turkish tales

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!

Dinosaur Themed Garden Party for a Three Year Old

 ZAYD TURNED THREE!  Alhamdulillah 

We hosted a simple dinosaur theme garden party at home. As always, I used smart ways to bring the theme alive that don’t break the bank.

{Read my blog post for ideas on how I throw parties on budget with max fun!}

Here are the elements for the party with a few close friends:

Plates & matching crockery. This has a great impact. I bought a package this time including decor, so it was all in one no need to search for different items (and forget stuff!)

Table setting and food : We had roast beef sandwiches for hungry carnivores, savoury muffins, honey pancake rollups (made by my friend Ayesha- Martha Stewart recipe- yum) , dino eggs (grapes) for herbivores

                                         

Sugar free cake, iced with whipped cream (very tricky to work with as cream doesn’t whip stiff in Turkey!)

Mom’s Tea & treats: Sugar-full cupcakes for Mama saurus + tea/coffee

Snacks: Selection of healthy-ish nibbles for pekish dinos

Water Play: We had water balloons which was great fun and ideal for our summer heat to cool down.

Grateful that it went off well, (managed their minor moaning in the morning till friends arrived!). He says he loved the “cake” and “presents”  so mission accomplished! Alhamdulillah

Is your little one into dinosaurs yet?

Taskeen
Productive_Muslim_Mom

How to see 3 museums and 2 masjids in Istanbul Old City in a day!

A few weeks ago, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to do some sightseeing in Istanbul, after months of staying local to home due to the pandemic.

I had a few places on my bucket list and decided to tackle them
all on 1 day as I couldn’t be sure when I would get a chance like this again (given having the kids around during upcoming school holidays, various lockdown situations etc!)

(Tip: don’t recommend this itinerary  if you’re a savour the moment kinda tourist! But if you have limited time like me then this itinerary may work as you get to taste all the sites mentioned just enough to satisfy your FOMO!!) but as I live here, I do also know I could return insha Allah if I didn’t finish it all, so mindset is different. Also kids didn’t join us this time so super speed was possible! 

Note: On a random weekday everywhere inside was super quiet and outside was not crowded at all therefore social distancing was always adhered to.

Destination: Sultanahmet/Sirkeci Istanbul
How to get there from Etiler: Bus to Kabatas. Change to tram – stop at Gulhane Park. (1 hour)

First stop: Archaeological Museum- we love history! Interesting to understand how early inhabitants conceptualised life and death and religion. There are also art works through the years and lots of statues. Some buildings are closed off but still worth a visit.
Duration: 1 hour.

Coffee Break at Coffs in Sirkeci. Suitable if you’re in the area and in need of a coffee fix!

                                     
Museum of Science & Technology- fascinating to learn about the contributions made by muslims in this field. Our favourite (needed more time to read and digest). There are many sections. We had 45 minutes but probably 1-2 hours is better

Stroll through Gulhane Park. Must see for a break and breathe of fresh air

Dhuhr prayers and my first visit to Hagia Sophia since it has  returned asa a masjid.

The energy inside is very uplifting and strong. This incredible building has been a place of worship for 100’s of years and you feel it Alhamdulillah. I wish we had more time to soak it all in.
Note: women’s whudu facilities are located all the way on the opposite end at Blue Mosque currently.

Lunch stop – Kofte Ekmek at the famous Sultahahmet Kofteci across the road. It does the job but I fail to see what the big hype is except maybe its been around for a long while? We bought our takeaway and came back inside Sultanahmet square to eat it along the benches under the trees. They is now a checkpoint to enter so there are just two entrances to the complex that I saw.

Refreshed we were ready for the next visit to Masjid Sokullu Mehmet Pasha– do read up more on it as the history is interesting.

It is designed by Mimar Sinan and the most fascinating (and not that well-known) aspect is that it hosts 4 pieces of the Black Stone (Hajr Aswad from Makkah). 

It is quiet and peaceful, as in all masjid courtyards in Istanbul Subhanallah. It is closed between prayers, but we were fortunate to join another couple who managed to find a caretaker who kindly opened up for us. It’s mesmerising.

Here is one of the 4 pieces of the black stone placed on top of this mimbar.  It was so exciting to witness and I am so grateful we made it there, Alhamdulillah.

Quran through the ages. So interesting to see how style changes.
Very interesting to read about what influenced Muslim rule in the world through the decades, to where Turkey is today.

There are including relics of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). I cant speak to the authenticity, I myself was surprised to see it here as I only knew of Topkapi Palace that also hosted these historical significant artefacts. 

It was also of interest to learn about the clothing that changed through the years. You should spend 1-2 hours at this museum to do it justice.

Ice Cream stop before we headed back home. We ended our whirlwind tour at 3:30pm.

Exhausted, but exhilarated!

Tip: Museum Pass card got me FREE entry to all places. 

Other tips: Be prepared to walk. We hit 10 000 steps just at midday, to give you an example. Dress comfy, carry a light back pack with you. Bottled water is available and cheap. Use toilets at museums. 

Have you been to these places – which is your favourite site?  Which one makes it to your must checkout on your next trip? 

MbyDesign
The Organised Traveler

Travel: Discovering Balat and Fener

It’s been ages since I’ve travelled across the Golden Horn for good old fashioned sightseeing so on a rare mild weather day recently, we headed over to explore the historic neighbourhoods of: Balat & Fenner in Istanbul, Alhamdulillah. I had this on my bucket list as it’s usually cited as the slightly lesser known tourist spots as well as being interested to see yet another different side to this rich, captivating city! 

Situated near Eminonu, on the European side of Istanbul, there are several buses headed in that direction and we took the 99 Bus.

Being a random Monday, there were tourists milling around but it was crowd free and restaurants were quiet making social distancing easy and feasible everywhere we went. 

Equipped with a  guide book and Google maps on our phone, we walked around the area, stopping for breakfast and later snacks (Pancake house).

Here’s the highlights from our 3 hour self tour:

Breakfast at Balat Antik Cafe – beautiful garden setting with a great menu for breakfast, coffees with fresh gozleme and juices on offer.

                                   

Walking along between the significant sights, we came across charming streets, colourful tables, beautiful settings to admire or sit down and enjoy. There are also quirky stores, really nice to browse around and support local designers and stores.                                                
Funny street art -very apt! 
                    
  

Greek Orthodox College: A really interesting story is about how when Conqueror Mehmet conquered Constantinople (Istanbul today) he granted immunity for the Church of St Mary to remain a Greek church and the signed order is in the church today. This was how Christians, Muslims and Jews lived alongside each other. 

Mesnevihane Tekkesi- musjid, lodge where sufism was taught. This is located on a rather steep hill – but worth the short walk up to see these places and the view. There is also a musjid up here if you need a prayer stop.

                                                     
 There’s plenty of cute cats and cafes here, you’ll never get enough of. Make sure you have your camera and good walking shoes! It’s a worthwhile visit if you have been here a while or on your third or subsequent trip to Istanbul and want to experience a different vibe in the city. The walk itself around the area between sites is probably around 45 minutes. Adding in leisurely stroll, snack and meal breaks and that’s how we spent about 3 hours here.
Have you been to Balat or will you be adding it to your travel itinerary for your next trip? (when safe and feasible!) Share with us your favourite thing about this neighbourhood below.
Exploring Istanbul, one amazing little spot at a time,
Taskeen, travel happy!

Our recent FOREST EXCURSION to Kemerburgaz Kent Ormani

FOREST EXCURSION: Alhamdulillah, we took a much needed nature break recently. It’s been a long winter holiday home so we enjoyed a day out in nature for fresh air and a welcome change of scenery! 
📍Kemerburgaz Kent Ormani
We have been here before, but this time we discovered more as we went by car, whereas last time we went by taxi and therefore saw just what we could on foot! Check my previous post for details
on that visit.
This time we explored these areas:


 

Lake (Gol): 

It’s so beautiful to sit near and take in. There are just a few benches and tables near the lake to sit at for a picnic, as well as benches to sit on to view though its on a hill. 

However there is a long pathway alongside the lake where you can probably find more places to sit.


Forest : We drove along a little deeper into the forest this time, where it was super isolated. There are even playgrounds here- almost for our private personal use! We had our picnic  lunch here as well as nap and quiet time amongst the trees which was awesome.


bonus : hearing the adhan amongst the trees (yes they have a mescit – prayer facilities)

Animals: We were thrilled to come across a pygmy goat family. This is nearby to the main entrance on the way to the ice-rink

Rides: always a favourite- there is a carousel, train and water car rides – plenty of options. You need a ticket (20TL/ride- bit pricey but kids loved it) 

Sahlep in the forest


Food: I’m not sure if the restaurant is was open for takeaway. However there were two kiosks serving everything from fresh gozleme, sahlep, sandwiches, biscuits, drinks and snacks. Some hot food ran out though so I wouldn’t rely on it for main food but it was perfect for snacks.

This has become one of our favourite nature places out of the busy-ness of the inner city. Just great for a day out as there’s something for everyone!

Discovering Istanbul, one fun family spot at a time!
Taskeen,

@Productive_Muslim_Mom




Review : Polonezkoy Zoo -The Ultimate Guide including pics and prices

Overall: A great day out for the family to get a healthy dose of animals and nature away from the city.

Not a place to go out of your way for if you’re for tourist – but ideal for us animal-deprived Istanbullus!

There are aspects I am not so keen on like some animals being enclosed. However, as I understand these animals can no longer survive in their natural habitats and are therefore being kept here as a way to preserve their lives- at least that the view I am going with 🙂

Entrance fees and details:

They open at 9am at least during August when we visited. It was super quiet at 10am when we arrived but picked more by midday.

50TL adult, 30TL kids over 2. There are discounts for older people. Under 2 is free.

Duration of visit : 6 hours (2 adults, 2 toddlers under 4). We did 10am-16:30pm including naps, lunch and snacks.There are different sections to enjoy so you could structure your day best suited for little legs, the weather (its open and hot), and also meal times. There is enough shady areas and benches throughout for rest and picnics.

It’s divided into:  Animals, Playground, Fun Activities, Outdoor Adventure Park, Restaurant. It’s not that huge – like you can get from one side to the other fairly quickly. Maps are provided at the entrance and it’s handy to pick up one to follow.

polonezkoy zoo

There are different areas to walk around to view animals in their respective enclosures. This took about 1.5 hours. It is stroller friendly. We got the kids out of the stroller at times so they get closer to see like the birds in the pond, or the lake. There is also an enclosed “forest” area that you can roam in – not stroller friendly but it’s not big so you can take the kids walking. we saw donkeys, deer and emus. Some animals were following us around so we didn’t spend alot of time there. There is also another area to touch animals which we didn’t visit as our friends told us it was difficult to walk around – so we skipped it.

Fun Activities: Include kiddy car rides, mini train, Ferris wheel, pony and horse rides. Theres also carnival style games like giant bow and arrow/punching. Everything is old but there is effort to maintain and we saw them cleaning out the equipment beforehand.

Each activity is between 10-20TL. You purchase tickets at the reception (a few minutes walk away) and use them at the activity area to pay for each thing you are going on.

Food: 

Inside the park, there is one self service restaurant with an option of  made to order food (eg pasta, sandwiches etc) , or cook your own (mangal – barbecue meat and chicken). 

There is also snacks, ice-cream, desserts and fruit available for purchase. It is slightly pricey, but expected.

There is a beautiful outdoor setting with plenty tables. You are not allowed outside food, however they did not check.

                             

Playground: really exciting, novel play equipment like swings, climbing , tractors to sit in, basketball court and much more. You could spend alot of time here so do allocate accordingly.

                                                                


Covid measures: standard :staff wear masks and there is sanitiser at entrance and at restaurant. The
park was not over busy on a Sunday, meaning there was enough opportunity for social distancing.

How to get there: We took a taxi which was 80-90TL from Etiler (Istanbul), and it took around 35 minutes. To return, we weren’t sure whether we could get a taxi back easily and therefore booked a Progo car in advance to pick us up which was a minivan so a more comfortable ride as well.

There isn’t alot of detailed info available online on this park so I have decided to share our experience to help other families! Hope you have an enjoyable day. Please feel free to share a comment below or ask any questions from myself or the readers.

                                                                     

Exploring Istanbul, one outdoor place at a time,

Taskeen

@Productive_Muslim_Mom

Creating the Ramadan spirit: Iftaar Picnicking in Istanbul

Our days are busy in Ramadan, and especially with iftaar being quite late in Turkey during Summer, it’s usually difficult to meet up with people. However one weekend, my friends and I decided to arrange an iftaar together -and the idea was formed to join in the local Turkish community who partake in these “Iftaar picnics” at beautiful spots such as the Blue Mosque, or in our case we went to what seems to be everyone’s favourite musjid  – Suleymaniye Mescit in Fatih.

Suleymaniye Camii at Sunset

This fitted well into my little movement to generate a special atmosphere in Ramadan as I was missing the strong ramadan ‘vibe’,  living in a largely secular part of Istanbul (read my previous post),  So I was really excited to get out of the house, meet my friends and have a new experience in opening my fast!

We arrived at the musjid (cami/mosque) about an hour before Maghrib (dusk), as the sky was slowly turning darker on a pleasantly cool Summer’s evening. Our setup was simple, we brought along picnic mats and a dish of food each, and laid out our picnic in the beautiful open grassy area outside the cami  courtyard. The place was magical – entire families were sprawled on the open lawns with their iftaar ‘tables’ prepared, children were running around happy to be outdoors and meeting their friends. While we waited for the time to open our fast, we relaxed and chatted amongst ourselves, soaking in the atmosphere and really enjoying the spirit of everyone being at that place for the same purpose- to worship Allah in fasting in Ramadan.

I took a quick walk around to behind the cami, where another fascinating scene met my eyes- at the local restaurant located there, were rows of tables set up, with at least 400 people receiving the iftaar packs from a set menu that was offered that day. It was quite interesting to see such a large scale iftaar in progress, and everything seemed really well organised.

When the adhaan went off for Maghrib salaah (prayer), I went inside the musjid to pray. There were a handful of ladies only, and some kind women offered me dates to open my fast as well. This time, there was a jamaah for Maghrib salaah inside the musjid (read my post on what usually occurs in Turkey at maghrib during Ramadan) , however the loudspeaker was turned off and we couldn’t hear it – and therefore sadly couldn’t participate in prayers in congregation! Later I noticed some ladies who were standing closer to the males, not in the demarcated women section – and in this way they could join the jamaah- lucky them!

Each of my friends brought a super special dish to share in our iftaar -we were lucky to have xx, homemade scones, homemade South African chocolate cake and even a middle east speciality: ‘karak’ chai (milky, spiced tea) to finish. Being outside, in the fresh air and with enjoyable company was amazing – probably one of the best iftaar I have ever had in my life!

We were discussing how come the concept of these iftaar picnics donot seem to be present in other places- such as South Africa for instance. Some possible reasons we mulled over included the lack of safety meaning needing to be indoors when its dark, as well as the fact that musjid courtyards there aren’t exactly set up for socialising – they are usually just the means to enter the musjid so such kind of setup just wouldn’t work currently.

Anyway, it was an incredible experience, one that will stay with me forever I’m sure, and I am so grateful for the opportunity.

Injecting the ramadan spirit, one experience at a time
M4D