Istanbul, Ferdinand dah sampai

So I've had a full day here now in Istanbul and as Capt. Obvious would put it, it sure as hell is different but allow me to backtrack just a little to the day before.

The pride of Malaysia skies, MAS had a 1 hour delay for my flight and me being a genius, I thought I'd read somewhere that we have a 2 hour difference with Istanbul, hence the flight would take about 6-8 hours. Not bad aye?! Wrong. Istanbul is GMT +2, KL is +8, which effectively meant it was a 12hr flight. Ai caramba!! it wasn't too fun for me, there's only so much reading, walking, movies one can watch.

The airport, immigration were seamless albeit a bit dour. But it was sunrise and the city looked beautiful. Time to rock and roll. Got a little lost looking for the hotel but manage to find it we did.

Checked in, kicked back and enjoyed the:

a. Farmers Market
b. Blue Mosque
c. Exterior of the Hagia Sophia
d. Fisherman's Wharf (my creation)
e. Galata Bridge
f. Spice Bazaar
g. Food!!!
h. Alley & streets with no name to me.

Istanbul is an old modern city, quaint, charming, non-judgemental. I'm somewhat taken by it.

The rest I will allow you to enjoy in pictures.

PS: It's 0913 now in Istanbul, the room sprung a leak at approx 0515 earlier but no unfortunately it didn't rain women.

The Day Of the Jet Plane

Finally done packing. Wasn't as difficult as I figured it'd be. I guess having traveled a bit prepares you for that.

Don't honestly know though if I've got all I need for Istanbul but I suppose therein lies the thrill. We'll see when we get there aye?! Weather forecast for today was 5°C with light rain, tomorrow its 9°C with no rain, let's hope that stays true.

As I'm kicking back here to the sound of the rain, I'm reminded of all the planning, anticipation, nerves that went into this trip, it wasn't harrowing, far from it but not without its drama either, no thanks to Air Asia.

I'd also like to take this chance to wish all of you that I didn't have the chance to speak personally earlier, a Christmas full of love with family and friends and a New Year that welcomes you with open arms.

All my love.

On a side note I'd also like to give special mention to Salmi, a homeless friend of mine, she always had a cheeky laugh, a joke, incessant with 'sirap merah'. She moved on yesterday, she was trying to escape from a police raid, jumped into Sungai Gombak and drowned. A waste of a life, rationale given is to remove this vagrants from portraying KL in a bad light. Where then I ask is the compassion for a fellow human being?