Ramadan Karim! 2010

Ramadan began with the moon sighting last evening announcing the start of holy month of ramadan for our Muslim brothers in some parts of the world.  People rushed to mosques as soon as they heard the announcement, they were seen greeting each other "Ramadan Karim" and "Ramadan Mubarak".

For some, this is the time to stock pile food as a lot of people rushed to supermarkets and major shopping outlets huggling with the huge crowds!

Photos of one of those many Mosques in Turkey taken in Instanbul last 2003 while I'm on a yacht during my trip stretching the Bhosporous to Black Sea.

HILLSONG

Hey guys!  For those who are requesting to see Hillsong Australia, here are the different facades of the church.  The two branches I last visited in Sydney. 

Now you can see this megachurch, both of their branches at Young St. and the Convention Center in Norwest Blvd., Baulkham Hills where they usually hold concerts, just like the ones you see in DVD's.  So next time you visit Australia, come here and pay a visit.

HILLSONG CHURCH Convention Center at Baulkham Hills

HILLSONG CHURCH at Young St.

 ...and me somewhere, hehe!

Please also do visit their website at:

http://myhillsong.com/

ISTANBUL: Taksim Square

Taksim Square (Turkish: Taksim Meydanı) situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, and is the location of the Cumhuriyet Anıtı (Republic Monument), which was built in 1928 and commemorates the formation of the Turkish Republic. - Wikipedia

When you come to Istanbul you were never a tourist if you never walked the lively pedestrian street of Istiklal Caddesi.  The street is a few kilometers stretch and busy with people coming from everywhere.  At anytime of the day, the street is full of locals and tourists.  My favorite spot to stay and people watch when the time is relax, a few meter away from my hotel.  Everytime I visit Istanbul I see to it that my hotel is situated around the area.  Visiting Istiklal Caddesi experience is as necessary as Turkish Bath experience.

Tired of walking the street of Istiklal?  Then take this Tram, it will take you down to the tunnel to take a subway train that will take you around the city.

Some angles of the lively street.  Try here at night for a wonderful colorful walk experience.

At the square with some friends.

The Independence Monument (Istiklal Anıtı) in the circle at the southern end of the square commemorates the Turkish Republic's founder, Kemal Atatürk, in both his roles, as military commander-in-chief and as statesman.

... and, oh! My favorite sandwich place in the area!  Doner is closely known as Shawarma. 

Afiyet Olsun! (Turkish), Bon Apetit! (French), Sahaten Wa' Afia! (Arabic), Have a nice meal! (English, hehe!)

See MEDUSA in Topkapi Palace - TURKEY

 Topkapi Palace was home to all the Ottoman sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid I (1839-1860), a period of nearly four centuries. The order for the construction of the Topkapi Palace on the Seraglio Point overlooking both Marmara and Bosphorus was given by Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinapolis in 1453. The place was then an ancient olive grove. The final form of the first palace covered an area 700m², and was enclosed with fortified walls 1400 meters in length. The walls were pierced by a number of gates, namely the Otluk gate, the Demir gate and the Imperial gate (Bab-i Humayun), and a number of minor angled gates between them. After the reign of Mehmed II the Conqueror, the palace grew steadily to form a city like complex of buildings and annexes, including a shore palace known as the Topkapi shore palace, as it was situated near the cannon gate -Topkapi- of the ancient walls of Istanbul. When the shore palace was burned down in 1863, it lent its name to the great complex we now know as Topkapi Palace. The main portal, the Bab-i Humayun, was suited next to the mosque of Ayasofya (Haghia Sophia Church), and this led a series of four courts surrounded by various structures. The courts, chambers, pavilions and other sections can be viewed at the floor plan of Topkapi Palace.

Acknowledgement: Bilkent University Department of History provides a history of this grandiose Ottoman palace and guide to its architectural development.

Some of the attractions you can see in the basement of the Palace

 Petrified Medusa

The Medusa Story written above and this Medusa stone head in the base of one of the many columns that support the palace basement, are just one of the wonders you can encounter within. 

Visitors and even Scientists today were wondering why this Medusa stone head is placed sideways while the other is head up.

Water drippings accumulate on the floorings of the basement created a shallow pool that some tourists mistaken into somekind of a wishing well.  Well, this could be an added income for this spot as they can collect coins that can be converted into a subtantial amount of cash. 

Count mine!  I threw in some coins too! Hehe!   Next time you visit this place, toss some coins in too, just for fun!

Watch this video for more infotainment!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CztQXxWqogI

open this YouTube hyperlink

Turkey's Dolmabahce Palace elegant interior

The Fire Place

The Hall

 

The Piano:  Napoleon Bonaparte's gift to the Sultan (Sorry guys, this is the best my camera can get!).

 

The Chat Room:  Sultan's mother chatroom where she gather her amigas for latest gossips.

 

The Bedroom:  Just one of the many bedrooms (notice this one placed sideways by the wall).

 

The Washbin:  One of the several around the palace, made of marble, (could be imported from Romblon!  Well, I don't know, I didn't hear the tour guide when he told us of its the origin).  This is probably the one they use for ablution.

Pimp My Ride - I (Finding Batman)

at the BONDI Australia

(Finding Batman: Bat Mobile in blue?)

TURKEY: Still in the Palace

Then west gate of Dolmabahce Palace 

 

 

 The Palace garden

 

 

 The clock tower

 

 

  The Palace guard... beside me!

 

 

 The entrance gate.

The palace guards in action!

James Bond was here!

The maiden’s or tales’ tower...

Close your eyes for a moment and think: You are a sailor, or a pirate, hundreds of years, even thousands of years ago. You are on your way to Istanbul. You passed Dardanelles; you crossed the Marmara, and got close to the Bosphorus. You are welcomed by a silhouette first. The dome of Hagia Sophia is in front of you with all its glory! On another side is the Galata Tower of Genoans… You sail through the Bosphorus, and see what? There is a defender in the middle of the sea, inviting if you are a friend, and threatening if you are an enemy. It’s the Maiden’s Tower!

When you return to your country, isn’t the Maiden’s Tower going to be the first thing to tell those who ask you where you have been and what you have seen? It is, especially if you have been told about its legends...

 

This  area is a favorite location shooting for big movie outfits and includes Turkish famous tv series... and wait.. James Bond was here too!

 

I particularly like this shot!  A girl probably in nostalgia?  Waiting for her father to come back home?  Well, I caught this shot while this girl's brothers are nearby fishing.

 

I'm enjoying the breeze around here in Europe...,  at my back in the horizon is the Asian side of Turkey.