It is in those vivid colored Mosaic & Ottoman Lamps in the Turkish Booth at India - International Trade Fair Delhi that I fell in love with them almost instantly. The warm smile of the vendors filled my heart with hope for me wanting to see visit and connect with Turkey someday.  I was also gifted an evil eye Nazar boncuğu “I think you like it” said he, “and you may just have it. It brings good luck and protects from all bad things. Good Luck to you lady”. I have had always heard by then, that Turkey is a land of architecture.


Photo(Flickr)

Delhi where I was based out of then, also boasts of historical monuments and ancient architecture. Looking at these architecture ‘I sometimes wonder where the inspiration came from.’ Was Delhi repeatedly invaded or ruled by Dynasties that bought the skilled workers to action. Until recently, I was unaware that Delhi has architectural connection to Turkey. It was pointed out by a friend who spent six month across hotels in Delhi. Five Dynasties have ruled over Delhi Sultanate, the first four where of Turkic Origin - Mamluk dynasty, the Khilji dynasty, the Tughlaq dynasty and the Sayyid Dynasty. The Alai Gate and Qutub Minar were built during the Mamluk and Khalji dynasty of Delhi Sultanate. The Delhi Sultanate reached its peak in terms of geographical reach, during the Tughlaq dynasty, covering most of Indian subcontinent. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq ruled for five years and launched a town near Delhi named Tughlaqabad.  Looks like we have a connection.

Turkey has two main airports - Sabiha and Ataturk. When traveling to Turkey, I would always advice on taking flights that lands at Ataturk as the connectivity to the city is better and also takes less time (its closer to the city) and Turkish Airlines being the national carrier of Turkey lands at Ataturk.



Turkey is an epitome of stunning-ness. There are 83000 mosque in Turkey. Not only that, every place that I went to was grand and stories that came out of it where etched in stone. Our first stop was Hippodrome Square. Between Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are remnants of Turkey’s past in the form of ancient Obelisks. Blue mosque is one of the mosque by Ottoman Empire. There are 24000 handmade ceramic tiles in mosque of size (20*20). As every mosque, we see a lot of Arabic Calligraphy on the walls. As you would venture out of Istanbul to Gallipoli World War II sites, you would hear many stories of survival and struggle by soldiers one of which is carrying wounded soldiers on a donkey of an Indian soldier.



                                                Flower Teas at Istiklal Street

Turkey is a heaven for food lovers - both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. While we never forgot to sip endless cups of Turkish Tea at Istiklal Street, we couldn’t stop ourselves from munching on countless deserts such as Baklavas.  Talking of food, if you are in Delhi and crave for Turkish Food, Kunafa in Lodi Road has Great Baklavas and Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee (Turkish: Türk kahvesi) is a method of preparing unfiltered coffee. Roasted and then finely ground coffee beans are boiled in a pot (cezve), usually with sugar, and served in a cup where the grounds are allowed to settle.  If you are looking for elaborate dining in Delhi, Fez Dining and bar has perfect ambience with traditional lamps and also serves Chicken Doner Kebab.  So, if you have Turkey on your mind, it’s time to take the plunge and start planning your trip there!

THIS WINTER FOLLOW HRITHIK’S KAABIL FOOTSTEPS AND GET BACK TO NATURE IN SWITZERLAND

Well it’s that time of the year again when everyone wants to take off and spend this beautiful holiday season with their loved ones. And what better place to venture to than picturesque yet adventure packed Switzerland. If you don’t believe us, just ask Hrithik Roshan who is all set to take off to the Swiss Alps with his sons for a fun-filled Skiing trip this winter. Some of the best places in the world to experience this sport are Zermatt, St Moritz, Davos-Klosters, Gstaad, Engelberg and Grindelwald. These alpine resorts are synonymous with skiing and for good reason – they offer some of the most varied terrain in the Swiss Alps

Winter in Switzerland has a charm of its own when the ground is white and the air is crisp. It’s a perfect winter wonderland experience with twinkling lights and the Christmas markets, ice rinks and more. While Hrithik and his kids enjoy their time skiing, snowboarding and chilling (not literally) in the snow-clad mountains, here’s a couple of breath-taking activities that will ensure the best winter vacation that you can enjoy during winter in Switzerland:

Olympic Bob Run


The Olympic bob run at St. Moritz-Celerina is the oldest bobsleigh track in the world. It is the only bob run that is naturally refrigerated and built from scratch every year. First constructed in 1903 and officially opened on New Year's Day 1904, the construction of the track requires a lot of experience and sense of proportion. There are minimal changes in the alignment every year and every curve in the ground is levelled out. About 15'000m3 snow and 7'000m3 water is needed to construct the track. That being said, the Olympic Bob Run is definitely worth a try when in Switzerland.

Tobogganing


Tobogganing is a fun filled activity of zipping down a hill or other slope on a wooden sledge. This cool and easy ride will get your heart beating faster as you slide amidst the snow-white winter landscapes. The toboggan run at Grindelwald in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps is at a distance of 15 kilometres with a vertical drop of 1,600 metres – making Big Pintenfritz the longest toboggan run in Europe.

Glacier Trekking



For those who love hiking and trekking, they can opt for glacier trekking under the care of an excellent guide. In Interlaken, the mountain guides take you through the facts about glaciology and environmental changes while you explore the waterfalls, mountain brooks and wild flowers. This is a perfect activity for family and friends to round out a Swiss vacation.

Glacier Bungee Jumping



Only the most daring and adventurous soul can leap into Swissness by jumping off a cliff to try Glacier Bungee Jumping. The Grindelwald glacial gorge at a height of 85 metres is perfect for those fearless adrenaline seekers that just want to experience it all in life. It’s a mix of nature, adventure, excitement, danger and thrill all packed into one awesome sport.

Igloo Village



Apart from the activities, one can cuddle up in complete privacy by staying in a romantic igloo. It’s a whole different feel to be in a beautifully located rugged village with a breath-taking view of the central Swiss Alps. The Engelberg igloo village can be reached quickly and easily from Lucerne, Zurich, Basel and Bern. If you do not want a fancy night in the ice palace, you can just grab a drink at the igloo bar and have a feel of the igloo life.

Switzerland is a spectacular place to try out off-beat sports or not... But even if sports are not really your thing you can always just relax and rejuvenate at a spa or a hot spring, go visit a chocolate factory or the Christmas markets.

In Switzerland, there’s something for everyone. So, make your winter a better one and get ready for paradise on Earth… Cause in Switzerland you can but you don’t have to. To read my previous posts on Switzerland during Summers and Winters, click here

From the first Cappuccino Machine in the US to walking on the road build on yesteryear’s Brook  to gorging on Family run Pizza Jaunts to munching on Syrian Family owned restaurants serving Falafels, we are today going to spend our time in South Village where working class used to live and where food is cheaper. A lot of buildings around here is pretty much owned by New York University , which started in 1831, the first school to not bring Religion in the studies . Today its one of the most expensive University in US having about 86,000 students / year. Cheap food and Delish jaunts, that’s all I yearn for and that's exactly what we are talking about today in New York City!

For those who love food, walk down this village, and there would be plenty of small cafes and restaurants on both sides of road and pretty easy on pocket too :)


I rolled my eyes in a sense of bewilderment around Washington Square Park.  They film here all the time she says. Remember, the movie ‘When Harry met Sally’ When Sally drops Harry its on the front of the arch right there. As she pointed out directions on how popular the city is with Hollywood in terms of locales they choose to shoot at including stills from Will Smith’s I am Legend, She continues 'Pretty much all the parks in the city is built on the burial ground. Right where you guys are standing are 10,000-20,000 bodies buried’ . If you were to know more about the area, you must have an archeologist thats how much is underneath the park.


We then walked towards Greenwich Village. Greenwich village was a village. Greenwich Village has 400 years of History when the Dutch company came to South of island and set aside 200 acres for the Tobacco Farm. Over time the farm was parceled, and the street that was between the two farms was Christopher Street - the oldest Street in Greenwich Village in the 1700’s. In 1882, due to yellow fever academic, people moved from lower Manhattan to Greenwich Village. That is why West Village developed with really nice homes later turned apartments and now family homes. Thats how pretty much how New York got settled, the rich would move to north to get away from sickness and the rest of classes would follow. Greenwich village was mostly swampland and the city felt it would be great place for the burial of the yellow fever victims and anyone who can’t afford the funeral. So, 1000’s and 1000’s were buried until they couldn’t fit in anymore. So they leveled it up and made into Military Marching Parade Ground. The canons then would roll the field and sunk into the graves. Sensing it wasn’t a good idea, it was made a park.


 There was Bus depot on the other side which would drive to the arch and would turn around on the other side and come back at 5th avenue. Around this area, are also remnants of Washington Muse where the stables were and today they are converted into NYU offices.

The food in West village though is expensive for about $20-$30 types. The best part about a food tour is the sample delights that you can taste for $1 as we did in the South Village. That saves you munching one time at one spot and taking a nap afterwards as you can taste several food delights from different places in small quantities.

1) Artichoke Pizza: The family is in the Pizza business for like forever and they are from Staten Island. They serve crispy semi thick rest lined with soft Artichoke, cheese and spinach pizza. They also have Pepperoni, Crab Meat, Macaroni flavors. We tried Quarter sized sample for $1 and they were delicious.




2) Mamoun's: Mush the chickpeas with some herbs and make them balls and fry because that's how Falafels are made but Falafels at Mamoun's with sauces are awesome! The samples were 3 Falafels for $1.





3) Cafe Reggio: The very first Cappuccino machine in all of US was here. Little Italy in an Italian Group. A lot of different groups lives in south village. The italian had the longest lasting effect so there are lot of Italian restaurants and businesses here. So when Italy became a country in 1871, that generation does not associate themselves as Italian but the towns they came from. So when they had left Italy for US, Canada and had come from South of Sicily which meant that they were most likely farmers, considering were were farm lands here on which they constructed buildings, bridges etc, and thats how Little Italy formed where people would move to a block where everyone in the town is from. So if you were from Palermo, everyone in your block would be from Palermo and so on.. Here people were from Genoa in Italy..This neighborhood at little money until little started creeping and blending in and thats how 1st Cappuccino machine lands up here.




4) Faiccos Rice Balls : Store in Business since 1800’s individually sized balls serving with Risotto Mozzarella inside. You also get Expresso Coffee Soda here.

5) Up & Up There was bar in the basement was the location of the gaslight cafe. In 1960’s Greenwich Village was cheap so all the artists , writers, musicians would be there because of cheap rents. And if someone was up in the county, they would perform in the Gaslight cafe. There was ‘Pay what you like’ concept.

The buildings around the area had air shafts between, so the buildings are attached side by side and in the middle there was a curve where the shafts were and then come back together again. When people would perform & audience would clap, the sound would go into air shafts and tenants would get mad and call police.

Then they started ‘Snapping’ instead of ‘Clapping’.

6) Cafe Wha Opened in 1959 this was another place for upcoming artists. Bob Tyler came to New York in Jan 1961 and performs in Cafe Wha and then asked the audience if there was a couch to sleep and slept at an audience’s couch at night. Cafe Wha , the unusual name ‘Wha’ was named on his owner’s grandma’s . She didn’t understand English very well so she was from Russia and when she wouldn’t understand she would say ‘Wha?’ Today it has a real bar unlike the Coffee bar it opened upto and there are 2 live shows every night.



7) Minetta Tavern This was called the writers hub. Readers Digest Started here in the basement. Ernst Hemingway used to come here. Joe Gould also known as, Greenwich Village Eccentric, roamed around Harlem and Greenwich village to ask locals and journal and journal and write oral history of the world. The restaurants would pay food for him for free and he would sleep on other’s couches for 20 years. The place today is aesthetic and highly rated expensive restaurant with hamburgers for $32.

8) Minetta Street Minetta means Devil Water, some say Spirit Water and etc but native Americans used it as a causeway and they were able to Fish out of it . Streets have been built over it so there are buildings over it. In 1900’s when it would rain heavy, people of Minetta would complain that the Brook flooded the basement and New York city response would be it can’t be because the Minetta does not exist anymore. They studied the construction and they had to go beneath the street and found the Minetta Brook. There was once Minetta Brook tour that was by lifting the manholes and showing the brook. A brook is smaller than the river bigger than the stream.

There was one store on the corner that had a grocery store and there would build homes for people to shop at the store. A grocery used to be a name for illegal bar in those times so there was a bar in the basement.

Walk west block to the northwest corner of Bedford and Grove Streets and look diagonally towards six-story apartment building , that's what served as an exterior for Monica's and Richael's apartment in Popular Flick Friends.


9) Pasticceria Rocco: These are she said the best Cannoli in NYC. They make it fresh and like all Italian jaunts, everything is on weight and they have a take out price and an eat in price. The eat in price is always higher. There is also a funny law that states if you want to take out but if you sit down instead, you’ll be thrown out

10)Bleecker Street Pizza: It starts with a very cute story. The owner of this jaunt was a former police officer in New York and thats why the location is here. The story goes like the grandmother came to New York and brings all her family recipes and every meal she would make pizza for the family and everyone would joke around and say ‘We should open up a shop and sell her recipes’. He retires from the police force and says to his family that lets start a shop, and his family thinks its crazy but today it is being voted 1 by the Food Network 3 years running. This restaurant has been here for just 14 years and serves Tuscan Style Thin Crust pizza. He stays true to his grandmother’s recipe and same ingredients same everything is used. When fresh Basil is not available, they get it from somewhere it is available fresh.




11)The Doughnut Project: The doughnuts here are great to have.



12)Bantam Bagel: Included in Oprah Winfrey's favorite things list, there are several type of Bagels including Everyone’s Favorite, French Toast, Plain Bagel, Plain Cream Cheese, Pretzel, Cheddar Jalepalo Cream, Birthday Cake etc.



13) Varsano's Chocolate : A place for great truffles.



14) Molly’s Cupcakes : There are mini and molly cupcakes in this super cute setting. And if they mess up your cupcakes, they have ugly duckling section and they give discounts to you.



15) Pommes Fries: Old world style Belgian Fries served in Paper cones. Indulge in choices from 30 different sauces to go with the fries.




16) Thelewala: A tiny spot that serves Indian street cart food including Lime Paneer Roll, Ghugni with Parantha, Jaal Muri and tea.




17) Popbar : Freshly made handcrafted Gelato Sticks



18) Grand Central Terminal:  I love this place, first for the beautiful architecture that it holds with astral marble ceiling and second for the food. It has only been once that I took train to upstate New York from Grand Central Terminal but totally in awe with it.