Freedom Friday

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.

~ Carl Jung

Wordless Wednesday :- Rambling on La Rambla

Macro Monday :- Turkish Tea Blossoms

Scenery Sunday :- Humans of Turkey

Turkey – a country filled with diverse citizens. They are Curious, Friendly, Unique.

(The title of this post was inspired by the infamous Humans of New York – Thanks Brandon!)

Turkish children in Rize, Turkey having fun

Freedom Friday

The first step to living the life you want is leaving the life you don’t want. Taking the first step forward is always the hardest. But then each step forward gets easier and easier. And each step forward gets you closer and closer until eventually what had once been invisible starts to be visible. And what had once felt impossible starts to feel possible.

~ Karen Salmansohn

Wordless Wednesday :- Take a Card

Travel Tuesday :- Quirky Travel Tips from Turkey

My first visit to Turkey was in 2010, at that point I was part of a tour group. The tour focused on the Western side of Turkey. During that time, most of my meals was taken cared of by the tour company. I didn’t get to choose the restaurant or budget. There was menus in Turkish and English. The tour company looked after the logistics of hotels and transportation. I just followed the leader and took lots of photos.

This time in 2014, I spent 2 months (cumulatively) in Turkey. I traveled alone, met fellow travelers along the way, some we simply connected in the hostel others we toured the location together. One travel friend met up with me in 5 different cities within Turkey, it was quite the experience of separation and reunion over the span of 2 weeks.

Macro Monday :- Flowering Mallow with Busy Bee

Scenery Sunday : Life in Ayder, Turkey

A small town in the area of the Kaçkar Mountains in Turkey reminded me of the beauty of the Swiss Alps – without the exorbitant prices. It is within the Kaçkar Dağları Milli Parkı so park fees are charged to each vehicle entering the area.

The Kaçkar Mountains are unlike anything I have seen so far in other parts of Turkey. It is in the north east part of Turkey close to the Black Sea. Due to the higher elevation, the temperature is much cooler. I actually had to put on a jacket!

Ayder is quaint, friendly, mountainous, affordable thermal bath, lush forests, hiking trails and plenty of waterfalls.

Freedom Friday

Nothing is more precious than being in the present moment.

Fully alive.

Fully aware.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh