Malaysia (Pre Covid 19 - Reminisce My Good Old Days - The 10 Best Places to Visit in Turkey & I) - July 2021

" Turkey is the 37th largest country out of a list of 195 in the world. The country is larger than Italy & France. It occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia & partly in Europe. Throughout the history it has acted as both a barrier & a bridge between the two continents " 

Ottoman Empire (14th > 17th centuries), Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881 > 1938), Gallipoli WW1, Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), The Trojan Horse & the City of Troy, Cappadocia fairy chimneys, hot air balloon rides & cave hotels, Turkish bath, Whirling dervishes, Turkish delight, fish sandwiches, apple tea, Turkish folk dance, spending your Christmas holiday in Turkey & enjoy a roasted turkey (a bird of courage) thanksgiving dinner at a cosy restaurant in the European part of Turkey .... Turkey is a secular state with a modern Islamic society, not to forget to buy home a few packets of delicious Turkish Delight confections .... yummy yummy-lah ! 

In Sept 2008 (two years after my retirement), I made an adventure visit (37 days free & easy) to 4 countries ie Jordan & Syria (Middle East), Turkey (Europe/Asia) & Egypt (Africa), before The Arab Spring erupted in early 2010 - I am not a history junkie but these countries all had a glorious historic past leaving behind a number of their ancient world heritage sites ie Petra, Palmyra, Ephesus & the Pyramid for the present generation to appreciate & admire ! In Nov 2018 (after a lapse of 10 years), I joined a 11 day package tour (together with my wife) & re-visited Turkey - a trip down the memory lane - a blessing to me as I was able to see a more modernised & progressive Turkey one more time ! In addition to my visits to the 5 Best Places highlighted in touropia (see pictures below), I had also visited Canakkale (ancient site of Troy) & Ankara, the capital of Turkey

The 10 Best Places to Visit in Turkey as highlighted in touropia's travel video are (visited 5 out of the 10 Best Places in Turkey) : 

1. Istanbul
2. Cappadocia
3. Ephesus
4. Bodrum
5. Side (yet to visit)
6. Edirne (yet to visit)
7. Antalya (yet to visit)
8. Konya (yet to visit)
9. Mardin (yet to visit)
10. Pamukkale 

When time fades, memory & loved ones are no longer with us, what is left ? - Photos

" A Turkish Delight & Savouring a Thanksgiving Healthy Roasted Turkey Sandwich during Christmas in Turkey " - behind every travel, these were the pictures of my Good Old Days free & easy traveling & package tour to Turkey (Sept 2008 & Nov 2018)

1) Istanbul, Turkey (Sept 2008 & Nov 2018) 

2) Cappadocia, Turkey (Sept 2008 & Nov 2018) 

3) Ephesus, Turkey (Sept 2008 & Nov 2018) 

4) Bodrum, Turkey (Sept 2008)

5) Pamukkale, Turkey (Sept 2008 & Nov 2018) 

In traveling, you win some you lose some ! As long as the outcome is an "income", the return on your investment is a "delicious" one ! Following are the cities I have yet to visit in Turkey (A pipe dream ? Wishful thinking ? Building castle in the air ? Daydream ? But no harm keep dreaming !)  :  

6) Side, Turkey (yet to visit) 

7) Edirne, Turkey (yet to visit)

8) Antalya, Turkey (yet to visit)

9) Konya, Turkey (yet to visit)

10) Mardin, Turkey (yet to visit)