[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/cyprus-a-land-steeped-in-legend-beauty-and-romance\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/cyprus-a-land-steeped-in-legend-beauty-and-romance\/","headline":"Cyprus, a land steeped in legend, beauty, romance and hospitality","name":"Cyprus, a land steeped in legend, beauty, romance and hospitality","description":"Singapore and Hong Kong are set to launch their second attempt at a travel bubble on 26 May. But for wanderlust souls looking to explore further, TheHomeGround Asia brings you on a virtual journey in Through the Eyes…, where we ask expatriates in Singapore what they love most about their home countries. In this installation, […]","datePublished":"2021-04-30","dateModified":"2022-04-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/Ming%20En%20Liew\/#Person","name":"Ming En Liew","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/Ming%20En%20Liew\/","identifier":132,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8fe7a89455a989038349633329a6e4ad6299388f5e1e3ea83c28126090b2314f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8fe7a89455a989038349633329a6e4ad6299388f5e1e3ea83c28126090b2314f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1619751217762_george-lemon-Q1PWLzsn61Q-unsplash_1280x626.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1619751217762_george-lemon-Q1PWLzsn61Q-unsplash_1280x626.jpg","height":626,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/cyprus-a-land-steeped-in-legend-beauty-and-romance\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":2023,"articleBody":"Singapore and Hong Kong are set to launch their second attempt at a travel bubble on 26 May. But for wanderlust souls looking to explore further, TheHomeGround Asia brings you on a virtual journey in Through the Eyes…, where we ask expatriates in Singapore what they love most about their home countries. In this installation, artist Polina Korobova shares a glimpse of the island nation Cyprus, her childhood home located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with stunning beaches, homely tavernas and eclectic bars. Despite having a landmass 13 times that of Singapore\u2019s, Polina Korobova thinks that Cyprus feels smaller.“In Cyprus, it\u2019s small, and you feel it,” she shares. “That was my first observation, that it is safe, small, and intimate… So it is very pleasant every time you go back. It’s like going back to a giant family… That’s literally Cyprus in a nutshell.”Ms Korobova was born in Russia but had moved to Cyprus when she was 12. She spent four years there before leaving for Singapore, where she now lives and works as a producer at an advertising agency. Some of you might know her as the Glitter Queen, an artist who creates dazzling pieces of body and performance art using glitter, face paint and digital graphics, as well as paints and builds sculptures using an array of weird and wonderful materials.\u00a0\ufeff\ufeff\ufeffDespite having spent a relatively longer time in both Russia and Singapore, Ms Korobova still calls Cyprus \u201chome\u201d, as most of her family still resides there.\u00a0But Cyprus\u2019 homeliness goes beyond familial relations, for Ms Korobova believes that Cyprus has a way of making everyone feel that way: \u201cIt\u2019s a place where you will feel loved and welcomed, regardless of where you come from.\u201dIndeed, as she relates tales of her childhood adventures and haunts, it is easy to get lost in the belief that Cyprus is a charming small town, despite its size.\u00a0Polina Korobova spent four years of her childhood in Cyprus, and her family continues to live there (Source: Canva)The beachfront city of LimassolHer hometown of Limassol, Cyprus, is where Ms Korobova holds the most memories. Located on the island\u2019s Southern tip, Limassol is the second largest urban area after Nicosia, the capital.\u00a0The city has a stellar reputation, coming in third in TripAdvisor\u2019s Top 10 Travelers\u2019 Choice Destinations on the Rise around the World, in 2014. If Ms Korobova\u2019s own experiences are any indication, TripAdvisor\u2019s verdict is wholly unsurprising.\u00a0\u201cLimassol is like a hip cousin,\u201d she describes.The town has much going for it, and offers up different parts of itself to please everyone. It has an endless expanse of beaches for beach bums, a thriving old town for history buffs, lots of hidden bars for party-goers, and is also the closest major city to Cyprus\u2019 highest mountain, Mount Olympos \u2013 perfect for nature lovers.The beaches, especially, are a true gem: \u201cYou can literally walk for hours, and it\u2019s just beach and water. It\u2019s beautiful.\u201d\u00a0This was not something fully appreciated by Ms Korobova when she was a child, which she attributes to being an angsty teenager reluctant to wear a bikini in public. Now, as an adult, Ms Korobova has learnt to fall in love with all that Limassol has to offer.\u00a0\u201cBecause I left, now I know what I\u2019m missing,\u201d she says.She recounts one of her fondest memories from her visits, which happened on a beach in Limassol: They had been paddle boarding as a family, and while standing on it, Ms Korobova was struck by the sheer beauty of the \u201cglistening waters\u201d.\u00a0Limassol is a coastal town, with long stretches of beach. (Source: Canva)\u201cIt was so calm,\u201d she recalls. \u201cWe just sat on the boards after paddle boarding quite far out, sat down, and held each other\u2019s legs so we wouldn\u2019t float away. And we just talked. I looked at the water and was like, \u2018Why did I not do this for so long?\u2019 It was so sweet.\u201dIt\u2019s not all just calm waters and resort vibes, though. Limassol is a city that knows how to turn it up in equal measure. And for those looking for something a little bit more happening, Ms Korobova recommends her favourite bar: Sousami.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s in this small crevice in the wall in Old Town, and it\u2019s really hidden,\u201d she describes. \u201cAnd every time you go there, it\u2019s such good fun.\u201d\u00a0She adds, \u201cYou can come on a normal day, and it\u2019s chill music and good people. You will always find people to talk to. Sometimes, they even have live concerts. They also have a garden outside, and it has stairs that everybody sits on, chatting.\u201d\u00a0To top it off? Tables at Sousami are boards that emerge from the wall, and it comes complete with disco balls and a fireplace.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s really weird and random,\u201d Ms Korobova laughs, \u201c[but] for me, that\u2019s like home.\u201dWhen night falls in Cyprus, all bets are off.\u201cNight in Cyprus can go so many ways,\u201d says Ms Korobova.\u00a0\u201cYou can go to a random person\u2019s house party, or you end up at the park or beach, talking to someone until 4am,\u201d she shares.In Cyprus, the city does not sleep. When night falls, there is still plenty to do. (Source: Canva)\u201cWe have this thing we used to do when we were teenagers,\u201d she calls. \u201cWe would go to the dam in the mountains and just sit on the car boot, and watch the water and the stars.\u201d\u00a0She adds, \u201cYou really never know where the day takes you in Cyprus because nobody has anything to do. Everybody\u2019s chill, so it\u2019s really fun.\u201d\u00a0A town that feeds your belly and soulA part of Cyprus that Ms Korobova really misses is the concept of tavernas, which are essentially family-run restaurants, and they do a jolly good job of making customers feel like family.\u00a0She recounts, \u201c[When you enter], this big Greek man will come up to you and hug you like you\u2019re his. And they\u2019re like, \u2018Are you hungry?\u2019. Most of the time, there\u2019s no menu. They\u2019ll just [ask you what you feel like] \u2013 fish, meat, or vegetables. And then they just start bringing stuff, like bowls of hummus and fresh pita bread. And then their grandma comes out, and you start drinking with them, and they don\u2019t let you leave.\u201dIn particular, Ms Korobova suggests that visitors try mezze, or \u2018small dishes\u2019, a concept that is unique to Greek or Middle Eastern cuisine. Getting mezze in Cyprus is an experience in and of itself: \u201cYou never know what you\u2019re going to get,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u201cYou can either choose meat or fish,\u201d Ms Korobova explains. \u201cAnd then they just bring you all the different dishes together with bread, salad, and dips. You get a little bit of everything.\u201d\u00a0Proteins aside, Ms Korobova also speaks highly of Cyprus\u2019 produce: \u201cSingapore is decent, but it\u2019s nothing compared to places like Greece or Cyprus. Literally everything tastes so good. My little sister used to eat tomatoes like apples, because they\u2019re so sweet.\u201d\u00a0If you are lucky enough to be in Cyprus in December, you are in for a treat, as it is strawberry season!\u00a0A selection of mezze, commonly found in Cypriot restaurants. (Source: Canva)\u201cYou get these ginormous strawberries, baskets of it, for like five euros [US$6]. And you just sit there and eat those strawberries for hours, because they\u2019re so good.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0But if the above has yet to convince you of the appeal of Cyprus, perhaps their bakeries will, for Ms Korobova considers bakeries a must-visit whenever she returns home.\u00a0\u201cThey have everything! Everything is fresh. There\u2019s a sandwich station; there\u2019s the sweets, like all the baklavas (a pastry dessert made of filo pastry, typically filled with nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey); there\u2019s fresh juice and fresh milk; olive pies, halloumi (a type of semi-hard cheese) pastries, and [so on],\u201d she enthuses.\u00a0\u201cIt definitely will make you fat if you indulge,\u201d she warns jokingly. \u201cSometimes when you\u2019re drunk, you walk in and it\u2019s the happiest thing on Earth.\u201d\u00a0Quaint villages and road tripsVenturing on a mere 45-minute drive north of Limassol will land you in Troodos Mountains, where the island\u2019s tallest peak, Mount Olympos, sits. Here, adventures abound.\u00a0The mountain range sees hikers, cyclists, and even skiers in the winter months. For those less athletic, Troodos also offers breathtaking views, cascading waterfalls, stunning architecture, quaint mountain villages and tranquil monasteries, making it a popular spot with locals and tourists.\u00a0Troodos Mountains offer breathtaking views, cascading waterfalls, quaint villages, and plenty of activities for adrenaline junkies. (Source: Canva)Ms Korobova recalls that her parents used to take them to a mountain village called Kalopanayiotis. There, they would stay in a little house on top of the mountain, sitting by the fireplace, and enjoying wine together.\u00a0\u201cI remember walking around, and it was cold,\u201d she relates. \u201cAnd they have grape vines everywhere, so my dad would just grab frozen grapes from the tree.\u201d\u00a0A longer drive out of Ms Korobova\u2019s hometown will bring you to the beach town of Ayia Napa. And while Limassol is a city by the beach all on its own, Ms Korobova insists that Ayia Napa has \u201cthe most beautiful beaches\u201d.\u00a0As an artist herself, Ms Korobova also relished a school trip to Nicosia, Cyprus\u2019 capital, where she managed to get up close and personal with the local arts scene.\u00a0She shares, \u201cThere were some amazing exhibitions… We [had] so much fun meeting artists, going from one gallery to another, exploring. I really love that!\u201d\u00a0Ayia Napa is a beautiful resort town with stunning beaches. (Source: Canva)And while Cyprus may be about 13 times larger than Singapore, which seems like a whole lot, the travel distance from one town to another is not far at all. The Troodos Mountains, Kalopanayiotis, Ayia Napa, and Nicosia can all be accessed in approximately an hour (or less!) by car from Limassol. With less time spent getting around, more time can be devoted to immersing yourself in all that Cyprus has to offer.\u00a0Bringing home the essence of CyprusBut alas, all travels have to come to an end eventually, and when you leave Cyprus, Ms Korobova says, it will be with a \u201cfull belly and a nice suntan.\u201d\u00a0For those looking to bring a part of Cyprus home with them, Ms Korobova suggests Zivania, a Cypriot brandy made from a distillation of a mixture of grape pomace (the skins, pulp, seeds, and stems of grapes) and local dry wines. Referred to as ‘firewater’, the island’s national drink dates back to the 14th century, and was an essential first-aid staple in every Cypriot home.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s like vodka, but more hardcore,\u201d she describes. \u201cIt\u2019s a warm, [feel-good] drink, but it\u2019s also really strong.\u201d\u00a0If you need something a little more family-friendly, Ms Korobova says that baklava is always a safe bet. Otherwise, the nation is also known for its olive oil, with bottles and tins readily-available for purchase even in the airports.\u00a0Essentially, \u201csomething you can consume\u201d, underscores Ms Korobova. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s always food… it\u2019s the best part of Cyprus.\u201d\u00a0Some useful phrasesIt is useful to have some basic phrases at hand. Greek (south) and Turkish (north) are the official languages of the Republic of Cyprus. Although English is widely spoken, when in Cyprus, try these phrases in Greek \/ Turkish:Hello – Yassou \/ MerhabaHow are you? – Tee kahnis \/ Nasuhl-sunuz?Good morning – Kalimera \/ GunaydinGood bye – Yassou \/ AllahaismarladikGood night – Kalinichta \/ Iyi gejelerYes and No – Ne \/ Evet and Ohi \/ HayirThank you – Efharisto \/ Tesekkur ederim, sagolPlease or You’re welcome – Parakalo \/ LutfenI don’t understand – Den katalavaino \/ AnlamiyorumHow much is it? – Posa\u00a0ine? \/ Ne kadarDo you speak English? – Milate anglik\u00e1? \/ Ingilizce biliyormusunuz?Join the conversations on TheHomeGround Asia’s Facebook and Instagram, and get the latest updates via Telegram."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Uncategorized","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Cyprus, a land steeped in legend, beauty, romance and hospitality","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/cyprus-a-land-steeped-in-legend-beauty-and-romance\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]