See the pictures
See the interview
See the checklist
See the links
See the story
Pics
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Interview
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Your trip in one sentence
Subtle. You don't realise how much you love it until you have to leave.
Why did you travel there ?
My group's final year thesis was chosen for a conference, so we got to hang in Turkey to present it, and skipped most of the conference to explore Istanbul.
How did you get there ?
By flight, and a torturous-near-death 8 hour layover in Doha.
Where did you sleep ?
Taksim Lounge.
What was the biggest cultural shock ?
The aggressive Turkish hospitality
What was your most interesting encounter ?
Meeting a solo traveller when we offered him an extra chair at our table over lunch. He joined us for that day's exploration.
Tell us a story that happened to you there
On our last night, we were at our favorite dinner place, and the head chef came to sit with us. He had a cup of Raki, and nearly got me some votka because I mentioned that I liked it.
He told us to call him Baba (Turkish for father), and called us his daughters. He played music for us on his traditional turkish guitar, and sang a song for us as well.
In his limited english, he went on to share that good men like him last time no longer exist today, he said his son was a good man, and when we asked if his son was single, he laughed his jolly rumbling laugh and said he was married with two kids. But then Baba offered up his nephew, who unfortunately was also working that night, and asked if I wanted him. Absolutely horrified but still couldn’t stop laughing, I nearly shouted No, and told him to find his own woman he loved. Before we left, Baba bid us good fortune and also told us that he will pray to his god that we will each find a good husband to marry.
What did you do at night ?
Braved the mad crowded Istiklal Caddasi for some diabetic inducing turkish desserts.
What were your cultural activities ?
Everything in Istanbul is cultural. We did do the touristy stuff at Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, the underground cisterns, Topkapi Palace, the spice bazaar and took a Bosphorus cruise.
Which song illustrates best your trip ?
Something in the Water - Brooke Fraser
Your favourite local word ?
Siktir Git
Your favourite local food ?
Kebabssssss
Your favourite place ?
The hostel's common kitchen where I met some of the most amazing travelers on the go.
Will you go again ?
Definitely. I need to bring my future husband back to meet Baba.
Subtle. You don't realise how much you love it until you have to leave.
Why did you travel there ?
My group's final year thesis was chosen for a conference, so we got to hang in Turkey to present it, and skipped most of the conference to explore Istanbul.
How did you get there ?
By flight, and a torturous-near-death 8 hour layover in Doha.
Where did you sleep ?
Taksim Lounge.
What was the biggest cultural shock ?
The aggressive Turkish hospitality
What was your most interesting encounter ?
Meeting a solo traveller when we offered him an extra chair at our table over lunch. He joined us for that day's exploration.
Tell us a story that happened to you there
On our last night, we were at our favorite dinner place, and the head chef came to sit with us. He had a cup of Raki, and nearly got me some votka because I mentioned that I liked it.
He told us to call him Baba (Turkish for father), and called us his daughters. He played music for us on his traditional turkish guitar, and sang a song for us as well.
In his limited english, he went on to share that good men like him last time no longer exist today, he said his son was a good man, and when we asked if his son was single, he laughed his jolly rumbling laugh and said he was married with two kids. But then Baba offered up his nephew, who unfortunately was also working that night, and asked if I wanted him. Absolutely horrified but still couldn’t stop laughing, I nearly shouted No, and told him to find his own woman he loved. Before we left, Baba bid us good fortune and also told us that he will pray to his god that we will each find a good husband to marry.
What did you do at night ?
Braved the mad crowded Istiklal Caddasi for some diabetic inducing turkish desserts.
What were your cultural activities ?
Everything in Istanbul is cultural. We did do the touristy stuff at Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, the underground cisterns, Topkapi Palace, the spice bazaar and took a Bosphorus cruise.
Which song illustrates best your trip ?
Something in the Water - Brooke Fraser
Your favourite local word ?
Siktir Git
Your favourite local food ?
Kebabssssss
Your favourite place ?
The hostel's common kitchen where I met some of the most amazing travelers on the go.
Will you go again ?
Definitely. I need to bring my future husband back to meet Baba.
Checklist
▾
Take your Hejbook
Join the mile-high club on your way there
Learn the coolest word of the local language
Eat the local speciality
Become smarter in a local museum
Find the fleamarket and buy someting exotic
Befriend and give your business card to the local mob boss
Wander in the city at night
Get lost at least one time
Engage a (drinking for instance) contest with a local
Sleep with a local
Pretend to be local and have someone believe it
Go to the zoo and hug a bear
Share all your crazy stories with the world on hejorama.com
Join the mile-high club on your way there
Learn the coolest word of the local language
Eat the local speciality
Become smarter in a local museum
Find the fleamarket and buy someting exotic
Befriend and give your business card to the local mob boss
Wander in the city at night
Get lost at least one time
Engage a (drinking for instance) contest with a local
Sleep with a local
Pretend to be local and have someone believe it
Go to the zoo and hug a bear
Share all your crazy stories with the world on hejorama.com
Links
▾
Time Out Istanbul - http://www.timeout.com/istanbul/features/278/20-great-things-to-do-in-istanbul
Another list of 20 great things to do in Istanbul. You hit all the important sites just through this list alone.
Wikitravel - http://wikitravel.org/en/Istanbul
Always a definite go-to starting place when planning any trip, this wikitravel guide was hell useful and very relevant.
Another list of 20 great things to do in Istanbul. You hit all the important sites just through this list alone.
Wikitravel - http://wikitravel.org/en/Istanbul
Always a definite go-to starting place when planning any trip, this wikitravel guide was hell useful and very relevant.
Story
▾
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What is a chronicle?
The chronicles gather all of the experiences and stories of travel that the Hejies wish to share about their destination. A chronicle is composed of photographs, videos, interviews, places, and questionnaires. All of these mediums are used to record an experience of a travel as well as possible, to share this and to possibly inspire you.
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