China, Xi'An

• Xi’an is the capital of the Shansi province of China
• Is one of the oldest cities in China and historically known as Chang’an
• Xi’an is also one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China
• It is home to the Terra Cotta Warriors; the famed life-sized tomb guards of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and the only city in China that still has its ancient city wall surrounding it
• Xi’an was the starting point of the Ancient Silk Road that extended from Asia to Europe and played an important role in cultural exchange between the East and West in ancient times
• Today's Xi'an is a world famous tourist city and an inexhaustible treasure house of cultural relics

Xi'an wall towards the bell tower in the centre
View of the bell tower

The enormous Bell Tower in Xi`an, China, was originally built in 1384, before being relocated in 1582 and restored in 1739

Xi'an Museum and Lake

Attractions:

Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses
It was opened to public in 1979. It is the world famous museum that is constructed on the site of its findings. There are approximately 8,000 clay warriors and horses, more thank 10,000 bronze weapons have been found in the pits. It’s like a treasure of Qin Dynasty’s military affairs, arts and culture

Huaqing Hot Springs
Located at the northern foot of Mt. Lishan in Lindong County of Shaanxi Province, 30 kilometers from Xian, Huaqing Hot Springs is a state place of interest as well as scenic spot. Huaqing Hot Springs was very famous and used to be bathing site for imperial families during the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui and Tang Dynasties

Banpo Museum
Banpo Museum. The remains of this village, located just east of Xian and inhabited from about 4500 B.C. to 3750 B.C., were discovered in 1953. The museum was built in 1958. Placards in both Chinese and English help the visitor understand this very early settlement of the area. Inside the museum, there are the hall for the ruins, the hall for cultural relics, and the clay cave ruins. The Banpo Lady Statue on the rock in the garden pond bears a physical resemblance to the early Banpo people

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta)
The Big Goose Pagoda is situated in the Da Ci'en Temple, four kilometers away from the center of the city. It is one of the city's most distinctive and outstanding landmarks, possibly the most beautiful building left in Xi'an today.In AD 652, the Big Goose Pagoda was built to store the sutras and the figurines of Buddha, which were brought from India by a famous Buddhist translator and traveler Tang Sanzang, also known by his Buddhist name as Xuanzang. At the age of 28, he set off to India to study the sutra and then brought back most of the scriptures to Chang'an, present Xi'an city. Altogether, he spent 17 years for a round trip and experienced many hardships. Upon his return he wrote a book entitled "Journey to the West", recording the customs of different places he visited and his experiences. Subsequently the great novelist of the Ming Dynasty Wu Cheng'en, collected the materials handed down and wrote a novel titled "Pilgrimage to the West" which later became one of four greatest novels in China

Xi’an City Wall
The Xi'an City Wall is not only the most complete city wall that has survived in China, but it's also one of the largest and most complete ancient military systems of defense in the world. The city walls here were actually built on the fortifications of the Tang Forbidden City. The military defense facilities here including the city wall, city moat, drawbridges, watchtowers, corner towers, parapet walls and gate towers once made up a complete city defense system. Many sections have since been destroyed and the city walls are incomplete. The 14 km of wall does not stretch around the entire city. You can get up on the walls at the east of the railway station and at the south gate adjacent to the provincial museum.

Terracotta Warriors

Huaqing Hot Springs

Banpo Museum

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

This is the famous monk from the story "Journey to the west" who spent 17 years travelling to Indian and back to collect some Buddhist scriptures. He then spend another 17 years translating them. Unfortunately you cannot see the scriptures, but some of the translations are on display inside the Wild goose pagoda

City Wall

City guards at the entrance

City wall North Gate

Drum Tower

Market- Selling Chinese Herbs

Street food in the Muslim Quarter

Street Food- Steam Rice

The Colorful Street, Muslim Quarter

Train Station in Xi'An

Xi'an, was the imperial capital of 11 of China's dynasties and the start of the famed "Silk Road". It is a treasure trove of archaeological wonders.

Turkey, Istanbul

• Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey & Tulip is Turkey's national flower
• The city has also been nicknamed "The City on Seven Hills" because the historic peninsula, the oldest part of the city, was built on seven hills, each of which bears a historic mosque. The hills are represented in the city's emblem with seven triangles, above which rise four Minarets
• Istanbul is a very old settlement with its 8000 years history. Istanbul is a living museum with its historical sites in open air; one can continuously find new beauties and interesting places
• Istanbul is bounded on the north and the south by two seas, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The western half of the city lies in Europe while the eastern half is situated in Asia; in between the two halves flows the Bosphorus Strait. Istanbul, representing the Asian city nearest Europe and the European city closest to Asia, is a leading port whose importance is stressed by the age-old trade routes passing through the Bosphorus

View from camlica hills

Istanbul Sunrise

Istanbul Sunset

Istanbul National Flower- The Tulip

Attractions:

Beyazit Tower

This 50 meter high stone fire tower was built in 1828 by famed architects of the Balyan family on order of Sultan Mahmud II.

Bosphorus Bridge

• There was no bridge over the Golden Horn connecting both sides of Istanbul before the 19th century
• Small boats provided transportation between the two shores
• The first Galata Bridge, which connects present day Karakoy to Eminonu, was first built in 1836
• The Second was The Unkapani (Ataturk) Bridge further up the Horn handles the flow of traffic between Beyoglu and Saraçhane
• The third one over the Horn is called the Haliç BridgeThere are two big suspension bridges connecting the Asian and European sides of the Bosphorus

Bosphorus Villages

European side:

• Dolmabahce Palace with its eclectic structure reflecting western architectural styles, was built on the Bosphorus in the 19th century
• Besiktas area where stands the statue and tomb of Captain Barbaros Hayrettin in front of the Naval Museum

Asian side:

• Opposite Rumeli Kavagi is Anadolu Kavagi on the Asian side of the mouth of the Bosphorus South along the shore past Yusa Hill is Beykoz. Though it is quite a distance from city center, Istanbul residents usually go to eat the best fish at Beykoz
• Next is Pasabahçe famous for its glass and bottle factories as well as liquor factories of the state monopoly

Galata Tower
The tower was built in 1348 for protection at the northernmost point of the Genovese walls. At that time it was called the "tower of Jesus". Once it was used as a prison for a period in the Ottoman times

Istiklal Street

• The Istiklal is a pedestrian-only street in the Beyoglu area of Istanbul where the crowds of people never seem to end
• Something like three million people a day
• One end of the street is Taksim Square, the other Tunnel with restaurants, coffee shops, clubs, shopping, movie theatres and embassies in between

Rustem Pasha Mosque

• The 16th century mosque of Rustem Pasha is well-known among those who love and study Turkish ceramics
• The building is graced by magnificent Iznik tile decorations and is one of the most engaging and spiritually accessible buildings in the Muslim world

Suleymaniye Mosque

• One of the city’s must-sees is this mosque, built 450 years ago atop the city’s highest hill by Istanbul’s great architect Mimar Sinan to immortalize the most powerful Ottoman sultan, Suleyman the Magnificent
• Despite its age, the structure still inspires awe with its massive central dome, surrounding sea of smaller domes and pencil-thin minarets

Grand Bazaar, Beyazit

• The Grand Bazaar is at the center of a commercial area within and around the covered section of the market that spreads all the way down the hill to Eminonu
• The name "Grand Bazaar" refers to a vast collection of over 4,000 shops, 24 hans (privately owned inns or marketplaces), 65 streets, 22 gates, 2 bedestens (covered markets), restaurants, mosques, fountains, and teahouses within an area of 31 hectares (76 acres). Kapali Çarsi refers specifically to the indoor and covered portion
• It's a must see experience when visiting Istanbul

Spice Bazaar
The Spice Bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars in the city. Located in Eminonu, it is the second largest covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar and selling varieties of spice

Lastly, shopping in Istanbul is most likely the least expensive in entire Europe, food is varied and exquisite combining unique tastes of European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines

NOTE:

• This is perhaps not the best city for single women
• EVERY PRICE is negotiable. If they ask where you are from, mention a nation where the currency is weak. You will get a better price

But still, Istanbul is beautiful and most of the people are extremely nice

Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue MosqueIstanbul bosphorus where the continents meet

Water front residential area in IstanbulIstanbul bosphorus where the continents meet (Asia & Europe)

The golden Horn

Beyazit Tower and the marmara sea

Dolmabahce Palace

Galata Tower

The busy pedestrian street called Istiklal Street which leads up to Taksim square in Istanbul, Turkey is home to many of the cities most popular shops, bars and cafes and has an old fashioned tram

Suleymaniye and Rustem Pasha Mosques

Rustem Pasha Mosques

Suleymaniye Mosque

From the Suleymaniye Complex, towards the third and forth madrasas and the Golden Horn

A cafe near Suleymaniye Mosque

A light shop in the Grand Bazaar

At Grand Bazaar

The Spice Bazaar

Istanbul Window

All of Istanbul