THE BEST GERMAN FOOD SPOTS IN ISTANBUL!! ?
Today we want to feel a little bit this sweet special “Germany-feeling”. So here I am with my German friend @Julia Graner in Istanbul. But this is not enough. We are hungry! Our favorite thing in the world is food! Believe it or not – there are several German cafes and restaurants in Istanbul. We are going there and we will try their food. Is it really like in Germany? Is it authentic? Is it tasty? We won’t be sweet today, but we’ll be brutally honest! Let’s go.
Turkish German Bookstore, Beyoglu
Turk Alman Kitabevi is one of my favorite places in Istanbul. I used to come here every day when I lived in Tarlabaşı. Because we didn’t have wifi in our house. However, I haven’t been here for a long time.
Most of the books here are in German. It’s also a great place to learn German or meet other Germans in Istanbul. The atmosphere is great. I love the wooden architecture of this place.
In winter they have real Glühwein and the coffee here is really good. They have German bread and also German cake! Something super German: Bienenstich.
Bienenstich is very German. I ate a lot as a kid. So it reminds me of my childhood.
Landmann Schnitzel, Kadikoy
Landmann Schnitzel already has a very German name. I feel at home when I read this. Schnitzel. It was my favorite meal in Germany. There are also many different Schnitzels on the menu. Cordon Bleu is also very popular in Germany. Schnitzel stuffed with Turkey Ham and Cheese.
Almis Currywurst, Kadikoy
Our next stop is Almys Currywurst! It comes from Berlin and is actually more like street food. I’m not a big Bratwurst fan but it is a good meal at Christmas markets or festivals.
Wow I didn’t expect that but they serve pork. There is also Sauerkraut. It can’t get any more German than Sauerkraut.
In fact, Sauerkraut is not a dish that cheers most of us, it’s just part of our delicious food culture. It was invented a long time ago and is a great food source for little money. It is sour cabbage and is delicious with Bratwurst.
Gurmania Moda, Kadikoy
In Germany, people fight over the name of this dessert. In Berlin we call it “Pfannkuchen”, in Bavaria they call it Krapfen, and in West Germany they call it “Berliner”. Whatever you call it, it’s like a donut without holes. But don’t you dare call it a donut in front of Germans!
It is usually filled with marmalade or jam filling and powdered sugar. “Berliner” is a traditional pastry for New Year’s Eve and Carnival.
It was a joke then, for example, to fill some of them with mustard or onions without being seen from the outside. I think I’m still traumatized by my past.
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?? Bugün biraz da bu tatlı özel “Almanya duygusunu” hissetmek istiyoruz. İşte burada Alman arkadaşım @Julia Graner ile İstanbul’dayım. Ama bu yeterli değil. Açız! Dünyada en sevdiğimiz şey yemek! İster inanın ister inanmayın – İstanbul’da birkaç Alman kafe ve restoranı var. Oraya gidiyoruz ve yemeklerini deneyeceğiz. Gerçekten Almanya’daki gibi mi? Otantik mi? Lezzetli mi? Bugün tatlı olmayacağız ama acımasızca dürüst olacağız! Hadi gidelim.
Türk Alman Kitabevi, Beyoğlu
Türk Alman Kitabevi, İstanbul’daki en sevdiğim yerlerden biri. Tarlabaşı’nda yaşarken her gün buraya gelirdim. Çünkü evimizde wifi yoktu. Ancak, uzun zamandır burada değildim.
Buradaki kitapların çoğu Almanca. Aynı zamanda Almanca öğrenmek veya İstanbul’daki diğer Almanlarla tanışmak için harika bir yer. Atmosfer harika. Bu yerin ahşap mimarisini seviyorum.
Kışın gerçek Glühwein’leri var ve burada kahve gerçekten çok iyi. Alman ekmeği ve ayrıca Alman pastası var! Süper Almanca bir şey: Bienenstich.
Bienenstich çok Alman. Çocukken çok yedim. Bu yüzden bana çocukluğumu hatırlatıyor.
Landmann Schnitzel, Kadıköy
Landmann Schnitzel zaten çok Almanca bir isme sahip. Bunu okuduğumda kendimi evimde gibi hissediyorum. Şnitzel. Almanya’da en sevdiğim yemekti. Menüde ayrıca birçok farklı Schnitzel var. Cordon Bleu Almanya’da da çok popüler. Hindi jambon ve peynir ile doldurulmuş şnitzel.
Almis Currywurst, Kadıköy
Bir sonraki durağımız Almys Currywurst! Berlin’den geliyor ve aslında daha çok sokak yemeği gibi. Ben büyük bir Bratwurst hayranı değilim ama Noel pazarlarında veya festivallerde iyi bir yemek.
Vay canına bunu beklemiyordum ama domuz eti servis ediyorlar. Ayrıca lahana turşusu var. Lahana turşusu kadar Almanca olamaz.
Aslında lahana turşusu çoğumuzun neşelendirdiği bir yemek değil, sadece lezzetli yemek kültürümüzün bir parçası. Uzun zaman önce icat edildi ve az para için harika bir besin kaynağı. Ekşi lahanadır ve Bratwurst ile lezzetlidir.
Gurmania Moda, Kadıköy
Almanya’da insanlar bu tatlının adı için kavga ediyor. Berlin’de biz ona “Pfannkuchen” diyoruz, Bavyera’da Krapfen diyorlar ve Batı Almanya’da ona “Berliner” diyorlar. Adına ne dersen de, deliksiz bir çörek gibidir. Ama Almanların önünde ona çörek demeye cüret etme!
Genellikle marmelat veya reçel dolgusu ve pudra şekeri ile doldurulur. “Berliner”, Yılbaşı ve Karnaval için geleneksel bir hamur işidir.
O zamanlar örneğin bazılarını dışarıdan görünmeden hardal veya soğanla doldurmak bir şakaydı. Sanırım hala geçmişimin travmasını yaşıyorum.
The Story of ERTUGRUL GAZI in Sögüt Bilecik ?? 10/81
?? There are 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey and number 11 is Bilecik!
Bilecik is a place that is made fun of because “it doesn’t exist”, but actually, we just need to open our history books to understand that Bilecik was very important for the existence of the ottoman empire and I believe that even today, 800 years later, Bilecik is much more than just a place that doesn’t exist.
Osman I. started building the beginning of the Ottoman Empire around Sögüt in Bilecik, which was a very important location from a military point of view as well because it was at the main road between Constantinople and Konya.
When in Bilecik you will come across many kayi tribe flags, as Osman I. was also the leader of the Kayi tribe which was basically the foundation for the Ottoman Empire.
There is the Harmankaya Kanyon – a 3km long beautiful but dangerous canyon (it was quite challenging for Limon to get there). All in all, I loved Bilecik and it was definitely a place that surprised me a lot with what I found there!
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?? Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var ve 11 numara Bilecik!
Bilecik “yok” diye dalga geçilen bir yer ama aslında Bilecik’in Osmanlı’nın varlığı için çok önemli olduğunu anlamak için tarih kitaplarımızı açmamız yeterli ve inanıyorum ki bugün bile, 800 yıl sonra Bilecik, var olmayan bir yerden çok daha fazlası.
Osman I., Konstantinopolis ile Konya arasındaki ana yol üzerinde olması nedeniyle askeri açıdan da çok önemli bir yer olan Bilecik’te Söğüt çevresinde Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’nun başlangıcını inşa etmeye başladı.
Bilecik’te, Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’nun temeli olan Kayı boyunun da lideri olan I. Osman’dan dolayı birçok kayı aşiretinin bayrağına rastlarsınız.
3 km uzunluğunda güzel ama tehlikeli bir kanyon olan Harmankaya Kanyonu var (Limon’un oraya ulaşması oldukça zordu). Sonuç olarak Bilecik’i çok sevdim ve kesinlikle orada bulduklarımla beni çok şaşırtan bir yerdi!
I will NEVER forget my first time in BURSA ?? 09/81
?? There are 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey and number 16 is Bursa
Bursa is a place that has to offer EVERYTHING and wow I didn’t know that there are so many amazing places in Bursa. I also explored more of the Iskender and food options that the province is famous for and I seriously need to think about cutting off some of the food because it’s getting out of control lol ?
Bursa is a very historical place and in Ottoman Turkish Bursa means “God’s Gift” and to me that makes total sense! What I enjoyed most was going up to Uludag to try out skiing for the first time in my life ⛷or just enjoy a cool breeze with a cup of cay ☕️ Camping in Iznik was very peaceful and i liked the laidback-vibes ☀️? A beautiful beautiful place!
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?? Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var ve 16 numara Bursa
Bursa her şeyi sunması gereken bir yer ve vay be Bursa’da bu kadar çok harika yer olduğunu bilmiyordum. Ayrıca ilin ünlü olduğu İskender ve yemek seçeneklerini daha fazla araştırdım ve bazı yiyecekleri kesmeyi ciddi olarak düşünmem gerekiyor çünkü kontrolden çıkıyor lol ?
Bursa çok tarihi bir yer ve Osmanlı Türkçesinde Bursa “Tanrı’nın Hediyesi” anlamına geliyor ve bu bana çok mantıklı geliyor! Hayatımda ilk kez kayak yapmak için Uludağ’a çıkmaktan en çok zevk aldığım şey ⛷ya da sadece bir bardak çay eşliğinde serin bir esinti keyfi ☕️ İznik’te kamp yapmak çok huzurluydu ve rahat havayı sevdim ☀️? Güzel güzel mekan!
Turkey's smallest Province: YALOVA ?? 08/81
?? There are 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey and number 77 is Yalova!
Yalova is close to Istanbul which makes it very easy to reach by boat, bus or car. There is a bridge connecting Gebze with the province and driving over this bridge is just beautiful because you can see the Marmara sea. Yalova is the smallest province in Turkey but just because it’s tiny – it doesnt mean that it won’t surprise you BIG time 🙂
Actually it is one of the touristic cities with the longest coastline to the sea with 105 km. Yalova is a natural paradise with lots of forests and as we all know – Turks love camping! Yalova has one of the best camping spots in Turkey. Especially during weekends it can get crowded, so make sure to get there early in the morning.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk occasionally lived in Yalova in his final years. In one of his speeches he famously said: “Yalova is my city” and today it is possible to visit his mansion in the Termak district or to find out more about his “Moving Villa” in Yalova City.
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?? Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var ve 77 numara Yalova!
Yalova, İstanbul’a yakındır, bu da tekne, otobüs veya araba ile ulaşımı çok kolaylaştırır. Gebze’yi ilçeye bağlayan bir köprü var ve bu köprüden geçmek sadece Marmara denizini görebileceğiniz için güzel. Yalova Türkiye’nin en küçük ili ama küçücük olması sizi şaşırtmayacağı anlamına gelmez BÜYÜK zaman 🙂
Aslında 105 km ile denize en uzun sahil şeridine sahip turistik şehirlerden biridir. Yalova, ormanları bol olan bir doğa cenneti ve hepimizin bildiği gibi – Türkler kamp yapmayı çok seviyor! Yalova, Türkiye’nin en iyi kamp yerlerinden birine sahiptir. Özellikle hafta sonları kalabalık olabilir, bu yüzden sabah erkenden oraya vardığınızdan emin olun.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, son yıllarında zaman zaman Yalova’da yaşadı. Bir konuşmasında ünlü olarak “Yalova benim şehrim” dedi ve bugün Termak semtindeki konağını ziyaret etmek veya Yalova Şehrindeki “Taşınan Villası” hakkında daha fazla bilgi edinmek mümkün.
Life at the Syrian Border in KILIS ?? 07/81
?? There are 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey and number 79 is Kilis!
I went to one of the smallest provinces of Turkey: Kilis. It is located in the south on the Syrian border. From the outside, it seems just like a small place but when you look closer there are big things happening. I went there to find out more about the history of Kilis, the taste of its food and how people live together.
By looking at the map of Turkey you will notice that it does not only share its borders with Syria, but it’s also the longest border with a length of 909km. That’s longer than Germany from south to north. There is no other country in the world that hosts more refugees than Turkey does and Kilis, right at the border, accepted more Syrian refugees than there are local residents living there. So how does that work? How does life in such a small province change for the residents?
Many things changed, two different cultures had to adopt to each other and started to transition into one. People share their jobs, houses and social spaces with Syrian refugees, like sport facilities, spaces at the bazaar and educational institutions. and for that Kilis even got nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in the past. Life is still far from easy for Syrians in Turkey, but Kilis has many human rights and refugee organizations that do their best to integrate Syrians into society, even tho hundreds of thousands still live in camps nearby.
Just a few kilometers from the Syrian border Kilis is for many people not only a new home, but a safe zone and one of the few good examples that Syrians and Turks can live together peacefully and even enrich each other’s lives. ?
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?? Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var ve 79 numara Kilis!
Türkiye’nin en küçük illerinden birine gittim: Kilis. Güneyde Suriye sınırında yer almaktadır. Dışarıdan küçük bir yer gibi görünüyor ama yakından baktığınızda büyük şeyler oluyor. Kilis’in tarihini, yemeklerinin lezzetini ve insanların nasıl bir arada yaşadığını öğrenmek için oraya gittim.
Türkiye haritasına baktığınızda sadece Suriye ile sınırlarını paylaşmadığını, aynı zamanda 909km uzunluğu ile en uzun sınırı olduğunu fark edeceksiniz. Bu, güneyden kuzeye Almanya’dan daha uzun. Dünyada Türkiye’den daha fazla mülteciye ev sahipliği yapan başka bir ülke yok ve hemen sınırda bulunan Kilis, orada yaşayan yerel sakinlerden daha fazla Suriyeli mülteciyi kabul etti. Peki bu nasıl çalışıyor? Bu kadar küçük bir ilde hayat sakinleri için nasıl değişiyor?
Pek çok şey değişti, iki farklı kültür birbirini benimsemek zorunda kaldı ve tek kültüre geçmeye başladı. İnsanlar işlerini, evlerini ve sosyal alanlarını, spor tesisleri, çarşıdaki alanlar, eğitim kurumları gibi Suriyeli mültecilerle paylaşıyor. ve bunun için Kilis geçmişte Nobel Barış Ödülü’ne bile aday gösterilmişti. Türkiye’deki Suriyeliler için hayat hala kolay değil, ancak Kilis’te Suriyelileri topluma entegre etmek için ellerinden gelenin en iyisini yapan birçok insan hakları ve mülteci örgütü var, yüz binlercesi yakınlardaki kamplarda yaşıyor olsa da.
Suriye sınırına sadece birkaç kilometre uzaklıktaki Kilis, birçok insan için sadece yeni bir ev değil, aynı zamanda güvenli bir bölge ve Suriyelilerin ve Türklerin barış içinde yaşayabilecekleri ve hatta birbirlerinin hayatlarını zenginleştirebilecekleri birkaç güzel örnekten biri. ?
A Road Trip With COMPLETE STRANGERS in HATAY ?? 06/81
?? There are 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey and number 31 is Hatay!
This has been one of my favorite days of my life. I still can’t believe how lucky I am to meet Jale and Yasemin. We met for the first time, and spoke only a few messages on instagram a few days earlier. We decided to go on a road trip together and explore Hatay. We started the day with breakfast in the old city of Antakya, went shopping at the long bazaar and ate a Lebanese dessert called Haytali at Affan Kahvesi.
With a full stomach, we then visited the St. Pierre Church which is one of the oldest churches in the world. There is a very old mountain called Charonion of Hell which is very close and dates back to 200 BC. Harbiye Waterfall is so close to the city that we didn’t want to miss visiting this spot as well.
After that, we read each other’s futures at Sultan Cafe and brought enough snacks for the trip just before our car broke down 😀 It magically worked again and drove us all the way to Musa Tree where we taught each other some useful Turkish and German.
The end of the day was spent in Samandag at the beach. We watched the sunset and ate Hatay fish. I will never forget this trip and I am so glad that I went out of my comfort zone to meet these beautiful souls. Memories made together last forever ?
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?? Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var ve 31 numara Hatay!
Bu hayatımın en sevdiğim günlerinden biri oldu. Jale ve Yasemin ile tanıştığım için ne kadar şanslı olduğuma hâlâ inanamıyorum. İlk kez tanıştık ve birkaç gün önce instagram’da sadece birkaç mesaj konuştuk. Birlikte bir yolculuğa çıkmaya ve Hatay’ı keşfetmeye karar verdik. Güne eski Antakya’da kahvaltı ile başladık, uzun çarşıda alışverişe çıktık ve Affan Kahvesi’nde Haytali denilen Lübnan tatlısı yedik.
Dolu bir mide ile dünyanın en eski kiliselerinden biri olan St. Pierre Kilisesi’ni gezdik. Charonion of Hell adında çok yakın ve M.Ö.200 yıllarına kadar uzanan çok eski bir dağ var. Harbiye Şelalesi şehre o kadar yakın ki burayı ziyaret etmeyi de kaçırmak istemedik.
Bundan sonra, Sultan Cafe’de birbirimizin geleceğini okuduk ve arabamız bozulmadan hemen önce yolculuk için yeterince atıştırmalık getirdik: D Sihirli bir şekilde tekrar çalıştı ve bizi Musa Ağacına kadar sürdü ve burada birbirimize yararlı Türkçe ve Almanca öğrettik.
Günün sonu Samandağ’da sahilde geçirildi. Gün batımını izledik ve Hatay balığı yedik. Bu geziyi asla unutmayacağım ve bu güzel ruhlarla tanışmak için konfor bölgemden çıktığım için çok mutluyum. Birlikte yapılan anılar sonsuza kadar sürer ?
I went on a trip by myself in KAYSERI ?? 05/81
?? There are 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey an number 38 is Kayseri!
I went to Kayseri without any expectations but what I found left me speechless. What a diverse province full of BEAUTIFUL nature. The food was amazing, unfortunately I can’t eat so much every single day ? but Mantı and Pastırma won my heart.
Crazy to be in the mountains, under waterfalls and skiing in the snow all on the same day.
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?? Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var 38 numara Kayseri!
Kayseri’ye hiç beklentim olmadan gittim ama bulduklarım beni suskun bıraktı. GÜZEL doğa ile dolu ne farklı bir il. Yemekler harikaydı, maalesef her gün bu kadar yemek yiyemiyorum ? ama Mantı ve Pastırma kalbimi kazandı.
Aynı gün dağlarda, şelalelerin altında ve karda kayak yapmak delilik.
In ŞANLIURFA they eat LIVER for breakfast ?? 04/81
?? There are 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey and number 63 is Şanlıurfa!
It does not only translate to glorious Urfa but it also truly is glorious because this province has so many stories to tell.
The city is located in southeastern Anatolia and the best time to come here is in spring or autumn as this place gets extremely hot during the summer!
Sanliurfa is a place where different religions and cultures come together. Especially when you visit the historical sites you will find a close connection between Christianity and Islamic traditions.
Together with Tulin I explored different sides of Şanlıurfa, we tasted Ciğer kebabı, menengic kahvesi, sabut fish, çiğ köfte and so much more!
It was an unforgettable time.
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?? Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var ve 63 numara Şanlıurfa!
Sadece şanlı Urfa’ya tercüme etmekle kalmıyor, aynı zamanda gerçekten ihtişamlı çünkü bu ilin anlatacak çok hikayesi var.
Şehir Güneydoğu Anadolu’da yer almaktadır ve buraya gelmek için en uygun zaman ilkbahar veya sonbahardır çünkü burası yaz aylarında aşırı derecede ısınır!
Şanlıurfa, farklı din ve kültürlerin bir araya geldiği bir yerdir. Özellikle tarihi yerleri ziyaret ettiğinizde Hıristiyanlık ve İslami gelenekler arasında yakın bir bağlantı bulacaksınız.
Tulin ile Şanlıurfa’nın farklı yönlerini keşfettik, Ciğer kebabı, menengic kahvesi, sabut balığı, çiğ köfte ve çok daha fazlasını tattık!
Unutulmaz bir zamandı.
Best things to do in?AFYONKARAHISAR ?? 03/81
?? Turkey has 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey and number 03 is Afyonkarahisar!
Afyon? Afyon means opium? Yes, it means Opium, but don’t worry Afyon does not have a drug problem! Until the 60s there was so much opium produced here that it became part of its name. Now it’s more regulated and I got the chance to try some of the local opium in Afyon, as well as visiting the Phrygian Valley and walking up to the castle of Afyon.
But there is more to Afyon, because that’s just one part of the name. Afyonkarahisar translated means= Opium, Black, fortress.
➡️ 3 facts about the fortress:
- There are 570 stairs to climb on 200m, which is very tiring.
- The fortress is over 3000 years old, which is quite old.
- Going up and visiting the place is free of charge and a good exercise
Don’t forget your water! For me this is the most fascinating place in Afyon because of its history and of course the view over the city
? THE LOCATION
Afyon is located in the western countryside of Turkey and if you like snow – they have a lot of that here!
? THERMAL SPA CENTER
Did you know that Afyon is the Turkish capital of hot springs and thermal spas? Yeah, it’s a great place to just lie back and relax. That’s why you can find many luxury hotels here and they are quite affordable as well. And talking about comfort – It’s nothing new- Afyon has been a thermal centre for quite some time and they say that the hot springs here can heal skin diseases and several other illnesses. It’s getting hot in here – the waters can reach a temperature up to 85 degrees.
⛰ PHRYGIAN VALLEY
If you go to Afyon, you should definitely check out the Phrygian Valley as well. It is known as the 2nd Cappadocia and I will show you why. This is so cool! This is a huge rock but it’s not only a rock. This is a home that is over 3000 years old. It has several chambers carved inside where people used to settle down. It even has several floors and maybe that was the definition of a skyscraper in the ancient world!
? GETTING THERE & WHERE TO STAY
To go to Afyon it takes around 6hours by bus from Istanbul and a ticket is around 90 Liras.
? FOOD
We all know, there is always a special food that belongs to any Turkish city. For Afyonkarahisar it’s definitely Sucuk, Kaymak, and Lokum. Afiyet olsun!
?EMRE LAKE
Afyon has also really beautiful lakes, like Eber Lake, Aksehir lake or Emre Lake. It’s super close to the Phrygian Valley so it’s easy to combine these two sights. Even inside the lake, you can find rock formations. In summer it’s even more beautiful and it is possible to see many birds, you can go cycling here, take a boat on the lake or drive around with an ATV.
That’s it from Afyonkarahisar, see you next time in ??!
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?? Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var ve 03 numara Afyonkarahisar!
Afyon? Afyon afyon mu demek? Evet Afyon demek ama merak etmeyin Afyon’da uyuşturucu sorunu yok! 60’lı yıllara kadar burada üretilen o kadar çok afyon vardı ki adının bir parçası oldu. Şimdi daha düzenli ve Afyon’daki yerel afyonun bir kısmını deneme, Frig Vadisi’ni ziyaret etme ve Afyon kalesine yürüyüş yapma şansım oldu.
Ama Afyon için daha fazlası var, çünkü bu ismin sadece bir kısmı. Afyonkarahisar tercüme anlamı = Afyon, Kara, kale.
➡️ kale hakkında 3 gerçek:
200m’de 570 merdiven çıkılması çok yorucu.
Kale 3000 yaşın üzerindedir ve oldukça eskidir.
Yukarı çıkmak ve yeri ziyaret etmek ücretsizdir ve iyi bir egzersizdir.
Suyunu unutma! Benim için burası tarihi ve tabi ki şehir manzarası nedeniyle Afyon’un en büyüleyici yeri.
? KONUM
Afyon, Türkiye’nin batı kırsalında yer almaktadır ve kar seviyorsanız – burada çok var!
? TERMAL SPA MERKEZİ
Afyon’un kaplıcaların ve kaplıcaların başkenti olduğunu biliyor muydunuz? Evet, arkana yaslanıp rahatlamak için harika bir yer. Bu nedenle burada birçok lüks otel bulabilirsiniz ve bunlar da oldukça uygun fiyatlıdır. Ve konfor hakkında konuşmak – yeni bir şey değil – Afyon epeydir termal bir merkez ve buradaki kaplıcaların cilt hastalıklarını ve diğer birçok hastalığı iyileştirebileceğini söylüyorlar. Burası ısınıyor – sular 85 dereceye kadar ulaşabiliyor.
⛰ PHRYGIAN VADİSİ
Afyon’a giderseniz mutlaka Frig Vadisi’ni de gezmelisiniz. 2. Kapadokya olarak biliniyor ve size nedenini göstereceğim. Bu çok havalı! Bu çok büyük bir kaya ama sadece bir kaya değil. Burası 3000 yıldan daha eski bir ev. İnsanların yerleştikleri yerde oyulmuş birkaç odası var. Hatta birkaç katı var ve belki de antik dünyadaki bir gökdelenin tanımı buydu!
? ORADA VE NEREDE KALINIR
Afyon’a gitmek için İstanbul’dan otobüsle yaklaşık 6 saat sürüyor ve bilet 90 lira civarında.
? GIDA
Hepimiz biliyoruz, her zaman herhangi bir Türk şehrine ait özel bir yemek vardır. Afyonkarahisar için kesinlikle Sucuk, Kaymak ve Lokum. Afiyet olsun!
?EMRE GÖLÜ
Afyon’da Eber Gölü, Akşehir gölü veya Emre Gölü gibi çok güzel göller de var. Frig Vadisi’ne çok yakın olduğu için bu iki turistik yeri birleştirmek çok kolay. Gölün içinde bile kaya oluşumları bulabilirsiniz. Yazın daha da güzel oluyor ve çok sayıda kuş görmek mümkün, burada bisiklete binebilir, gölde tekne gezintisi yapabilir veya ATV ile dolaşabilirsiniz.
İşte bu Afyonkarahisar’dan, bir dahaki sefere görüşmek üzere ??!
Hiking up Mt. Nemrut through deep snow in ?ADIYAMAN ?? 02/81
?? There are 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey and number 02 is Adiyaman!
You’ve probably seen the picture of mysterious statues on top of a mountain but did you know that these statues are right here in Turkey? And that’s exactly where I went – over 1000km away from Istanbul – to climb the mountain where this picture was taken and to find out what else the province of Adiyaman has to offer.
➡️ What you can find in Adiyaman is not only Mount Nemrut but also ancient cities and castles.
Adiyaman is such a fascinating place because you can go back in time and visit places that are as old as human history!
✈️ Adiyaman is located in southern central Turkey and the easiest way to get there from Istanbul is by plane. A ticket was realllyyyy expensive: 700 liras for a return ticket, but I believe this is going to be a once in a lifetime experience and definitely worth the effort and money to go there.
Most people come to Adiyaman because they wanna see Mount Nemrut, but there is more than that!
?Cendere Köprüsü for example is an ancient bridge on the road to Mount Nemrut. You can stop by, have a look, have tea next to the bridge or even camp and swim here in summer.
?Another hidden gem is The ancient city of Arsemia which is right in the heart of nature. Some people say it’s even better than Mount Nemrut, so definitely don’t forget to check this out.
?The Perre ruins are very close to downtown Adiyaman and they used to be one of the big citie’s of the kings of Mesopotomia. It’s a very large area so make sure to bring enough time. There are over 200 rock tombs which are connected and it’s just mind blowing how this site must have been looked during the Roman Empire.
?Kahta Kalesi is one of the impressive castles in Adiyaman which lies on top of a mountain.
? At the end of January temperatures are really low, it’s very cold and going up Mount Nemrut won’t be an easy game. Especially in the mountain area it’s getting extremely cold, up to -20 degrees during the night time.
Let me tell you how I felt while I was walking up to the peak:
- For the first time in a very long time I felt very happy. Because when you are out there, surrounded by all this snow and nobody else around, it really gives you a special feeling.
- Also I am grateful that I started this project of visiting all 81 cities of Turkey, because I am learning so much. Not only about Turkey, but also about history in general.
- And it feels really good to go out, meet other people and go on little adventures from time to time.
When you climb to the top of the mountain you may get tired but when you see the view, you will feel just grateful for being alive and experiencing such amazing wonders.
There are 2 groups of these god figures. One group of them was placed to greet the sunrise and the other to greet the setting.
That’s it from 02 Adiyaman, see you next time in 03 Afyonkarahisar!
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?? Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var ve 02 numara Adıyaman!
Muhtemelen bir dağın tepesindeki gizemli heykellerin resmini görmüşsünüzdür, ancak bu heykellerin Türkiye’de olduğunu biliyor muydunuz? İşte tam da bu fotoğrafın çekildiği dağa tırmanmak ve Adıyaman vilayetinin başka neler sunabileceğini öğrenmek için İstanbul’a 1000 km’den fazla uzaklığa gittim.
➡️ Adıyaman’da bulabilecekleriniz sadece Nemrut Dağı değil, antik kentler ve kalelerdir.
Adıyaman öyle büyüleyici bir yer çünkü zamanda geriye gidebilir ve insanlık tarihi kadar eski yerleri ziyaret edebilirsiniz!
✈️ Adıyaman, Türkiye’nin güneyinde yer alır ve oraya İstanbul’dan ulaşmanın en kolay yolu uçaktır. Bir bilet gerçekten çok pahalıydı: Dönüş bileti için 700 lira, ancak bunun ömür boyu bir deneyim olacağına ve oraya gitmek için kesinlikle çaba ve paraya değeceğine inanıyorum.
Çoğu insan Nemrut Dağı’nı görmek istediği için Adıyaman’a geliyor ama bundan fazlası var!
?Cendere Köprüsü, Nemrut Dağı yolundaki eski bir köprüdür. Bir uğrayabilir, bir göz atabilir, köprünün yanında çay içebilir, hatta yaz aylarında burada kamp kurabilir ve yüzebilirsiniz.
Bir başka gizli mücevher, doğanın tam kalbinde yer alan antik Arsemia kentidir. Bazıları bunun Nemrut Dağı’ndan bile daha iyi olduğunu söyler, bu yüzden kesinlikle bunu kontrol etmeyi unutmayın.
?Perre harabeleri, Adıyaman şehir merkezine çok yakın ve Mezopotomya krallarının en büyük şehirlerinden biriydi. Burası çok geniş bir alan, bu yüzden yeterince zaman ayırdığınızdan emin olun. Birbirine bağlı 200’den fazla kaya mezarı var ve bu sitenin Roma İmparatorluğu sırasında nasıl göründüğü akıllara durgunluk veriyor.
?Kahta Kalesi, Adıyaman’da bir dağın tepesinde yer alan etkileyici kalelerden biridir.
? Ocak sonunda hava çok düşük, çok soğuk ve Nemrut Dağı’na çıkmak kolay bir oyun olmayacak. Özellikle dağlık bölgede gece -20 dereceye kadar aşırı derecede soğuyor.
Zirveye çıkarken nasıl hissettiğimi size söyleyeyim:
Çok uzun zamandır ilk defa çok mutlu oldum. Çünkü orada olduğunuzda, etrafınız bu kadar karla çevrili olduğunda ve etrafınızda başka kimse olmadığında, size gerçekten özel bir his veriyor.
Ayrıca Türkiye’nin 81 ilini ziyaret etme projesini başlattığım için minnettarım çünkü çok şey öğreniyorum. Sadece Türkiye hakkında değil, genel olarak tarih hakkında da.
Ve zaman zaman dışarı çıkmak, diğer insanlarla tanışmak ve küçük maceralara çıkmak gerçekten iyi hissettiriyor.
Dağın tepesine çıktığınızda yorulabilirsiniz ama manzarayı gördüğünüzde hayatta olduğunuz ve böylesine muhteşem harikalar yaşadığınız için minnettar olacaksınız.
Bu tanrı figürlerinden 2 grup vardır. Bir grup gün doğumunu, diğeri de ayarı selamlamak için yerleştirildi.
İşte 02 Adıyaman’dan, bir dahaki sefere 03 Afyonkarahisar’da görüşmek üzere!
NIGHTMARE in Adana (Don't do this in Adana) ??01/81
There are 81 reasons to fall in love with Turkey and number 01 is Adana!
I heard that Adana is the city where people shoot for the sun and arriving here in early February with temperatures around 25degrees I can imagine that it really gets you in the mood to shoot the sun.
There are a lot of things to experience in Adana, but most importantly we figured out that camping should not be one of these things! ?? At least not outside camping areas.
Location
Adana is located in the south of Turkey and it’s not only Adana Kebab what the province is famous for.
Yilan Kale
For me, the most fascinating place in Adana is Yilankale, which means snake castle. It is believed to be the home of a creature which is half woman and half snake.
The castle is over 700 years old and one of the most perfectly preserved Armenian castles in the region. It is open for visitors and I think definitely worth it to find out more about this snake lady.
Culture
Did you know that Adana is one of the first places of the world where humans settled down and it was also one of the most important regions of the classical world?
It was a very diverse place where many religions and cultures lived together for thousands of years.
Now, it’s one of the biggest and most developed cities in Turkey where you can find lots of art, history and all kind of festivals.
Getting there
Getting there from Istanbul takes around 12hours by bus and a ticket is like 120 Liras. Oh and before I forget-
Food
You can not go to Adana without eating – right – Adana Kebab.
The city is basically the home town of Adana Kebab and originally it was known as Kıyma kebabı which literally means “minced kebab”.
And not everyone can just sell you original Adana Kebab because there are strict rules regarding the cooking, the flavors, and the meat.
It even has a patent but there is a public list of restaurants that follow the original recipe.
Afiyet olsun!
TOP THINGS TO DO in ADANA
Did you know that Adana has
- A clock tower that symbolized modernization – Büyük Saat Kulesi
- A 1,900 year old ancient stone bridge in the middle of the city – Tasköprü
- If you like nature, there is a canyon that is free to visit – Kapikaya Kanyonu
- A more than 100 year old railway that was built by germans – Varda Köprü
- One of the best wine tours and tastings in the country
- Sabancı Merkez Cami, the 2nd largest mosque in Turkey
- And of course mysterious castles, like the snake castle
- A beautofiful dam called Seyhan Baraj
- Mountain towns like Pozanti
- Many coastal towns like Yumurtalik and Karatas with ancient sites
- When it comes to food, Adana does not only have Adana Kebab, but also Tantuni, Humus, Lahmacun, balkabagi tatlisi, Sirdan and Salgam
That’s it from Adana, see you next time in Adiyaman!
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Türkiye’ye aşık olmak için 81 neden var ve 01 numara Adana!
Adana’nın insanların güneş için çekim yaptıkları ve 25 derece civarında sıcaklıklarla Şubat ayı başlarında buraya ulaştıkları bir şehir olduğunu duydum, gerçekten güneşi vurma havasına girdiğinizi hayal edebiliyorum.
Adana’da yaşanacak çok şey var ama en önemlisi kamp yapmanın bunlardan biri olmaması gerektiğini anladık! ?? En azından kamp alanlarının dışında değil.
KONUM
Adana, Türkiye’nin güneyinde yer alır ve ilin meşhur olduğu sadece Adana Kebabı değildir.
Yılan Kale
Bana göre Adana’nın en büyüleyici yeri yılan kalesi anlamına gelen Yılankale. Yarı kadın yarı yılan bir canlının evi olduğuna inanılıyor.
Kale 700 yaşın üzerindedir ve bölgedeki en iyi korunmuş Ermeni kalelerinden biridir. Ziyaretçilere açık ve bu yılan bayan hakkında daha fazla bilgi edinmeye kesinlikle değer olduğunu düşünüyorum.
Kültür
Adana’nın dünyanın ilk yerleşim yerlerinden biri olduğunu ve aynı zamanda klasik dünyanın en önemli bölgelerinden biri olduğunu biliyor muydunuz?
Binlerce yıldır birçok din ve kültürün bir arada yaşadığı çok çeşitli bir yerdi.
Şimdi, çok sayıda sanat, tarih ve her türlü festivali bulabileceğiniz Türkiye’nin en büyük ve en gelişmiş şehirlerinden biri.
Oraya gitmek
İstanbul’dan ulaşım otobüsle yaklaşık 12 saat sürüyor ve bilet ücreti 120 lira. Oh ve unutmadan önce-
Gıda
Yemek yemeden Adana’ya gidemezsiniz – doğru – Adana Kebabı.
Kent temelde Adana Kebabının memleketi ve aslında “kıyma kebabı” olarak biliniyordu.
Ve herkes size orijinal Adana Kebabını satamaz çünkü yemek pişirmek, lezzetler ve et konusunda katı kurallar vardır.
Hatta bir patenti var, ancak orijinal tarifi izleyen halka açık bir restoran listesi var.
Afiyet olsun!
ADANA’DA YAPILACAK EN ÖNEMLİ ŞEYLER
Adana’nın sahip olduğunu biliyor muydunuz?
Modernleşmeyi simgeleyen bir saat kulesi – Büyük Saat Kulesi
Şehrin ortasında 1.900 yıllık antik taş köprü – Taşköprü
Doğayı seviyorsanız, ücretsiz gezilebilecek bir kanyon var – Kapıkaya Kanyonu
Almanlar tarafından inşa edilen 100 yıldan daha eski bir demiryolu – Varda Köprü
Ülkedeki en iyi şarap turları ve tadımlarından biri
Sabancı Merkez Cami, Türkiye’nin 2. büyük camisi
Ve tabii ki gizemli kaleler, yılan kalesi gibi
Seyhan Baraj adında güzel bir baraj
Pozantı gibi dağ kasabaları
Antik yerlere sahip Yumurtalık ve Karataş gibi birçok sahil kasabası
Yemek deyince Adana’da sadece Adana Kebabı değil, Tantuni, Humus, Lahmacun, balkabağı tatlisi, Şırdan ve Salgam da var.
İşte Adana’dan, bir dahaki sefere Adıyaman’da görüşmek üzere!
14 Reasons Why I moved to Turkey as a foreigner
I moved to Turkey and I love it… Why? I love Turkey, I moved here by choice, and I’ve lived here for over 2 years now. These are all my opinions and experience. For me, there is no better country to live in as for now and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Why did I move from Germany to Turkey?
I believe, that Turkey is a country that is just giving me an environment where I can be the happiest possible version of myself at this time of my life. BUT this might be different for anyone else.
There is no country in this world that is so interesting like Turkey!
Istanbul for example. It’s a place that really blows my mind. Not only, because it’s on 2 continents. No, it’s more than that. It’s about the history, it’s been here since empires for thousands of years. You can not imagine! It’s a city of culture, history, art, tourism, architecture, beaches, nature, surrounded by seas, forests, and hills. Different religions living side by side. It’s a city where you take a boat to get to work, a city that just has a magical vibe to it.
The food.
Another reason why I am so happy here is because of the food. Yes, Turks have an amazing cuisine to offer. I’m not talking about the doner sandwich. It’s so much more than that. It starts with breakfast. Turks have great soups, they have good coffee, amazing deserts, fresh fish, and good quality meat. There are endless local bazaars and also modern and international restaurants ranging from sushi to vegan options. What you can find here is a mix of Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Eastern European, Armenian and Balkan cuisines. If that didn’t convince you yet, let me tell you the following.
Turkey’s nature.
This is a whole different story. I feel people should appreciate it more, but the landscapes are incredible! Diverse and lots of greenery. Turks take care of their environment. Turkey has a desert and there are landscapes that you will only find here in Turkey. I am talking about incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites, I’m talking about absolutely gorgeous mountains and islands, beaches, lakes, and cave cities.
Turk’s mentality.
I would say Turks are extremely Easy going. They are known for their simplicity in their life trying to avoid anything that makes life more complicated. The saying “Boş Ver” is frequently used and kinda shows the Turkish mentality of not worrying too much about small things. Turks love having this community feeling. Everyone knows their neighbors and most of life is happening outside. BBQ. Camping. Music. Starting and ending the day with Çay. It’s just this Turkish mentality regarding life that makes me happy.
Life Quality.
That being said the Life quality that Turkey offers is just so much higher in my opinion than anywhere else in the world. They have a really good health system. People are educated. Life in Turkey is quite affordable. It is I would say, not extremely difficult to make a living here as a foreigner. There are quite big differences living here as a Turk vs foreigner though, but generally spoken the life in Turkey is not bad. It’s not the place to earn a lot of money, but it’s about life quality.
Animal friendly.
Cats and dogs on the street. And I’ve never been to a country that takes such a good care of dogs and cats as Turkey does. Everyone makes them feel comfortable on the streets, gives them water and food, and treats them overall like kings and queens.
The Location.
Turkey is geographically a great location. Easy to get to Europe and Asia. The weather is great. And Istanbul has a big airport which makes it easy for me to visit my family or have friends visiting me.
Turkish language.
I have never been more fascinated by a language like the Turkish one. It’s just so different than European languages that it’s really fun to learn it. A whole sentence can basically be stuffed into a single word in the Turkish language. And that really impresses me.
Safety.
It is safe – I feel extremely safe living in Turkey. I can walk around freely, can do whatever I want. Turks generally do respect all kinds of people and I never felt unsafe. Traveling through the country is easy and the infrastructure is great. With common sense living in Turkey is as safe as living in any other country in the world.
Turk’s hospitality and kindness.
in Turkey hospitality is everything and I encountered endless situations of kindness and hospitality. No matter if it’s our neighbor inviting us over for food, the extreme kindness that I experience in my daily life or at my workplace. Turkish hospitality is just very unique. I have the feeling that Turks will always help in any way they can.
In Turkey, you will always have a neighborhood and be part of a community and just living here and feeling included is just one out of many reasons why I have chosen to make this country my home.
As foreigner in Istanbul during Quarantine | Karantina İstanbul'da VLOG #54
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It’s April here in Istanbul and Turkey is at a point where the country has the fastest rising number of COVID-19 infections. In the world. Istiklal street, where usually a million people pass through every single day, is empty.
There is nobody around Galata tower, Kadiköy is empty, the streets of Besiktas empty. The mosques are closed for communal prayer, almost all shops stopped their business, flights, border crossings and travels between cities are suspended. Schools closed. People are ordered to work from home. To stay at home.
Everyone under the age of 20 and over 65 is ordered to stay at home. At all times. All citizens have to wear a facemask when shoppin or visiting crowded places. There are disinfectants, signs that remind of the social distance and the police make sure that there are no crowds outside.
This is a time we can only pass if we all stick together. Well.. together but separately
Traveling to Saudi Arabia for the first time
There are 195 countries in our world and as a traveler there is one country I’ve always dreamed to go to.
And this country is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It piqued my interest because it seemed so hard, almost impossible, to obtain a visa as a casual traveler back in the days.
And as I love the unknown and contrasts in general, Saudi Arabia was always high on my list of the countries I wanted to visit at least once in my life.
And out of the blue in September 2019 KSA announced to finally open its doors to foreigners from more than 50 countries. I just had to apply for the evisa online, pay 115 USD and A few minutes later I got my visa inside my email box.
And A few weeks later I found myself inside the country I never thought I would see with my own eyes this soon.
As one of the most conservative countries in the world with a lot of rules and different traditions KSA had quite a bad reputation thanks to the media. Which made everybody think that the kingdom has only 2 things to offer:
Its holy places and oil reserves.
But as we all know the media is only showing a small percentage of reality. So I decided to go there without any judgement and spent 4 weeks there to find out what the kingdom really has to offer to its visitors. And this is what I found out:
1 Different Culture –
Let’s get right into it: There are a lot of rules and customs which don’t always make sense to other people with a different background but those rules still have to be followed and respected. And isn’t it the best thing ever to understand how life looks like in a different part of this world? And KSA is handling a lot of things differently than a lot of other countries do.
I could have never imagined to enter a restaurant from a different side than my male friends or even let life stop around me for 5 times a day because it’s prayer time. Driving around for hours and only seeing desert and camels or drinking boiled coffee that tastes more fragrant than any other coffee I ever had. People are dressed differently and so are the laws: Different.
2 Hospitable and helpful people –
When things are different we normally tend to feel insecure or not really knowing what to expect. And for me that was the case with Saudi Arabia. I had no idea about Saudi Arabia’s people. Well, people are really nice and I didn’t expect that people in this country are so so kind that they would invite us to their homes, show us the greatest hospitality, helping us when we didn’t even ask for it and becoming friends in a very short time. A country is best understood through its people and KSA is home to a very diverse and mixed population.
3 Food –
As diverse as the people are so is the food. A lot of yemeni, indian, turkish and persian dishes can be found all over the countrs and it’s very very delicious.
4 Great nature –
Yes, more than half the area of Saudi Arabia is desert, but the other half is not and whatever you prefer- the nature is stunning and can range from mountains, to oceans, from hot and humid to cold weather. There are camels and monkeys. Flowers and coconut trees.
5 Safety –
Yes, the country is safe for travelers. It’s safe for women to travel alone. I am nobody who can fully judge this but I know that I would go back as a solo female traveler, because I never felt really uncomfortable. People are very respectful in general and always try to help. Men can be a little bit more curious than usual and cultural differences can be overwhelming but in general there is no need to worry too much as a female traveler. The most dangerous part about traveling in KSA is the traffic as there seem to be no rules and everybody drives like a mad person.
Visiting KSA was a dream come true and learning about this place and its culture was the true definition of traveling to me. The infrastructure is still bad, tourists can barely get around without renting a car, westernized customs aren’t understood everywhere, there are a lot of undiscovered places, people are curious and friendly. The food is authentic and traditions are still seen on the streets. Yes, KSA is a different world to me and I’ll probably never fully understand this country but that’s why I will never forget my visit and for sure will come back in the future to learn more about KSA.
The internet is watching you | That's why I never travel without VPN (Get Surfshark VPN!)
As you probably know.. I am from Germany. And growing up in a country with free and open internet I never really thought about how it is like to face censorship online.
Well, little did I know that I would move to one of the world’s most restrictive countries for the internet. Welcome to Turkey.
With more than 200,000 websites blocked including Wikipedia and even temporarily YouTube and Twitter living in Turkey makes it a little bit harder when it comes to moving freely around in the www.
But it can get worse. It’s not only Turkey. If you are a traveler, it will affect you at one point without any doubt.
Censorship in other countries
In North Korea: All websites are under government control. And more than 95% of the population has NO access to the internet. At all.
Saudi Arabia: No chance to access any website that are subject to Shia Islam, drug use, LGBT rights, pornography, gambling, circumventing the filter, criticism of the Kingdom, and much more. More than 400,000 websites are blocked.
Iran: Just recently in November, there was a week-long total internet shut down. Internet speed is restricted. 35% of the world’s most visited websites are blocked.
And let’s not forget the king of internet censorship: China. China has the most extensive censorship program in the whole world.The great firewall of china makes it impossible to access websites like Twitter, FB, Youtube, Wikipedia or any google services. The government monitors your individual internet access and watches every step you take.
And there are many many more other countries that regulate the internet. If you are living in one of them or just traveling through, you may still want to get access to the free internet.
The solution: a VPN
The easiest way to access blocked websites, apps, and services in those countries is to use a VPN. When I traveled to China I had the problem that even most of the VPNs were inaccessible and only a few ones would work.
So you should definitely set yourself up even before you enter such country. One of the few VPNs that worked for me without slowing down my internet connection was for example SurfShark VPN.
A VPN is a must have for me, no matter where I am, because it also protects my own privacy by encrypting my internet connection and my personal data.
It ensures that nobody can see what I do online and on top of that, they block ads, trackers, malware and phishing attempts.
So how does it work? It only takes one click and my phone is connected. That’s it and it works on as many devices as I’d like at the same time.
So there are 3 main reasons why I’m using a VPN:
1) It saves mobile data and ensures faster browsing by blocking ads.
2) It protects me from data thieves who seek for my passwords, credit card information and so on while using public Wi-Fi. And I got hacked a lot of times before.
3) And of course because it lets me move around freely in the internet without restrictions.
If you need a VPN or simply wanna try it out go to this website. They offer one of the best VPNs on the market with a great discount.
The internet never forgets
Censorship in the internet is there for a reason. In some cases it protects us from harmful content like child pornography, terrorism or hate speech, but in other cases it just makes our life really difficult by blocking useful information. I believe that everyone should have the right to freedom of expression. We should have the right to have access to a diversity of online news media and the right to express ourselves.
Be aware that circumventing censorship may be illegal in some cases, so do some research on the laws and be always careful what you post on the internet. It’s the only place that does not forget.
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My Last Pakistan VLOG
It was my last day in Pakistan. Did I ever think that I would spend a whole month in Pakistan? Probably not, but I am so grateful and glad that I did. It was truly a life-changing experience and I will never forget my time in Pakistan.
The last week was spent exploring the Hunza area, traveling to Gulmit, Misgir, Sost and finally crossing to China at the Khunjerab Pass. My time in Pakistan was wild! For sure I will come back to see my new friends again and to tell more stories about this great country.
This was a very personal and emotional video for me and it’s very hard for me to express what I felt with words. It wasn’t my typical travel experience. Every day was different and special.
I crossed Balochestan, took a long night train to Lahore, became friends with a pakistani family on the very first day, explored Pakistans capital and surroundings, dressed up as a pakistani bride in Peshawar (my favorite part hehe) and went on a big roadtrip through Pakistan’s northern area. I hitchhiked and finally crossed the border to China. It was a beautiful and unforgettable time ?
I hope I can come back and also see the south of Pakistan.
Drone shots by Adeel! Check out his Instagram. He is an amazing traveler @adeelamer
The Perfect Roadtrip to Explore Taiwan (2 weeks itinerary)
Taiwan is one of my favorite countries for several reasons.
One of them is how easy and fun it is to explore the island.
And there is no better way than having an epic road trip in Taiwan – especially because the roads are safe and you can reach the most beautiful parts of the island without rushing.
So that’s what I did. I went on a two week road trip drive round Taiwan.
And that was kind of an epic adventure!
1. How to rent a car in Taiwan as a foreigner (e.g. with Chailease)
Renting a car in Taiwan is quite easy and usually not a big hassle. Keep in mind that it is required to bring your passport, driver’s licence as well as an international driving permit and you’re good to go!
To find a good car for the road trip there are a few local Taiwanese car rental companies. Some of them are:
- Chailease Auto Rental (中租租車): They are located all around Taiwan and that’s the one I used for my road trip. They were very professional, easy communication and super friendly service.
- EasyRent (和運租車)
- CarPlus (格上租車)
- Formosa Car Rental (九龍租賃)
It’s easy to book the car rental online and availability can be checked via hotlines as well.
I booked the car a week in advance and just went to the pick up location, showed them my documents and I was ready to start my adventure!
Taiwan has a great public transportation system and it is possible to go anywhere. BUT to fully experience the landscapes and enjoying the coast lines and hidden spots – a car makes everything so much easier.
2. The route (2 weeks itinerary)
To fully drive round Taiwan you should plan to stay at least two weeks on the island. Taiwan has so many things to offer! Ranging from tropical forests to beautiful coast lines, hidden waterfalls and vibrant cities.
Taiwan really has it all which makes it difficult to pick the best spots but the good part? A road trip is always spontanoues and gives you the freedom to go wherever it takes you.
Nevertheless, there are some hot spots in Taiwan you definitely shouldn’t miss! So here is my 2-weeks itinerary for a perfect road trip in Taiwan:
Click here to get to the google maps link for a detailed route.
Day 1-2 Taipei:
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan and should definitely not be missed out! It has so many things to offer that you can easily spend weeks there without getting bored and it is the best place to rent your car. My highlights for Taipei are visiting the night markets, seeing the city from above of Taipei 101 tower, strolling around in the endless shopping districts, visitng the National Palace Museum and the national Chiang Kai-Chek Memorial.
Day 3: Taichung (→ 170km, 3 hours drive):
Taichung is definitely one of my favorite cities in Taiwan! it is more laid back and you can eat great sea food here. Make sure to check out the instagrammable Rainbow Village for its colorful street art installation and for adrenaline junkies visit the racing track in the outskirt of Taichung.
Day 4: Qingjing Farm (→ 85km, 2 hours drive):
For an animal lover like me, this farm was the highlight of my road trip! The drive up the mounatin is simply beautiful and rewarding. What awaits you are many cute sheeps, fresh air and a green scenery. The farm is also known as “Foggy Eden” or the Switzerland of Taiwan and it was truly beautiful up there!
Day 5-6: Sun Moon Lake (→ 60km, 2 hours drive):
Taiwan’s largest and probably bluest lake of them all is the Sun Moon Lake. An oasis to relax or to go on a bicycle tour around the lake. Prepare the whole day to circumnavigate the lake as there are many stops to make during the 30km route. If you are not much into riding a bike there is also the possibility to hop on a boat and explore the lake’s surroundings by foot.
Day 7 Alishan National Park (→ 105km, 3 hours drive):
Get up early, because the most scenic moment is during the sunrise when the clouds shine in orange pink colors between the mountains. Wake up early, hop in your car, drive to the park entrance and get a ticket for the Alishan Forest Railway. A journey you will never forget! After the sunrise you will have plenty of time to hike inside the national park.
Day 8-9 Kaohsiung (→ 180km, 5 hours drive):
Drive the scenic roads until you get to Kaohsiung. There are also many places worth stopping by on the way (hot springs, forests, hiking areas etc.). In Kaohsiung itself it’s a must to check out the Lotus Lake with it’s colorful pagodas, the art district, having a gondola ride at the love river and making a day trip to Fo Guang Shan – an impressive Chinese Buddhist Monastery.
Day 10 Kenting National Park (→ 110km, 2,5 hours drive):
Going south means swimming in the ocean! There are plenty of white beaches, caves and coral reeves to explore. It’s also home to the best seafood restaurants of Taiwan, so don’t miss them out.
Day 11 Taitung (→ 160km, 4 hours drive):
While driving up the east coast of Taiwan you will realize how different it is compared to the western coast. Definitely check out Taitung Forest Park, have a massage and relax a little bit! You can drive to Brown Road, Dapo Lake and even get to know the aboriginal tribes of Taiwan.
Day 12-13 Hualien and Taroko (→ 170km, 4 hours drive):
Driving up to Hualien will for sure take your breath away as you will pass by Sanxiantai and drive along the 21km long Qingshui Cliff. It lays 800 meters above sea level and the crystal clear blue water is mesmerizing! Going further west you will encounter the Taroko National Park which is definitely worth a full day. And latest there you will be glad having a car! Taroko Gorge is a 19km long canyon with hidden waterfalls, turquoise rivers and dark caves.
Day 14 Back to Taipei (→ 190km, 5 hours drive):
The road trip is coming to an end and I recommend to avoid the highway going back as you will finish with some epic serpentines and a last scenic drive through coconut tree forests with old beautiful temples.
3. Is it safe to drive in Taiwan?
During the two weeks driving around Taiwan I never encountered a dangerous situation. The roads are well maintained, the traffic out of the big cities is very limited and I found Taiwanese drivers to be very friendly and tolerant. Noone is taligating and in general speed limits are not really high which makes driving safer but more relaxed.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind while driving in Taiwan as not everything is the same like in western countries.
- A rental car will most likely be automatic rather than manual
- People drive on the right side of the road
- There are speed cameras everywhere
- It’s illegal to use mobile devices while driving
- At most gas stations there will be attendants to help you fuel up
- Always watch out for scooters when changing lanes
- It happened a few times that cars overtook us from the right side (instead of left)
Having these rules in mind I can definitely say that driving in Taiwan in general is really safe and enjoyable. I never felt stressed. Even in the big cities I felt that other drivers would watch out for others and always put safety first. The roads in general are not packed at all.
Driving around Taiwan is a wonderful experience and I would say one of the safest countries to drive worldwide. Do not miss out that opportunity and next time when you come to Taiwan consider renting a car, explore the wild landscapes and have an epic road trip!
This is how Pakistanis treat Tourists in Lahore
I don’t wanna be emotional but I know that when I look back in a few years at this video.. it will make me cry.
Because behind every scene and behind every smile are other people that made this possible. People who showed us around. Locals that made us feel home at their home. Strangers asking for selfies. People who don’t have a lot and still insisting on treating us for lunch. And the list goes on.
And the crazy part?
I didn’t expect this at all.
Actually, I was kinda scared to travel to #Pakistan on my own even though I would consider myself well-traveled and open to other cultures. Still, I was scared that Pakistan would overwhelm me. But as soon as I crossed the border to Pakistan the police officers welcomed us with a big smile and a cup of tea.
And that sums it all up 🙂
ALSOO ->
I will make a movie called “Visa World“. It’s about borders and differences. It’s about a journey to the other side of the world and what it takes to fight global challenges. It’s a one (wo)man production because I believe that it doesn’t need much to tell a great story. I’m doing all this to collect donations for the charity KAUGMAON on the Philippines.
I know their work and it’s coming from their heart to give children a better life. If you are interested in the movie you can register for it on my website (for a small donation which goes to the NGO).
The movie ➸ https://travelcomic.com/change
Fairytale Iran
Iran is a magical country and I’ll never forget it! Whether hitchhiking through the rugged desert or chilling out on the crisp colorful sands of the island of Hormuz, there’s nothing like it!
I met friends for life couchsurfing through Iran during my short four-week stay. Even though I traveled solo there was never a scary moment. I felt safe and nurtured by these wonderful people who embraced me with open arms and open hearts.
I traveled for four weeks as a solo female through Iran and experienced the greatest hospitality ever! Thanks so much. During my time I visited the following places: Qom, Kashan, Abyaneh Village, Isfahan, Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Hormuz, Qeshm, Hengam Island, Kerman, Bam, Mahan, Rayen, Yazd and of course Tehran 🙂
My favorite places are the islands (I didn’t even know you have any haha). So beautiful and unique!
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Music by Max Lurya
Drone Shots by Dariush Bagheri and Tomás Arribas
This is how I dont get my stuff stolen when traveling – My 5 TIPS
Have you ever had your stuff stolen?
WELL, this happened to me!
During my travel in the past years, I’ve learned a lot about staying safe – especially because people actually tried to rob me and I had my stuff stolen a lot of times.
Even in my own home city. The place where I usually feel safe and confident.
But sh*t happens and lessons learned!
In this video and article I show you my 5 tips how I prevent myself from getting stuff stolen while hitchhiking, traveling solo and staying in hostels or doing Couchsurfing.
Especially when traveling with a laptop or filming gear.
1. Get a secure anti-theft backpack (e.g. from RiutBag)
I usually don’t give product recommendations, but I think for this article it’s very useful to mention my favorite things that I really trust when it comes to safety.
And the RiutBag backpack is just the best thing ever. It totally changed my life and made everything just so much easier.
You wonder why? I’ll tell you.
The best thing about this backpack is that it has no outer openings.
It means all the zips are hidden against the back.
So it’s impossible. Impossible. to open it while it’s on your back.
It’s waterproof and It has enough space for my laptop and camera gear.
And the best part: It just makes me feel comfortable wherever I go. Because I know that everything is really safe. Nobody can open it from the outside.
And isn’t it the most frustrating thing when you realize that you got something stolen because someone opened your bag while you were in a crowded place?
This happened to me a lot of times in the past.
I think not only everyone should have a backpack like this one, but every backpack should be designed like this.
So no matter if you’re traveling to a foreign country or if you’re commuting to work every day: Having a secure backpack is the most important thing!
You can find different versions of the RiutBag on their website here.
2. Wear a thin belt bag to store your emergency cash
Another thing that I always use when I’m traveling is a belt bag.
But not a big one, it’s important that it’s small and not visible to other people while you’re wearing it.
There I’m hiding a part of my money, an emergency credit card, my keys or whatever.
The most secure place is our body and we should always make use of it.
This belt bag is so thin that other people won’t even notice it when I’m wearing a dress over it or a T-Shirt.
And I really just use it for the most important things.
When I’m sleeping outside or in a train, it also has space to fit my phone in there.
And this belt bag really makes me feel relaxed while sleeping in a public space or just having it on me all times.
So if you don’t have a belt bag yet – get one!
3. Lock up your valuables with lockers
I learned the importance of locking up my valuables just on my recent trip.
Not only ask a lot of hostels for a separate lock or charge an extra fee for that.
The locks you get in hostels are also not necessarily that secure and can be easily opened by thieves.
So that’s why I usually carry a simple but secure lock with me which is also useful to no only lock up storage, but also doors, your bags, your camera gear, drones and your pacsafes.
There are thousand different kinds of locks available on the market but I think choosing one that is not too heavy but also not too simple to open is a good choice and carrying it around won’t feel like a waste of weight.
I know that people who really wanna open a lock will be able to open the lock. So keep that in mind but most of the thieves usually don’t plan to steal your stuff.
It mostly just happens randomly by strangers who see that your stuff is not secured and easily accessible.
So a lock will definitely prevent people from touching your stuff.
4. Prepare a dummy wallet and take it with you wherever you go
Everybody should carry a dummy wallet while traveling for mainly two reasons.
First: It is never a good idea to keep all your cash in one place.
So having a second wallet makes real sense if you just keep a small amount of cash in there.
So whenever you need change you know that you have this wallet and small notes are available. In some places where corruption is still a thing, it might help you as well to have a dummy wallet.
So if a police officer stops you and wants some money from you for whatever reason, you can show him your wallet and he will maybe leave you with a smaller fine because you have not that much cash on you.
For instance, this happened to me in Vietnam and Turkey and both times the officers didn’t want to make big trouble either and let me go.
Second: The second reason why traveling with a dummy wallet is a good idea is because if someone tries to steal your wallet or even wants to rob you.
You can hand this wallet over and it won’t be that big of a deal.
You won’t lose that much money and it maybe saves your life to cooperate with someone trying to rob you.
5. Secure your laptop in a portable safe
This is something I don’t own yet but it’s definitely on my list.
I was looking for something to lock up my laptop or camera gear while going out at night or when there is no locker available and you don’t wanna carry your laptop with you all the time.
The idea is to have a small bag that is as secure as a safe.
So I stumbled upon this website and I read really good recommendations about their products.
What’s definitely on my list is the Travelsafe which is basically a portable safe but it doesn’t necessarily look like one.
I think this will be very useful when traveling in hostels that do not have safes.
On my last trip, I was a little bit worried about my laptop sometimes because it happened that there was no storage available and I had to hide it under my pillow.
Anyway, this travelsafe is Almost like a small backpack and you can just lock it on the bed, around a tree or wherever and it’s really really hard to open it even with the right tools.
I can imagine that it’s so solid that It will add weight to your bag but I think definitely worth it in my opinion.”
Traveling is fun and life-changing. But it doesn’t mean that travel can’t be frustrating, or that accidents can’t happen.
You always need to be careful when it comes to your safety and your money. Which is exactly why I wrote this article and why I made this video. So I hope your next travel will be safe and see you next time!