I've been pretty exhausted the last 2 days from all the traveling and being roughed up by the Dead Sea (you'll see what I mean). Will resume all posts tomorrow!
Damn I hate aging.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Out and about in Tel Aviv; ending in rainstorm
Tel Aviv is beautiful and reminds me of a mix of Miami and LA. Posh, laid back, a little pretentious, and a lot man made. It's a great relaxing vacation spot, also quite romantic. Saw lots of young lovers makin' out on the sidewalks. Quite opposite of Istanbul.
Most people speak English, which I guess adds to the convenience of the city, but not the exoticism. Transportation through public buses is pretty well-run and I especially admire their rent-a-bike program spread through out the city.
The Hacarmel Market was my favorite part, with fresh produce, lively vendors, and an abundance of rugelach. Mmm mmm.
Our day ended in getting caught in a major rainstorm. There was some minor flooding and we were both soaked! It didn't matter, because we were in Tel Aviv and had an extra stash of rugelach with us, so we found the nearest covered corner and enjoyed the view.
Most people speak English, which I guess adds to the convenience of the city, but not the exoticism. Transportation through public buses is pretty well-run and I especially admire their rent-a-bike program spread through out the city.
The Hacarmel Market was my favorite part, with fresh produce, lively vendors, and an abundance of rugelach. Mmm mmm.
Our day ended in getting caught in a major rainstorm. There was some minor flooding and we were both soaked! It didn't matter, because we were in Tel Aviv and had an extra stash of rugelach with us, so we found the nearest covered corner and enjoyed the view.
Dr. Shashuka: Which came first, the Chinese or the Israeli version?
Apparently you can't come to Tel Aviv and not eat at the legendary Dr. Shashuka, a popular restaurant by the Jaffa flea market that services simple Tripoli food. Shashuka is a spicy tomato sauce and egg dish traditionally eaten at breakfast. Dr. Shashuka offers a variety of shashuka add-ons, like the spicy hot dog we ordered.
Funny enough, after our first bite, my mom and I both turned to each other and said, "Egg fried tomato!" It is traditional Chinese breakfast dish that we used to eat in China, very similar to shashuka. Egg and tomato is a delicious combo, but I have to ask, which came first: the Chinese or Israeli dish?
P.S.: we also ordered the lamb patties which were juicy and flavorful. All the dishes come with a couscous appetizer and a basketful of bread. Carb heaven.
P.S.: they call Middle Eastern food "Oriental" here in Israel. Odd.
Funny enough, after our first bite, my mom and I both turned to each other and said, "Egg fried tomato!" It is traditional Chinese breakfast dish that we used to eat in China, very similar to shashuka. Egg and tomato is a delicious combo, but I have to ask, which came first: the Chinese or Israeli dish?
P.S.: we also ordered the lamb patties which were juicy and flavorful. All the dishes come with a couscous appetizer and a basketful of bread. Carb heaven.
P.S.: they call Middle Eastern food "Oriental" here in Israel. Odd.
Old City Jaffa (and a quiz for my gamers)
Jaffa is believed to be one of the oldest port cities in the world and the main tourist attraction of Tel Aviv. It's very quaint with narrow winding roads and great views of the ocean. The clocktower is how you know you're in Jaffa Old City, but the non-developed parts are very run down. My mom and I checked out the famous flea market*. As mentioned in all tour books, it was filled with 90% junk and 10% invaluable historical treasures, such as the game controller I found. What system is it from??? Anybody?
*The flea market is worth walking through just for the people watching. We witnessed 2 women having a physical fight! The bigger woman was throwing chairs and calling the other all kinds of names, especially a word that sounded just like "prostitute." I really wanted some popcorn.
*The flea market is worth walking through just for the people watching. We witnessed 2 women having a physical fight! The bigger woman was throwing chairs and calling the other all kinds of names, especially a word that sounded just like "prostitute." I really wanted some popcorn.
Tel Aviv FROYO!
I love froyo. If I could marry it I would. So, it is no surprise that I had to try the froyo in Tel Aviv. So here's the verdict (and to be fair, I only tired one yogurt shop):
- Sweeter and not as tart as Red Mango or Pinkberry
- Firmer than Yogurtland and Sixteen Handles
- WAY MORE toppings. I had persimmon, kiwi, apples, and passion fruit sauce. There seemed to be about a million toppings available
Final word? A combo of Red Mango froyo with these toppings would equal absurd deliciousness. And speaking of absurd, how absurd was this post? Sorry for taking away the 2 minutes you'll never get back.
- Sweeter and not as tart as Red Mango or Pinkberry
- Firmer than Yogurtland and Sixteen Handles
- WAY MORE toppings. I had persimmon, kiwi, apples, and passion fruit sauce. There seemed to be about a million toppings available
Final word? A combo of Red Mango froyo with these toppings would equal absurd deliciousness. And speaking of absurd, how absurd was this post? Sorry for taking away the 2 minutes you'll never get back.
Celebrating dad's birthday in Tel Aviv
It just so happens that my dad's birthday was a few days ago, so we decided to have a belated birthday dinner at a swanky seafood restaurant in Tel Aviv. We experienced many "firsts." First Israeli Chardonnay. First Sea Wolf. And first time not understanding half of what's on the menu, even if it was in English. Like...what exactly is "Sea Bream"?
I'm in Israel! (And did I mention how much I love Turkish Airlines?)
A short 2 hour flight later and we have arrived in Tel Aviv. The security was tight getting into the gate for the Tel Aviv flight in Istanbul. We were questioned by several people about when, what, where, why.
Gotta love Turkish Airlines for providing us with fresh mozzarella and homemade pudding. A happy tummy always makes or a happier Yue.
The Tel Aviv airport was spectacular - simple and elegant. We exchanged for some Israeli Shekels and were then off to the train station to get to our hotel in North Tel Aviv. The best part? We were meeting up with my dad who's in town for a convention. He's the reason why we decided to make this entire trip!
Gotta love Turkish Airlines for providing us with fresh mozzarella and homemade pudding. A happy tummy always makes or a happier Yue.
The Tel Aviv airport was spectacular - simple and elegant. We exchanged for some Israeli Shekels and were then off to the train station to get to our hotel in North Tel Aviv. The best part? We were meeting up with my dad who's in town for a convention. He's the reason why we decided to make this entire trip!
Last impressions of Turkey
Here are my last thoughts on Turkey before jetting off to Israel:
Istanbul:
- Great metropolitan city that is super convenient (subway, tram, cabs, buses)
- Very vibrant nightlife
- We hardly saw any homeless people
- Most people were able to understand some English
- Always ask the cab driver to turn on meter
- Never listen to people at the major touristy sites who claim the holy places are closed
- Don't ask street vendors for directions. They will direct you the wrong way if you don't buy from them
- TRY THE STREET FOOD
- Although I very much enjoyed Istanbul, I didn't find it that unique from any other cities. I thought 2 days there was plenty of time, unless if you really want to take the time to explore the nightlife.
Cappadocia:
- Completely different from any place I've ever been to
- Low season really means LOW SEASON. It was quite empty all around
- Fewer people spoke English
- Hard to find transportation during the low season. I'd recommend hiring a driver or renting a car
- A perfect adventure vacation spot. I'd definitely go back again and do more hiking around
Monday, November 14, 2011
Turkish men and their sweets
Just another quick observation about Turkish men (besides being affectionate with other men), is that they love their sweets! At midnight while sitting at the dessert cafe with my mom, a group of men were indulging in an array of sweets at the table behind me. There's a definite dessert and cafe culture in Istanbul that is not observed in the US.
OK, now on to Israel!
OK, now on to Israel!
Back to Istanbul; last night in Turkey
And we were off to Kayseri airport to catch an evening flight back to Istanbul. The Kayseri airport is super tiny and reminded me a lot of the Vieques airport when I visited Puerto Rico earlier this year. Security was pretty tight tho - they stopped me after seeing my curling iron on the x-ray machine. Asked me to take it out and questioned my use of it. After I motioned to my hair, the man snickered and shooed me away. What did he think? That it was a weapon or vibrator?
After arriving in Istanbul, we dropped our stuff off at the hotel and went back to Taksim. Remember? The fun area? It was around 11pm and the streets were PACKED! We stopped in for a lil' pudding dessert that had shredded chicken in it. I had to try it and disappointingly, it was not bizarre at all. Damn. We then noticed that all these vendors were selling mussels on the main Istiklal street. Of course we had to try it. So the guy we bought from (kinda sexy, I'm not gonna lie - that's for you Tina) opened up each mussel to reveal yellow rice mixed in with mussel chunks. He then fed it to us. Hot. And delicious.
The highlight of the night was getting to see my tango teacher Metin! I learned tango from Metin in NYC for over a month and his class was the reason why I fell in love with the dance. I was disappointed when he went on his teaching rotation in Istanbul but so psyched that we were able to catch up for a hot second. He came to my hotel dressed in his best tango gear, thinking he was going to show me the Turkish tango scene! I, on the other hand, could not stand the thought of my mom waiting up all night for me, worrying and possibly calling the Turkish police. So, I declined, but it was great to see him anyway.
After arriving in Istanbul, we dropped our stuff off at the hotel and went back to Taksim. Remember? The fun area? It was around 11pm and the streets were PACKED! We stopped in for a lil' pudding dessert that had shredded chicken in it. I had to try it and disappointingly, it was not bizarre at all. Damn. We then noticed that all these vendors were selling mussels on the main Istiklal street. Of course we had to try it. So the guy we bought from (kinda sexy, I'm not gonna lie - that's for you Tina) opened up each mussel to reveal yellow rice mixed in with mussel chunks. He then fed it to us. Hot. And delicious.
The highlight of the night was getting to see my tango teacher Metin! I learned tango from Metin in NYC for over a month and his class was the reason why I fell in love with the dance. I was disappointed when he went on his teaching rotation in Istanbul but so psyched that we were able to catch up for a hot second. He came to my hotel dressed in his best tango gear, thinking he was going to show me the Turkish tango scene! I, on the other hand, could not stand the thought of my mom waiting up all night for me, worrying and possibly calling the Turkish police. So, I declined, but it was great to see him anyway.
Derinkuyu Underground City: Mystery in tight spaces
The one place we HAD to go to was at least one of the hundreds of underground cities used as a place of refuge and protection for people facing religious invasions. These were first built in the Byzantine period.
We chose Derinkuyu because it is the largest underground city open to the public, reaching 8 stories down. As it may seem obvious, the entrance is very unnoticeable and without the signs, one would never guess there was an actual city underneath them. As soon as we went in, a tour guide spotted us and offered his services for around $20. Worth every penny as he went from room to room explaining what everything was. We started out the stables where horses, sheep, and human took shits together. I can't imagine doing my business next to a sheep staring at me, but I guess I'd get over it.
We then observed the kitchen, bedrooms, schools, churches, and my favorite: wineries! These cities also had secret tunnels that connected to other cities. Some rooms were also equipped with defense mechanisms like stone doors. I was especially fascinated by how small and claustrophobic the tunnels were. I'm only 5'5" and I had to bend down quite a bit (as seen in my pics), but I can't imagine being a large 6'5" man. Or maybe, the environment was not conducive to having tall and large people back then. But I also wonder if they have a height limit for tourists, 'cause seriously I don't know how Kobe Bryant could possibly fit into one of these tunnels.
I was also fascinated by the sophistication and complexity of the entire set up. Who envisioned the whole thing and how long did it take to build? There was an elaborate ventilation system and communication system. Similar to how I felt about the Colosseum in Rome, I wonder if manual labor would be able to recreate this today.
Overall, an impressive place if you're OK with being in small, dark places. I loved it!
We chose Derinkuyu because it is the largest underground city open to the public, reaching 8 stories down. As it may seem obvious, the entrance is very unnoticeable and without the signs, one would never guess there was an actual city underneath them. As soon as we went in, a tour guide spotted us and offered his services for around $20. Worth every penny as he went from room to room explaining what everything was. We started out the stables where horses, sheep, and human took shits together. I can't imagine doing my business next to a sheep staring at me, but I guess I'd get over it.
We then observed the kitchen, bedrooms, schools, churches, and my favorite: wineries! These cities also had secret tunnels that connected to other cities. Some rooms were also equipped with defense mechanisms like stone doors. I was especially fascinated by how small and claustrophobic the tunnels were. I'm only 5'5" and I had to bend down quite a bit (as seen in my pics), but I can't imagine being a large 6'5" man. Or maybe, the environment was not conducive to having tall and large people back then. But I also wonder if they have a height limit for tourists, 'cause seriously I don't know how Kobe Bryant could possibly fit into one of these tunnels.
I was also fascinated by the sophistication and complexity of the entire set up. Who envisioned the whole thing and how long did it take to build? There was an elaborate ventilation system and communication system. Similar to how I felt about the Colosseum in Rome, I wonder if manual labor would be able to recreate this today.
Overall, an impressive place if you're OK with being in small, dark places. I loved it!
Private tour of Cappadocia
In the interest of time, we decided to hire a driver to hit all the major places in Cappadocia before heading back to Istanbul at night. I have to say, for around $140, it was a steal! We had a customized itinerary and a car with blasting heat. And it included a delicious buffet lunch. If anyone's not staying too long in Cappadocia, I would highly recommend going this route.
On our tour, we hit Derinkuyu Underground City (which I'll elaborate in another post), Pigeon Valley, Uchisar Castle, a family-run pottery making factory, and Zelve Valley (fairy chimneys topped with black basalt caps). Simply awesome and breathtaking.
There is just so much to explore in Cappadocia that I think it deserves more than 2 days. It's a hiker's paradise, with so much land and natural structures to explore. I've heard of people spending a week here, hiking a different part every day. There are also so many cave dwellings that one could easily discover "secret" passageways and fun hideouts. Cappadocia would be THE place to lose yourself.
On our tour, we hit Derinkuyu Underground City (which I'll elaborate in another post), Pigeon Valley, Uchisar Castle, a family-run pottery making factory, and Zelve Valley (fairy chimneys topped with black basalt caps). Simply awesome and breathtaking.
There is just so much to explore in Cappadocia that I think it deserves more than 2 days. It's a hiker's paradise, with so much land and natural structures to explore. I've heard of people spending a week here, hiking a different part every day. There are also so many cave dwellings that one could easily discover "secret" passageways and fun hideouts. Cappadocia would be THE place to lose yourself.
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