Talking Turkey and tourism<\/p>\n
I Christianto, Contributor, Istanbul<\/p>\n
People from Indonesia, particularly Jakartans, may feel at
\nhome when they visit big cities in Turkey like Istanbul, Ankara
\nor Izmir.<\/p>\n
Before they see the country's many tourist attractions, they
\nwill first experience in Istanbul what they always see in Jakarta
\n-- reckless car-drivers, over-loaded public buses, scavengers,
\nbeggars, street vendors, hawkers offering bottled drinking water,
\ncigarettes and snacks at the toll-road entry-gates, rubbish and
\npedestrians crossing wherever they like.<\/p>\n
Yet, there are good things that people from Indonesia can
\nlearn from Turkey. In Turkey people line up in order to get on
\nbuses; buses that stop only at designated shelters.<\/p>\n
There is another similarity: the tourism industry in Indonesia
\nand Turkey are currently downplaying terrorism threats,
\nparticularly the threat of bombers. Of course, people around the
\nworld are now getting used to these kind of attacks, which can
\nhappen anywhere.<\/p>\n
However, despite these issues, Turkey is well worth a visit.
\nWith more classical ruins than Greece and more Islamic monuments
\nthan Saudi Arabia, Turkey, with its fascinating links to the
\npast, frequently mesmerizes most international visitors.<\/p>\n
A land full of historic treasures from 13 successive
\ncivilizations spanning some 10,000 years, it is also a paradise
\nof sun, sea, mountains, and lakes.<\/p>\n
This is especially true during April to October, when most
\nplaces in the country have an ideal climate.<\/p>\n
In addition to cities or big towns like Istanbul, Ankara or
\nIzmir, Turkey has several must-see attractions, including the
\nAegan, Anatolia, Antalya and the Mediterranean, the Black Sea,
\nnot to mention extraordinary places like Ephesus, Cappadocia and
\nKusadasi.<\/p>\n
In Istanbul, the capital of three successive empires, the
\nRoman, Byzantine and Ottoman, attractions include museums,
\nchurches, palaces, grand mosques and bazaars.<\/p>\n
Istanbul is one of the world's oldest cities. Part of the
\ncity's allure is its position, dividing Europe and Asia and
\nsitting on the Bosphorus Strait. Most of its popular tourist
\nattractions are located in the Sultanahmet area, the home of the
\nTopkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.<\/p>\n
The Topkapi Palace, the richly adorned home of the sultans and
\ntheir harems, was the focal point of the Ottoman Empire between
\nthe 15th and 19th centuries. In these opulent surroundings the
\nsultans and their court lived and governed.<\/p>\n
A magnificent wooded garden fills the outer, or first, court.
\nIn the second court, on the right, shaded by cypress and plane
\ntrees, stand the palace kitchens, which now serve as galleries
\nexhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver and
\nChinese porcelain.<\/p>\n
Next to it is the Harem, the secluded quarters of the wives,
\nconcubines, and children of the sultan, charming visitors with
\nechoes of centuries of intrigue. Today the third court holds the
\nHall of Audience, the Library of Ahmet III, an exhibition of
\nimperial costumes worn by the sultans and their families, the
\nfamous jewels of the treasury and a priceless collection of
\nminiatures from medieval manuscripts. In the center of this
\ninnermost sanctuary, the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle enshrines
\nthe relics of the Prophet Muhammed brought to Istanbul when the
\nOttomans assumed the caliphate of Islam.<\/p>\n
The Hagia Sophia was originally a Byzantine church built in
\nthe sixth century; after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 it served
\nas a mosque for more than four centuries. A series of large
\ncalligraphic discs, installed in during 1847-1849, decorated the
\ninterior; they incorporate the names of the Prophet and other
\nearly leaders. It is the most magnificent of all of the Byzantine
\nchurches in Istanbul. The Hagia Sophia was designed by the
\narchitects Anthemios of Tralles and Izidorus of Miletus. This
\nconstruction of the second Hagia Sophia was started in 532 by the
\norder of the Emperor Justinian and was built over the ruins of an
\nearlier structure. The Hagia Sophia has a diameter of 31-33
\nmeters and a height of 54 meters and is covered with a large
\ndome.<\/p>\n
While inside the Hagia, its a good idea to take a look at the
\nfamous \"weeping column\" where the protectorate angel is supposed
\nto be. Other myths associated with the column say that if your
\nfinger emerges moist from the hole there, a wish can be granted.<\/p>\n
Others say the Angel Gabriel put his finger here first and
\nturned the whole position of Saint Sophia slightly to the right,
\nso that it faced Mecca. In the upper galleries, which were
\nreserved for women and the high society, there are some of the
\nmost wonderful mosaics on view. Also look out for the two marbles
\ncut stone gates on the way, reported to represent heaven and
\nhell.<\/p>\n
Most tourists in Istanbul also want to have the joyful and
\nsometimes painful experience of performing the art of bargaining
\nat the Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. Bargaining, for many Indonesians,
\nmay be exciting. But one still has to be very careful as
\nshopkeepers at the Grand Bazaar are famed for their bargaining
\nskills. They will usually say, \"For you my friend, I give you a
\nspecial price...\"<\/p>\n
It is advised that anyone going to the bazaar should do some
\nresearch on the prices first. It's a good idea to try and learn
\nthe numbers in Turkish and discretely listen when the locals are
\nasking the shopkeeper for prices.<\/p>\n
Things worth buying at the bazaar include carpet or kilim,
\njewelry, leather, ceramic plates, copper, locally-made garments
\nand textile products and souvenirs like lamps, key-chains,
\ndecorations or sandals. There are also huge number of fake
\nbranded shoes, bags and watches -- just like in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A stay in Istanbul is not complete without a traditional and
\nunforgettable boat excursion up the Istanbul Bogazi or Bosphorus.
\nIts shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present, grand
\nsplendor and simple beauty. The best way to see the Bosphorus is
\nto board one of the passenger boats that regularly zig-zag along
\nthe shores. One can embark at Eminonu and stop alternately on the
\nAsian and European sides of the strait. The round-trip excursion,
\ncosts some 45 new Turkish lira (about Rp 315,000) and takes about
\nthree hours.<\/p>\n
The Turkish capital and the second biggest city of Turkey,
\nAnkara, is the heart of the ancient Galatia; known as the former
\nAncyra or Angora. A tour in Ankara includes the Roman baths, the
\ntemple of Augustus and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.<\/p>\n
Other interesting places in Turkey include Ephesus, one of the
\nbest-preserved ancient sites in Turkey and the top historical
\nattraction along the Aegan coast; Kusadasi, one of the country's
\nliveliest and most popular holiday resorts. There are also the
\nancient City of Troy, Aphrodisias, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Goreme-
\nCappadocia, Mt. Nemrut and Safranbolu.<\/p>\n
Despite a series of bomb attacks in Turkey, tourists are
\nflowing into the country. Turkey's tourism arrivals broke a new
\nrecord in the first half of this year with a 20 percent increase
\nfrom the same period last year. The country expects to see 7.5
\nmillion international tourists this year.<\/p>\n
While the attacks are cause for concern, their frequency means
\nyou are more likely to be hurt in Jakarta traffic. Still,
\nsecurity in certain areas is still visibly high, but not high
\nenough to stop you visiting a unique tourist destination offering
\na complete range of attractions and a magnificent past.<\/p>\n
As many people say, one visit to this country is not enough.<\/p>\n
Tips<\/p>\n
Airport: There are two airports in Istanbul, the Kemal Ataturk
\nInternational Airport on the European side of the Bosphorus and
\nthe Sabiha Gokcen International Airport on the Asian side. Check
\ncarefully your airport of arrival and departure, as the two
\nairports are located very far away from each other.<\/p>\n
Dolmus: Dolmus means \"filled,\" which is what the vehicle needs to
\nbe before it departs on its customary route. The dolmus is
\nTurkey's shared taxi or minibus, just like mikrolet in Jakarta
\nand pretty helpful as taxis are a little expensive and have an
\nextra surcharge at night. Istanbul also has trams and a metro.<\/p>\n
Intercity buses: Traveling with intercity buses in Turkey is fun
\nand not that expensive. Buses have stewards serving the
\npassengers with snacks and coffee or tea. Strangely, mobile phone
\nuse is banned during most trips.<\/p>\n
Toilets: Be prepared for scarce and poor public toilets. Also
\nprepare your own toilet paper.<\/p>\n
Budget hotels: Don't expect to get budget rates. Room rates at
\nhostels or pensions range from about 30YTL (Rp 210,000); this
\nmeans a room with a shared bathroom.<\/p>\n
Etiquette: Similar to Indonesians, Turkish people are friendly
\nand hospitable. Locals usually give you a warm greeting once they
\nknow you are from Indonesia. Unfortunately, also like Indonesia,
\nlocal men often harass women travelers.<\/p>\n
Visa: Indonesians must apply for a visa to visit Turkey as part
\nof the country's journey to becoming a member of the EU.<\/p>",
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