Venice : The long, long walk

A picture that is so quintessentially Venice

We went to Venice for 3 days. And we basically just stay there. Which is a shame, as we could have gone to the other island, but the the thing is Venice is quite a nice place itself so on the other hand we gotten spectacularly lost and seen a lot of Venice.

In Venice you can walk everywhere. So that is what we basically do. We didn't have anywhere else particularly we want to go to (except for the Museum of Music or in Italian Museo della Musica, and we wasted a day trying to find the damn place ).

However we departed from Istanbul around 9 am and reached Venice at 11. I think we arrived here around 1pm and took to walking the island and familiarizing ourselves with this tiny island.

We mostly traipsed and gawked around the San Marco areas. Surprisingly this took a long time. But most probably we just like to sit around and people watch.

And of course walks around and enjoyed the view.

You can really pass the time standing over the bridge and watch the gondolas passed you by.

Stopped by many, many shops including this which is kinda like Venetian lace showroom/ shop. Venetian lace are exquisites and very expensive. But I swear I'd seen the same one in Vietnam. Heh.

Since we opt out of the whole gondola ride (too expensive), we decided on watching a violin concerto concert from here:

Venice was the home of the renowned violinist and famous composer, Vivaldi. So when we came here, I think there was some kind of a music festival, thus a lot of these performances are going on. ( Or it is just ongoing and we feel like it is a festival ). We chose the one just beside the Basilica of San Marco, bought the ticket, went back to our B&B and came back again at 8 pm for the performance.

We didn't take any pic of the performance. Not allowed. However it was quite wonderful. They played Vivaldi famous The Four Seasons and the lead violinist was insanely good and throw an entertaining performance that capture the audience. The audience asked for an encore 2 times. Or maybe we just want our money worth. However I would rate it as a money well spent. It took about 2 hours, and afterwards I just sat at the Piazza San Marco shivering, while my husband took pictures.

The next day we decided to just walk around, and look for the Museum of Music. Fucking internet direction. A lot of times the internet can do wonder, but trying to look for direction for this museum was a phail.

So we basically just walk and walk and walk and walk enjoying the sights such as

Bottega Veneta. Handbag yang bisa buat air liur meleleh

The high end boutiques ( I would advise against shopping at Venice, but if you got the money, go crazy! )

Beautiful cathedral and churches.

And of course the lovely canals. While a lot of people seems to be saying Venice is kind of smelly due to the canals, I can't say I smell the stench. The only unpleasant smell is when I came across some shoddy looking alley where of course smells strongly of piss.

Dalam-dalam sesat itu, we just goes in any free exhibits ongoing on such as these one while looking for that museum.

In the end, we didn't find the museum after walking a day.

Tracing our step again

In the end we just gave up and just bersiar-siar aje lah. Venice is a wonderful place to get lost to, and as many tips on how to travel to Venice is : Get lost while walking around!

Like enjoying the view at the famous Rialto bridge. I don't really recommend hanging out here. It is crowded, it smells of piss and people are always jostling one another. If you want to hang out and look at the view of the Grand Canal, go to the wooden bridge near the Accademia. More serene-feeling. After all that is the point of enjoying the view, to have a serene feeling to it. ( I think that is the worst sentence ever ).

On the way back, there was a demonstration regarding the Syria situation. It was a small demonstration where I think the main objective to educate others on the atrocities that is happening there at the moment.

One of the posters lying on the street for others to see. I didn't take the picture of the dead children. Those kinda images haunts me. 

The next day, after my husband got the required PROPER direction from the owner of the B&B we head out again ready to conquer!

We went through this lovely park

and we came across this lovely statue on top of a pond

Near the pond there is a sign warning people to not buang their pet turtles or any exotic pets here. Teehee.

How do I know this is a sign warning to not abandon their turtle pet? Penat aku google translate okeh. 

We head first to the San Marco Basilica. Entrance is free, however I'd paid online for the express ticket ( 1 eur per pax ), so I don't have to queue up. The line is insanely long, so I rather pay.

Exterior of the San Marco

We didn't take any pic of the interior. It was beautiful inside, but it so dark and to take good picture will require a flash, and like most places that uses mosaics flash photography is strictly forbidden.

While entry is free, to view like the Treasury room you have to pay 4 euro I think, per pax. 5 euro if you like to go upstairs. 4 more euro to view another thing. We only forked out more for the Treasury, where it is interesting to see artifacts that used to be in Constatinople ( Istanbul ) and old Jerusalem.

Afterwards we went to the Museo della Musica yang kami cari bagai nak rak semalam tak jumpa2. Walhal dekat aje. LOL.

Not too much people, but perhaps it is early.

There is a lot of old violin, music sheets and a mock workshop (where we can only peep from the door),

Afterwards macam biasa we just walked and walked and stumbled upon some outrageous exhibition:

This particular one is not outrageous enough, but there was one painting where Batman is fingering Wonder Woman. It is pretty hilarious, the painting is made in a vintage style, so it is lovely and cute to look at. And what underlying message?

We also  enjoy the Grand Canal view for a while before deciding upon to go into the Accademia, which housed a lot of famous Venetian paintings.

That ceiling have tiny baby faces looking down on us. 

We basically just walked that day on Venice. Heck, we just walk all days on Venice. It was quite a peaceful ( yet very exercisey ) way to appreciate Venice beauty.

I stopped in front of this building because I hear somebody playing quite a magnificent piano piece and the sound kind of echoes there which gave the air such an unbelievable feeling. It is a school I think so no tourists allowed inside.

We then just sat on top of the platform ( the one where people step on if there is a flooding ) and enjoyed the San Marco view while eating snacks and ice cream. I think we did this every evening there. Kinda like the closing chapter of the day and of our trip.

Eiiiii.... gambar ni sengettt

Birthday!

It is my birthday. I am now 29. Hmmm. Afterwards, it will be 3+, then 4+ and so forth. If God wills it. There're times when I think people don't really understand Insya Allah. If God wills it. When you translate it to basic words in the language you understand, the meaning is so big. With the will of God, you are now in this position and so on. 

Anyway, husband sudah bagi hadiah awal2 before he went back to Turkmenistan. He got me a charm bracelet. Not a Tiffany's one though. But I don't really care much for Tiffany's. I am a pearl kinda girl myself. All those symbols that the pearl brought, tears, purity.. it just gets to me. Not that he bought me a charm bracelet with pearls. I mentioned the pearl because I would like to get one from Mikimoto. Not the whole pearl necklace. When or where would I wear it? No, I just want to have 1 smooth beautiful black pearl as a locket. A girl can dream. 

The rest of the day so far is ok. Not so great though. This maybe my worst birthday ever. All those money I have to pay this day. Penalty (missing RSA token), vet bills ( Kurap got weird luka at her butt, so off to the vet ). And I don't have Kurap at my side tonight  ( die kena stay at the vet for one night to clean the infection and observation). I will be so sad. 

Well then, I just wants to write something. Later (hopefully with a post about Venice pulak ). 

Istanbul - The Foods!

In Istanbul, we don't have to worry much. Abundance of halal food.

We were staying at the Hotel Peninsula at the Sultanahmet area. The hotel we were staying in was very nice, comfy, and the staffs there are very friendly and helpful. It was a good stay and I would not hesitate to stay there again.

Every morning for breakfast at the hotel we were served with this :

The breakfast is the same every morning, basic fare with fresh fruits, jams, juices and hot drinks. I like tomatoes enough, but over there, the tomatoes was incredibly juicy and succulent that I have to have it every day. The other thing I love is the yogurt eaten with the rose syrup that have little bit of petals in it ( pic : top right ). I love it so so much. I could have the yogurt and with various thing put in it day by day. It just settles the stomach you know.

During the first day, when we were walking around, we walked past the shops that have these such sumptuous delights:

and these: (which I unfortunately do not have the time nor perut to eat )

and more of these:

We bought some, but not from this shop.

On the first day for lunch, I was tired and hungry and cold so I ordered a Turkish coffee and my husband the orange juice:

The Turkish coffee tasted a little chocolatey. The orange juice, well is a juice. 

I was also a bit irritated and just pick anything that is easy which turns out as a good choice. It was quite good.

In the menu it looks quite small. But when I got it, it was huge.

My husband kebab and fries is quite nice too. For dinner that day, we opted for a light fare as the lunch we had above was quite late. I think we had lunch at almost 4 pm.

I can't remembered what it is called, but it is kinda like murtabak Johor/Singapore (wherever suits you ), but lagi nipis. The tea that I ordered is the traditional Turkish tea. I didn't ordered it again because the tea I drank adalah sangat pekat. I sangat takut jika tidak boleh berak nanti. Tak best travel and you sembelit ok :D . 

During this dinner which we had at the Arasta Bazaar, there was a dance performance, which is the Sufi dance/whirl ( I think ). Luckily we sat right in front of the dancer ( or whirler more like it)

Looking at it too long can make you dizzy. 

It was interesting to see his feet. Kinda like watching a ballerina feet when they twirl, and that is kinda like how they do it. When he was whirling he closes his eyes, so I guess it lessen the dizziness perhaps. There was no other moves. For 5 or 10 mins, he whirls and whirls and whirls in the same spot. I guess it is kinda trancing, both for the them and the audience. 

After a walk around town after dinner, we stopped by for this drink. I mistakenly thought it as coffee at first and when the seller mentioned its as not. It was.... something else more like it. It is kinda like condensed milk and vanilla. At the top is shaven cinnamon. It was piping hot and a very sluggish feeling liquid (which is why susu pekat comes to mind. Incredibly sweet too, but not susu pekat sweetness). Nighttime in Istanbul is quite cold, so the drink does have its merit. It is meant to be drink when the night is cold and the drink is piping hot. Otherwise I would imagine it as undrinkable. 

For lunch the next day, we didn't have any because we are too busy traipsing through all those historic places. Instead we settle only for the pretzel like bagel ( I think it is called Turkish Pretzel ) and the cinnamon filled bread.  This is sold at the carts situated everywhere there.

I like the pretzel and my husband like the cinnamon once.

The pretzel is very chewy but I love hard and chewy bread while the cinnamon one is quite crumbly, tasted a bit like cake, but not at all sweet. There is nothing like it in Malaysia I could compare it with.

Then I also had the most liat aiskrim ever. The Turkish Ice Cream.

Also the most expensive ice cream ever paid. This ice cream lagi mahal dari gelato yang mahal dekat Trevi Fountain, Rome okeh. Mencik.

I don't quite like the taste. I am not a big fan of ice cream and this one, is very filling and like I said kinda like chewy. Not a fan of the Turkish Ice Cream. Tapi kenapa the one at the Bukit Bintang Plaza lain dan sedap? Perhaps yang di BB Plaza sudah ditukar taste untuk catered for Malaysian crowds kut.

Tada! The dinner.

The above is a good dining experience. It is one of the traditional Turkish food. I think it may have the a little bit of Greek influence in it. The left pic, is my food which was couscous with mushroom and carrots and kebab beef meat. The couscous was incredibly awesome and the meat is niceee. The mushroom and carrots is ok enough. The right one was my husband where he ordered the rice. Their rice is something like pulut, which I don't like so I never ordered there. The lauk is chicken kebab and the grilled eggplants and tomatoes I think. The grilled eggplants was very good. Love it. 

The last days, there was a lot of things consumed. Like:

The bread we bought from the usual carts. This one is not so nice. But we were hungry after our cruise, so we finished it. I think. It tasted more like crumbly cookies. We had a hard time finishing it. The filling is cinnamon, but not like filling, more like bake along with cinnamon mixed together I believed. But hey, tidak cuba tidak tahu ape yang kite suka and tidak right. 

We also finished the baklava we bought at the shop during our first or second night there. It was AWESOME. It have just the right amount of sweetness and rempah to not let it be overbearing to your tastebud. Aku boleh guling-guling bile teringat the taste. We finished two before I remembered to take a pic. It is a small delicacies, but I believe it is not meant to be eaten in large amounts. The sweetness remembered. Maybe that is why their tea is so pekat. 

We also tried out this. Kinda like glazed donuts, but pretzel like! Kinda crispy in a nice kinda way. It is very nice, not recommended for everyday gluttony though. Boleh diabetic.

This is our lunch for that day. Very late lunch I'll say. Shared the kebab and drink. The drink is pomegranate juice. Sangat masam. Pelik pulak husband yang tak suke masam would like this drink. These juices is awesome and is a must have however, so we have to try it. 

This is our dinner that last night. The top is my kebab with fries. I ordered the extra yogurt with spinach to be eaten with bread, but I rolled all of my dish together. Lagi cepat habis. The bottom is my husband kebab which was Iskandar Kebab with yogurt. It was quite nice.

So that's that on our food adventure in Istanbul. We were more adventurous here because we can. So in our next destination you'll see the same food, kinda. But hey, I'll still blog it. Because I can.

Istanbul - What we see

Lets start this!

We went to Istanbul basically for 3 nights.

I don't think so I can manage to do a day to day activity (some of you might also drop dead from boredom), so I'll just condense here what we basically visits in Istanbul.

Before I started, we stay in Sultanahmet area, which is basically old Istanbul and where the famous Aya Sofya or Hagia Sofia or whatever it is people call it is located. So many of the places that we see were confined to this area.

On Day 1 we arrived early. Our flight was on midnight 26th Oct, so we arrived early around 7 a.m and by 7.30 a.m. we're already at the hotel. Because we're early, we can't check in yet, so we decided to jalan-jalan the Sultanahmet area after breakfast.

Blue Mosque early morning. And instead of nasi lemak or kueh mueh, there're a lot of carts selling pretzel /bagel like bread around Istanbul. They're incredibly nice to munch upon. 

Entrance is free. Though you are not allowed in during prayer time, unless for prayers la kan

On that first day, it was drizzling a bit. I noticed a stray dog sleeping at the side courtyard of the mosque and nobody gives a second glance. The poor thing must have been cold. We didn't go in because we malas nak bukak kasut and thinking that we have more time to look again some other day. We never did. Which came to my first advice of this post is, even if the place is crazy near to your hotel, if you are in the vicinity, just go in at least once. Heh. The blue mosque is very grand and feels kind of supreme. We are just contented to just sit at the courtyard though.

Then we singgah at the Sultan Ahmad the first ( It may spelt wrongly) tomb.

The tomb itself is a tomb. But it have some exquisites mosaics and tiles. 

We walked around actually in search of a leather jacket and other shopping stuffs. So whenever there is a place that is interesting, we will stop and look. Like the Istanbul University, where it is great fun to see students in hurry to go to classes clutching their lecture notes.

Istanbul Uni. Entrance are only for staffs and students. Not for people trolling for hot college chicks. 

The Hippodrome. Where Old Romans used to have their games/chariots drives which now is called Sultan Ahmet Square. But it is regularly named as Hippodrome in the guide book.

In here there is a few Roman and Ottoman relics left. Like the below, German fountain sent as a gift to the Ottoman Sultan which looks bland from afar, but amazing if you happened to glance at the roof. And many people stop and marvelled at the Egyptian obelisk, where it had stood for thousands of year in Egypt and many others in Istanbul and looks like it had just been engraved last month.

There is even a shopping centers (of sorts) that is in front of what used to be a Roman temple.

I did found my leather jacket but it is for another post. However for day 1 we did manage to get the museum pass.

So on Day 2, we on the museums listed in the pass. The pass cost 72TL per person. We manage only 4 out 6. 1 museum is in renovation and so are closed ( Istanbul Mosaic Museum) . Chora Museum is a bit far and we didn't manage it.

Before we started on the museum pass list, before it even opened, sudah tercongok di depan Basilica Cistern. It is part of the tinggalan of the Byzantine era.

The cistern is something like a water system used by the Roman. The Romans are famous for their baths and aqueducts, and this is just one of the example of their genius today. It is a very eerie place to be in, especially since we're the early bird for that day. But it is nice that we can basically hog the Medusa without other people camera flashes. The cistern is famous for its 2 Medusa head. The head is used as sort of support column (who really knows). One Medusa is as below, the other one (not pictured) is upside down.

I basically dared Medusa to turn me into stone. 

Then we head to the Hagia Sophia.

It is really quite lovely. Tho we did not visit the interior at night, I just like this pic a lot.

If we were to go back to the hotel, we will pass by Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque (they're opposite to each other) so, it is a really pleasant walk back.

The pictures below really, really does not do it justice. It is really lovely. Hagia Sophia, used to be a church, after Constantinople falls, it turns into a mosque. The Ottoman Sultans however left many of the mosaics depicting Jesus, Virgin Mary, Saints alone. However the Hagia Sophia is no longer used as a mosque and coverted to a museum. However azan still berkumandang there, as there is a small prayer building ( surau kut ) at the courtyard.

The cat at top right corner decided quite suddenly she wants to sit on a platform befitting for her. And in minutes, the cat had become a sensation at Hagia Sophia. Camera flash was directed at her multiple times and she was unfaze. She sat there for a few mins and then perhaps bored, wander elsewhere. 

It does not take a lot of time to wander around in Hagia Sophia. Around an hour for us. We pretty much gawked at the wonderful mosaics and tiles in the building. The mosaics from the church-era time are at the first floor and at the ground floor is where you really realized how huge the Hagia Sophia is.

Next on the list was Topkapi Palace. It was a massive sprawling place. And my camera at the time was running low on battery. It is really a place not to be hurried into. And I can't take a picture to show how massive it is. It is at the back of the Hagia Sophia and it just a gate. And no the below is the not outer gate. This is the inner gate. I can't believe I didn't take picture of the outer gate. It positively glinted in the sunlight.

Yes, the sky was glorious that day. 

After a quite considerable walk from the outer gate to the inner gate, we then find ourselves in the Topkapi Palace, but of course we are still at the courtyard. There was another gate (also not pictured, but it is just a door, with lots of people wanting to get into ).

There was various rooms. Among pictures below, there was the library, the throne room, the council room, the kitchen which is now being turned into a Treasury showcase. There is even a healing room, where young sultans rested while they recovered from their circumcision. The picture below is just a drop on how really huge the place is. Their palace are made by marbles and fitted by incredibly amazing looking tiles and mosaics. It must be a delight to walk around there barefoot.

The royals also used to have an amazing view of Istanbul. 

The 2 places that is a massive pain to get into is the Treasury because semua orang nak tengok huge priceless bitching looking gems. The other one is the section where it stored kunci Kaabah, objects from Nabi Muhammad S.A.W and there is even a staff from Nabi Musa A.S (allegedly). I wonder if this is the staff that breaks the Red Sea to two.

There is another section of the palace that we decided not to go into, the Harem. It used to be the wives and kids place basically. If you want to visit it, another 15 TL is required. Considering that and our legs ( we are incredibly tired by this time), we decided not to and head to Istanbul Archaelogical Museum.

The museum is next to the exit of the palace. There were 3 buildings. One housed the ancient orient relics (Mesopotamian , Egyptian era), the other one looks like a tile museum ( we didn't go in, dead tired already). And the biggest one is where all the Greeks, Lebanon, Roman relics used to be (which we went in).

I was delighted at the Ancient Orient building, when I found myself looking at the pieces from the Ishtar gate I almost squealed. The color is so vibrant and the history behind it is so magnificent.

We only managed some of findings from Anatolia, (Greek stuffs) and I practically begged my husband to not go up the second floor, because I don't think so I can take the climbing much longer. It was a really interesting museum. Chockful of stuffs. The sarcophagus of the Mourning Women and the Alexander.  After all it boasted of more than a million objects. I was looking for the jaw of the serpent column that is at the Hippodrome, but it must have either been closed or at the top floor. A pity if I think about it now, but I still remembers my exhaustion and I guess even I have my limit on how long I can walk and climb around.

However amazing to think that I can see objects from even The Temple of Zeus. A lot objects from these long ago civilization, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Babylon somehow ended up here. Those who are a history buff, this is a must place to visit. If I ever go back to Istanbul ( and I do ), this is one of the place I have to revisit.

After the Topkapi Palace. We head back to the hotel for a much needed recharge, both our energy and the camera battery. Then we head to the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. Here housed various Koran ranging from 13th century to the 19th. They're even one where it is uses gold ink.

Be it 16th or 21st century, that carpet would look good in any living room.

In here I think the oldest carpet is from the 16th century. I can't even made my t-shirt last than 10 years. Wait. I do have t-shirt that is more than 10 years.

The museum is cool enough. Husband enjoyed it very much, because he likes carpets. As for me, I like the thought that some of these carpet are used by the royals and some of them were used as prayer mats in mosque ever hundred of years ago.

For Day 3, husband decided upon Bosphorus Cruise along the Bosphorus straits. The cruise costs around 25eur per person, and it is for 2 hours. It was quite nice even if at first I do feel like puking. I was basically frozen there for the whole 2 hours. Alot of people on the cruise decided to go indoor rather freezing at the top. . It was incredibly nice, and while the tour itself was lovely, where we can see the old fort, many, many European looking palaces and homes of the rich and famous, I was only looking forward to the toilet. 

Only nearing the end of the cruise did we stopped at the Maiden Tower. Where I joyfully bounded for the WC (water closet = toilet), and afterwards enjoy the most loveliest view atop the tower. The wind was incredibly strong and it was dreadfully cold, but the climb is worth it.

We then head for the mosque nearby for prayer and marvelling.

I have to imagine that perhaps every mosque in old Istanbul ( there're a lot of other mosques we didn't go to) are as lovely as the one that we've seen. This mosque, Yeni Mosque was built around the 14th century. Other than that, I am not really sure. Heh.

Afterwards it is basically a shopping day for us, where I will tell later in a different post and walking around re-enjoying the view that the Sultanahmet area can provide which is incredibly awesome and ethereal like. 

This is a fountain in front of the Topkapi Palace. It looks more like it used to be 4 places of tap water, but the building is lavish enough.

Istanbul is an amazing place. Almost all other tourists we talked with would love to come back or is in their 3rd or 4th visit. Most of the locals are really friendly and nice. I love it there and would definitely love to come back.

Both of us at the top of Maiden Tower. Susah nak dapat gambar berdua ni.

Random Update

I had just got back from my Euro Trip. I don't really like calling it Euro trip because it gives the impression that I had been to more than 3 countries. For this trip, I only goes to Turkey and Italy. Went to Istanbul first, then go to Venice and then go to Rome. When in Rome, manage a day trip to Naples and Pompeii. I will make a post as per usual about the trip, though I am not sure how to separate it. 

It is good to be back after all, and after a half day at work ( more like few hours as I got at the office almost 11 ), it does feels like I had never been anywhere at all. 

As for the cats, well it is back to CATS instead of cat. 

Fetch Kurap from the pet boarding right after we got home. Kesian ok. The owner said she is so noisy, because she is always calling people over so they would pet her. Before this the owner mentioned, when Kurap and Fasha was boarded there, they were quiet. I think Kurap just realized that Fasha is not around anymore. The first thing she got back home, she sniffed the house from top to bottom. Not sure if she wants to familiarize herself again or try to find her sister. Sedih :( . I still keep on expecting to see Fasha head pop up everywhere when I took Kurap outside. 

Also, I mentioned cats because the first day back at home, my husband and I went to a hardware shop and I noticed a poor little kitty. He is so tiny and tubby and looks so full of worms. And I noticed misai kucing die sume pendek except for 1, so he looks a little peculiar. Somebody must have cut off his whiskers. I took him home and he is now living in a cage until I am sure he is ok and not diseased. He is a noisy little thing and likes to be let outside playing with the lalang at my house. Macam biasa aku tak tahu aku nak keep ke tak the tiny thing but I usually ended up will. Kite tengok je dulu. 

RIP Puteh :(

Puteh the sweetest cat ever, died this afternoon. I only had him for a few months, but he completely stole my heart. He have the sweetest disposition. I can only hope in the months that we took him, he got the best months of his life. 

God, this is so depressing. Losing 2 cats in 2 weeks :( 

He died of the same thing of Fasha, maybe worse. He was unable to breathe properly the last 2 days. This house feels so, so empty. 

Today I am feeling like I can never be happy again. I hope Kurap will stay healthy. Please God, let her stay healthy. 

Looking through the computer, I found this precious pic of Fasha when she was a wee little kittie. This is among the first pics I took of her. 

Sigh.