Exploring Asia
In my various stays in Istanbul, I’ve never explored the Asian shores, except for getting to Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). I’ve been close to the various parts on the ferries, but that’s it. Today, I thought I’d remedy that.
I walked to the ferry terminal at Eminonu and found the pier for Kadikoy. It was a large ferry. I used my Istanbulkart to get on. It’s just amazing that these large ships are actually just public transport payable by one’s commuter card.
It was a short wait before we set off after 0930. The journey to Kadikoy took around 20 mins, passing the historic Hydarpasa Station just before we arrived.
I wandered around and found the fresh produce market. There was fresh seafood, fruit and vegetables laid out tidily on both sides of a street. I had been expecting a proper market hall. In the continuing area, there were many restaurants with sidewalk seating.
I explored a little more of Kadikoy before returning to the waterfront and walking to Hydarpasa Station. It was a gift from a German Kaiser and resembles a German castle. It is historic because it was the station for the Orient Express to/from Europe. Unfortunately, it is under some serious restoration. Despite barricaded off, there was cafeteria (possibly for workers) and a restaurant (still laid out with table settings). The interior was definitely off-limits.
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- Suburban ferry to Kadikoy.
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- Suburban ferry to Kadikoy.
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- Istanbul from the water. Europe on the left and Asia on the right.
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- L to R: Sultanahmet Mosque, Ayasofya and Topkapi Palace.
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- Hydarpasa Station under restoration.
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- Fresh produce on the streeets of Kadikoy.
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- Eating on the streets of Kadikoy.
Continuing to Uskudar by bus was an easy 20 min ride. Uskudar’s large waterfront looked out towards Dolmabahce Palace. I visited the Mimar Sinan mosque. Instead of just removing one’s footwear and leaving them at the door, here I had to wash my feet beforehand as well. Having seen so many amazing mosques in Turkey, this one wasn’t anything to write home about.
Since I wasn’t hungry, I thought I’d fit in the Yeni Valide mosque nearby. I timed it badly as midday prayers were just starting. So I left in search for a light lunch. I found the perfect feed in the form of a Lahmacun for only TRY6 (about NZD1.50) in a proper sit-down cafe. I call Lahmacun a Diet Pizza as the base is super-thin, the meat is just a light spread and there’s no cheese. I love the flavour and spices on it! Somehow, that got my appetite going and I had to get a durum roll-up somewhere else shortly after.
I took the metro back to the European side from Uskudar. The station is right next to my hotel but I chose to take the underground walkway to exit nearer to the Grand Bazaar.
The ferry and metro today must have been the cheapest intercontinental travel possible on the planet!
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- Usukudar’s waterfront square.
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- Usukudar’s waterfront square.
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- Dolmabahce Palace seen from Uskudar.
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- Around Uskudar.
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- Around Uskudar.
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- Intercontinental metro.
Back in Europe
As it was only around 1330, I thought I’d continue the day with revisits to some familiar places. I took a short walk through the Grand Bazaar before going to the Sultanahmet Mosque. The latter still had interior scaffold and boards that had been up since my last visit just over a year ago. It was almost not worth entering (but it was free) except a glimpse of some of the blue tiles that gave the mosque its nickname “Blue Mosque”.
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- One of the entrances of the Grand Bazaar.
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- Inside the Grand Bazaar.
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- Inside the Grand Bazaar.
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- Inside the Grand Bazaar.
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- Tout for dress-up photography services.
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- Sultanahmet Mosque still with interior scafolds.
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- Small part of Sultanahmet Mosque not covered in scaffold.
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- Ayasofya.
Dinner on the streets
I took dinner on the street, opposite the Post Office. Unusually, they had low stools, a bit like those kindergarten seats used in street cafes in Vietnam. The food was good and cheap! The meal was only TRY23 (NZD6) and drink TRY4 (NZD1). Seems cheaper than Thailand because the tourist-price margin isn’t as high!
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- Street dining outside the post office.
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- Street dining outside the post office.
Downgrade
Today Kim flew from Bangkok to Guangzhou on China Southern Airlines. I had booked him on Business Class from Auckland to Singapore, and then Bangkok to Auckland (via Guangzhou both ways) for only NZD2300. Due to an aircraft change, they sought volunteers to downgrade to Economy Class.
The incentive? About NZD500! What a generous compensation for a flight of 2h30. I know many western airlines work it out based on the difference between the Business fare you paid, less a rather high Economy fare (rather than the Economy fare that was going at that time). The compensation could be quite tiny!
And to top it off, they offered him the first row in Economy, priority boarding and Business Class meals brought down to his Economy seat. Top marks to China Southern Airlines!