After winding our way through Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, we are finally in Istanbul, where my Turkish skillz are improving daily thanks to intensive lessons.
Thailand was a modern miracle, Vietnam a heaven of motorcycles and amazing fresh street food - we ate like two greedy fools on about $5 a day, pho, bun bo hue, banh mi... oh my, Laos basically the best place I have ever been to - tranquil, lush green, and full of spicy and delicious food. The Lao principle of never wasting anything is wonderful. Nothing goes to waste (not even spiders and bugs). We skipped Cambodia in favour of an amazing island paradise in Vietnam (which I shall never name, The Beach style, because it is just that amazing).
Istanbul, by contrast, appears to be sprouting Alisveris Merkezi's (Shopping malls) like wild mushrooms. Nevertheless, the city is still charming, and you will never want for a beautiful view. It's a pretty livable city, and we're enjoying it immensely. P gets mistaken for a Turk frequently (as do I) and I'm pretty sure people also think I'm Roma. I don't think I've been in a friendlier place in my life. Turkish hospitality is excessive and wonderful! The only downside is that it is insanely humid here, which means every day is a bad hair day. That being said, the produce is unbelievable, which makes up for everything else. All in all, Turkey: all the benefits of Muslim countries, none of the defects.
Next up - Izmir and Cesme in the south on the Aegean Coast, followed by a couple of Greek Islands until we head to Cairo in September - during the last week of Ramadan!
