Hot Air Balloon, anyone?

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I was looking at the hot air balloon and the price remain the same ... roughly 200Euro per person.


Gratitude!

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for those who were keen in hot air balloons...

there are many places that offered hot air balloons rides and do book them if you're keen.  After taking a ride, you might not want to take another, but without taking a ride, you won't know whether you want to take one.

a) where?
Turkey Cappadocia would be the best. If there is only one ride that you wanted to take, then Cappadocia would be the only one you should plan for.

Turkey Pamukkale - an alternative - if you plan for Cappadocia ride but could not make it due to weather condition, then your immediate fall back plan would be in Pamukkale.  Of course, in order to execute this fall back plan, your trip should be to Cappadocia (says stay for 2/3 nights) and then go to Pamukkale (for another 1/2 nights).  Suppose you are staying in Cappadocia for 2 nights, then you should go for balloon on the first morning with 2nd morning as standby. If weather does not permit the ride for both morning then go for the Pamukkale one.

Other places - I was told NZ and Myanmar but had never tried

b) how much?
Cappadocia price ranged from 160-200 Euro - depends primarily on the peak or non-peak period. Different balloon operator provide slightly different prices and peak/non-peak dates.

c) which company?
Cappadocia #1 would be Butterfly balloon.  If all things (e.g. price), then Butterfly balloon would be your best bet.

Other than Butterfly, next would be Discovery Balloons.

Gratitude!

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Good morning valuebuddies.

My earliest budding teacher was Chris and I'm very glad that he is going to Turkey for his first post-C19 holidays.

Enjoy reading his pre-trip tips here:
https://treeofprosperity.blogspot.com/20...anbul.html

The most impressive historical site would be Ephesus.
Enjoy:


Gratitude.

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On Istanbul - Chris Sept 2023 
https://treeofprosperity.blogspot.com/2023/09/


Time flies and Chris is back to Singapore and as you read this, he is off to Osaka to escape from the haze. 

---

In his post, he was calculating how much would be needed to live in Turkey as a foreigner.

Well, I had something to say.

It was about 7pm, and the sun had just set not long ago.

I'm walking towards my hotel after a long day of sightseeing... looking for food.

I walked down a side road which lead to the famous Sea of Marmara - the shipping path from Black Sea to Mediterranean - that I spotted a small eatery which seems to be serving locals and not foreigner.

The shop front looks like selling Kerbab but it's a bit unusual that it has a few tables with seats inside.

A young man look up and saw me checking out his shop and wave at me. 

He signaled me to come inside ... which I obliged.

"You speak English", he asked.

Well, he was not from Istanbul and in fact he was not from Turkey too. 

He works in this small shop as an employee.  He cook, he clean and he do everything.

Together with him is a young lady which I asked.

She turns up the be the boss.  She is also not from Turkey too.

Then, a teenager pop into the shop. 

He seems to be a friendly customer and chit chat a bit. Unfortunately, he can't really speak English and left without eating or buying anything.

We continue chit chating while he preparing my food.

His boss was from Kazakhstan and came to Istanbul to look for business opportunities.

He was same Kampong as his boss - which latter he told me is actually his wife. 

His boss set up the small eatery in Istanbul first.

When he heard about she needs some helper, he applied for the job.

Why? It's very simple, there is no job in the Kampong.  Everyone go overseas to work. Turkey, in particular, Istanbul is where work is... and that's why there are a lot of foreigner working in Istanbul. 

He added that just now the customer - turns up to be not customer but his delivery boy.  He was from the same Kampong and came to Istanbul to help his uncle.  Of course, double up as delivery boy to earn extra $$$.

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I'm not sure whether Chris had a chance to find these type of "local" restaurant.  If he had, then he would realised that the food is actually very affordable because the living standard for Turkey aka Istanbul is really low.  

I had a chance to find another cheap eat which is similar to CaiFun... those rice store that you point to order aka Economic rice.

Credit: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com...ice-237781

Yes, it really looks like this. You point point point and then you get cheap and good food.

Gratitude!

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Credit: https://treeofprosperity.blogspot.com/2024/01/seedly-personal-finance-festival-2024.html




Gratitude!

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One of my friend just came back from Cappadocia.
His hot air balloon was Euro70.
I was wondering what happen?

Gratitude!

Enjoy:

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if you missed the cappadocia flight due to bad weather, then consider taking in pamukkale. 
Enjoy:


Gratitude!