Journey Across The Land of Four Seasons: Vishal’s Turkey Trip with Thrillophilia
'A job may fill your pocket, but traveling fills your soul.'
Vishal and his partner were driving back home from work when she said these lines. When he thinks about it now, he’s so glad that she did. As they spoke about how they were always running out of time for themselves, a song suddenly played on the radio - ‘Saiyaara’ from ‘Ek Tha Tiger'.
It reminded Vishal of how he used to love the scene where they show Salman's entry in slow-motion with Southeastern Turkey's Mardin in the background. Istanbul's Maiden Tower and Mardan Palace Hotel in Antalya were the places that stayed with him for years after watching that movie.
"What do you think about visiting Turkey?" he asked her.
"Well, I've always wanted to visit one of those Turkish Hamams that I saw in Dil Dhadakne Do," she replied.
And that's when they realised they had already finalised their destination.
They didn't want to spend a lot of time figuring out an itinerary and the things associated with it. So they spoke to their friends and got to know about Thrillophilia. They were told the team could help plan a trip on an end-to-end basis, and that was exactly what they needed.
The next thing they knew - they were on their flight to Turkey with another couple they’d been friends with. What more could Vishal have asked for? Two couples, heading to 'The Land of Four Seasons' for a vacation that was long overdue.
They landed in Istanbul - and that's where it began!
Where Time Stands Still
Visiting the Ottoman Relics in Istanbul was as good as travelling back to the times when the Ottoman Empire was in power for Vishal and his companions. Another gem they visited was the Topkapi Palace, where the lavish courtyards and ancient artefacts got them fantasising about the lavish lives of emperors.
When they got to the Blue Mosque, Vishal’s partner reminded him it was another site that was shown in Ek Tha Tiger. It was where the song ‘Saiyaara’ was filmed, and it looked a hundred times more beautiful than it did in the movie.
After taking off their shoes, they entered the large hall in the mosque. They couldn't even remember the last time they felt such peace around and within them.
Before heading back to their hotel, they also visited the Grand Bazaar. The variety of items available in the market was simply impressive, from jewellery, exotic spices, and copperware - it had everything. For them, the best part about the Bazaar was finding out who among them could haggle the best with the sellers - and of course, Vishal lost to his partner. It sort of reminded him of her business negotiation skills back at work - she always fetched the best deal.
Love, Landscapes, and Hot Air Balloon Rides
Up next on their list was Cappadocia, which they were told was formed around 60 million years ago. They had not seen anything like it ever before, and the unique rock formations towering above them were a visual treat.
According to them, the best part about Cappadocia was its valleys. They found them to be so fascinating that they constantly kept clicking pictures. There was even a point when Vishal’s partner told him that he was a great photographer (He had to visit Turkey to hear this!).
But truth be told - the real magician was the stunning landscape of Cappadocia.
If there’s one feeling Vishal can’t put into words, it was when they were flying at a height of more than 3,000 feet in the sky. From up there, they felt like they could see the whole world. If he tried really hard, the best word to sum up the hot air balloon ride would be 'magical'.
During their time in the sky, the experience felt so personal. Looking at the breathtaking views around them, sometimes at each other, they realised that coming to Turkey was one of their best decisions ever.
A Dive into Historic Ruins and Natural Wonders
Just the way Vishal is a big history buff, his partner’s love for nature knows no bounds. And hence, visiting the waterfalls in Antalya was a special experience for her. It was love at first sight for her when she saw the fascinating Kurşunlu Waterfall and Duden Waterfalls.
On the other hand, Vishal couldn't stop thinking if there were any historical sites in Antalya. To his amazement, during the Pamukkale Hierapolis & Cotton Castle Tour, he got a chance to explore more. They walked around Hierapolis, which they were told was once an ancient Roman spa town built more than 2,000 years ago. Vishal’s favourite part about the tour was when his partner stepped into the travertine terraces and asked him to come along. Walking upon the mineral slabs, with their feet dipped in thermal waters, was one of the most memorable moments of their trip.
While on their way back to the hotel, Vishal thought about how they'd both need to get back to their workaholic lives. She noticed that he looked a bit sad that the trip was ending and offered him a 'Turkish Delight', a traditional jelly-like Turkish candy.
It was really sweet - both her gesture and the candy.
He thanked her for reminding him how important it is to make time for traveling. She responded by saying,
"It wouldn't have been possible without you, and Thrillophilia."
Vishal believed that was true since their core challenge was not being able to find enough time to craft an ideal itinerary. Their destination expert Raj took care of everything, from their hotel bookings, transfers, and meals to professional guides.
So cheers to Thrillophilia for creating a travel experience in which every moment felt like a scene from their favourite movies.
Read More: Thrillophilia Turkey Reviews