Photoblog: Seeing Istanbul Through A Kaleidoscope

Istanbul is a city of superlatives: blinding lights, traffic noises and flashy sights amplify your senses, while the kaleidoscope of colors and aroma hypnotize you into a trance. Spanning across Europe and Asia, the metropolis is power-packed with distinctive cultures and flavors.

Stepping foot on Istanbul for the second stop, I noticed how rapidly it has changed. Within a short time span of 3 years, Istanbul has developed into a city of contradictions. Soaring skyscrapers vs aged shop houses, chic outdoor cafes vs old school teahouses. Here, old meets new and East meets West – I’ll let my photos bring you through the multi-hued streets of Istanbul for a closer look.

A gorgeous display of white tulips – Turkey’s national flower – contrasting against the grey backdrop of theNew Mosque.

 

Spice Market

Spices and condiments of every color you can imagine – heaped up into pyramidal piles. I had the constant urge to push one of them and see how the colors would blend.

Rows and rows of rainbow-colored porcelain bowls all intricately hand-crafted and ornamented with jewels. Only fit for royalty.

    

Brass and bronze utensils on sale at Spice Market.

Street Food

   A kebab seller sharpens his knives and gets ready to strut his stuff. With two blades on hand, he whips up some outrageous kebab – the most popular street food ever.

By the Bosphurus banks, I spotted these floating fish kebab stalls, where fresh fish caught from the sea were grilled instantly, sandwiched in a bun and served hot and steamy.

Quintessential Sights

The Basilica Cistern, masterpiece of the Roman empire, beautifully displays the works of yesteryears. Dim red lights give the underground water bunker a mysterious glow, gently lighting up the columns. In the darkness, you can see the reflection of the columns on the clear water surface. 

The exterior of the Sultanahmet Mosque. The central water fountain is used for the purpose of cleansing your soul before entering the mosque.

   The interior of Sultanahmet Mosque is bewitching – chandeliers hang from the sky-high ceiling while sunlight pours through the colorful stained glass.

In Hagia Sofia, the influences of both Byzantine and Ottoman empires can be evidently seen. Its dome-shaped ceiling, carved walls and Orthodox paintings represent the Roman Byzantine past while Arabic scripts are symbols of its Muslim present.

The Bosphourus Bridge connects Europe to Asia – two continents bridged into one. At Ortakoy, rows of sophisticated restaurants compete to see who has the best view and cuisine in town.

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