Turkey - Istanbul We are back - Day 7

Good morning Bolu, the snow was still around and it is about 300km to Istanbul. Sekaan, the driver wasn't feeling well but thank goodness he was able to drive us

The white snow was still there as travel towards our next destination.

A break in our journey for toilet and refreshment.

I guess it is a popular spot to stop for a rest.

Generally 1 lira for a small glass of Turkish tea and snow is slowly disappearing as we approach Istanbul.

Here we are... Istanbul coming from the European side to the Asia side. The feeling of chaotic traffic jam began to effect the drive and it's really really bad just to cover a short distance.

The Bosphorus Bridge, also called the First Bosphorus Bridge or simply the First Bridge is one of two suspension bridges spanning the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul,Turkey;  connecting Europe and Asia (the other one is the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, which is called the Second Bosphorus Bridge.) The bridge is located between Ortaköy (on the European side) and Beylerbeyi (on the Asian side)

Our first stop in Istanbul was at the Galata Bridge for a lunch & a cruise at Bophorus Strait. Bosphorus is a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia.

The Galata Bridge was a symbolic link between the traditional city of Istanbul proper, site of the imperial palace and principal religious and secular institutions of the empire, and the districts of Galata, Beyoğlu, Şişli and Harbiye where a large proportion of the inhabitants were non-Muslims and where foreign merchants and diplomats lived and worked. In this respect the bridge bonded these two distinctive cultures.
All daily city tours in Istanbul include this bridge as it is the passageway to the Old City of Constantinople.

Our lunch at Mio Galata Restaurant as part and parcel of the tour deal, eating here at your own accord would be rather adventurous. They don't seems honest I guess this is in the city just be careful.

Grilled mackerel fish with rice... I like it especially we have been over dosed with its typical Turkish food.

The bus will wait for us here at Galata Bridge while to continue to walk the the cruise boat.

The Bosphorus Cruise - Beyond the Bosphorus Bridge there's plenty more to see: Beylerbeyi Palace, the village of Çengelköy,Kuleli Naval Academy, Arnavutköy with its photogenic Ottoman yalıs (wooden Bosphorus seaside mansions), Rumeli Hisarı (the mighty Fortress of Europe), the town of Bebek with its pretty bay, and Bosphorus University.

The excitement on the boat on the upper deck.

Cruising the Boshpuros and enjoying the beautiful scenery full of history fantastic architecture and lovely weather.

I need fresh air and I cannot stand the choppy sea, I was at this rear breathing slowly trying to enjoy seeing the seagulls following us, As far as scenery is concerned it was awesome except the sea sick.

North of the Fatih Bridge, second to be built across the Bosphorus, is Anadolu Hisarı (the Fortress of Anatolia), Küçüksu Kasrı (a fine little rococo palace), the Hıdiv Kasrı (fine Art Nouveau villa built in 1900 for the Khedive of Egypt), the pretty restaurant village ofTarabya, the town of Büyükdere (with its excellentSadberk Hanım Museum), and Sarıyer (with a fish market and several seafood restaurants on the shore).

During our visit in Turkey we saw quite a number of water closet with hygienic toilet seat cover. This one was seen in the boat we took for the cruise.

At Eminonu Quarter, a place where people love to hang around, do marketing or pass their time in Istanbul. I love the sight.

The Spice Bazaar Turkey is one of the largest bazaars in the city it is located in the Eminönü quarter of the Fatih district, it is the most famous covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar.

We were here to buy saffron for a small package which cost US$50. We hope it's authentic and I believe it was. This guy impressed with his Malay Language and he picked it up from Dummies.

Even the locals visit this spice market, pricing is reasonable, people are helpful and we are assured of its quality and authenticity.

A business card from Aladdin.

Moving around the outside of the Spice Market and seeing the local market scene was awesome.

The Yeni Cami, meaning New Mosque; originally named the Valide Sultan Mosque (Turkish: Valide Sultan Camii) and laterNew Valide Sultan Mosque (Turkish: Yeni Valide Sultan Camii) after its partial reconstruction and completion between 1660 and 1665; is an Ottoman imperial mosque. It is situated on the Golden Horn, at the southern end of the Galata Bridge, and is one of the famous architectural landmarks of Istanbul.

The traffic situation in Istanbul was chaotic I think it's worst than Kuala Lumpur. We saw a impatient car going up pavement just to gain a short distance. And it surely took us a long while to reach the Grand Bazaar. 

The road to Grand bazaar was horendous and narrow we were late just made in time to enter the bazaar but no shopping was possible. At least we have been to Grand Bazaar......hehehe.

We were lucky to gain access into the bazaar. The Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı, meaning ‘Covered Bazaar’; also Büyük Çarşı, meaning ‘Grand Bazaar’) in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. In 2014, it is listed No.1 among world's most-visited tourist attractions with 91,250,000 annual visitors.

The Grand Bazaar is located inside the walled city of Istanbul, in the district of Fatih and in the neighbourhood (mahalle) bearing the same name (Kapalıçarşı). It stretches roughly from west to east between the mosques of Beyazit and of Nuruosmaniye. The Bazaar can easily be reached from Sultanahmet and Sirkeci by trams (Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı stop).

Let's forget the bus we shall walk to the restaurant and for the last night in Istanbul we shall have Chinese food.

Chang Cheng Chinese Restaurant is located near the Sultan Ahmed Mosque aka Blue Mosque. Well the food is Chinese no doubt but nothing like our own at home.

Turkey Here We come 2014 - Day 1

We drove from home to KLIA instead of using a taxi service and Jo's Freed is big enough to take 5 of us including the luggage. The car was parked at Block A of KLIA car park building with an anticipation of less than RM300 charges. By the way, the taxi fare is RM220 per trip(van) hence it would cost RM440.00.
It has been a long time since the whole family travelled together for a holiday, it was after several attempts we managed to get the boys to go together and it was a 9 days trip to Turkey. We have to endure a direct flight of more than 10 hours. Thank to MAS for a safe journey.

Here we go to Turkey to explore the land that connects Asia and Europe with a setting of early civilization.

All of us were excited upon arriving at Ataturk International Airport at Istanbul.

Turkey is a secular state with no official state religion and 99.8% of the population are Muslim.

A 27years old by the name of Kaan was our tour local guide for the next 9 days with a group of 24 Malaysians. It was going to be a long journey for the next 9 days covering a distance of more than 3,000km.

Our first visit was Topkapi Palace Museum at Hippodrome Square or rather Hippodrome of Constantinople now known as Sultan Ahmet Square.

It was the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for approximately 400 years (1465–1856).

It is now a museum and as such a major tourist attraction. It also contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed's cloak and sword

Topkapı Palace was the main residence of the sultan and his court. It was initially the seat of government as well as the imperial residence. Even though access was strictly regulated, inhabitants of the palace rarely had to venture out since the palace functioned almost as an autonomous entity, a city within a city. Audience and consultation chambers and areas served for the political workings of the empire. For the residents and visitors, the palace had its own water supply through underground cisterns and the great kitchens provided for nourishment on a daily basis. Dormitories, gardens, libraries, schools, even mosques, were at the service of the court. Attached to the palace were diverse imperial societies of artists and craftsmen collectively called the Ehl-i Hiref (Community of the Talented), which produced some of the finest work in the whole empire.

Out in the street of Istanbul at the Hippodrome where we took a walk to a 3D studio.

Where we we shown a clip "Dream of Turkey" - a sky ride visiting places of interest in Turkey.

Lunch at Buhara 93 Restaurant.

Back to Sultan Ahmet Square for our next visit to the Blue Mosque after the afternoon prayer time.

SultanAhmed Mosque is a historic mosque in Istanbul. The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.

It was built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Its Külliye contains a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is still popularly used as a mosque.

Best way to see great architecture of the Blue Mosque is to approach it from the Hippodrome. (West side of the mosque) As if you are non-Muslim visitor, you also have to use same direction to enter the Mosque.

One for the family album at the Blue Mosque.

The long journey began immediately after the visit at the Blue  Mosque and it was the final lap to Canakkale. Canakkale is located at the Asia continent that requires a 20minutes ferry ride from Kilitbahir.

We missed our 8pm ferry to cross the strait, the delay was due the the rain that slowed the driving. Our driver Sekan was good at his work, we wish to thank him for his excellent driving and patience throughout the journey.

Canakale is just across the strait and that was where we stayed for the first night in Turkey at Parion Hotel. A relatively a new hotel claimed to be 5 stars locally but I don't think so in an international standard. Anyway we just want to have a good rest for the night and use the wifi.

Till then we see you for Day 2 of this trip.