Exploring the Birth Place ZUES – Mount Ida Crete, Greece VS Ali Ansari

EXPLORING THE BIRTH PLACE OF ZEUS – MOUNT IDA

This is my 5^th month in Greece, and I had always wondered how the silky mountains I see driving to and from the base looked from close by. No it does not snow in Crete, Greece at least not in the cities in and the villages. Curiosity got over me and I made a plan with another gentlemen that was, for security purposes, a experienced driver and a skilled personal. Packed my bag, put my GoPro, my DJI Drone and other video gear in the trunk and waited till tomorrow.

Next day, we started our joinery with Punjabi music blasting off from our car, yes I am that American who blasts Punjabi Music in NATO base and throughout Crete. It was a long drive, and my friend was hungry. At 6’3, 235 pound and trained, he was a force to reckon with and henceforth my first choice for security at this difficult hike. We stopped at a restaurant and he got himself a chicken burger, well aware of my halal diet and religious preferences he got me a Cheese feta sandwich. Through out the time while he was munching on his Non-Halal chicken sandwich, he kept on apologizing to me. His eyes had the “Ali I am ashamed, but I really need to eat this to live” look. Honestly that showed how religiously tolerant Military and his upbringing had made him. I kept on telling him it’s alright, nevertheless he kept on apologizing. The sandwich was amazing though, the delicious bread was made at that restaurant and I respected the fact that he cared about my Halal diet.

We mapped our route and off we went. 25 minutes of driving and we stopped by one of the most beautiful monument I witnessed in Crete. It was a statue of one their founders. The description was in Greek so we couldn’t make sense of it but the statue was erected at the edge of the beautiful sightseeing spot, where one could gaze the entire farmland beneath and that’s exactly what we did for a few minutes. Next, we stopped by a grand chapel next nearby. Grand because it was huge reminded me of Mosque in Seattle, just as the mosque the chapel was beautiful, all chapels in Greece are colorful and beautiful and like always I made small prayer, gazed at the beauty of the chapel and off we went.

As we drove, promising not to stop until we are close by the snowy Greek mountains, our promise was instantly shattered by yet another astonishing statue of three Greek soldiers. It was a tall sculpture of three soldier one on top of another representing the unity expressed by Greek militia in its struggle against its invaders through it warring time. Although complex in design, this statue was very well detailed and brought the feeling of Greek nationalism. We took pictures, interacted with the nearby locals and off we drove hoping to not break the promise of stopping until the mountains.

Finally in about T-20 minutes, we were about to hit the highest mountain peak accessible by roads. I was finally going to see the love and hate of Chicago – THE SNOW! I was excited and you can’t blame me for that, see I am guy born in the South Asian desert, immigrated to states and now serving in this European hub so my preferences are worldwide and You shouldn’t blame me for missing something I acquired a love and hate relationship to #WindyCity.

 

However, in our route, we got ambushed by- you guess it, not Armed bandits but stubborn GEEKS. These cute fluffy animals were not crossing the roads, they were actually blocking it! In an essence blackmailing us for tributes for our safe pass away. We didn’t have pasture, so I , as a good Pakistan American, who have dealt with the beautiful maintains goats of Northern Pakistan’s valley, ,went and negotiated with 40 plus geeks. See I don’t speak animal, neither do they speak 5 languages I understand so it was either I was going to eat them or they were going to eat me or I could’ve given them my remaining lays as a distraction and ran off and that’s exactly what I did, I threw my remaining lays chips on the far side of the road and they rushed for those chops and in that rush, before the Geeks could realize, we drove off. Score One for human and zero for Geeks!

Finally we reached the highest peak. The view was mixed, on one hand it was death defying and I wouldn’t recommend people with faint heart, acrophobic or agrophobic to try this place. On the other hand, the view was a marvelous, a genuine example of Allah’s marvelous creation. On the surface, the scary yet amazing view clearly screamed that the world is made for strong humans to travel but deep inside I knew the world is made for all humans to explore, take it from me, I was a small kid scared of insects and my patients discomfort at hospital and now I am defending this country with my own life, hiking to one of the highest peaks in Greece and though fully shaved I look tuff from the outside, I am still a kid at heart but I am #ProudMuslim and I am not scared of anything but Allah. Needless the mountain range was gorgeous with a deep valley in the bottom. Many mountain had lush green Alpine trees and many had vividly white snow. One couldn’t really tell we were in the island surrounded by Mediterranean sea.
MYTHOLOGY

Most things in Greeks are associated with Greek mythology and this highest mountain peak was no different. It’s a undisputed mythological fact that Zeus was born on Crete And the Ide on Cave on the Mount Ida- highest mountain in Crete is regarded as one of the Birth places of Zeus. The Greek Mythology claims that Zeus was the youngest son of the Titans (early Gods)- Cronus and Rhea. When he was born, his father Cronus intended to swallow him as he had all of Zeus’s siblings: Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Hera. But Rhea (mother Titan) hid the newborn in a cave on Mount Iba (This Mountain) in Crete. It is because of that the mountain’s views are so deadly yet beautiful.

AIR WARFARE SPEC SKILLS –
DJI MAV 3 HRS

We took bunch of amazing pictures, and then as an Enlisted Air warfare specialist with 1 year self-drone training, I did the defying, against all the odds of high winds, snow and precipitation. I decided to fly my drone at this uncertain heights and geographical area. It was not a wise decision, but nevertheless My decision. I knew this was the only time I was getting to explore this place and though the drone was expensive, I had full faith in my flying skills and so I asked Allah for his blessings and protection for me and the drone as this was a extremely steep place to navigate a professional drone. Eventually , I recited “Bismillah” and started it.

One of the biggest difficulties was to find a smooth surface for Drone takeoff. No worries I used my Northwester bag and a plain roc as a takeoff platform for my drone. The winds were very high and strong, but the Allah’s blessing coupled with DJI technology and my skills defied that. Although the camera position was all messed up and I could barely get any good footage. The drone was still able to withstand high nautical winds, fast precipitation and dense snow. We did loose or four- five times in this Arial maze mountain range and valley but I didn’t panic and was able to navigate it back to us all while capturing magnificent footage #ReconnSquadronSkills. While I was flying my drone, my security was recording the surrounding nature and my flying skills, in an essence keeping a tab on my drone as he was certain we were to lose it but I had faith in Allah and myself and Allah blesses those who work for the community #StandUpWorkForIslamAndChangePreception. as the rain and snow intensified and our hands began to freeze and unable to move, I decided to land to drone and wrap it up, it was at this time my Chicago skin started to form and where others were going to freezing and putting hands in their pocket I was functioning properly. Landed! And off we go.

PURE LOVE- THE ELDERLY GREEK COUPLE WHO LOVED ME

As I trekked down from the mountain top, I witnessed True love, an elderly couple in their late 60’s cuddling with each other and trying to get a perfect selfie of them with the unforgiving mountains on the back, multiple tries but they still couldn’t get one. IT WAS POLAR COLD and a steady selfie shot was next to impossible. As gentlemen #YeahRight, with my hands still frozen from 3 hours at this mountain, I went to them and respectfully asked them if they needed me to take their picture, because that’s what we young generation do, Take care of our elders!

I took multiple pictures: portraits, landscapes, different angle of the valley, different mountain background – sorta of like a small mini Photo shoot and they fanatically loved it. They hugged me as if I was their own Son – lost in a disaster and found during this deployment. I actually do have the characteristics of bonding well with elders #Mama’sShowTherapyWorkedWonders. Then we exchanged words, I didn’t express her for a second that I was feeling cold so that they doesn’t feel bad, the old lady asked me my name and likewise, then she asked “Ali where are Y-O-U FROM?” I knew that question was coming. Anytime anyone meets me, 10 minutes into the conversation they ask me that question. Brown Skin, Little accent, Multiple Languages, Western outfit, Eastern manners, Curry smell Red, White and Blue Patriotism at heart and International education! Who would not ask ? Mind you, Any time someone asks me about my nationality, I have to completely politically and geographically correct as follow up questions come right before I even end my answer.

MY PAKISTANI- AMERICAN HERITAGE

I told her, “Ma’am, I was born in PAKISTAN, but immigrated to the States at 16”. Surprisingly, No follow up question came, but she gave me the look- The look of the hope, maybe she was an immigrant herself, there are many Albanian, Moroccan and other immigrants in Greece. Regardless, for a fact, she knew the struggle of an immigrant. We immigrants have it hard; we leave all of belonging for a different life in the new land. Many of us get disowned by our past friends, relatives and institutions for leaving them On the Other hand it takes immense effort for us to get integrated in our new societies and it is that time that our faith in Allah keeps us moving forward regardless of what anyone says or do. This is why Hispanics, Arabic, Indian, Pakistani – All Recent Immigrants are more religious than others. Thankfully I was spared and only not do I have friends that will drive from other cities for me #Ali, but I have friends who will put their life on line for me #Tracy #Mallonski #Arsalan #Nian #Lethanial #many more. However this kind of loyalty and friendship develops when you are fighting for the right cause. Fighting to defend your country and simultaneously changing the perspective of your community is the biggest cause. I highly suggest every Muslim American/Canadian to serve at least one tour in American military and then a follow up in politics, so they realize that American military defends the weak from the tyrants regardless of the color, race, religion, etc . For Allah sake, I am a Pakistani Born, BROWN American outreach Muslim proudly serving this country using my skills, languages and sharp memory acquired through multiple cultural exposures. It is our politics and leadership that needs revision not our unbiased UCMJ driven armed forces.

Much thanks was exchanged on both sides, and then I asked that lady, as a Greek citizen, if she had a message for the citizens of Pakistan. This lady won my heart! You won’t bevies what she said. Quote un quote and as seen on this unedited 4k video “All countries have good and bad people, I am sure Pakistan also have a lot of good people”. I wasn’t expectation such a fabulous answer from her, maybe a “Have a nice day people.” or something along those lines. But I didn’t expect her to say these wise words on top of this mountain station. Pakistan has an immense international respect due to its world changing role during the 50-80’s . Only recently has it came under criticism for things that its local population and masses are not responsible for. I myself is a classic example of people fleeing the once great tourist spot and coming to the US. Had it not been the war on terror and the subsequent corruption that came along with the influx of money, I may have never immigrated to this great country.

STABLE BUT STEEP WARFARE DRIVING

I hugged her, and told her good bye, took some more selfie’s with the lodge and the mountains on the back, made Dua for Muslims around the world, my Adopted and Birth country and My parent especially my mother and off we drove back. It had started raining at this time, the Rain turned bad, with few thunderstorm as if Zeus was mad at us for invading his birthplace and flying a drone there, we speed our car as fast as we can and cruised through the abandoned towns, the road were wide and open and velvet and there was no reason to slow down, Additionally my partner was claimed to have learned Warfare driving with special warfare crew, so it was the right time to test it, and he indeed proved himself. We descended pretty fast, straight roads, curves, straight road, curves and then zig zags. These were Type A car roads where I would race my Miata, g37, or Z’s but we had a Seat Leon here and these paths were unpredictable. The car wobbled a lot, side skirted and in 2 cases drifted but this guy handled it like a #Pro. I wasn’t scared a lot, in our line of work we have to hold trust, for without it we cannot guarantee to defend this great nation. Natuarall the trust made so called American south and the Pakistani Chichora come in me and I was yelling “Yi hi” and “ Oei teri khair”.

We reached the populated villages , and by this time we had left the storm behind us and you won’t believe what came next. An entirely opaque rainbow. We parked the car, clouds only few feet on top of us and a complete rainbow on our sight. Now I am just 22, My partner just came drive like we were at the battle zone in Baghdad and armed militants are behind us, and now I see Allah’s gift in term of rainbow. What a drastic change. #AllahDecidesBestForYou. We enjoyed this rainbow until it fades away. Then hop on our hatchback and off we drive to the city to grab dinner.

DINNER IN CHANIA

Partner offer dinner at his expense to make up for the haram sandwich he ate in front of me. #TrueAmerican#GoodGuy. In an essence he still felt guilty for eating that haram sandwich in front of me and he was concerned that I may have taken an offence to that, but I really didn’t. I knew that we were short on time, he needed to eat, and as long as my diet was halal and my partner his preference I was okay. Surprise surprise this was sea food restraint so there were more halal options here, I order the Greek pizza with Shrimps as the topping and it was just delicious and to be frank very big for me.

SUMMARY

In summary , this is how one Pakistani – American kid touched the Greek skies, experienced the snow, earned love in a Greek couples heart, invaded Zues’s birthplace with my drone, earned the respect of a former Special forces and came down to tell his great experience. I Hope that this blog shows you the beauty of Mount Ida, Please go visit this hidden wonder in Crete, Greece.