TRAVELLIVE 04-2016
Istanbul, the first days of spring… I’m warming myself in the sun on a café’s balcony in the Old Town. The sunbeams are as stunning as the fine strands of newly reeled silk. Meanwhile the old oak trees give their morning greeting to the glossy stone road as their red-brown leaves gently fall. The Old Town is still half-asleep, like a lazy girl who’s turned off her alarm after ringing the first time. Sunlight visits each street, dancing happily on passers-by’s shoulders, making the atmosphere more intimate to me – the traveler’s first time here. I feel more amorous in Istanbul. I’m enchanted by everything, from sweet lokum to the light sour ice-cream with ground ice on top, or from the gorgeous domes of hundreds of mosques and palaces to their uniquely designed windows, and from the discreet eyes of Muslim girls to the multitude of boards and posters with the images of Besiktas – the city’s legendary football team. I have fallen in love with Bosphorus Bay since the first time seeing the seagulls hovering in the open sky, creating invisible strings that connect the two continents – Asia and Europe. The clear blue sky is reflected on the deep blue sea, giving me tranquility. I drop my last Lira into the water of the Bosphorus, not to make a wish, but in hopes that they will preserve my memories here. And somehow, the water currents might bring them somewhere else to be found by me again, or might accidentally be stumbled upon by a boy who is playing with sand on a sunny beach. Tomorrow, I will go to Grand Bazzar, buy some postcards, and write something to leave beneath the sun near a mosque before sending them to some friends of mine. I do hope that these postcards, together with the coins, will inspire and attract more visitors to this land. Uhm… will you come there?
Istanbul, the first days of spring…
I’m warming myself in the sun on a café’s balcony in the Old Town. The sunbeams are as stunning as the fine strands of newly reeled silk. Meanwhile the old oak trees give their morning greeting to the glossy stone road as their red-brown leaves gently fall. The Old Town is still half-asleep, like a lazy girl who’s turned off her alarm after ringing the first time. Sunlight visits each street, dancing happily on passers-by’s shoulders, making the atmosphere more intimate to me – the traveler’s first time here.
I feel more amorous in Istanbul. I’m enchanted by everything, from sweet lokum to the light sour ice-cream with ground ice on top, or from the gorgeous domes of hundreds of mosques and palaces to their uniquely designed windows, and from the discreet eyes of Muslim girls to the multitude of boards and posters with the images of Besiktas – the city’s legendary football team.
I have fallen in love with Bosphorus Bay since the first time seeing the seagulls hovering in the open sky, creating invisible strings that connect the two continents – Asia and Europe. The clear blue sky is reflected on the deep blue sea, giving me tranquility. I drop my last Lira into the water of the Bosphorus, not to make a wish, but in hopes that they will preserve my memories here. And somehow, the water currents might bring them somewhere else to be found by me again, or might accidentally be stumbled upon by a boy who is playing with sand on a sunny beach.
Tomorrow, I will go to Grand Bazzar, buy some postcards, and write something to leave beneath the sun near a mosque before sending them to some friends of mine. I do hope that these postcards, together with the coins, will inspire and attract more visitors to this land. Uhm… will you come there?
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TOURS HANOI<br />
MEKONG DELTA RIVER<br />
(Duration: 3 days 2 nights *Transportation: Passenger bus *Price: VND2,700,000/ guest)<br />
Traveling along the Mekong River from Can Tho- the regional capital of southwestern Vietnam, you will have a<br />
chance to join the bustling floating market in the early morning, enjoy sunset on the river, discover Buddhist<br />
culture and Khmer cuisine in Soc Trang, listen to the story about Cong Tu Bac Lieu, and journey out to the<br />
country's southmost point in Ca Mau. After only 2 hours in a boat floating along the canals through vast mangrove<br />
forests, you arrive at Dat Mui and can touch the landmark designating the coordinates. Fiditour promises to bring you the<br />
best experience on Mekong Delta River.<br />
(FIDITOUR *129 Nguyen Hue, Dist. 1, HCMC *Tel : 08 3914 1414 *08 3828 2282<br />
*Email: fidi@fiditour.com *Website : www.fiditour.com)<br />
HANOI<br />
HCMC<br />
GET LOST<br />
ON PEARL<br />
ISLAND<br />
(Duration: 4 days 3 nights<br />
*Transportation: plane<br />
*Price: VND 9,990,000/<br />
guest)<br />
It's not for nothing<br />
that Phu Quoc is called<br />
Vietnam's island of pearl.<br />
Its pristine beauty can<br />
charm every visitor<br />
coming here. The island<br />
attracts visitors not<br />
only with beautiful its<br />
beaches such as Bai<br />
Sao, Bai Dai, and Bai<br />
Ong Lang, but also with<br />
other destinations such<br />
as Ganh Dau, Dinh Cau,<br />
Trang stream, Da Ban<br />
stream, and Da Nhon<br />
stream. You will surely<br />
lose yourself here as<br />
Phu Quoc has more<br />
attractions to offer,<br />
including Phu Quoc<br />
National Park, the Ham<br />
Ninh ancient fishing<br />
village, the fish sauce<br />
production sites, pearl<br />
factories, and vast green<br />
pepper farms.<br />
(HANOITOURIST<br />
*18 Ly Thuong Kiet,<br />
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi<br />
*Tel: <strong>04</strong> 3936 2276<br />
*Website: www.<br />
hanoitourist.vn)<br />
PILGRIM TO<br />
THE NORTH<br />
(Duration: 4 days 3<br />
nights *Transportation:<br />
Plane and passenger<br />
bus *Accommodation: 3<br />
star hotel *Price: VND<br />
6,529,000/ guest)<br />
The tour will show you<br />
the highlights of Ha<br />
Noi, Ninh Binh, and<br />
Halong. Get away from<br />
the hot weather in the<br />
south andstroll down<br />
the narrow streets of<br />
Hanoi's Old Quarter.<br />
Take a pilgrimage to Bai<br />
Dinh Temple in Ninh<br />
Binh. Travel through<br />
the caves in Trang An,<br />
and enjoy tranquility at<br />
Halong Bay.<br />
(BAZAN TRAVEL<br />
*957 Phan Van Tri,<br />
Ward. 7, Go Vap<br />
Dist., HCMC *Tel: 08<br />
3588 8868 *Website:<br />
bazantravel.com<br />
*Email: info@<br />
bazantravel.com)<br />
HANOI<br />
SUMMER<br />
HOLIDAY<br />
ON CO TO<br />
ISLAND<br />
(Duration: 3 days 2 nights<br />
*Transportation: Passenger<br />
bus *Accommodation:<br />
Standard hotel *Price:<br />
VND2,980,000/ guest)<br />
Co To Island, which<br />
is famous for its long<br />
white sand beaches and<br />
pure water at big Co<br />
To island and small Co<br />
To island, is an ideal<br />
place for your exciting<br />
summer holiday. The<br />
island will entice you<br />
with Van Chay and Hong<br />
Van beaches, Mong Rong<br />
reef with its majestic<br />
scenes, and the Co To<br />
light house where you<br />
can get a panoramic<br />
view of surrounding<br />
areas. Get up early. Ride<br />
your bike to the beach<br />
and welcome the first<br />
sun rays of the day or<br />
take some photos with<br />
friends on sunset, and<br />
your holiday will be full<br />
of great memories.<br />
(PYS TRAVEL *502<br />
Room, M3-M4 Building,<br />
91 Nguyen Chi Thanh,<br />
Hanoi *Tel: <strong>04</strong> 4450<br />
6070 *Website:<br />
pystravel.vn)<br />
34<br />
<strong>TRAVELLIVE</strong>
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