Talking Turkey and tourism

Talking Turkey and tourism

I Christianto, Contributor, Istanbul

People from Indonesia, particularly Jakartans, may feel at
home when they visit big cities in Turkey like Istanbul, Ankara
or Izmir.

Before they see the country's many tourist attractions, they
will first experience in Istanbul what they always see in Jakarta
-- reckless car-drivers, over-loaded public buses, scavengers,
beggars, street vendors, hawkers offering bottled drinking water,
cigarettes and snacks at the toll-road entry-gates, rubbish and
pedestrians crossing wherever they like.

Yet, there are good things that people from Indonesia can
learn from Turkey. In Turkey people line up in order to get on
buses; buses that stop only at designated shelters.

There is another similarity: the tourism industry in Indonesia
and Turkey are currently downplaying terrorism threats,
particularly the threat of bombers. Of course, people around the
world are now getting used to these kind of attacks, which can
happen anywhere.

However, despite these issues, Turkey is well worth a visit.
With more classical ruins than Greece and more Islamic monuments
than Saudi Arabia, Turkey, with its fascinating links to the
past, frequently mesmerizes most international visitors.

A land full of historic treasures from 13 successive
civilizations spanning some 10,000 years, it is also a paradise
of sun, sea, mountains, and lakes.

This is especially true during April to October, when most
places in the country have an ideal climate.

In addition to cities or big towns like Istanbul, Ankara or
Izmir, Turkey has several must-see attractions, including the
Aegan, Anatolia, Antalya and the Mediterranean, the Black Sea,
not to mention extraordinary places like Ephesus, Cappadocia and
Kusadasi.

In Istanbul, the capital of three successive empires, the
Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, attractions include museums,
churches, palaces, grand mosques and bazaars.

Istanbul is one of the world's oldest cities. Part of the
city's allure is its position, dividing Europe and Asia and
sitting on the Bosphorus Strait. Most of its popular tourist
attractions are located in the Sultanahmet area, the home of the
Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.

The Topkapi Palace, the richly adorned home of the sultans and
their harems, was the focal point of the Ottoman Empire between
the 15th and 19th centuries. In these opulent surroundings the
sultans and their court lived and governed.

A magnificent wooded garden fills the outer, or first, court.
In the second court, on the right, shaded by cypress and plane
trees, stand the palace kitchens, which now serve as galleries
exhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver and
Chinese porcelain.

Next to it is the Harem, the secluded quarters of the wives,
concubines, and children of the sultan, charming visitors with
echoes of centuries of intrigue. Today the third court holds the
Hall of Audience, the Library of Ahmet III, an exhibition of
imperial costumes worn by the sultans and their families, the
famous jewels of the treasury and a priceless collection of
miniatures from medieval manuscripts. In the center of this
innermost sanctuary, the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle enshrines
the relics of the Prophet Muhammed brought to Istanbul when the
Ottomans assumed the caliphate of Islam.

The Hagia Sophia was originally a Byzantine church built in
the sixth century; after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 it served
as a mosque for more than four centuries. A series of large
calligraphic discs, installed in during 1847-1849, decorated the
interior; they incorporate the names of the Prophet and other
early leaders. It is the most magnificent of all of the Byzantine
churches in Istanbul. The Hagia Sophia was designed by the
architects Anthemios of Tralles and Izidorus of Miletus. This
construction of the second Hagia Sophia was started in 532 by the
order of the Emperor Justinian and was built over the ruins of an
earlier structure. The Hagia Sophia has a diameter of 31-33
meters and a height of 54 meters and is covered with a large
dome.

While inside the Hagia, its a good idea to take a look at the
famous "weeping column" where the protectorate angel is supposed
to be. Other myths associated with the column say that if your
finger emerges moist from the hole there, a wish can be granted.

Others say the Angel Gabriel put his finger here first and
turned the whole position of Saint Sophia slightly to the right,
so that it faced Mecca. In the upper galleries, which were
reserved for women and the high society, there are some of the
most wonderful mosaics on view. Also look out for the two marbles
cut stone gates on the way, reported to represent heaven and
hell.

Most tourists in Istanbul also want to have the joyful and
sometimes painful experience of performing the art of bargaining
at the Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. Bargaining, for many Indonesians,
may be exciting. But one still has to be very careful as
shopkeepers at the Grand Bazaar are famed for their bargaining
skills. They will usually say, "For you my friend, I give you a
special price..."

It is advised that anyone going to the bazaar should do some
research on the prices first. It's a good idea to try and learn
the numbers in Turkish and discretely listen when the locals are
asking the shopkeeper for prices.

Things worth buying at the bazaar include carpet or kilim,
jewelry, leather, ceramic plates, copper, locally-made garments
and textile products and souvenirs like lamps, key-chains,
decorations or sandals. There are also huge number of fake
branded shoes, bags and watches -- just like in Indonesia.

A stay in Istanbul is not complete without a traditional and
unforgettable boat excursion up the Istanbul Bogazi or Bosphorus.
Its shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present, grand
splendor and simple beauty. The best way to see the Bosphorus is
to board one of the passenger boats that regularly zig-zag along
the shores. One can embark at Eminonu and stop alternately on the
Asian and European sides of the strait. The round-trip excursion,
costs some 45 new Turkish lira (about Rp 315,000) and takes about
three hours.

The Turkish capital and the second biggest city of Turkey,
Ankara, is the heart of the ancient Galatia; known as the former
Ancyra or Angora. A tour in Ankara includes the Roman baths, the
temple of Augustus and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.

Other interesting places in Turkey include Ephesus, one of the
best-preserved ancient sites in Turkey and the top historical
attraction along the Aegan coast; Kusadasi, one of the country's
liveliest and most popular holiday resorts. There are also the
ancient City of Troy, Aphrodisias, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Goreme-
Cappadocia, Mt. Nemrut and Safranbolu.

Despite a series of bomb attacks in Turkey, tourists are
flowing into the country. Turkey's tourism arrivals broke a new
record in the first half of this year with a 20 percent increase
from the same period last year. The country expects to see 7.5
million international tourists this year.

While the attacks are cause for concern, their frequency means
you are more likely to be hurt in Jakarta traffic. Still,
security in certain areas is still visibly high, but not high
enough to stop you visiting a unique tourist destination offering
a complete range of attractions and a magnificent past.

As many people say, one visit to this country is not enough.

Tips

Airport: There are two airports in Istanbul, the Kemal Ataturk
International Airport on the European side of the Bosphorus and
the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport on the Asian side. Check
carefully your airport of arrival and departure, as the two
airports are located very far away from each other.

Dolmus: Dolmus means "filled," which is what the vehicle needs to
be before it departs on its customary route. The dolmus is
Turkey's shared taxi or minibus, just like mikrolet in Jakarta
and pretty helpful as taxis are a little expensive and have an
extra surcharge at night. Istanbul also has trams and a metro.

Intercity buses: Traveling with intercity buses in Turkey is fun
and not that expensive. Buses have stewards serving the
passengers with snacks and coffee or tea. Strangely, mobile phone
use is banned during most trips.

Toilets: Be prepared for scarce and poor public toilets. Also
prepare your own toilet paper.

Budget hotels: Don't expect to get budget rates. Room rates at
hostels or pensions range from about 30YTL (Rp 210,000); this
means a room with a shared bathroom.

Etiquette: Similar to Indonesians, Turkish people are friendly
and hospitable. Locals usually give you a warm greeting once they
know you are from Indonesia. Unfortunately, also like Indonesia,
local men often harass women travelers.

Visa: Indonesians must apply for a visa to visit Turkey as part
of the country's journey to becoming a member of the EU.