Turkey has always fascinated me as a country, which straddles between the east of Europe and the west of Asia. The closest I have ever been to Turkey was in a local Turkish restaurant run by Turkish.
It was not only the food that has enticed me to this mystical land where beautiful natural landscapes in Cappadocia gives way to the ruins of Ephesus and the beautiful Haggia Sofia and its majestic architecture and history, not to forget the bustling markets in the city of Istanbul. The country has evolved beautifully through the times with cultural influences of the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Persian, and Ottoman empires, which are evident in the arts, music and architectural designs.
View of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, or Sultan Ahmed Camii from the Bosphorus channel which runs through Turkey which straddles between the European and Asian continents.
Closer view of the Blue Mosque.
Interior of the Blue Mosque.
View from the back.
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which was built as a Greek Orthodox church before being converted into a mosque after being conquered by the Ottoman empire. It has since been secularised and opened to public as a museum since 1935.
The interior of Hagia Sophia with Arabic monograms of two of the four caliphs on the pillars of the building.
Entrance of the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul.
One of the many shops within the bazaar selling beautiful lamps.
A friendly vendor drinking Apple tea, one of the more popular teas in Turkey.
Another friendly Turkish vendor.
View of the city of Çanakkale from the UNESCO heritage site of Troy.
The beautiful travertine terraces of the hot water spring in Pamukkale, Hierapolis, or Cotton Castle when literally translated from Turkish.
The terrains of Göreme, or Pigeon Valley, as it is more commonly known.
A lost bull in the middle of the Pigeon Valley.
Getting prepared for the hot air balloon ride.
View from the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia.
Soaring through villages.
Getting ready for landing.
Securing hot air balloon upon landing for the safety of the passengers.
Whirling Dervishes getting ready for what, to us, is a performance, but to them, an act of love and a drama of faith.
To those planning their trips to Turkey, go for it and you'll definitely not regret it.
