Hannover, Germany

Its been a long time since I last blogged, mostly is due to the weather I guess... (Yea.. blame it on the weather) Or just maybe I got lazy...

It was 3 months ago that I came back to Germany for the second part of my training, knowing that it was my last trip for the year and my travelling for 2009 will officially ends on mid November... But then, I don't want it to end there, I want to keep travelling, because I will be dead bored if I were to come home and wait for next year's assignment.

And all glory to God, He has gave me a job... Although its still in Germany but I am truly and deeply grateful, even my other colleagues told me it never happened in our company's history that a foriegn engineer was sent here to work... You might think its coincidence, but when God made it possible for me to go home for Christmas and new year holiday and come back here to finish the job begining of this year, I will for sure tell you that it is not coincidence. And my colleague totally was puzzled that this happened...

So where should I begin? As compared to Hamburg, Hannover is a much enjoyable place for me personally... Hamburg is an industrial city, a modern city, while Hannover is more of a historical city, many olden building and landmarks are still well preserved to this very day. From the Harrenhausen Gardens to the Marienburg Castle, everything interest me so much. And I have actually experience both autumn and winter in Hannover, from colourful brownish red leaves to pure white covered with snow, it is just amazing how God has allowed me to experience all His creation that I always longed to see.

Langkawi... Again!!???

Whenever I tell my parents that I am going to Langkawi, their first response will always be... "Again!!!???" Well, what should I say?

What I really liked about Langkawi is its mostly untouched nature, always clean and fresh air, blue seas, chocolates and good but cheap wine...

I have actually lost count of how many times have I been to Langkawi in the past few years, regardless I go there in a group or just go there alone, it is still my favourite hideout... A place where I can hide away, to seek God and to seek myself...


I can't recall when was the last time I had a vacation with my closest friends... This time we actually had our trip, and it was to Langkawi a place that I am so familiar and so in love with... I was so touched because they have waited for me to come back from my Turkey trip and planned to go at a date which suited me the most...


Although the trip was meant for us to relax, but we achieved more than that... We get to know each other more, we made fun of each other more, we make names for each other even more hahaha... As for the details, well, because to protect other people's privacy, so I am not going to put them on the web, but then if you come and ask me personally, I guess I will be more than willing to tell you... Guess we can all have a good laugh together...

Troy and Pamukkale

Troy, the city of great power in ancient Roman times, but then its now just left with ruins...

My trip to Troy was actually in a hurry, with limited time and also long way to travel, the trip has somewhat became a Japanese tourist trip (been there, took a photo and done, I was in Troy).

Although it is just left with ruins, but the site was still amazing...

It is the first time that I experience ancient city walls, thick and tall...

And be amazed at the fact that God torn down to wall of Jericho in ancient times...

One thing I really like about ancient or old buildings is that given the fact that technology wasn't available in olden days, but the great structures and building were built and still stand firm till this very day...

After a few hours of looking at the ruins of Troy and the beautiful site at Gallipoli (Just some sea view and landscape), our trip to Pamukkale began... The actual distance between Both places is actually less than 400km, but then thanks to the GOOD road system that Turkey has, it took us almost 10 hours and 800km before reaching Pamukkale at 12 mid night...

Pamukkale, means cotton castle in Turkish... Although it has nothing to do with cotton, but the view was spectacular... Maybe because the whole hill is covered with white calcium deposites, and from far it looks like it is covered with cotton wool, hence the name pamukkale was named.

Pamukkale is actually a hot spring, if I am not mistaken, according to the locals, in ancient Roman times, the empress and emperor will spend some time in here each year... The water that was at the spring was always at about 35 to 40 degrees Celsius, at its really a nice feeling and when I was there at dawn, the hill was virtually orange in colour, so nice... Guess if I was there during sunset, it will become red in colour too as it reflect the colour of the sky. The more I travel around, the more I realised that I am such a small fly in this big and wonderful world that God has made.

This is the last trip out of Samsun as my stay in Turkey comes to an end, the drive back to Istanbul to catch the flight was long and tiring. I really want to thank God for all the protection He has given to me, as there were so many near misses on the road. Turkey holds 1 of the highest accident rate in the world, due to the condition of the roads, the cars on the road and driver's mentality. When I reached to the airport, I really was relieved and give God all glory for protecting me in this trip. And "Gule gule" (Good bye in Turkish language) Turkey.

Istanbul

As the weekend approaches, my long waited trip has finally arrive...

Istanbul, the capital of Turkey... The place where Europe meets Asia...

How would I say about this place, its full of unexpected things, my whole trip was just unexpected. But then, God has been good to me, He has protected me, and has made my trip quite enjoyable.

First there was a 1 and a half hour delay on my flight, arriving to Istanbul obviously in wee hours at night... I was praying that the bus is still there, so I don't need to take a taxi into the city (which will cost a fortune), there it was, the bus was still waiting... When I got into the city, the public transport network has closed, reluctantly I have to take a taxi to the hotel (after reading so much about taxi drivers who purposely go the wrong way, or a big detour before reaching the hotel) I prayed as I choose the taxi to board, and when I first board the taxi, the driver told me, he don't know where this hotel is, but he will find out on the way... At that moment, I was like "God please save me...", and He heard my prayers, the driver reached the hotel with some help from people around, without any detour... Then at the hotel, it was another nightmare, for the first time I experienced the phase "good things no cheap, cheap things no good". The hotel was really a nightmare, when I went into the room, there was a foul smell from the toilet, and there was no hot water... Sigh... But then, I was just too tired, and I just slept thru the night...

Maybe because the hotel was such unpleasent, this makes me wanna stay out most of the time, I walked around the city, go for the ferry tour around the Bosporous, Grand Bazzaar, the Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, old city walls... etc etc... Come to think of it, no wonder I can't felt my legs when I finally reached the airport... And there again, there was a 1 and a half hours delay on the flight back to Samsun...

A weekend to Ayvacik, the hidden paradise of Samsun

Its another weekend, both my colleague and I has decided to take a 70km drive to the dam somewhere at south east of Samsun. Since both of us didn't really know the way, its all depended on my phone's GPS to bring us there (after successfully downloaded the Turkey's map after 4 weeks of searching), I am sure excited to put the map to the test.

After driving for about 1 and half hour, on winding and narrow roads, we saw this sign, and we know we are here. Ayvacik...

Actually this is not really a tourist attraction, but its a smaller town somewhere away from the crowded city with nice scenery. I was totally amazed with the peaceful and quietness of this place, and totally am amazed by God's creations...

Pictures and words could not describe the magnificent of this sight, it has to be experienced by oneself...

Actually we did not do much here, we just walk around... Enjoying the scene, feel the nature... Though it was quite a long drive, but then its worth every single minute...

after various feedbacks...

After some comments from some friends, I will load some pictures for the sake of those who doesn't have facebook.

Sunrise every morning, right in front of my room

This is my room

A view from the other side of the room, and nice formation of clouds...

When the moon rise...

And the sun sets...

And every other night, a display of fireworks... This one was just 50m away from my window.

Turkey, Türkiye

Turkey, yes its a bird, much bigger than a chicken, the one that is used for Christmas parties.
But then in the land of Turkey, some people tells me its called the American chicken...
As I soon find out, its actually called hindi in Turkish language. And no, its not hindi from India...

Well this place I would say its a land of friends "arkadas".
And somehow everybody seems to be an arkadas to somebody else...
It is a peaceful place I would say...

This time round, I am in Samsun, according to local people, its the fifth largest city in Turkey.
Right next to the black sea, which I think its not a sea, its just a much much bigger lake...
Well, I stay in a new hotel (0 star), with "sea" view... Yeah, the view was great...
But then, although its a new hotel, the roof was leaking when there was a storm...
I changed the room, and the air-conditioner is not working...
So according to the Hotel, they will come tomorrow...
But then, here in Turkey, there are 2 types of tomorrow...
1. The international tomorrow, which means tomorrow...
2. The Turkish tomorrow, which means next week (Hopefully)
There are also some other things that are really funny like: Mixed up laundry, smoke coming out of the fridge, in the toilet the water flow not into the hole but away...
But again, it was fun, the hotel staff are nice, they are helpful...
They will try their best to take good care of you... Telling you: Problem Yok means no problem...

Its now the 4th weekend I spend in Turkey, so far I have tried the Turkish Bath Hamam...
You first go into the place, they will give you a cloth (more like sarong)...
Then you go into the sauna...
After your sauna, then comes the real thing...
The big hairy Turkish men will come with the scrub, scrub your whole body...
You will see all the dead skin, old dirt, all coming out of your body...
And for your info, I actually bath like 3 hours before I went for the Hamam...
I felt so embarrassed, but the men said, its normal...
So I just lie there like a dead body for him to scrub and massage...
But the massage was lousy...
The ending part was the most scary one, after a long time in a hot room, he comes with a bucket of cold water and pour right unto you... Felt I will get sick, but then all was fine...
Well it was OK, but then not as good as I expect it to be, but then, its just 20 Turkish Liras, what you expect?

And now I am back to the hotel, facing the sea and writing this for all my friends to read...
For photos, please go to my facebook... (Not the turkish bath)