Good morning everyone, welcome back to my channel!
It has been over six months since the last time I published any kind of video on this channel.
I am very excited nervous mixed all together but grateful, to say the least, that I am back
on the road and I am currently in Turkey. I have arrived in Istanbul a couple of nights
ago, and I took my negative COVID-19 test which was required to fly to any
kind of countries that you travel to. So my aim is to travel for a month and
to visit the Eastern side, far Eastern side of Turkey, and also the Southeastern
part of Turkey close to the Syria border. I think this will be an interesting travel journey
for me personally, and hopefully for you to also learn together about these less-visited areas.
I hope to see locals, I hope to encounter different cultures, and everything
there is that travel has to offer. The city today known as Istanbul has been the site
of human settlement for approximately 3 000 years it was known as Byzantium in Latin until 330
when the city soon renamed as Constantinople became the new capital of the Roman Empire.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural, and historic center.
The city straddles the Bosphorus strait and lies in both Europe and Asia with a
population of over 15 million residents. Let's try to roam around explore here
and there. Yeah, see what Istanbul has to offer to a single traveler like me.
How are you today? Do you mind? Can I just inform you about my shop?
Thank you! Where do you want to go?
Look at this man polishing the shoes! The autumn leaves are beautiful turning
the sky and the view to be oranges. This is the Hagia Sofia. This area of
the park is actually quite nice because we are surrounded by fountains and the
garden, (as well as) blossoming flowers. This is corn selling with zero colorings!
Zero colorings. She doesn't buy corn. She has lots of money but doesn't spend it.
No, no I just ate. I'm sorry! As you can see this is quite the main touristy
area and it's considerably empty. So those massive structure is the Hagia
Sofia and these are the tram track. So in Istanbul, in order for you to be
able to get to the bus tram and train, you need to have an Istanbul card. You can easily find them in let's say
train station or even at the airport. Yesterday I had very funny and lovely interactions
with a man whom I purchased this ticket from. Do you sell the Istanbul card? 10TL card It's yours? So this particular station it's called Sultan Ahmet, and if you
can see Istasyonu means (probably) station. I am actually standing in front of
the Galata Tower just across the sea. To me personally, this side of Istanbul the pier
by the sea of Bosphorus is just so charming. So this is one of the stations, the ferry station. The Istanbul card is so useful for
anything! From the ferry, the train, the tram to the bus. I think you should get it! With just 4 (four) Liras, you can easily get
to this ferry and explore the sea of Bosphorus. What a lovely experience it was!
So calming to me. I mean, I don't know if you like it.
For me, it was magnificent! Just to see the Bosphorus sea crossing the ocean,
the sea. See the European side to the Asian side. Behind me, is the Taksim Square itself. We're going to go around the sort
of shopping arcade passing through, looking what does it feel
like and does it look like. I am actually hungry and looking
at the Doner (kebab) behind me! Merhaba! Hello (merhaba)! Yes please?
Is that beef? Yes!
Can I have one beef with... This, this, this? Which one?
This is beef with cheese This is beef with no cheese.
With cheese! That is tender meat! The cheese with doner meat and the bread, as well as water cost me 22 Liras
which is about $3 (Three U.S. Dollars) Interestingly, there is some
kind of protest I think? It's a bit intense! Look what I found in this particular
main tourist area street? A church! You went to Kathmandu?
Many times! I've been to Nepal many times!
Really? Yeah, I (used to) live in Nepal. You have Instagram?
No, I don't. Sorry! Really? Yeah! What is the problem?
I know... So I have just arrived in Galata tower.
Look at me and behind me! It's 5:30ish (in the afternoon) the sun
starts to set and the color is just romantic. This is the best place to see
Istanbul, from 360 degrees all around! Isn't that what behind me is stunning! Stunning! And this is not even summer or spring.
But still, you can see the beauty! I am just in awe! I am so so grateful. So the Asian side of Istanbul, where I
am at is known to be lesser explored. I am currently walking in
the probably shopping center. Look at the fresh fish! It's just so many happening. I'm not so sure what kind of market this is? Look at the dogs, they're big! So you have a selection of zaitun or olives. But I just hope you can see, oh those
garlics! The fresh stuff such as seafood. Do you know that one-third of the entire
Istanbul population actually resides on the Anatolian side? It's such a complex city! Oh, is this another market?
I need to get out of this market. There is plenty of clothing, shoes and all. Despite the pandemic, people are still out and about.
Mask is a compulsory thing to wear in Turkey. Do you know that Kadikoy has
a tram in itself to Moda? Let's take one! Kadikoy is essentially an older settlement
than the European side of the city. It is located on the shore of the sea of
Marmara and also facing the historic side of the European side of Istanbul
and the strait of Bosphorus. A lot of people reside here, the locals
and whatnot. And that's why the ferry is quite an important aspect to it because it
allows people to commute back and forth. Not only that, there's a lot of metros, buses, even taxis are quite affordable which allows
you to travel around the city quite easily. The Asian side of Istanbul or
particularly this Moda and probably throughout the city has a
more artistic touch to it. As you can see the street is quite colorful. Welcome to the residential area I suppose? of
the Anatolian side or the Asian side of the city! As you can see we are entering plenty
of apartments in the residential area. These are just a few examples
of how does it look like! So much more modern, and if anything
it doesn't feel anything like Asia. Essentially what is on this street
are buildings upon buildings and buildings apartments upon
apartments and upon apartments. They look well organized and clean for what it is. I'm assuming, this is where most the people or the residents of the upper-middle class society live
or the ones who is like working-class society. Look at those teenagers on what they're doing. Oh my God! Is it so weird to feel so happy to see kids playing around because of the
Corona (lockdown) and everything? Welcome to Bagdat street! This is essentially very pleasant to walk on
because you just have such a wide pedestrian for people to just walk, in the span of this
street that consists of shops and shops. Currently, it's the.. I'm assuming peak hours
because of the traffic and all. I think personally when I first
arrived in this particular area, I thought to myself this
feels like Singapore a bit. Although it's not culturally
interesting, perhaps right for many people but it's also an
important aspect to Istanbul. Thank you so much for watching today's
episode of my first impression is in Istanbul. This is my very very first time being here. I was excited to just explore the city
quite a bit in a more touristic area as a first-time traveler and
as a solo female traveler. How do you feel about the video?
Let me know what you think down in the comment section below. Don't forget to check out my
Patreon account, if you wish to see more personal and exclusive content
that I do not post anywhere else. Thank you so much again for watching!
Comment, subscribe, and like this video.
See you again next time! Bye!
