Good morning everyone, welcome back to my channel! It has been over six months since the last time
I published any kind of video on this channel. I am very excited nervous mixed all together but
grateful, to say the least, that I am back on the road and I am currently in Turkey.
I have arrived in Istanbul a couple of nights ago, and I took my negative COVID-19 test
which was required to fly to any kind of countries that you travel to.
So my aim is to travel for a month and to visit the Eastern side, far Eastern
side of Turkey, and also the Southeastern part of Turkey close to the Syria border.
I think this will be an interesting travel journey for me personally, and hopefully for you to also
learn together about these less-visited areas. I hope to see locals, I hope to encounter
different cultures, and everything there is that travel has to offer.
The city today known as Istanbul has been the site of human settlement for approximately 3 000 years
it was known as Byzantium in Latin until 330 when the city soon renamed as Constantinople
became the new capital of the Roman Empire. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the
country's economic, cultural, and historic center. The city straddles the Bosphorus strait
and lies in both Europe and Asia with a population of over 15 million residents.
Let's try to roam around explore here and there. Yeah, see what Istanbul
has to offer to a single traveler like me. How are you today? Do you mind? Can I just
inform you about my shop? Thank you!
Where do you want to go? Look at this man polishing the shoes!
The autumn leaves are beautiful turning the sky and the view to be oranges.
This is the Hagia Sofia. This area of the park is actually quite nice because
we are surrounded by fountains and the garden, (as well as) blossoming flowers.
This is corn selling with zero colorings! Zero colorings. She doesn't buy
corn. She has lots of money but doesn't spend it. No, no I just ate. I'm sorry!
As you can see this is quite the main touristy area and it's considerably empty. So those
massive structure is the Hagia Sofia and these are the tram track.
So in Istanbul, in order for you to be able to get to the bus tram and train,
you need to have an Istanbul card.
You can easily find them in let's say train station or even at the airport.
Yesterday I had very funny and lovely interactions with a man whom I purchased this ticket from.
Do you sell the Istanbul card?
10TL card
It's yours?
So this particular
station it's called Sultan Ahmet, and if you can see Istasyonu means (probably) station.
I am actually standing in front of the Galata Tower just across the sea.
To me personally, this side of Istanbul the pier by the sea of Bosphorus is just so charming.
So this is one of the stations, the ferry station.
The Istanbul card is so useful for anything! From the ferry, the train,
the tram to the bus. I think you should get it!
With just 4 (four) Liras, you can easily get to this ferry and explore the sea of Bosphorus.
What a lovely experience it was! So calming to me. I mean,
I don't know if you like it. For me, it was magnificent!
Just to see the Bosphorus sea crossing the ocean, the sea. See the European side to the Asian side.
Behind me, is the Taksim Square itself.
We're going to go around the sort of shopping arcade passing through,
looking what does it feel like and does it look like.
I am actually hungry and looking at the Doner (kebab) behind me!
Merhaba! Hello (merhaba)! Yes please? Is that beef?
Yes! Can I have one beef with...
This, this, this? Which one? This is beef with cheese
This is beef with no cheese. With cheese!
That is tender meat!
The cheese with doner meat and the bread,
as well as water cost me 22 Liras which is about $3 (Three U.S. Dollars)
Interestingly, there is some kind of protest I think?
It's a bit intense!
Look what I found in this particular main tourist area street? A church!
You went to Kathmandu? Many times!
I've been to Nepal many times! Really?
Yeah, I (used to) live in Nepal.
You have Instagram? No, I don't. Sorry!
Really? Yeah! What is the problem? I know...
So I have just arrived in Galata tower. Look at me and behind me!
It's 5:30ish (in the afternoon) the sun starts to set and the color is just romantic.
This is the best place to see Istanbul, from 360 degrees all around!
Isn't that what behind me is stunning!
Stunning! And this is not even summer or spring. But still, you can see the beauty!
I am
just in awe!
I am so so grateful.
So the Asian side of Istanbul, where I am at is known to be lesser explored.
I am currently walking in the probably shopping center.
Look at the fresh fish!
It's just so many happening.
I'm not so sure what kind of market this is?
Look at the dogs, they're big!
So you have a selection of zaitun or olives.
But I just hope you can see, oh those garlics! The fresh stuff such as seafood.
Do you know that one-third of the entire Istanbul population actually resides
on the Anatolian side? It's such a complex city!
Oh, is this another market? I need to get out of this market.
There is plenty of clothing, shoes and all.
Despite the pandemic,
people are still out and about. Mask is a compulsory thing to wear in Turkey.
Do you know that Kadikoy has a tram in itself to Moda?
Let's take one!
Kadikoy is essentially an older settlement than the European side of the city.
It is located on the shore of the sea of Marmara and also facing the historic side of the
European side of Istanbul and the strait of Bosphorus.
A lot of people reside here, the locals and whatnot. And that's why the ferry is
quite an important aspect to it because it allows people to commute back and forth.
Not only that, there's a lot of metros, buses,
even taxis are quite affordable which allows you to travel around the city quite easily.
The Asian side of Istanbul or particularly this Moda and probably
throughout the city has a more artistic touch to it.
As you can see the street is quite colorful.
Welcome to the residential area I suppose? of the Anatolian side or the Asian side of the city!
As you can see we are entering plenty of apartments in the residential area.
These are just a few examples of how does it look like!
So much more modern, and if anything it doesn't feel anything like Asia.
Essentially what is on this street are buildings upon buildings and
buildings apartments upon apartments and upon apartments.
They look well organized and clean for what it is.
I'm assuming, this is where most the people or the
residents of the upper-middle class society live or the ones who is like working-class society.
Look at those teenagers on what they're doing.
Oh my God!
Is it so weird to feel so happy to see kids
playing around because of the Corona (lockdown) and everything?
Welcome to Bagdat street!
This is essentially very pleasant to walk on because you just have such a wide pedestrian
for people to just walk, in the span of this street that consists of shops and shops.
Currently, it's the..
I'm assuming peak hours because of the traffic and all.
I think personally when I first arrived in this particular area,
I thought to myself this feels like Singapore a bit.
Although it's not culturally interesting, perhaps right for
many people but it's also an important aspect to Istanbul.
Thank you so much for watching today's episode of my first impression is in Istanbul.
This is my very very first time being here.
I was excited to just explore the city quite a bit in a more touristic area
as a first-time traveler and as a solo female traveler.
How do you feel about the video? Let me know what you think
down in the comment section below.
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Thank you so much again for watching! Comment, subscribe, and like this video.
See you again next time! Bye!