EGYPT

Egypt is the oldest tourist destination on earth. Ancient Greeks and Romans started the trend, coming to goggle at the cyclopean scale of the Pyramids and the Colossi of Thebes. During colonial times, Napoleon and the British looted Egypt’s treasures to fill their national museums, sparking off a trickle of Grand Tourists that eventually became a flood of travellers, taken on Nile cruises and Egyptological lectures by the enterprising Thomas Cook. Today, the most popular places to visit are not only the monuments of the Nile Valley and the souks, mosques and madrassas of Islamic Cairo, but also fantastic coral reefs and tropical fish, dunes, ancient fortresses, monasteries and prehistoric rock art.

1. Pyramid Necropolis                                                                                                                                               

The Pyramids of Giza, situated in the immediate vicinity of the southwestern suburbs of Cairo are the undisputable top attractions in Egypt. The pyramids at Giza were built over the span of three generations – by Khufu, his second reigning son Khafre, and Menkaure. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is an awe-inspiring 139 meters (455 feet) high making it the largest pyramid in Egypt, although nearby Khafre’s Pyramid appears to be larger as it is build at a higher elevation.

 2.Red Sea Reef                                                                                                        
The Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, is one of the most beautiful places in the world to go diving. The waters of the Red Sea are renowned for their spectacular visibility and features some of the most exotic seascapes. With its wide expanse of coral formation on the reefs, it is home to thousands of different sea creatures. Red Sea beach resorts are located on both sides of the sea, on the east side and part of the Sinai peninsula is the long established Sharm el Sheikh and its neo-hippy counterpart, Dahab. On the west coast of the Red Sea lies relatively old and touristy Hurghada and a cluster of new resort towns.

3.River Neil Cruise                                                                                                                              
Cruising the Nile is a popular way of visiting upper Egypt. The Nile River has been Egypt’s lifeline since ancient times and there is no better way to trace the passage of Egypt’s history than to follow the course of the Nile. Almost all Egyptian cruise ships travel the Luxor-Aswan route which is safe, scenic and terminates at two of Egypt’s most important towns. Taking a Felucca down the Nile is an adventurous option. Feluccas are sail boats that have been used on the Nile since antiquity. A Felucca is not quite as comfortable as a luxury cruise ship but nothing can beat sailing in a quiet rig that was designed thousands of years ago.

4.Mosque of Ibn Tulun
Built between 876 and 879 AD, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun is one of the oldest mosques in Cairo. It was commissioned by Ahmad ibn Ţūlūn, the Abbassid governor of Egypt. The mosque is constructed around a courtyard, with one covered hall on each of the four sides. The minaret, which features a helical outer staircase similar to that of the famous minaret in Samarra, was probably built several centuries later. Parts of the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me were filmed at the Mosque of Ibn Tulun.

5. Siwa Oasis
Located in the Libyan Desert, Siwa Oasis is one of Egypt’s isolated settlements, with 23,000 people, mostly ethnic Berbers. Located on an old date trade route, Siwa was an oasis vital to the trade route, as the natural springs and shade giving palm trees gave travelers respite from the desert. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, Siwa began its decline. In recent decades tourism has become a vital source of income. Much attention has been given to creating hotels that use local materials and play on local styles.

CROATIA

plitvice lake

                                     

Despite being one of Europe’s most fashionable places to visit, Croatia doesn’t feel like a place that has been thoroughly worked over by the tourist industry. Though development continues apace along the more commercialized stretches of the coast, Croatian tourism has spun off in a number of positive directions. Whether backpackers or touring families, long-distance cyclists, yachters or spa-hotel surfers, all travellers have seen a big leap forward in the range and quality of what the country has to offer.

A renewed respect for natural ingredients has become the watchword of Croatian cuisine, with locally sourced foodstuffs, wines and olive oils standing up increasingly well to globalization. Croatia has a growing reputation for niche festivals – not just in the party-the-weekend-away music events held on beaches and in abandoned factories and ancient sea-forts up and down the coast, but also in the mushrooming number of arts festivals and small-town cultural shindigs. And in Zagreb and elsewhere, a raft of new galleries and art attractions has given the country a cool and contemporary sheen.

Croatia is blessed with a wealth of natural riches, boasting almost 2000km of rocky, indented shore and more than a thousand islands, many blanketed in luxuriant vegetation. Even during the heavily visited months of July and August there are still enough off-the-beaten-track islands, quiet coves and stone-built fishing villages to make you feel as if you’re visiting Europe at its most unspoiled. There’s plenty in the way of urbane glamour too, if that’s what you’re after, with swanky hotels, yacht-filled harbours and cocktail bars aplenty – especially in à-la-mode destinations such as Dubrovnik and Hvar. Wherever you go though you’ll find that Croatia retains an appeal for independent travellers that’s in short supply at more package-oriented destinations elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Most budget and mid-range accommodation is still in the form of private rooms and apartments, and there has been an explosion in the number of backpacker-friendly hostel-type establishments in the major cities.

Dubrovnik harbor

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is a small country – its total area is 19,730 sq mi (51,100 sq km), a size that’s slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia. Still, its variety of destinations is impressive. There are white sand beaches, misty mountain towns, and culturally cool cities to explore. Indeed, for first time visitors the choices can be overwhelming.

1. Malpais - Santa Teresa

    The quiet surf village of Malpais provides a great opportunity for visitors to escape the hustle and bustle of more crowded destinations. It is an excellent place to enjoy the incredible natural surroundings in relative peace. Reflecting this relaxed attitude, the village of Malpais offers relatively few services with regard to tours. However, Canopy Tours are available, and one can also take Horseback rides along the beach.The beach at Malpais alternates between long stretches of sand and large patches of rock. A green jungle with its mischievous monkeys lines the shore. For the most part, beaches in Malpais have been sparred of development. Development has largely taken place in areas to the north, around the Beaches of Santa Teresa.The nearby Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve can make an excellent day trip from Malpais.                                                                                             Check with locals before heading to the Reserve. Usually a visit requires entering the town of Montezuma. There is a road closer to Malpais, but unfortunately, it is often in disrepair.The hamlet of Malpais is accessible by road via Highway 160, or you can take the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera or Naranjo Beach, and ride a bus or drive the rest of the way. Flights to the nearby town of Tambor are also available via San Jose and Liberia.

   

                                                                                           

2. Playa Grande

    Female leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs from October to May—an incredible spectacle to behold if you are one of those lucky enough to see it.  Guides are available for hire for those interested in this rare, but unforgettable opportunity.
   
   Surfing along Grande Beach is incredible and has attracted surfers from all around the globe.  Although many skilled surfers have descended upon Playa Grande it is also a considered one of the better places to learn to surf or improve your surfing skills.  Breaks are moderate and constant, earning Grande Beach a reputation of one of Costa Rica’s premier surf destinations. In fact, nearby Tamarindo hosts several international surf competitions, a testament to the quality of surf available at Grande Beach.                                                                                                                                           

3. Tenorio Volcano and Rio Celeste

     The scenic Tenorio Volcano, which stands 6,287 feet tall, is considered dormant. Yet the surrounding terrain is dotted with geothermal activity in the form of thermal hot springs and geysers. The area is perhaps best known for the mystical Rio Celeste, a fascinating river with a unique and strange blue hue, generated from a chemistry of sulfur and calcium carbonates.
   
   Tenorio National Park is part of the Tenorio Volcano and Miravalles Protected Zone, which includes a second dormant peak, Miravalles, to the west. The protected land sits to the northwest of the Arenal Tilaran Conservation Area. At 6,653 feet, Miravalles is the tallest peak in the Guanacaste Mountain Range, and between the two volcanoes sits the rural town of Bijagua.                                                                                                                                                           

JEJU ISLAND

Jeju Island, also known as the "Island of the Gods," is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and foreigners. It remains the top honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds, and is also regarded as one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world. Despite attempts to market the island as "the Hawaii of Korea," climatologically and geographically it bears little in similarity to the Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. The island offers visitors a wide range of activities: hiking on Halla-san (South Korea's highest peak) or Olle-gil(routes), catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, riding horses, touring all the locales from a favorite television K-drama, or just lying around on the sandy beaches.

Hyeopjae-Beach

Although tourism is one of the main industries on the island, many of the hotels and other tourist areas are run by mainland companies, so much of the income never gets put back into the local economy. Also, since the attractions are geared towards tourists, many of the entrance fees can be hefty (although the locally owned and operated ones tend to be cheaper). Similar to Gyeongju and some other areas, local residents can enter most places for free or for a steeply discounted price.

Jeju is Korea's capital for unusual themeparks and niche commercial attractions. Oddly somewhat of a duopoly has developed on the island with typically two competing variants on the one theme in Jeju-si and Seogwipo-si, respectively. This trend extends even to the most bizarre ideas with pairs of sex, glass, and teddy bear museums all in existence.

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall

The local traditional culture stands in stark contrast to the mainland (and much of Asia) as being matriarchal. Stemming from this basis, and some odd tax reasons, the role of seafood gathering on the island has been dominated by women. As such, a common sight around Jeju's coastline is that of the "haenyo" or "woman diver", a figure that has become somewhat iconic of the island. Perhaps even more iconic are the "dol hareubang" or "grandfather statues", giant basalt statues. You will often see them outside restaurants, plus a few are thrown into any tourism site for good measure.
Jeju has its own English language magazine created by foreign residents on the island 

Sanbang Mountain

PERTH AUSTRALIA

Australia’s sunniest capital city, Perth embraces a relaxed outdoor lifestyle. Explore the 400 hectares of Kings Park in the city or the inviting clear waters and spectacular sunsets at Cottesloe Beach.

Head south to the port city of Fremantle where the fascinating maritime history blends with an open, multicultural energy. Take a short ferry ride to Rottnest Island, a city escape for swimming, snorkeling, fishing and relaxing.

Further down the coast, you’ll find Rockingham, home to an abundant array of marine life including pods of wild dolphins that regularly visit. Or explore the north coast and experience the thrill of sandboarding on the endless snow-white sand dunes in Lancelin.

Venture inland to the Swan Valley, Western Australia’s oldest wine growing region. Scenic vineyards, produce farms, and art galleries speckle the valley, creating a feast for the senses.

Continue east to the country town of York, centred on the rolling vistas of the Avon Valley. Wander through living history and discover the town’s beautifully preserved streets and buildings.Kings Park is magnificent; there are so many areas to explore with picnic and barbecue facilities and their own different scenery and moods. You can walk around these areas or drive a car around the 400ha of virgin bush land, manicured gardens and brilliant displays of wildflowers during spring.

The foreshore areas come alive on a sunny day; extensive grassed areas and walkways with barbecue and picnic facilities attract sun-lovers of all ages. Whether you grab a quiet spot for yourself, throw a prawn on the barbie or kick a football around with a few friends, the atmosphere is excellent. Australia Day January 26th celebrations are huge on the foreshore with thousands congregating for daylong displays and fun in the sun, culminating in a massive fireworks display that coincides with local radio. Its a great time to visit and is the epitome of what Australian leisure time is all about. 
 

10 Top Tourist Attractions in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is a densely populated country in part reclaimed from the sea with about half of its land lying below sea level. Many tourist only come to the Netherlands to visit Amsterdam. But Holland has plenty to offer outside its capital. Crisscrossed with canals, the flat landscape is perfect for cycling with historic town centers, classic windmills and other tourist spots sprinkled across the country. In the west and north the long coastline is marked by mile upon mile of protective dunes and sandy beaches. During springtime the flower gardens become great tourist attractions in the Netherlands providing a bold spectacle of vivid colors.
                                                                                

1.  The Vrijthof is the best-known city square in Maastricht, a city in the southern most part of the Netherlands. It features the massive Saint Servatius Church and Saint Jan’s Cathedral. The Vrijthof regularly hosts large festivals at various times throughout the year, including autumn and winter festivals.                                        
2. Keukenhof Gardens is the world’s largest flower garden, and actually a promotion for the Dutch flower industry. Approximately seven million flower bulbs are planted annually in the park with not only tulips, but also hyacinths, daffodils and other spring flowers on display. The gardens are open from the last week in March to mid-May. Keukenhof is one of the most visit tourist attractions in the Netherlands.                                                                                                                            
3.  The Delta Project or Delta Works are a series of constructions built between 1950 and 1997 in the provinces of Zeeland and South Holland to protect large areas of land from the sea. The works consist of dams, sluices, locks, dikes, and storm surge barriers. They have been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.                                                                                        
4. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is the largest and most prestigious museum for art and history in the Netherlands. It has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age including works by Vermeer and Rembrandt. Until 2013, the museum is being completely renovated, but the major masterpieces are still on show. 
5. More than 1.000 old windmills still exist in the Netherlands. The largest concentration of Dutch windmills can be found near the village of Kinderdijk (“Children’s dike”). To drain the excess water from the polders, which are situated below sea-levels, 19 windmills were built around 1740. They have been well preserved to the present day and are now popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands.
6.  The Hoge Veluwe National Park is one of the largest continuous nature reserves in the Netherlands, consisting of heathlands, sand dunes, and woodlands. The Kröller-Müller Museum with it large collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh is located within the park. Bicycles are available for free to visitors of the Hoge Veluwe, with much of the area being inaccessible by car.
7. The City Hall in Delft is a Renaissance style building on the Markt square across from the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). Originally designed by the Dutch architect Hendrick de Keyser, it was heavily changed over the centuries and was restored in the 20th century to its Renaissance appearance.
8. The West Frisian Islands or Waddeneilanden in Dutch are a chain of islands in the North Sea off the Dutch coast. They continue further east as the German East Frisian Islands. The islands separate the North Sea from the shallow Wadden Sea, with tidal mud flats. Under the supervision of licensed guides several islands can be reached by walking on the mudflats during low tides. On the islands cycling is the most favorable means of transport.
9. Leiden is known for the oldest university in the Netherlands, the birthplace of Rembrandt and its beautiful canals. The two branches of the Old Rhine enter Leiden on the east and unite in the city center which also contains several smaller canals. The old center of Leiden is one of the largest 17th century town centers in the Netherlands, second only to Amsterdam.   
10. Amsterdam began building its famous canals in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht form concentric belts around the city, known as the grachtengordel. Today there are over 100 km (60 miles) of canals and 1,500 bridges. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings
    

BALI

Bali is an island and a province of Indonesia, the nation's smallest province. The province covers a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, as well as the island of Bali itself. It is located at the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. One of the country's 34 provinces, Bali has its capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island. This is 5 Wonderful Tourist Attractions in Bali island 

1. Ground Zero


Ground Zero Monument is located on Legian street, was established and inaugurated on October 12, 2004 exactly two years memorial to commemorate the victims of Bali bomb tragedy first happened October 12, 2002. The explosion occurred at two sites, the Sari Club and Paddy's Cafe itself is estimated to cost the lives of 202 people.

It is easy to reach Ground Zero memorial, because the monument is located on Legian street to the beach of Kuta . In terms of its architecture, monuments Ground Zero has a unique form of Balinese carvings or the so-called "Kayonan", shaped like a large white-painted leaves which symbolizes the universe and below we can see a list of names of victims from different countries, including the victims came from their own country, Indonesia.

2. Kuta Beach

Kuta Beach is the most famous beach in Bali and the first seen by most people. Kuta beach is one of the first favorite beaches sought by the tourists. Palm trees will be seen along the sand beach as far as the eye can see to the north which was stopped by the Ngurah Rai airport runway in the far west. In addition sunset Kuta became the number one place in Bali, with a spectacular view of the sun setting every day.

Kuta is the most popular beach in Bali and the island with the number one party place. The beach stretches to the north as far as the eye could see. A short walk to the north, waves will invite to surfing. Rapid development and the many visitors., and still remains one of Bali's best beaches for surfing, as well as a great place to enjoy the beach lifestyle.

While the surfers are still in Kuta is the main sights, shopping, nightlife, and the party also attracts thousands of visitors. There are many accommodation options, restaurants, and entertainment. Accommodation in Kuta ranging from as simple as staying home with the rate of hundreds of thousands a night up to a five star international hotels costing several million to tens of millions overnight.

3.Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK)

GWK - stands of Garuda Wisnu Kencana, symbolized by a statue of the god Vishnu, who stands erect on the hill Unggasan. Statue of the god Vishnu has a height of 20 meters. In this GWK tourist attractions, visitors can enjoy the view of sunrise and sunset.

Statue of the god Vishnu, was built and carved by renowned sculptor named Nyoman Nuarta. Not only the beautiful scenery that you can see it in the GWK tourist area, this resort also offers a wide range of  traditional entertainment such as  Kecak Dance and Barong Dance from morning until night.

4. Tanah Lot


Tanah Lot Temple is located in coastal side of Beraban countryside, Kediri sub district and Tabanan Regency. It is situated in 30 Km in west side of Denpasar town and about 11 Km in south side of Tabanan town. The temple is built on the rock with 3 acre size and reachable in a few minute by walk, because it is just 20 meters from the coastal lip. This temple is very famous among tourist destinations in Bali with spectacular view of sunset. At some nooks of coral reef around Tanah Lot Temple there are holy tame snake in black and white color where according to the local society believe that it as a deity property and as the guard of the temple from the bad influence.

As a favorite tourist attractions in Bali, Tanah Lot owns a magnificent view in particular at the sunset time where the sun slows down to the earth stomach. Every visitor who is paying a visit to this place will be marveled to see the beauty panorama of Tanah Lot. Beside of this temple, there are other temples which can be seen on your visit to Tanah Lot like Batu Bolong Temple, Batumejan Temple and Enjung Galuh Temple.


5. Nusa Dua Bali

Nusa Dua is an elite resort area with international five star hotels and resorts existing on the costal side in south part of Bali. It is located in Badung Regency and about 25 minutes drive from Bali's International airport. Nusa Dua with 350 ha size is the sample luxury resort area and one of best tourist attractions in the world. In fact, the name of Nusa Dua is coming from two small islands located in the south part of Bali Island (Nusa mean the island and Dua mean two) that is dissociated with the white sand.

This area has the most complete tourism facilities in Bali and Indonesia like five star hotels, luxury accommodations, villas, convention hall, shopping center and beautiful beaches. The five star hotels exist in this area are Club Med, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, The Westin Resort, The Laguna Resort, Melia Bali Villas and Spa, Inna Putri Bali Hotel, The Ayodya Resort, Kayu Manis Villa, Nikko Bali Resort and Spa, The Bale Villas and Novotel Nusa Dua. There are also the sports activities are available in this are like tennis court, squash and golf course. Each hotel is completed by five star restaurant facilities, bar, pub and beach activities. Nusa Dua is an ideal place for holiday in Bali.

MOUNT OF TANGKUBAN PERAHU

Tangkuban perahu is a volcano, 25 kilometers north of Bandung direction of Lembang. Its location is in between Sagalaherang village, Sagalaherang district, Subang regency and Cikole village, Lembang district, Bandung regency. This is Bandung's most famous tourist volcano just 28 km north of the city. This volcano offers many places to see and explore. Whether we look into the huge crater or hike down into it, stroll through the forest on its slopes, or simply enjoy the splendid panoramic scenery. Mt. Tangkuban Perahu is an interesting destination that everyone in the Bandung area is fond of visiting. When seen from Bandung, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu has a distinctive shape, like an upside down boat. Tangkuban Perahu means, in fact, "up-turned boat" This peculiar shape has stimulated the fantasy of the Sundanese people from early times as expressed in the Legend of Sangkuriang. Geologically, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu has played a significant role in the development of Parahyangan highlands. Eruptions have contributed immensely to the hills north of Bandung through lava flowing into the valleys and hardening into rock, thus forming big cliffs over which waterfalls leap. Likewise, mud flows have formed a semi-circular cone of gentle gradient (what geologists call "a fan"), which is now a mass that blocked the valley of the ancient Citarum River near present day in Padalarang (some 18 km west of Bandung), this caused a lake to form covering the whole Bandung plain.

Tangkuban Perahu is a volcano with three craters into which areas tourists can walk through. These three craters are: Kawah Ratu ("Queen Crater"), Kawah Domas ("Domas Crater"), and Kawah Upas ("Upas Crater"). Tourists can go down into the Domas Crater where exist many hot geysers in which they can boil eggs.

mount of tangkuban perahu also have musolla for muslim. this facility make a muslim tourist easy to perform a prayer at the mount. this musolla are unique with their own pattern. tangkuban perahu also have a souvenirs shop to tourist buy for remembrance.

souvenirs in tangkuban perahu

souvenir by wood

souvenier shop

souvenier shop from top

I was here in july 2012

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in , built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China , were built since the 5th century BC. The most famous is the wall built between 220 BC and 200 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang; little of it remains; it was much farther north than the current wall, which was built during the Ming Dynasty.

The Great Wall is the world's longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia, but stretches to over 6,700 km (4,160 miles) in total. It is also the largest human-made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass. At its peak the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men. It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall.

The first major wall was built during the reign of the First Emperor, the main emperor of the short-lived Qin dynasty. This wall was not constructed as a single endeavor, but rather was created by the joining of several regional walls built by the Warring States. It was located much further north than the current Great Wall, and very little remains of it. A defensive wall on the northern border was built and maintained by several dynasties at different times in Chinese history. The Great Wall that can still be seen today was built during the Ming Dynasty, on a much larger scale and with longer lasting materials (solid stone used for the sides and the top of the Wall) than any wall that had been built before. The primary purpose of the wall was not to keep out people, who could scale the wall, but to insure that semi-nomadic people on the outside of the wall could not cross with their horses or return easily with stolen property.

There have been four major walls:

208 BC (the Qin Dynasty)

1st century BC (the Han Dynasty)

1138 - 1198 (the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period)

1368-1620 (from Hongwu Emperor until Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty)

The Chinese were already familiar with the techniques of wall-building by the time of the Spring and Autumn Period, which began around the 7th century BC. During the Warring States Period from the 5th century BC to 221 BC, the states of Qi, Yan and Zhao all constructed extensive fortifications to defend their own borders. Built to withstand the attack of small arms such as swords and spears, these walls were made mostly by stamping earth and gravel between board frames.

Qin Shi Huang conquered all opposing states and unified in 221 BC, establishing the Qin Dynasty. Intending to impose centralized rule and prevent the resurgence of feudal lords, he ordered the destruction of the wall sections that divided his empire along the former state borders. To protect the empire against intrusions by the Xiongnu people from the north, he ordered the building of a new wall to connect the remaining fortifications along the empire's new northern frontier.

                                            

ISTANBUL,SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE WORLD

Istanbul  is the largest city in Turkey . With a population of 13.9 million, the city forms one of the largest urban agglomeration in Europe and is the second largest city in the world by population within city limits. Istanbul is a transcontinental city straddling the Bhosphorus. Its commercial and historical center lies in Europe, while a third of its population lives in Asia.


The Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul’s most prominent symbols, immediately astounds every visitor to the city.  It is located directly opposite the Hagia Sophia Museum. The mosque takes its name from Sultanahmet Square, and is the most important of the mosques to be built as an endowment to the city during the Ottoman Empire.
Sultanahmet mosque was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet the First, and built between 1609 and 1616. Its English name, the “Blue Mosque”, stems from the more than twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles which decorate the interior of the structure.

blue mosque

The Blue Mosque is the most typical example of Classic Turkish-Ottoman architecture, and was the first mosque that includes six minarets in its original design. Although the Blue Mosque was not designed by the legendary Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, whose unparalleled works are seen throughout other parts of Istanbul, it bears the stamp of his influence.

According to a rumor, the mosque’s architect, Mimar Sedefkâr Mehmet Aga—himself one of Mimar Sinan’s students—expanded on a plan that had earlier been expounded by his master in order to build the mosque.


A majestic dome
The entrance to the mosque is on the hippodrome, which dates back to the Roman Period.  The mosque itself and its inner courtyard rest upon a raised podium, which is surrounded by the outer courtyard. Through the entrance to the inner courtyard, one can see a fountain and a series of conforming domes, each higher than the previous.

Anyone who enters the three inner doors of the mosque itself immediately encounters the paint, tiles, and stained-glassed decorations which complete the structure’s glorious outside appearance.
The interior of the mosque is surrounded on three sides by balconies, while the floor, like that of all mosques, is covered by carpets. Even on the most crowded days, one can see men praying directly across from the main entrance of the mosque.

Near them, one sees the mihrap (a prayer niche pointing in the direction of Mecca) and, next to it, a marble bench, which is one of the finest examples of Ottoman stone carving. The spiral staircases in the mosque make it quite easy to reach the minaret balconies.
Although the dome is a crucial element of all Ottoman mosques, that of the Blue Mosque exceeds most in splendor.  Like many other mosques, the Blue Mosque also includes a complex which houses a variety of social and cultural institutions. Among other things, this complex is home to a covered market, a Turkish bathhouse, a soup kitchen, a hospital, several schools, a caravansary, and the tomb of Sultan Ahmed.  

The Spice Bazaar dates back to the Seventeenth Century. It is one of Istanbul’s oldest covered markets, where the exotic, Oriental aspect of the city still survives.

At the time of its establishment, thousands of spices from nations in the Far East, such as India and Arabia, was well as curative herbs and remedies for every imaginable ailment, were sold at the Spice Bazaar. Because the majority of the products for sale in the market were imported from Egypt, it came to be known as the “Egyptian Bazaar”.
The Spice Bazaar is located in Eminönü, right next to the New Mosque and the Flower Bazaar. It is the best place in the city to find spices, herbal teas, and traditional Turkish foods such as Turkish Delight (lokum).
Construction of the bazaar was commissioned in the year 1660 by Hatice Turhan Sultan, the mother of Sultan Mehmed the Fourth.  It was built by the architect Kâzım Aga, and restored once later in its existence. There are a total of eighty-six shops in the bazaar, which can be accessed by way of six different entrances.

egyptian bazar sale spices

'A natural pharmacy'
Formerly, the Spice Bazaar functioned as a ‘natural pharmacy’. Recipes for medicines made from mixtures of various herbs were often hung outside of shops, so that customers could request these herbs if they so desired. This tradition still continues today. Many of the shops in the bazaar sell a large number of different spices and herbs that are known to be effective against many different ailments.
Although there are an endless number of shopping centres and supermarkets in Istanbul, shopping at the Spice Bazaar remains a popular, pleasant tradition for the city’s residents.  After making a number of purchases in the bazaar itself, one can leave through the Tahtakale exit and complete one’s shopping at the shops in the adjacent open-air market.
Also, if you do go to the Spice Market, don’t forget to buy Turkish coffee from Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi (Mehmet Efendi Coffee Roasters), who produce the traditional Turkish brand of coffee. They are located just outside of the bazaar’s Tahtakale exit.