TURKEY TRIP

TURKEY TRIP 21-30 May 2024

It was another early birthday trip, it should be in June, but the tour agent said, May is cheaper, so I booked it one month earlier than my birthday. It was also my first time joining a tour alone, actually quite challenging, considering that I didn’t know what kind of people that would become my roommate.

Day 1

We gathered at Soekarno Hatta International airport and boarding at 00:45 am, I was very sleepy, stopped at Abu Dhabi and continued to Istanbul, arrived at 2:30 pm, and directly went to Bursa by bus.

Tophane Hill

First stop was Tophane Hill, we arrived after 5 pm. Unfortunately, due to sleep deprived, I couldn’t remember the history that the guide shared to us, sorry… 😅

There are two tombs here, Osman Ghazi, the first sultan of Ottoman Empire and the second tomb is his son, Orhan Ghazi. We didn’t go inside the tomb, for females, if you want to go inside, please cover your hair with scarf or pashmina. And there is a clock tower and we can see the view of Bursa city.

                

             The view of the city of Bursa.        The clock tower and me.

Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)

                 

It’s very beautiful, full of hundreds of calligraphies. There is a fountain at the center of the mosque for the worshipers to perform their ritual (right pic).

Note : always bring a scarf or pashmina if you want to visit mosque, if you don’t have it, they will lend it for you. And for the ones who wear shorts or skirt above the knee, they will lend you a cloth to cover it.

Day 2

Alacati

From Bursa we continued to Alacati. It’s a very beautiful town near the coast and the other side there are full of hotels.

                  

             Alacati Windmills park.

                    

The alleys are full of bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, and all are well decorated. It’s nice to stroll around. Unfortunately, we had limited time, but I am sure it will be very lively at night.

Day 3

Ephesus

In my opinion, the third day was the most interesting day, because I remember the stories (that's because I had enough sleep and ate a lot, i had more focus 😁). In the morning we visited Ephesus, it was a Greek town and later became Roman town, there are full of stories in this place. If you want to visit this place, come early in the morning, less people. It was around noon when we got there, too crowded. 

                  

A Symbol of pharmacy, a snake and a cup. The logo derived from a story of Asclepius who was severely ill, all doctors were gave up on him, one day he saw a snake drinking from a cup of milk, he thought the milk became poisonous after having contacted with the snake, and he drank the milk, eventually he recovered from his illness, that is why the symbol of pharmacy is a glass of milk and a snake (left pic). This is Victoria Goddess, a symbol of victory, and concept of Nike logo comes from her skirt (right pic).

                  

The man with a lion on the left pillar symbolizes Hercules (left pic). It’s not clear, but the woman’head at the center is Medusa (right pic).

                  

The library of Celcus (left pic), near the library there was a building for brothel (right pic) and these 2 buildings were connected with an underground tunnel. The guide told us that in ancient time, men would need a good reason to go to brothel and going to the library is the best option to leave the house (what a virtuous reason to leave a house). Honestly, I really want to see the underground tunnel to the brothel, unfortunately due to the earthquake, they are all ruins now.

                                            

Ephesus Great Theatre, fortunately, this theatre is still nice.

                    

Toilets for the rich, so they could do their business while talking. Very convenient, the top made from marble, sometimes the rich let the slave sat on the top to warm it before doing their business (left pic). The floor is made from marble, imagine how rich this town (right pic).

Actually there are many details of the stories in here that I forgot, make sure to hire a good guide when you come here, it’s worth listening to the stories.

Note :  this place is huge, the toilet is at the entrance and prepare enough sunscreen.

Pamukkale

After lunch we continued to Pamukkale, the meaning is cotton castle, hot spring terraces that are made from travertine. 

                    

From the entrance you can enjoy the view of Hieropolis, the left pic is the colloseum. 

                     

The cotton land, note: shoes aren’t allowed, make sure to wear something easy to take off (left pic). There is a museum near the hot spring, me and the God of Hades statue (right pic).

Day 4

Sultanhani Kervansaray

This was the place for Silk Road traders who traveled between Asia and Europe to stay overnights. The place is empty with rooms on the left side, the right side is a cafe, and there is an exhibition of Turkish carpets at the back building.

The entrance fee is 60 TL (the price can be changed at any time).

                      

The entrance (left pic), I don’t know what is this building, located at the center. This place was not including in the tour, we had to pay and I went inside alone, the guide didn't go inside (right pic).

                    

Carpets exhibitions (left pic), the café is full of ornaments (right pic). 

We spent hours in the bus to Cappadocia, not much activity on day 4.

Safari Jeep

This activity is optional, you can choose not to join it. Approximately 60-75 minutes for the whole activity. The jeep will pick you up from the hotel. Don’t forget to prepare a little tips for the driver.

                     

I don’t know what is the name of these places, unfortunately my driver couldn’t speak English. There are 2 schedules for safari jeep. You can do it in the afternoon or early morning to get a photo of air balloon as the background. But if the weather is not good, the air balloon will be canceled, the safari jeep activity won’t be canceled even if there is a heavy rain. So check the weather forecast. 

Day 5

Gorome Valley and Pigeon Valley

These 2 places look similar but different.

                       

We only had 40 minutes to explore the front area, I am sure it will take hours to explore the whole area.

I don’t know why they hang pots on the tree and everyone took a pic with this tree including me.

                       

Pigeon Valley is near Gorome Valley. I saw this unique tree, it looks colorful from everything that tied on it, plastics, amulets, threads, tissues. It was believed that made a wish and tied something on the tree would make the wish came true, but people don’t do it now. 

Cardak Underground city

In ancient time, in order to protect themselves, people lived in underground, there was kitchen, church, winery, everything was there.

                         

The interior of underground city.

                        

The miniature of underground city, the entrance is from the top, we only explored the top level. You can buy it at the store in front of the entrance.

We could visit more places today because all places are close to each other.

Day 6

Cappadocia air balloon

This was the day that everyone been waiting for, Cappadocia air balloon. I woke up at 3:30 am, eating my cup noodle and prepared everything. Although I was very sleepy but it’s really worth, once the air balloon started to fly, I was fully awake. The first day in Cappadocia, air balloon activity was canceled due to bad weather, fortunately it was sunny on the second day, no raining.

This is an optional activity, so you have to pay more to join it.

                        

They pumped the gas to the balloon before flying (left pic). Each of us got snacks, water bottle and one certificate after the activity. One air balloon can carry 20 passengers. There are many other companies that provide air balloon rides. The company’s name is printed on the air balloon (right pic). 

                          

We flied very high above the clouds (left pic). Mr G, my roommate, Me and the sunrise.

Note :  the air balloon’s crew will pick you up from the hotel and also pick other guests along the way, make sure NEVER LATE, or the driver will leave you, no waiting, no refund. It happened to 3 Indian girls that left by their driver, we met them and we couldn’t do anything, they booked different air balloon’s company than us.

After the activity, we were back to the hotel, had our breakfast and continued to another city.

Day 7

Lake Tuz/Salt Lake

Along the way back to Istanbul as our last destination, we stopped at Lake Tuz. The entrance is free.

                          

The whole area is covered by salt, it looks like white sand but it is salt.

Ataturk Mausoleum

Ataturk Mausoleum is a place for Mustafa Kemal Atarturk’s tomb, he is a founder and first president of Turkey. 

                       

I think it was Saturday, so hot and crowded, there is a library on the right side and the queue was very long, we didn’t have enough time to go there. A few soldiers were guarding the places, you can take photos with them, but they won’t smile, some soldiers were lucky enough standing at the building entrance, some had to stand under the Sun.

Day 8

Today, we were back to Istanbul and it’s been a long week of the trip. I began to feel tired after a week. And on the eighth day we had to walk a lot, the roads are narrow, the bus couldn’t pass them, honestly it’s quite fun.

                                      

Hagia Sophia, we didn’t go inside (left pic). Blue Mosque, very beautiful, we went inside, no entrance fee (right pic).

Topkapi palace

The history is very deep and interesting unfortunately I only remember a little about it…

                      

The entrance of Topkapi palace, the guy with red jacket was our local guide, Ismail (left pic). Ottoman bed chamber (right pic). 

                            

When the ottoman went to war, they would place the flag at the center (left pic). This is for washing hands, located at the entrance, the guide said, when the ottoman was discussing something important, the sound of water was preventing people to eavesdrop their conversation.

Hippodrome

                         

It was built by a Roman Empire, Septimus Severus, it was a horse racing and sports arena.

Grand Bazaar

Last destination for today, you can find anything here, jewelery, souvenirs, lamps, baklava, turkish delights, leather jacket, shoes, anything. Some of the things are sold in euro or dollar, ask before pay. And the proprietors prefer you pay in euro not Lira. 

                        

There are several entrances, this was our entrance (left pic). I bought these small mirrors as gift, I wish I bought more. The ornaments are very pretty and there are small crystals embedded on the surface.

Day 9

Bophorus cruise

                           

In the morning we had Bophorus cruise trip. The pier, I forgot which one was our boat (left pic). The view of Bophorus Straits (right pic).

                                                         

This was the last day, I was quite exhausted, had low energy. Suddenly two models came behind me and took a photo with me, I should ask for compensation hahaha

Pierre Loti

                                     

We continued riding cable car to Pierre Loti and enjoyed the view of Istanbul City.

Sultan Fatih Mosque

                      

The entrance (left pic). The wall has very details ornaments, it’s fascinating (right pic).

                                           

The interior of the mosque, it was praying time.

                       

The left door leads to a fountain with many doves.

Taksim square

This would be our last destination for turkey trip. It is a street with many branded shops like H&M, decathlon, etc.

                                          

And the next day after breakfast we packed our baggage and went to airport and fly back to Jakarta, the end. 

                       

The last, a gift from an old friend, a bracelet with a Nazar Boncugu charm, a good luck amulet to ward off from evil eye and protect people from harm. The eye with blue background is very popular in Turkey, you can find it everywhere and in anything (clothes, jewellery, mug, bag, accessories)

                    

Our group dressed in Turk's traditional clothes (left pic). Having fun dressing as Ottoman (right pic).

If there is a misspelling of the places or names, I apologize, this is my first visit to Turkey and I am not familiar with the language.

This is a consortium tour means a joint venture tour. The advantage about joining a tour, you just have to follow the order, eat, sleep, stroll, take pictures, repeat for 10 days. And it’s also cheaper because we stayed in 4 stars hotels, the food is good ( I am not a picky eater), and usually buffet (good for me who is a big eater). If I go alone, I will spend more and maybe I can’t cover 9 cities in 10 days, have to stay in quest house to save money and eat less. The disadvantage is limited time to explore and we were spoiled, we didn’t move too much, only eat sleep eat sleep, at the end of the trip I gained 4 kg 😑 See you again!