On the countdown!

We are heading home in one week to have our 'second' wedding in Melbourne and to catch up with family and friends over a long needed break in the sunshine.

During the summer here in August I was in Melbourne, so I unfortunately missed out on a warm summer holiday. So this is my chance to feel the sun on my skin (with SPF 30+ of course!), enjoy some time with family and friends and relax and take in the time away from Istanbul and the winter!

We will have two days in Singapore on the way back. It's my first time staying there and I'm not too sure what I should put on the Top 10 List of things to do and see. So if you have any suggestions, please drop me a line and let me know. Husband has been there before, but he's done it all before, and given I'm a keen shopper and up for a bargain, some tips from those who have been before would be helpful!

Visit from my sister

Recently my sister was here with me from Melbourne, spending the week in between in London and Scotland. It was whirlwind trip, but while her husband was at home and with the kids, it was the best time to get away and it was so nice to have her with me.

We walked the streets of Çukurcuma, Taksim and Beyoğlu. We visited Istanbul Modern and shopped at Istinye Park. We had some dinners and breakfasts out but the highlight I think was the photographic day trip we had with the deputy editor of National Geographic Turkey. My sister came across him in the credits of Alex Webb's book, Istanbul: City of a Hundred Names. She got in touch with Kemal and found that he offers photographic tours of Istanbul.

So we went with him to see and feel the city. It was such an eye opener. Not only did I explore places I have not yet been to, after living here for a year and a half, but I was filled up with knowledge and information about Istanbul, photography, people and culture. We walked the streets of Dolapdere where the Sunday market or "pazar" takes place, which led onto a gypsy market close to a Greek Orthodox church.

Later we walked the streets of Fener and visited the church of the Patriarch of Istanbul as well as the Bulgarian Church. We lunched at a lovely fish restaurant in Fener which served up some of the most amazing starters ("meze") I have had. From there we took a ferry from Eminönü to Kadıköy and walked the streets while my sister snapped pictures of the sellers and street market.

My photography is in it's early stages, but here are some of my pictures from the day.

The best job in the world...

I spotted this is article entitled "Island Caretaker job offer: Get paid $150,000 to swim, snorkel" in The Age online.

This is what the article says:

Queensland's latest tourism campaign is giving job seekers the chance to get paid $150,000 to live six months rent-free on the Great Barrier Reef.

As their Christmas holidays fade and the credit crunch begins to bite, office workers dreaming of a fresh start are being tempted to apply for "the best job in the world".

Tourism Queensland is looking for applicants willing to walk white sandy beaches, sit under palm trees and swim with turtles as they soak up the sun.

The successful candidate will be asked to keep a blog and photo diary in exchange for six months rent-free on Hamilton Island as part of a $150,000 salary package that includes return airfares and travel insurance.

Australians and overseas applicants must be willing to "swim, snorkel, make friends with locals and generally enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle".

My husband thinks he is well suited for the job and wants me to help him apply. Ha.

Not before my own application!

Happy in 2009

I missed the opportunity to say Happy New Year at the right time, so I guess it's a case of better late than never!

Happy 2009 to all my friends, readers and fellow bloggers.