When visited: 07 June 2023 Time of day: Lunch time
Rating: 4 / 5
SUMMARY
A modern and large Business Class Lounge that allows views of the concourse and the tarmac. Multiple food stations and onsite chefs cooking Turkish and other foods.
Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge – Grand Piano(more…)
Tuesday 06 June 2023 Highlights: Exploring the Hagia Sophia, The Grand Bazaar
My last full day visiting tourist locations before the long journey home had me keen to make the most of today even if my body and mind was drifting back to Melbourne. So after another nice and filling buffet breakfast I set off to explore.
Monday 05 June 2023 Highlights: Roaming around Istanbul, Climbing Galata Tower, Spice Market
Another an excellent breakfast at the hotel I was ready to see more of Istanbul. I had decided to walk to Galata Tower, both for its history but also to visit the European side of Istanbul with the added bonus of just roaming around and taking in the city.
Sunday 04 June 2023 Highlights: Listening to Türkiye and Syria Earthquake fundraising concert, Exploring Topkapi Palace, recovering (slowly)
After a good nights sleep I was finally feeling a lot better and I had the confidence to enjoy the buffet breakfast that I paid for with this booking. My system hasn’t fully stablished but it is getting there.
During the morning I caught up on some much needed sleep and then listened and watched a Türkiye and Syria Earthquake fundraising concert back in Melbourne organised by a good friend and talented musican in Arzu. It was a bit surreal being in Türkiye listening to a fundraising concert in Melbourne for this very country.
Istanbul, Türkiye – Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)
Saturday 03 June 2023 Highlights: Surviving overnight flight, early check in, exploring the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)
With some trepidation and still feeling unwell I joined our group at 00:30 for the transfer to the airport for my international flight to Istanbul. It was a real struggle to get to the airport and not to throw up until after I was checked in and past security.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan- International Airport Terminal in the form of an eagle(more…)
Friday 02 June 2023 Highlights: Monument of Neutrality, Indoor Ferris wheel, Old Nisa, Gurbansoltan Eje Memorial and Turkmenbashi Mosque, Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, National Museum of Turkmenistan, Independence Monument, Food poisoning
The last full day of the Five Stans tour before my flight back to Türkiye at 3.30 am tomorrow. Today we our small group would explore the marble city of Ashgabat in more detail building on last night’s exploration.
This flight was from Ashgabat International Airport to Istanbul International Airport.
Note: I was very unwell before this flight, vomiting from food poisoning but was better by the time of the flight. As a result I did observe as much as I would normally do.
Darvaza, Turkmenistan- The gang at the Gas Crater aka Gates of Hell at dusk
Wednesday 31 May 2023 Highlights: Exploring Kunya-Urgench, the amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell)
After a surprise hotel accidental wake call for everyone via an intercom announcement and an underwhelming breakfast, we were off on a 2 hour drive to UNCESO protected ancient abandoned city of Kunya-Urgench. This was the first chance to really see this country and some of it’s people.
Nathan's Insights 