From an email to my parents the day after I arrived:

All of a sudden there was a whirlwind and I dropped from the sky into Istanbul.

Departure
For my last night in BKK I had my first night in Khao San Road - Tourist Mecca. I see why I never went there.

Did manage to get some last minute goodies before I left though - some silk and fake ID cards.

Left at 4.30 am with my 24 kg backpack, my laptop bag and day pack. I should have eaten before I left.

With usual Thai efficiency there was a cue a mile long even though I had arrived two hours before my flight. There seemed to be
allot of older people on the flight who like Dad insist on getting to the check in desk at least three days before the scheduled departure.

The airline asked some hard questions about how I was going to support myself in Turkey, why I had no return ticket and what my net worth was.
They let me on the plane though. She had enough to deal with. The plane was half an hour late getting in.

Having got rid of my pack I was free to head over to the next cue - 500B to leave the country. The new aiport is due to open in June.
As they are builing it on a swamp they are going to need my money. Fair enough.

Passport control: Another cue. He looked at my passport. "Suratthani" he said and smiled. I know what he meant.

Then it was off into the bright lights of the duty free and overpriced coffee.

Finally, I got on the plane over half an hour late. Found myself in a bulk head seat - very pleased for the seven hour flight.

Qatar
We flew in over Qatar. It looks pretty much all desert. We arrived in Doha at the same time that my connecting flight was due to depart.
I asked the stewardess and she said that they would hold the flight. Not that many people were stopping in Doha so they would wait.

Seven hours on a plane however, there was no way I was leaving without having a fag. Doha airport is still being built, so it was a matter of
walking off the plane onto the tarmac and onto a bus that ships you over to the terminal.
Rushed through security and straight to the smoker’s room.
Managed to fit in one and half before a man came in calling "Istanbul". Ran over to the gate. Got through and onto another bus
that took us over to the plane.

I looked at the lettuce in my salad and then looked out at the desert beneath me and wondered where it had come from? Hydroponics?
When was it living? Months ago by the looks of it.

Arrival
Fours hours later and we were descending over my new home. This city is BIG. Huge square apartment blocks dominate the cityscape,
interspersed with the huge domes and towers of the mosques.

The last hour was murder but I got there. Went up to the box named "visa". Presented my Irish passport. 10 Euro. I did not have any Euro.
Offered him pounds, but he could not give me change. US dollars - yes yes he said. I only had three. Australian dollars - that will do.
I knew there was a reason I was carrying those around.

Walked over to passport control. He looked at the passport. The week before I had left it under my wardrobe to keep it safe
from thieves. It was not safe however, from the water that flooded my room and my passports. He had trouble reading it in the machine.
Eventually he got board and let me through.

Home
Straight on a bus to Taksim at the heart of the European side.

Weary I arrived at my new home. It is on the fifth floor of a guest house. There are two rooms on our floor. There is also a bathroom. Hardwood floors and stairs up to a roof top terrace. The room is small but well heated.

Impressions
It is cold here after Thailand. Looking forward to getting my woollen jacket. My Thai jacket does not really cut it.
Went out for dinner. Turkish Meatballs with rice and tea. Just what I needed after twelve hours of airline food. We went out for a drink
and met some of Robyn's friends in the expat community. They seem to be enjoying it.

The house is in the music district. every shop sells guitars, violins, PAs, drum kits, turntables and all varieties of music.
The buskers are really good.

People seem to be very trendy. I feel like a poor relation. They seem pretty friendly though.
It seems like a much easier language to learn. I will have to get cracking on that as I feel like a fool.

The place bristles with cafes selling thick bitter Turkish coffee.
Although the food appears to be bland here, they make up for with the sweets. They look divine.

There are allot of police in the area, which is reassuring but they wear flack jackets and carry machine guns which is disturbing.
Is that necessary? If so, why? I will leave them alone and they can leave me alone.