D8 - Tuesday 23-9-08 Istanbul

This morning, on arrival at the Buyuk Otogar, Istanbul, 7-8 of us took a free shuttle bus service supposed to leave for Istanamet, a popular place for backpackers and also close to major tourist sites like Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Museum, Basilica Cistern & Tokapi Palace.

However, we soon realised that the bus driver could only take us to a tram stop , half way from Instanmet. All of us refused to get down and protested to the

driver and the mana

gement. We were held up for 1/2 hour and knowing that we were on the losing side, we opted for a tram ride instead. Not a good start for my first day in Istanbul !

I stayed in Nobel Hostel (20TRL=Rm57) in Istanamet and the dorm price was inclusive of a free breakfast.

After unloaded my luggage, I started to explore Istanamet. First I visited the famous Blue Mosque and lined up with a long queue of tourists to get into the internal part of the mosque.

Next, across the Blue Mosque, I paid 20TRL=Rm57 for entry to Hagia Sophia Museum, voted as a civilised wonder of the world.

Tokapi Place was closed to the public today. So I visited Basilica Cistern (entry

10TRL=RM28.50) instead. - an ancient underground R

oman Basilica built in 532AD.

"Oh, I love Istanbul ! Tourist buses were everywhere in Istanamet - unloading tourists to popular places like Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Underground Cistern & Tokapi Palace in one go !"