Turkey Travel: Mersin - Pearl of the Mediterranean

Turkey is a popular destination for a traveler who loves to be in nature and experiencing city life at the same time. Normally when you search for places to visit in Turkey, the first thing that will come out from Google is either Istanbul or Cappadocia or Antalya. 

Check this out: 5 Reasons why you should visit Turkey

Mersin not on top of the list and it is not a popular place to visit but this place has a lot of things to offer and it will be worth your time spending a few days in this beautiful place. 

There is no direct flight from Istanbul to Mersin but the closest airport is Adana going to Mersin. 

How to get to Adana from Istanbul

• By Flight

You have an option to book a flight with Turkish Airline or Pegasus Airline depending on the timetable that you prefer either from Ataturk Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport. The flight may take 1 hour and 30 minutes.  

• By Bus

If you have enough time to travel then this is a good option. This is also the cheapest way to get to Adana. Just make sure you are okay to be seated for more than 14 hours. 

• By Bus and Train

This option may take about 13hours. It's an hour shorter than taking a bus alone however, If you want to start your adventure by experiencing their local transport then this is the best option. 

How to get from Adana to Mersin 

• By Bus

Outside the airport, you can take the Havas bus which will normally take 2 hours. There is no need to book your seat in advance. 

• By Taxi 

This is a good option to get to Mersin however it is quite expensive but should you have the budget then you can get a taxi outside the airport. It may be difficult to get one if your flight will arrive at night.

• By Car

This is the most expensive option but the fastest way to get to Mersin. There is a lot of company that offers a different type of car depending on your needs. 

Whatever option you will choose, make sure that your phone is fully charged so you can listen to your favorite playlist or have a video call with one of your loved ones or simply enjoy the view and take a lot of photos since the ride will take roughly 2 hours.

So where is Mersin situated and why should I visit here? 

Mersin is a port city in Southern Turkey. It is an important hub of Turkey's economy, and Turkey's largest seaport is located in the city. Mersin's nickname within Turkey is 

"Pearl of the Mediterranean" (Turkish: Akdeniz'in İncisi) and the city hosted the 2013 Mediterranean Games. 

Mersin is the provincial capital of the eponymous Mersin Province of Turkey. 

It is near to Tarsus which is known as a Christian pilgrimage destination because this is the birthplace of Apostle Paul. 

St. Paul

It is also nearby Cleopatra's gate, one of the remaining ruins of the old Roman defensive walls.

Cleopatra's gate - Tarsus

One of the most popular places to visit in Mersin is known as Kizkalesi (Maiden's Castle). Kızkalesi is a Mediterranean coastal town. It is named after the ancient castle built on a small island just facing the town.

Kizkalesi - Mersin, Turkey

I am surprised as well that you can see an orange tree anywhere. Their oranges are sweet and if you like eating these fruit then you will never run out of it in Mersin. 

Here's the 5 Reasons why you should visit Turkey

If you love lemon then you will also love their dishes. It is quite cheap as well to buy this in the market and you will see them everywhere. 

Mersin will always have a special place in my heart. The people that I have met, the food that I have tasted and the lessons that I have learned throughout the trip is something that I will be grateful for.  

Here's the 5 Reasons why you should visit Turkey...

Vietnam Travel: 72 hrs in Ho ChiMinh (Formerly known as Saigon)

Vietnam was never part of my bucket list but I have heard a lot of interesting story about it and have seen tons of pictures from the different traveler. 

It made me think twice when I booked my flight going there, not because I'm afraid but because I don't know if that is the right place to visit for a solo female traveler.

For some reason, a challenge is something I love taking and doing. So for those people who know me well, they were not surprised when I told them that I will go to Vietnam alone.

The excitement gets into me when I started preparing my suitcase. Making a checklist on what to bring and what to prepare is kinda not my thing but that means my journey is about to start.

Vietnam

Vietnam! Here I come 😄😄😄😄 I murmured.

I got into Vietnam around 2:00 AM their local time.
I planned to take a bus going to my hotel however I was told that it is no longer available so I tried booking a grab car instead but I guess I am not so lucky either. I didn't get one so I switched to  motorbike (Grab)

Ho ChiMinh Airport

I was waiting at the arrival hall at the airport but I guess there has been a language barrier so they were not able to pick me up. It's past 2 o'clock in the morning, I'm tired and sleepy when a man approached me while I was figuring things out on how to get to my hotel.
He asked me if I need a ride because it's almost an hour that I was staring at my phone. I told him what happened and he offered me a ride. He haggled for the price of course. I was hesitant at first but hey, It's late and I am dead tired already. We walked to the parking lot and he took his motorbike. I was told by him that it is not allowed to carry my backpack and I should put it in front of the motorbike to be safe and yes! I trusted him! By the way, you can see motorbikes everywhere in
Ho Chiminh (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh (Formerly known as Saigon)

It was not cold (at least for me) but on our way, He said that he needs to stop and get his jacket because he feels so cold which is fine with me but he got a raincoat instead and covered the front side of the motorbike which my bag is at. I felt nervous and kept on asking him how long still is the ride and he kept on saying 5 minutes and I asked the same question more than once and he answered the same time.

Busy Life in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

Got into the hotel and paid him more than what he asked for.. when I get into my room the first thing I have in mind is to check the pocket in front of my backpack which I put the money from the currency exchange rate at the airport. My hunch was right, I lost some of my money and I felt bad for trusting him. (My bad! but lesson learned) I cried a little because that was the first bad experience I had traveling alone but hey, I have learned my lesson.


Little did I know, Vietnam will be one of the most memorable trips for me yet.

The following morning, I went straight to the front desk and told her what happened to me and she suggested that I should get a group tour package instead if that will make me feel safe. Since I will be staying just a little over 3 days, I did not take the risk anymore and just took the tour.

Weekend in Vietnam

Along the trip, I have met different people from different country and experience what really Vietnam has to offer. That not so good experience I had with that motorbike driver didn't change the fact that not all Vietnamese are like him. Some of them will smile at you when they know that you are a visitor in their homeland, some would offer some help when they feel like you are lost and the most interesting part there is, is that, some would love to hear your travel story and why you visited their country.

I have tried their local dishes and eat on the street with locals.

Vietnamese Pho

Breakfast

Tried their awesome coffee too. It keeps me awake for the whole day.

Visited some of the most famous tourist spots. Know more about their rich culture and history.

Mekong River

Independence Palace 

War Remnants

Vietnam has a lot to offer. If you are a foodie and love adventure, make sure to include their country to your bucket list.

Thank you, Vietnam. You have taught me a lot of things.
It was a short trip yet a memorable one. I will definitely be back.

Phuket Travel Guide: A land of Contradiction

When I first heard of Phuket, the first thing I have in mind is serenity. All I was thinking was lying on the sand with a beautiful view of the beach while reading a book since Phuket is known for its beautiful beaches. You can be in the sun all day, sunbathing while listening to your favorite playlist or go island hopping or simply enjoy the sand and the beach. Going to the beach is something I am always excited about. There is something in there that calms my mind and ease my worries away.

I hopped in on an evening flight after work without any plan. I was alone and all I have is my eagerness to do a solo trip outside my home country.

Want to see more of Phuket?

 

The sky is where my home is 

My flight was delayed for more than an hour and I was so tired but the process at the immigration was so smooth. At the airport, there’s a lot of company who offer visitors a private car that you can rent going to your hotel but I chose a taxi. I was a bit skeptical at first because it was late at night, I was alone and I don't know where I am heading and all I have is the address of the hotel that I booked.

The driver can’t speak English but I have shown him a screenshot of the address of the hotel in their language which I have saved on my phone.

I was dead tired when I got to the hotel but the receptionist greeted me with a big smile that I forgot that I am already sleepy and even forgot to take a picture of my room.

When I woke up the following day, all I have in mind is the BEACH! BEACH! BEACH! I grabbed my bag, walked straight to a nearby convenience store to buy a coffee and something to eat and went straight to the beach.

Planning a trip to Phuket soon? Check this out...

Breakfast at the beach

I was mesmerized with the beauty of the beach and how relaxing it is to just be on the sand having my breakfast while listening to my favorite song while watching the waves.

"You didn’t fail me" and that’s all I was able to say.

My kind of day

I stayed at the beach for quite a while then went back to my hotel.

The following day, I am ready to explore what else this beautiful place has to offer. I took a bus going to their old town. It so happens that the Old Phuket Town market is open that day. Locals call it Lard Yai. The architecture and its history amaze me. You can also buy hand made souvenirs if you have the time to roam around. You should also try their delicacies and local dishes.

Coffee shop in Old Phuket Town

Planning a trip to Phuket soon? Check this out...

Old Phuket Town

Bangla Road is just a few blocks away from my hotel and I was told that It is also a good place to visit at night.

Night Life is about to start

It was surely jaw-dropping. It was not something I expected. People are having fun and having drinks as if everybody knows everybody. It was contrary to what I know about Phuket yet It made me realize that Phuket is really a land of contradiction. 

A place where you can relax by the beach in the morning, learn more about their culture in the afternoon and experience nightlife before the day ends. 

What a beautiful contradiction - serenity and festivity at its finest.

Indeed, Phuket will always have a special place in my heart.

Get to know more about Phuket on this video..

Journey to becoming a Digital Nomad - My journey

It's a chill Tuesday afternoon and It’s 30 degrees outside. I am pretty sure that everyone is already planning their vacation going to the beach with friends or family or maybe both and here I am sitting in front of my work desk wondering what I should do with my life.

My heart and brain were debating at that time, whether to pursue what I really dreamed of or just stay where I am because that is what I am used to and comfortable with.

"Go and enjoy life” that’s what my heart says. “Nah! Don’t do it! You will lose everything!” my brain uttered. My brain won at that time but I am still convinced that I need to do something with my life

Years passed and I am still in my comfort zone. Afraid to explore what lies ahead on the other side of my world.

Do you want to be a Nomad too?

I thought it was impossible to travel solo as a female but as time goes by, I have met different people from different walks of life that taught me things that I didn’t know or I am not comfortable with. They have opened my eyes to start my journey... My journey as a solo traveler.

One step closer to my dream

I always believe that I was born to travel. I am never satisfied staying in one place as if there is something inside me saying to go somewhere, besides meeting new people and knowing a different culture is something I am passionate about.

“ I'm in love with cities I've never been to and people I've never met.” – John Green.

I started researching the countries that I can visit for a short period of time since I am still working. List down my options and check on available flights, hotel, and activities. It’s also important to know their culture – what they eat, what to wear and their transportation. The most important thing is to experience their daily life.

Viola! After a month of planning and researching. I realized I am already on my way to start my journey.

Join me in my journey as a Digital Nomad

Ready to embark to a new journey ahead of me 

Being a solo traveler from a country that you haven’t been into is nerve racking but trust me when I say that it's worth the risk. You only not get to know the country and their culture but you will also know your strength and weaknesses and definitely feel more empowered. 

I am and will always be in love with traveling so come and join me as I continue to explore the beauty and madness of knowing what’s on another side of my world.

My journey as a Digital Nomad starts here....

Do you want to be a nomad too?