Today, let's modify our usual format where normally I would tell a story and followed through with photos. Today, I'll let you use your intelligence to guess what this place really is......I'm sure there are many intelligent readers out there who can guess the right answer. Well...here goes.....
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| Budgies of all sorts of colors......the full spectrum.... |
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| This one have many exotic birds and chickens.....and even rabbits |
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| They are really beautiful to look at..... |
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| In their natural habitat |
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| And then...you get to see some "show-offs"..... |
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| Don't you simply love this "long-tailed"? |
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| I did say 'exotic, didn't I ?? |
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| Ahh..here comes another "show-off".....he just sort of stared right to me, as if challenging me...Ok Ok..you are prettier, happy now? |
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| This is one BIRD....that is beautiful from any angle, even from the back...wow...what a 'pick-up' line !! |
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| Notice how these ducks transform the lake and make it 'mesmerising'.....i guess in Istanbul, they don't eat "Peking Duck", thats why these ducks are so serene... |
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| Even Black is sooo beautiful, especially a Black Swan. Btw did you watch the "Black Swan" movie by Natalie Portman? Im ashamed to admit that till today, I could not understand what the movie was all about. Is it just me? |
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| Ahh...pure white swans...but of course ! |
So, is this a Bird Park or an amusement Park? Look at the following photos......
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| View from the highway. You can clearly see the amusement rides and the photos of the birds were shot inside this park... |
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| Childrens play house..... |
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| Pink roses fronting a ride ........ |
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| and red roses were everywhere...... |
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| red and pink roses to soothe your eyes..... |
So....what do you think it is....... ??
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| Its actually a shopping Outlet.....A Viaport Outlet on the Asian (Anatolian) side of Istanbul. It's about a half hour drive away from the European side and it's open 7 days a week from 10.00am to 10.00pm. The birds park and the amusement park is just another way of enticing the families to come shop here and their children can have fun too while "Anne" and "Baba" shops. |
So, did you get it right? Sometimes, things are not as they seems,right? The Turks have a very closed family institution. The children normally will stay with the parents until they got married. In other words, as long as they are still single, they remain with the family and the uncles and aunties will protect them at all times. Hence, they always incorporate family as a unit when they design or launch a development or commercial establishments. Viaport Outlet is a good example of such development. Its so heartwarming to see big family groups shopping together.
And I love Turks' young people. They are mostly well behaved and very helpful and conscientious. I suppose the 2 year compulsory "National services" helped a lot in molding their youth. I am yet to see or encounter a youngster (Turks) who is a nuisance or is rude. They all are so adorable, boys and girls and I think Turkey is in the right track in 'bringing up' their new generations.
But...I guess it's not good enough for the Turks. They do not seem to realise how 'good' their youngster are. They are very pleasant and not boisterous at all, as compared to other youth in other countries. One day, I saw a lady scolded a group of young boys and girls on the tram, probably because they didn't offer their seat to her. She gave them one long lecture, spanning all the way from the SultanAhmet stop to Kabatas stop. The poor kids just sat down quietly and smiled when they caught my eyes. Shishh...I wish I had told that lady to "count her blessing" and learn to appreciate her young people more.
Ok..back to Viaport, needless to say, it's a great Outlet centre with many many brands on offer. The best part is...the services are not Outlet level at all. The services are as great if not better than other regular shops. And the sales assistants are as helpful as ever...so, if you found yourself in Istanbul, make it a point to go to the Viaport Outlet center and I can promise you...you won't regret it!! But don't go too early ...or you'll have to brave the cold as even the restaurants would only be opened at 8am, so be warned....and you'll enjoy your shopping. And if..you feet and body ached from all those shopping, there are some massage chairs where you can use after putting in coins into the slot. Sounds like fun..eh....
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| It's called Viaport as it is next to the Sabiha Gokchen Havalimani where coincidentally.....Malaysian Airport Berhad is managing it with their local partner! It has been told that a lot of tourists would fly in to Sabiha Gokchen Airport, stay at an hotel within that shopping area, go downstairs to shop and then fly out of Istanbul without even setting foot in the European Istanbul! and btw.....the hotel serves the best "croissant and butter" pudding....yum yum !!! |
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| As with these ducks, me too was waiting eagerly for the shops to open. Hubby had just left me in the almost sub-zero temperature and I was 3 hours away from getting out of the cold. Not surprisingly, I was down with severe cold the following day. At least these ducks have their feathers.... |
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| see how liberated these ducks are.....and man eat in a natural environment.... |
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| One of the most beautiful McDonald that I've ever visited..... |
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| Layout and time schedule at Viaport Outlet, Istanbul |
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| Hmmm...he doesn't look so happy...maybe he thought I'm a Paparazzi...and he's a superstar. well...in a way, they were, people were crowding to touch them... |
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| Now...he's happy...... |
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| Ahhh...what a sighting! A white Peacock! Perched so majestically on the rooftop. He didn't budge an inch even as I went near him to take shots. What a magnificent bird...so breath-taking..... |
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Look at him....so proud, so majestic, so commanding!
I was told that if you saw a white peacock, you will be bestowed with good luck. Turns out that day, I was hit by a hailstorm the size of a golf ball. one even had a bulls-eye on my big toe and it hurts for days.....and later on, it rained so heavily that the traffic jam was horrendous. worse...I didn't take shelter inside the shop but just sit underneath the sail-canopy and an umbrella. So...if you think that I was bestowed with good luck after seeing the white peacock, you'd better think again. Or..could it be that he's not exactly white? |
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| Yes...yes....you have a nice behind...happy now ?? |
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| On the FSM Bridge, going back towards the European side. It has been one gloomy day.Otherwise, the view would be splendid! |
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| I wonder who owns that white water villa....?? |
Footnote :
I think we are all familliar with the currently running "Games of Thrones". Well, you now can purchase the throne and have it shipped to your living room.
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| Go For It.......you deserve your throne....... |
