Where East meets West

Little Girl at Eminonu, Istanbul, with the Galata Tower in the background


Blue Mosque (or Sultanahmet Mosque), Istanbul, Turkey – Don’t ask me why it’s called the Blue Mosque. Coz the only blue thing I could find, was the sky


The Bosporus, with bridges connecting Europe and Asia

Taking a break from Singapore and my current boredom to post something from a trip made exactly 3 years back, in May 2010, when Justin was just a wee 5.5 months old.

Welcome to the city of Istanbul, largest city of Turkey and ancient capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. But the best thing about Istanbul is its location. Half in Europe and another half in Asia, straddling the Bosporus, that tiny strip of sea that separates the two continents.

Wonder when we’ll be able to make another trip like this again, now that Justin is not as ‘easy-going’ as before.


Mosques of this type of architecture are common in Turkey. The one at the back is the Suleymaniye Mosque (I think), and the one in front, the New Mosque. Seen from on board the Bosporus cruise


Hagia Sophia, church turned mosque turned museum. Was once the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church and a rival of Rome


Inside Hagia Sophia (or Ayasofya in Turkish), Istanbul


Father and son in a dungeon-like stairway inside Hagia Sophia


Anu, at the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul


Gardens, Topkapi Palace


How can we not include a picture of a Kebab Shop in a post on Istanbul? Street cafes and restaurants are common in the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul, where we stayed


An Ice Cream man of Istanbul. They put on quite a show of tossing their ice cream around, if you show just a little bit of interest in them. Nope, finally did not try any, what a waste…


A Turkish Sweet Shop, Sultanahmet, Istanbul


Family picture at Taksim Square, Istanbul, Turkey


A picture of the neighbourhood mutt


Papa and little Duntin boarding a bus at Istanbul, bound for Cappadocia, central Turkey. Fathers should give this a try, 12 hours overnight journey on a bus. Try sleeping with the little one in your arms, …good for building endurance, and your arm and back muscles