Last Monday of November and the adventure

The last Monday of the trip went well at work.  I did not sleep well the Sunday night at all and so I will review my files tonight and go to bed with plenty of sleep time. tonight. 

We finished work and went back to the hotel.  We ate supper late as it was Andrew's birthday and he has a family call to make for Skype birthday before supper.

After this we travelled to Haus Kaus, the very old village where Delhi started and the city grew around it. Roxy told me about it.and said I should take a tour of it.  Well we did not get there until 8:00 pm so it was a little later than normal that when we usually go out.  Some of the shops were closed but the restaurants were open and we found a tapas bar that there was something for each of us.  It was good and tasty and we were home by 9:45pm.  So not a late night. 

So that was another day in Delhi.  The weather was nice and the newspaper said that the fog that comes at this time of year and closes airports due to the dense fog is not expected this week which was gret news to me.  Don't want to delay my trip home.

Birded in Indian Bird Heaven Today

Photos - Yellow Wagtail, Roufous Shrike, White Breasted Kingfisher, Spotted Owlets!

I went birding early this am to a place about 1 1/4 hours away (early morning traffice) past Gurgoan to Sulamanpour National Park with the guide - Sanjay Sharma.   This is a  three habitat park with marsh, grassland and woodland and I could have stayed there all day.  Sanjay said that ideally a two days are needed to see everything in the park and in the immediate outside area.  Sanjay has a life list of  over 800 Indian Birds.

We birded until late in the day and it was dark by the time I reached the hotel.  It was cool in the am and then quickly heated up by 10:00 am.  Sulamanpur  was a great place and then after an Indian Lunch (chai, dahl, lentils and vegetables, chapata) we birded grasslands and near the sewage area and farmer's fields (private land that Sanjay has permission to get onto).  Sanjay is a great guide and knows all the diagnostics and is a pleasure to have as a guide.

We had 126 species and I was thrilled to see so many birds.  Including Flamingoes, Saurus Crane, Common Crane, Wooly Neck Stork, Spoonbills just to start with the large species. 

When I got back to the hotel I had a quick supper with Andrew where we caught up on our two days off.  Andrew went to the Taj Mahal on Saturday and he said it was spectacular. 

I am thrilled with the birding day and would love to bird here again.  It did take two hours to get back to the hotel in suppertime traffic.

I have attached some photos (no touch-up done, no time) have to get to my prep work now.

Monday November 17 to Saturday November 22, 2014

A very busy work week in Ankara with the govenment of Turkey and then flying to New Delhi overnight to meet with the Government of India and then the company.

The flight was an overnight flight and since we had worked all day the day we flew it was an exhausting day.  We arrived in New Delhi at 6:30 am and were dead tired.  Prepared and then slept and then explored the hotel a bit. I went out to get Indian rupees when I arrived and changed my mind when I saw how crowded the streets were and I was out alone.

Hotel is great and grand and the food very good.

Thursday after working all day, we returned back to the hotel and then took a taxi to Khan Market across from the Ambassador Hotel.  We walked the market and found a restaurant for supper then shopped the market.  I bought two pairs of light shoes for walking around. 

On Friday after working all day, we returned back to the hotel and tried to walk to a market that one of the hotel people told us about and we gave up as the traffic got too bad and we took a Tuk Tuk to the Kalishy (?) market.  This was a real local shopping spot and it was Friday evening and jammed.  WE had supper (not much choice and it was Subway) and then took a look around.  I found a pair of my favourite summer shoes (great find for me) and Andrew got a new computer bag (the zipper broke on his old one during this trip).  I enjoyed this market even though it was grotty looking.
We ended up taking another Tuk Tuk back to the hotel (at least outside the gates of the hotel- we did not want to go up the ramp to the front door of the hotel).  Then it was bed.

On Saturday I ended taking a taxi to Peter's and then visited with his family, the girls, the dogs Pic and Tic and everyone.  Roxy and Mohead and I went to an afternoon theatre show which was like Cirque de Soleil and it was wonderful.  Both of the younger girls are taller than me now!
Then Roxy and Mohead drove me back to the hotel in the later evening.  The lunch was very good prepared by their cook and we had take out MouMOu for supper.  Peter and Mary's place is on the 15th floor penthouse condo and they have a huge place with a terrace and lawn and seems like a house until one goes down the elevator.  Quite nice and five bedrooms and five bathrooms and large open concept, living areas.

So it was a very nice day and tomorrow it is birding!  Have to get up early.

Sunday November 16, 2014 - Some Touring in Ankara

It was a beautiful sunny day that got to about 17degrees and one could see for miles and miles or km and km!  We checked the must see places with the concierge last evening with directions and translations and took a regular cab to the Ankara Citadel or Castle.  It is more like a citadel, up on a high high hill overlooking Ankara and probably this was chosen as an excellent vantage spot to see visitors/marauders approaching.  We walked the ramparts and I got an excellent photo that a little girl took of me standing on the rampart and overlooking a vast lookout of the city.


There was the old walled town around it with very steep streets and houses that were barely standing and we visited the different corners and shops selling locally made cottage industry handicrafts which was great.  One could even buy giant giant bags of carded wool and raw wool from the Afghan goats or the Ankara goats that they call them here.  We had some lovely Apple Tea (it is hot) in a rug place and we continued to wander around the little hilltop streets.  We went for a break in a Gramaphone Cafe which was a collector's dream, old record players, old radios, wood cabinet TV, metal dinky cars, old movie posters, old binoculars, clocks, typewriters, all shiny and clean and not dusty.  It was the detrius of the 20th century and all good working stuff.  Old cameras too.  Old music was playing and the menu was nicely done in 2 45s.  All this in an old hilltop citadel town in Ankara.  We had some refreshments here and a sit down as it was hard climbing up or down for hours.

We took a cab back to the hotel and then left to try to find out where the Ministry of Economy building was for our meetings on Monday and Tuesday.  We knew it was about 2 km away and just wanted to find the right place.  Well we walked and it was easy except for the speeding traffic with hardly a letup in the offramps we had to cross, on a workday it is probably worse.  We were careful and we had to run for it crossing the very very busy freeway offramp.  Not something we want to try on a work day.  But now we know.  We may walk it back at the end of the day just to be moving and running a bit for exercise, but it is treacherous here for pedestrians and we have one skywalk that we used but there should be at least four others.  On the way back we took the other side of the  busy road and there was one skywalk but again that side needs four other skywalks also.

We went by one building called Next Level and it had a Starbucks and Andrew wanted to go in and it turned out to be a high end shopping centre with every high end store one could think of, Rollex, Marmax, Lacoste, Harvey Nichols, and so on.  It was done up in the most beautiful lights.  We don't have anything like that at home.  We then split up and I went to another bigger store while Andrew went back to the hotel to do some work for tomorrow.  I came out and it was dark and had a 10 minute walk home, dodging all the traffice along the road to get back to our hotel.  The road was really busy with tons of people parked and others looking for a parking spot.

Now I am heading to supper and then some work for me also afterwards.

It was nice to walk and walk today.

Istanbul to Ankara

Today we left Istanbul on a cool, windy, fall day.  It feels like the warm weather left the city and it is fall today.  It was a dismal weather day and it was a good day to leave. It took over an hour to get to the airport and then we flew Turkish Airlines to Ankara, the capital city with about 4 million people.  There is no big body of water here and the city is up at over 3,000 feet.  It has a different feel to it and we have tomorrow to go out and about and find where we start work on Monday also. 

It was cooler and dryer when we arrived and I think they get snow here sometimes. 

It was dark by the time we arrived and so it is hard to tell what it really looks like.  With all of the pretty lights everywhere it looks very nice in the night. 

The hotel we are staying at is a Marriott and it is really a roomy place.  It looks like we are somewhere in an area where everything can't be more than 20 years old. But that is just from what I have seen so far.


I guess I did not walk enough today as I don't feel tired.

Instanbul at night

After work today we went back to the Sisli Marriott Hotel and dropped our stuff off and then took the subway until Taksim Square, the famous square that means central distribution centre and where there were riots two years ago and a bunch of people died with altercations with police. 

We strolled down from the square to Istikalil Street (meaning Freedom) which still had a heavy police presence with the paddy wagon going by and numberous police.  This is a pedestrian street.  We kept walking toward the Bosphorus River way down some steep hills we somehow missed the Canadian Consulate along the way.  We came across the Galeta Tower (1400s) and went for a coffee nearby.  We then went along the underside of the Galeta Bridge (an old bridge) where all the restaurants are and then walked along the river walk with the view of the Cruise Ship which we knew was parked in front of the company.  It was almost dark by then and we met up with several company people.

We took a water taxi to a restaurant on the Asia side of Turkey and had a great Blue Fish meal and then a water taxi back.  We saw two boats that had new engaged people on it.  They project  "will you marry me" on the underside of the bridge we were near and then one of the boats even had fireworks.  We then took a taxi back to the hotel.  It was a lovely evening out with lots of people out everywhere and lots of neighbourhoods and restaurants

Istanbul is a lovely city.  Tomorrow we leave for Ankara

Another knock on the head today

Today, I had stepped out of the boardroom I have been working in all week to go to the washroom.  The walls are plate glass and the door is glass where one goes in and out of.  The other side of the room overlooks the Bosphorus.  When coming back, I glanced away and then instead I then walked into the plate glass wall, smucking my forehead (corner of it on my left side - the same side of my skull that I hit last year).  I managed to walk to my chair and was stunned.  I was brought some ice and put it on my growing bump.  This happened around 11:00 am and I went to the Dr, just after noon.  From there I was taken to the clinic to have an x-ray and see another Dr.  I was told any dizziness or nausea to go straight to the hospital.  I have the bump now and am sore (also hit my knee which did not bother me until going home and my neck is sore, probably from the whack back).  I was not much use this afternoon at work.  The Dr told me to go back to the Hotel to rest, but I refused as I did not want to be alone in a room.  I ate supper here at the hotel and feel sore but fine. 

I am really hoping that I won't bruise too badly as I don't want to go through that scary looking three weeks of rainbow colours on my face.  I have to look presentable.

That was it for excitment today and that kind I did not need.  Eveyone at the company was very kind and considerate of me.  I really appreciated it.

Taking the subway and walks around Sisli just like a local

We took the subway and furnicular to work today and back.  At lunchtime I took a walk by myself and the advantage is that we don't stick out like a sore thumb here as we fit right in.  We may look a bit different but not really.  At least not until we open our mouths and don't speak the language.

After work I went on by myself from the subway to the Mall and it was huge big mall with about 5 floors and all the high end stores one can think of.  It was good just to walk around and look and get some exercise.

After, I walked through the subway access (under the main street) and back the long two blocks back to our hotel in the dark - lighting is not that great.  There were tons of people around and it was fine.
It felt fine, and I guess it is because it is not like India where Westerners stand out. 

One of the sweet moments of the day is when I glance out the window and the big ships and small ships and boats and ferries are continually going by on the Bosphorus and it is such a spectacular view.

Remembrance Day in Istanbul

We worked all day today.  It was a regular work day. 
It is pitch dark by 5pm here and it is foggy in the morning, a lot like the UK at this time of year.  During the daytime the scenery is spectacular with the Bosphorus right outside the company door and our meeting room overlooks the boats going by all day.  We ate lunch at a place across the street from the company today and it was overlooking the water - the Sea of Marmora and the Bosphorus, both huge bodies of water.  The ships are huge.

The days are long but I can glance outside the window.  We took a cab yesterday but the traffic is crazy here and we took the subway and funicular today and will do it everyday.  There are too many people in this city for the roads and they have a huge subway and trams and buses and water taxis etc.  Really a cosmopolitan city!  It is spectacular here. 

I have the window open right now and there is the sound of traffic, horns and the call to prayer by recorded voice at the nearby Mosques.  This is nothing like home.  The traffic even at 8pm is super heavy.  Too many vehicles on the jammed roads.

Today was a work day but before work... a moment of silence in Turkey

This morning, while waiting for a taxi to get to our company, we went outside the hotel to wait for the cab with one of the company officials.

Suddenly sirens sounding like air raid sirens began to sound everywhere and many car horns started.  We wondered what this was.  People were stopping on the streets even if walking.  It was explained that in two minutes - Turkey would observe a minute of silence as it was the anniversary of the time of the death of the founder of Turky, Ataturk and every year this time of death is remembered.  People stopped and did this, cars pulled over - there was a momentary stop of  almost everything in this city.  It was explained that Ataturk is regarded as the founder of modern Turkey as it is as if Washing, Jefferson and Lincoln were all rolled up into one person.  This is the high esteem that their founder is held in.  It was quite a moving moment.

Istanbul in a Day

We did some of the sights in Istanbul today, at least the must sees will have to come here for a holiday.  Istanbul is a huge huge city with lots of traffic and our hotel is sort of off the beaten track. 

We took a day tour that included the Blue Mosque and Haga Sofia and then a Bosphorous Boat trip.  We had a lovely lunch which was really good.  We met people from the Philippines, Lebanon and Ireland to name a few.  The guides on the tour were good and had loads of information to pass on to us.  Wonderful old town of Instanbul. 

The boat cruise was super.  On a nice day, it is always nice to be on the water.  There were birds around and lots of boats on the water but the boat we were on was a big ferry type boat and held its own against the waves.  So I was fine.  So we were in the Asia side (old town) of Istanbul and we are staying on the European side of Instanbul. 

 Right now I am sitting on the bed and the city is out the window.  All the city lights and all the traffic lights make it look so pretty.  We also had a tram ride down from Pierre Loti park and saw the night lights.  The tram took about 2 minutes.

So tomorrow it is work! 

Arrival in Istanbul

Istanbul is a spectacular city with the Bosphorus along its shores.  It is also a huge city of 16 million. As I write this my 31st floor window is open and I can hear the minaret taped call to prayer, at least this is what I think it is. 

We went to the Grand Souk Bazaar this afternoon so we could walk around and tire ourselves out and not stay in our room.  The Bazaar was five stops away from our hotel on the subway line and it was warm today about 18 degrees but it felt warmer.  We looked at stuff and had a snack and then came back to the hotels.

 I just took a shower and am in bed (it is 6:40 pm) and dark outside and I am on the 31st floor and the whole city is outside my window all lit up.  Going to call Room Service for supper then pop two Gravol to sleep.

Our tour starts at 8am tomorrow. Blue Mosque, Haja Sofia, etc and Bosphorus Boat Tour

Everything is OK, the hotel guard scans the underside of our car before we could enter the hotel grounds (which they did in India the time I was there) and then my purse has to be scanned each time we enter from the outside.  The guard around the corner has an AK47 and we don't know what he is guarding.  But other than that, everything is fine. 

People are dressed here for summer, and some for a snowstorm. I can see the sweet young things with studded boots which were the trendy item in Italy.  Sory of like a punk rocker type boots.  Or else they are wearing Catherine Duchess of Cambridge knee high rain boots and it is hot and it is not raining.  The views are spectacular here.

I am fading fast here and will call for supper and then it is an early bedtime for me.

My room is very modern and spacious.  TV is pretty good, several English channels too.

I saw three different birds today, Magpie, Rock Pigeon and the same crow, dark grey with dark wings, as in Italy.  That was it.  Maybe tomorrow with a boat trip on the water will have some different birds.

Packing up Again!!

I should not have unpacked, ...  I hate to think how much of my life I have spent packing up and doing up lists...

I have my work stuff together and now am putting together four sets of clothing (no one is going to see me more than four days).  Four fall type clothes and four hot weather clothes, plus some casual after work clothes for hot and cool weather. 

Plus all the other stuff that comes with me, medicine, shoes (2 pairs only besides the ones I am wearing and several empty bags depending on what is needed where. 

I will work on my photos on the plane maybe if I can when I am tired of work stuff.

So off again and another new country to experience.