Author: taskeentm

Our First Summer Holiday in Norwich: Discovering local gems and family adventures

This year has been a year of firsts, since we moved back to the UK so this past school holiday was new experience for us too!

This time we had no helper, friends and just 3 days with family, so it was all about navigating our way through, keeping kids and myself occupied – but also with plenty free play so we’re not overwhelmed too.

I wanted to capture the highs and lows, so I don’t forget myself. Because so much was going on, this also gives me a chance to process it as I look back on how it all went last 6 weeks!!

What I  found very tricky was keeping up the housecleaning schedule, work, having kids around and their needs and cooking.  I became overwhelmed and frustrated keeping all balls in the air.

By week 2, one of these 4 areas had to cut down. So I made some changes and decided to go more with the flow depending on energy levels on the day.

I did a week by week breakdown on my Instagram post here.

Overall, Alhamdulillah for all the opportunities and for making it through the struggles too! I found a huge difference with life in Turkey, but also learnt some ideas for making next summer better and easier.

Summary stats (not that anyones counting!)

– We visited 4 new parks and a splash pad in Norwich.

-Found another local library

– Explored 4 new beaches in North Norfolk and the Broads and an outdoor pool in the middle of Norfolk.

-Went to our first waterpark in UK – Butlins.

-Kids attended two summer clubs for a few days each – swimming and multisports,

-One Family reunion in Leicester, and two family bbqs.

-Three Thermomix events including hosting my first baking class and cooking at the hubbys work!

-One major illness that took me 3 days to recover from.

-Two birthday celebrations – a foot ball party and prawn curry night!

-Still saw 10 clients in August for BodyTalk and my new Lymph drainage support cause

-Made it for 1 halaqa at the masjid with kids in tow

-I managed to keep my weekly  Pilates class at least 5/7 weeks which kept me feeling active and relaxed 

Some evenings were very busy as I caught up with work and my own stuff 

Highlight: Great Yarmouth morning at the beach  

Lowlight: tummy bug that made me feel awful and missed out on our first stay over 

The kids seemed to have enjoyed their summer. Alhamdulillah the weather in England behaved for all of August – there was sun everyday, and even some hot days! I made a mental note to not leave UK in August to maximise sun and rather go end july or early September before schools open. Let’s see 🙂

For now, the focus is on the new school year and settling in Insha Allah. Till next half term and we do it all again!

How was your summer? Any highlights to share?

Exploring Norfolk’s Best Beaches: A Muslim Mom’s Family-Friendly Guide

We have been exploring the beautiful beaches in Norfolk, and keeping score as we go along!

As a muslim mom of two, my criteria includes being able to play on the sand comfortably, get halal (or vegetarian) food nearby and walk along the beach. I have long given up actually swimming as the North Sea water is far too cold I’m afraid!

As we live in Norwich, most of the sea side towns we have been to this summer, are maximum one hour away so we could easily go out for a day trip and be back well before bedtime. Browse through the slideshow below to get feel for the places we have visited so far!

So here is how the beaches stack up against each other, so you can plan a great day out. I will update this post as we visit more beaches, so bookmark this post so you’re always up to date!

Best forSoft sandCafe/ Restaurant on sitePromenadeOverall Score (out of 10)
1. Wells -Next-The-Searelaxed play on the sand, scenic views, seals, playground nearbyyyn7
2. Gorleston-on-seaSmall beach town, splash pad, playgroundyyy8
3. Great Yarmouthfun packed family time with everything including hotelsyyy9
4. Caister -On-Seaquieter spotynn5

If you have visited these places, do you agree with my review or do you have any other info to add? Lets make a full list so we can have the best tried and tested info in one place!

A Muslim Mom’s Travel Tips to having a blast in Kuşadası

Here’s an ideal holiday destination if you want to balance beach bliss and sightseeing!

It’s not as well known to people outside Turkey, but this is one of my favourite beach destinations in Turkey – it has much more natural feel and has lots of history and things to see.

I’d say you could get : Resort (70%) + sightseeing (20-30%) which is perfect for me with two kids under 7.

Sightseeing :
1. Ephesus ( ancient city and ruins) – full post on this here

2. House of Mary (May Allah be pleased with her). I didnt know about it, so it was fascinating and heart warming to visit.

3. Castle / town centre walk – for the castle there is small climb up, sweeping views. Covered spots. Worth it to discover a new view and beautiful setting. The town walk is short, but it was still nice to stroll through and get an ice cream to cool down.

4. Marina and Boat ride – 1 hour trips gives you a lovely view of the seaside and town. It was lovely and cool on board. There are several boats along the walkway so we just chose the first one leaving as they are all similar prices.

Next time: I’d like to check out a water park in Kusadasi to add a different activity to the resort stay.

Duration: 3-5 days for a relaxed break in this city to check out the sites and to relax at the hotel. (we would jump into the pool every day after touring!)

How to get here: Fly to Izmir, 1 hour drive to Kusadasi

Alhamdulillah, though it was so hot mid July, we had a blast. I’ll share a longer blog post on Maryam AS house soon 🙂

So if youre looking for a little adventure and history besides beach fun , I hope you add Kusadasi to your Turkey summer ☀️ itinerary Insha Allah!

What’s your ideal summer coastal holiday split between beach and sightseeing?

Through the streets of Istanbul: My experience discovering the city’s distinct neighbourhood vibes

Alhamdulillah , I’ve spent countless hours wandering through charming streets of Istanbul, whether it’s for sightseeing, people-watching, or simply soaking in the atmosphere.

What hit me, is the distinct feel that each neighbourhood contains. It adds to the interesting history and experience of Istanbul, and it means you’ll never tire exploring this colossal city!

So heres what I have discovered:

Uskudar

This charming neighbourhood is rich in history and culture.

At any given moment, you will hear 2-3 adhan at the same time and there is a distinct Muslim feel such as in Ramadan.

There are plenty restaurants, local stores, markets and a promenade to walk along the Bosphorous.

Here’s a link to my top 6 best things to see in Uskudar

Arnavutkoy: For good coffee, a lovely stroll along the Bosphorous or to see the unusual and beautiful houses. I came here once for sunrise and it was spectacular Alhamdulillah.

Balat and Fener

Balat you will go to for something different – so many interesting things to see in the streets, like colourful walls and quaint cafes and stores.

There are historical monuments to see as well so makes for a great day out to share amazing tourist photos on Instagram!

I wrote a longer post on spending a full day out here – you can read it here

Bebek, Besiktas

Here you find modern cafes, smart cars and beautiful Bosphorus views.

Bebek Parki is a gorgeous little park with kids playground, sandpit and area to ride bikes.

There are kumpir and waffle, ice cream places dotted along the streets near the Bosphorous, so you could takeaway your lunch and sit near the boats and relax in the evening.

Cihangir

 Street walks and views. Lovely breakfast spots and independent coffee shops.

Taksim

One of my favourite places in Istanbul because the vibe there is unparalleled!

Most people come here for street shopping, and while you do get almost the same stores at a mall, theres just a lively tourist feel here thats appealing. I do recommend to soak in the atmosphere

You’ll find a variety of cuisines in Taksim – including some of the best Indian/Pakistani and Iranian food in the city.

Theres plenty of street food options as well, so come hungry!

You can also visit the museums such as Illusions, Madame Tussauds.

The new Taksim Camii near Taksim square is worth a check out.

Galata

The area around Galata tower is filled with vibrant windy streets and funky stores!

Behind the tower, is the famous Viyana Kahve for San sebastian cheesecake – look, their cholcoate topping is good but take it from me – you could get this anywhere in Istanbul so dont feel disheartened if you miss it here!

Anyway, I have roamed this area at night (be more careful with tourists etc) and in the day, and its always busy!

Besiktas

Transport hub, with connections to all over the city. Always busy, plenty of great places to eat at and shopping here is also good. There are a few museums worth checking out near the Bosphorous.

Başakşehir

This is up and coming neighbourhood, with lots of expats here, there are international food options.

Plenty of parks and open spaces that have been created.

Near to Mall of Istanbul, a mega shopping centre.

We would only venture here to meet our friends, otherwise its quite far out from the Besiktas centre so wouldn’t simply recommend!

Emirgan

Lovely, leafy neighbourhood, near the Bosphorous.

There are restaurants and cafes alongside, where you could take relaxing walks.

Emirgan park is worth a check out – its on a hill so I suggest starting on the top and making your way down 🙂 There are playgrounds, picnic spots, restaurant, tulip garden in season (April/May) and a small pond and waterfall.

Sultanahmet

The historic centre in the old part of Istanbul. There always a buzz here too, of course unmissable Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and other museums and important sites.

You could wander around here till you get to the Grand Bazaar – enter if you have the right amount of energy (and money!) to!!

Dont forget the streets of Sirceci for shopping and picking up a bargain (with haggling!).

Its quieter at night, not really a hang out spot, but there are plenty of dinner places here so youll always have something to do if you are staying in the area.

Rumeli Hisari
Another great place to take a relaxing stroll along the Bosphorus, eat out at any of the delightful cafes and restaurants and visit the Rumeli Fort (closed at time of writing this post) which is one of my favourte places in Istanbul

Karakoy

Has a chilled, hippie kind of vibe! Here you’ll find very distinct coffee shops, has a great nightlife. Near Galataport so makes for a good place to hang out for the afternoon. Filled with interesting streets to discover and lots of photo opportunities!

Ortakoy

Another amazing area to explore for a local vibe if you’re walking through the streets – markets with fresh fruit, homeware and street cafes.

Or you could head for the sahil to the Ortakoy Camii thats on the water which is beautiful and peaceful inside.

For food, go for kumpir and waffles or dine at any of the restaurants – great at night or during the day – its always busy!

There are a few open market stalls for souvenirs and jewellery. A small playground to keep the kids happy while you shop around!

There you have it, a run down of all the big areas in Istanbul, for weeks of exploring!

Which is your favourite spot to hang out at?

Discovering Ephesus, Turkiye

Step back to a 2000 year old city filled with history and mystery! 

Alhamdulillah, it’s been on my bucket list for ages, so I was so grateful when we were able to visit this important historical site last summer.

It was fascinating and exhilarating viewing this remarkable archeological site- once a thriving Greek/ Roman city.

What’s to do there?
We basically walked through different significant ruins, including the underground city reflecting on pervious civilisations that lived there and created this city. You need about 2-3 hours.

We began the day with a visit to House of Mary (Maryam, may Allah be pleased with her) – see next post about that.

Top tips:
– the reviews are right that there’s limited shade! Dress cool, carry enough water and snacks
– we combined it with a stay at the beach in Kusadasi
– we carried a water spray bottle and umbrella to stay cool
– rocky, uneven path but stroller needed for smaller kids.
– we paid a guide which helped to bring it alive otherwise you’re just looking at piles of stone!

viewing the underground city
water spray bottle was a lifesaver!

We learnt alot from the guide, and found every area fascinating.

There’s so much to take in, I loved the whole vibe (albeit an extremely hot day )

Do you love historical sites? What strikes you about Ephesus? Would you go?

Kicking back in Kemer

Read more about our holiday in Kemer in Antalya: A splash in the sea, a stroll on the beach and a journey back to prehistoric times! 

This summer, we decided to explore Kemer, Antalya, intrigued by the DinoPark I’ve had on our list for a while. But we also discovered a new region on the Turkish Coast, with lots of kid friendly and family fun.

Things to do in Kemer

1. Kemer Merkezi : town centre, clock tower, pedestrian shopping street, statues in garden (1-2 hours)


2. Kemer Marina  : Halk public beach with very pebbly sand!, restaurants, playground near beach (2-3 hours)  


3. Dinopark : Goynuk  (3-4 hours) See special  post on Instagram.


4. Moonlight Park : private beach clubs with softer sand , Yoruk Park : historical display of Turkish tribes plus majestic sea views (1 hour – depending on time at beach) 

Other things to do : Mount Olympus Teleferik (cable car) which we didn’t do this time, but I was very tempted to do so hopefully next time!

Food:
There are plenty restaurants around. They range in mid to high prices. I recommend the Dominos as it was as super cool inside with the airconditioner and the menu and food was good.

Getting around: 
Taxis were charging set rates in €. 100 TL for basic 10 minute journeys.
Walking is possible but it’s quite hot. I recommend strollers or scooters for kids to get around. 

I recommend 2 -3 days in Kemer , including spending some time at your hotel pool to break up the daily outings. Your itinerary with small kids could look like:

Day 1: Travel + chill at hotel pool. Take a walk in town centre in the evening and have dinner. 
Day 2: Olympus Teleferik . Moonlight beach, Yoruk Park, Marina walk + dinner
Day 3: Check out of hotel and visit Dino Park, Goynuk on way back to airport (or another area in Antalya past airport eg Lara, Side, Belek)

Have you been to Kemer or is it on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments what you loved most or what you’re most excited to see. Let’s create a travel community right here!

What to see and do in Ayvalik for a beach break with small kids

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An escape from the city to Anadolu Kavagi

We love the hustle and bustle of Istanbul , but every now and then we welcome a break for fresh air and new sights.

This time we visited Anadolu Kavagi in Beykoz, on Asian side. This is a small village located at the point where the Bosphorus meets the Black sea. There are charming little sights to take in and and breath taking views.

Here’s a full day out itinerary you could follow:

  1. Walk around the little town, marveling at the charming houses (10 minutes)

2. Climb up Yoros Castle discover the ruins, take in the sweeping views, and see the furthest point of the Bosphorus. You could eat at the restaurants up there, but everything is priced at a premium. (1 -2 hours)

3. Visit tomb of Prophet Yusha (AS). There are signs in English. There’s a cami with full facilities there too where we prayed Jumuah. (1 hour with salaah)

4. Eat fresh fish at the seafood restaurants. Look for “alkolsuz” (no alcohol) for a more halal version.

5. Have local dondurma (ice cream) to cool down 🍦

We took a ferry from Sariyer to Anadolu, (15 minutes) and the ferry back stopped right at Bebek ( EU side) making it super convenient (1 hour)

It was a fabulous day out Alhamdulillah for a breather and being in unspoilt nature.

Would you like to visit? I feel like everyone would have their own special experience there with the unique sights, sounds and feels. Let me know what you love the most about it!

What helps me making sense of tragedy – developing through difficulty

I’ve been grappling with trying to process the effects of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

Such a huge tragedy that has affected millions of lives – it’s alot to get your head around. Some of us are not directly impacted, but living in this country, we are impacted none the less.

My starting point in processing, is to understand it in my own mind. To do that, I consider the context, impact, and whats incredibly insightful has been shining an islamic lens on it to see it from that angle.

I don’t have a clear picture to share as yet – but these resources have been very beneficial to me in providing me some perspective and to organise my thoughts. I would like to share in the hopes that I also inspires you and gives you deeper understanding too.

1. Pop-Up Healing Circle for the Earthquake in Turkey, Syria, and the surrounding regions from Maristan

This presentation had mental health professionals, Drs and community leaders with humanitarian work experience unpack what trauma is faced after crisis, for both those affected directly or facing secondary effects. It helped me give a name to the feelings I was having.

2. Understanding decree and command of Allah by Imam Shuaib Webb
This was a live zoom meeting – but he summarises a key point in this clip on his Instagram page. I felt validated, comforted by his words and he gave alot to think about. Favourite quote:

“Your stability for your kids will calm their instability in face of the earthquake situation”

3. Why does Allah allows earthquakes and suffering by Imam Omar Suleiman

This short talk gave me so much hope and acceptance. I was reminded how as Muslims we know that our pain has a purpose. Everything we go through is to teach us something and is part of something bigger we are working for. My favourite point was about how as people of faith, we have the golden gift of “perspective”. So lets use it to work through this tragedy.

Do you have any great links that have inspired you through adversity? How have you been processing the recent events, what helps you to get through difficult times?

Rainbow and Cloud Themed Birthday

I searched the Internet for inspo for my 6 year old’s birthday and there wasn’t much available! So here is my contribution if you’re also planning a party or event with this theme!

I enjoy making my kids’ cakes every year, and this year my 6 year old asked for a rainbow cake . I knew that icing an actual rainbow would be a high level effort and difficulty (especially with whipped cream since kids don’t eat sugar so traditional buttercream or fondant isn’t an option!)

So I came up with the idea of doing a cloud cake, and used toppers to bring across the rainbows and more colour. Easy, cute and perfect to meet all her rainbow requirements!

How I made the cake:

1. I baked the cake (low sugar version thats why it doesn’t rise so high) in a rectangle pan, and using a template from baking paper, I cut out a cloud shape.
2. I covered the cake in unsweetened cream, using back of a spoon to make a neat pattern for the fluffy clouds.
3. I made the cloud’s eyes and smile from blue paper, with a backing of cut out cardboard from a box so it does not get soaked into the cake.
4. I placed rainbow and unicorn toppers I bought online from Trendyol, sprinkled glitter over and the cake is ready!

The rest of the theme came together with rainbow/cloud plates and serviettes.

We took the cake to school, and all the kids enjoyed it so much (most came back for seconds!) so overall it was a success Alhamdulillah!

Did you ever make a cloud rainbow themed party? What elements did you include?