Turkey Trip 2011

• Day 1:
• Arrive in Istanbul on Friday at 9.30 in the morning, we change money in the airport (but its better to change in the city), then we took  E10 bus(3,5lira) to Kadikoy, seeing the asia side of turkey all the way up to Kadikoy. then continue with ferry to Eminonu(1,5lira), thats where I was busy taking pictures, then we left the lunch box there and we missed to go down, we sailed again to karakoy. Then we took taxi (10lira) to our hotel, still have to walk a little bit.   Arrive at hotel, they gave us good room with bathroom and 2 beds. I wait upstrais with faris while the cleaner clean the room, and my husband went to Jumah prayer (it finished at 2). I went to room, with faris get rest, pray then went out, met Amr then we walk to Hagia Sophia,  blue mosque and hippodrome and around there. Lunch in the small kebab place, order turkeish cofee but I dont like it, meatball sandwich and cheese spring roll. Then we continue walking to gulhane (but only small walk, it gets so cold and faris is sleeping) we went back to hotel, and sleep until the next day. 
• Day 2: (saturday)
• Wake up, breakfast and go out from hotel at 11am, rainy day till night. Tortured and cold day. We go to covered bazaar, mahmut pasa and beyazit mosque (in fronht of istanbul university). Freeezing cold!! The coming back was very difficult to buy token. Then we eat in Tarihi Sultanahmet Koftecisi, Try Turkish meatball in this historical restaurant Located at the Sultanahmed square since 1920. Address: Divanyolu Cad. No:12/ A Sultanahmet
• back to hotel, sleep. Im awake to edit foto, then went out to starbuck, didnt find turkish mug, only SUMATERA. Went to blue mosque but closed n my batere low. Back to hotel, charge, then  upstairs, scarry. Done, sleep.
• Day 3: (sunday)
• We woke up late, bfast 8am, packed up n dressing 11am. Go around sultanahmet, street cold fountain or around hagia sophia, look inside gulhane from other angle, eat in kebab place. 
• Then move to new hotel hippodrome, check in at 1 oclock, mbak agustine arrive, faris poop very big. And our husbands moving the luggage from star holiday. Then we pray in blue moswue, continue walking to mahmutpasa, buying my pardesu, but it was too small, the we have to change after a very far walk. Wait for cutting around new mosque and egyptian bazaar.  Then went back to hotel, but we didnt go down at sultanahmet, we continue until BAGCILAR!! so faar. Then turn back to sultanahmet, eat and sleep.
• Day 4: (monday) 
• After breakfast (we always go to breakfast at 8am, then back to room, prepare to go, sometimes nap time for faris and baba and reviewing the route for mama).
• The we walked from our new hotel, its a very nice environment, like european small street. We walked to topkapi palace from other door, a very beautiful park, then went from the museum, the to gulhane park, all the way out to eminonu. Drizzle and cold. Eminonu was big, so many port and bus station.. and very cold too. We find our bus, a little bit at the end, near turyol ticket booth. Then we go to miniaturk, faaaaarrrr away to the other side (golden horn). We were just 1.5hours there. Went back to hotel, before that eat lunch. Sleep, I woke up at 10 to go for nightshot at aya sophia and blue mosque while baby and baba sleep. 
• Reaching Miniaturk:can take a bus to Miniaturk from Eminonu. Bus numbers 47Ç and 47 E, passes just in front of Miniaturk. 
• Day 5: (Tuesday)
• bfast and go out at 1.30 to Emirgan Park (From Sultanahmet: Take the T1 Tram to Kabatas. From there, you can take the buses 22 ( Kabatas -Istinye Dereici), 22RE(Kabatas-Fatih Sultan Mehmet) or 25E ( Kabatas - Sariyer). Get off at the 'Emirgan' stop ( After 'Cinaralti' stop.)  Its soooo far it took around 1.5hours to reach emirgan, but the way there is so fun, allll the way was port!! very near to the road, big boats. Emirgan was big, but the tulip wasnt there yet.. sooo disappointed. The road is going up like hill. Then walked back along the beautiful seaside. Waiting in the bus stop, but then pray and buy snack from nearest mini market. Went back to hotel. See bazzar behind blue mosque. Sleep. 

• Day 6 (wednesday)
• Bophorus tour.

To Eminonu at 10, buy ticket 25lira each long tour. Along the way so many nice view. Stop in anadolu kavagi, climb up to the hill (sooo tired but fun and consider it sport). Nice cafe and view from up there. I went up alone to the ruined castle, to see the meeting point of bosphorus and black sea, but foggy. Then we go down at 2pm, eat, pray and go up to the boat, departed at 3. back to eminonu. But we didnt go back to eminonu, but to besiktas to go to yildiz park. Walked so far, no tulips too :((, cold and almost night, but we cant stay longer, its so cold, and faris puuup very big.. uff.. . Pray and back to hotel. Sleep.

• Day 7 (Thursday)
• Prince's island, buy food before u go to this island, at least enough for 1 full day. 
• In the morning, after breakfast and packing, we took our luggage to move to a new hotel in prince's island or Adalar, in Buyukada island (the biggest Island). We went to sultanahmet, took tram to KABATAS (1.5lira for 15min), the go out from the tram station, across the street, there are 2 big companies of ferry. 1 is IDO, expensive and fast (7lira) depart at 11 and 12.30 or every 1.5hours), the other I think turyol, a little smaller but convenient too, for half the price. And we catched it at the last second @12 noon.  All the way to adalar was so beautiful, day was bright (but still cold in the front deck). They journey took around 1.5 hours. The are many other island on the way, they are all beautiful and what most interesting is the seagulf bird!! many of the follow the ferry to catch some bread. Arrive in Buyukada,  we search for our hotel, its verrry near to the port. Get some rest, then we went out again @4pm, walked around the seafront, nice houses and restaurant, peacefully. Eat cheese pide (1.5lira), ice cream (1lira 1 scoop, super yummy), and meat pizza or laham... something, I forgot.(2.5lira) I bought silver with real stone earring for my mother and sisters, there was 1 amethyst earring, 50lira.. or 125riyal or around 400ribu.. its huge.. but I didnt buy, I regretted it. 
• Buyukada is so big, we can use feyton or horse carrier, but it was too expensive around 50lira (short tour) and 60 lira (long tour).

• Day 8 (Friday)
• after bfast in the room, around 7.30am,we went to buyukuda port, ferry to kartal, buy tiket for 3.5lira. Feryboat came at 7.40 and we departed at 7.45. The journey took around 25 minutes. then wait for bus E9 to sabiha (wait in front of the port bus stop) http://harita.iett.gov.tr/en/?hat=ex9  waiting for the bus was soo long around 1hour (but better than taking a cab, it could cost 35-50lira. The journey to sabiha gokcen took around 20-25min. Arrive in the airport, go to international departure. Bye bye beautiful country. :((
• WHAT I MISSED AND SHOULD BE DONE LATER, INSHAALLAH:
• taksim square (ride and take the picture of nostalgic tram, and also the furnicular or subway).
• Take night shoot at the brigde.
• Rumeli hisari
• tulips!!!
• galatta tower. 

I NEED TO ADD VIDEO!!! 1 full hour of TURKEY TRIP 2011 / PEER

Konferensi ke Ankara, Turkey

Enaknya bekerja di sekolah International ini salah satunya bisa pergi menghadiri konferensi ke negara manapun, asal sesuai dengan bidang mata pelajaran. Biaya dibayar sekolah, terbatas sih misalnya 1000$ saja pertahun, tapi karena saya kerja paruh waktu, untuk saya hanya 500$. Kalau lebih dari itu, ya harus nombok sendiri. Gapapa, yang penting bisa jalan-jalan juga. Baru 3 konferensi yang saya datangi, di Dhahran tahun 2012, Turkey tahun 2013 dan di Georgia, USA tahun 2014. Tahun 2015 tidak kemana-mana karena biayanya sudah dipakai untuk yang ke USA. Alhamdulillah. 

Suami lagi-lagi tidak bisa ikut, karena tidak punya hari libur. Terpaksa pergi sendiri. Tidak bisa ajak Faris juga karena tidak ada yang bisa menjaga ketika saya menghadiri konferensi. Sayapun pergi walau hanya 5hari (jadinya 8 hari karena ketinggalan pesawat.. baca sampai akhir ya^_^)

Untuk visa, saya hanya mengandalkan VOA yang baru saja diresmikan tahun 2012. Biaya visa 25%. Tiket saya beli sendiri lewat website Turkish Airlines, Yanbu-Istanbul PP, seharga 333$. Kota Yanbu (Saudi Arabia), walaupun kecil, tapi punya Airport International yang melayani penerbangan ke Europe dan Amerika, melalui hub Istanbul. 

Untuk keluar masuk negeri Saudi Arabia, kami harus membayar visa exit-re-entry seharga 53$/orang. Sudah keluar biaya 411$ tuh, sisa cuma 89$. Saya menyiapkan 500$ karena hanya beberapa hari, dan saya juga akan tinggal di rumah teman saya di Ankara, jadi tidak banyak membutuhkan biaya. 

Hari pertama, 22 January 2013

Saya sangat bersemangat hari ini. Pihak panitia konferensi terus-terusan update foto salju di fb, karena disana memang lagi musim dingin. Penerbangan saya pukul 8.30 pagi. On the way to airport, baru ingat kalau saya belum buat visa exit-entry! Rasanya sudah impposible aja, karena biasanya butuh waktu lama. Langsung kami ke rumah sakit. Loh kok? Soalnya kantor yang membuatnya harus yang mensponsori suami, yaitu rumah sakit tempat suami kerja. Waktu itu pukul 6.30 pagi. Ada waktu 2 jam sebelum pesawatku terbang. 20 menit untuk ke airport. Ternyata belum ada orang yang datang kerja. Pastilah, mulai kerja kan jam 8 pagi. Suami berusaha menelpon dia. Akhirnya jam 7 lebih dia datang, dan 7.30 visanya jadi. cuma punya waktu 1 jam! Tidak mungkin dibolehkan masuk, karena 60 menit minimal. Dalam waktu 15 menit kami sampai di bandara. Saya langsung lari untuk check in. ada 45 menit, dan karena ini bandara kecil akhirnya saya bisa berangkat! Alhamdulillah. Suami ikut lari membawa tas kecil saya, yang isinya penuh sama oleh-oleh untuk teman saya disana. Faris ditinggal dulu di rumah nena.

Saya sampai di bandara Ataturk pukul 11 pagi. Tidak ada salju di Istanbul. Penerbangan berikutnya adalah sore hari sekitar pukul 6 sore. Saya keluar bandara, dan naik bus jurusan ke Taksim Square. 

Day 2, 23 January 2013

Sakitnya tuh disini kalau saya tidak buat catatan dan lupa apa yang terjadi di konferensi. Yang saya ingat hanya samar-samar, tidak detail. 

Day 3, 24 January 2013

Conference

Day 4, 25 January 2013

Pagi-pagi saya keluar untuk ke Hacceteppe University membawa tas dan semuanya, karena saya akan langsung ke bus station ke Istanbul. Pukul 3 sore saya check-out dari konferensi, tidak ikut acara penutupan dan dinner. Saya jalan-jalan dulu di Ankara, bahkan mandi di Turkish bath dulu. Saya tidak sadar kalau saat itu adalah hari libur dan bus udah banyak yang fully booked. Saya ditawari untuk dibooking kan kursi, tapi saya tidak mau merepotkan teman saya, dan nanti kalau tidak ketemu sama tempat check-in, atau terlambat, hanguslah tiketnya. Jadi saya mau go-show saja. Demi menghemat uang tiket pesawat dan hotel, saya pilih bus. Tidak harus bayar hotel, tinggal tidur di bus. Penerbangan saya pukul 3 atau 4 pagi, perjalanan 6 jam. 

Selesai Turkish bath yang sangat menyegarkan pukul 6 sore, saya masih punya waktu sekitar 9-10 jam. Ternyata perjalanan ke bus station lumayan jauh dan 1 jam perjalanan lewat MRT. Pukul 7 sore, bus station penuh, semua tiket sudah habis. Panik, panik. Dapat tiket pukul 8.30 malam. Mepet sekali! Tapi apa boleh buat. Bahkan saya sempat memohon kepada supir bus untuk membolehkan saya duduk dilantai sekalipun. Sedinya melihat bus menuju Istanbul pergi.  Kalau busnya on time, inshallah tidak ada masalah. Tapi, ternyata, busnya telat dan ada masalah dijalan. Kami semua harus ditransfer ke bus yang lain, dan menunggu 1 jam dijalan. Saya dan penumpang lain marah dan menandatangani surat komplain. Saya sudah dipastikan terlambat. Seorang penumpang bernama Osman berusaha membantu saya untuk memantau jadwal penerbangan. Penerbangan tepat waktu. Saya berusaha membatalkan penerbangan dan membuat open ticket. 

Kami sampai di Istanbul pukul 4.30 pagi. Pesawatku terbang sudah. Silly me, Istanbul is big. Ternyata turun di sisi Asia, yang lebih dekat ke bandara Gokcen. Tidak ada satu orangpun yang berbahasa Inggris dan berniat membantu saya. Kemana saya harus pergi? Pagi seperti ini? Tidak ada taksi ataupun bus. Semua penumpang sudah ada penjemputnya. Akhirnya saya minta tolong Osman, satu-satunya yang bisa berbahasa Inggris sedikit. Kakaknya akan datang menjemput. Masalahnya, uang tidak ada lagi, misal saya akan ke hotel. Paginya butuh ke bandara untuk mengurus tiket. Ternyata Osman adalah mahasiswa yang jurusannya adalah pariwisata dan sedang magang semester akhir di Bandara Ataturk dan akan membantu saya mencari tiket atau menukar tiket di bandara. 

Crazy but I was stuck, no choice. Jadi saya pergi bersama mereka. Ibu mereka sudah menyiapkan kamar untuk Osman, tapi jadi untuk saya dan Osman tidur di sofa di ruang tamu. Tidur setelah solat subuh dan bangun jam 8 pagi.

Day 5, 26 January 2013

Sarapan khas Turki di keluarga orang Turki adalah pengalaman yang unik. Mereka biasa makan pagi sekitar jam 11-12 siang, dan makan siang jam 4-5 sore. Seperti kebiasaan orang Mesir. Tapi karena saya mau berangkat ke bandara, mereka menyiapkan cukup pagi. Menunya ada borek, french fries, roti khas Turki, madu, olive, telur, dan banyak lagi. Favorit saya adalah Boreknya. Homemade. Renyah dan sangat lezat. Bentuknya seperti pizza, hanya saja isinya didalam, dan digoreng.

Bersambung ya.. tidur dulu..

PR VIDEO!!!

USA Trip (part 1)

NEW YORK

America, how in the world does this so called the Greatest Nation not in my bucket list? Because I was thinking that it is so out of reach, and also I am not very optimistic I would be able to go there. But, being out of my bucket list doesn’t make this country impossible for me. And by working with an American school, will help me with the visa application.

04 October, 2014

The time is come. I need to go. I call taxi and pay 100 SR (38 $) to the airport. Get there early and wait in the mosque while using internet for 2 hours. I fly to Abu Dhabi for 2.5 hours, transit for 5 hours. Fly to NY for 14 hours. The food and movies are amazing. Overall flight, I watch many movies, here are the titles I remembered, "The Other Woman", my left over "Spiderman" from the last flight, sitcom "2 Broke Girls", "Mom", and that Australian doctor i forgot the title, "Chef", "Blended", "the Lunch Box", "Captain America" (but fell asleep), the Fault is in Our Stars,  and more movies I couldn't really remember now. 

05 October, 2014

From Abu Dhabi, we take off around 02.30 AM, pretty much a red eye flight, I doze off as soon as I sit on my seat, but not for long, I wake up to a delicious pre-ordered seafood meal. Etihad's food is always great, like shrimp salad, fish biryani, white sauce fish pasta, smoked salmon sandwich are entertaining my taste bud. Strange, I I feel like go back in time, we leave when it is dark, then sunrise, and I pray my subuh (morning) prayer, but then it becomes dark again! Few minutes before landing, I can see NEW YORK!!! I saw Coney Island, beautiful American houses with green lawn, the bridge, still can not believe I will be arriving in NY. Looking back to my VISA process that is approved only 2 days before my flight, and I have to buy all the tickets in the same day. It is not a trip I plan for a long time, still feel like a dream until now. 

JFK airport - pass the custom and border protection- got my entry stamp, then wait for the checked luggage. Well, Wi-FI is good and I update my status on Facebook, "hello New York!"

Got the purple luggage I borrow from my friend, walk outside, and followed the sign for AirTrain. Saw 1 train is waiting, I run but not so sure that the train will go to the stop which will continue to Queens. I  have to ask somebody. Yup, that is the one, but the door closed in front of my eyes. The next one is coming in 20 minutes. Great, first missing train.

It is around noon when I reach the hotel. I spend 3 hours just to reach the hotel, I am just being careful, and afraid to get lost. My hotel is Q4 in Queens Plaza North, a night for 45$, female dormitory with 4 beds and en-suited bathroom, great new hotel.

I check in but I can not go to my room yet.  I leave my luggages, but still have to carry my backpack and camera bag with me. For sure I am so tired and longing to lay down in a bed, but check in only at 4pm. I have 4 hours to explore. it forces me to step to the station and head to Manhattan. I purchased metro card for 7 days pass for 31$. 

Grand Central is only 4 stops away from Queensboro Plaza Station. I am not going to the main building, just go out from the nearest exit, and buy falafel sandwich from halal food truck. I am shaking from hunger. I do not know where to go, my map is my guide. I do not manage to buy local SIM. I see Grand Central Station from outside,so huge and beautiful. Few blocks from there, I see Chrysler building. I walk toward National Library, there is a Polish Parade, road blockage, and have to walk around to reach Bryant Park. I sit down on the park's seat, while having a salty pretzel for 3$ I think. I stop for a while, enjoying the view of people reading books, pigeon chasing after my scattered pretzel. I keep on repeating myself "I am in New York, I am in New York... !" I wish I can stay longer and read some book, or explore the interior of National Library. I am a librarian, and I do not even step my foot inside a great library like National Library in New York, what kind of Librarian am I? In my defense, I have limited time to explore NY in 4 days, I can't really spend long time in one place.

I walk toward Times Square, and still think wether to buy a hop on hop off bus ticket - my original plan was to buy 2 days pass- but turn down by a negative review, or only use subway.

All this time watching American movies, I do not really care about the setting that take place in NY, I never interested to visit NY, until I do some research few days before traveling.

My feet are killing me, I go to Sketchers shoes store, no offers. I have to hold on. Walking around Times Square is magical. I want to walk straight to Central Park, but I have to find a mosque to pray. There is one in Lexington 45th st. Not bad, saw many beautiful places on the way there, like Rockefeller Center, branded stores, what not.

Finally!! after walking for about 2 hours! The parade again made me do the maneuver just to cross the street. I miss the masjid, because it is just a part of a building with small sign like other stores. I go up to 3rd floor, but Have to go back to the basement for the wudhu, ouch. It is half an hour before magrib prayer, Alhamdulillah I can catch the 2 prayers. I go down to find refreshment, I buy tea and spicy sambousa, yum! Halal, man!

Maghrib time but I decide to pray in the hotel room, I don't want to wait and go up 3rd floor anymore. But I really should just pray. Well, I headed to find the tramway to Roosevelt Island. But I find Bloomingdale on my way - big discount- but too tired to shop. Few blocks away, I found the tramway, I use my metro card and up we go to the Roosevelt Island. I regret I do not go in the day time, I can explore this beautiful Island. I go straight to the subway station and take F line, going to 21st Queens Bridge. Oh no, I have to walk around 8 blocks, in the dark, nobody is there. I arrive at the hotel at 10 pm. This time is real check in. I go to the common kitchen to make dinner (indomie noodle!) upload some pictures, and sleeeeeep. 7 hours of walking and sightseeing, I see many places. 

06 October, 2014

I wake up at 8 am. Very late! I prepare and plan for the day, and finally go outside at 12 noon, so very late!

to be continued....