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.