OF CULTURE, CRAFT AND CUISINE

TURKEY is the place to be if you want that perfect experience of the East and the West. Soak in the traditions, enjoy the food, and relax by the water. By Shraddha Kamdar

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It might sound clichéd to say that Turkey or, Türkiye, offers visitors a glimpse of the East and the West, but it was only when I was standing inside the Hagia Sophia, navigating the turns of the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul, and working my way through one of the most contemporary meals and sipping a glass of wine in a roof-top restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus that I really grasped the meaning of that cliché. A place where culture meets class, this is a country that's on thousands of bucket lists across the world.

It is modern yet traditional, with warm people who are always ready to greet you with a smile. And feed you. Correction: Overfeed you! So, while I experienced the fast pace of Istanbul and the laid-back charm of capital city Ankara, the aspect that stayed with me was how helpful the country's people are - always willing to whip out the translators on their phones to bridge the language gap.

Istanbul Calling 

Istanbul has an energy all its own, and the vibe it gives off invites you to come, explore, but also have a lot of fun. It would be an understatement to say that any trip to Turkey would be incomplete without a visit to the Hagia Sophia. A church later converted into a mosque, then declared a museum, and now once more a mosque, the Hagia Sophia is a treasure trove of historic nuggets. Once inside, all you will want to do, besides being one with yourself, is understand the happenings the building has been through and come away with a long-lasting impression. You will realise - and be told by your guide that some minarets were added later but, when you are inside the grand structure, it will not matter. The energy inside deserves all your attention, even while you go around looking at the important aspects.