Istanbul Under Seiged....by the Tourists !!

It's that time of the year again! Spring is definitely here and Istanbul is blooming with beautiful flowers, particularly the tulips. And like how bees are attracted to honey, so do the tourists to Istanbul.

It's that time of the year when you can never get a seat on the underground trains or the trams. It's that time of the year when the shopkeepers rehearse several phrases of different languages. And surprise you by talking in your languages and you immediately let your guard down at hearing familiar phrases in foreign lands. Didn't I warn you before? These traders have been trading for 1000s of years and psychology is their favorite pass time! Welcome To Istanbul...!!

Last year, Istanbul welcomed few millions tourists who splashed TL35 Billions buying all those colorful lamps, carpets, porcelains and those sinful sweets (Turkish delights, Baklava, Helva etc etc)! That's on top of its own people who already amounted to about 17 millions. And most of the tourists are concentrated at the Old City where The Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and The Blue Mosque are, to name but a few.

Everywhere you go, you can see the long lines of people queuing up to buy tickets to enter a museum or whatever. However, please be informed that, if you engaged a "guide" to bring you around the place, you needn't have to queue as this "guide" will miraculously get the tickets that you require. How wonderful...and it's only for a small fees. It's worth using their services as they'll also explain to you of the significance of the places that you're visiting. So..win-win situation.

Normally, the tourists from America and Canada will arrive in May. Those from the Arab countries will arrive in June. And maybe it'll thrill you to know that there are actually 3 tiers of pricing during this period.

The 1st tier, being the cheapest, understandably is reserved for the locals and maybe (if I'm Lucky) is also for Yabanci (foreigners) who speak Turkish or at least made an effort to speak Turkish. You see, they do reward you for making an effort, just like the French. So...most times, I was lucky to have this privilege. Is the price difference a lot? Let's just say, I could get two for the price of one...nice, nice...are you excited already?

The 2nd. tier is of course....for the wonderful tourists who came to Istanbul for a holiday. If you showed your liking of a product to them, you can rest assure that you'll be getting a higher than normal price. Be nonchalant and dis-interested and they'll drop their prices to the floor to get your attention. You need a poker face to excel in this game but if you're pressed for time, then you're already on the losing side. I have seen so many of my guests who would agree on the prices before I could even start to negotiate! They said that they were running out of time, so there goes their bargaining power.

Then the 3rd. tier is surprisingly reserved for a certain Nation that I could not mention here. I am yet to find out why these Nations are subjected to this highest prices but I have been told that it's because they like to 'take' unauthorized 'souvenirs' from hotels or elsewhere. Hmm...interesting...but I can't vouch how true this is. Not to worry, most of you readers out there fall into Tier 2, so it ain't that bad....do have a wonderful time in Istanbul !!!

This is how a normal crowd looked like on normal days at the side entrance of the Spice or Egyption Bazaar. This was taken on a Sunday when The Grand Bazaar is closed.

The crowd at The Taksim Square or Meydan is frightfully large on this day, made worse by the 'sending off' march' by the football fans for their favorite teams who were kicking off later on that evening. But it was an orderly march with discipline and many many policemen overseeing the procession.

See the crowd at Taksim Square? I saw no point in cramming into the 'sea of people' and decided to just stand by and watch them walk by as I clicked away happily at my camera. No point of getting myself crushed in this wave....

Even the vintage tram could not argue with the crowd and had to give way....ha ha..that's not a common sight !

The Topkapi Palace crowd on this crowded sunday afternoon.  The queue  to buy the tickets to get in was about a half kilometre long.....but nobody seems to mind..after all, once inside the Palace compound, you'll forget all the difficulties that you had to endure 'cos it was well worth it.....such beautiful historical scenery, views and exhibits. The muslims are particularly keen to see the beard, sword and footprint imprints of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. The ladies are ...of course...keen to see the 86 carat spoonmaker diamond ring!! Ohh.....what a beauty.....

As expected and as usual.....Grand Bazaar was besieged by tourist after I saw 3 big cruise liners berthed at the port. Lets do a quick math.... 3 liners of 4000 passengers multipy by 3...that makes 12,000 people. Assuming half will go to The Grand Bazaar, that mean at least 6,000 people are now in the Bazaar scouting for things from the 4400 shops. That mean, all the shops in the Bazaar will at least have a customer to deal with...wow!! While another 2,000 are probably busy looking for missing wives, friends, parents or who ever. Can you imagine what will happen when these people leave and try to take the tram back to their cruise liners?  

The shopkeeper's assistant !!  Who could resist such cutie??

The overly-pregnant Tram slithered dutifully ferrying the tourist and locals alike....in and out of the tourist spots. Standing room only. To get a seat is a privilege. To one lady tourist from New Zealand, I am sorry I lost you at the Gulhane Stop. I turned around and could not see you anymore as you went to buy the token for the tram. I hope you arrived your destination  all rite that day.

Same Spice Bazaar side entrance but on a different day. And this was taken at 9am when the Bazaar just opened. Soon it'll be impossible to move freely....

Inside Spice Bazaar......impossible to move...

Trying to go out of The Spice Bazaar....impossible to move...really....

Traffic  NOT moving....so I reversed  and went out through the other door. Forget about shopping here today...you simply can't. 

In front of The Yeni Camii (New Mosque). Actually these are mostly locals, the tourists have not risen from their sleep yet. Or from the Kahvalti (Breakfast) spread at their hotel yet. Soon this place will be swarming with tourists and this would signal me to make my way home.....

It was a National Independence Day and  the Metro was decked with flags and balloons. After going through the 'sea of people' this was a welcome change and will help to put a smile back on your face after cramming your way through the city, the Tram and the crowd......and that what makes Istanbul so special !!!!

Congratulation Turkey......you are doing GREAT !!!!

Istanbul is Blooming - Flowers and Tulips

It's that time of the year again! Spring is definitely here and Istanbul is blooming with beautiful flowers, particularly the tulips (Lale). In fact, Istanbul had just concluded its 7th. Istanbul Tulip Festival which was started in April 1st and ended in April 30th.

For many of you readers out there who were not aware of this fact, tulips originated from Turkey and in the 17th. Century, one of the Ottoman's Sultans gave some to Netherlands, who in turn converted it into a multi-billion industry! But it does not mean that the Turks do not value their tulips. In fact, Sultan Ahmet III loved the tulips so much that his ruling period was popularly known as the "Tulip Era or Lale Devri, 1718-1730" where tulips were incorporated into many things. There's tulips motifs in their gown and garments, porcelains, tiles, carpets, textiles..almost everything. Tulips appear in many calligraphy designs as the Turks pointed out that the symbol of tulips actually spells out the word "Allah" in Arabic character (Jawi). And "Allah" means "God" to the Muslim, Christians and Jews. Everybody exclaimed "Allah, Allah " here when they were baffled, shocked or angry....so as to calm themselves. And this include the Muslim, Christians or Jewish Turks alike! READ MORE ABOUT TULIPS HERE  AND  HERE AND HERE

However, it was only recently that the Turks started its "love affair" with the tulips again. Hence, the birth of the Tulips Festival seven years ago. It seems that they just realised that when they showed their appreciation and love towards the tulips....luck, prosperity and everything wonderful befall Turkey. In bringing back the glory of tulips, they are hoping that the glory of Turkey will return. With the advent of the Arab Spring and other global events, I think they have some truth in that thinking. Turkey is now seen as a big brother and 'model' country to many troubled and emerging countries and some events globally are showing a positive growth and perception towards Turkey. Maybe the tulips did bring some "luck" to Turkey !!

And...as usual, me being human...we always take things for granted. Just as the Turks took their tulips for granted for centuries ago! When they were in full bloom, I forgot to take the photos and only when they were about to wilt, did I realised how beautiful they really are...or were. The tulips here are so big that they looked unreal, almost as if they were plastics. Believe me.. they are real and alive and beautiful. And they come in all the colors of the rainbow. Remember...black is also the color of a rainbow! So..here's wishing you  colorful days ahead of you....wherever you are !!

Since I believe that at times..or most times....a picture speaks a thousand words...so it shall, today. Just feast your eyes on these beautiful and colorful chichek (flowers) and don't forget to praise our Maker for such splendid blooms.....Thank you, God.

Along the Gulhane Tram station in The Old City

At The Sultan Ahmet area along the tram line

I think either the planter is color-blind or he loves 'diversity'....the colors are all mixed-up...
along Tarabya Main Road

Some people commented that they look unreal and plastic-like but they certainly are real and alive...

At the entrance to a Park, Tarabya

Pure white tulips...

Blue sensation at Topkapi Palace but...I don't know what it is...is it Begonia?

Little Aishah was thrilled to capture the beauty....who wouldn't?

Along Gulhane tramline at The Old City

Purplish-white tulips.....

Haghia Sophia amidst the flowers and Tulips....

These 2 girls requested me to take their fotos but I forgot to ask for their email to send to them,
so I hope they'll get to see it here

Near the Blue Mosque in The Old City

In front of the Blue Mosque

I was told that this is a Judas Tree. So called because Judas hanged himself from this tree after he betrayed Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, it still is a beautiful flaming purple or lilac bloom.
READ MORE ON JUDAS TREE HERE

The Judas tree, the harbinger of spring, belongs to İstanbul as to no other city in the world, and it has started to bloom, changing the color of İstanbul into a quintessential purple. Bosporus seems more beautiful with every spring.(PHOTO: AA, İBRAHİM YAKUT) 
Photo and caption borrowed from  http://www.turkeycentral.com/topic/14010-iconic-judas-tree-graces-bosporus-with-blossoms/ 

"Tree of Life" all along the Bosphorus. This what makes Bosphorus so spectacular in spring or summer. The "tree of life" symbol is commonly used in the design on carpets and other crafts.

"Tree of Life"

Beautiful lilac flowers to soothe your eyes while waiting in line to get into the Bassilica Cistern at The Old City

Tulips along The Bosphorus

Along The Bosphorus

 


Footnote :

Meet Meenah, my new friend for Spring! She'll come and perch on my window sill everyday. She would not fly away even when i opened the window to put some breads and water for her.

Hi Meenah !!