Üsküdar--Cinaralti, Çengelköy--İstiklâl Caddesi

Our second last day was spent with our new found friends, Hasanali Atalay from Ankara, Turkey and Pablo Gaspar from Portugal via Mesa de Español, in Istanbul earlier. Our random chat about the city and passion for sketching gave Ali the idea of showing us to less touristy part of Istanbul. We had a great time exploring the other part of Istanbul (eastern part of Istanbul). The view is breathtaking as usual. I cannot imagine how it feels like to work in this city, mesmerized again and again by the beauty of city. Only the local would know.


Best borek in Istanbul

Ali brought us to Cinaralti, Çengelköy to have the best borek with çay. There were no tourists, only local eating in this simple cafe yet overlooking the most stunning view. I quickly took out my sketchbook and sketch the beautiful bridge overlooking Bosphorus River while enjoying delicious borek with cay. Life could not be better this way.

We took public water transport back to Western part of Istanbul. The idea is to have the best coffee in Mandabatmaz Cafe, tucked in a secret corner in İstiklâl Caddesi. Not only we had great coffee, we had great conversation which we would be remembering it for a very long time.

On our way back to Karakoy

Sketched this while waiting Paulo to fetch João.

Thanks for the precious time and friendship.

Till we meet again!

istanbul, beyoglu

Time flies. Without us realizing, it has been a year since our wedding day – 10 May 2014. It has been a great year together as a married couple. So many things took place within such a short span of time. To celebrate a year of love, we went for a holiday in Istanbul.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country’s economic, cultural and historic heart, making it an interesting place to visit. Our trip stretches from 7 May 2015 – 17 May 2015. 3 days in Istanbul, 3 days in Cappadocia and the final 3 days in Istanbul again.

The architecture in Istanbul is breathtaking. I particularly had a great time sketching in this beautiful city. Thanks to my dear husband who always knows how to enjoy himself while waiting for me to complete my sketch. Through sketching on the streets, I met many beautiful people who like to look at my artwork and exchange small conversations and story.

Our love for Spanish language brought us to one of a Spanish-speaking meetup called Mesa de Español. Over our casual conversation, I share on my passion for sketching and show one of the locals, which we eventually became friends. He was impressed on how I sketched his city and decided that we should go to an outing on Saturday and do things which is less touristy. It was an amazing experience and I am glad that how sketching could also helped us make friends.

Seated at a quaint cafe located at one of the secret corner in Beyoglu, we had our very first Turkish çay. The rain just stopped a while ago, so it was pretty chilly. The warm tea works just perfect for the setting. I’m fascinated by the setting of the humble cafe, with small furniture donned with beautiful bright colour table cloth with distinctive Turkish motives.




I could not ask for more at that moment. Life is perfect. Sipping hot turkish tea, overlooking such a beautiful foreign place, doing the things that I love most with the person I love. Life is beautiful.