Islands’ Souvenirs — Mezze Bowl and Stretching Diva

The trophies that keep the soul of the place you visited

Nisyros Island

It is quite thrilling to visit a place that might hypothetically disappear in the coming decades. Nisyros is a Greek island with a live volcano crater in the centre. The fact that the island is pretty small is marked in the mythology with the tale of Poseidon tearing off the piece from the neighbouring Kos and throwing it onto the Polybotes. The passionate move has ignited the volcano. This tale totally makes sense to me.

When you are inside the crater the vents with volcanic gases are menacing and the strong smell of sulphur makes you think that you better check the departure time of your boat to Kos. Meanwhile, Mandraki town looks iconically Greek with white buildings with blue doors and shutters. Lunch with a sea view and coffee is a delight despite the sulphur smell.

As a souvenir, I bought two ash-glazed mezze bowls. One I broke recently and the other one I’m trying to keep safe and religiously use to serve olives to pay the respect of its origins. Sometimes I think Nisyros Island might be gone but my small bowl will keep its ashes.

Stunning pictures Greece with B.R. Shenoy

Bali

There is no other place where you want to take a majority of your clothes off as soon as you get through the customs at Denpasar airport. Feeling Bali without riding a scooter in slippers, a tank top and a pareo is impossible. How else to enjoy Hindu temples squeezed in the rows of shabby villas and warehouses along the roads, endless freshly brewed filter coffees and avocado toasts and multifaceted red sunsets? In a constant humid breeze, your body is begging for a stretching workout at the beach and a glass of chilled cava.

I honestly don’t know how digital nomads can focus and work at Bali, maybe it comes later after hours of meditation. However, I see how to be crafty on the island. My Bali souvenir is a statuette of stretching diva. She caught my eye immediately I entered a local art and crafts shop, but I didn’t have enough cash and had to come back the next day to get my diva. She is strong, bodily gorgeous and doesn’t care what others think. Wouldn’t we all want to think the same way and be comfortable to wear red lipstick?

More about islands with Kristine Harper

Singapore, October 2023