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2 weeks in Turkey /  by Yobel Muchang

15 days | Aug 2019 | Aerial view of Cappadocia, Turkey from a hot air balloon.

15 days | Aug 2019 | Aerial view of Cappadocia, Turkey from a hot air balloon.

Quick Thoughts

The first time I visited Turkey it was focused solely on Istanbul. This time I had the opportunity to explore the country and seaside terrains with two close friends in tow. The trip began on my own in Cappadocia with the obligatory hot air balloon experience, followed by a roadtrip with friends along the southwestern coast of Turkey, and ended with a solo venture into the town of Van to - no joke - hang out with their epic cats. The perfect ingredients to create a memorable trip.

Key Highlights

  • Link to my collection of Instagram Stories from the trip!

  • Hot air balloons over Cappadocia - As mentioned itโ€™s basically obligatory, but trust me the views are worth it.

  • Rooftops of Cappadocia - Just as obligatory is to catch sunrise/sunset or hot air balloon views from the countless rooftops.

  • Seaside town of Kas - Amazing resort-style place to relax and enjoy the stunning coastal views.

  • Thermal pools in Pamukkale - Iโ€™m a sucker for surrealism, and seeing this thermal snowy-white landscape did it for me.

  • Van Cats - I love photographing animal eyes, so when I discovered a town known for cats with heterochromia, I booked the flight immediately.

  • Akdamar Island - I enjoyed spending a day exploring this island on Van Lake. Most surprising thing was the number of strangers who asked for selfies with me. I donโ€™t think many Asians visit Van.. ยฏ\_(ใƒ„)_/ยฏ

Things to Know

  • I purchased my travel visa through www.ivisa.com.

  • Book your hot air balloon ride in advance. I donโ€™t think it matters which agency you use, but just make sure to book the earliest morning batch of flights so you donโ€™t miss the sunrise.

  • Places I stayed: Azure Cave Suites, Kookaburra Pension, Villa Hotel Tamara, Pamukkale Ninova Thermal Spa & Hotel, Mavi Panorama.

Birdโ€™s Eye View

Aug 1, 2019 - Aug 15, 2019

Trip by the Photos

Weekend in Istanbul /  by Yobel Muchang

2 days | Feb 2019 | Closeup of Hagia Sophia Museum as seen through a glass of Turkish tea.

2 days | Feb 2019 | Closeup of Hagia Sophia Museum as seen through a glass of Turkish tea.

Quick Thoughts

Istanbul is one of the rare cities that checks all the boxes. Itโ€™s a sprawling transcontinental metropolis thatโ€™s withstood the test of time & humanity, which as a tourist means endless explorations of both the ancient & the modern.

This โ€œCity on the Seven Hillsโ€ also boasts one of the most impressive skylines which can be enjoyed from countless rooftop bars, cafes, & restaurants. Speaking of which, the food may very well be the highlight for most travelers itโ€™s that amazing.

With that said, the best part for me was *drumroll* chilling with the friendly stray dogs & cats that run the streets of Istanbul. But hey, different priorities ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ•๐Ÿˆ

Key Highlights

  • Link to my collection of Instagram Stories from the trip!

  • Befriending this street dog with heterochromatic eyes.

  • You canโ€™t visit Turkey without trying Turkish coffee โ˜•๏ธ

  • The moment I landed, I went straight from the airport to Ortakoy Mosque and caught this stormy sunrise just in time!

  • Fish sandwich from the boat restaurant near Galata Bridge (Deniz Yildizi Balikci).

  • Watching the sunset views of Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia from Seven Hills Hotel rooftop.

  • Turkish street food is worth trying, especially roasted chestnuts ๐ŸŒฐAnd of course, try some Turkish ice cream & enjoy the show.

Things to Know

  • For a free rooftop view of Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia museum, check out Seven Hills Hotel.

  • There are two major airports, both roughly an hour away from the city so factor that into your itinerary!

  • Cheers Hostel - I highly recommend this place! Plus the hostel comes with its own dog (:

  • Get ready to encounter street dogs & cats everywhere! But donโ€™t worry, they are treated well & are quite friendly.

  • Use Uber.

  • Watch out for hustlers. I unfortunately had one taxi driver rip me off, and had another interesting incident. In an elaborate scheme, a shoe shiner walked ahead of me and โ€œaccidentallyโ€ dropped his shoe brush. I picked it up and approached him to return it. He acted surprised and grateful, followed by insisting in giving me a shoe shine. Luckily, my slow brain finally remembered I read about this scheme prior to my trip, so I hurried along my way. Apparently this is a method used to hook you into buying something. I respect the hustle.

Birdโ€™s Eye View

Weekend in Istanbul

Trip by the Photos