Unplanned Trip to Büyükada (Prince Island)

Bismillahirahmanirahim.

Welcome Winter. Yesterday marked the start of the first day of winter, winter solace. Nisa on Friday upon finishing class came to hang out with me. I am supposed to meet Kak Hanis late noon but she was a bit busy upon arrival in Istanbul. I first brought Nisa to my favorite coffee shop Dopamine for her to get a sip of my happiness. I was having a little headache due to lack of caffeine and decided to take machiatto with two shots. Nisa went for Chocolate Latte. While sipping the cup of coffee we talked on numerous thing. From studies to reading to self rediscovering. I then came out with an idea of short escape out of Istanbul and the nearest we can go to is islands nearby Istanbul. At the coffee shop, we didn't come into agreement on which Island to visit but later on agree upon Büyükada (Prince Island) as both of us have yet to visit that one. 

From the coffee shop, we make our way to Istanbul Forum. I was aiming for a few items to bought and at first going there to meet kak Hanis. As winter approached my skin started to experience dryness. I remember using the body shop shea body butter and it works well on my Asian skin. Back in Malaysia, the prices range is around rm 50/60 but when checking at the store here puff its around 100tl. A huge difference in price thanks to inflation that Turkey is facing. I then decided to visit gratis (Turkish version of Watson or Guardian) for cheaper local brand lotions. Upon arrival at the shop, I was at awe. They are having Christmas sale and most of the product were on discount. We then go to Golden Rose as I've been eyeing for a new color for my nail colors collection. I ended up buying a nail color which is nude matte and a nude coffee lipstick.  As a woman, it's hard to resist when there is a sale and always ended up buying thing which is of lists.  I always make a list of thing that I want to buy so that I won't overspend nor overbuy things. Other than making a list, I will always ask myself is it a need or just desire from there I could control my spending. I am a person who rather spends my money on books than on unnecessary things. We then make our way to Ikea for dinner. While chewing the famous meatball we decided on going to Büyükada. We texted a few friends inviting them to go for the sudden trip. Most of them can't make it due to meetings and finals but later Hafizan and his assistant Musta'in decided to join us. 

I and Nisa after filling in our stomach make our way to Carrefour which is located in Forum Istanbul to buy some items to make food for the trip. We decided on a tuna sandwiches, pomegranate juice, some finger food, and chocolates. Done with the shopping we head back home. At first, we were thinking of sleeping upon reaching home but ended up nail polishing and putting on masker. A girly thing which is a kind of therapy for girls. We slept a bit late but managed to wake up early and prepare the package for the trip. 

The next morning, we woke up, packed food and make our way to Eminönü. Upon arrival the boat we should be taking will take off in 5 minutes time but Hafizan and his friend are yet to arrive. We are a little sad with it but while waiting for them we came out with some other option which is Balat or Yildiz Park as an alternative. When they arrived we head straight to the bus stop and subhanaAllah when passing by the Turyol it was stating that the next boat to büyükada is at 1240 noon (that was 10 minutes more). We decided to take it and Alhamdulillah Allah has already decided for us to visit Büyükada on that day. It took around 1 hour and 30 minutes to arrived at Büyükada or Prince Island. The cruise was not smooth and did trigger my anxiety as the tide was so strong that day. I have the vision of sunk boat and etc but Alhamdulillah we reach the Island safely. 

The Princes' Islands are a chain of nine rather small islands in the Sea of Marmara. They evolved from a place of exile during the Byzantine era, to a popular destination for tourists and Istanbulites alike to escape from hectic life for a day. Of those nine islands, only four of them are open to the public : Büyükada is the biggest next to it is Heybeliada, Burgazada, and Kinaliada. 

As the boat approaching the jetty, I was so happy and later stepping my feet on the land makes me happy as it was a thrill boat ride. First stop is the mosque. We used google map to find for the mosque. It was a historical one as it was built by Sultan Abdul Hamid II in 1895 and was named Hamidiye Camii. Walking through the route in Büyükada it felts relax, there is no car at all. The people of the island mostly used electrical vehicles and not to forget the horse carriage (most islands is famous for it). After prayer, we decided to eat the food we prepared before we set off to explore the Island. While eating we have lots of company by cats. I could say that this Island can be known as Cat Island too because there are so many cats around. They are fluffy and friendly too. 

We walk from the mosque later around. While walking I'm mesmerized with the building designed which is of 20th centuries design and of course Mediterranean style. The urban design of the island is very standardized, the house was built parallel with each other and painted with colorful colors. The people of the island is kinda friendly, we even had a brief session with kids who are playing with football by the street. We make our way to the city center where we can see the view of Istanbul from far. We set on next to take a horse ride around the Island. We called it Fayton (Horse Carriage). 

The horse ride was around 45 minutes and we had a stop somewhere in the peak area of the island as the horses need to rest for a while. I felt so sad on behalf of the horses because of the need to carry a heavy carriage and me with the rest. I decided during the stop to make friend with the horses one name sirin and another lemen. Sirin is lovely and as her name but the other one is a little shy. We then make our way back to the starting point of the ride and walk to the ferry jetty. As planned to make our way back to Istanbul at around 1730pm. We arrived in Eminonu at around 1900pm. 

The trip was a healing retreat for myself. Its been a while since I visited new places. I always hope to have a break from my normal life and surrounding. Let it be in Istanbul nor in Malaysia. Alhamdulillah Ala Kulli Hal for the day. SubhanaAllah  Kun Fa Ya Kun, when Allah permits it to happen it will. The air in Büyükada is so clean and the surrounding is serene. With green and historical sites, it is a short escape that heals. One thing I learned is that the limitation one is experiencing in within oneself not others. Be the best for yourself and love yourself. Another thing will come accordingly. Keep your cycle positive, help and love others too. With that, you will live a life with tranquility and happiness. 

p/s: thanks to Nisa, Hafizan, Musta'in for the company to Buyukada. 

Salju 2018

Bismillahirahmanirahim

Semalam. Adalah hari pertama salju turun dengan lebat walaupun jisimnya tidak padat tetapi cukup untuk menggembirakan hati si anak rantau ini. Saya ketika itu sedang menghirup kopi panas di kedai kecil berhampiran dengan tempat immigresen untuk proses permohonan "resident permit". Indahnya hari itu adalah apabila saya sebenarnya sepanjang hari berdebar. Kerana permohonan kali ini sendiri. Bannyak tribulasi dalam permohonan tersebut. Tika waktu diri menyaksikan salju, Iyka ada bersama. Sungguh saya sangat gembira kerana sedari hari sebelumnya saya terfikir siapa yang akan menemani dan saya sentiasa berharap serta berdoa ada yang ingin menemani diri ini. Alhamdulillah Allah utuskan Iyka. 

Pagi semalam mendung seperti hari-hari lain dan sejuknya tidak payah cakap, sampai ke tulang. Selalunnya kalau redup sahaja dan sejuk luar biasa, itu petanda salju bakal turun. Saya bangun tidur terus mandi dan memanaskan bihun yang dimasak malam sebelumnya sewaktu Riad, Afifi, Amal dan Balqis datang. Sarapan dan kemudian terus bersiap dan menyemak kembali dokumen yang perlu dibawa untuk ke temu janji "residen permit" tersebut. Debar dihati hanya saya yang rasa. Selepas siap saya dan Iyka memulakan langkah dengan ke kedai untuk print dan photocopy. Langkah dicepatkan kerana hujan renyai mula membasahi bumi dan suhu semakin turun. Saya mengambil telefon dan menyemak suhu, Oh my suhunya 4 degree celcius tetapi feels like -6. Terus saya tepuk dahi. Patutla sejuk menusuk. 

Kami menaiki Metro line 1 ke arah Yenikapi, tukar stesen ke metro line 2 menuju ke Sisli. Sesampai di Sisli Mecideyekoy kami menaiki bas 30 M yang berhenti di perhentian Telefon Bas Mudurlugu. Oh ye lupa pula nak cakap. Selalunya temu janji untuk buat "resident permit" dilaksanakan dibelakang rumah iaitu headquarters Immigresen tetapi kerana mereka sedang melaksanakan renovasi saya telah diberikan Besiktas Il Goc Idaresi untuk temu janji. Sesampai di stesen bas tadi saya keluarkan telefon bimbit dari kocek dan membuka aplikasi map untuk mencari tempat tersebut. 6 minit kemudian kami sampai ke destinasi. Debar mula kencang tetapi hilang apabila di sapa pegawai polis disitu yang sangat ramah dalam membantu dan melayan mereka yang hadir ke tempat tersebut. Mereka menyemak dokumen saya dan kemudian memaklumkan untuk datang semula selepas jam 1 kerana mereka akan berhenti rehat tengahari. 

Saya dan Iyka melangkah keluar dari bangunan tersebut dan terus ke arah bas stop tadi. Dalam berjalan ke arah situ sambil berbincang kerana saya belum membayar yuran untuk permohonan kami terlihat satu kedai kecil. Seakan kedai kopi dikawasan itu. Konsepnya rusty and woody. Kami mengambil keputusan untuk duduk menunggu di situ. Rupanya memang best disitu! Masuk sahaja bau kopi semerbak, saya si peminat kopi tegar terus terasa seperti di awan kerana bau itu bisa memberi kebahagian. Saya menempah Cappucino dan Iyka mengambil White Chocolate Mocha. Kemudian kami duduk disisi kedai. Berborak tentang beberapa perkara. Seketika kemudian saya yang menghadap ke cermin kedai terlihat titisan putih seakan cotton/buih sabun yang turun terkadang deras dan perlahan turun dari langit. Sungguh salju turun! Awal tahun ini tapi memberi kebahagiaan. Bila di semak di aplikasi suhu pufff 0 degree celcius dan rasa sebenar -8 degree. Patut rasa sejuk dia lain macam. Orang Asia yang berdua ini gembira tak terkata kerana salju adalah benda yang tidak ada di negara kami walaupun sudah berkali-kali kami melihatnya. 

Kurang lebih sejam di kedai tersebut kami berjalan kembali ke pejabat yang saya ada temujanji. Tika itu salju turun dan kami excited walaupun ia tidak mampat tapi cukup memberi  kebahagiaan. Saya yang debar menanti waktu temu janji hilang rasa itu. Masuk ke pejabat pegawai polis tersebut meminta saya terus ke tingkat 4 menaiki tangga dan dihantar dokumen. Disitu prosesnya cepat dan polis bertugas disitu sangat baik hati dan memberi penerangan serta membantu proses yang diperlukan. Saya yang belum membuat pembayaran yuran permohonan diminta dijelaskan yuran tersebut dan kembali ke bangunan tersebut. Diberi penerangan tempat bayaran iaitu Vergi Dairesi cabang Besiktas serta diberikan slip alamat tempat berlalu pergi bersama Iyka. Kami berjalan dalam salju dengan rasa sejuk beserta angin yang kuat. Dari situ terus dibayar dan dihantar semula borang dan alhamdulillah semua selesai. Sekarang saya hanya perlu tunggu lagi sebulan untuk ikamet sampai ke rumah. 

Usai di Il goc idaresi Besiktas kami menuju ke Besiktas Meydan untuk ke kedai Burger kerana Iyka ingin sekali makan burger di kawasan tersebut. Kami memilih untuk pergi ke Yuri Burger! Sedap! Kemudian untuk dessert kami ke Mendel Chocolate Shop yang selalu dikhabarkan Hidayah. Sedap juga! Calories not to count day because its cold. I need to eat to burn them off. hahahaha. Kami pulang sekitar kurang lebih 6 petang. Dengan menaiki bas 28T seusai naik terus kami duduk dan tidur. Kami bangkit ketika hampir sampai ke destinasi kami iaitu Capa Tip. Dari situ dengan pisat dimuka saya terus ke kedai kopi Dopamine untuk minum cay dan sebelum itu ke kedai sayur membeli bekalan sayur. Sungguh rasa seperti sudah berhari-hari tidak makan sayur hijau. 

Sewaktu masuk ke kedai kopi tersebut saya terus disapa barista disitu. Nama beliau Yavuz Abi. Beliau sudah seperti abang saya kerana saya sering ke situ untuk mendapatkan kopi di grind segar. Abi berkata saya kelihatan seperti penat. Sebenarnya saya itu baru bangkit tidur.. Winter Tea adalah pilihan saya untuk memanaskan badan. Saya dan Iyka meneruskan bicara hati ke hati. Abi Yavuz kemudian menyapa kami dan satu perkataan yang terkesan yang diberikan beliau adalah bila kita serabut atau tidak menentu dengan zaman cuba terbalikkan perkataan itu dan jawapan untuk menghilangkan rasa itu ada disitu. zaman (masa dalam bahasa melayu) jika diterbalikkan adalah namaz(solat dalam bahasa melayu). Saya terdiam dan berfikir. Sungguh abi ini utusan Allah untuk menasihat. Setiap peringatan atau perkara itu getus baiknya Allah akan beri untuk orang itu dan sekelilingnya. 

Oh ye kedai kopi ini bukan hanya kedai semata tetapi tempat saya belajar dari orang biasa yang hatinya luar biasa. The real means of don't judge the book by its cover. Disini juga trust saya di restore semula. Disini juga saya punya kawan baru yang banyak mengajar tentang kehidupan. Sungguh satu hari nanti saya ingin ada tempat seperti itu. Sebuah kedai kopi kecil tetapi dengan tambahan sudut membaca. Kopi juga saya rasa simbol perpaduan dan kehidupan. Biji kopi memberi nafas dan kehidupan buat semua. 

Akhir hari saya pulang ke rumah dengan rasa syukur. Kerana hari yang turunnya salju adalah hari yang penuh pengajaran untuk kehidupan. Bukan mudah untuk belajar dari hidup. Kerana setiap kita ada ego. Apa yang perlu kita buat adalah belajar dengan mata hati dan dengan hati terbuka. Berlapanglah dada ! Lihat dan amat sekeliling kerana disitu ada yang boleh dipelajari. Dalam hidup ini kalau hanya duduk disatu tempat dan mengulang perkara sama, mengikut kata hati tidak akan ke mana. Cuba bertoleransi dan belajar dari alam. Moga semua dapat merasa dan memberi. Terima Kasih Allah. 

nota kaki : Giving doesn't make you get less. Memberi tidak bermakna kamu dapat kurang :)

2314pm

Meja Belajar Putih, 

Sanggar Rasa, 

Capa Sehremini, Istanbul, Turki