gate A31 is so far inside and we had to walk the same long walking escalator as what we took when we reached Athens. 

I did some quick last minute shopping and tried to find Lexuan’s dolly’s friend but cannot find. I also cannot find my kinder soft friend. Sigh. Jianhui helped to get water and sandwiches. 

Since it was already approaching 4pm, we entered the waiting area but to realize that passengers are still not boarding. So we got some time to munch the sandwich. I’m so hungry by now. We waited after the flight time 4.10pm still cannot board. 

Finally just before 5pm, we boarded the plane but we are still not flying. There was no air con inside the plane so it was quite stuffy. Yet, Lexuan could fall asleep. Think we finally started flying around 6.30pm. 

I was super hungry so I asked Jianhui to help me order food as soon as the cabin crew could start serving food. We ordered fried rice, Coke, pringles, coconut and jelly. They couldn’t serve cup noodles coz the seat belt sign is on. Once it is off, we ordered 2 cup noodles. 

So we are ready to sleep. Lexuan had quite a good sleep lying on me. I also enjoyed hugging her to sleep as she is like my bolster. Haha. A lot of times I got to wake up Lexuan as the seatbelt sign is on.

And so we touched down Singapore time 10am instead of 9am. So the pilot must be flying quite fast. Haha. 

It’s good to be back home! Overall, it was a relaxing and enjoyable holiday! Totally time well spent with Jianhui and Lexuan! ❤️

Home sweet home!