A traveller's reflection: Turkey 1996: Istanbul - Byzanthium and Constantinople Empire....

"Do not regret growing older, it is a privilege denied to many..."

Istanbul, Turkey

(10 - 13 December, 1996)

This year we had the opportunity to combine our umrah trip with a short winter holiday in Istanbul. We joined a large group with Tabung Haji Travels. The Istanbul tour was after the visits to the holy lands of Madinah and Makkah.

Istanbul, historically Byzantium and later Constantinople is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. The city covers 25 districts of the Istanbul province. It is located on the Bosphorus strait, and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country.

(Taksim Square with hubby)

The itinerary started with the Bosphorus Cruise, a must-see tour for visitors because it is a wonderful opportunity to observe both sides of Istanbul. The ferry is a traditional one, which has seats inside and outside the interior. Along the journey you’ll see the beautiful houses along the European Side, then moves to the Asian Side. We had a hefty lunch on the cruise and it was part of the package. There are nice restaurants along the Bosphorus and one can enjoy lunch or dinner of fresh fish, fresh vegetables, fruits and raki, a traditional Turkish drink.

(Getting ready for a full day trip)

(The three children fooling around)

(Sara and the bread vendor at the Ferry Terminal)

(The lower deck is warmer

(Enjoying the scenery from the upper deck)

(Iwan and Ja bracing the cool breeze on upper deck)

(The start of the tour along the Bosphorus River)

(Sara and Ja fully zipped-up, keeping warm)

(A private section for the Malaysian tourists)

(Finishing the entré with a gulp of water)

(A spacious restaurant on the ferry)

(Having our lunch on a boat cruise)

(After the cruise, ready for our next destination)

After the river cruise the entourage went to several shops to hunt for carpets, vintage hand-etched copper vases, glass chandeliers and other local crafts. Of course, leather shops are just about everywhere in this city, so it wasn’t long before we were drawn into a couple to check out the prices. There were a wide range of leather products, including jackets, bags, wallets, and shoes. We ended up buying a black leather jacket to replace my old one. We also bought dozens of pretty Turkish scarfs for souvenirs and a pair of hand crafted antique copper vases for our house.

(Waiting for our bus)

(Ja admiring the mannequins' dresses)

(Beautiful Turkish scarfs on display)

(At the copper tooling shop)

(Glittering chandeliers)

(Other hand-crafted glass souvenirs)

(At one of the leather outlets)

(Too many designs to choose from)

(Trying out our new leather jackets)

Our next visit was to Hagia Sophia, a former church, later a mosque, now a museum. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until the completion of the Medieval Seville Cathedral in 1520. The current building was originally constructed as a church on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, and the religious focus point of the Orthodox Byzantine Empire for nearly 1000 years. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque. It remained as a mosque until 1935, when it was converted into a museum by the secular Republic of Turkey.

(Ablution area to perform our solat)

(A refreshing morning walk)

(Testing the hole in the pillar)

A short walking distance away, crossing the Sultan Ahmet Park we came to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque also well-known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has become one of the greatest tourist attractions of Istanbul.

(The Blue Mosque at the background)

(Ja and the Blue Mosque)

(Iwan, Sara and the blue mosque)

(A cool misty day)

(Exploring the interior of the Blue Mosque)

(Sara waiting by the road side)

(A long wait for the bus)

Next destination was Topkapi Palace, situated on the Seraglio Peninsula. The palace became a museum in 1924. The Harem, Baghdat Pavilion, Revan Pavilion, Sofa Pavilion, and the Audience Chamber distinguish themselves with their architectural assets, while other artifacts reflect palace life. Gülhane Park is located on the slopes below Topkapi Palace extending to the seashore, and is popular among Istanbul residents for picnicking and open-air concerts. In the park is the Gothic Column, known to have been one of the main obelisks of the Byzantines, and an as yet unclassified, and therefore unofficial, Byzantine ruin.

(A visit to the Museum)

(An evening at the Museum)

(Cultural heritage at the Museum)

Never to be missed was the Grand Bazaar, one of the the largest covered markets in the world. It is a real heaven for shoppers and a good opportunity for people to discover the Turkish hospitality. Things are cheap here, available at flea market prices. The bazaar is filled with diverse items you can find, almost anything is here. And you can haggle with the shopkeepers as most prices are very flexible.

(Shopping spree at the Grand Bazaar)

(The two boys, always fooling around)

(Walking along rows of shops)

(Buying some souvenirs)

On the last day, after a heavy breakfast the group checked out of the hotel early. As our flight was scheduled late at night, we had time to roam the streets of Istanbul for a last minute shopping.

Istanbul extends both on the European and on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents. Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire.

(Packed and ready to check out)

(Waiting for the bus in front of the hotel)

(A picture at an iconic monument)

(A leisure walk with Sara)

(Ja chasing the pigeons)

(Iwan and Ja with their souvenirs)

(Chasing the tram)

(Taking a rest after a long walk)

(Tourists at the famous Istiklal Street)

(A historical monument, the Republic Monument)

(Pigeons were everywhere)

(Iwan and the tram at Taksim Square)

The ever-bustling Istiklal Avenue that runs from Taksim Square all the way to the landmark Galata Tower was quite pack with people. With million locals and foreign tourist that pass it every day can make it rather challenging to stroll leisurely. Although chains of modern shops and fast food joints are starting to edge out the more old-fashioned shops, there is still traces of old Istanbul here.

We boarded the bus to Istanbul Ataturk Airport and was nearly caught in the massive traffic jam. We arrived at the airport timely, ample time to check-in and performed our prayers before we boarded the flight home. Alhamdulillah...