ISTANBUL - DAY 2 - RAINY DAYS

I woke up at 11am today. Following last nights 4am drama, I found it hard to go back to sleep. I'm so not used to sleeping with someone next to me. I walked out of the room to notice Oltz artwork:



The above photo of Seyda was taken at my Harem Party and printed on postcards by Avanti Cards. It was scattered all over sydney in the last 2 weeks. Seyda had requested we bring some to her so she can scatter some in Istanbul.

I looked outside to notice its raining today in Istanbul and it look's depressing. Both Oltz and Tugcen were in a lazy shit mood. I kept insisting we should go out for breakfast on the main strip to get out of this depressive mood. Eventually the two lazy shits got up and got dressed.

We picked up an umbrella that Seyda left for us hanging on the door. Luckily as we had no idea where to find one. The next 10 minutes were spent trying to lock the bloody door. There's like 2 padlocks and they need to be locked in some order. Oltz decides to film the whole process making us look like complete idiots.

Eventually we lock the door when Tugcen screams she forgot the "Akbil" inside. Akbil is the ferry token. You add prepaid money on to it and use it. The thought of unlocking and re-locking right now has me stressed out. Luckily Tugcen realises the Akbil is in her handbag.

We walked down to Mado at Caddebostan to have breakfast. We sat outside in the courtyard waiting to be served. Meanwhile some old bag came up to me and told me to put my jacket on otherwise I'll catch a cold. We decided to move inside instead.

We walked upstairs to notice all the booths were free. We couldn't decide which one to take. We decided to take one near a window with this view:

We ordered a breakfast plate for $12.50:

We would normally get this for $5 on the Europe side! LOL Tugcen kept trying to get the waitresses attention to request salt but the waitress wasn't interested. It was going to be a blood bath if she didn't get salt soon...

We finished up with breakfast trying to make plans for today. We figured since its raining will do some shopping and indoor stuff. So the plan was to catch a cab outside to go to Kadikoy ferry terminal. Once we cross over to the Europe side we would catch a cab to Profilio shopping centre at Mecideyekoy.

We jump into the cab and start having a laughing fit because this geeky guy on the phone is checking Tugcen out:

We arrived to Kadikoy Ferry terminal and catch a ferry across to Besiktas. From Besiktas we jump into a cab to Profilio shopping centre. I practically know the shopping centre inside out as I used to live with my cousins down the road and this was our local hangout joint.

I've always wanted a photo with the jungle:

We spent the next hour picking on Tugcen and her random clothes buying:

To shorts or not to short?

We spent half the day looking for havannas for Oltz as he forgot his back in Sydney. When we eventually did spot some it was the price of a donkey! We sat down to get some drinks and rest from the shopping when Tugcen went and spent $4 on fresh lemonade. Of course we had to pick on her for getting ripped off again.

We walked into Nine west were Tugcen spent $70 on shoes. Is that a bargain? Next stop was my CD shopping. Since this was the start of the trip I managed to control my urge. I only brought 4 CDS before throwing myself out of the shop.

We decided to head to the food court to get a snack. We would have dinner soon so we just wanted a snack. Meanwhile I saw this Chinese restaurant again and thought I had to get a photo of it:

It's a Chinese buffet. The best part of it is that the Asians actually speak Turkish!

We decided to order Manti from the shop next door. Within seconds they handed us the meals:

Manti is like pasta. It's dough filled with mince, topped with tomato and garlic yogurt sauce. Some how our snack turned into this meal.

Since there was 3 of us and the tables were quite small, I emptied the food from the tray onto the table and placed the tray on the ground. The cleaner came running towards me, picked up the tray and gave me a dirty look. I think he was disgusted that I put the tray on the ground. Who the hell gets disgusted at that?

Following our snack we headed into a surf shop so that Oltz can get some board shorts. When he went to pay at the cash register he pulled out a $50 note and the shop had no change. So we got told to wait while one of the staff members had to run and find us a $10 note. I swear this took forever. I could of shopped 2 levels by now. Meanwhile Tugcen was bitching and moaning what's taking so long.

Eventually they came running with a $10 note and we left. The next mess was with Tugcen. We went into a store where she decided to buy this cat suit looking piece because it was marked down to $10. When she took it to the cash register the chick insisted it was labelled wrong and its really $20. We got into a whole argument over a cat suit and we stormed out refusing to buy it. Who the hell labels it $10 and then claims its really $20?

All of this drama caused an immdiate coffee session for recap. So we headed to "O Kafe"(Aka That Cafe):

This was a trendy cafe within the shopping centre. Funny enough its been here since 2004 but I've never sat here. I've always wanted to but never have for some reason. Now the cafe had some deal happening. You buy a cake and the coffee comes for free. Oltz decided to refuse the coffee for some reason. So I ordered a coffee and cake, when Oltz decided to order coffee. Did he not understand the concept of buy a cake, get a free coffee?

The guys decided to take a photo of me because it looks like I'm in some porn set apparently?

My cake arrives:

We pay for the coffees and leave. At the front of the cafe is this Sultan Cow:


We each take turns in getting a photo with it, except Tugcen who doesn't understand why were getting photo's. We walk out of Profilio to catch a cab. When we walk over to the cab rank we start arguing because the first cab guy doesn't look safe to catch a cab with, the second cab is too old, the third cab had too many damages on the car etc. We couldn't pick a cab so we started to walk off. Meanwhile security followed us to see what's happening. We tried avoiding a confrontation. How the hell do we explain this to a security guy? Why were refusing to get into a cab?

We spent nearly 20 minutes picking a cab. When we thought we found the right one we quickly jumped in. The minute we jumped in, he sped off and nearly ran over a woman. We have definately made the right choice here. We better buckle up.

Meanwhile security guy started screaming at him for not watching the woman walking in front. We drove off when the cab driver nearly smashed into the car in front of us. Seriously we know how to pick them dont we?

5 minutes later driving in some narrow street the cab driver manages to smash his mirror against a van. He takes one look at it and keeps driving. That's going to be one pissed off van I'm telling you.

We arrive at Besiktas to jump out of the cab and thank god that we arrived here safely. We walk towards the ferry terminal to notice this outside the ferry terminals:

We put it down to backpacking tourist that got robbed and now they have to earn a living to pay for a ticket home. The dog just got adopted along the way. We decide to help the tourist fetch their way home.

To our right was this:

I call it the rug -mobile. Perfect business, driving around and selling rugs from the boot of your car. I'm guessing its tax free?

Waiting for the ferry, Oltz and I decide to check out the atmosphere. We spot a hot chick with hot legs parading around in front of us. Then there's the bird woman. Some lunatic carrying around a bird in a cage.

The ferry arrives and its like letting out a bunch of animals from a cage. We decide to sit outside of the ferry to watch the views of the bosphours as the sun sets:

We arrive at Kadikoy ferry terminal to catch a cab to Caddebostan. We hop into the first cab we see without argument. After our last mess I dont think we should judge do you? While sitting in the cab we stop at a traffic light to spot the old lonely guy from last nights cab ride on our left. OMG were recognising cab drivers now!

We ask the cab driver to dump us outside of Mado in Caddebostan. Otherwise it's too hard to explain how to get to Seyda's street. We have to circle the block unless we enter a one way and trust me most of them enter the one way.

Before heading back to Seyda's house we decide to go to the supermarket to get some essentials. Shampoo's, breakfast needs and alcohol. We start walking in some direction and stop to ask a woman for directions. Some how Tugcen decides to jump into the conversation in the middle of it with hand gestures. The woman didn't know what hit her.

We eventually find our way to the supermarket but can't find the entry door. While I'm rushing around to find one I realise Oltz and Tugcen are already in and have left me outside here. Inconsiderate people!

We end up losing each other in the supermarket and have to pull out our mobiles to find one another. Once we meet outside we decide to head back to Seyda's house for a balcony session.