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 family 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...

(Finally, at the airport, with our hand-carry Zam-zam water)

(Istanbul Ataturk International Airport)

(Waiting for the final call)

(The end of a wonderful winter holidays)

👈 1997: Hong Kong

1996: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 👉

Saudi Arabia 1996: 3rd Umrah: Jeddah - The Firaun and the Red Sea...

"Participate in life instead of just watching it pass you by..."

(Sara at the Floating Mosque, Jeddah)

After our tawaf wida', we boarded the bus and headed to Jeddah. Our flight to Istanbul was scheduled late in the evening so we had ample time to visit the Ar-Rahmah Mosque, the floating mosque by the red sea.

Jeddah is on the Red Sea in western Saudi Arabia. It is the second largest city after Riyadh and a major commercial center in the country. Jeddah is also the main entry point, either by air or sea, for pilgrims making the Hajj/Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, the two most sacred cities of Islam. Both are a few hours inland from Jeddah.

It also hosts the Jeddah Corniche, the waterfront area, which is the largest in the Kingdom with a great bunch of hotels, beaches and resorts clustered around it. To the north of the city there is a private row of beach resorts only for the rich and famous.

The historic Jeddah has been inscribed to the World Heritage list since 2014.

(With Hubby in Jeddah)

(Sara and me by the sea)

(The three children by the Red Sea)

(Sara, Iwan and Ja)

The Red Sea contains some of the world's hottest and saltiest seawater. With its connection to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, it is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the world, carrying maritime traffic between Europe and Asia.

It is mentioned in the Quran about Prophet Moses leading the bani Israel to escape from the pursuit of Firaun and his army. By God's destiny, the Red Sea suddenly split in two and Moses and his followers were able to save themselves.

(Iwan by the Red Sea)

(Ja is exploring the beach)

It was late evening when we boarded the bus to King Abdul Aziz International Airport for our onward flight to Istanbul for a family holiday.

(Sara and Iwan on the bus to the airport)

(At the King Abdul Aziz International Airport)

👈1996: Istanbul, Turkey

1996: Madinah/Makkah, Saudi Arabia 👉

Saudi Arabia 1996: 3rd Umrah: Madinah and Makkah...

"If you can't be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you've escaped..."

Madinah & Makkah, Saudi Arabia
(30 November - 10 December 1996)

(On the tour bus for ziarah)

(Heavy breakfast at the hotel cafe)

This was our third trip to the holy lands to perform our Umrah. We brought our three kids along. This time we joined a big group from Tabung Haji Travels and after our Umrah we will be spending a few days in Istanbul, Turkey.

(Sara, Iwan and Ja sharing a room)

(With my two boys on the bus)

(On an empty bus to Tannaim for Miqat)

(Our family daily routine for umrah)

(The two of us at Masjid Siti Aisyah)

(Miqat at Masjid Tannaim)

In Makkah we joined the group for two complimentary tours of Makkah and had the opportunity to visit historical places and attractions. While we were on the tours, we had the opportunity to miqat at Hudaibiah and Jaaranah. On other days, we took a double decker SAPTCO bus from the bus station located next to Hilton Hotel to Masjid Siti Aisyah in Tannaim and had our solat sunat ihram and niat our miqat there. 

(Sara at Jabal Rahmah on the way to Jaaranah)

Our lodging in Makkah was at Ajyad Hotel which was quite a distance away from Masjidil Haram. We will usually take the hotel shuttle to the mosque to perform Subuh prayers. After subuh, we will take the bus to Tanaim for miqat and completed our umrah before 9.00 am. The long uphill walk back to our hotel was via the main road, passing the Al-Safa Royal Palace.

(A cool afternoon at Masjidil Haram)

(Having tea and cakes after Asar prayers)

(Met some friends, while waiting for Maghrib prayers)

On the last day in Makkah, after performing our Tawaf Wida', we boarded the bus to Jeddah for our onward flight to Istanbul, Turkey.

(Ready with our luggage)

(Excited to spend their winter holidays in Istanbul)

👈 1996: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

1996: Cape Town, South Africa 👉

South Africa 1996: Cape Town - The Cape of Good Hope...

"Life has no limitations, except the ones you make..." - Les Brown

Cape Town, South Africa
(13 - 15 November 1996)

This year we celebrated my 41st Birthday in Cape Town.

Cape Town is about 1,400 km away so we took a direct flight from Johannesburg.

In Cape Town we visited a few attractions around town. The Cape Town city centre lies to the north of Table Mountain. The commercial centre, known as the City Bowl, takes in many of Cape Town's attractions. The Castle of Good Hope was built between 1666 and 1679 and is one of the oldest European structures in Southern Africa. The South African Museum is a good old-fashioned place, with cases and cases of stuffed animals and bloodthirsty dioramas of dinosaurs. Exhibitions of indigenous cultures include some startlingly lifelike displays of San communities. If you see only one museum in Cape Town make it the District Six Museum, a much simpler place dedicated to residents of this formerly vibrant community. 

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is to the north of the city centre. This area is pitched at tourists. It's atmospheric, interesting and packed with restaurants, bars, music venues, shops and a great aquarium. This area closes very late so head down anytime.

(A view point on Table Mountain)

The Table Mountain cableway is such an obvious and popular attraction. When it's clear, the views from the top are phenomenal and there are some excellent walks on the summit, especially in spring when the plants are flowering. The Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens on the eastern side of Table Mountain are among the most beautiful in the world and are devoted almost exclusively to indigenous plants. A trip to Robben Island comes highly recommended: The island was a political prison until majority rule, and its most famous inmate was Nelson Mandela.

(The confluence of two oceans)

(A windy weather at the tip of the cape)

Like all South African cities, Cape Town is ambivalent mixture of European and African. But when it comes to being one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it is unequivocal. Even the transient visitor will appreciate this city, its mountains and the sea. Cape Town, South Africa's oldest settlement, is dominated by the kilometre high flat-topped Table Mountain and superb mountain walks, vineyards and beaches are all within easy reach. Despite an increase in street crime in recent years, Cape Town remains one of the most relaxed cities in Africa, which can instill a false sense of security.

With the assistance of a friend as a guide, we drove from Cape Town to Cape of Good Hope and spent a whole day there admiring the scenery and the view of the ocean. And we enjoyed a meal of Calamari Peri-peri in a chic restaurant perched on a cliff.

(At the waterfront, the night before the bombing)

(A beautiful night view)

👈 1996: Madinah/Makkah, Saudi Arabia

1996: Johannesburg, South Africa 👉

South Africa 1996: Johannesburg - The City of Gold...

"If we can see the positive sides of everything, you'll be able to live a much richer life than others..." - Celestine Chua

Johannesburg, South Africa

(10 - 13 November 1996)

Hubby was invited as a resource person for an International Seminar held in Kwa Maritane. I accompanied him throughout the trip and have the opportunity to do my own adventuring in the Safari Park. Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge is a luxury accommodation in the Pilansberg offers all the amenities of an exclusive resort within the Pilanesberg National Park, an easy drive of 2 hours from Johannesburg or about 3 km from the airport.

We spent a few nights at the Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge where the rooms are spacious and all have magnificent views. Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world. It’s unusual rock structures, and types make it a unique geological feature. The crater of a long extinct volcano stands in the centre of the Pilanesberg National Park created by volcanic eruptions over 1400 million years ago. The lodge’s main restaurant overlooks the waterhole and the Rocky hill with its magnificent granite formations.

In our free time we visited attractions in Johannesburg and the Sun City. Later, we spent a few days in Cape Town and drove up to the Cape of Good Hope.

(On a Safari adventure tour)

Jo'burg or Johannesburg is by far the largest city in South Africa. It's brash, fast-growing and often ugly, but it's got wealth, energy and a beautiful climate. Many would suggest you go through Jo'burg as quickly as possible, with your valuables close to you. However, if you want to see the 'real' South Africa - and try to understand it - Jo'burg has to be on your itinerary.

(Our lodging for a few nights)

(Waiting for dinner)

While the colour lines are etched deeply, you stand a better chance of meeting blacks on relatively equal terms in Jo'burg than almost anywhere else. Unlike many South African cities where there are so few black faces you could forget that you are in Africa. Jo'burg has been reclaimed and the sidewalks are jammed with black hawkers and stalls of every description. There's also a growing multiracial music and theatre scene.

(Going for a night outing)

The so-called black townships, where conditions range from reasonable to appalling, ring the city and are a grotesque contrast to the northern suburbs. Soweto is the main township. It's an enormous, sprawling and sometimes grim spread of bungalows, houses, huts, shacks and dorms. Most white South Africans are completely ignorant of life inside the townships and few have ever been inside one. Although the townships are still in a state of acute social trauma, outsiders are not automatically targeted…

(A TV interview session)

~ OUR OWN PATHWAY ~

On the pathway that we choose to thread

There will be many wonderful sights & memories

Sometimes we will come across a barren bit

Thread on to pastures new & bright

To your own self always be true

Tread along the pathway meant for you

Always keep your head held high

Keep your eyes opened & learn as you go

(A night in the Sun City)

👈 1996: Cape Town, South Africa

👉 1995: London, UK