Chapter 1

Welcome to Chapter 1 of our journey!
This chapter marks our journey along the Silk Road. We will be traveling overland 🚂🚌🛥️ (without airplanes❌ ✈️) from Toronto 🇨🇦 to Hong Kong🇭🇰! Read more

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Chapter 1 World Vagabonding
Day 87: Leaving Thessaloniki
March 1, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
After 6-day of visiting the less well-known, Thessaloniki, it was time to move on. We will be passing through Kavala, with the hope of visiting the archeological site of Philip (a UNESCO world heritage), before leaving Greece 🇬🇷Read more
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Chapter 1 World Vagabonding
Day 87: Arriving Kavala
March 1, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Welcome to Kavala! The first impression is that it looks like Sorrento/ Amalfi, those coastal cities in Italy. We like it as it is not as large and not with a lot of tourists at the time.
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Chapter 1 World Vagabonding
Day 88: Walk around Kavala
March 2, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Everything in Kavala is within walking distance. There are few spots in town worth checking out. The huge aqua duct and the waterfront are the most impressive parts in town.
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Chapter 1 World Vagabonding
Day 89: Archeological site of Phillippi
March 3, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
The archeological site of Phillipi is the main reason we stopped by Kavala. It is a UNESCO world heritage. The ancient city of Phillipi was built or conquered by King of Macedonia, Phillipi. He was the father of the Alexander the Great. Phillipi was with a goal to unify the Greeks to prevent the Persians. He conquered the area because of economic reason, as the area is full of gold and reach in resources. Unfortunately the ancient city was destroyed by an earthquake, so right now, it left all the ruins there. It was like visiting the Roman Forum in Rome but with way less tourists here.Read more
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Day 91: Leaving Kavala
March 5, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
Today was a big day because we were going to cross the land border and head to Istanbul. The bus took almost 8 hours. Let’s see how our next adventure unfold.
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Day 91: Hello Istanbul
March 5, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ 🌧 10 °C
After almost 8 hours bus ride (we thought it is 6 hours as the bus ticket has the wrong arrival hour), we are here! Welcome to Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Day 92: Taksim
March 6, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Today was a rest day for us. The unexpected long bus ride drained us yesterday. We just did a small walk around the Taksim area, where our accommodation was.
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Day 93: Hagia Sophia
March 7, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
Our first proper place to visit in Istanbul was the famous Hagia Sophia. In the past, it was free to visit. Unfortunately, effective from Jan 2024, a Euro25 entrance fee per person has been implemented. It’s a very steep price, but since we have been curious of the giant mosque. It was an Orthodox church turned into a working mosque nowadays. We could find a few mosaics as the remains of the Orthodox church history.Read more
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Day 93: Blue (Sultan Ahmed ) Mosque
March 7, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Just next to Hagia Sophia is the Blue Mosque. It is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque. It was constructed between 1609-1617 during the rule of Ahmed I. It is another giant mosque and it’s free entry.Read more
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Day 93: Galata Tower
March 7, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
The Galata Tower is an old Genoese tower. It was built as a watchtower at the highest point of the Walls of Galata. Unfortunately, it was under construction when we visited.
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Day 93: Taksim area
March 7, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
We ended our day back to the Taksim Area
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Day 95: Grand Bazaar
March 9, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and 4000 shops. One can easily do all the shopping here!
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Day 95: Beyazit Mosque
March 9, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Beyazit Mosque is an early 16th-century Ottoman imperial mosque. It is the oldest imperial mosque.
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Day 95: Suleymaniye Mosque
March 9, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
This mosque took 8 years to build and was completed in 1557. It was a tribute to Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. It is a fitting tribute to both the sultan and the architect, Mimar Sinan. Suleyman was the longest-reigning sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1520-1566) and is regarded by some as a ‘second solomon’ because of the harmony and justice under his rule.Read more
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Day 95: Molla Zeyrek Mosque
March 9, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Similar to most of the Byzantine churches in Istanbul, it was converted into a mosque after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453. It was also known as Pantokrator Monastery dedicated to the Christ.Read more
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Day 95: Taksim area
March 9, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
We ended our day back to the Taksim area
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Day 96: Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque
March 10, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Originally we would like to visit the palace nearby. But it was forbidden to visit as it turned to a military base. We then visited this mosque. It was an Ottoman Imperial mosque commissioned by the Ottoman sultan Abdul Hamid II, and constructed between 1884 and 1886. This was the first mosque that we visited that Chris and I have to enter separately due to gender.Read more
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Day 96: Taksim area
March 10, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Today was a short day. We went back to the Taksim area to take a rest.
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Day 97: Yanikapi Station
March 11, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
Just bumped into this unique transit hub, Yanikapi station. The design is very interesting.
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Day 97: Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
March 11, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
A 16th-century Ottoman mosque. It was commissioned by Mihrimah Sultan, the daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent. Also designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan. We got this mosque to ourselves when we visited. It was a pretty and quiet one,Read more
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Day 97: Walls of Istanbul
March 11, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great.Read more
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Day 97: Yeni Mosque (New Mosque)
March 11, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
One of Istanbul’s most prominent mosques, close to the Galata Bridge. The mosque dated back to 1663. It has 2-storey, and it allowed visitor to go to the 2nd floor, the view was pretty stunning.
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Chapter 1 World Vagabonding
Day 97: Taksim area
March 11, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Last night in Taksim before leaving Istanbul!
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Day 98: BUDO ferry to Bursa
March 12, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Leaving the busy Istanbul! We were heading to Bursa!
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Chapter 1 World Vagabonding
Day 98: Arriving Bursa
March 12, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
After 2-hour ferry ride, arriving the Mudanya ferry terminal in Bursa. We took the 1-M bus to the Emek metro station for transiting to the city centre.
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