Alikatt's VirtualTourist Home Page

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival

A joy, a depression, a meanness
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor

Welcome and entertain them all
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture
still, treat each guest honorably
He/She may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice
meet them at the door laughing
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~Jelaluddin Rumi~

As early as I can remember, the desire to explore has been with me. When I found the opportunity to fly, I spread my wings and took off... I set my eyes on Asia, then Europe, etc. My aperture grew wider but alas I didn't keep record of the beautiful sea and landscapes on rolls of film or digital images then. They are all vivid in my memory though. I am happy to share my insights and discoveries then and now. The place I call home now is SAN FRANCISCO. She is named after St. Francis but I like to refer to it as "her" since she is so amazingly beautiful. It's true, you'll leave your heart in San Francisco once you have been captivated by her scenic beauty! The Golden Gate Bridge supposedly earned its name since an obeserver was reminded of the Golden Horn in Istanbul as the setting sun cast golden rays that were reflected by the water entering the bay. San Fran is a truly diverse city by the ocean/bay boasting clean air. It is important to us here to be around wild, natural surroundings and keep what mother nature has given us abundantly. Across this bridge is the a nature preserve and beyond is Point Reyes National Seashore. Native animals(and flora) + visiting humans alike to coexist in this stunningly beautiful natural setting. The seascapes are wild and wonderful. The seals are happily frolicking. San Francisco sits magnificently on the northwestern part of California on 7 hills (like Rome and Istanbul) - with the Pacific Ocean on the west and the San Francisco Bay on the east. There are 4 bridges that span the bay with the Golden Gate as its most famous crossing. The other bridges are the Bay Bridge, the Richmond bridge and the Dumbarton bridge in the East Bay. San Francisco is very European in feel yet a real melting pot of many cultures and persuasions. It's a culinary destination as well that rivals New York and any major city in the world . The wine valleys of Napa and Sonoma are just an hour's drive away. San Francisco is must-visit city if you plan to be in the US. She won't disappoint. Try not to go in the summer months when she wears a cloak of fog. Late spring and Indian summer (late summer) is best to enjoy her rays to the fullest. I feel fortunate to be living here yet I part with her a few times a year to discover new places and meet new people. So look out, I will be knocking on your door soon! Kudos to VT for bringing us closer to each other. Brilliant isn't it?

Kapali Carsisi is unlike any market in the world! This medieval market is surely a delight to the senses. This photo was taken in 2000 with my very good friend Leonor, the person who introduced Turkey to me. It was her birthday bash that I attended in Istanbul back in 2000. I've been back every single year since! Kapalicarsi comprises of over 3,000 shops selling various goods from carpets to coats. I love the fabulous & sumptuous coats and jackets at Koc, jewelry at Timucin, trinkets, silver (Alex Bey), turquoise, amber, etc. I enjoy browsing at the Afghan market and the various alleys that lead to hidden courtyards with more fabulous finds. Abdulla has the most interesting array of textured towels, linen, natural soaps and lambswool bedcovers in his chic shops right beside Fes Cafe. Be sure to say merhaba to Metin Tosun.

I could spend a couple of days in and around the Grand Bazaar without going back to the same shop! The old bazaar is truly remarkable. I come in through the mosque entrance. It's within walking distance from Sultanahment. Just for fun, I actually joined an tour of Capali Carsi once. The guide took us to the roof of one of the very old covered textile mills for a 360- degree view of Istanbul on a crisp winter day. It was gorgeous!

Turkey is the other place where I feel so much at home. Could it be that I was living in Constantinople in my past life? What was I doing? I feel my pulse racing when I'm by the Bosphorus, gazing at the channel that merges two great continents into one eternal city. I can wake up in Europe and be in Asia for breakfast should I want to. No other place is like Istanbul to me and that's why I'm hooked. My journeys in Turkey will continue. Next destination, Gocek, Ephesus and Cappadocia.

I went to Bodrum for the first time in 2003. On the bay of this ancient city of Halikarnassus sits a magnificent medieval castle. It's younger than the city itself but it serves as its landmark. The castle now houses an archaeological museum. I toured the entire casle in 2004. Strangely enought, a replica of the Trojan horse stands outside the castle entrance. Troy is hundreds mles away from here but apparently, this very horse was used in documentary which was filmed here not that long ago. It now stands guard to welcome visitors.

Turkbuku is very different from Bodrum. It is a beautiful bay too but it's mainly populated by affluent Turks who escape city living for some sun and sea, beach parties and swish establishments catering to them for 5 weeks in the summer months. I stayed at Mavi Otel Suites in 2003. Turkbuku is a fabulous place in my opinion since there are no tourists! Small but gorgeous crescent-shaped bay that's known as Turkey's version of St.Tropez. Many yachting enthusiasts drop anchor here to wine, dine and soak up the tony scene and be spotted among the camera-worthy. Pricey but well worth the Turkish liras and the celebrity-like summer. Watch out for famous tanned bodies and not far behind, the paparazzi! Ship Ahoy just keeps getting better each summer with the fab DJ Metin spinning for 4 years in a row. I love his sets. He starts with sexy, soulful house music and then goes deeper and funkier interspersed with Latin house and Ibiza summer anthems. He also satisfies the audience with the hottest Turkish songs by Sezen Aksu, Kenan, Tarkan, etc. Ship Ahoy got some competition in the summer of 2005 from Cafein with DJ Huseyin (formerly of Reina). In 2006, Mavi was trying to get its fair share of summer clubbers on weekend evenings. For shopping, there are new boutiques that cater to higher tastes and budgets. Ipekce is still there with wonderful offerings (clothes, wraps, sarongs from Pakistan, India and Turkey) and tribal/ethnic jewelry. Super nice and friendly owner, Ipekce. To sum it up, Turkbuku is a beautiful bay that is also a chic and trendy place to see and be seen. Bring your high-spending limit credit cards if you plan to spend some time here.

What can I say, I'm still into Turkey ...this was taken at the Granga Beach Club in Turkbuku in 2003. In the summer of 2006, it became Suite. I was back there again this past summer of course. I love the house music the DJ spins there during the day. The ambiance is relaxed and the garden pavillions are so cool to hang out and have lunch or tea at. There is really no beach to speak of but rather, one dives off the jetty or pontoon which is sunbathing haven by day, and restaurant/lounge by night.

If you want more of a 'make your head spin' kind of an evening, head for the town of Bodrum or Gumbet. It is 25 minutes away by taxi or a minibus. One is likely to encounter many tour-group type people there from Western Europe. It is fun though and offers many choices: pubs or clubs & even a 1,000 capacity Bodrum Marina Club vessel that sails from midnight to 5 am - your very own floating club. It stays in the the waters between Turkey and Greece for several hours so patrons can dance the night away.

Antiphellos is its ancient name. Kas is very interesting with Lycian rock tombs dotted along the hillside. One of them has a second inscription in Latin. They gave an eerie glow at night since they are lit up. The so called Lion Tomb sits by itself on a square and is quite large and imposing. It is on the northeast corner of Cumhuriyet Meydani. There are carvings forming lions heads.