Day 7 (Turkey)

Ahhh.... It's 6am (Turkish time) and I was up and prepared for the next journey. This time we will head back to Istanbul and it's about 450KM from Ankara. Had our breakfast and we head to Ankara's oldest city for a short visit. Next we went to see the father of Turkey, Attaturk. (I think I got name right) 'Atta' stands for father and 'turk' stands for Turkey.

Then we start our journey from Ankara to Istanbul at about 11am. Stops couple of time for lunch and also toilet breaks. We reached Istanbul at about 3.30pm and we have to rush for our cruise. We cruised along the Bosphorus Canal which is in between of the Black Sea and Sea Of Marmara. It was a nice and pleasent cruise and we got to see alot of nice and expensive house along the canal. We even pass by a palace which had been converted to a hotel and guess how much a night stay in there. It's 15K per night!

The cruise last about 45 mins only and then we head back to our hotel. It's the same hotel that we stay on the first night. Cartoon Hotel! LOL. But in a different room now. After checking in and putting in our stuff into the hotel, we head for a restaurant opposite the street for our dinner. And guess what, it's Chinese food! LOL. I would not recommend anyone to eat Chinese food there. The food sucks a million! Tasteless! Anyway, the food is on the table, we had to eat it.

After the dinner, we were allowed to walk around the area and do our shopping. Head back to hotel at about 9pm and prepare for the next day!

Day 6 (Turkey)

Last 2 days for my trip here. Sighs.... It's like so fast the time pass. This morning my colleagues went for the hot air ballon trip which is a different itinerary from the trip. It's USD$180 for that ride. They seems to had fun there and they told me that one of the ballon got stuck on a cliff and there were power lines around them and they could not fly up back. Hmmm... Don't know what happened to them then.

After they got back, we went on our trip to more stone house. It's soooooooo....... beautiful in there. There the tour guide explained to us how the Christians last time hide away from the war from the Muslims. And how Christianity was spread during that time. When their hideout was found they moved to further up hill and hid under the rocks which they called home. The dug the soft rocks on the hill and hid under there. Imagine the cave was like 8 floors down and there are about 3000 people lives in there at that time. We saw alot of rooms in there where they sleep and cook. Then we head to a restaurant which build under those rocks too.... How cool is that eh? The food was nice.

Next, there's nothing much after the lunch. We took the coach and head to Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Upon reaching here was already 7pm and we had dinner. And now I'm going for their sauna room.... Hehehehe..... Catch ya later!!

Day 5 (Turkey)

Another long day today. This time, we will be driving from west coast of Turkey to eastern part of Turkey. The journey to our next destination was about 12 hours but we do stop by some souvenir shops and also a wine factory.

First stop is a rest area where they serve yogurt mixed with poppy seeds!!! Unfortunately we didn't stop by the poppy farm because we were in a rush. I tried some of it from my friend but I don't really like it because I don't like yogurt. UWEKKKK!!!! Next we move on to a gems factory where they show us the beautiful and of course expensive gems that they have there. The turquoise gems is so beautiful. Wanted to buy one but no one to give to. LOL. So I skip shopping there and just took some pictures only.

We move on and we reach to this volcanic site where these people who lives there actually dig the lava formed stoned into their house. See the pictures when I upload it. It's so nice and beautiful. Bought some souvenir there.

Then we go to a wine factory and they let us taste one of their wine there and they have this beautifully carved bottle that contains their wine in there. Bought 2 bottles of it for USD$8.50 each bottle.

Then now we move on to our hotel, which nothing much there but we have to pay just to use their swimming pool. Shesshhhh!!! That sucks! After dinner, I went to a corner of the hotel lobby and finish a bottle of my wine while chit chatting with some of the tour members here. It's was a fun night and we retire to our room after that.

Day 4 (Turkey)

Damn! Overslept! Must be the Turkish Bath last night. LOL. Anyway, we have to move out quite early today. 6.15am was the wake up call and 6.45 we have to depart from the hotel. Next we went for a leather factory. It was 8am when we reach there and those chap was nice enough to open their doors early just for us. And guess what, they even bring in models to have a leather fashion show for us. After the show, we head into the leather shop. I was drooling when I saw those nice and soft leather sheep skin jackets. Wanted to buy one, but I think it's abit of overprice (opens early for you, tourist, of course overprice) even thou they said they would give us a 30% discount. I think I could get those jackets in KL about 1/3 of the price there but the quality would be different la. Sighs. Still drooling while walking out of the shop till the coach.

Anyway, next we went to another ruins and learned more about the Roman's and Greek's ancient city. Then we went for lunch nearby. Then we took another about 1.30 hour ride to another ruin city which they have a very nice landscape. The city is actually behind of a hill that is covered with white calcium minerals. The water that flows out from the hills are actually contained alot of calcium and when they flow down the hill over a long time, it would cover the hill with the minerals and it makes the hill white. It looks like snow if you see from far. Until today, the water still flows and the water is warm. It's about 35 degree Celsius. They even have a pool for people to dip in. It was supposed to be believe that the water could cure alot of sickness.

Then we head for our hotel which is only about 10 mins from there. The hotel is nice too, because they have alot of pools in there. Thermal pool, jacuzzi pool, and a swimming pool. After checking in, I immediately change to by trunks and head for the thermal pool. The pool is actually hot with water oozing out from the earth and the water contains high amount of sulfur. It was a great experience dipping in that pool there. And also, it was supposed to cure some skin sickness too. Then I head for the jacuzzi pool and relax in there till dinner time. After dinner and here I am blogging. LOL. It's 10.40pm right now and I'm feeling so exhausted. Time to go bed now. Early wake up tomorrow. Sighs. 5.30am wake up call, that's what I heard. Gotta go!

Day 3 (Turkey)

Had to wake up early today because we have a long journey to go. First in the morning, we go to the city of Troy. There we could see the ruins of the ancient city, Troy and there is really a Trojan horse there (still no picture yet). Do you all know about the war between Greeks and the Trojan's? It was a myth and till today there is no hard proof that says there was this war. (Like in the movie) but the city of Troy does really exist and it was so nice and so beautiful. Sadly it was ruined by the occasionally earth quake in Turkey. So what we see right now is only the ruins. Manage to pick up some rocks from the wall of Troy. Hehehehe.....

Next we head to an olive oil factory which is just about an hours bus ride to more southern of Troy. There we learned how the olive oil was made and how does the trees look like. Do you know that an olive tree and produce olive fruits for a thousand years?!!! WOW! I could be a olive tychoon if I have a farm like that. LOL.

Next, another long journey down south again. (I forgot the name of that place currently) Let me check the map again I'll tell you) In the mean time, we reach to this beautiful hotel. And guess what? I manage to get a Turkish Bath!!!! COOL!!! I love it! I'll give it a 5 star rating. You have my recommendation for it. What so nice? Hehehehehe.... Let me tell you la, ha? First when we reach the hotel, after checking in and all those stuff, we were told if we want a Turkish Bath we have to book a time for it and I did. I took the 8.30pm appointment, because the dinner starts at 7.30pm and I want to be first one to go for it first. (I'll tell you why later) And others of our tour members went for the 9pm and some 9.30pm appointment.

After dinner, I was so anxious for the bath and I arrived first at the door of the bath. LOL. Kiasu eh? When 8.30pm arrives, I walked in to the bath and there I met this nice Turkish chap and I told him I'm here for the 8.30pm appointment. Next, he showed me the changing room which only a 3 metre by 4 metre room and only covered using a curtain. So I went in there and put my things in the locker provided, and stripped my self down (except my swimming trunks ofcourse) LOL. Then he just dashed in ask me whether I want him to massage me or his wife..... I was like er..... your wife? I said, it's ok for him to massage me. LOL. So he bring me in to this round room and there was this mosaic table in the center of the room. In the room, it was like sauna with the heat just rush to my face and semi-naked body. Then he ask me to lay down on the mosaic table. And guess what, the table is hot!!! I felt like I'm being fried like a steak when I lay down on it. Then he splash alot of water over my body and also the table because I was like a worm crying out for my life up there. And when he notice that, he poured some cold water on me. How embarassing. LOL. After my whole body is wet and reddish like a lobster, he use a silk glove and start rubbing my whole body. According to them, that supposed to rub off all the dead skin on your body. I felt so nice........ hehehehehe...... It's like you are being pampered and someone is bathing you just like when you are a baby last time. LOL. After the scrub, here comes the soap. He dips in this cloth and makes bubbles from it. Hmmmm.... It's hard to describe it now. Anyway, he puts the bubbles on me, and again I felt like I'm a baby again playing with the bubbles. LOL. With the body fulls of bubbles, he begans to rub and scrub and massage me again. It feels so nice. The massage last about 20 mins. Back of the body, legs, arms, butt, hands, neck, and head. A full body massage. It feels so nice. After that, he pours more water on me, to get rid of the soap from my body. And he asked me to wake up and brought me a towel to dry myself up. Next he brought me out of the room, while I'm still sweating like a pig, and he asked me to lay down on a chair and give me a mud facial treatment. LOL. And that was the end of the Turkish Bath. All that, for only USD$30!!! Cheap eh? I would recommend you guys who ever got a chance to come to Turkey, you should try it but the ones in main city would cost more and shorter massage time. If you really wanted it, should go for it out of the city limits. Woohoo!! Feels so refresh now. And it's just nice for my bed time.

Day 2 (Turkey)

It's 7am here and it's 12pm in KL (same day). Woke up and took a shower. Next we head to the roof top of the hotel for our first breakfast in Istanbul. Superior view (Sorry, still no picture yet). After breakfast, we head to a palace which being converted into a museum. There, we learn about the history of a ruler in Turkey. And they have many priceless gems and diamonds!!! Too bad we were not allowed to take pictures in there. :( (Wish I could set up a team called Ocean 14) LOL. Then we head for another gigantic mosque nearby. And lunch after that.

Next, we took the coach again and this time we are heading south of Istanbul, about 5 hours bus ride and in between, we travelled by ferry to cross the bay. We were heading to the city of Troy but we only get to visit it on the next day. Guess you all see the movie Troy by Brad Pitt before right? So there is where we heading. We reached our hotel there about 6pm and everyone was tired. So everyone retired to their room after dinner. Nothing much happen tonight.

Day 1 (Turkey)

After 7 hours of flight from KL to Qatar (DOHA), the first thing I'm looking for, SMOKING ROOM! Hahahaha..... The addictions is killing me. Sighs. And also the problems that I've thinking while in the plane. Too much tensions! Sorry guys, no pictures yet as I'm using my colleague's laptop to write this blog. (Not so high tech like mine that's why can't upload photos yet) LOL. Just kidding. So where am I.... Oh... At Doha. I see alot of Sheiks here..... LOL. Those filthy rich Sheiks.

Anyway, the transit wasn't too long until we take our next flight to Turkey (Istanbul). Another 5 hours of flight there. It feels like forever. Upon reaching the airport in Istanbul, we were greeted by a local tour guide here. He was nice and friendly. And most of all, he knowledgeable about his country. I wonder what he got in his history exam.... Hmmm...

Our first place of visit was the Blue Mosque. From outside, it just look like a normal mosque, but by the time we walk in there, it is so huge!!! And the building is made by marble. Mostly whole building. But why do they call it a Blue Mosque? That's because their interior carving and decorations are maded by blue marble which only Turkey has it and not anywhere in the world.

Next, we went to check into our hotel. And the name of the hotel is Cartoon Hotel! Yeah! You saw it right. The whole hotel is filled with cartoon character's decorations and the carving on the walls too are the cartoon characters. The staff of the hotel, they dress up ................ normally of course with shirt and tie. LOL. I bet you were expecting them to dress up in cartoon characters eh? LOL. Next we were brought to a street which has alot of shops and there was alot of people on the street. Tried on of their bread which looks like pretzels but they are not. It's hard like a stone. LOL. Then we tried the Turkish ice-cream. And it taste kind of different from the one in KL but it's nice. And the price for the ice-cream, it's 5 YTL (Yari Turkish Lira means New Turkey Lira). It's some how about RM 17 for that 2 scoops of ice-cream. Killing eh? I could get it for RM4.50 in KL. Anyway, it's once in a lifetime kindda thing, so what the hell.

Oppsss.. time up and we have to head back to hotel for our dinner. Took the tour bus and we went to a restaurant. It was a very superb restaurant, (minus the food) because we had a great time watching the shows there. Belly dance! Yeah! Superb Turkish girls..... :p I was so impresed by their dance and I practically almost recorded the whole show with my video cam and left not much of tape for the rest of the trip. LOL. After the dinner and everyone seems impressed with the show (besides the food) and we head back to hotel for our rest.

Thank you all......

Thanks to PQ and annonymous (whoever is that) for the support that I received from you guys! And also the calls that I got when I'm here. You are the best! I will try my best to enjoy my trip here. Life goes on eh? Anyway, I will update my blog after this about the trip here. Stay tuned!

A Sad Beginning Of My Trip

What a screwed up trip I'm having here right now actually. Broke up with my gf seconds before I step into the plane. Spoilt my whole entire mood already. What a trip eh? Damn it! Must be some of you wondering what happened eh?

The day I was about to step out of the house to go to the airport, I suddenly thought of something that save it into my thumbdrive to bring it here. Then out of nowhere I saw this folder in My Documents. I opened it and say the MSN chat history file. I opened it and I saw this chat between my gf and her sis. And in this chat, I found out alot of stuff about what she is doing behind my back. And that's all I could say right now. Damn trip!

Turkey Here I Come!!! Part II

Time now is 1.15pm. There's only 14 hours 49 mins to go for me to get my butt in the flight to Turkey! Yeah! Can't wait for it. Hmmm... Let's see if I bring everything. Afraid I'm too excited and forgotten to some necessities.

Passport. Check. Clothes for 10 days. Check. Tooth brush. Check. Hair cream. Check. Shaver. Check. Tooth paste. Check. Shaving cream. Check. Handphone. Check. (DUH! I will kill myself if I forget to bring that). DV Cam. Check. Alas, my most favourite item. A fully charged PSP! CHECK! I guess that's all about it. Oh yeah..... One more. USD$. Still got time.

Stay tuned for my update of my trip. Till then. Bon Voyage!