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Discovering Istanbul

This summer my family and I planned a trip to Istanbul, the historical, cultural city of Turkey that sits in the middle of Europe and Asia divided by the Bosporus Strait. The city has been a popular holiday destination for a lot of people this year and I don’t see why it wouldn’t be.

Istanbul, is a cultural hub that has a lot of appeal from people of all nationalities. The reason why it’s such a popular choice for a holiday destination for us Pakistanis is the fact that it is only a direct flight away for most people, boasts the features of both a European destination holiday and the perks of being an Islamic country (halal food, yay). Istanbul offers a diverse tourist experience as it has a deep history of serving as a capital for three empires; Eastern Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. From scenic sights, to historical palaces and museums, incredible cuisine to religious sites, Istanbul seems to have it all, which gives all the more reason to make it your next holiday destination. Since I fell in love with Istanbul this summer, I feel compelled to share with you my experiences of the beautiful city and some of the must-visit places and experiences I would recommend.

  1. Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
The domes and minarets from the mosque courtyard

One of the most famous historical sites of Istanbul, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque is a prime example of classical Ottoman architecture. It sits in the Fatih district in its architectural glory with six minarets towering from it’s five main domes. The grandeur of its exterior is complimented by the lavish interior of the mosque which is still functional as visitors visit to offer prayers on the red carpeted floor under the chandelier lit domes.

 

 

 

  1. Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya in Turkish) is a magnificent building that has a very interesting history behind it.

Hagia Sophia as viewed from outside the Blue Mosque

Located opposite to the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, the Hagia Sophia is visited by many. Built initially as the largest church by the Eastern Roman Empire in Istanbul, it has been constructed three times in the same location as it underwent many destructions on the hands of fires, riots, demolitions or other natural disasters. With the fall of Constantinople, this Greek Orthodox Church and cathedral then turned into an imperial mosque under the Ottoman Empire. It was then under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk that it was converted into the museum which functions till this day.

 

 

  1. Golden Horn

The Golden Horn is an inlet of the Bosphorus that separates the old and new parts of Istanbul. Easily accessible by the metro, the Golden

Horn offers a unique experience for tourists. Evenings at the Golden Horn are beautiful as people come out towards the shores to fish, enjoy the sun setting and the beautiful views of the mosques, buildings including the Galata Tower. The restaurants under the bridges offer a wide variety of fresh seafood while there are many small snack bars and stalls around that area selling corn, sweet potatoes and fresh juices.

 

 

 

  1. Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace, that once housed the Ottoman royals in the fifteenth century is now a museum home to many historical artifacts. It is infact one of the largest and oldest palace in the world that has survived to this day. The Palace also offers a beautiful view of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.

  1. Dolmabahce Palace

The Dolmabace is a slighter more modern palace which has a European charm to it. It is located on the European coast of the Bosphorus. The palace is a grand sight, from the intricate detailing in the interior with its furniture, tapestries and paintings to the magnificent exterior. This palace is a must visit for all art and history enthusiasts.

  1. Grand Bazaar

One of the oldest and largest covered markets of the world, a trip to Istanbul would be incomplete without shopping at the great Grand

Bazaar. The place is so historical that upon entering, one cannot help imagining the glory of it back in the 15th century when it was

    built. The marketplace is still functional to this day and is a hub for trade and consumers, businessmen and tourists alike flock to buy jewellery, lamps, clothes and shoes for reasonable prices.

7. The Spice Bazaar

The Spice Bazaar or the Egyptian Bazaar is similar to the Grand Bazaar but is famous for its Egyptian history links. The Bazaar is located in Eminonu, Fatih and is famous for selling spices, tea, Turkish delight, jewellery, souvenirs and lamps.

Although these are just a few of the highlights of Istanbul, there are countless more experiences that one can enjoy in their stay in this beautiful city.

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Semester Abroad

I am very lucky to have gotten the chance to study in US for semester.

America is a country where people have freedom of expression. Very likely, no one will judge you here. People have freedom of expression when it comes to their clothing, their arguments, their private life and sharing their point of view.  We all see USA as a melting pot which means that we see diversity of people leading to diversity of cultures here.

In my experience, I have found education in United States very organized and balanced compared to that in Pakistan. In States, workload is well spread across the whole semester. I am a Business Management major, and I don’t see tons of assignments, case-studies, quizzes, exams and presentations here. Professors here try to keep their course as much easy and learning intensive as they can. Professors try to minimize the student-teacher barriers. I personally met different professors in their offices and every time I left them, I used to carry some good tips for a better practical life with me. Professors try to keep the classroom atmosphere very casual. I remember, on my first class of Geography, my Professor came in shorts, again showing freedom of expression and a casual atmosphere in class. These are the things that I don’t see very often back in Pakistan.

I have travelled to Pittsburgh many times in the past two months. To experience, life in one of the very busy city in States was again fun. While I was walking around with my bunch of international friends on the streets of Pittsburgh, almost 90% of the people (majority Americans) who passed by us used to say these common lines “How are you doing?”, “How’s it going?” Etc. These lines show that although people live a busy life but still they care about people around them. In Pittsburgh, we went on a “Ducky Tour” and that was real fun. We had a tour of whole Pittsburgh. Also, on the “Ducky Tour”, we were around ten international students and all the Americans on the bus were appreciating us and asking all of us about our countries showing they respect different cultures.

Personally, there a lot of things I have learned over the course of my semester here. And I am really excited to get back to LUMS. See you in spring!

Haseeb Ashfaq

Class of 2018

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Why Beijing Should Be Your Next Holiday Destination

Summer of 2015 I found myself booked for a flight to Beijing 15 days prior. While I packed and prepared myself to spend a year in an unknown country due to my parents’ jobs, while constantly running to get my visa requirements completed, I was understatedly terrified. Despite having little to no time to actually mentally prepare myself to stay a year in a country that spoke a language unknown to me, I had plenty of time to hear about the never ending restrictions on the life there. How on earth was I going to find myself around there with half of the apps being banned, like Google and Youtube? How was I even going to communicate with the people? As the time of my departure neared, the number of looming questions in my head multiplied as did my anxiety.

Fast forward a few months later, this place had now become my second home. Beijing showed me that when I thought life in Islamabad was fast, I was in for a shock. The metropolitan center, densely populated, always bustling with life regardless of the time of the day, became my city. I began to own it like it was my very own. So when someone asks me where to travel next, I bank my vote with Beijing.

Beijing, whose history dates back to 3000 years, has been the capital city in many dynasties including Ji, Yan, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing, the early Republic of China and now currently serves as the capital of the People’s Republic of China. The capital boasts to be the most populous capital city of the world. An impeccable hybrid of both modern and traditional architecture, culture and traditions, Beijing is a sure attraction to all. Beijing has a lot to offer, whether it is sightseeing, shopping or recreational activities. Below are my personal favorite places to visit.

  1. The Great Wall of China

One simply cannot visit Beijing and not witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World with their own two eyes. The magnificent structure which measures half the length of the Equator was built over 2700 years ago and most of it still stands in its original glory. Built from rock and stone mostly, the wall served as defense from invaders like the Huns and the Mongols. There are many sections of the wall that are open to the public. Badaling, one of the sections I visited thrice in my time there, is very well preserved and is always bustling with local and foreign visitors. The wall can be climbed and upon reaching a particular section, certificates and/or souvenirs can be bought. The climb itself is not that easy as I expected from my little hiking experience at the Margalla Hills of Islamabad, however, the views from the top are worth every steep step to the top.

  1. Wangfujing Street

Wangfujing has to be the most interesting and most famous street to visit in Beijing. Most of it still in its traditional setting, the street offers many exotic dishes and snacks in its small old hutongs. People with weak stomachs like myself, will either lose their appetite by seeing deep fried scorpions and seahorses on sticks or will resort to McDonalds’ Fillet-o-Fish. When visiting at night,  Donghuamen Street, which is located perpendicular to Wangfujing can be visited to experience the night market culture in its full spirit.

  1. Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

The Tiananmen Square is known greatly due to the pro-democracy protests that took place in 1989, however, there is an even greater history behind this. The Square itself, located in the heart of Beijing, is a large open area dominated by the Tiananmen a gate that embodies a large portrait of Mao Zedong. The gate opens into the ancient Imperial City, within which the Forbidden City lies. The Forbidden City is named so as it was only accessible to the royal families of the Ming and Qing dynasties and ordinary people were not allowed.

  1. Silk Market and Pearl (Hongqiao) Market

Perhaps the most famous shopping areas of Beijing for tourists are the Silk and Pearl Markets. For people looking forward to shopping for souvenirs or gifts, these two locations are easily accessible through the metro and subway. These are always busy with local and foreign visitors who visit for shopping and recreational purposes. The Silk Market is famous for the high end silk products sold there whereas the Pearl Market specializes in fresh water pearls and precious gemstones.

  1. Chaoyang Acrobatic Show

One of the best acrobatic shows in China performs weekly at the Chaoyang Theatre Beijing. The tickets sell out almost immediately which proves the high viewing demand of the show. The show includes nerve wracking stunts and visuals that will keep you at the edge of your seat. The exhilarating experience will surely wanting for more by the end of it.

  1. Summer Palace

The best time to visit the scenic Summer Palace is during spring or autumn when it is neither to hot nor cold and the historical royal garden can be thoroughly enjoyed by those who want to witness the remnants of the Qing dynasty. There is also the facility of boating around the beautiful garden when the weather best allows.

  1. Olympic Park Bird’s Nest and Olympic Water park

Tourists, adults and children alike, are bound to enjoy the visit to the Bird’s Nest which serves as the National Stadium for Beijing. It was primarily designed for the Summer Olympics 2008 and its state-of-the-art facilities will be put to use again in Winter Olympics 2022. The Olympic Water Park is best enjoyed during the summers as it is an indoor facility containing exciting rides of different sorts that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages.

These were some of the many places I had the pleasure of visiting while I stayed in Beijing and safe to say, made my stay there enjoyable and memorable. Beijing, itself, is a very culturally diverse city with an interesting combination of modern lifestyle and preserved history. While the city spans out in a futuristic landscape, lined with subway train tracks and dotted with skyscraping buildings, its rich cultural history still peeks out in its unique ways like the dainty hutongs hanging from old streets. It is a must-visit city as it is truly a city like no other.

Zainab Shuja

Class of 2021