Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

Buyukada, Istanbul, Turkey Good afternoon from Singapore! Pikachu, Melon and I are back, so it's time to continue with our story at Buyukada. Be sure to check out the ferry ride and  Buyukada (Part 1)  as a refresher or if you haven't done so. The westernmost point of Buyukada is located at Dilburnu Nature Park, which is shown below.

Buyukada, Istanbul, Turkey Literally meaning 'big island', Buyukada is the largest of the nine Princes' Islands with an area of 5.46 square kilometres. Rich in history and culture, the island is inhabited by more than 7,000 people. Having two peaks, it's a perfect destination for a day trip for those who enjoy trekking.

Eminonu-Buyukada (1h 35m)          Buyukada-Eminonu (1h 40m) ETD: 10.00am (GMT + 3)                ETD: 5.35pm (GMT + 3) ETA:  11.35am (GMT + 3)                 ETA: 7.15pm (GMT + 3) Princes' Islands are a cluster of nine islands located to the southeast of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. I told my sister that my BFF and I'd like to go to the largest island called Buyukada for a day of trekking, and it turned out that she hadn't been there herself.

25 Piyer Loti Street, Istanbul, Turkey Daily: 9.00am - 7.00pm How many of you have heard about Theodosius Cistern? While the renowned Basilica Cistern is the largest surviving cistern that lie beneath Istanbul, Theodosius Cistern only covers an area of approximately 45 by 25 metres. It's once again open to the public after undergoing restoration work for 8 years.

Alemdar Street, Istanbul, Turkey Daily: 6.00am - 10.30pm Known to be one of the most expansive public parks in Istanbul, Gulhane Park is a historical urban park that was once part of the outer garden of Topkapi Palace . To think about it, it's funny that I actually forgot to visit the park when I stayed at Gulhane Park Hotel  back in December 2017.

3 Nobethane Street, Istanbul, Turkey Does anyone remember about my rather unpleasant experience at Gulhane Park Hotel ? Last December, I decided to stay in the same area again due to its prime location. Hotellino (4*) was my choice, which is actually located directly next to Gulhane Park Hotel.

AUH-IST (5h 20m) Airbus 330-200 ETD: 9.30am (GMT + 4)  ETA: 1 .50pm (GMT + 3) Today's post is on yet another flight with Etihad Airways. EY97 brought my BFF and me from Abu Dhabi, the UAE to Istanbul, Turkey for a reunion with my sister who's currently studying at Marmara University. Till date, I've gone to the city that was formely Constantinople three times.

Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi International Airport is the second largest in the UAE after - no prize for guessing - Dubai International Airport. It's spread over a total area of 3,400 hectares with two runways and three terminals, which are dominated by Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the country.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi (lit. Father of Gazelle) may be second to Dubai in terms of popularity and population count, but it's the capital city of the UAE with its city centre situated on an island off the Persian Gulf. It's thought that the name arose due to the abundance of gazelles, as well as a folk tale involving Sheikh Shakbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahya.

Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sat-Thu: 9.00am - 10.00pm Fri: 4.30pm - 10.00pm Blessed Ramadan to our Muslim friends! A visit to Abu Dhabi, the UAE wouldn't be complete without marvelling at the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Constructed from 1996 to 2007, it's the largest mosque in the country. During Eid, the mosque usually sees more than 40,000 worshippers and visitors alike in a day.

Al Alam Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sat-Thu: 9.00am - 4.00pm Fri: 3.30pm - 9.00pm Welcome to Part 2 of UAE Heritage Village, which is a reconstruction of a traditional desert village that you can visit for free. Do take a look at the Part 1 should you miss it. As previously mentioned, I shall post some photos of more workshops and the two museums available there.