Catch a glimpse of ICE Today’s incredible trip to Türkiye this summer as a guest of Go Türkiye.
Ever since it became one of the first countries to open its borders after the pandemic hit, I had been dying to visit Türkiye. It shot several ranks up in my bucket list of travel destinations, especially after they made the visa procedure so easy and airline fares to even nearby destinations such as Thailand skyrocketed. Soon enough, as friends began visiting Türkiye, the longing steadily grew stronger with each of their Insta posts.
Then suddenly, as if a genie read my mind and for some reason decided to grant me a wish, I received an invitation from the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye to be their guest on behalf of ICE Today and participate in an initiative by Go Türkiye – the official tourism authority of the nation. The Honourable Ambassador of Türkiye to Bangladesh, HE Mustafa Osman Turan had the brilliant idea of curating a group of Bangladeshi creative influencers to go and visit Türkiye so that they could share their authentic experiences with their friends, family and followers via social media.
The group consisted of ten people, and they were:
Amit Ashraf – Filmmaker
Kazi Istella Imam – Graphic designer/Illustrator
Maliha Fairooz – Travel Blogger
Rahul Talukder – Photographer
Ridy Sheikh – Dancer
Saadul Islam – Musician
Sakib Bin Rashid – Comedian
Sameera Wadood – Chef
Sonia Hossain – Actress
and yours truly, Aumia Khundkar – Writer
It is impossible for anyone not to fall in love with Türkiye once they visit. Türkiye is a world of its own, spanning two continents and steeped in centuries of history. Throughout our visit, the beauty of the places we saw never ceased to overwhelm me, whether it be the natural landscape or the urban archaeology.
The Honourable Ambassador of Türkiye to Bangladesh, HE Mustafa Osman Turan had the brilliant idea of curating a group of Bangladeshi creative influencers to go and visit Türkiye so that they could share their authentic experiences with their friends, family and followers via social media.
Our itinerary was planned by Foundays, an organisation that specialises in designing experiences. It is the dream child of two friends, Didem Yesilova and Özge Yeniocak, who were our gracious hosts during the visit. The five day trip was divided into two legs; Istanbul and Cappadocia, respectively. The three days in Istanbul were spent exploring some of the famous historical sites of the city that was once Constantinople – the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Straddling the Bosporous Strait, the city served as the imperial capital for almost 1600 years given its ideal location in terms of trade and defence. We visited Sultanahmet, home to the Ottoman Era archeological giants such as the Obelisk of Theodosius – the most ancient monument in Istanbul; the Hagia Sophia – a pinnacle of Byzantine architecture; the Topkapi Palace – the oldest seat of the government surviving in Istanbul; and of course, the iconic Sultan Ahmed Mosque, more popularly known as the Blue Mosque. We spent a chunk of the day roaming the halls and harems of the Sultans, immersed in the opulent remains of their grand lives. We also went to the Dolmabahçe Place, which is currently an official building owned by the Turkish government. Perched right on the Eastern coast of the Bosporous Strait, it was originally a bay used for the anchorage of the Ottoman fleet. The palace was built by Sultan Abdülmecid I to replace the old fashioned, medieval Topkapi Palace with a more modern and comfortable residence. The design of the palace contains elements from Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles, and although the heavy European influence on the Ottomans during that period is evident from the decor and layout of the palace, traditional features of Ottoman place life was still very much present such as strictly separated sections for the Selamlık – quarters reserved for the men, and the Harem – the private residential space shared by the Sultan and his family.
One of the highlights of our time in Istanbul was the private cruise on the Bosporous. Our legs were grateful for the break while we sat back and took in the breathtaking views of the city from the yacht.
One of the highlights of our time in Istanbul was the private cruise on the Bosporous. Our legs were grateful for the break while we sat back and took in the breathtaking views of the city from the yacht. There is something so captivating about seeing that electric blue water with your own eyes. It was a sunny day and it took every ounce of our willpower to refrain from jumping into the pristine, glimmering water. Being the gateway between Europe and Asia, the Bosporous Strait is the only passage linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean via the Marmara Sea.
Apart from visiting these famous archaeological sites in Istanbul, we also covered many other popular tourist spots, including a walking tour of Ishtiklal Road leading up to Taksim Square. We rode the first ever metro railway built in Istanbul, and saw the Galata Tower – the only remains of the historic Genoese fortifications; the Basilica Cistern – a huge underground reservoir which was used to store water during the Byzantine Era and finally, we visited the Grand Bazar – one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. The market is a must-see for anyone visiting Istanbul. If not for the delicious dried fruits and nuts, exotic spices and colourful trinkets, you should definitely visit the place just to experience their salesmanship. Talk about trapping flies with honey! Another big highlight of Istanbul was a very special treat, something that is not actually offered to tourists but can be availed with permission from the appropriate authorities. Thanks to the efforts of our wonderful hosts, we got to walk on the rooftop of the Grand Bazar! Fun fact: as many might already know, Istanbul is also known as the City of Cats, and those neat and narrow pathways laid atop the market roof are actually meant for the undisturbed passage of Their Royal Highnesses. What a feeling it was to see the sun set while gliding along the roof of the Grand Bazar with the breeze flowing through our hair.
Thanks to the efforts of our wonderful hosts, we got to walk on the rooftop of the Grand Bazar!
The next chapter of our adventure took place in Cappadocia. Not a single photo or video you have seen on Instagram can quite prepare you for the mystical beauty that is Cappadocia. We arrived quite late at night in Cappadocia, and our hotel was situated in a quiet and isolated location so we saw absolutely nothing in the pitch black darkness when we first got there. To catch the hot air balloon ride the next morning, we woke up well before daybreak, so again we saw nothing except darkness. The field where they were prepping the balloons for our flight was a bit more eventful – technicians were lighting the fire to pump hot gas into the balloons, stirring up excitement in our hearts. By the time we got into the basket to take off, the pale rays of sunlight had already illuminated our surroundings. As the balloon gracefully drifted across the sky and the fiery sun peeked above the horizon, lighting up the rugged landscape dotted with fairy chimneys, I witnessed pure beauty. Pure, unadulterated beauty, untouched by the grit and grime of the world below.
You would think that everything we would see after that would be underwhelming, however this magical land had quite a bit more in store for us. The exotic landscape of Cappadocia is a result of volcanic eruptions that frequently occurred in that region millions of years ago. The effect of the climate and natural processes on the ashes and volcanic material created these otherworldly looking rock formations and made the landscape as it is today. Words or photos cannot truly describe just how beautiful the place is. The sunset we saw in Cappadocia that day equally rivalled the sunrise we saw from the balloon, both tied for first place in my book of wonderful experiences in Türkiye. Half the fun was also in how we got to the point – it felt as though we were in a fantasy world as we raced with the sinking sun on quad bikes across the alien landscape, finally catching up to the viewpoint to see the last bits of its blaze melt into the horizon beyond the jagged desert.
Other than these incredibly surreal experiences, we also visited some archaeological sites in Cappadocia. Around the eight and seventh centuries BCE, the simple farmers who lived in that region were at risk of frequent attacks by the enemy. To hide from the raiders, they carved out quarters under the soft volcanic rock, big enough to house all the villagers, along with their food and livestock. We visited Kaymakli, one of these underground cities where those poor farmers had to hide out for months on an end. I have to say, these cities are not for people who are claustrophobic! The ceilings are low and the passages are quite narrow so it’s not easy to turn back once you’ve made your way in. It was an eerie and humbling experience to see how simply and fearfully people in that region had to live back then. This was not the only way people back then took shelter in the region. The tall rock formations that the locals termed fairy chimneys were also carved out and inhabited by persecuted Christians during the Roman era, especially in the region called Goreme. These places are now preserved as open air museums, one of which we also visited. It was hard to stop marvelling at these wonderfully strange stone structures that nature created and man adapted to suit their needs.
The sunset we saw in Cappadocia that day equally rivalled the sunrise we saw from the balloon, both tied for first place in my book of wonderful experiences in Türkiye.
The sunset we saw in Cappadocia that day equally rivalled the sunrise we saw from the balloon, both tied for first place in my book of wonderful experiences in Türkiye.
When I received the invitation, I expected it to be an interesting trip but, even at the risk of sounding extremely cliche, I have to say that it turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Apart from the picturesque landscape and wealth of the region’s history, the warmth and kindness of the people we were hosted by also enhanced our experience enormously. And then there were the people in the group – my peers and now, my close friends. This was my first time travelling with people I did not know personally, and I actually had an amazing time getting to know them and their stories. Positive energy resonated from everyone in the group and made the trip even more enjoyable. I feel so grateful for having gotten this extraordinary opportunity to not only experience a new country in all its glory, but also to have been able to form such great bonds with so many wonderful people, both in Bangladesh and in Türkiye.
Don’t think I’m done with Türkiye though. This is just the beginning of a thirst that cannot be quenched easily. What we saw on this trip was merely a tiny slice of Türkiye. The massive nation has so many things for us avid travellers to experience – a short trip of five days will never suffice! With two major destinations crossed off from my list, I can’t wait to return to Türkiye and go hiking in Artvin and Rize. I want to explore the stunning coastal cities of Antalya, Bodrum, Kas, Fethiyeh and more. I even want to go back to Cappadocia just to see it blanketed with snow. So yeah, for me this is just the first step into a whole new world.