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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TurkIsH DelIGHT<br />
I’m not sure whether you would like this kind of hotel as<br />
much as I did, but for me, the cave hotels are very unique.<br />
As mentioned, Cappadocia is an area of soft stone formed<br />
by volcanic lava, and locals have carved their homes into the<br />
mountains for years. The hotel’s special style was inspired<br />
by these cave houses.<br />
Late afternoon, I arrived at the town of Uchisar, an attraction<br />
in Cappadocia and stayed at the Uchisar Kaya Hotel - one<br />
of the first cave hotels there. In 1960, local artists carved<br />
the stone and built this hotel into the mountain overlooking<br />
the Guvercinlik valley. The hotel’s lobby is small, pretty and<br />
decorated in a local style with traditional patterned carpets.<br />
Visitors can enjoy free fresh apples at the receptionist area.<br />
The sole path leading to guest rooms is a set of stairs leading<br />
to long and narrow rock corridors.<br />
Unlike what we had thought, the hotel is quite large with<br />
many rooms. All rooms feature a great view, overlooking<br />
either the swimming pool or the beautiful valley. The<br />
terrace and outdoor swimming pool are ideal places to relax,<br />
read books, savor tea, or just simply enjoy the fresh air.<br />
Meanwhile, the balcony is the best place to contemplate the<br />
sunrise in the valley. The hotel’s design and interior imitates<br />
the rustic local style. Everything from the walls, floors, and<br />
stairs to the inner paths are made of stone, which inspires<br />
deep contentment when touching it.<br />
End your day by enjoying Turkish bath therapies at the<br />
hotel’s spa. Then, curl up in a warm bed at this special cave<br />
hotel. How relaxed you can feel!<br />
N’u Ph∏p c„ r≠Óu vang, ≥ c„ kem<br />
gelato, Bÿ c„ chocolate th◊ ThÊ Nh‹<br />
K˙ c„ Turkish Delight (Lokum).<br />
Kh´ng chÿ lµ m„n quµ th≠Íng Æ≠Óc<br />
kh∏ch du lch mua v“ sau chuy’n<br />
du lch, Turkish Delight cn lµ mÈt<br />
m„n ®n v∆t Æ” ti’p thm nguÂn<br />
“n®ng l≠Óng ng‰t ngµo” cho l˜<br />
kh∏ch trn hµnh tr◊nh kh∏m<br />
ph∏ x¯ sÎ nµy. VÌi lÓi th’<br />
v“ loπi hoa tr∏i phong phÛ,<br />
Cappadocia lµ n¨i r†t nhi“u<br />
c∏c loπi Turkish Delight kh∏c<br />
nhau ra ÆÍi. MÈt mŒ Turkish<br />
Delight Æ∆c tr≠ng lµ hÁn hÓp<br />
dŒo cÒa tinh bÈt, tr∏i c©y kh´, c∏c<br />
loπi hπt, Æ≠Íng vµ mÀt ong, Æ„ng<br />
thµnh tıng b∏nh dµi rÂi phÒ bn<br />
ngoµi mÈt lÌp bÈt mn Æ” tıng<br />
th·i “kão” kh´ng d›nh vµo nhau.<br />
Khi ghä vµo mÈt qu«y hµng c„ b∏n<br />
Turkish Delight, du kh∏ch sœ th†y<br />
m◊nh nh≠ lπc vµo m cung cÒa ÆÒ<br />
mÔi c©y tr∏i, h≠¨ng v mµ Turkish<br />
Delight mang lπi giËng nh≠ c∂m<br />
gi∏c bπn tıng c„ khi kh∏m ph∏<br />
nh˜ng ng‰n nÛi hay nh˜ng thµnh<br />
phË ng«m cÒa Cappadocia.<br />
If France is the land of wine, gelato<br />
belongs to Italy, and Belgium is<br />
famous for chocolate, Turkish<br />
Delight (Lokum) is the pride of<br />
Turkey. Turkish Delight is not merely<br />
bought by visitors as gifts for friends<br />
and family but is also a delicious<br />
snack providing “sweet energy” for<br />
when you explore the country. With<br />
the advantage of having diverse and<br />
abundant fruit, Cappadocia is home<br />
to many kinds of Turkish Delight.<br />
To make this signature dish, mix<br />
starch, sugar, dried fruits, nuts, and<br />
honey. Long bars of Turkish delight<br />
are cooled down and a thick layer<br />
of powdered sugar is sprinkled on<br />
top. Visit a Turkish Delight shop and<br />
get lost in the maze of fruits. The<br />
flavors of Turkish Delight will send<br />
you on a new journey not unlike<br />
exploring Cappadocia’s mountains<br />
and underground cities.<br />
A NIGHT IN A CAVE HOTEL<br />
Having specialized in the tourism field for years, I have experienced<br />
numerous hotels and resorts of famous multinational corporations. However,<br />
something about the cave hotels in Cappadocia captured me.<br />
<strong>TRAVELLIVE</strong><br />
93
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