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Published: July 23rd 2013
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Fat diet
Fat diet to put on weight Mon 8th July to Sat 13th July 2013
Istanbul, Turkey
Mon 8th July
I have been wanting to put some more weight back on for the past 2 weeks. I have lost a weight and my waist size has dropped from 32" to 30". The trousers I have worn from the UK have been a bit loose and always trying to slip down on me.
In Istanbul, there is a perfect solution to weight loss, the local people here eat many forms of pastry for breakfast. The pastry is full of flour and fat and it is perfect for someone who needs to put on some weight. After breakfasting heavily on this pastry stuff, I am happy to report that I have re-gained my 32" waist back.
The afternoon was spent driving into town looking for the Iranian consulate. The SatNav took me on the wrong routes; got stuck in some heavy traffic and to top it all, I had problems finding a parking space in
Seaview from hotel
Seaview from hotel car parks. Anyway, by the time I reached the consulate it was about 3.30pm and then I was informed by the staff that they do not process visa in the afternoon. Great, another day wasted!
It was a really hot day, and to save time, I went to get some photographs of me for the visa. The natives were really helpful and pointed me to the nearest photographic shop. I was really touched when the shopkeeper offered me a drink of water after seeing me almost dying of thirst.
The hotel staff upgraded my room to the best room with a sea view for the same price - an offer I cannot refuse.
Tues 9th July 2013
I got up before the crack of dawn because the consulate opened early from 8.30 until 11.30 am. I arrived at around 9.30 and parked the car outside the consulate. I greeted the consulate official with a "Salaam alaikum", I think the official was shocked for a
brief moment before replying "Alaikum salaam". I said "brother, i need a visa for Iran", he muttered something about authorisation code, and something about do I have an invitation. I said 'No". The official did try his best to help me by seeking advice from his superiors to see whether I can a visa without this 'authorisation code'. The formality was strictly imposed, so I was sent packing with a website of all the recognised official travel agents in Iran that can help me to obtain this 'authorisation code'.
Brilliant, another down the drain. What can I do to make the most of the rest of the day. I thought a cruise down Bosphorus would cheer me up for the day. So I went down to Sultanahmet to join a tour group for about 80 Lira. The duration of the trip was 2 1/2 hours along the Bosphorus and i was able to see both sides of Istanbul. The most interesting part was when the tour guide described the bridge that joined Europe and Asia.
Wed 10th July 2013
More puff pastry in the morning then I went to look for the Turkmen consulate which was only about 15 minutes walk from the hotel. My first attempt at locating the consulate failed - I just walked right passed it. Soon, I was completely lost and I getting a bit anxious to find the consulate before they closed. I stopped and asked a local Turk who was working as a telephone engineer. I said "Turkmen consulate?" and he replied in a string of Turkish which i could not understand a word of. Feeling very frustrated by then I walked away looking more lost than before.
Suddenly, I heard someone shouting, so I turned round and it was the engineer, he made a gesture asking to go inside his van. I immediately understood, he wanted to drive me to the Turkmen consulate. I said "No, no, you are working, you have no time". The engineer was genuinely trying to help, so he twisted my arm and I jumped into the van, We drove for about 5 minutes and found ourselves just outside the consulate. I said a big 'Thank you"
and shaked his hand (and offered 20 lira but he refused). He said it was a Turkish custom to help all those foolish and lost tourists in his country.
Guess what? The Turkmen consulate do not open on Wednesdays! Ah!!!!
Thurs 11th July 2013
Today it was time to check out of the luxurious hotel and into something a bit more affordable. I checked into an apartment in Hurryet Cadessi in the Atakoy district of Istanbul. The apartment is owned by a man called Melik Firat Yucel.
It was also the day my G wagon was booked into a local garage to repair the following items: 1. Clean the fuel tank (stop those dirt from blocking the fuel filter). 2. (Look away Paul and Scotty) The fuel pump had to be repaired and new fuel injectors fitted. 3. Oil change 4. New fuel cap (Fuel cap number 3).
The whole job would take 3 days and a lot of money. Great. Now I do not
have visas for the neighbouring countries and to make matters worst, I do not have my own transport for the next 3 days.
Now in Istanbul, I feel I am illiterate, deaf, blind and now I am crippled.
At about 2pm I arrived at Hurryet Cadessi in a taxi to be greeted by a tall and slim young man called Melik Firat. He took me to his apartment and helped me to settle down in the apartment. He was most helpful to me by taking me to the nearest public transport hub and gave me his 'Istanbulkart' so that I can use it in public transport. Spent most of the afternoon walking around the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul. The most striking thing that happened for me was the sound from the local mosque calling for prayer. In Istanbul, the prayer call was not a strange thing, it fitted very well with local way of life and I was privileged to experience it as a tourist. Then I thought I had struck gold when I accidentally found the famous 'Grand Bazaar'. Unfortunately, it was near closing time,
so I hurriedly walked around before the bazaar closed. I vowed to return the following day and shop 'til I drop.
Frid 12th July 2013
Taksim square - this square is made famous recently by the demonstrations reported in the media. I saw plenty of Poiice presence in the area. The pedestrianised shopping area was in a street called 'Istiklal Cadessi' which is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul. It is about a mile long and is surrounded by buildings from the late Ottoman empire.
Walked past a percussion instrument shop and got chatted to the owner/workers there. Then they decided to play a tune for me and then it attracted a whole crowd of people around me.
I also saw a busker who was playing a string instrument that resembled a Chinese musical instrument.
I also sat on a tram that was the second oldest tramway in the world.
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