Meherbaan Turkey!

“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.”

Meherbaan everyone! Ahoy from Turkey!

It’s crazy how trips you make get over so fast. You’re just on that flight to your destination and poof! you’re already back home! Not that I’m complaining. But the lack of biryani and masala chai for a week did take a toll on me! So, I had been to Turkey recently and as a writer, what would I have done once I got back? Write about it, of course! So here is a detailed account of the trip! I will be describing three spots I visited — Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Antalya.

Istanbul

We landed in Istanbul after a ten-hour flight. We had a stopover in Kuwait, giving us some moving and breathing space. The flights weren’t too bad. We had enough leg room and some flights were even quite empty, giving us room to sleep better. Once we got to Istanbul airport, it took us a while to reach our hotel — about an hour. Once we checked in, we were pooped after the flight but also excited to explore the city. I cleaned up and got ready as fast as I could. I was out in a jiffy, wanting to explore the Grand Bazaar nearby. The Grand Bazaar consisted of several stores which sold items from lamps to stickers! I was enthralled by the market and could have spent hours there looking at the details of every artifact. The fabrics and the finesse of the handmade jewelry were impressive. Istanbul is famous for its colorful lamps but I felt that even India has its fair share of lamps that are equally enticing. When I think back, a lot of the market reminded me of the movie Aladdin — the lamps, the gorgeous carpets, and the shiny trinkets.

Once I was done exploring the bazaar, I walked down the alleys of Istanbul. Interestingly, it had many mosques. I would see a mosque almost every few kilometers, sometimes less. I am a vegetarian, so scouting out for vegetarian food was a toughie in Istanbul. All I could find were kebabs and meat dishes. Fortunately, the hotel we stayed at — Radisson, had some decent options. I ended up going to their gorgeous rooftop restaurant and having a meal of penne arrabbiata with some herbed bread. It was actually quite good and had the familiar taste of sauteed tomatoes with olive oil and spices. Alongside that was a wonderful musician who was singing romantic Elvis Presley songs! A wonderful view, tasty food, and gentle music — it was truly a night to remember.

I went to sleep feeling good but also a bit anxious about what food I was going to scout out the next day for myself. I realized the value of having your own kitchen and cooking! Next time I was sure I would stay at an Airbnb so that I could cook meals myself and be at peace.

Cappadocia

The next day we had our flight to Cappadocia, which was one of the best cultural tourist hubs of Turkey. I must say that Cappadocia was one of the most enthralling places I’ve seen in my life. It was filled with artisans and souvenir shops. It was a city that was made just for tourists. A little bit of history about the place — Cappadocia was a city filled with caves. These caves were carved into to create homes and livable sanctuaries. The town then grew to become a place that was welcoming to tourists. In modern times, Cappadocia’s unique landscape has attracted tourists from around the world. Its rock formations, cave dwellings, and underground cities make it a popular destination for hiking, hot air ballooning, and exploring ancient history.

Today, Cappadocia is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserving its rich cultural and geological heritage for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

When we entered the hotel in Cappadocia, we were welcomed with some Turkish tea and coffee and Turkish delight — a famous sweet that tastes a little like the Indian halwa. The hotel we stayed at was a carved cave too, to our surprise! A little more about the Capadoccian caves:

Cappadocia is renowned for its vast network of caves, which have been carved into the soft volcanic rock over thousands of years. These caves served various purposes throughout history, including dwellings, churches, monasteries, and even underground cities for protection during times of conflict. Here are some of the notable types of caves found in Cappadocia:

Dwellings: The most common type of cave in Cappadocia is the cave-dwelling, where people carved out homes directly into the soft tuff rock. These dwellings often consisted of multiple rooms interconnected by narrow tunnels or staircases. Some were simple single-room caves, while others were elaborate multi-story structures.

Churches and Monasteries: Cappadocia is home to numerous rock-cut churches and monasteries dating back to the Byzantine era. These churches feature intricate frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible and early Christian symbolism. Many of them are located in remote valleys or hidden within the rock formations.

Underground Cities: One of the most fascinating aspects of Cappadocia’s caves is its underground cities, such as Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı. These vast subterranean complexes were carved out to provide shelter and protection during times of invasion or persecution. They could accommodate thousands of people along with their livestock and supplies.

Wine Cellars and Storage Rooms: Caves were also used for practical purposes such as wine cellars and storage rooms. The constant temperature and humidity inside the caves provide ideal conditions for preserving food and wine.

Workshops and Stables: Some caves were used as workshops for artisans, while others served as stables for livestock. These caves often feature evidence of their former use, such as tool marks or feeding troughs.

Today, many of these caves have been restored and converted into hotels, restaurants, and museums, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the region’s rich history and culture. Additionally, some caves are still inhabited by local residents, preserving the ancient tradition of cave dwelling in Cappadocia.

The first day at Cappadocia was very pleasant, I had a wonderful slow lunch with my friends — fortunately, we got some great salad and greens there. We then chilled by the pool till it was time for the Dervish show.

The Whirling Dervishes are a religious order within Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam. Their practice includes a form of meditation known as the Sama ceremony, during which they whirl in repetitive circles as a form of remembrance of God.

A Whirling Dervishes show, also known as a Sufi music and dance performance, typically involves skilled performers dressed in traditional white robes with tall conical hats (symbolizing tombstones) spinning gracefully in a circular motion. The spinning motion is considered a spiritual journey towards divine love and unity with God.

The accompanying music often includes traditional Sufi melodies and chants, creating a mesmerizing atmosphere that transports the audience into a state of meditation and contemplation.

These performances are not only a cultural spectacle but also an opportunity for attendees to witness a centuries-old spiritual practice that continues to be revered by Sufis and appreciated by people of various backgrounds around the world. These shows are often held in cultural centers, historical sites, and theaters in regions where Sufism has a significant presence, including parts of Turkey, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries.

I took a day to just walk around Cappadocia to explore the sights and sounds of the city. From potters to artists to souvenir shops, Cappadocia had it all. The food joints were also spectacular. I even found a few Indian ones that took care of my craving for Indian food. We ordered a platter of masala papad as starters. We got some palak paneer, rotis, and biryani for the main course and some masala chai to wrap it all up. The food wasn’t exquisite but it was good enough to make our taste buds feel a lot better. As we walked through the streets, it was getting cold and we found a bonfire lit up on the street side. We jumped at the opportunity to get warm and stood by the fire, having a lot of comforting and intellectual conversations with the group. Before we headed back to the hotel, we were called by a few of our other friends to check out the view from the hotel they were at. I have no words for the view we saw that night. None of our cameras could capture the essence of the beauty. Nighttime in Cappadocia was truly a sight not to be missed. Afterward, we did a bit of hookah, had some artisanal hot chocolate for the chills, and headed back home.

The next morning we were in for a surprise — a hot air balloon ride all around Cappadocia. This was a dream come true. I had images of this ride on my Pinterest board and I had also sketched these balloons in my art book so it was quite surreal when I was up in the air experiencing it! Unfortunately, it was super cold and I had to pee! I had to hold my pee for 2 hours until we came back to the hotel from the ride. I don’t know how I did that! I guess my bladder is stronger than I expected! But moving away from bladder control, let me show you more of the view from the balloons.

Interestingly I became good friends with the hot air balloon rider and we are still in touch even now!

The night proved to be delightful, we went for a Turkish dancing show with dinner. The dancers were friendly and even engaged with the audience! Yes, I danced with the belly dancer too! We came back home that night after partying with the rest of the audience on the dance floor.

After a great two days at Cappadocia, I was so sad to leave! I wanted to stay there forever! Maybe open a chat shop by day and a ceramic studio by night! But I will go back to that beautiful town someday and I will definitely stay longer — Cappadocia, I will be back!

Antalya

We headed to Antalya right after Cappadocia, which was an island city. We stayed at the Ramada hotel there, yes it was five stars and boy was it amazing! I could have spent all my time just at the hotel! The food was pretty decent, as Antalya had very few veg options. We managed to cook up something at the bar for lunch — rice, chickpeas, and tomatoes. The funny part was when we asked for Chickpeas, the bartender gave us chicken and we had to give him an elaborate explanation so he would bring us the right ingredients. That wasn’t a meal to remember but at least we didn’t have to starve ourselves! In Antalya, I was mostly surviving on bread, cheese, and fruits. I did have an elaborate meal at the restaurant for dinner though, the reason being I couldn’t find any cheap veg street food there!

The next day was one to remember, we went on an island cruise! We drove to the outskirts of the city which met the Mediterranean ocean. We got onto a yacht and sped away into the ocean. A few of my friends jumped into the ocean, but I wasn’t ready for it. Maybe another time! On the way back we stopped for lunch and headed to an old ruined amphitheater! It was quite spectacular. I could imagine the number of gladiators who would have fought here!

We ended up getting back to Istanbul the next day. We wanted to make the most of our day in Istanbul so we went down to a famous mosque called Hagia Sophia, which is well known for its architecture, and then headed down for a cooking workshop! I made a five-course Turkish meal there! That was exciting! The cooking was very elaborate and it took about two hours to make the meal. We couldn’t have all of it so we took back some for our friends at the hotel. They devoured it!

The next day we headed back to India, again Kuwait being the stopping point in between. We had a great time at the duty-free at the Kuwait airport! The food was a lot better and all of us felt good that we were closer to getting back home.

The first thing I did after coming back home was order biryani and masala chai. I was finally back in heaven. I think this trip was much needed for me. It truly was a dream come true but it also made me appreciate my home country a lot more!

Cheers! Till next time! Sukran!