FuFu World Tour



Turkiye 7th - 22nd May 2007
Istanbul - Part Three

Wow, the weather was perfect good. As usual, we started off with breakfast. Then off we went to Dolmabahce by bus.


Breakfast, pancake.

I remember that somebody told me not to miss the Grand bazaar, so i asked Necla to bring me there. The bazaar is located next to Istanbul Universitesi (Istanbul University) so we decided to hop off in front of the university walked around and then to the Grand Bazaar before heading to Dolmabahce.


Istanbul Universitesi, the main entrance.


Kapali Carsi (Grand Bazaar), the entrance.



Inside the bazaar.




A little mimbar in the bazaar.


Hong Kong Restaurant. Sign of Dolmabache.

On the way walking to Dolmabahce, we saw a Chinese restaurant, Hong Kong restaurant. I, at first thought that was a gate of the chinatown.


The main entrance gate.


Close up, one of the columns.


South Gate or the exit.





It was time to fill our stomach. We walked to a rest cafe and decided to have our lunch while enjoying the view of Bosphorus Straits at Sahil Rest Cafe.


Our late lunch at Sahil Rest Cafe.

We walked around after taking rest at the cafe. The area is filled everyday with people selling things, strolling, fishing, drinking etc.


AhFu: Do you know what is that mosque called?
Necla: Erm...no idea.
AhFu: But i think i know.
Necla: Wow, how come you know huuh?
AhFu: Simple, i am going to name it now.
Necla: What?
AhFu: It is Sultan AhFu Camii.
Necla: Woo hoo, Sultan AhFu Camii.


Sultan AhFu Camii during sunset.

So we went back home as usual by bus from Taksim after chatting and wandering around that area. We passed by a supermarket when we were about to reach home. Necla bought some vegetable back home.



Sevda and mother was making dinner when we reached home. Dinner was french fried, fried beef, cucumber, green chilly and onions. Everything was fried one. Served with tomatoes and cucumber. I wished the pimples would not come out the next day but i had two small one.



My dinner.


Sevda, Necla`s youngest sister, a sweet girl.

We had cay (turkish tea) after dinner in the living room, watching Turkish drama. Since i dont understand Turkish, i was looking at the pictures taken during the whole day.


Sevda and Necla.

The next morning came. Necla, as usual made the breakfast. I had a delicious breakfast before heading for Galata Tower.



This tasted like Malaysian roti canai with ham and cheese.

Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi), which we also went by bus. It was also one of the oldest and most beautiful towers in Istanbul. It was constructed in 1348 as part of the Genoese fortifications of Galata. However, now it is the only surviving building since the demolition of the fortifications in the 19th century. You can enjoy a wonderful view and scenery of the Bophorus and the city.


Galata Kulesi (Galata Tower).


Hagia Sophia (left) and Sultan Ahmet Camii (right).


Topkapi Palace.

From this tower, you have a spectacular 360 degrees view of Istanbul city. You can also see the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia Sultan Ahmet Mosque as seen in the picture above.


Sulaymaniye Camii.


East view from the tower.


Another view from the tower, Unkapani bridge.


Apartments, houses and mosque.


Nuruosmaniye Camii.


Wide view of Taksim, the heart of Istanbul`s shopping district.





Bosphorus Pier.


Fish market.



Then off we went for our Bosphorus straits tour. We boarded the ferry from Eminonu. There you could see Galata TowerBlue Mosque, Topkapi castle, Hagia Sophia and other buildings. The ferry was jam packed with tourists and also locals who use it to commute daily because it is cheap. You can buy cay(turkish tea), juice or nescafe (coffee) while you are in the ferry itself.




AhFu, Necla and two rabbits.


Famous buildings along the straits.


AhFu and Necla, Bosphorus Bridge.


AhFu and Necla, Fatih Bridge.

There are two bridges linking the both sides of Istanbul. One is the Bosphorus Bridge and the other is the Fatih Bridge. Bosphorus bridge is the fourth longest suspension bridge in the world. Fatih Bridge was named after Mehmet the Conqueror.


Rumeli Hisari(Rumeli Castle)

Rumeli Hisari was built by Mehmet the Conqueror when he wanted to seize Byzantine Constantinople. This fortress is located at the narrowest point of the straits and gave him the advantage of controlling the traffic along the Bosphorus. Now it serves mainly as an open air theater for pop stars.


FuFu and Necla.




Right after the cruise tour, i was damn thirsty and quickly had cup of Tursucusu, sour drink with pickled vegetable. The taste was weird but acceptable.



We then took train to Bakikoy, another shopping district in Istanbul after having our lunch in Eminonu.




After that we walked to Bakirkoy pier. Enjoy the splendid view of Sea of Marmara.



We took bus back to Avcilar at 7pm. The sun was going to set yet it was still bright. Dinner was Cig Kofte, fried long meat balls made from minced meat, cracked wheat and chilli powder. Served with the dolma. Then we had dondurma, turkish ice cream. It was great!



The next morning, i saw mother and Sevda were busy making breakfast in the kicthen. I was about to help but due to their rule, man can never be aloowed to do housechores, enter kicthen, etc, so i was just sitting there and took pictures. I had never had three eggs in a day.


Breakfast.



After that, we spent few hours talking in the living room. I taught Sevda writing her name in Japanese. At noon, mother put a frozen turkish pizza in the oven and ordered me to finish it. Three hours later, she took turkish delight, lokum out with cay (turkish tea).


Lunch. Teatime.



Early Dinner.

And then they started making dinner at 5pm. Oh my godness. I was forced to eat again. Yogurt + chilli + olive oil + turkish spaghetti. It tasted so bad. The first meal that made me sick. Supper was prepared at 8pm. We had grilled eggplant with bread. I counted. Five meals in a day. And a big portion was always given to me.


Supper at 8pm.

We took bus to Denizli at 10pm. Their bus service is damn so good! They served drink and junk food. The journey was about ten hours from Istanbul to Denizli where Necla`s university is located as well as pretty close to Pamukkale and Izmir.