Turkiya

Ang hot air balloon guide ay napakagaling! Punong-puno ng enerhiya sa buong biyahe, at kahit na ito ang una kong beses at medyo kinakabahan ako, ang kanyang kasiglahan at kumpiyansa ay nakatulong para mawala ang aking kaba. 10/10 irerekomenda at sasakay ulit! Napakagandang karanasan para sa magandang presyo noong Hunyo!! Ang flight ay mahigit 1 oras at sulit na sulit talaga. Salamat Skyway para sa napakagandang karanasan. Irerekomenda ko ang provider na ito para sa inyong hot air balloon ride. Gawin niyo na lang.

Visiting Hagia Sophia was the main purpose of this trip. It was a shame that both the exterior and interior were under renovation. Nevertheless, it was truly wonderful to experience the profound historical significance of this cultural heritage site, with its frescoes and even graffiti from when it was used as a mosque after being an Orthodox church, all preserved as they were. Although there's a mobile Japanese audio guide, I had to infer a lot because many parts of the AI voice's Japanese were incomprehensible. The speaking speed was also slow, so I set it to 1.5x speed, which made it sound normal. Still, I believe you can't talk about sightseeing in Istanbul without seeing Hagia Sophia. I'm glad I went.

The Basilica Cistern offered an incredibly stunning experience; it's hard to imagine such a magnificent ancient reservoir hidden beneath the city. The skip-the-line ticket was a lifesaver, saving us from long waits under the scorching sun, and the entry process was smooth. With the audio guide, we learned about the history of its construction and the stories behind it. The tall stone columns were neatly arranged, and the lights reflected on the water, creating an absolutely captivating atmosphere. The Medusa column is a classic highlight here, both mysterious and unique. Walking through the damp corridors, a profound sense of ancient history enveloped us. The overall pace of the tour was comfortable, feeling both fantastical and awe-inspiring, full of mystery. It's a must-see attraction when visiting Istanbul.

Talagang kahanga-hanga ang Palasyo ng Dolmabahçe, karapat-dapat itong tawaging bagong palasyo. Nakatayo ang buong palasyo sa tabi ng tubig, ang puting marmol na gusali ay nakaharap sa Bosphorus Strait, na may maringal at engrandeng panlabas na hitsura, at kahit anong kuha ay maganda. Ang binili naming skip-the-line ticket ay nakatipid sa amin ng mahabang pila, kaya naging maayos ang pagpasok. Sa tulong ng audio guide, naintindihan namin ang kasaysayan sa likod nito. Ang loob ng palasyo ay marangya, ang malalaking chandelier na kristal ay nakasisilaw, at ang maraming palamuting ginto ay napakagara, na nagbibigay ng matinding visual impact. Habang naglalakad sa pasilyo, mararamdaman mo ang karangyaan ng European court sa huling bahagi ng Ottoman Empire, at matatanaw mo rin ang tanawin ng kipot. Ang pangkalahatang karanasan ay napakaganda, komportable ang bilis ng paglilibot, at ang arkitektural na kagandahan ay talagang kahanga-hanga. Sulit na sulit bisitahin ito kapag nasa Istanbul.

It's very convenient; you can enter the attraction immediately without waiting in line, saving time and hassle. You receive your e-ticket right after booking, and there's even a mobile audio guide that you can continue listening to at home within the validity period. The complimentary sightseeing boat tour is also fantastic; you get to see many classic buildings along the river. I chose the 5 PM slot, which was perfect for watching the sunset—absolutely beautiful! ❤️

Nasiyahan kami sa magandang tanawin ng Bosphorus Strait sa isang magandang lokasyon hanggang sa paglubog ng araw. Kitang-kita mula sa dagat ang Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Hisarı, at Maiden's Tower habang dumadaan sa tulay. Si Chef Ahmet ay naghanda ng mainit na tsaa at nagbigay ng kumot. Napakasarap din ng fruit at cookie platter, pati na rin ang idinagdag naming french fries at toast. May kasama ring inumin, kaya't ito ay isang tour na may magandang halaga at lubos kong irerekomenda. Mangyaring mag-order ng inumin o karagdagang pagkain! Maraming salamat din sa magandang magnet na regalo! Ito na ang ikatlong beses ko sa Turkey, ngunit ang cruise na ito ay ang pinakamahusay dahil nakapag-relax ako at nakinig sa musika. Salamat sa mahusay na serbisyo, Chef Ahmet!

Ang mga tagapagsanay ay mahusay, napakabait at matulungin. Ang kabayo kong si Sultan ay isang malaking kulay-kape na babaeng kabayo, ngunit siya ay mabait at dahan-dahang lalakad para sa akin. Bagama't medyo nakakatakot ito para sa isang baguhan, sulit ang karanasan. Tinulungan kami ng mga instruktor sa buong biyahe at kinunan kami ng mga larawan at video. Sobrang sulit. Salamat kina Yasin, Ahmed, at Majeed sa lahat ng inyong tulong! Tumagal ito ng mahigit 2 oras kaya sobrang sulit ng inyong pera!!

Napakagandang biyahe sa ferry. Hindi ko inaasahan ang ganitong antas ng ganda mula sa isang simpleng biyahe sa bangka. Para sa mga gustong maranasan ang panig ng Europa at Asya, ang biyaheng ito ay para sa inyo. Ngunit magdala ng jacket dahil napakahangin. Sa pangkalahatan, NAPAKAGANDA!

It's very convenient because it allows you to skip a rather long line.

Exploring Cappadocia on horseback turned out to be an incredibly impressive and uniquely original experience for us. We got to admire the breathtaking rock formations and fairy chimneys from a special perspective that you cannot reach by car or on foot. Our riding guide Muhsin was extremely professional throughout the whole journey. He handled the horses skillfully, gave us clear guidance along the trail, and always kept a close eye on our safety. It was a wonderful, unforgettable adventure that we would highly recommend to anyone visiting Göreme.

Our guide, Fermen, was excellent. He explained all the places and historical sites we visited in great detail and in an easy-to-understand manner. He assisted us with everything we needed throughout the tour and was always attentive. Lunch was delicious, and the food and desserts were truly wonderful. Everything was very well organized. I wholeheartedly give Fermen and the tour team 5 stars. I definitely recommend them!

Since it was peak season and I was traveling with my mother, I booked a fast-track ticket for convenience. I usually explore museums and palaces thoroughly with audio guides even when traveling alone, so I booked the fast-track option (including an audio guide). However, I later found out it didn't include the Harem section. To add the Harem, it would cost an additional 1040 lira, which is about 35,000 won, purchased at the internal ticket office. In hindsight, it would have been better to buy a ticket that included a guided tour from the start. The palace is so vast and has so much to see that it took us three hours just to look around on our own, and we visited on a Sunday, so there were long lines at each section. I thought it would have been more efficient if a guide had pointed out the key locations and must-see items. Also, the audio guide included with this ticket is not the official palace commentary but a much more concise version. While the official version might be better for those with a strong academic interest exploring alone, on a day like ours, when we were simply enjoying the beautiful and rare artifacts, we didn't really listen to the commentary anyway. So, it wasn't an issue. The tickets are exchanged inside the meeting point (Bistro), and at the designated time, a host personally escorts you into the palace. It was nice to arrive a little early, have a drink, and wait comfortably. The host spoke English clearly and distinctly, which made me think it would have been even better to have an English guided tour. In conclusion, even a simple guided tour is better than none, and I recommend a tour that includes the Harem section if you're going anyway. However, I have no regrets about exploring freely, and I was truly happy because Topkapi Palace was so magnificent. With its panoramic views, architecture, and the artifacts and jewels inside, it's a must-visit attraction that I highly recommend, despite the expensive admission fee!