Everybody loves Turkey...Setiap orang sukakan Turki
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| Map of Turkey |
Enchanting, amusing, amazing, gorgeous, convenience, friendly, historic and so on........
I and my spouse had a golden chance to spend our holidays on the land of two continents. It began on the 2nd of June 2015 and end up on the 10th. We joined MPSM Kelantan or The Kelantan Secondary School Principal Society Touring group.
The trip was so tiring, exhausted but interesting and enjoying. It took half around the clock from KL to reach Istanbul and spent almost half of the whole trip on wheels and sight seeings. It covered from the European side rolling up to the centre of Anatolia and back again to Istanbul. The coach was so comfortable equipped
with WiFi throughout the journey enable us to send text messages and images to families, relatives and friends instantly.
DAY 1: (2.6.2015) KBR - KUL - DOH - IST.
Reached Ataturk International Airport, Istanbul in the late evening, boarded a luxury coach crossed Marmara sea by ferry to Yalova, then to Bursa for a stay.
No images recorded due to darkness. Had a cup of Turkish tea on board, 4 lira/RM5.50 for a cup of tea(chai) or coffee(kehwah)
DAY 2: 3.6.2015) TOURING BURSA.
Bursa was once a capital city of the Ottoman @ Uthmaniah Empire. Currently the fourth most populous and one of the most industrialized city. Interesting spots, most are historical. Photos showing the visited places. Left Bursa in the evening and bound for Kusadasi for an overnight stay.
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| Ulu Mosque@Ulu Cami built in 1933 |
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| Calligraphy inside the Ulu Mosque |
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| Relaxing under an old chestnut, near Ulu Mosque |
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| The Green mosque and mausoleum, the interior. |
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| Inside the Green Mosque |
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| Silk Bazaar |
DAY 3: (4.6.2015)
KUSADASI - SELJUK - EPHESUS CITY - PAMUKKALE/HIERAPOLIS
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| Kusadasi, a beach resort town facing the Aegean Sea |
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 built in the 13th century |
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| Seljuk Open Mosque, the interior. |
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| My spouse fashioning a USD1200 jacket at the fashion house |
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| The fashion house |
Ephesus City is an ancient city, reflects centuries of history of classical Greek and Roman Empires,
situated near the town of Seljuk
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| "Main road" of the city |
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| The city exit Admiring poppy flowers |
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| The theater |
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| My spouse loves flower too |
Pamukkale or Cotton Castle in Turkish is located in the province of Denizli.
Comprises hot springs and travertines of terraces of whitish carbonate mineral or limestone.
Hierapolis is an ancient city in adjacent to Pamukkale. Located on hot springs and comprises an archaeological museum. Founded in the 2nd Century AD as a healing centre.
Formerly famous for it Hellenistic spa and thermal installation
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| White limestone terrace |
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| Hot ponds below the terraces |
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| Draining of hot water from no where to ponds below |
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| Shady place for rest and beverages |
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| Hot ponds |
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| Colourful all the way |
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| Posing in the greens |
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| All men group |
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| All women group |
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| Ancient city of Hierapolis |
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| Halt for lunch |
DAY 4 (5.6.2015)
DENIZLI - KONYA - SULTANHANI CARAVANSARAI - CAPADOCCIA
Began our long travel. Bid farewell to Denizli (the town we stayed overnight) bound for Konya and Capadoccia. It took 6 hours to reach the destination. Good sight all the way
DENIZLI - KONYA - SULTANHANI CARAVANSARAI - CAPADOCCIA
Began our long travel. Bid farewell to Denizli (the town we stayed overnight) bound for Konya and Capadoccia. It took 6 hours to reach the destination. Good sight all the way
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| White poppy field |
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| Sugar beet plantation and grazing |
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| Wheat field |
Konya is the largest city in central Turkey, a fast growing city and important economic and industrial centres. Also an important academic and training centres.
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| Mevlana mosque and mausoleum in Seljuk University |
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| Inside the mosque, Mevlana and ancestors tombs. |
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| Mevlana Sulimiye Mosque |
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| Met the elderly Turkish friend |
Sultanhani Caravansaray, biggest masterpiece of the Seljuk period,
situated on Konya-Aksaray road, halt for a tea.
Continue our journey to Capadoccia and stay for a couple of night in Avanos
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| Sultanhani Caravansary |
DAY 5 (6.6.2015) A DAY IN CAPADOCCIA
Capadoccia is a Persian word means "beautiful horse' or Kapadokya in Turkish is a semi arid region of Central Turkey @ Anatolia, lies in the provinces of Nevsehir, Kayseri, Aksaray and Nigde. Most notably for its "fairy chimneys" cone shape rock formations, cave dwellers, underground cities and open air museums.
Kaymakli Underground city, the history and facts:
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| Illustration of cross section of the city |
Built in 8-7 century BC by the Phrygians. Used during the Byzantine era for protection against Muslim Arab during the Arabs - Byzantine War in 780 - 1180 AD. In the 14th Century used by the Christians inhabitants as protection against Mongolian incursion. Late 20th century used by the Capadoccian Greeks refugees centre from the Turkish Muslim rulers during the Ottoman periods.
Opened to public and tourists in 1964 A UNESCO World Heritage
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| The entrance |
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| In the tunnel My spouse & Sherkan our tourist guide |
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| After passing through the tunnels the city |
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| The tunnels |
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| At the main entrance My spouse sandwich by her spontaneously met Turkish friends |
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| Pigeon Valley |
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| Uchisar Valley |
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| Modern and traditional lifestyle in Capadoccia. |
Goreme open-air museum.
A Byzantine monastic settlement, house of 20 monks and later a pilgrimage site in the 17 Century.
Popular site with cluster monastic Byzantine artistry with its rock-cut churches, chapels and monasteries.
Abandoned during the Muslim Turk @ Ottoman Period
Currently becomes a UNESCO World Heritage.
Avanos is a historic town famous for its fine and high quality hand made carpets and pottery
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DAY 6 (7.6.2015)
CAPADOCCIA - LAKE TUZ - ANKARA - BOLU
Left Avanos, Capadoccia, 4 hours on the wheels to reach Ankara and another 2 for Bolu
We stayed overnight in Bolu, a mountain and country resort town.
Lake Tuz
Near Aksaray on the highway to Ankara.
The high salinity lake, second largest and supply 60% of Turkey's salt.
Use as table salt, health care and pharmaceutical goods and products.
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| Lake Tuz. |
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| At the lake's beach |
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| A wheat field just beside the lake |
Ankara: A cosmopolitan, the Turkey's modern capital city and home of arts performing centre.
At Anitkabir Hill situated a mausoleum of Ataturk.
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| Along the way from the entrance to the mausoleum |
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| Ataturk mausoleum in the background |
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| A tough guard at the Ataturk mausoleum |
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| Replica of mausoleum. Mustapha Kamal Ataturk's remain laid to rest here |
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| A hotel in Bolu, a mountain resort cool and soothing |
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| Cool and misty evening in Bolu |
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| The Hotel's trekking & health path |
DAY 7 (8.6.2015): ISTANBUL
The largest city, economic, cultural and historical heart with 18 million inhabitants.
Formerly called Constantinople in Byzantine era. In 1453 captured by the Ottomans under Sultan Muhammed al Fateh, changed to Islambul and lately to its present name by Mustapha Kamal Ataturk
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| The entrance of the city from Anatolia (Asian side) |
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| A Chinese restaurant, we enjoyed our lunch here |
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| The Grand Bazaar The oldest and largest covered market in the world contains 4000 stalls |
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| Inside the Grand Bazaar |
Sultan Ahmad Mosque
A historic mosque popularly known as The Blue Mosque due to blue tiles surrounding the mosque. Built in between 1609 - 1616 during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I. It comprises a tomb of a founder, madrasah(school), prayer hall and hospice. Still functioning as a mosque.
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| Sultan Ahmed I or The Blue Mosque |
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| The Blue mosque, the close up |
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| Inside the Blue Mosque |
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| Hippodrome The present sport & social centre During Greek, Roman & Byzantine eras used as horse and chariot racing |
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| Hagia Sophia 1400 years as cathedral during Byzantine era and as a mosque in Ottoman era. At present as a museum. |
Topkapi Palace Museum.
Currently as open museum, a major tourist attraction. It contains an important holy relic including Prophet Muhammad's SAW cloak, sword, beard and teeth.
Earlier served as palace and residence for Ottoman sultans for 400 years (1453 - 1856), later as an accommodation for high ranking officers (1853 -1924).
1924 as a museum under UNESCO World Heritage.
1924 as a museum under UNESCO World Heritage.
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| The main entrance |
DAY 8 (9.6.2015)
ISTANBUL - BOSPHORUS CRUISE - AIRPORT
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| Gorgeous Istanbul |
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| Certainly not to forget but not mine only similar in name |
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| Most popular public transport in hand to other mean. |
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| Turkish mutton kebab. |
Cruising The Bosphorus
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| Bosphorus strait that form part the boundary of Europe and Asia |
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| Cruise slicing the strait |
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| Before cruising The Bosphorus Strait in the background |
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| The Ottoman fortress |
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| Another cruise and one of the bridges crossing the strait |
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| At the airport terminal before leaving |
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| Fly us to our homeland |
DAY 9 (10 .6.2015)
KUL - KBR - Home
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| Our airport |
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| The green green grass of home |
Excellent and worthwhile trip!
Short of time and too rushing missed several centre of attractions. Most unlike, too limited time in the Grand Bazaar and so inconvenience had to carry our belongings while moving around the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace Museum.
