Day 1
When we reach the airport, we start looking for our tour mates, our tour mates are mostly aunties and uncles with their families. Those within the 20-30 age group only consists of M and me and the tour leader Alex. It suppose to be a 10 day trip but the traveling time of almost 10 hours is already considered one day, and we even have to stop over in Dubai.
Day 2
Sightseeing starts upon reaching the airport. We first went to this Topkapi palace to see the old buildings, royal antiques, courtyard and learn about how the old Sultan used to live in this palace.
The entrance to the palace
Along the alleys in the palace
Asia and Europe combined
Anyway both of us were half asleep and lying in bed waiting for the morning call. We were suppose to wake up at 530, but as time goes, i heard knocking sounds and packing...i thought M was up already but she was still on the bed, so i got like kinda freak out and just close my eyes trying to sleep till both of us heard this auntie shouting 快点啦！That was like so loud which got both of us awaked and it was already 610, the time for us to gather for breakfast. I mean its like how can the morning call misses us, we are not the last room nor the first room. And then normally, the morning calls would ring till someone pick up the phone right. Both of us DID NOT hear it at all. ...I don't dare to ask the reception, can you imagine if they tell us, "Oh someone did pick up the morning call" Guess we would freak out on the spot.
Asia and Europe combined
Next, we went to the Hippodrome Square to see the Egyptian Obelisk and the Constantine and Serpentine Column. After that, we went to the Blue Mosque.
Tourists are considered visitors so we do not need to wash our faces, hands and legs before we go in, however we still need to take our shoes out.
Tourists are considered visitors so we do not need to wash our faces, hands and legs before we go in, however we still need to take our shoes out.
The interior of the Blue Mosque
Last we went to the Grand Bazaar, whereby they sell jeweleries, leather goods, sovenirs and many more. There were alot of shops there but most sell repeated items. They normally marked up the price and it really depend on our bargaining powers to get a good price. Most of the stall keepers can speak English, some even tried to speak Konichiwa and An nyeong ha sse yo to us, thinking that we are Japanese and Korean. I can only divide them into two Fs...either they are Friendly or they are Fierce...why...well we went to this little lane to see Turkey tshirts, then the men starts smiling at us asking where we came from. We stop by this tshirt shop and we were like not too sure how the sizes are like in Turkey. The stall keeper even showed us his belly in a very funny way and advise us on the size we should take. Perhaps they are too friendly, this man almost wanted to try a smaller tshirt size on me from the front. I was like pretty stoned for a moment till M reminded me to turn to the back for him to test the size. Heng, never got molested or what la. Anyway i got the tshirt from him without much bargain.
We went to another Tshirt stall and this guy is very fierce. He starts by asking us if we can accept the price of 28...COME ON LO!!! i got mine at 10 from the previous shop and this one was double the price! We asked if we buy more can pay cheaper like 12. He keep saying no, den he reduce to 23, we insist we would be buying like more tshirts and want it at 12. He still strongly objected.
We were pretty quiet after that, in fact i was quite scared of him,he is so fierce and i really felt like leaving. This man actually talked to M fiercely," LOOK INTO MY EYES AND TELL ME, NO 12, 13 -20 NO PROBLEM!" Both of us start to look away. Scary leh, what if he can hypnotize people! He ended with 15 but we still wanted 12. In the end, he sold us the 4 tshirts at 12 instead. And he turned back and scolded something in Turkish language...haha but dun care la, we still got our deals! Although we have had such experience, it was kind of fun to still get what we want, majority of the stall owners are still friendly and we feel very pretty there. The way they looked at us is like never see Asian pretty girls like that...wahahhah! The men there are mostly good looking and to say the truth, we seem to have developed a higher self confidence and self esteem there.
It starts to get dark by 430...anyway the time difference in Turkey and Singapore is 6 hours. We made our way to Bolu and stayed in a mountain hotel. It was snowing and was really cold.
Ghostly encounter 1
The first night was the most uncomfortable as we did not have a very well lit room. I do not know if it is considered as ghostly but i found it difficult to sleep. I ended up listening to my MP3 player and i knew i manage to sleep finally. However halfway through, i was suddenly awaken by a loud Christmas music from the MP3....the lyrics go like this...."Hark the Herald Angel Sing"....Its very loud and i can still remember it...ok the scary part is...this song wasn't in my MP3 at all. I switch off my MP3 and tried to sleep again without it. M woke up awhile after...it was like 3 plus and i was told during breakfast, she was woken up by a nightmare too.
Ghostly encounter 2
We went to another Tshirt stall and this guy is very fierce. He starts by asking us if we can accept the price of 28...COME ON LO!!! i got mine at 10 from the previous shop and this one was double the price! We asked if we buy more can pay cheaper like 12. He keep saying no, den he reduce to 23, we insist we would be buying like more tshirts and want it at 12. He still strongly objected.
We were pretty quiet after that, in fact i was quite scared of him,he is so fierce and i really felt like leaving. This man actually talked to M fiercely," LOOK INTO MY EYES AND TELL ME, NO 12, 13 -20 NO PROBLEM!" Both of us start to look away. Scary leh, what if he can hypnotize people! He ended with 15 but we still wanted 12. In the end, he sold us the 4 tshirts at 12 instead. And he turned back and scolded something in Turkish language...haha but dun care la, we still got our deals! Although we have had such experience, it was kind of fun to still get what we want, majority of the stall owners are still friendly and we feel very pretty there. The way they looked at us is like never see Asian pretty girls like that...wahahhah! The men there are mostly good looking and to say the truth, we seem to have developed a higher self confidence and self esteem there.
It starts to get dark by 430...anyway the time difference in Turkey and Singapore is 6 hours. We made our way to Bolu and stayed in a mountain hotel. It was snowing and was really cold.
under the heavy snow
Ghostly encounter 1
The first night was the most uncomfortable as we did not have a very well lit room. I do not know if it is considered as ghostly but i found it difficult to sleep. I ended up listening to my MP3 player and i knew i manage to sleep finally. However halfway through, i was suddenly awaken by a loud Christmas music from the MP3....the lyrics go like this...."Hark the Herald Angel Sing"....Its very loud and i can still remember it...ok the scary part is...this song wasn't in my MP3 at all. I switch off my MP3 and tried to sleep again without it. M woke up awhile after...it was like 3 plus and i was told during breakfast, she was woken up by a nightmare too.
Ghostly encounter 2
Day 3
We went to Ankara where we visit this Ataturk Mausoleum. This place is very grand.
There were smart looking soldiers in different coloured unforms - blue from air force, green from the army and black from the navy. They specially choose the good looking ones to be there and they are supposed to stand very still, not allowed to move or laugh or talk. However...
Can you see what the army soldier on the left is doing?
This is one navy soldier.
This is one navy soldier.
I love this picture...look at the scenery behind.
We went to the Anatolian Civilisation Museum after that....this is taken outside the museum. Our friendly turkish tour guide.
After that we made our way to Cappadocia where we first went to see the belly dance performance. The dancer is real good, she is so sexy and charming even though she seemed to be very meaty. She can really shake her whole body...and to dance belly dance...u must have a belly!!! They normally choose the dancers who used to have babies then they would have the fats to shake. To those who cant shake off the fats on your belly, try this dance.
We made our way to our hotel. This is a much more comfortable hotel.
Day 4
There was alot of sight seeing. We went to this underground city of Kaymaki where we were climbing and walking like monkeys in the tunnels and rooms.
We are inside the cave now
We went 4 floors down into the earth. This is their toilets...and we are doing the big business.
Next we took photos at the Uchisar castle village, look at the smooth hills...
Last, we went to the Goreme Open Air Museum where we see rock carved churches and little houses. Those ancient people have to climb into the houses.
Our tour mates
We enjoyed climbing around the rock regions. It is an adventure. Anyway we come across this turkish tour guide from another group. Well, he always recognise us and always treat M as Miss Singapore. There were alot of funny things he did which i would mention later. Last, we went for our Turkish bath, quite interesting but pretty expensive. We are being bathed by the Turkish women and they would scrub us with soap and put us in a large amount of foam. The hot water is exceptionally comfortable till i do not want to get up. The bad thing is, there wasn't enough time for us to take our own sweet time to relax and the most scary thing is, M got her locker key changed from 6 to 9...We almost got the fright of our lives when her key could not open no 6. We were like siao lioa...all her things would be gone! No passport to go back to Singapore and i've to return alone telling her mum that she is staying in Turkey forever. Fortunately, the lady got another no 6 key and opened the locker and all her things were still intact.
Day 5
We woke up very early to go take the hot air balloon. Let me show you the rock landscape of Cappadocia.
Before we went up the balloon
Look at the landscape 
See this short clip on the rock regions. Please ignore the sounds there...Unintentioned commentaries by us... and the sound of the fire blasting into the balloon...
we ended off with a champagne toast and a certificate of flight
Imagine the tall pillars at the side are lit up with oil lamps...
We spent the rest of day 5 travelling to Pamukkale and spent a night at a comfortable hotel there but we do not have the time to enjoy the facilities. There was Jacuzzi and a hot thermal swimming pool and during dinner, there were performances and we actually went up dancing with the people there...hahaha so fun!
Day 6We woke up very early to go to Hierapolis, this ancient Roman city and then to cotton castle where the thermal water is supposed to make your skin smooth.
We next went to Ephesus, a port city in ancient times with Greek settlers.Day 6We woke up very early to go to Hierapolis, this ancient Roman city and then to cotton castle where the thermal water is supposed to make your skin smooth.
This is the city, which got destroyed by earthquakes. 
This is the cotton castle. 
We went to the House of Virgin Mary . The place she lived before she died
This is the cotton castle. 
We went to the House of Virgin Mary . The place she lived before she died
Imagine the tall pillars at the side are lit up with oil lamps...
And that was the end of day 6. I would give the link showing more photos at the last part. Anyway remember the turkish guide from another group whom i talk about previously. Well we walked past him and heard him telling his tourists about the history of the city, " Ephesus originated from the "blah blah blah"........oh and here comes Miss Singapore." He is very funny lo, he is working and he can still disturbed Michelle.
After that we went to buy Turkish tea and sovenirs. This guy who obviously looks like 25 tells us he is 45...but he look younger because he used this particular cream...we made this sound " diao'ng (...u hear this kind of sound in cartoons when people faint or something funny happened)" or should i say another expression we used for "duh" and he asked us what is "diao' ng", i mean how to explain to him...its like our slang which only me and michelle can understand. We went walking around the shop, and whenever this guy sees us, he would make the "diao'ng"sound. Very funny and friendly guy, just cannot stop laughing at him. So if next time you do go into the shop, and this guy "diao'ng" at you, you know where this originates.
Day 7
After that we went to buy Turkish tea and sovenirs. This guy who obviously looks like 25 tells us he is 45...but he look younger because he used this particular cream...we made this sound " diao'ng (...u hear this kind of sound in cartoons when people faint or something funny happened)" or should i say another expression we used for "duh" and he asked us what is "diao' ng", i mean how to explain to him...its like our slang which only me and michelle can understand. We went walking around the shop, and whenever this guy sees us, he would make the "diao'ng"sound. Very funny and friendly guy, just cannot stop laughing at him. So if next time you do go into the shop, and this guy "diao'ng" at you, you know where this originates.
Day 7
For Day 6 and 7, the places we visited are towards the western side of Turkey so it was less cold as we travelled. We went to this ancient city of Pergamon to see The Acropolis...This city is even older than Ephesus....it was mostly during the BC period.
Look at the pillars of the walkway.
Ancient people are not very tall...very short steps in the Theater.
The old rocks of the mental hospital...
the round walkway...crazy people walk in rounds?
The enlarged Trojan Horse...the original horse was smaller
The rock constructions.
Ancient people are not very tall...very short steps in the Theater.
The old rocks of the mental hospital...
the round walkway...crazy people walk in rounds?
The enlarged Trojan Horse...the original horse was smaller
The rock constructions.
Day 8We made our way back to Istanbul, First by taking this ferry that took our coach along and then drives along the shores of Marmara Sea.
The sun is about to rise...Look at the cars parked down there.
The sun rise and we are in the "first class cabin"
We visited the St Sophia Museum...which was a church initially but turned to mosque later. See Christian drawings in the centre but muslim writings on the left and right.
This is the gate to heaven...people who walked through would go to heaven.
People put their thumb in this hole in the pillar and try to turn one round...Their wishes would come through especially for women who want to have babies.
We climbed up these slopes to the gallery and nearly slipped when we tried to come down. Think we looked pretty funny and cartoon and the turkish cannot help but look at us as we went down the slopes in our boots. One guy tried to video us even! I hope i wont see it on you tube manz
The sun rise and we are in the "first class cabin"
We visited the St Sophia Museum...which was a church initially but turned to mosque later. See Christian drawings in the centre but muslim writings on the left and right.
This is the gate to heaven...people who walked through would go to heaven.
People put their thumb in this hole in the pillar and try to turn one round...Their wishes would come through especially for women who want to have babies.
We climbed up these slopes to the gallery and nearly slipped when we tried to come down. Think we looked pretty funny and cartoon and the turkish cannot help but look at us as we went down the slopes in our boots. One guy tried to video us even! I hope i wont see it on you tube manz
After the visit to the museum, we went to check in at the hotel and decide to check out the shopping areas ourselves. We went to this mall called Olivium and there were many people. Security was pretty tight as we have to put our bags for scanning at the mall. This seemed to be the only mall there. Very few shopping areas in Istanbul but we saw MacDonald and Burger King! Its like "WAH" cos our food for the past few days were not very fantastic....the food was soooo healthy that we really craved for the unhealthy food. I was pretty scared at the mall as we were the only Asians. I do not know if we are exceptionally pretty but while we were buying perfume at one of the counters, we were bring videoed again side view...must be la huh...too pretty liao...they cannot help it. "Diao'ng"
When we go back, as what we have expected...this is the kind of food we eat.
This was our meal which was almost similar for the past few days...the appetizer...the main course of rice and kebabs are not served yet.When we go back, as what we have expected...this is the kind of food we eat.
We went for some last minute walk and shopping near the hotel at night before we go to sleep.
Day 9
This is the only day we woke up abit later as we are preparing to go back to Singapore
Day 9
This is the only day we woke up abit later as we are preparing to go back to Singapore
Coming to the airport entrance
We went taking photos with our tour mates with wonderful memories of Turkey. I think i would definitely miss Turkey. I would miss the weather, the friendly people and everything there.
For more photos, please go to http://picasaweb.google.com/jadebottle/TurkeyTrip161207251207
1 comment:
wah..so nice..I also want to go for hot air balloon ride :>
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