We are at the last leg, back to Istanbul. From snowing in Bolu, we reached Istanbul for the Bosphorus Cruise. It was cold. I used my entire heat pack and I forgot to wear my longjohn. Too cold. It is however beautiful. We passed under a lot of bridges including the Bosphorus Bridge and we were told about how Muhammad Al-Fateh conquered Constantinopole on how he drag his ship from the hill.

Bosphorus river

I was freezing and I went inside to have coffee. We disembarked and had lunch at a local restaurant. We then went to Al Ansari Mosque. This mosque holds the final resting of Prophet Muhammad PBUH companion, Abu Ayyub Al Ansari. Near the mosque, there is graveyard which one of them belong to a Malaysian student named Ahmad Ammar.

There is a tradition for Turkish for young boys before they had their circumcision. The boys will be dressed in a warrior like costume with swords and the parents took them to Abu Ayyub's tomb as a blessing ritual. This is to give courage to the boy and with hopes that the boy will grow to be as pious and good as Abu Ayyub Al Ansari.

We also went to the Istanbul museum which holds various arftifacts dated back to the Paleolithic era. We then race to the Tulip Garden. As I had mentioned, tulips originated in Turki and with the month of April, Tulip Garden does not disappoint us at all.

Don't you just love this?

We walk thru the garden and then went to the Spice Bazaar. Okay, Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar lain ye. Spice bazaar offers wide range of spices such as saffron. Since we are not keen of cooking any Biryani rice soon, we just chilled out.

There is a mosque besides the bazaar. Since it is cold, I took refuge inside the mosque. Just like every other mosque in Turkey, this mosque was decorated with beautiful square tiles. Okay, I did not speak Turkish and therefore, I could not find the place for ablution dedicated for woman. Instead, I had to take my ablution outside in the mosque square with water that is so cold that it numbs my limbs.

Pelik jugaklah ambil wudhuk di kawasan terbuka. Bayangkan jelah betapa seksa nya nak cover aurat. Semua orang pandang pelik je tengok kami semua terkinja ambil wudhuk. Well...

We then rushed to the Grand Bazaar, since this place is almost near to its closing hours. I went in there alone since my mum is not feeling well. The tour guide numerously told us to be careful since it is easy to get lost in it. Every alley looks the same and it is important to know where you turns and the number of gate you entered.

Spice Bazaar

Grand Bazaar entrance

I browse quickly to buy some pashminas, many are just not my taste or the fabric is wrong or is just not what Im looking for. Then I encountered a shop being taken care of from a teenage boy named Yassin. We talk, get to know each other and I bought 3 pieces from him. The design in his store is just what I looked for. I can say the price for pashmina shawl ranges between 20-45 Lira a piece. By the time I went out, some shops have already close and there is a huge police forces came rushing through the gate. I ran to the gate so that I will not be locked in.

Our dinner in Istanbul

We then waited in the freezing weather before being shuffled to the hotel. We ate out at a nice place for dinner. We had mackerel fish with some rice. I was horrified to find how bony the fish is. I actually went to the Grand Bazaar the next morning, right before we checked out. Ibu wanted to buy some tshirts for my uncle.

We walked to the Grand Bazaar and bought the tshirt on the first store. We walked back to the hotel where suddenly, the rain pour very heavily. We were drenched despite wearing rain coats and reached the hotel in time to pack our luggage.

We then depart to the airport where we bid goodbye to Mr Ouz. Once again, I was held at the immigration counter. It still bothers me on why do I have to go through this even when I am in fact en route to my home country. The flight was pleasant except the part where I was served a less than pleasant looking Nasi Lemak for breakfast.

Overall, I think this tour group by Andalusia is by far the most economical and the best tour group. They catered everything. There is no need to worry about praying times, food and comfort. It is so worth it. With the experienced tour leader and tour guide, our trip could not have been so perfect.