PLACES

Mercimek koftesi @ Lüleburgaz, Turkey, February 15, 2020

Mercimek koftesi Turkish cuisine is rich and diverse. The Ottoman Empire had allowed the introduction of multiple cultures, and different cuisines co-evolved over time. And I am glad that I had tried at least some of the most iconic dishes during my stay. In Lüleburgaz, a city in western Turkey, I had the pleasure to …

with Sibel and Ozlem @ Istanbul, Turkey, February 8th, 2020

with Sibel and Ozlem Last time it was summer and they were travelers, and now it is winter and they are locals. By coincidence, we reunited on a very cold day in Istanbul, and for some time we had to cover our faces as we walked because pieces of snow were getting into our eyes. …

with Özgür and friends @ Çıtır Balık, Antalya, Turkey, January 26, 2020

Some Turkish friends strongly recommended a fish sandwich place in town. I was happy to learn that the place was only two minutes from where I stay, but from the outside, the popularity seemed overwhelming – the queue for placing orders was long, and there was another queue for the people who wanted to get …

Arrival @ Antalya, Turkey, January 22, 2020

Arrived in Antalya. From the North East of Turkey, I’ve visited places along a diagonal route to get to Antalya, a city known for its mild climate and beaches. During the past months, I’ve come up with some creative ways to stay relaxed and comfortable in a cold climate, just so that I am still …

Bike riders @ Hopa and Trabzon, Turkey, January 14 and 15, 2020

Bike riders On the first two days in Turkey, I met bike travelers each day. Some of it must have been by coincidence and other could have been due to my desperate energy to meet other people, after a long break in Georgia. The two groups of riders had things in common. They both started …

Balcony in Batumi @ Batumi, Georgia, January 11, 2020

For the past 5 weeks, I lived in a rented flat in Batumi, Georgia. The goal was to prepare written proposals and applications for some programs that I consider as my potential next step after travels. The lifestyle was almost completely sedentary and non-social, which made a clear contrast with the one I was having …

Arrival @ Batumi, Georgia, December 1, 2019

Arrived in Batumi. I had been looking for a place where I can get some work done for a while. Yerevan seemed friendly but the physical warmth around the Black Sea won me over. I’ll spend the last moment of this year here. @ Batumi, Georgia, December 1, 2019

Khurjin, Tolma, and pomegranate tea @ Lavash Restaurant, Yerevan, Armenia, November 22, 2019

Armenia often fails to attract travelers’ attention due to other popular destinations in the region, such as Georgia and Turkey. But during my 10 days of stay in the country, I was pleasantly surprised by its charm in several aspects. Despite the small land size, Armenia boasts a long history, a strong sense of identity …