Istanbul Hop-On Hop-Off adventure

If you had reached this Blog thinking that its about the on-off relationship between Brad and Angie, then i am deeply sorry for you but you are most welcomed to continue reading. This is a hop-on hop-off of a different kind. After being for almost a year in Istanbul, I finally took the Hop-On Hop-Off travel bus to tour the city of Istanbul. You know how it is, just as you'd never know how the hotels are in the city that you live, you'll never bother to do what the tourists normally do, right? So..what made me do it? Well...i had this guest who was staying for 2 weeks and I was at my wits end trying to figure out how to kill the time, so there I was!

Its called Hop-On Hop-Off because you can hop-on (get on) and hop-off (get down) anywhere you want within 24 hours at the 73 locations that the bus was going through. Did I say 73? Yes...and that is only concentrating at the Fatih and Taksim area. We have not even touched the Anatolian (Asian) side or the Prince's Island. So maybe now you'll have an idea of the many great places that one can visit in Istanbul.

how it all began....maybe, if you paid attention to the video, you don't need to take the Hop On Hop Off again. there...i've saved you Euro20 for the fare! aren't you lucky !!!

it is actually available all over the world.....noticed how many interesting places you could visit?

Our (me and my guest) strategy was quite simple. We planned to make two round trips. The first trip, we stay put in the bus and don't do any hopping. We 'recce' the area first and then decide which stop to hop-off on the second trip. Perfect plan,eh? Yes..except for the fact that we were too busy taking photographs that we didn't really see the scenery. So..we make changes to our plan. Ok...maybe we stop at Taksim square and then hop-off. Good plan actually...except that my guest was snoring away when the bus reached Taksim Square and I didn't have the heart to wake her up. Besides..i was not done taking photographs yet. You see...the first round, I sat on the left side of the bus. That mean, I missed snapping shots of the Beautiful Bosphorous (which was to my right). On the second trip, I scrambled for the seat on the right and managed to take photos of the places that I missed.

the bus start the journey in front of The Hagia Sophia and will make a round return trip within 90 minutes. If you were early, you can always go to the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basillica Cistern, the Grand bazaar, the Topkapi Palace and many other places within a short walking distance to each other....

the famous Istanbul Train Station where the movie  "Murder on the Orient Express" was shot, plus many other famous movies...

these anglers insisted that their photos were taken....so I obliged !!

the beautiful Dolmabahce Camii (Mosque) 

my travelling companion...lost in her Slumberland.....in reality, she was at Taksim Square....

beautiful Suleymaniye Camii (mosque) in the foreground. Designed, created and built by the architect Mimbar Sinan, the talented Christian Armenian who converted to Islam upon being convinced by the Sultan. He thus had the creativity, talent and foresight to merge the beautiful Christianity and Islamic architecture.

gorgeous Bulgarian METAL church....!!!!

Eyup Sultan Camii....many muslim throng to this mosque as it is considered sacred and one would normally go for visits and to ask for favors (doa), prayers and wishes...and many claimed that their wishes came true after the visit...

simits for your growling tummy? too bad..the bus do not allow you to eat or drink while you are on it, altho' I saw many who defied the rule and still drink as it was a rather hot day. 

The best part is...everybody on the bus had the same idea as us. it was the same group of people from the first trip taking a second trip ha ha. I know this for a fact because one of the nice ladies told me "yes, we noticed that its the same friendly girls again"! Us...girls?? Thank you,Lord! I'm not about to argue with her on that he he.

After almost a year of living in Istanbul, I only knew few weeks ago that...the Galata bridge was designed by Leonardo Da Vinci (not Leonardo DiCaprio 'tho he's better looking), the Istanbul train station was where the legendary movie "Murder on the Orient Express" was made and another James Bond movie, that the chain running across the Golden Horn was attached to the Galata Tower (more on this later), that there is a cable car linking to a restaurant in a lake and many many more!

It was indeed a very educational adventure and when we finally hop-off (at the same stop where we hop-on, not very adventurous of us,are we? ) we were both  tired physically and mentally. And... as if to test our endurance, the tren going back to Kabatas was jam-packed that people literally had to be pushed in to get in. And to top it all, a man elbowed me on my nose! I thought my nose was broken and I had tapped him on the shoulder and was about to land my heels onto his heels when I noticed that he was holding a baby...yikes! Not fair, not fair! So..I only managed to give him a dagger-look which he didn't even seem to notice or flinch. You horrid, horrid man! I bet you're not Turkish !!!

Please click HERE   to watch full set of the photos taken during the tour. And.. 'pardon' the quality of the photos as there were all taken on a moving bus, except for Taksim Square. You really need a steady hand to capture those scenery ....phew !!!

P/s Sorry couldn't continue with "Iftar in Istanbul" this week. Will try again next week.

Istanbul Hop On Hop Off 2.wmv

Guest writer - Suspicion

Suspicion

Maggots crawling

The numbers growing … fast

The stench reeking

Drawing more flies

Making  more maggots

That crawl

Grow in numbers

Give out a stench

 And draw more flies

That make more maggots

Killing all other smells.

Nothing good escapes

This onslaught of filth.

Once started

Nothing can be done

To restore the ravaged,

To what it was before.

It takes a trust so strong

To fight the flies off

To kill the maggots

One by one

Till they spring up no more.

Few take this path of resistance

It is always easier to ignore

And move on …

                          

          By Satrina Satwinder Abdullah ‘2011

think you know what it's all about?

send your thoughts to "comments' 

many thanks to Ms. Satrina Satwinder..my former english teacher...(edited for page format)

Iftar in Istanbul

That is the "breaking of fast during the Ramazan " in Arabic. Since about 98% of Turkey's populations are Muslims, there is a very noticable difference to the city as compared to normal days. Understandably, it is rather quiet and the streets are surprisingly empty. Its almost miraculous to see the street not jam-packed and traffics are smooth flowing...if only Ramazan could be here longer!!

Since Turkey practices secular Law, there really is no rules or law stating that you can't eat or drink in public places during the day time. However, everybody is advised to show respect and tolerance to the Muslims who are fulfilling the 3rd pillar of the Islamic requirement. Although the cafes, restaurants and other eating places are open during the day, mostly people would just sit for a chat or to play tabla, their backgammon. Its rather strange to see them standing outside their shop without the usual tulip cay (tea) cup in their hands! And...to be honest, I could swear that the the drivers are more tolerant and there really was less hooting at the traffic light and elsewhere. Its amazing what Ramazan can do in Istanbul. Apart from the hunger and thirst that they must endure, they too must exercise more self-control in their behavior, thoughts, speeches and to increase good deeds.

Iftar starts at about 8.30pm and the Imsak ( when you can't eat anymore) starts at 4am. Bosphorus (my neighborhood) was my first stop for the Iftar and I was in for a very pleasant surprise !! Okay...less talk from me and more pictures for you.....

one of the cami (mosque) in my neighborhood...all ready  for the azan (call for prayers)..

almost all bread shops would be full with people queing...bread is their staple food and they will wait in line to get the freshest bread..hmmm....can you smell the freshly baked bread?

you can also have your iftar in one of many kebab shops....its a shame that this blog is not 4-D because at this moment, the whole neighborhood smells of rose-scented water...its sweet smell permeating everywhere and it really lift your spirit up...after almost 17 hours of no food or drink. I still see people smoking 'tho...i must find out whats their 'take' on smoking during Ramazan..??

next time...I'll join the line...maybe they have special breads for iftar....or..maybe they give out the bread for free ?? i won't be surprised if they did that. on normal days...they'll give out free breads to people late at night or they'll just hang them outside for some people to discreetly take them away...and you can still smell the rose-scented water.....

by the Bosphorus...its about 5 min. to iftar time and the die-hard anglers are still trying for the 'big' one !! this is a normal scene by the Bosphorus now (now that its warmer) and they now bring their family along so that they can have their iftar together in between waiting for the 'BIG' ones!!...

don't know why this part is deserted..maybe the fishes won't bite here....noticed the building in the background? thats the newly-completed Grand Tarabya Hotel.....its about the only hotel built exactly by the Bosphorus ....

its actually iftar time...but the anglers are still not budging.....but some are already putting away their rods (for a while) while they break their fast by the Bosphorus with their families.....

while the adults sat down to eat..the children will continue playing..after all, it is still school holiday...

noticed the people sitting on the lawn? they are all having a picnic by the Bosphorus for iftar.....its fun to watch as they have their feast with families and/or friends....while the children are oblivious to the fiasco..

noticed the 2 men to the left? they're busy attending to their mangal (BBQ) while the rest wait for the smoked meats and veges.....right smack in the middle of a 'Public Park'! In fact..there is a a sign board somewhere that says that 'Mangal' is prohibited but somehow for Ramazan...the rules are relax. In fact...you will see people having their mangal everywhere and they all have their iftar in their garden....outdoor. The weather is superb now (ave. 23C at night and 28C during day time) so..its almost a sin to have your iftar indoor.   Almost all my neigbors have their iftar in their garden or patio. i must be the only one sitting indoor and watching the telly while i eat.....sigh....

mangal (BBQ) by the pavement in the park....its serious business, i saw what they were BBQing....and they do look very delicious.......isn't that fun? all your families together, breaking your fast and by the beautiful Bosphorus as an added bonus! guys...if you want to envy somebody, envy these people..they do know how to live...in their simple and practical way....

quite a rare sight here.. a man with a skull head .....only during Ramazan.....Kemal Ataturk had banned the wearing of a Fez previously....and the wearing of scarves in the University and Public offices have only been been allowed recently..

noticed something here?? yes..as I've said previously, the MEN do all (well, almost) the cooking here..the men will prepare the food and they will do the cooking as well....how wonderful for the women of this country...anybody want to marry off your daughters to a Turk? or..even marry one yourself ?? you don't have to do the cooking,isn't that great ????

this family even invited me to join them for iftar....shhsh..i should have at least tried the yummy-looking meats...and forget about carcinogenic for once....they are really friendly and were sincere when they invited me....cok tessekuler...

brewing turkish cay (tea) by the pavement...what a beautiful tea pot or whatever. its stainless steel and looks like it has seen many generations before....now, i must try to get one of those..its soooo classic !! 

this group was lucky to have 'possession' of the benches for their iftar....what a wonderful family get together...

another family having their iftar......

of course...for those who prefer to have a normal iftar, these restaurants are just across the road...you still have the option of breaking your fast in an old ,boring, traditional manner....but where's the fun....????

now...would you rather have a picnic by the Bosphorus for your iftar with the yummy smell of the grilled meat......or would you have 'seafood' in a nice restaurant and instead look out to all those people having fun outside..??

Next Posting :  Iftar at Sultan Ahmet and The Grand Bazaar neighborhood !!

Nostalgy #3 - Five Years of Bonding

Imagine the scenario. You were twelve years old and were thrown into a remote place with no room, no TV or no moral support to call your own. Imagine too......spending the next five years of your life in this "God forsaken" place with only short holidays in between the torturous years. However, I won't ask you to imagine the horror of the horror... the bathrooms cum toilets that you have to share with hundreds other students with unimaginable conditions.

With these brutal scenarios, you least expect to forge anything meaningful in your life,right? Wrong....the friendship you fostered and nurtured in this atmosphere would later on turn out to be the most meaningful relationship one can ever hoped for. You will realise that after all those rat-race, corporate ladder pushing and business menovere, the friends you had during those five 'torturous' years remain the only people who could really understand and still accept you.

They already knew your faults and shortcomings and you don't have to hide or pretend with them. In other word...you are at ease wit them because you can let your hair down. That is...if you still have hairs by then! When you lived in a fully residential (boarding) school, you will almost always end up with the same friends who shared the same 'tortourous' years with you.

I was fortunate in meeting some of these friends from the boarding school  and  I guess you could tell from the photos.....how happy, loud and cheerful we were and its good to know that nothing and nobody has changed.  To all SAJOHANs......here's looking at you, kid!!!! Be Cool........

you could have changed your name, your job or even the color of your hair but everybody knows that deep down, you are still the same old person. you can't fool them by being what you are not. even if you're the richest person on earth, we would still treat you the same....so please leave your ego, your attitude (problem) or your arrogance at the door.  

We survived the most torturous part of our lives and nothing could be any worse.....right?You DID GOOD guys (and gals).......keep it up !!

till we meet again.....hos cakalin ......au revoir..........adios.......cao.........!!
remember, remember, the summer of 2011....