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| This is a very basic guidebook. |
| The information in it was compiled from various reliable sources to serve as a quick reference for your journey. |
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| What's inside? |
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You would never see another place like Turkey. Where else can you find a land rich in Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman styles? The mosques and monuments are stately and stunning enough to awe you. Turkey would surely impress the cultured ones, and let us show you through the mystique, eats and heritage of this beautiful place called Turkey.
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| Don't Hunt the Black Francolins! |
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| Fund collecting in progress... |
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| Also known as the Black Partridge or the Indian Francolin, the Black Francolins are one of the few francolins found outside Africa. Feeding on plants and insects, this bird's most distinctive feature is the loud and grating kwee-kweeeee-kwee sound that the male bird makes as a territorial call.
The Black Francolins (Francolinus francolinus) have been declared an endangered species due to its small number. The birds, like many other species of endangered animals, are threatened by human activities. Its striking colours - red, brown and black with white spots- causes them to be a popularly hunted thus threatening their existence on earth. The use of pesticides has also harmed the population. |
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| What's an a4trip guidebook? |
| An a4trip guidebook is a travel guide that'll provide you with the information you'll need to plan your trip and to find your way around. Our guidebooks are downloadable in PDF format, and are designed to be so compact, you can take it with you everywhere you go. |
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| How can I pay for a guidebook? |
| We accept credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express (USA only) and Discover (USA only) via PayPal. Your transaction will appear as 'PAYPAL*A4TRIP' on your credit card statement. |
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| Help! Why can't I download the guidebook? |
| Don't worry, just get in touch with us and we'll deliver the guidebook right to your inbox. |
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| Just how often do you update your guidebooks? |
| We try to update our guidebooks at least once a month. |
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| Have more questions about a4trip? |
| Just Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you. |
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Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and its centre of financial and cultural centre. Formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, Istanbul is situated in the Golden Horn natural harbour and has been selected as the joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. many of its sites have been listed by UNESCO as heritage sites, denoting Istanbul's richness in history and culture.
The Ayasofya is Istanbul's top must see, due to its uniqueness in having been a place of worship for both Christians and Muslims. It was built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian and was used as a church for 916 years and subsequently as a mosque for 481 years before being declared as a museum in 1935 by Turkey's first president, Ataturk. The Ayasofya, also known as Hagia Sophia or St. Sophia, is truly magnificent and gold tiles adorn its ceiling.
You've also got to visit the Sultan Ahmed Camii which is the only mosque in the world with six minarets. It is dubbed the Blue Mosque because of its beautiful famed Iznik ceiling tiles. It is a working mosque, so avoid visitation at prayer times which are five times a day lasting for half an hour each session. Do take note that dressing has to be polite to as a sign of respect for the place of worship. Outside the mosque is the Hippodrome. It is not related to any animal of any sort but was the centre of Byzantine civic life. Only 3 of its monuments remain: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine.
Next on your list is the Topkapi Palace. Once the residence of the sultan, the palace now exhibits collections of crystal, silverware and Chinese porcelain from the royalty. Make sure that you do not miss the Harem, which was the secluded quarters of the wives and concubines of the sultan. Right outside the palace is the Ahmet III Fountain, a lovely fountain where visitors can take a refreshing sip of water.
The Istanbul city walls were once an impenetrable fort which has been declared as a heritage site by UNESCO. It stretches 7km from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn. Once you have seen the majestic walls, see Istanbul from a different perspective by taking a cruise along the Istanbul Straits. You will see Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman features while you take in the sweet cool breeze. Finally, what is a trip to anywhere without a shopping trip? Head to the Covered Bazaar and spend your time wandering and selecting all sorts of local goods from the 4000 over stalls.
The tasty kebabs that you have originate from Turkey. For the uninitiated, kebabs are meat grilled on skewers. They can be eaten on its own, with all sorts of bread or together with side dishes. More popular ones are the shish kebab, which consists of meat and vegetable cubes on a skewer, and the doner kebab. The doner kebab is lamb, chicken or beef sliced from a rotating spit. It is usually eaten with pita bread, in Turkish pizzas or with fries on the side. Other variants of kebab include kathi kebab, chelow kebab and kalmi kebab; all with its own delicious tastes.
There is also the gozleme which is sort of a Turkish crepe and also borek, a pastry filled with cheese and vegetables or meat. For the health-conscious, there is the ayran which is yogurt mixed with spring water. Fruits are plenty in Turkey, thus the abundance in choices for fresh fruit juices. For drinks, the Turkish tea is a great choice, followed by the Turkish coffee. For those who take alcohol, you might want to try the raki. It is a clear grape brandy that is flavoured with anise and slightly diluted with water.
Getting around is not a problem in Turkey. There are all sorts of ways of getting to your destinations either by land or sea. There are trains, busses, trams, catamarans, funiculars, taxis, cruises and ships and ferries to choose from. Touring on foot is also possible, in fact it might be faster given that traffic is heavy in Turkey and the streets are mostly one-way, so you'll probably get to your destination quicker and cheaper too.
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