Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

Pages:
About | Countries | Tours | Trips | Bucket List – Done | Bucket List – To Do | Airport Lounges | Flight History

Travel Categories:
Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27

  • World Trip 2023: Day 5 – Bergama to Selçuk, Türkiye

    Ephesus Ruins, Türkiye – The Library of Celsus

    Wednesday 03 May 2023.
    Highlights: Learning about Turkish Carpet making, exploring Izmir, exploring Ephesus ruins in depth, visiting the ancient Library of Celsus

    A very big day started with a visit to Carpet and Kilim Weavers Association based near Bergama. We got a detailed explanation of how Turkish carpets are made starting with the vegetables used to create the colouring, to how the silk is harvested, to how the double knot system works (on Turkish carpets use double knots) and watched some local woman creating new carpets.

    Bergama, Türkiye – explaining how carpets get their colours

    Some of the larger carpets take up to 18 months to create. I was amazed at the craftmanship on display. Several group members purchased some smaller carpets.

    Bergama, Türkiye – learning how carpets are made
    (more…)

  • World Trip 2023: Day 4 – Çanakkale to Ayvalık, Türkiye

    Troy, Türkiye – City theatre

    Tuesday 02 May 2023.
    Highlights: Exploring the ancient city of Troy, Exploring Ayvalık, Exploring by boat the archipelago of the Ayvalık Islands.

    Today we set out to explore the ancient city of Troy. Isik explained on the way to the site the history of Troy (as called Ilion). While most people know of Troy from the 2004 Troy movie which was based on The Iliad by Homer, Troy has a deep history before and after the story of The Iliad.

    (more…)

  • World Trip 2023: Day 3 – Istanbul to Çanakkale, Türkiye

    Gallipoli Peninsula, Türkiye – ANZAC Cove

    Monday 01 May 2023.
    Highlights:
    Gallipoli Peninsula – Gabatepe Beach, ANZAC Cove, Ari Burnu Cemetery, Lone Pine Cemetery and Memorial, 57 Piyade Alayi Sehitligi (Turkish 57 Regiment Memorial, Chunk Bair (site New Zealand Memorial)
    Çanakkale – Ferry crossing, exploring the waterfront city.

    Today was the first full day of the G Adventures tour and it saw the group visiting the emotional Gallipoli Peninsula area site of the Allies land invasion of the then Ottoman Empire that began on 25 April 1915 with the full withdrawal on 9 January 1916.

    It’s a site on probably the greatest defeat for Australian and New Zealand armies (ANZACs) but also the site where our countries spirit of sacrifice and mateship was sparked.

    (more…)

  • World Trip 2023: Day 2 – Singapore to Istanbul, Türkiye

    Istanbul, Türkiye

    Sunday 30 April 2023.
    Highlights: Business Class flight, getting lost in Istanbul, exploring the historic Istanbul (Fatih district), meeting my tour group.

    To effectively started at midnight while transiting in Singapore. I luckily got to use the Singapore Airlines SilverKris (Terminal 3) Lounge (review here) has it was so close to my departure gate. Nothing like a shower to rehydrate you.

    (more…)

  • Flight Review – SQ392 Singapore to Istanbul

    Singapore Airlines
    Date: Sunday 30 April 2023
    Gate: A1
    Seat: 14A (Business Class Seat | Window)
    Plane: A350-900
    Boarded: 01:50
    Pushback: 02:03 (Scheduled 02:05)
    Departed: 02:25
    Arrived: 07:45 (Scheduled 07:45)
    Scheduled Duration: 11 hour 0 minutes
    Distance: 8,680 kms

    This was the second leg of two flights on two different airplanes to get to my final destination in Istanbul, Türkiye. The first flight was Melbourne to Singapore on SQ208.

    This flight was from Changi (Singapore) Airport to Istanbul Airport (Türkiye).

    (more…)