It has been a long time since the last news about a visa appeal to Germany, which did not meet with good results. J became less enthusiastic, and I didn't know what to do. Feeling pretty discouraged, I decided to sign up for a German A1 language course. I needed a distraction and a way to channel my disappointment. Plus, I figured sooner or later, I really needed to learn the language to be able to talk to J properly.
The language course was about 10 kilometers from home, with classes four times a week. It was surprisingly fun, and I felt great for pushing myself to learn something new at my age. Seriously, it takes a lot of willpower and determination to stay curious and motivated! I updated J on my progress, and we talked about meeting up somewhere else to see each other. After a few conversations, we decided on Turkey in March.
Time seemed to fly by, and my longing for J was almost unbearable. I was so excited to see him and spend time with him again. From March 14th to 24th, 2025, we finally got to be together, and it was absolutely priceless.
I arrived in Istanbul in the morning. I met a friend from Indonesia who was studying in Turkey, and we had a great chat before going our separate ways. Since I got to Turkey before J, he told me to go straight to our hotel. J wouldn't arrive until later that night, so I had plenty of time to relax. Hotel check-in was at 2 PM, but it's usually fine to arrive early. I used the time to withdraw some Lira (TRY) from an ATM, charge my phone, jot down some notes in my travel journal, and freshen up in the restroom.
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| Istanbul Airport from afar |
When I finally left the airport, my goal was the metro station. I planned to take public transport to the hotel. Turns out, the station was incredibly far from the airport. I walked out of the terminal, kept walking for what felt like miles, and ended up on an absurdly long underground escalator. It was super modern and impressive, though!
I needed to buy a transportation card from one of those red machines with a half-hearted logo. I was worried about the language barrier, but despite being a bit confused at first, I managed to complete the transaction and get my card. I asked an officer for directions and hopped on the subway. After that, I needed to switch to the metro bus. The officer told me I could take any route since they all passed by my stop. I quickly jumped on one, trying to remember which stop to get off at to walk to the hotel.
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| Istanbul Card |
I quickly realized I had missed my stop and was way off track. I decided to get off at a random stop and head back in the other direction. While fumbling with my map, I tried to make sure I got it right this time. I was basically just guessing, looking for the stop closest to the hotel J booked. Oh, by the way, J was flying into a different airport from me, so he chose a hotel that was a one-hour journey from each of our airports.
I finally got off at the right stop, according to my map. The hotel was supposed to be a short walk away, but I was so exhausted. I'd been traveling for almost three days straight—from Lampung, to Jakarta, a 5-hour layover in Guangzhou, and then the long flight to Turkey. I couldn't walk anymore. I decided to download a ride-sharing app. I didn't care about the cost; I was just too tired. Istanbul traffic is crazy, and even though the hotel was close, it felt like an eternity to get there. The driver dropped me off on the side of the road, saying it matched the location on the app. Confused, I started asking people at a nearby restaurant where the hotel was.
After walking in circles and with my phone battery running low, I finally decided to rely on the map instead of just asking people. I figured since I was so close, asking would be easier, right? Wrong. The map was my savior, and I finally headed in the right direction. It turned out I needed to walk down a hill that I had passed right by. I then had to turn a corner, and there it was. What a relief! I was so ready to just lie down and rest my weary body.
The first thing I did in the room was plug in my phone. My message to J still had the "not sent" mark, which meant he was still in the air. It was still early evening, so I decided to take a shower to freshen up. I ended up falling asleep while waiting for J to arrive. I was starving, but it felt weird to eat alone, and I wanted to have dinner with him. So, I held out and just ate a small pastry I'd saved from the plane.
By 9 PM, I started to get anxious. There was still no word from J, and my message to him still hadn't been read. Filled with worry, I went downstairs to get some food on my own. I was talking to the receptionist, who was telling me about the hotel's food options, and I was looking at the menu. That's when I saw someone standing still at the hotel entrance, looking at me. Of course, I recognized him immediately! I walked over, called his name, and gave him a huge hug. J explained that he was just standing there, trying to convince himself it was really me. I was so emotional that I almost cried. It was so good to see him again! I canceled my food order with the receptionist, and we went back up to the room to talk for a long, long time.
It was almost midnight, and I was skeptical that any restaurants would still be open, but J suggested we go get something to eat. My hunger had totally disappeared the moment I saw him, but we needed to eat something so we could get some sleep. We found a place that served fish. J ordered a large fish, and I got a bunch of small ones. The fish was unseasoned and a bit plain for my taste, but I didn't care. I was just happy to be there with him. Seeing J again reignited our conversation and connection after three months apart. He told me so many things, including stories I'd heard before, but I was so happy just listening to him.
Day 1: Crossing and Exploring Bosphorus Strait
We usually started our days around 9 or 10 AM, then had breakfast. Today, we took a drive around the Bosphorus Strait in a rental car and crossed the bridge that divides the Asian and European sides. A heads-up for anyone planning to rent a car in Istanbul: parking is a nightmare. It's almost impossible to find free parking, and the paid lots are often full, too. We had to park super far from the Bosphorus and paid 250 TL (about $6 USD) for two hours. So, we ended up walking the rest of the way. Around 8 PM, we had dinner—delicious baked potatoes called kumpir with salad and cheese—before heading back to the hotel.
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| kumpir |
Day 2: Walking All Day
Today, we walked for about 8 or 9 hours straight through Istanbul. Since parking was so difficult, we didn't even use the car. I was a little annoyed because it felt like a waste of money to rent a car for 10 days and not use it. I tried to remind J that public transportation is great and cheap in Turkey, but he had already made up his mind. I decided to let it go, even though my feet ended up aching for the rest of the day. We went to the Sultanahmet area, which was super crowded. We then went to a terrace restaurant and spent a ton of money on food that wasn't even that great. On our way back, we bought roasted chestnuts for 700 TL (about $17 USD). It was an exhausting day, and my feet were sore and blistered. It felt more like a hike than a city tour.
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| Sultanahmet District |
Day 3: A Journey Through Time
Once again, we didn't use the car today and paid 150 TL for parking near our hotel. We took the metro from Taksim to Sultanahmet. Our destination was the Hagia Sophia. We took the F1 to Taksim, got off at Kabatas, and then switched to the T1 to Sultanahmet. We finally made it to one of Istanbul's most popular attractions! The ticket was 1,300 TL (about $31 USD) per person. The architecture, especially the roof, was magnificent, but besides that, there wasn't much else to see. It was crazy to see so many people there; I guess they were just as curious as we were.
There was one place I really wanted to visit, the Basilica Cistern. It's an ancient underground water system not far from the Hagia Sophia. The entry ticket was 600 TL (about $15 USD), and it was so fascinating! This giant cistern was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. It's incredible to think that they built something so complex with towering columns and pillars in an era with no modern technology. The cistern provided water for the Great Palace of Constantinople and continued to supply water to the Topkapi Palace after the Ottoman conquest in 1453. Its existence was forgotten until the French explorer Petrus Gyllius rediscovered it in 1565. He even wrote about rowing between the columns and seeing fish swimming in the water.
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| Basicila Cistern |
On a less fun note, J's bank card got swallowed by a Ziraat Bank ATM near Eminönü station today. He immediately blocked the card. Even though it was frustrating, he joked about how much he loved that card, which made me laugh.
Day 4: Rainy Days and Museum Visits
We started the day late because it was raining and freezing cold. We finally got going around 11 AM. We went to the Ziraat Bank to ask about the card, but they said there was nothing they could do and that J had to contact his bank directly. We ended up sitting at a cafe for two and a half hours, just talking and drinking coffee. Then we decided to go to the Archeology Museum, which was still in the Sultanahmet area. The entrance fee was 500 TL (about $12 USD) per person. The weather was a huge factor today. It was a frigid 7°C (45°F)! Luckily, we took the car after paying 500 TL for two nights of parking. I got into a little argument with J because I wanted to see if we could find free parking in front of the hotel—who knows, maybe a spot had opened up. With his stubborn streak, he didn't want to admit I was right, but on the night he arrived, we had found a free spot there. What did I tell him? We drove back, and of course, there was an empty spot right in front of the hotel.
We went out for dinner in the freezing 3°C (37°F) rain. My hands, face, and feet were numb, but I was okay. I'm pretty good at adjusting to the cold. We had a great time, and I was so happy to finally eat some rice after so long.
Day 5: Exploring Bursa
Today we drove straight to Bursa, another city in Turkey. We crossed the Bosphorus Strait and went through a really long tunnel. The trip took about two hours. We stopped at a rest area for lunch, where I met a woman from Indonesia who had a Turkish boyfriend. She was very friendly, but also a bit over the top. She got really excited when she asked where J was from, and I said Germany. I was a little embarrassed because she was talking so loudly in front of everyone.
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| Welcome to Bursa! |
Our hotel was in the middle of the city, and when we arrived, there was a political demonstration happening in the square right outside our window. The political situation in Turkey was pretty tense at the time. We had dinner at a restaurant facing the square, and the salad and vegetarian dishes were delicious and super cheap. I was eating so healthily in Turkey! We walked in the 4°C (39°F) weather to the Clock Tower, which was on top of a hill. From up there, we could see the city of Bursa with some parts sunny and others covered in clouds.
Day 6: A Snowy Adventure
Today, we had no idea where to go. We tried to take a gondola ride to Uludag, but we couldn't find the right route even with the map. We ended up just driving through a mountain area called Çaybaşi. On the way, we stopped to say hi to a big, beautiful dog. The dog was so happy to see us, and then it started following our car. We felt so bad and were worried about it.
We kept driving through the long, winding mountain roads. On the right side, we could see a beautiful, sparkling stream far below. It started to snow! It was my first time seeing snow, and it was so exciting. We stopped at a gas station to fill up—20 liters for 45 TL (about $1 USD per liter). J said it was really cheap compared to Germany, and of course, I agreed.
We continued our drive as the snow started to get heavier. The sides of the road were turning white, and the branches of the pine trees were covered in fresh snow. Since it was my first time, I was having a blast. I even got out of the car to hold the soft snow in my hands. The road was getting completely covered, and J said our car might not be suitable for snowy conditions, so we decided to turn back.
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| Snowy road |
On the way back, we stopped at a convenience store to buy some raw chicken for the stray dogs. We found three adorable puppies and gave them some chicken pieces. It was a really fun and rewarding adventure. We ended the day with a delicious dinner near our hotel.
Day 7: Back to Istanbul and a Tower View
We left Bursa this morning and drove back to Istanbul. We crossed the Bosphorus Strait and went through the long tunnel again. Out of the blue, J suggested we go to Camlica Tower. It was an amazing idea. From the 40th floor, we could see all of Istanbul, the Bosphorus, the Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet, and the sea. The tower itself is a cool piece of architecture, standing at 369 meters tall. The area around it is a beautiful park, and I loved walking around, looking at the flowers and trees. After that, we drove back to our hotel and stopped by the seaside. There were so many cats, everybody knows that Turkey really is a paradise for cats (and dogs).
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| Camlica Tower |
Day 8: A Bosphorus Cruise
At first, I wasn't that interested in taking a boat cruise across the Bosphorus. I've been on many boats and seen a lot of the sea. But today, we finally did it! The ticket was 250 TL (about $6 USD) per person, which is so cheap for a round-trip tour. The views were incredible, and we passed under two of the three bridges that cross the strait. I exchanged smiles with a German family who were also on vacation with their grandpa and toddlers. The whole trip took about 90 minutes, and the view of Istanbul from the water was so beautiful and artistic. Later that afternoon, we went back to the seaside for more kumpir, the delicious baked potatoes we had on the first day.
Day 9: Saying Goodbye
It was our last day together in Turkey. I had been annoyed with J so many times throughout the trip, but seeing his face today made me so sad that we had to part ways again. Usually, I'm tired of walking, but today I didn't mind because I knew it would be a while before I experienced this feeling again. J always tries to make everything perfect, which can sometimes be a little annoying, but at the end of a long day, I still love him just the same.
We went to the Islamic Museum next to the Hagia Sophia. The ticket was 650 TL (about $15 USD) per person. The museum was so interesting, full of Islamic history and artifacts, ancient carpets, belongings of the Prophet Muhammad, and so many beautifully written Qur'an manuscripts.
That evening, we had dinner at the same restaurant where we ate on the night J arrived. I had to say goodbye to him because his flight was early in the morning, and we were flying out of different airports. I was so sad that I knew I'd start crying if I didn't get out of the car right away. J's hand was so cold, and I asked him why, while mine was so warm. He said it was because he was stressed and sad about us having to separate. But he also said he was grateful for the warmth of my hand. I gathered my strength, opened the car door, and said my goodbyes. Then I walked back to the hotel. Around 9 PM, he texted me that he already missed me.
Tomorrow, I'd have to brave the cold and find the metro station to get to the Istanbul airport, which was a long way from the hotel.
My Last Day: The Long Journey Home
Around 10 AM, I used my map to find the metro station. Luckily, it was super easy to find. I took the M2 and got off at Gayrettepe station, then switched to the M11 to the airport. I got to the airport around 1 PM and found the CSAIR check-in counter easily. I had to wait for a bit because the line was really long. The check-in officer was so friendly and even spoke a little bit of Indonesian! A woman from New Zealand also said hi and chatted with me about Indonesia.
My 10-hour flight began. I was so exhausted, and my feet were aching. I had a quick layover in Guangzhou; the officers told us to hurry up. An hour isn't much time when you have to recheck your luggage, go through immigration, and find your gate! The 5-hour flight home was a joy because I knew I was finally going back to my country. I was so relieved and grateful that everything had gone so smoothly.
I slept for most of the flight and finally arrived in Jakarta. The process of getting out of the airport was tiring—first scanning a barcode for customs, then walking a long way to find a bus to Merak. The ferry crossing to Lampung took two hours because the faster express ferry wasn't running. Then it was a two-hour bus ride and a short motorcycle taxi ride home. I finally got home at 11 PM. I had been traveling for two full days! It was an amazing, but exhausting experience. J got to Dresden on March 24th and immediately had to deal with getting his car repaired.
That's the story of my trip from Indonesia to Turkey. I hope this is just the beginning of my travel adventures. Tesekkur-ederim!
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