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?
KAYMAKLI UNDERGROUND CITY, CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES Up to now, archaeologists have discovered 40 underground cities of various sizes in Cappadocia. The largest one is Kaymakli. Strange as it is, they divided separate living areas for each family within the community. Besides living rooms and bedrooms, kitchens, storage places, wine or oil presses, fitness areas, and public restrooms are also found here. They also had means of communication allowing them to transfer sounds between households and floors. The Kaymakli underground city features 8 floors with a simple but magical air system that ensured circulation. Currently, excavations are still being carried out. Experts estimate that there are more than 100 underground cities in Cappadocia. While you can find hundreds of gorgeous mosques in Istanbul, Cappadocia is a Mecca of Christianity. Of all the relics and monuments here, the Goreme open-air museum is the first sight to be visited by any traveler in Cappadocia. The museum resembles a vast complex composed of monasteries, churches and chapels built in the early Middle Ages. All the works here were carved directly into the rock. From the monuments, visitors can imagine the asceticism and simplicity of the monks’ lives. In the complex of 30 churches and chapels, there are also many beautiful frescoes, relics, and remains of the monks who decided to dedicate themselves to God for eternity. Beautiful frescoes on the celling TRANSPORTATION Plane: ü Turkish Airlines operates at least 2 flights per day from different big cities in Turkey to Cappadocia. Luggage: 20kg. There are 8 flights/day departing from Istanbul; the flight time is about 1 hour. Bus: ü You can take a night bus from big cities to Cappadocia. The buses are high quality and equipped with wi-fi. Roads are good and safe. Motorbike: ü You can hire a motorbike to explore different places. Hotel: ü A room at a 4-star hotel costs about 70-100USD/night and up to 150USD/night during the peak season. Recommended hotels in the center of Cappadocia include: in Goreme: ü Goreme Kaya Hotel ü 48 rooms, including 3 suites, 2 connecting rooms, 1 honeymoon suite, Turkish bathroom, and indoor swimming pool. ü Website: www. goremekayaotel.com ü Anatolian Houses ü 9 standard rooms, 13 deluxe rooms, 5 king and 6 presidential suite, Turkish bath, indoor swimming pool ü Website: www. anatolianhouses.com.tr In Ugrup: ü Sacred House Hotel ü Special architecture blends ancient and modern features as well as a luxurious interior design. Originally, the hotel was a 250 year old Greek mansion. ü Website: www. sacredhouse.com.tr Travellive GUIDE In UchisaR: ü Uchisar Kaya Hotel ü Website: www. uchisarkayaotel.com Tours: ü Green tour, Red tour, Blue tour and Orange tour. You can book a tour at your hotel/ local agencies or hire a motorbike and freelance tour guides Adventurous activities: ü Sightseeing in a hot air balloon ü Discovering Red River by Jet Boat, Gondola ü Exploring Fairy Chimneys Valley by jeep Restaurants and cuisine: ü The area provides the best fruits and fresh vegetables in Turkey, especially apples, cherries, and olives. ü You should try kebab served in clay pot. It tastes best in winter. ü Enjoy dinner and the “Turkish Night” show at Evranos Restaurant, Avanos Town. “Turkish Night” is a traditional show with traditional music, dance, belly dancing and other performances. The restaurant can serve up to 400 guests in an intimate traditional space. Shopping: ü In Cappadocia, the most favored goods are handicrafts such as jewelry with natural stones, marble sculptures, ceramics, and hand-woven carpets.
We are so lucky to visit Turkey in spring when the peach blossoms blend their color with colorful handicrafts. TRAVELLIVE 85
- Page 34 and 35: TOURS HANOI MEKONG DELTA RIVER (Dur
- Page 36 and 37: BEAUTY & Healthcare HÄ NóI SPA XA
- Page 38 and 39: ELITE FITNESS HÄ NóI 51 Xu©n Di
- Page 40 and 41: OTHER SERVICES HÄ NóI/TP.HCM QUÅ
- Page 42 and 43: HANOI/HCMC TURKISH AIRLINES LAUNCHE
- Page 44 and 45: TP.HCM 17/4 TOUR DIŸN CûA "TH¡N
- Page 46 and 47: 46 TRAVELLIVE
- Page 48 and 49: fashion Model: Thuy Huong Photograp
- Page 50 and 51: Orhan Pamuk, nhµ v®n ThÊ Nh‹ K
- Page 53 and 54: fashion Model: Thuy Huong Photograp
- Page 55: Lπc b≠Ìc Æ’n Istanbul, Æ´i
- Page 58 and 59: T´i tÌi Istanbul vµo mÈt s∏ng
- Page 60 and 61: ThÀt kh„ Æ” di‘n t∂ lπi
- Page 62 and 63: the city on 7 hills We arrived at I
- Page 64 and 65: “KH§NG THÕ RòI ßI N⁄U CHA
- Page 67 and 68: QUÉ KH` KH§NG NGû Y£N... Cï TH
- Page 69 and 70: TRAVELLIVE 69
- Page 71 and 72: Yildiz Palace Chalet Bosphorus Brid
- Page 73 and 74: MS LAN H•NG NGUYŸN FOUNDER OF ZE
- Page 75 and 76: Istanbul is located on the Silk Roa
- Page 77 and 78: TRAVELLIVE 77
- Page 79 and 80: Lµ vÔng Ɔt nªm trn cao nguyn
- Page 81 and 82: strong winds in summer, heavy snow
- Page 83: MR TR¡N QUANG ßÑI MODEL / FOUNDE
- Page 87 and 88: TRAVELLIVE 87
- Page 89: SUNRISE FROM A HOT AIR BALLOON To c
- Page 92 and 93: MóT ߣM ô KHÉCH SÑN HANG ßó
- Page 94 and 95: Mr. Ahmet Akpinar, Turkish Airlines
- Page 96 and 97: DU LëCH VíNG QUANH TH⁄ GIõI V
- Page 98 and 99: HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD WITH
- Page 100 and 101: Enjoy The Free City Tour Around Ist
- Page 102 and 103: 102 TRAVELLIVE
- Page 104 and 105: Khi bπn thÀt s˘ yu th≠¨ng khu
- Page 106 and 107: food&wine 5 MïN chè"C`U TINH" CHO
- Page 108 and 109: food&wine If anyone asks me about m
- Page 110 and 111: destination Bµi vµ ∂nh: Rähahn
- Page 112 and 113: BORAK - KEM NGHå ßëA PH•NG ß
- Page 114 and 115: Just a few days ago, I went off in
- Page 116 and 117: Bajaus are real mermen, the people
- Page 118 and 119: White skin equals beauty in Malaysi
- Page 120 and 121: HÈi An nh˜ng ngµy Dolce far Nien
- Page 122 and 123: 122 Faifo - c∏i tn x≠a cÒa HÈ
- Page 124 and 125: The present trend of returning to s
- Page 126 and 127: travel Bµi vµ ∂nh: C∏c TrÛc
- Page 128 and 129: B∂n Æ tham quan x≠Îng ruÓu
- Page 130 and 131: SÉNG TÑO H•NG Vë BIA THû C§N
- Page 132 and 133: BRAVING THE SNOW IN OUR QUEST FOR F
We are so<br />
lucky to visit<br />
Turkey in<br />
spring when<br />
the peach<br />
blossoms blend<br />
their color<br />
with colorful<br />
handicrafts.<br />
<strong>TRAVELLIVE</strong><br />
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