Guilin, China

Got a free trip to Guilin for 4 days & 3 night all inclusive except flight.

So off mom and me flew there and the weather is tropic winter with slight flurries!

Well I don't have much to say but just pictures to show what Guilin, China has to offer.

Local delicacy -Fried mini soft shell crabs

Along the Li River

Master Painter during lunch

Tai Chi with the elders.

Beautiful oriental architectures.

Winter floras.

Tau fu fa and it comes in salty, spicy and sweet flavors

Underground treasure (Honey)

By the fire place.

For culture.

Detailed craftsmanship.

Ancient printing.

Oriental living.

Life underwater.

Underground beauty.

Ending with a beautiful sunset

Me signing off at the Li River

Optimism

- a burst of optimism -

Grand Bazaar Istanbul - Final Day

On the last day of our adventures in Istanbul, what more can we do but SHOP! Yes yes shopping! For a few souvenirs to remind us of beautiful Istanbul.

So mom and me headed to THE GRAND BAZAAR!

The Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı, meaning Covered Bazaar) in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.

At the entrance of the Grand Bazaar.

Oh one item you must get when you are there is the "Evil Eyes" (blue eyes ornaments) It is believed by the locals that it will protect them from evil and also it will bring bad omen's to those that they this like.

It's an endless maze inside the grand bazaar.

So much to choose from.

It is a musician's heaven too. ^^

Everything is divided into sections according to type of goods.

A shop filled with lights.

Spice and sweet delights to excite your senses.

Lots of clothes and blings for the ladies to shop and it is at a reasonable bargain price!

We started exploring the grand bazaar about 830am and by the time we exit on the other side it was already 4pm

So mom and I bought good turkish coffee, famous turkish apple tea, turkish delights, an "evil eyes" ornament, a dress, beaded jade and stone necklace from Afghanistan, 'evil eyes' bracelets, and etc.

After all the looking around &bargaining we had some local food. I don't know what it is called but it taste real good!

Here is what it looks like very simple but delicious.

This man stays behind that hot stove all day to make those food.

This is mom all tired and happy!

And me back on the airplane going home.

Istanbul is one of the best cities I have ever been and I would love to go back there someday.

Istanbul Series - Day 6

- between time -

------------------------------------------------------

- image -

------------------------------------------------------

- a living -

------------------------------------------------------

- flawless -

------------------------------------------------------

- summer warmth -

Basilica Cistern & Gulhane Park, Istanbul - Day 6 - Part 2

After leaving this post for so long due to schedule overload.

I will now continue with my journey in Istanbul. The last post was about Day 6, part 1 at Tokapi Palace. Now for part 2, after lunch my mom and me went to the Basilica Cistern.

For those of you who are wondering what is a cistern. Well it is a receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Often cisterns are built to catch and store rainwater. The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul.

Going down beneath the earth... Feeling all damp and cold... This is what it looks like...

What a beautiful sight!

And Located in the northwest corner of the cistern, the bases of two columns reuse blocks carved with the visage of Medusa. The origin of the two heads is unknown, though it is thought that the heads were brought to the cistern after being removed from a building of the late Roman period. Tradition has it that the blocks are oriented sideways and inverted in order to negate the power of the Gorgons' gaze.

Beware of the Medusa's head! muahahahha

Later, surfacing from beneath the earth where the warm summer sun shines music greets me.

And nearby there was a few men having a jamming session of traditional music.

Then mom and me walked around and somehow we came to Gulhane Park. The landscape is beautiful. It's like walking into a Disney fairytale.

Florals were everywhere. Mom is definitely enjoying the flowers. I wish Malaysia had such beautiful landscapes in the city.

And this is me signing off for day 6.

Up next the final day of Istanbul... THE GRAND BAZAAR

Topkapi Palace Istanbul - Day 6 part 1

It's a beautiful morning in Istanbul on day 6.

After breakfast mom and me took the tram down to the old city (Sultanahmet).

Walked around and passed by the Hippodrome.

We did a little souvenir shopping and headed towards the Topkapi palace which was the official and primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for 400 years of their 600 year reign. Since 1985 it is a UNESCO world heritage site.

This is what it looks like from above a model of the whole palace & the inner part of the palace.

Mom at the imperial gates.

Walking through the first courtyard.

The gate of salutation which leads to the second courtyard.

The imperial Divan (council)

The imperial treasury

The Gate of Felicity which leads to the 3rd courtyard and private residential areas.

Entering the Harem which was the home of the valide sultan, the concubines, the sultan's favourites and the wives of the sultan, and the rest of the royal family including the servants.

walking through the Eunuchs courtyard in the Harem

This is the interior of the crown princes room.

All the windows are decorated with stained glass.

The Imperial Hall.

The courtyard of the favorites. The favourites were conceived as the instruments of perpetuation of the dynasty in the harem organisation. When the favourites became pregnant they assumed the title and power of the official consort of the sultan.

The fourth courtyard of the upper terrace.

mom in front of the grand kiosk

After walking through the whole palace and reading everything I see it was already lunch time.

so after lunch at the old city off to the Basilica Cistern and a stroll at the Gulhane Park stay tuned for day 6th part 2