Anj and Turkish Ice Cream

Have you seen Turkish Ice Cream being served? There’s a complex ceremony before you have your coneful. See this…

So when Anj decided to spend her last few Turkish Liras at the airport by treating us to Turkish Ice Cream, she asked the vendor, “Kuya! Wag ka na mag-show! Nagmamadali na kami.”  as if the Turk would understand her.

 

Istanbul Accommodation

One lunchtime discussion in Istanbul, Turkey…

“Pwede na talaga yung Hostel natin di ba?” one of us said.
“Oo naman. Lagi naman tayong nasa labas eh.”
“Talagang tulugan lang s’ya.”
“Pero yung mga motel dito, kakaiba no?” I told them, “Ang liit talaga. Unlike sa Pinas. Sa Pinas, malaki talaga yung mga space. Talagang binigyan ng effort sa pagpapaganda. Kahit mga motel.”
They all nodded and answered, “Oo nga.”
Then I realized what I just did and asked them, “Bakit alam n’yo na malalaki and mga motel sa Pilipinas?”

 

Miniature

A 5-day Istanbul trip will give you more time to visit the ‘not by the book’ places.

We asked amongst ourselves, “Saan pa tayo?”
“Meron pa! Pero mag-ba-bus. Sa Mini-a-tur,” Atong answered.
I felt sad for him and slowly corrected him, “Miniature (mini-a-choor),” Poor guy. He doesn’t know how to pronounce the word.
“Miniature nga! Puro kasi lugar sa Turkey yun. Mini-a-turk!” he defended himself.
I laughed at my mistake and told him, “Naawa talaga ako sayo. Akala ko sabi mo miniatoor.”

 

 

Quintessential Renato Ancheta Photo

You have won a tower while wearing the brotherhood of the traveling yellow shorts!

 

Atong’s Jump Shot

Visiting new places makes you feel like jumping for joy.

Apparently, one friend of mine cannot:

Nice try though.

 

Finding Netherlands

When Ronald learned that he cannot join Ron, Anj, Atong and me to Istanbul he sadly asked me, “Kelan kaya ako makaklabas din ng UAE?”
“Next year!” I assured him, “Punta tayong Europe – France, Netherlands…”
“Niloloko mo naman ako!” he complained, “Netherland!? Eh pekeng lugar yun eh. Kina Peter Pan at Wendy yun eh.”
I laughed so hard and was not able to answer.
“Ano spelling?” he started searching the place on his iPhone, “N? I? D?… Wala talaga! Peke naman ang pangako mong Europe. Kung lugar dapat London – Ganun!”

 

Istanbul Plan

“Sa Istanbul ba? Safe ba dun?” Nanay asked me after she learned that me and my friends are planning to have a 5-day trip around the Turkish city.

“Oho. Safe naman dun,” I answered.

“Basta huwag na lang kayo mag-lalalabas sa hotel,” she told me. “Ho?” I asked, “Sige ho.”

 

My sister told me after, “Eh anong gagawin mo sa Istanbul kung hindi ka lalabas ng hotel?”