Turkey - A holiday maker’s view

This year has not been very easy for Turkey - finding itself as a target of a string of attacks from both ISIS and Kurdish separatists, and of course the aftermath of the infamous failed coup in July in which hundreds lost their lives. They left a distasteful image of the country on many around the world. Once a beacon of peace in Europe, it is now said to be troubled. The government is doing everything possible to restore and maintain peace not only inside Turkey but also in neighbouring Syria and Iraq where fighting continues. Last week the US Defence Secretary, Ashton Carter held several meetings with top Turkish officials to discuss joint efforts with Turkey to fight ISIL in Iraq. Besides the grim news of the current troubles facing the country, Istanbul has long been said to be a great holiday destination. According to a local Turkish newspaper, thanks to a booming tourism sector, it is not just great for holidays but is gaining popularity as a wedding destination especially among Indians who are said to be willing to spend life savings for a big wedding in Turkey. So I dared to hop onto a Turkish Airlines flight headed to Istanbul to experience the charm that has kept tourists coming back for more and of course to hopefully see what a ‘Made in Turkey wedding’ really looks like. The national airline’s operations have apparently not been affected by the situation in Turkey and business is going on as usual. Flights to all 243 destinations continue uninterrupted and the passengers show no signs of shunning the airline. The Turkish airlines chairman has however admitted that hundreds of the airline’s staff in managerial and subordinate positions in Turkey have lost their jobs as the government cracks down on supporters of Turkish Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the attempted coup. I land at the Istanbul airport in the mid-morning hours and the mood is nonchalant as travellers haggle with their bags as they head to the passport control counters. It must have been a long flight for most telling by their tired faces. I feel lucky because although I had a 6 hour flight with a stop-over at Entebbe, the spacious business class cabin has enough room to stretch and have a relaxed good night’s sleep. Outside is a buzz of activity as taxi -or taksi in Turk – drivers call out for passengers and porters too request to carry traveller’s baggage. I quickly find a taxi and within 20 minutes I am at the Radisson Blu Hotel. A row of restaurants along the Bosphorus strait. There is an incredible view of the sea from the balcony. The blue waters spread far and wide and the boats docked by the shore contrast with the traffic of vehicles and the road side construction taking place beside it. It is an interesting fusion of nature and 21st Century development. I imagine that it would be a dull concrete city without the sea. The following morning I take a walk through the streets of Istanbul and although the country is in a State of Emergency - which has been extended by another 90 days this month -there are hardly any security forces on the streets or any signs of unrest for that matter. The only surprise that I really had not anticipated is very heavy traffic. Most offices and shops open at 9 am and it’s about 20 minutes to 9 so everyone is obviously in a rush to get to their offices before their bosses but I reckon there’s a high chance that the bosses are also stuck in traffic. Anyway, away from the traffic we have enough of our own haven’t we? Over to the Turkish -Asia side and it is a whole new Istanbul experience. Turkey is said to be in Eurasia because only 3% of Turkey is located in Europe while the largest portion – 97% is actually in Asia. The Bosphorus Bridge separates the Turkish European side from the Asian side. It only takes fifteen minutes to cross the bridge by car and about half an hour if one is using the ferry. The docking area is as busy as expected with people moving between the continents – so to speak – for work and leisure. Magnificent view of Beylerbeyi Palace. While the European side will boast of the amazing ancient architecture of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, the greatest attraction on the Asian side is the magnificent Beylerbeyi Palace. The 19th century palace of Sultan Abdulaziz built during the Byzantine period which was used as a summer residence and State guest house. Many guests stayed at the palace like Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria-Hungary (1869) Eugenie, Empress of France (1869), Nikola, King of Montenegro (1874) and German Emperor Wihelm II. The architecture is extravagant, fit for Kings it hosted then and interestingly a combination of Western and Eastern styles. The three storeyed Palace, including the basement has 24 rooms and 6 halls. The floors are now covered with modern day carpets but some areas expose the straw mats from Egypt which originally covered all the floors. French Baccarat crystal chandeliers, English French and Turkish wall clocks, Chinese, Japanese, French, German and Turkish Yildiz porcelain vases decorate the Palace. It is complemented by beautiful gardens occupying up to 11,000 square metres. The views in Turkey are breath-taking at night especially by the sea-side. On the streets restaurants are busy as people mill in and out. Turkish kebabs are very popular and I wonder if one would enter a restaurant and not find it on the menu. There seemed to be rows after rows of restaurants in Istanbul. The bazaar is popular with tourists who want to shop unique Turkish souvenirs. On the docking area there are literally rows of restaurants selling fresh sea food dishes. Ah, and the Turkish delights, thou shalt not leave Turkey without indulging in this exotic snack that is mainly a mix of sweet assorted nuts – perfect for any time of the day. As my sojourn in Turkey ends I am satisfied that I had a peaceful and enjoyable stay. Turkey may be sailing on rough waters for now but from the look and my feel of things, fairer sailing is soon to return. Whether it will come by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s exercise of hard or soft power, the Turks seem all agreeable to it. Perhaps the end will justify the means this time around. My only regret is that I did not witness any ‘Made in Turkey wedding.’ It therefore does seem that I must return...

Lifestyle

Turkey - A holiday maker’s view