ANKARA PARTLY CONQUERED [16-2404204]

Assalamualaikum, happy Monday evening. Hoho! Yep, I managed to get through my

Monday Blues with flying colours. Yeah! Well, I have it since I was in

my mom's comfy womb, no surprise. 

Last week, managed to go to Ankara for the second time when the first time it was

just my transit before leaving for Konya. It took 4 hour from Kocaeli

to Ankara, when my expectation was 6 hour. Good to know that!

Means that more to come any soon. Well, one thing about Turkey,

wherever you are going somewhere around Turkey, the journey from a

place to another seems like giving you a whole oxygen supply to your

lung. Trust me! The view just breath taking. Am sorry, there are no

pictures of the view when I was in the journey since am so deep into

the view, stunning I should say. Don't blame me. Haha! I love the place

because this land is such a blessed piece of land. 

I went there because Malaysian Prime Minister was going to deliver

a lecture about Globalizing Asia : Malaysia-Turkey Strategic Partnership

Conference. Arrived around 2 pm on Wednesday, and later on

staying at one of my friend's place near to the Gazi Uni. She is in first year

as a medical student in Gazi. What a brain. Haha. Went for

the dinner with Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamed and he is the Minister

of International Trade and Industry. We Malaysian students had

a chat with him yada yada. Fashion disaster, am wearing

jubah @ abaya with man boots. Haha! 

During the dinner, we met with quiet number of high profile people like parliament

members, businessman and met few beautiful ladies whose being married

to Turkish guy.In Ankara there are only 3 students, me, only one from Kocaeli. Haha!

Since am in the middle, I can be in Istanbul, Ankara and Bursa at any time. 

What a life am having eh. 

Next day, am accompanying my friend, Ika for being an interpreter

for our national television station, RTM. Since they cant speak Turkish vice versa,

they need help about it. So we managed to go places free by following media. Rezeki

tergolek oi.. Haha! First destination is Anitkabir, a sanction place for Turkish people.

It's a mausoleum of Mustafa Kamal Ataturk. It is a big place, it has

a big square. So over there, Datuk Seri Najib need to place a big flower wreath

thingy in honor of Mustafa Kamal Ataturk.

Yep, while waiting the whole congregation to arrive, Ika and I had a

good time sightseeing together. Haha! She is totally an inside crazy funny

kind of creature eventhough she is small in size, she is loud in heart. :D

(Ikam bayar aku untuk compliments ni)

Yes! One more thing, if you need an interpreter while you are in 

Ankara, let me know, Ika can help you with that but things

doesn't come free and cheap. Haha! While Ika and I having

time together and bonding, chewah, Aha and Suhana are

with other media escorting Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor,

our First Lady. Later, we had lunch together with those

businessmen that trying to find business opportunity here in Turkey

besides strengthen the existing business partnership. 

Around 2pm that day, we being dropped off at Kizilay since we cant

go into the Presidential Palace without tags. So off we went. 

Had a treat at Starbucks while waiting for Aah to finish

her class because she rushed to the class after the Business Luncheon.

An epic thing ever, Ika and I had a selfie with hour prime minister even from distance.
She is crazy. Haha!

On the next day, right after Ika finished her class, off we went to Kizilay, looking

for a  new sunglasses since mine smashed under my own chair during the lunch

with Prime Minister. Huh!Got a new but nothing can change my love to the 

old one. When I was crossing main road in Ankara, I feel like crossing

roads in London. Haha! Like a herd of sheep crossing road from two ends. 

Later that evening, my friends and I went to Uncle Adnan and Auntie 

Senem's house, meeting them. They are a friend to my uncle in

England, so since am here, I should go and visit them. MasyaAllah, they are

very nice, super nice indeed. Auntie Senem feed us with good food. Haha!

That's why, I do believe that good people comes with good food. May

Allah bless this family. And the kids, Burcu and Yigit. Nice!!

Well, uncle Adnan can play a tradiotional Turkish instrument, it looks like gambus

in Malaysia. Seriously, the food are awesome. Highlight of the day

were kofte, ispanak borek and the dessert. Offf!! Am coming again!

Ellerine saglik auntie!! :D And thanks uncle for sending us home, right in

front of the door. Whoops! Thanks to Burcu because taking us

to her house. <3

Back: Burcu, Nasihah (Aah), Zulaikha (Ika), Safura (Pura)
Front : Uncle Adnan, Auntie Senem, Yigit

On Saturday, Ika and I went to Ulus, sightseeing

and do a little bit shopping. Haha! We went to Haji Bayram Mosque,

there you can find Roman's ruins. The place is, no words can describe it.

But first, you need to love history, if not, you wont appreciate it. :)

At Haji Bayram Mosque, when I was waiting for Ika while she is 

performing her salah, I do my own sightseeing around the mosque,

admiring the architecture etc. Later, a Turkish man around 40s

greet me and asking me whether am Malaysian or Indonesian.

So I said am Malaysian and than, he started to speak Malay with me saying

''Saya orang Malaysia". Am left with my mouth wide open. Haha!

His name is Dr. Irfan and been living in Malaysia almost 25 years, he did his

PhD in UKM and married to a Malaysian woman. I was so surprised, his

Malay is so fluent, leaving me with embarrassment because I cant speak

his mother tongue as good as he is speaking mine. :) Then, we did some shopping

around Ulus, off to the Ankara Kalesi (left me breathless hiking and climbing

up a fortress with heavy boots)

But worth it, the view is so beautiful. Later, after Ankara Kalesi, we walk

to Hamamonu, a place that is surrounded by white buildings. Stunning!!!

look at them!! so cute!! haha! caught me eyes!

traditional way to make Turkish coffee. :) smells good!

Later that night, 3 of us make Malaysian dishes by ourselves. Especially

Ika and I, haha. Endangered species cooking? Seriously? The 8th wonder of the 

world perhaps. Haha! Ayam masak kurma oi! Sape tahan! Haha.

That day, we called the night off quiet early. Mihihihi! Tired! Very!

Surprisingly! On Sunday morning, Aah made roti jala, Ika made

curry as a gravy and me, making my mom's ultimate teh tarik

buih! Feel like home with the people. Good 5 days of weekend. 

Thanks to the people. Seriously! Loveeee from 

Kocaeli!! :D Thanks to Zulaikha Zubir a.k.a Ika for the tour,
Nasihah Hanim a.k.a Aah for the lodging, Uzer family for the
good food and warm hand, Suhana for the kuih ketayap. Mih3!