UMRAH/ZIARAH - Makkah - Istanbul (family affair)
Imperial Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I
The Blue Mosque Istanbul, Turkey - 1603
Hijaz Train, Makkah 1905
Al Mashaaer Al Muqaddassah Metro, Makkah 2010
...left my footprints in Istanbul as an exchange... ;-)
p/s...Alhamdullillah...Alas, my 3rd visit was last mid-June - early July 2011... Managed to experience this...Al Mashaaer Al Muqaddassah Metro...stretches to 18.1 kilometres. It's officiated in November 2010 connecting Makkah, Padang Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina.
Then, otw back homeland, put up in Istanbul for three days. As with anywhere in the world these days, we just need to be sensible and aware of what is going on. Istanbul is one of my most favourite cities. This is my 3rd visit here. As for 1st timers, one week is just about right to visit Istanbul. I recommend staying in the old part as then all the main attractions are within walking distance. The old part is the European side. The airport is only about a half hour drive from the centre and there is a road that runs all the way from the airport to the centre so Istanbul is a city where we won't get lost! So, not to worry, be happy ;-)
I suggest visiting the following (depending on your preferences of course) and these are not in any order, they are just what popped into my head (^_^*)
1. Galata Tower - great view of the whole city
2. Kapali Carsi - covered bazaar - unbelievable place
3. Misir Carsi - Spice bazaar - ditto
4. Topkapi Museum
5. Yerebatan Saray - Cistern Basilica
6. Bogaz Gezisi - a day trip on the Bosphorus. A lovely boat trip from the centre right up to the Black Sea coast and back again. The boat stops along the way at delightful fishing villages, the final one is lovely.
7. Blue Mosque- it speaks for itself!
8. Aya Sofia - just opposite the Blue Mosque and close to numbers 2-6.
9. The other mosques around the area but the Blue one and Aya Sofia are the main 2 I think.
10. If you like fish, go and eat in one of the many restaurants in Kumkapi. Marvellous!
11. Take a boat for a trip around the Princes Islands, a group of islands in the Marmara Sea.
If you want to go further afield, you can go to Bursa and up Uludag mountain and have kebabs at the top. It is a long day but is possible. I recommend you do that overnight though so it is not such a rush.
You could go up to the Black Sea coast, some lovely beaches up there.
Or even further afield then go down the west and south coasts. One thing though, Turkey is such a massive country that you must take the journey time into consideration and do overnight stays or do a different trip to visit a different region.
In Istanbul we will get hounded to buy the produce, especially in the bazaars, go with the flow, drink the tea offered and enjoy it. Always haggle, don't ever accept at the first price, you can always go down to as much as 75% off the first price if you stick to your guns!!! hahaha. Never be afraid to walk out of the shop. I guarantee they will call you back in...Once tried...I did that!!! again and again and again hahaha...;-) It works!
I suggest visiting the following (depending on your preferences of course) and these are not in any order, they are just what popped into my head (^_^*)
1. Galata Tower - great view of the whole city
2. Kapali Carsi - covered bazaar - unbelievable place
3. Misir Carsi - Spice bazaar - ditto
4. Topkapi Museum
5. Yerebatan Saray - Cistern Basilica
6. Bogaz Gezisi - a day trip on the Bosphorus. A lovely boat trip from the centre right up to the Black Sea coast and back again. The boat stops along the way at delightful fishing villages, the final one is lovely.
7. Blue Mosque- it speaks for itself!
8. Aya Sofia - just opposite the Blue Mosque and close to numbers 2-6.
9. The other mosques around the area but the Blue one and Aya Sofia are the main 2 I think.
10. If you like fish, go and eat in one of the many restaurants in Kumkapi. Marvellous!
11. Take a boat for a trip around the Princes Islands, a group of islands in the Marmara Sea.
If you want to go further afield, you can go to Bursa and up Uludag mountain and have kebabs at the top. It is a long day but is possible. I recommend you do that overnight though so it is not such a rush.
You could go up to the Black Sea coast, some lovely beaches up there.
Or even further afield then go down the west and south coasts. One thing though, Turkey is such a massive country that you must take the journey time into consideration and do overnight stays or do a different trip to visit a different region.
In Istanbul we will get hounded to buy the produce, especially in the bazaars, go with the flow, drink the tea offered and enjoy it. Always haggle, don't ever accept at the first price, you can always go down to as much as 75% off the first price if you stick to your guns!!! hahaha. Never be afraid to walk out of the shop. I guarantee they will call you back in...Once tried...I did that!!! again and again and again hahaha...;-) It works!
Alhamdulillah, i managed to meet up with some of my relatives - grandfather/grandmother, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc ( my father's family members ) and lots of things we did together for the few days i was in Istanbul. Do miss them a lot now...
Do really hope to be there again someday
especially to perform the pilgrimage in Makkah.
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