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IF TRAVELLING is your gateway to new and exciting experiences, put Turkey on the top of your travel list. It is a fascinating place of majestic monuments, other-worldly landscapes, exotic markets and remarkable ruins.
Here is where you can gawk at civilisation-old architecture, behold vistas of incomparable scenery and explore ancient archaeological sites, then proceed to get steamed and sudsy in a Turkish bath, watch buxom belly-dancers, scoff down kebabs and kaftes and sip steaming tea with new found friends.
Turkey has so much to offer, but even the most time-tested traveller can have a holiday of a lifetime by just hitting these highlights:
Eclectic Istanbul
No other place has better bragging rights to being a confluence of East and West.
Istanbul is a city that famously straddles both - the only city with one foot on the continent of Europe and the other in Asia.
The beguiling Bosphorus Strait separates the two, while resident seagulls swirl over a skyline of domed mosques and spiring minarets.
- St Sophia Museum
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Make your first stop at the St Sophia Museum, a remarkable surviving example of Byzantine architecture and an icon of religious architecture.
One of the most magnificent churches of the era, St Sophia (also known as Hagia Sophia) was built in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian I.
Converted into a mosque in the 15th century by Mehmet the Conqueror, the edifice's interiors are an intriguing showcase of its previous incarnations. It was turned into a museum in 1935 by Ata�trk, the founder of modern Turkey.
Grandiose mosaics of Christ, the Madonna saints and archangels flank the upper floors, hovering above large circular plaques of golden Arabic script and an ornate mihrab (a niche indicating the directionMuslims should face when praying), all beneath a breathtaking dome.
- Blue Mosque
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Nearby, the Blue Mosque flaunts more eyebrow-raising beauty.
Officially called the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, it was built by the ruler of the same name in the early 17th century and gained its informal name from the brilliantly blue Iznik tiles and stained glass windows that decorate its hallowed halls.
Both the interior and exterior of this Ottoman mosque are an example of divine harmony, so do make time to stroll along the sprawling open-air courtyard to fully appreciate its much-photographed profile of curves and spires.
For shopaholics and souvenir hounds, the Grand Bazaar is the place to be.
More than 4,000 stalls line the almost endless alleys of this giant covered complex, making it the veritable mother of all malls. All manner of textiles, glassware, jewellery, antiques and accessories call this famous market home.
Expect a mind-boggling array of merchandise, from coloured lamps and decorative tiles to plush carpets, crystalline dishware, eye-catching trinkets, kitschy knick-knacks and much, much more. If you cannot find anything to buy from the Grand Bazaar, you are either flat broke or frighteningly boring.
If your taste runs, instead, towards exotic eats, head to the Spice Market (also known as the Egyptian Market) where the delectable local sweet, lokum (Turkish Delight) exists in more flavours than imaginable, along with a smorgasbord of nuts, fruits, cheeses and, of course, intoxicating spices.
Dramatic views
After prying yourself from the pulsing energy of Istanbul, explore the rest of Turkey for its natural wonders and ancient ruins.
- Cappadocia
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Check out the 'fairy chimney' landscapes of Cappadocia. Created by volcanic tuff chiselled over years by wind and water, the surrealistic terrain of mushroom-shaped towers, phallic pinnacles and conical caves seems more like the work of gnomes and elves.
While in the region, make it a mission to visit the G�reme Open-Air Museum. The cascade of Byzantine churches hewed out of soaring rock faces is both fascinating and fun to explore, and some still sport time-worn frescoes on the walls.
- Pamukkale
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In Turkey's south-west, Pamukkale hosts its own show-stealing scenery. Layers of snow-white travertine pools define the undulating cliff ridges, giving the place its romantic moniker of Cotton Castle.
Though you are not allowed to bathe in these natural mineral water pools, it is still a delight to shed shoes and tread your way along the calcium-cloaked pathways, letting your feet frolic in the warm flowing water while you soak in the view of wide, watery ledges.
Turkey also holds a whole host of other treasures. Venture along the western coast to Ephesus, whose ancient ruins give a glimpse of the city's once glamorous past as a Roman-age epicentre of culture and commerce.
Trek through Troy, a World Heritage-listed site that has long been on the pilgrimage trail of history buffs, way before that lush Brad Pitt movie made Homer's Iliad and Trojan horses hip.
Traditional or trendy, arty or adventurous, each side of Turkey boasts its own inimitable charm. Whichever you choose, you could be on the way to one of the best travel escapades ever.
This article was first published on Oct 31, 2006 in The Straits Times.
All photos from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey
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