~ Home Sweet Home ~

(from Wellington – Auckland – Sydney – Bangkok – Dubai to Istanbul)

3 day trip
25 hour flight
4 stop-over

On the 1st of June, I started my trip from Wellington to Istanbul that I was looking forward to get on the plane from Wellington to leave the last hectic, sleepless weeks behind therefore the only plan was sleeping, studying, watching movies and a little bit thinking about the past-present and future. :)

But who knew that there will be a serious of unexpected things waiting me just before departure. Actually I must have expected something as I have never gone somewhere in peace and comfort because of the last minute things.

1.30pm - Auckland Airport (2,5 hours before the flight)
Waiting in the queue and trying to guess how heavy my luggage is while nothing to think and have a quick check;
- Passport? – here
- Ticket? – here
- Wallet, phone etc? – here

Time to check in, here we go...
But while waiting to get my boarding pass, there was a question;

- “Do you hold an Australian visa while you’ll stop over in Sydney for 1 hour? Sorry, I couldn't find on your passport.”
(What the hell, I’ve had no idea that I was going to stop-over in Sydney until that time. And nobody had informed me so when I bought my ticket)

Although explained the situation, I’ve been told that I wasn’t allowed to leave the country without a visa and it takes a day to get. Apperantly, the only solution was catching the next flight in the following day.

Then I’ve called the Aussie Embassy from the airport and explained how important to get the visa and there was no way to wait even a day to leave while trying to be kind and desperate as mush as possible to convince them on the phone. So the process has been succeed. :)

Within 1,5 hours...
I’ve gone to the Embassy, got my visa, rushed back to the airport, got on the plane at the last minute and fell a sleep in less than 30 mins time. Unbelievable! :)

Eventually,
I’m in Istanbul right now.

After 11 months...
I’ve watched the city from the sky, met the family / friends, eaten a various of Turkish food, walked along the Bosphorus, smoked water pipe with mates etc.

There are definitely lots to say...

But in a nutshell,

It is great to be back...! ;)

Golden Horn from the sky

The Bosphorus from the sky