Chan Brothers is bringing me on board for tour to Turkey this November.
I’m still reading up on the only country in the world that spans across Asia and Europe. I’ll be back (on air and online) to tell you more about Turkey and the 10 day package that Chan Brothers is offering.
In the meantime, you are cordially invited to begin planning for the trip. Notify your employer/ employee(s) that you’ll be unavailable for work from 28.11.07 to 7.12.07 because you want to go on a trip with me. LOL. Start saving and eat bread for the next five months if you have to.
Call 6212 9660 if you have any enquiries, or if you want them to put you in a room connecting to mine.
Ok, I’m joking about that last bit.
To Turkey, with Cruzy! WOOHOO!
Day 1 SINGAPORE- ISTANBUL
(Meals on Board)
Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport for your flight to Istanbul.
Day 2 ISTANBUL
(Lunch/Dinner)
Upon arrival, embark on a city tour of Turkey. View the only remains of the Hippodrome of Constantinople, which are the three monumental columns and a fountain. This is where chariot races used to take place. Most of the stones of this structure were used in the construction of the nearby Blue Mosque , also known as the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, which boasts a unique feature of six minarets. View its interior decoration and distinctive blue titles. Across the Blue Mosque is St Sophia Church or Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of the Byzantine architecture and is widely regarded by most art historians as the 8th wonder of the world. It was converted into a mosque the day Istanbul was conquered by the Turks. As human portraits are strictly forbidden in Islam, the mosaic and frescoes have been painted over with a layer of plaster. After the founding of modern Turkish Republic, the plaster was removed and you can now admire the beautiful artwork. Just a short walk away is Topkapi Palace , once the seat of the Ottoman Empire. Today, it is a museum palace with a wide collection of porcelain, antiques, holy relics and other treasures. Not-to-be-missed is the famous Spoonmaker’s diamond and some of the holy relics of Prophet Mohammed.
Day 3 ISTANBUL – SELCUK – KUSADASI (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
After breakfast, take a domestic flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, you will be driven to Selcuk where you will explore the Ephesus , one of the largest archaeological sites in existence. You will find awesome structures such as the Library of Celsius, Hadrian Temple, Marble Street and Agora. Ephesus is also one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and holds the House of Virgin Mary. Virgin Mary and St John were said to have lived in Ephesus and died here. Then visit Sirince,a typical Turkish village and stroll through its narrow streets where there are shops selling handcrafts of all kinds and olive oil. The local produce of Sirince is apple wine and you can try the wine in small cafes at your own expense. Thereafter, proceed to a Leather Production Outlet where you will be entertained with a live fashion show. You will stay o vernight in Kusadasi, a seaside resort by the Aegean Sea.
Day 4 KUSADASI – PAMUKKALE
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
This morning, enjoy a leisure drive to Pamukkale, a natural wonder of Turkey. Explore Travertines, a World Heritage Site, which is made up of fascinating white terraces and pools created by calcareous hot spring waters flowing down the mountain. You may take a stroll on the terraces and feel the warmth of mineral water from the nearby thermal springs. Then tour the ruins of the Ancient City of Hierapolis and the Necropolis
Day 5 PAMUKKALE – KONYA – CAPPADOCIA
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Travel to Cappadocia via Konya, the famous old capital of the Selcuk Turks. Visit the 13th-century Sultanhani Caravanserai, a ‘hotel’ for ancient traders and travellers.
Day 6 CAPPADOCIA
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Enjoy a full-day tour through Cappadocia, which boasts a unique landscape sculpted by wind, sun, rain and snow. Its bizarrely-shaped pillars, cones and “fairy chimneys” make fantastic spots for snapshots. Stop by Camel Valley which has a landscape like that of Mars. Among its many different rock formations is one that shapes like a camel. Explore the underground city of Kaymakli, one of the largest underground cities, and is said to have existed since the Hittite period. You will see its bedrooms, kitchens, dining halls, wine cellars, chapels, stables and more. Next, s top by Avcilar Valley, where you will see the whole landscape of Cappadocia and Mount Erciyes, an inactive volcano which formed the Cappadocia landscape from one of its eruptions. Visit Uchisar, an old village comprising small dwellings carved into a massive rock. If time permits, you can visit one of the homes in the contemporary village there and experience life “on the rocks”. Stop by a carpet weaving centre where you will see ladies weaving unique Turkish carpets. You can spend some time shopping there as well. Later, visit Avanos,a town famous for pottery where you will visit an underground Pottery Workshop. Proceed to Pasabag Valley, where you will see more unique volcanic formations in the shape of chimneys complete with a cap. Thereafter, you will visit one of the workshops where unique turquoise stones are used to make accessories and jewellery. End your day with a visit to the Pigeon Valley which contains numerous pigeon houses. The droppings collected from these pigeon houses are used as fertilizers in the growing of grapes used to produce red wines that this region is famous for.
Day 7 CAPPADOCIA – ANKARA – BOLU
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
After breakfast, depart for Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Visit Ataturk Mausoleum, the final resting place of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, known as the ‘Father of Modern Turkey’. The mausoleum features a mix of architectural styles from various Anatolian civilisations. Proceed to Bolu for the night.
Day 8 BOLU – ISTANBUL
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
After breakfast, you will be driven across to Europe to Istanbul. Upon arrival, have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, shop at the 500-year-old Grand Bazaar, a maze of over 4,000 stalls and shops selling leather goods, jewellery, handicrafts, ceramics, Turkish coffee and other local products. This evening, enjoy a belly and folk dance performance.
Day 9 ISTANBUL – SINGAPORE
(Breakfast/Meals on Board)
If time permits, you can do some last-minute shopping before you transfer to the airport for your flight home. Alternatively, you may like to take an optional tour to Dolmabahce Palace or take the Bosphorus cruise to enjoy the unique experience of cruising between two continents, Asia and Europe, at your own expense.
Day 10 ARRIVE IN SINGAPORE
