What to eat in Istanbul - Foodie Recs

October 06, 2015 by Ada Jang in Turkey

On our first day in Istanbul, we joined a walking food tour with Culinary Backstreets. This turned out to be the perfect idea because we were introduced to all sorts of Turkish cuisine that we never would have tried or known how to eat. My palate for Turkish food isn’t nearly as developed, but this food tour definitely opened it up. Below are some common Turkish food that you'll most likely encounter on a trip to Istanbul and ones you should definitely try...

5 Additional Must See Sites Throughout Istanbul

September 30, 2015 by Ada Jang in Turkey

I wrote about the five must see sites in the Historic Peninsula in my previous post that can be found here. All of those locations are within a few minutes walking distance from each other. However there are five other locations I highly recommend checking out that aren't in the same area but are just as important and deemed "must see". These five are the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Dolmabahçe Palace, and Galata Tower...

The 5 Must See Sites in the Historic Peninsula of Istanbul

September 24, 2015 by Ada Jang in Turkey

It’s super convenient that a good chunk of the major must-see sights in Istanbul are all within close proximity of each other in the Historic Peninsula. This makes it easier for travelers who prefer to explore on their own, because they can walk to the next location without having to worry too much about transportation. Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and the Hippodrome of Constantine are all within a few minutes walk from each other. They’re the big must-see sites in Istanbul and all of them are impressive and unique in their own right...

How to spend 2 Days in Cappadocia

September 18, 2015 by Ada Jang in Turkey

The flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia is only an hour and a half long, but once you exit the plane you feel like you’re in a completely different planet. Gone are the boxy buildings and bustling streets of busyness, and enter a colorful landscape with sweeping valleys, enchanting rock formations, and charming cave homes...

Turkish Hamam Bath - What to Expect

September 14, 2015 by Ada Jang in Turkey

I will admit that I was definitely nervous before my first Turkish Hamam bath. The idea of being completely nude and vulnerable while a complete stranger vigorously scrubbed me down kind of intimidated me. But now that I’ve gone through it, I can guide you on what to expect with your first Turkish Hamam bath...

Stray animals in Istanbul

September 12, 2015 by Ada Jang in Turkey

If you spend one day walking through any neighborhood in Istanbul, you’ll be sure to encounter at least a dozen stray cats and dogs roaming the city. The stray animals are very much ingrained into the community. There’s no shortage of animal sightings along the streets, inside restaurant patios, and even climbing up onto our hotel terrace and straight onto my lap...

7 Travel Tips for Turkey

September 09, 2015 by Ada Jang in Turkey

Since Turkey was a surprise trip for me, I was completely caught off guard in the preparation department. I had to learn from my own experiences there, but I’ll offer you some tips that are good to have in mind when you travel there...

Surprise Birthday Trip to Turkey

September 07, 2015 by Ada Jang in Turkey

This year Harrison gifted me an amazing surprise birthday trip to Turkey. He actually started planning it back in April and he never let out a single hint that he was even up to something. Not only did he put immense effort into researching and creating a well thought out itinerary, he also put a ton of effort into tricking me...

What to eat in Chicago - Foodie Recs

July 25, 2015 by Ada Jang in Chicago

When thinking about what kind of food to enjoy in Chicago, my mind immediately goes to deep dish pizza and Chicago dogs! Of course with our limiting 36 hours in Chicago, we only had time to hit up two well known places: Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria and Portillo’s...