HJ ZULHEIMY - DOWN MEMORY LANE

Thursday, May 02, 2024

TURKIYE - BOLU - ISTANBUL

HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

1 MAY 2024

After breakfast the group continues the journey from Bolu to Istanbul, a distance of 292 km, which takes more than 4 hours.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Istanbul, previously known as Constantinople or Byzantium, is the largest city in Turkey. Istanbul spans both sides of the Bosphorus Strait, including the port of the Golden Horn.

Historically, Istanbul has been the capital of three different empires, namely:

1. Roman Empire (330–395)

2. Eastern Roman Empire (395–1453)

3. Ottoman Turkish Empire (1453–1923)

After the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turkish Army under Sultan Muhammad Al Fateh in 1453 AD, the city of Constantinople was renamed Islambol until Mustaffa Kamal Atartukr changed its name to Istanbul.

One part of Istanbul lies in Europe and the other part lies in Asia. Istanbul, the largest city in Turkiye and the 5th largest city in the world by population, is considered European, yet it occupies two different continents. One part of Istanbul lies in Europe and the other part lies in Asia.

BOSPHORUS STRAIT, TURKIYE

Bosphorus Strait is a natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in Istanbul, Turkiye. The Bosphorus connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and form one of the continental boundaries between Asia and Europe.

Rumeli Hisari also known as the Rumelian Castle, is a medieval fortress located on the European side of the the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul. It was built by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror (Fatih Sultan Mehmed) between 1451 and 1452 in preparation for the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

The Ortakoy Mosque (officially the Buyuk Mecidiyi Camii), it's famous for its picturesque location right next to the Bosphorus Bridge.

It was in the Bosphorus Strait when Sultan Muhammad Al Fateh conquered Constantinople (Now Istanbul), the Ottoman Turkish army made history by pulling 72 warships up the hill to pass the Iron Chain installed across the Golden Horn.

This is what was described by our lord Prophet Muhammad s.a.w 800 years before the conquest of Constantinople that Constantinople will be conquered by Islam where the King is as good as the King and the Army is as good as the army... he is Sultan Muhammad Al Fateh that he meant with the Ottoman Turkish Army that used to be very feared by the Crusaders.

Hagia Sophia

Located in Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey, it was originally built in 347 by Emperor Constantine. It was also originally a great church of the Byzantine Empire.

After Sultan Muhammad Al-Fateh (Conqueror of Constantinople) in 1453, he converted this church into a mosque. The building was not destroyed, but he covered all the paintings and statues with cement plaster.

After the fall of the Ottoman Turkish Empire in 1924, Mustapha Kemal Ataturk turned Turkey into a republic. The Hagia Sophia mosque has been closed and turned into a museum.

GRAND BAZAAR

The Grand Bazaar in Turkey is the largest and oldest shaded market in the world. Opened in 1461, famous for various items such as pottery, spices, carpets and so on.

HOTEL ACCOMODATION

Golden Way Hotel Giyimkent

Oruç Reis Mahallesi Vadi Caddesi Giyimkent Sitesi Katlı İş Merkezi No:274, Esenler İstanbul Türkiye, 34235, Turkey

Tel: +90 212 438 68 88

DOWN MEMORY LANE : 26 FEBRUARY 2018 > ISTANBUL, TURKIYE

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

2 May 2024 > 23 Syawal 1445H: 12.31 p.m

Wednesday, May 01, 2024

TURKIYE - CAPPADOCIA - ANKARA - BOLU

HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

1 MAY 2024

CAPPADOCIA, TURKIYE

Cappadocia, a mesmerizing region in central Turkiye, is known for its distinctive "fairy chimneys", tall, cone shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Goreme and elsewhere.

Goreme Kaya Hotel brings comfort to its guests with its natural rock, stone and arch rooms in its location in the heart of Cappadocia.

After breakfast, the group left for Ankara, which is the capital of Turkey. Ankara is the second largest city after Istanbul.

The journey from Cappadocia to Ankara takes 3 hours and 30 minutes, covering a travel distance of 309 km.

ANKARA, TURKEY

Ankara historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkiye. Located in the central part of Anatolia, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk moved the capital from Istanbul to Ankara in 1923.

ATATÜRK MAUSOLEUM

The group was then taken to visit Atatürk Mausoleum in Çankaya, Ankara. Here is the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and also the first President of Turkey after the fall of the Ottoman Turkish Caliphate.

Anitkabir is a complex located in Cankaya, Ankara which includes the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Design by Emin Onat and Orhan Arda, the construction of Anitkabir began in 1944 and was completed in 1953.

TUZ GOLU SALT LAKE, TURKIYE

Tuz Golu Salt Lake was the second largest lake in Turkiye with its 1,665 km surface area and one of the largest hypersaline lake in the world.

After the visit to Ankara, the group continued its journey to Bolu, a district located in the northwest of Turkey. The journey from Ankara to Bolu takes 2 hours and 53 minutes, covering a travel distance of 216 km.

BOLU, TURKIYE

Bolu was part of the Hittite Kingdom, which ruled around 2000 BC. Later, it became the main city of the Kingdom of Bithynia (279 BC - 79 BC). During the time of the Ancient Roman Empire, the city was known as Claudiopolis, named after Emperor Claudius.