Cool Head Warm Heart

When I told people our holiday destination, the first reaction from most of them were “why Turkey?”

This reminds me of my own reaction when I heard my cousin visiting Turkey and when I heard my friend brought his family to Turkey (watching 2005 Championship Liverpool vs AC Milan live)…”Why Turkey?”

Initially Yvonne wanted to go New Zealand. After contemplating at the idea for a while I just wish to have something more than watching water, mountain and sheeps. I wanted to go China, a place full of historical happenings. But Yvonne prefered a place where the toilets are clean, less crowded and…with an English speaking tour guide. However this didn’t lead us to Turkey.

We went to Matta fair. Most holiday packages, within the range of RM4K - RM3K, would take around 5 days to 7 days. We saw Turkey…9 days covering full three meals for the entire journey. That’s it.

So why Turkey? Because it is exotic AND the cost is relatively cheaper than those of Europe, Australia, New Zealand and US. We did not consider the food, drinks, safety, even toilets…then yet, and we forgot we have a 6 year old son who will follow us to this “strange” and “dangerous” foreign land called Turkey.

This was the best “mistake” we made.

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The photo: Asia side of Bosporus Strait.

So I decided to write a travelogue on my trip to Turkey. I wish to imagine that I am a twenty something pilgrim who backpack through the land of Anatolia, search for true self and wander through historical places seeking enlightenment. Or may be I am a National Geographic photographer shooting for a featured issue on Turkey. Yeah, I wish I am.

But I am not. I am in my mid-thirties, a manager, accompanying my wife, dragging my luggages, chasing my six year old son and joining a 9 days guided tour to Turkey. The type of man like those, when you see a group of Japanese tourists stepping down the bus coach, with camera hanging on the neck. And you would roll you eyes and think “…these tourists…”.

Yeap, this image doesn’t deviate too much despite the fact that I am a Malaysian. But I promise, this travelogue will be full of beautiful pictures that I snapped with my Canon 350D (XT Rebel) and some amazing stories.

There are much to share, not because I experienced a lot, but because Turkey is simply full of wonders. For a start, let me tell you, I like Turkiye, the land of Turk. It was one of my most wonderful experience.

The photo: Crossing Bosporus Strait at dusk from Europe (right) to Asia (left) on the day we touched down at Istanbul. I took the photo in the coach.

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