Istanbul - 2

Although it comes very late, memories and hence the content still remain fresh in my mind. In my earlier post, I spoke about being in love with “bosphorus”, my second love in Istanbul – Istanbul-ites.

It’s a nice feeling when the cab driver realizes you are a tourist and not only does he point out and attempt to describe his city’s landmarks (most of which I hardly understood coz I don’t speak Turkish :P) but also pauses to ask you about your country. “Industan” I say, to which every single one replies with “ooo slumdog millionaire!!”  Or “ya ya, awaraama ooo (with a dance step thrown in as well)”.

If you have something to hide, better stay a loner in Istanbul, coz you are bound to blurt something out caught in the barrage of questions.  :) It only takes an introduction for the istanbullites before they treat you as a new found cousin from a far off land and wish to know everything there is about you… it seems totally OK to ask a person you’ve known for 5 minutes “Do u have a boyfriend??” or “when do u plan to wed? :O

Strangers on the street are willing to play dumb charades to help you find your way, friends you make take you out to little known local hang-outs, teach you to play ‘tavla’, a local backgammon game or take you cycling in the islands over the weekend or teach you how to speak Turkish :)

I walked into the city as a complete stranger and flew out having met some wonderful people and made a few great friends.

Istanbul

4 years ago, it never occurred to me that the first stamp on my brand new passport will take 4 years to come by and that it would be that of a country whose borders span 2 continents. Turkey. “Welcome to Istanbol” said my neighbor in the plane, music to my ears after 19 hours of flying and boring transfers.

(PS: this was when I started drafting the blog… now when I am posting it, I have been to two more countries :P )

Everyone has their favorite pick of every city they travel to. Well, if u ask me about Istanbul, I could say “the grandeur of the ancient Aya Sophia” or describe the streets if “Kapali” Bazaar, the grand bazaar in exquisite detail…. But it wouldn’t be honest. The only honest answer would be the sea – her moods, her colors, and her strength.

I am truly, madly and deeply in love with Istanbul’s “Bosphorus”. On board a ferry at different times of the day, you’ll notice how she dons diverse costumes – to look like liquid gold in the soft morning light, stunning crystalline blue through the day, molten lava during a fiery sunset, fluid silver on a cloudy afternoon and into a restless black cascade by moonlight. She will make a romantic out of any one who pauses, and takes a while to observe her =)

A friend suggested that I read Orhan Pamuk before venturing into Turley. I managed to grab a copy when in Turkey and start reading… he describes turkey as having its own ‘melancholy’ (huzun) in his words… I could not agree more… to take that last ferry across the sea and feel a quite descend over the city… and wake up to the prayer calls of the mosques at dawn… its heart breaking and endearing.

I regret not being able to travel out of Istanbul to explore the whole of turkey - hope to do that on my next trip :)