26.09.2012

We had the most wonderful time in Turkey recently – Istanbul and Cappadoccia were just as beautiful as we’d imagined and more! Turkey was a delight indeed. Here we share with you our week-long adventure in pictures:

Cappadoccia

Every morning the sun rises along with around a hundred hot air balloons

The sunsets here are just as spectacular

Cave dwellings are scattered all over the Cappadoccian landscape among the unique natural rock formations. 

Some of these ancient cave houses continued to be occupied up till the 1950s

Don't let the pigeon-hole like exterior fool you, the interior of these caves can be so mindbogglingly amazing, like the hallway of this ancient cave church

   
Local vendors hawking spices, nuts and nectarines - love their choice of words to entice customers!

Istanbul

We can strike one more item off our bucket list 

now that we've visited the Aya Sophia

  No tour of Turkey is ever complete without going to the Blue Mosque either 

The interior of the Blue Mosque is awe inspiring, to say the least 

We haggled for spices, sweets and souvenirs and busted our budgets at the bustling Spice Bazaar

The Old City skyline from atop our Sultanahmet hotel terrace at sunset

Decorative boats selling yummy fish sandwiches (balik ekmek) at the Eminonu dock on the Golden Horn

Close-up of a fish sandwich boat - too nice not to post

The Bosphorus Bridge connects the European and Asian sides of Turkey

The Ortakoy waterfront which directly overlooks the Bosphorus was the perfect place to wind down as we concluded our activities-packed trip

This weekend, ChiChi and I will be off to Turkey for some holiday time with our spouses sans the kids. This 'minimoon' of sorts is something we've been wanting to do for many years but have not had a chance to until now. We are also particularly excited about this trip because this will be our first-ever visit there. We will be visiting Istanbul and Cappadoccia in the central Anatolia region and we are really looking forward to experiencing the spectacular sights, the famous Turkish hospitality, the glorious food and the shopping, of course!

                 

Given my tendency to overpack, I always give myself a few days to put together the ideal packing list for a versatile and appropriate holiday wardrobe (gotta look good for 'em precious Kodak moments now). For me at least, it takes time to whittle down selections and edit stuff out. The good news this time around is that it’s going to be easier to pack a little lighter since we won’t be travelling with the little ones and all the paraphernalia that come with them. The not-so-good news is that for packrats like me old habits die hard, but I'm confident that there's hope for me yet. Whatever the case, the following items will definitely be coming with me to Turkey:

Hermes Evelyne GM - this cross-body bag is a relatively recent purchase, or rather, investment, and it is just perfect for sight-seeing trips: keeps the hands free, weighs practically next-to-nothing yet can hold everything including the kitchen sink with room to spare. Ok, so I may be exaggerating on the kitchen sink bit but you get the picture. Major love!

Brooks Brothers cashmere wrap - I've had this seasonless light-as-a-tissue cashmere wrap forever and I hardly ever leave home for my travels without it.  It accesorises outfits, acts as a warm blanket on the plane, takes hardly any space in the handbag and doesn't wrinkle! It's also gonna be useful as a headscarf when visiting the numerous houses of worship in Istanbul.

Tom Ford aviators - for when it's bright outside, baby!

Timberland Earthkeepers Maeslin wedges - I imagine we'll be exploring on foot a lot so this  weatherproof walking attire with  its leather uppers and lightweight wedges (style and height? check.), treaded rubber soles and anti-fatigue technology (support and comfort? check.) seems like a sensible choice for a sightseeing shoe. These wedges have been a part of my warm weather travel arsenal eversince I bought them. ChiChi's got a pair too! Btw, Timberland's Earthkeepers collection, which only recently made it to our shores, is an eco-friendly line where products are made with natural and recycled materials. Totally worth checking out your nearby Timberland outlet for.

...and last but not least, the Ipad - primarily for precious Facetime sessions with the kids.

 

Reese Witherspoon's casual style is my go-to for inspiration as I continue to deliberate on wardrobe choices for this trip. Her classic, practical and emulate-able chioces have given me plenty of great ideas:

30.12.2011

2011 was an incredibly busy year for us - can't believe that we are already on the verge of a new year. So much has happened over the last 12 months - met some amazing people, worked towards meeting crazy deadlines, explored possible opportunities AND travelled to some wonderful places. The weight of everyday life simply melted like lemondrops everytime we get off the plane. The culture, the food, the scenery...mind-blowing, to say the least! It's also a blissful way to kick up our heels, unwind and enjoy the company of loved ones away from the realities of everyday life, albeit for a short while.

We've chronicled our favourite bits from our travels to share with you...oooh how they stir up warm feelings and getting us all excited for the things that are to come!

2010 for us has been filled with thrills, tribulations and...travels! This year alone, we've taken a bite of out of the Big Apple, experienced Shangri-la in Kota Kinabalu, awed in wonder of the hot air balloons in Putrajaya, marvelled at the skylines and vivacity of Hong Kong and falling in love all over again with London's charms (snow and all).

Travelling is about more than geography. It's about adventure and experiences that continually inspire. In the words of writer Lillian Smith (1897-1966) “I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.”

We have pleasure in sharing with you some of our favourite 2010 travel moments, taken from our personal photo archives which captured the nuances of the places and our experiences there:

imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">

“It may be that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away, so that when I’ve gone and come back, I’ll find it at home.” Rumi, Sufi poet and theologian (1207 – 1273)

xoxo