WHAT DID I WATCH ON NETFLIX: "EKSI ELMALAR"

A rich and politically ambitious father but very traditional and conservative who had three daughters. They were not educated, and he only allowed marriage to the families of the same status. Young men still wanted to court the three beautiful ladies, one of them even trying his luck to get the father's approval but was rejected. Things did not turn up the way the father wanted so the whole family had to migrate from the remote village to Ankara. The final part was quite sad except that particular moment before the story ended.

Another Turkish movie that you should enjoy watching. Despite all the conflicts, there are still many funny moments that make the movie not a heavy drama kind of genre. There are also picturesque scenery and lifestyle of the local people to be seen, and the touching and beautiful love story as well.

WHAT DID I WATCH ON NETFLIX: "MUCIZE"

Mahir Ogretmen was sent to teach in a remote area in the mountain somewhere in Turkey [in the 60's] but there was no school. He however eventually decided to stay and even managed to get the money to build a school for the villagers. He got to know the village Chief, his family and the people there. The noblest thing Mahir did was to teach Aziz, the disabled child of the chief who had been an outcast all the while. His determination and honesty to provide education had touched the hearts of the people and he had formed a special bond with the villagers.

A beautiful movie that took me to the scenic countryside of Turkey as well as to observe the culture and customs of the people there. And there are a few subplots that deal with the theme of love and humanity, with some acts which are comedic and at times, hilarious. Mahir had made a miracle happen, which gives the movie its title in Turkish, and you have to wait right until the end to see how the whole thing ends. Be ready with your box of tissue as you will shed some tears especially as the movie is about to conclude.

With no hesitation, I am giving the movie a 10-star rating. 🌟

GOING TURKISH IN OSAKA

18th MARCH 2017 ~ Before we entered Osaka Aquarium, we decided to have lunch first at this place called Tempozan Marketplace, which was just opposite the building. We were going Turkish, in Japan. That was the best option for halal food for that time, I supposed and at the same time, Mr. Syafiq wanted to try eating at this restaurant.

The place was beautifully decorated and I felt as if I was Istanbul, except the waitresses were Japanese and spoke Japanese. It was a buffet lunch so we ate all we could. The meal was quite good and it should provide enough energy as there would be more walking after that.

a chocolate fountain!

I should be eating Japanese food for my gastronomic adventure in Osaka but I am not complaining.

[MY OSAKA AND KYOTO TRIP MAIN PAGE]

QUR'AN RECITAL BEFORE THE SUBUH PRAYER AT THE BLUE MOSQUE

While waiting for people to come to the mosque to perform the "Subuh" (early morning) prayer, the imam (the person who leads the prayer) first read a few verses from from the Holy Qur'an and I think he must be an ALHAFIZ - someone who could memorize the Qur'an. 

Everything was just peaceful. The morning was cold, the mosque beautiful and the voice reciting the holy verses was soothing - it would heal any soul listening to it. I just wish I could lie down, close my eyes and listen and I wonder if I die there, would I wake up in heaven.

THE CALL FOR SUBUH PRAYER FROM THE BLUE MOSQUE

The call for subuh (early morning) prayer (azan) from the Blue Mosque. Something that had made my visit to Istanbul a significant one.

SPOT THE ERROR - ISTANBUL 3

A banner found in Basilica Cistern, Istanbul.

Similar error committed among Malaysians.

SPOT THE ERROR - ISTANBUL 2

... and I spied with my little eye, in Istanbul.

SPOT THE ERROR - ISTANBUL 1

The grammar policeman was still on the prowl, in Istanbul.

For the second word, the first two letters are not visible in the picture which are the "R" and "E".

So can you spot the error?

ATATURK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ISTANBUL

I arrived earlier at Ataturk International airport to catch my flight home as I had a very bad experience entering Turkey at the immigration checkpoint. Thank God, praised be to Allah, everything was fine and the travel document was cleared in just a breeze.

I met with this one sweet Japanese lady while checking in at the airline counter. Tourists are actually friendly people, we could simply strike a conversation and keep on talking (as there is nothing much to do.) She had been staying in Istanbul for 10 days and we happened to be in the same flight to Abu Dhabi.

I was rewarded for talking to her: I was given a packet of Japanese candy where if you look real close you could see images/pictures being drawn on individual piece of candy. Too bad, I can't even remember her name and I feel even bad that I could not return her kindness. If she contacts me, then I will post to her something small from Malaysia. And the moral of the story is: courtesy costs nothing.

"There's nothing like an airport that bring you down to earth"

~ Richard Gordon ~

THE LAST DAY IN ISTANBUL

13th February ~ All good things must come to an end. It was the last day in Istanbul and with a few hours left, the best thing for me to do was to take in a deep breath, absorb the beauty of the surrounding and wish that I could come back here again one day (or perhaps other parts of Turkey).

After four short days in Istanbul, I think I had seen what I was supposed to see and it was definitely a pleasant and memorable experience. Thanks to my friend, Mr. Razib, for agreeing to divert to Istanbul from our original plan and we shall see where we should go after this trip.

"Like all great travellers,

I have seen more than I remember,

and remember more than I have seen."  

~ Benjamin Disraeli ~

ISTANBUL DAY 3 - FROM EUROPE CROSSING OVER TO ASIA AND COMING BACK TO EUROPE AGAIN

At this time, my friend Mr. Razib, had already left Istanbul so I was on my own. I decided just to go for Bosphorus sightseeing tour on the hop on hop off bus, except that I only hopped on and did not not hop off. The bus trip was at 4:00 p.m. and it was full with tourists,

 

So I just sat on the top level of the double-decker bus. The bus first crossed over to the new city of Istanbul where there was a massive traffic jam, then the bus crossed this bridge and took the passengers to Istanbul which should be on the Asia continent. And then, the bus turned back and the whole journey took about 2 hours.

 

 

The scenery was picturesque and it was an enjoyable trip. The only problem was that the air was too cold so people had to put down the plastic cover to the windowless top level. And the plastic was a bit dirty so that should explain why the pictures I took were not that clear.

at one stop, a man would get into the bus 
and sell hot tea and coffee

I guess I had done what everyone else did - crossing over to Asia from Europe and coming back to Europe again, in less than an hour.